Spring goes and autumn comes, following the natural order. Zhao Shu felt that she had just arrived in Guanzhou when the first snow arrived.
Guanzhou is located in the south, but it can't really be considered the south. It's situated on the border between the south and the north, and it has four distinct seasons. When it's time to snow, it doesn't hesitate, and when it's time for spring to arrive, it doesn't linger. Oh no, isn't spring a season of lingering and lingering?
Upon receiving a message from the Huo family, they said that the auspicious snow foretells a bumper harvest, and it is the perfect time to see the camellias. They invited Zhao Shu and her granddaughter to go to Camellia Mountain to see the camellias.
Zhao Shu was somewhat surprised. Huo Danlan hadn't actually invited her and Sun Yun to see the camellias. She had said that she would take the two of them if the Empress Dowager granted permission, implying that they could just say when they wanted to go.
However, Zhao Shu still asked Green Ivy to inquire about the weather conditions in Guanzhou in previous years.
Having become familiar with the place, Green Ivy moved quickly, and within half an hour she had asked the people of Guanzhou and found out everything she wanted to know, including the exact date of the snowfall the year before last.
He quickly returned to report, "Princess, the snow is going to continue for another two or three days, just like every year. Shall we still go to Chamei Mountain?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shu placed the hand warmer on the high table and straightened her sleeves. "Go and fetch my off-white brocade fur-trimmed cloak."
"Oh." Wan Dong hurriedly went to fetch Zhao Shu's cloak and draped it over her shoulders.
Donning her cloak, Zhao Shu grasped the brazier on the high table, pulled her dragon-patterned cloak up, and pulled the hood over her head before heading out.
Helpless, Green Ivy and the others could only follow, arriving at Fengxin Palace. The Empress Dowager was talking to Zhang Chu about when Prince Yong would return to the capital. Prince Yong had not sent a letter and they did not know where he was. He had inspected the entire Dayong region, and it would probably take at least half a year to complete the task. Several months had passed since then.
Seeing Zhao Shu approach, the Empress Dowager said disapprovingly, "It's cold, don't catch a cold."
"I understand, Your Majesty. I'm all warm and cozy. But you, please keep practicing your Tai Chi." Zhao Shu put down the hand warmer and sat on a round stool next to the Empress Dowager. A silver charcoal hand warmer was placed beside her, and Zhang Chu and Ji Yun were doing needlework.
"Is your father's clothing ready?" the Empress Dowager suddenly asked.
Zhao Shu was taken aback, a little embarrassed, "Soon." Embroidery is not an easy task, and she hasn't had much free time lately, as she's been very busy with the shop.
However, she did not forget the robes she made for her father, and she made them every day.
The Empress Dowager didn't urge her; she was happy as long as she could do it herself. In the past, she wished that her granddaughter wasn't Prince Yong's biological daughter.
"Princess, hurry up and finish the Prince's brocade robe, and make one for the Empress Dowager as well. The Empress Dowager will surely be very happy to wear the clothes made by the Princess," Zhang Chu said from the side.
Recently, Zhao Shu and Sun Yun have been learning housekeeping from Zhang Chu. Although it hasn't been long, they still need to study for about two hours every day.
Hearing Zhang Chu's words, Zhao Shu smiled shyly, "A-Jun will definitely make one for the Empress Dowager." The pressure is immense…
The Empress Dowager could easily see her predicament. Instead of making her granddaughter do needlework, it would be better to give her a few taels of silver and let her open a shop.
She had heard about Zhao Shu's plan to open a shop, but since the Huo family was involved, she didn't bother with it. However, with the Huo family watching over her, no matter how reckless she acted, nothing too serious would happen.
"Grandmother." Zhao Shu hesitated for a while before speaking, "Grandmother, you promised me and Ayun last time that we could go with Aunt Huo to Chamei Mountain to see the camellias, does that still stand? Are you going?"
"You little monkey." The Empress Dowager had just told her not to catch a cold, and she answered so well a moment ago, but the next moment she wanted to go see the camellia. "Miss Huo didn't invite me, and I rushed over like that. Am I so uncultured?"
"No, that's not it. Aunt Huo was afraid that Your Majesty wouldn't accept. Besides, the camellias don't fade until April, so welcoming the Empress Dowager in the spring would be the most appropriate time. The reason Aunt Huo agreed to take her granddaughter and A-Yun to see it in advance was because A-Yun begged her so persistently." Zhao Shu quickly explained without thinking, regretting her words as soon as they left her mouth. She shouldn't have said that, even though she genuinely wanted to go with the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager was too lazy to argue. If Zhao Shu were perfect, she would suspect that her granddaughter was too scheming. Such minor flaws were actually a good thing. "Don't say anything nice. I'm old and can't talk to you young people. I only want to ask you, did the Huo family girl really go with you?"
Zhao Shu nodded quickly, "Auntie is going too."
"Since you're going, I'm relieved. Go early and come back early, don't cause trouble for the Huo family girl. You and your granddaughter together are enough to make the sky fall." The Empress Dowager shook her head and smiled as she thought of Zhao Shu's actions a few days ago, but she was also secretly worried. This granddaughter was too audacious. If she was bullied, she could come to her to complain. If Zhao Zhong wanted to seek justice for her granddaughter, couldn't she stand up for her granddaughter?
However, her granddaughter didn't cause her any trouble at all. In just one day, Zhao Zhongshi lost her power in managing the household affairs and is now completely suppressed by a concubine. She deserves it.
Having received the Empress Dowager's permission, Zhao Shu hurriedly expressed her gratitude and even gave the Empress Dowager a quick kiss before running away, leaving Zhang Chu and the others grinning from ear to ear.
“The princess is even cuter than before,” Hongxia said from the side.
"She has no manners or etiquette. It's only because you all used her shampoo that you speak well of her. Where is she the proper lady of a noble family?" The Empress Dowager couldn't hide her smile, but she refused to admit that she was happy.
"Yes, yes, yes, it was because we servants received bribes from the princess that we spoke the truth with our eyes open," Ji Yun added.
Everyone then laughed happily.
Only Zhang Chu's eyes flashed with a sigh. If Miss Huo really had a serious illness and couldn't marry the prince, what a pity that would be. If someone else had invited the princess to see the camellia today, the Empress Dowager would definitely not have agreed.
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