Li Chenjiao disagreed, but still copied the Buddhist scriptures out of a desire to practice calligraphy.
As for the Fujin (principal wife), although she claims to be a Buddhist, she hasn't copied many Buddhist scriptures, but she has studied accounts and personnel quite a bit. As soon as the Fourth Prince left, she was in a hurry to place people in her place.
Li Chenjiao gradually found enjoyment in the long process of copying Buddhist scriptures. She would copy a few pages at a fixed time every day, and her days were quite fulfilling.
With the Double Ninth Festival approaching, the Princess Consort was busy winning people's hearts, so this year's Double Ninth Festival was not celebrated in a grand manner, but rather many gifts were given to various places.
As Li Chenjiao listened to Qiu Ci speak, she held the book and smiled gently.
"Princess, this servant has found out. Although I don't know who the servant who tried to push you that day was, I've discovered that it's related to Miss Hu." Xiao Luzi entered and bowed.
Li Chenjiao stopped laughing, her face unusually serious: "Why is it her again? She really is..."
"You really want to harm me? Keep an eye on that side..."
Li Chenjiao doesn't like to use her hands much. She thinks it's too much trouble to solve things with her hands when she can solve them with words.
But some people just won't give up until they've reached the Yellow River, so it's better to cut the weeds at the root.
"Perfect timing, Miss Hu is strolling in the courtyard, punishing the maids in the garden again," Xiao Luzi said.
Hu Shi, regardless of her background, truly doesn't treat servants and maids like human beings. This isn't the first time she's punished someone like this, and I don't know where she gets her confidence from.
People are probably like this: bullying the weak and fearing the strong. First, Bai Jia bullied Miss Xu, and now this Miss Hu is also bullying the servants. Isn't that just bullying the weak and fearing the strong?
Pah!
Li Chenjiao, unaware of what Xiao Luzi was thinking, picked up the round fan from the table, stood up, and said, "It's been a while since I've strolled around the garden. Let's go take a look."
Qiu Ci readily agreed and helped Li Chenjiao up.
The three of them, master and servants, came out of the east courtyard. It was a coincidence, or perhaps it was just that Madam Hu was walking from the corner of the garden to the entrance of the east courtyard.
What a coincidence!
Behind Madam Hu was a little maid, her head hanging down, looking extremely frightened.
Li Chenjiao watched as Madam Hu frowned and curtsied, her smile widening.
"What is the princess laughing at?" Madam Hu asked with a smile, getting up on her own.
Li Chenjiao raised an eyebrow and glanced at Madam Hu: "Did I wake you up?" Her voice was unusually cold.
Madam Hu pouted and said, "This servant thought that Your Highness is magnanimous and would not make this servant feel ashamed, would she?" After saying this, she covered her mouth and laughed again.
Li Chenjiao gently stroked her temple, her hand, painted with cinnabar nail polish, slowly brushing the crabapple blossoms at her temple: "Then you're mistaken. I'm the most petty. Saying I'm magnanimous is for the Fujin. Are you trying to sow discord between me and the Fujin? What are your intentions?"
Madam Hu was indignant. "Just a princess, what right does she have to be so arrogant?" she thought. She snorted, her eyes darting around. "This servant is clumsy with words, unlike you, princess, who is so sharp-tongued. Every word you utter sounds like you're about to devour me..."
Li Chenjiao gently touched the crabapple blossom in her hair, with an azalea tucked beside it. She lowered her hand slightly and turned to look at Madam Hu.
"Smack!"
"You hit me?" Madam Hu glared angrily, covering her face with one hand while staring fiercely at Li Chenjiao.
Li Chenjiao took the handkerchief Qiu Ci handed her and wiped her hands. She lowered her eyes as she wiped her hands and said indifferently, "To correct you, I don't eat people, but I do hit people."
The azalea blossoms tucked behind her temples suddenly fell, landing in the mud.
Li Chenjiao curled her lips, her alluring lipstick making her even more beautiful and charming: "But if you don't accept my beating, I can still eat you up."
Madam Hu was frightened, but she was a fool, and even so, she still said, "Gege Li is so arrogant. Even the Fujin (madam) has no right to hit people, let alone Gege Li. I think it is Gege Li who wants to disrespect the Fujin."
Li Chen chuckled and said, "Little Lu, Miss Hu has been beating and scolding a servant without permission, which is an act of insubordination. Go and report to the Fujin immediately and ask her to investigate."
Madam Hu's face turned deathly pale. She forced herself to say, "You... how dare you... spout such nonsense! When did I ever beat or scold a servant? It was clearly you who hit me!"
Li Chenjiao was wearing soft-soled embroidered shoes today. However, Li Chenjiao was tall and slender, and when facing Hu Shi, she gave off a rather domineering feeling.
"Nonsense? The face of the maid following you is the best evidence. You say I hit you? Who saw it?" Li Chenjiao looked at the maid behind Hu Shi.
The girl had raised her head by then, and the slap marks on her fair face were particularly obvious.
The maid was quick-witted and immediately knelt down: "Please, Lady Li, do justice! Our young lady... our young lady often beats and scolds us... Please, Lady Li, do justice!"
Li Chenjiao stared at Madam Hu and slowly smiled: "Miss Hu, have you understood? Who hit whom? This is the Prince's mansion, not a brothel. The Princess is kind and generous, but I can't stand any injustice. Xiao Lu, why don't you go to the main courtyard and report to the Princess?"
Ignoring Hu Shi's pale face, Li Chenjiao turned around, the begonia flower in her hair fluttering gently, leaving only a graceful silhouette.
Qiu Ci, supporting Li Chenjiao, asked with a grin, "Princess... is this a warning to others?"
Li Chenjiao giggled twice, her little face soft: "I'm just telling the truth. Since you're so kind, I'll play the bad guy."
Qiu Ci laughed along, feeling very relieved. Today's show of making an example of someone was quite clever.
Li Chenjiao walked inside, her hand gently stroking the yellow pear wood table and chairs, then gently stroking the rouge-red teacup with its dark floral pattern, a smile playing on her lips.
Since she's a favored concubine, why bother with being virtuous and gentle? Virtuous and gentle is only for the Fourth Prince's presence, in front of the women in the inner quarters. Virtuous and gentle? Who is she trying to impress?
If you're going to take the path of becoming a favored concubine, then go all the way with your arrogance and domineering attitude. With that kind of face, losing favor is still a long way off.
She's really fallen out of favor. It's not like she's broke; money makes the world go round.
If you're not a little arrogant, people will really think you're easy to bully. They're already trying to kill you, so why should you greet them with a smile?
Li Chenjiao gently stroked the rouge-red teacup with its subtle floral pattern, and asked with a smile, "How come I don't remember having such a teacup?"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Hu smiled and replied, "This was brought by Su Peisheng when Fourth Master came last time. It's something Fourth Master uses on a daily basis. It's been sitting there for several days, and I was just about to put it away."
Li Chenjiao said "Oh," and looked at the items with her chin in her hand. The things that the Fourth Master likes are quite consistent.
I don't like anything flashy, so the things I use every day are all solid colors—simple, elegant, and yet incredibly beautiful.
"Princess, the Fujin has dealt with Hu Shi." Xiao Luzi came in panting.
Li Chenjiao looked up at Xiao Luzi, who was covered in sweat: "You've had a hard time. What did the Fujin say?"
Xiao Luzi bowed and stood up to answer: "At first, he didn't say anything, only that Hu's meals should be halved, and that Hu should reflect on her actions. He also said... he also said that the princess was too violent, and that the princess should copy an extra volume of Buddhist scriptures in the future."
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