As they walked into the mansion, servants knelt the entire way.
"The princess's idea is truly insightful. Sendai Inn has a large lake with shady willows along its banks. It would be cool and comfortable to live there," Granny Zhong reported to the Empress Dowager with a smile. This was the only advantage she could think of for Sendai Inn at the moment.
The Empress Dowager was not bound by where she lived; this was her son's residence, which was also her home. She genuinely loved Prince Yong and Zhao Shu, and as the saying goes, home is where family is.
“My grandmother lives in Sendai-in, so what about me?” Crown Prince Zhao Yi asked.
"There's none for you," Zhao Shu interrupted.
Zhao Yi wasn't angry. She turned her head away, her nostrils flaring, and said, "Then I'll stay at your Qionghua Courtyard!"
"You shameless!" Zhao Shu's face turned red with anger. It turned out that His Highness the Crown Prince was willing to disregard everything. To borrow Ajiu's words, he had no morals at all.
"Nonsense!" the Empress Dowager scolded, then turned and poked Zhao Shu's forehead. "You're acting like a girl, what are you doing fooling around with that rascal?"
"Grandmother, it was clearly my brother, the Crown Prince, who bullied me." Zhao Shu pouted and tried to shift the blame, but she failed.
"Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? You want to shut Yi'er up, but you won't give her any candy. Who did you take after?"
As they were talking, they arrived at Sendai-in.
Sendai-in is adjacent to Qionghua-in and far from where the concubines of the mansion live. There is also a large lake, making it the best place to escape the summer heat.
Upon entering the Moon Gate, the first thing that catches the eye is the lush green willows, planted since the establishment of the government, which have now become old willows after more than ten years.
It was the height of summer, and just as Granny Zhong had said, the lush willows provided shade, making it a perfect place to escape the heat.
A path paved with pebbles runs along the lake shore, and serissa japonica trees are planted along the way.
After walking for a while, a corridor appeared. Passing through the corridor, there were several buildings. From a distance, roses could be vaguely seen behind the eaves.
After walking for a long time, the Empress Dowager was already exhausted. Even the most beautiful flowers in front of her could no longer be recognized.
"Granny, please help the Empress Dowager wash up first. It's very hot, so please be careful."
"Yes." Granny Zhong hurriedly responded, took the Empress Dowager's arm from Crown Prince Zhao Yi, and together with Zhao Shu, helped her to the bath.
Although time was short, everything needed for the bathhouse was prepared. When the Empress Dowager arrived at the bathhouse, she said, "Ah Jun, take a bath too. You've been sweating a lot, and it's quite greasy."
Zhao Shu had other matters to attend to and it wasn't a good time for a bath, so she said, "Well, Ah Jun, go back to Qionghua Courtyard to bathe and change. You can come back to talk to Grandmother later."
"Go ahead." The Empress Dowager waved her hand, feeling that her old bones were truly useless; she was exhausted after walking only a few steps.
After she left, Prince Yong had already gone to Chensong Courtyard, and Zhao Shu was then blocked by Crown Prince Zhao Yi.
"Ah Jun, do you want to know what you're lacking?"
"I don't want to." She continued walking past Zhao Yi without stopping.
Zhao Yi followed behind her with a cheerful smile. "Ah Jun, I didn't expect your mansion to have such a nice place. Hey, do you see that pavilion? It's so high. Standing on it, you can definitely have a panoramic view of the entire mansion."
Following his hand, Zhao Shu nodded. It was indeed a good place. The artificial hill was very large, with a pavilion on top. From the foot of the hill, there were steps made of bluestone slabs, leading up step by step.
In her past life, she was either at home learning the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting that noble ladies were expected to learn, or in the palace, or occasionally accompanying Lin Xiuxue to various gatherings organized by noble ladies.
In order to integrate into their circle, she put in a lot of effort, but she overlooked what she already had. She was quite surprised to find that there was such a rockery in the mansion.
"Crown Prince, let me take you to your courtyard." Zhao Shu didn't want to say more; recalling the unpleasant memories of her past life, she wasn't in a good mood.
Zhao Yi glanced at Zhao Shu with a strange look and noticed that the girl who had been joking with him just moments before had suddenly changed her expression. However, he was already used to it; it would be strange if Zhao Shu suddenly became gentle and mild-mannered.
Do you not see Princess Zirou, who hides whenever she is seen in the palace?
The Crown Prince's arrival was unexpected. For a moment, Zhao Shu couldn't think of a place to put him. After thinking it over, the only option seemed to be the main courtyard.
As the crown prince, living in the main courtyard is just right. Moreover, apart from the study, the rest of the main courtyard is managed by Granny Zhuang, so there is no need to spend a lot of time renovating it.
Given her father's aversion to the main courtyard, Zhao Shu reminded him, "Brother Crown Prince, my father doesn't like coming to the main courtyard. If he doesn't come to the main courtyard to see you, please don't think anything of it."
"Oh, I know, you old hag, you're so nagging." The Crown Prince felt a pang of resentment. In the past, Ah Jun had been much kinder to him than to his Nineteenth Uncle.
Zhao Shu nodded, "Then you should go take a bath and change your clothes first, and then go to Sendai-in. My father and I will go there later."
"Go quickly, I won't see you off." The Crown Prince, supporting his wounded heart, went to bathe and change his clothes, and Xiao Yingzi hurriedly led people over to serve him.
Zhao Shu breathed a sigh of relief and returned to Qionghua Courtyard. She immediately summoned Bi Qiao and said, "Bi Qiao, I hope that before the Empress Dowager returns to the palace, none of the concubines will appear and disturb her. Also, please send someone to spread the word that on the seventh day of the seventh month, I will go with the Empress Dowager to Lin Xiuxue's house for a tea party."
"Yes, Princess." Bi Qiao quickly and accurately grasped the key point in Zhao Shu's words and relayed it!
"Alright, you may leave now. Are Uncle Fu and Granny Zhuang outside?" Zhao Shu waved for her to leave.
"Yes," Bi Qiao answered truthfully.
"By the way, how are those maids being trained?" This question refers to the palace maids that the Empress Dowager sent last time.
Bi Qiao replied respectfully, "It's usable now. Would the princess like to see it?"
"Yes, see you tomorrow. You may leave now. Let Uncle Fu and Granny Zhuang come in."
Uncle Fu and Granny Zhuang entered and bowed, "Princess."
Zhao Shu waved for them to stand up and then got straight to the point, "Uncle Fu, sort out the money in the manor and show me the account books. Granny, go find Granny Guo and tell her to prepare well so that I can go to Qingge's wedding in a few days."
"Yes," the two bowed in response.
After explaining everything, she was then helped by Green Ivy to bathe and change.
These past few days, Green Ivy has been going to see Granny Zhuang and Bi Qiao every day to learn etiquette for several hours, and she has become increasingly composed lately.
They are very organized and have great potential.
"Princess, Xiao Zhu has sent word back. When will you like to read it?" She scooped a ladle of water into the bathtub and said softly.
The sound was very soft; only Zhao Shu could hear it.
"Send a message? To whom? Is it reliable?"
Having learned from her past life's experience, she dared not be careless in the slightest. Her first thought was whether she would be taken advantage of or fall into someone's trap.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
