Li Chenjiao frowned not because she was worried that Dongsheng was too young to be properly cared for, but because she noticed the chilblains all over Dongsheng's hands when he bowed.
Li Chenjiao sighed: "Your name is Dongsheng? You don't need to change your name. From now on, you'll learn from Xiaolu. You don't need to take care of the persimmons and frozen pears too meticulously, but there's one thing: once they're yours to care for, you'll have to look after them carefully. There are Fourth Prince's wife and the eldest princess in the manor; if you offend someone important, even I can't protect you. Also, although you'll only be in charge of the persimmons and frozen pears, once you enter the East Courtyard, you'll be a servant in my courtyard, so you can't have any thoughts of disloyalty. Do you understand?"
Dong Sheng kowtowed sharply: "This servant understands, this servant will certainly behave himself and do his duty in the East Courtyard."
Li Chenjiao then waved her hand, telling Xiao Luzi to take Dongsheng down to settle in.
"I think Doctor Chen sent a few boxes of frostbite ointment before winter? Have Xiao Lu take them to Dong Sheng."
Qiu Hu felt a pang of sadness just now, but servants naturally suffer grievances, and only those servants who encounter good masters can have some good days.
After dinner, Li Chenjiao asked if Fourth Master had returned to the manor.
Qiu Ci nodded and then shook her head: "When Eunuch Su brought the persimmons and frozen pears, I heard that Fourth Master had returned to the manor. But I heard that someone from the palace had come, and Fourth Master went to the palace before he even had dinner."
Li Chenjiao stared at the lazy persimmons at her feet, somewhat puzzled: "What could possibly happen in the palace during the first month of the lunar year? Why would Fourth Prince have to rush into the palace like this?"
The Fourth Prince did indeed leave the mansion in a hurry, but it wasn't someone from the palace who came; rather, someone from the Ministry of Revenue came to invite him. Haha Zhuzi, who was by the Crown Prince's side, happened to be delivering a personal letter from the Crown Prince.
The Ministry of Revenue sent people because His Majesty suddenly mentioned going to Mount Wutai to pay homage, and the reason for the homage was naturally the completion of the Yellow River and Yongding River management projects.
River management has always been a top priority throughout history, and naturally deserves grand sacrificial rites.
If it were just a matter of going to Mount Wutai to pay respects, that would be fine, but His Majesty also mentioned a southern tour.
Where did the money for the Southern Tour come from?
In addition to his southern tour, and given the poor harvest last year, the Emperor also mentioned that he would personally plow the fields in the spring.
These three things piled up together, and none of them were without financial loss.
The Ministry of Revenue naturally knew that the Fourth Prince couldn't conjure up any silver either; they were just waiting for him to go to His Majesty and plead poverty.
After dealing with the tearful Minister of Revenue, the Fourth Prince waited until only Su Peisheng was serving him in the room before opening the letter sent by the Crown Prince.
After reading the letter, Fourth Master was somewhat confused.
He didn't understand what the Crown Prince meant by saying in his letter that the Crown Prince himself would make mistakes in the future, but that he didn't need the Fourth Prince to plead for him.
After reading the letter, Fourth Master burned it. The flames extinguished the last traces of ink, and Fourth Master was still somewhat dazed.
If the Crown Prince really makes a big mistake, the Fourth Prince will probably still plead for him.
At twenty years old, Fourth Master was not yet capable of being indifferent.
In his heart, the Crown Prince was the Crown Prince, the one who would ascend the throne in the future.
No matter how many mistakes the Crown Prince makes, in the end it all depends on the Emperor's attitude.
After regaining his composure, the Fourth Prince busied himself checking the Ministry of Revenue's account books for the past two years; the money had all been squeezed out of the system.
The ceremony of personally plowing the fields was set for February 28th, while the Emperor's trip to Mount Wutai for worship was set for March 28th. The date of the southern tour would depend on the Emperor's stay at Mount Wutai.
The list of those to accompany the worship ceremony and the southern tour has not yet been finalized, but the Ministry of Rites has already prepared a list for the ceremony of personally tilling the fields.
The eldest princes, up to the eighth prince, all had to participate, followed by the six ministers and members of the royal family.
His Majesty values the people's livelihood and has a history of personally performing the plowing ceremony, and not just once.
This time was different, though. In the past, His Majesty had personally plowed the fields, but this time he had the Crown Prince plow them on his behalf.
The importance attached to it goes without saying.
In the days following the issuance of the imperial decree, whenever the Fourth Prince happened to enter the palace and encounter Prince Zhi, Prince Zhi's face would turn dark.
The so-called "personal plowing ceremony" refers to the emperor personally demonstrating or sending officials to cultivate the land.
The Crown Prince was appointed by the Emperor to perform the ceremony of personally plowing the fields; there are many implications behind this.
In February, the Fourth Prince visited the inner courtyard only a handful of times. He visited Consort Wu and Consort Song to see the eldest princess. On the first and fifteenth of the month, he went to the Fujin's place as usual, and then stayed overnight at Li Chenjiao's place four times.
The rest of the time they rest in the front yard.
After dinner, Li Chenjiao heard the Fourth Master explain the process of the Personal Plowing Ceremony.
These procedures are not top secret, and there are no taboos that cannot be mentioned.
After listening, Li Chenjiao simply repeated: "Before noon, we must offer sacrifices to the God of Agriculture. After lunch, the personal plowing ceremony will begin. At that time, when the Crown Prince arrives at his plowing position, if the ox is disobedient—"
Fourth Master raised his hand and covered Li Chenjiao's mouth.
Li Chenjiao blinked, realized she had said the wrong thing, and quickly curtsied to apologize.
If the ox doesn't obey, that's bad luck; to put it more seriously, it could be considered the Crown Prince's fault.
Fourth Prince quickly withdrew his hand: "The oxen used for the imperial plowing ceremony were all trained by the palace staff. The Crown Prince has been getting to know them often lately, so they won't be disobedient."
However, Li Chenjiao's words still served as a reminder to the Fourth Master.
This is neither a big nor a small matter; if it really happens, it will be difficult to handle.
The next day, Fourth Master asked Su Peisheng to personally inspect the ox, naturally using the excuse that he was worried the ox was not strong enough.
When Su Peisheng returned, he reported that the ox was indeed docile.
However, the Fourth Master's actions sent shivers down the spines of certain people in the shadows.
"Could it be that the fourth brother has noticed something? This fourth brother is the most meticulous; we mustn't let him delay important matters."
"Don't worry, brother. The ox is docile and there won't be any problems. No one can find fault with it. It can only be that the Crown Prince is not sincere, so the ceremony of plowing the fields will not be completed, and Heaven will give him a warning."
"I've always trusted you with your work, Eighth Brother. When you get married, I'll have your sister-in-law prepare a generous gift for you, so your wedding won't be too shabby."
Prince Zhi naturally looked down on the Eighth Prince's background, but the Eighth Prince was indeed somewhat useful.
In addition, it was precisely because the Eighth Prince's status was not good, being a lowly maid in the Xin Zhe Ku, that he posed no threat to the Prince Zhi.
Eighth Master lowered his head and said, "Then I thank you in advance, elder brother and sister-in-law."
Eighth Master lowered his head, concealing his emotions very well.
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