On the fourth day, Chu Jinyao went to pay homage to the ancestors of the Great Yan Dynasty. From then on, she became a member of the royal family with a name and surname. After the temple audience, the complicated wedding ceremony finally came to an end, and Qin Yi also resumed his normal routine.

This morning, Chu Jinyao heard someone knocking on the door in a daze, and then there was nothing beside her. Chu Jinyao's chaotic mind slowly remembered that, yes, Qin Yi would resume court today.

The prince was in court, and she, the crown princess, had to get up and help the prince change clothes. Chu Jinyao climbed out of the quilt with difficulty. Qin Yi heard the movement in the bed curtains, and asked Xiao Linzi and others to be quiet first, then he walked to the wedding bed that was like a small house, and gently held Chu Jinyao down.

"It's still early outside, you don't need to get up so early."

"Your Highness has an early court today, I have to help you put on your court dress, how can I continue to sleep?"

"It's okay, Xiao Linzi and the others are here." Qin Yi said, "You don't know how to wear court dress anyway, go to sleep first."

It really makes sense, Chu Jinyao's heart wavered, still a little hesitant: "Your Highness, then I will continue to sleep?"

"Well, sleep."

Chu Jinyao lay back in the warm quilt, and shamefully breathed a sigh of relief. She was completely immersed in the soft quilt, revealing only her little face, and her long black hair flowed on the pillow like water. Chu Jinyao found that Qin Yi was still sitting by the bed and looking at her. She felt a little embarrassed and said softly, "Your Highness, I will learn how to wear court robes right away, and I will be able to help you change clothes later."

Qin Yi laughed and covered her eyes with his hands, "I know, sleep well."

Xiao Linzi and several other attendants were standing outside holding court robes. After discovering that there was movement inside, the Crown Prince went back to comfort the Crown Princess without saying a word. The two of them whispered for a long time in the bed curtains. Xiao Linzi turned his head and made eyes with the eunuch next to him.

However, as soon as Qin Yi came out, several people immediately returned to their solemn appearance, without any expression on their faces. They had a clear division of labor and helped Qin Yi put on a full set of prince's court robes in an orderly manner, and then hugged Qin Yi and walked towards Fengtian Hall.

Qin Yi left before dawn. Chu Jinyao fell into a deep sleep when she heard the noise outside gradually fade away. She woke up slowly at her usual time.

She sat on the bed, stretched her muscles vigorously, put on her inner garment, and called Linglong, Dingxiang and others to come in.

From now on, Qin Yi had to go to court every day, and she also had to pay her respects to the empress. After all, she was the daughter-in-law of the royal family, and she had to pay her respects to her mother-in-law every morning and evening. It was a must.

But it was too difficult to get up early every day in winter. The men who had to attend the morning court had no choice, but the women were naturally delicate and accustomed to it, and the empress also wanted to sleep in. So the empress made a rule that the concubines in the harem had to pay their respects on the first and fifth days of the month, and they didn't have to walk around every day. The same goes for Chu Jinyao, the daughter-in-law.

However, since Chu Jinyao is a daughter-in-law, the queen can say so, but she can't really do it. So Chu Jinyao has to go to Kunning Palace every day. Even if she doesn't see the queen in the end and it's just a wasted trip, it's better than being accused of being unfilial.

When Chu Jinyao went to Kunning Palace, the sun had risen and it was warm on her body. Chu Jinyao, wearing a silver-red cape, holding a heating stove in her hands, with a furry scarf around her neck, walked with a group of palace maids in the corridor of Qianning Palace, and walked towards Lan Yu with a smile: "Aunt Lan Yu, has the queen woken up?"

Lan Yu was the head aunt who led Chu Jinyao into the palace last time when Empress Xiao Qi summoned her. Lan Yu was already quite old, with fine wrinkles in her eyes. She was the most capable and reliable confidant of the queen. Everyone in the palace had to bow and call her "Aunt Lan Yu" when they saw Lan Yu.

Lan Yu saw Chu Jinyao and stopped. When Chu Jinyao came closer, she bowed and said, "The Crown Princess came early. Your Majesty just got up and is still combing her hair inside."

Chu Jinyao nodded and smiled at Lan Yu, saying, "Please tell her, Auntie."

Lan Yu smiled and agreed. Chu Jinyao waited outside the house for a while. The heavy curtain hanging outside the palace door was lifted, and a little palace maid came out and said, "Your Majesty, please let the Crown Princess in. The Crown Princess will come with me."

The palace was heated by a floor heating, which was much warmer than outside. Chu Jinyao took off her cloak with the help of the palace maids, and after warming up her body, she walked inside.

"Your Majesty." Queen

Qi saw the person coming through the mirror and smiled gently: "Didn't you say that you can come here to pay your respects every first and fifth day? Why are you here again?"

"I have nothing to do in the palace, so I came here to learn something."

Queen Qi laughed when she heard it: "You are newlyweds, and the relationship between the young couple is good. You should spend more time with the prince. Why do you always come to me?"

Chu Jinyao lowered her head in fear: "The prince naturally has to be busy with official business, how can he linger in the harem? As the prince's consort, I naturally have to advise my husband and serve my aunt and uncle. How can I be involved in the prince's affairs?" Queen

Qi smiled and nodded: "You are absolutely right." But in her heart she was thinking, this fool.

As expected, a girl who was not raised by a proper mother not only cannot keep up with the scheming and social skills, but also cannot keep up with men.

Empress Qi put jewelry on her head with a jingle, and hairpins inlaid with various gems piled up on the table. Chu Jinyao stood behind and handed a hairpin to Empress Qi from time to time, which was considered as helping her mother-in-law to do her makeup.

After all, she was the Crown Princess. If she lowered her attitude too much and served tea and water to Empress Qi, wouldn't it be to boost others' ambitions and destroy her own prestige? The relationship between Qin Yi and Empress Qi was known to everyone. Even if she wanted to maintain the illusion of harmony with Empress Qi, she couldn't lower herself to the dust. If she did, Qin Yi would lose face and others would laugh at her in private.

Therefore, serving the mother-in-law is really a technical job. You can't just stand here and do nothing, and you can't do too much and look like a maid. It's just right for Chu Jinyao to do some work that seems to be a lot, but in fact it is decent and easy.

Empress Xiao Qi loves beauty the most. She was not satisfied with her bun after doing it several times, and she changed her head ornaments one after another. Chu Jinyao stood by and was shocked when she saw the hairpins that Empress Xiao Qi wore only once and refused to use again.

As the empress and the mother of the country, Chu Jinyao could understand that she was a little extravagant. But, it's good enough...

If you use your own money, then no matter how extravagant it is, it is your business, and others have no right to comment. However, the Empress Dowager Qi used the money from the national treasury...

Chu Jinyao secretly sighed for a while, and felt that there was nothing to say. The Empress Dowager Qi was like this, then considering the Emperor's ability to satisfy women's every request, how huge would the daily expenses of his entire harem be?

No wonder Marquis Changxing always looked hesitant when he mentioned the current emperor before, and no wonder the old man in the inner cabinet regarded Qin Yi more closely than his own grandson. I'm afraid that many people in the court are silently waiting for the emperor to die and the prince to take the throne.

Chu Jinyao quickly suppressed her rebellious thoughts. Others can accidentally reveal such thoughts, but she absolutely cannot. She is the Crown Princess, and her mistakes will implicate Qin Yi. She cannot show any disrespect or anxiety no matter what.

Thinking of this, Chu Jinyao suddenly felt that the royal family was not prosperous, but they were very interesting to each other. As a prince, Qin Yi was not courteous to the wise and humble, not gentle as jade, but allowed himself to offend the empress and openly disobeyed the order. As for the emperor, facing such an untypical prince, although he often had a bad face, he never thought of changing the prince.

Chu Jinyao was the same as others, thinking that Qin Yi had a hot temper, so he often contradicted the emperor. Chu Jinyao always worried that Qin Yi was too rebellious and annoyed the emperor. She quietly reminded Qin Yi on the second day of the wedding. But after observing closely these days, she found that things might not be what she imagined.

A perfect prince is very scary. Qin Yi and the emperor have had a long-standing grudge. If Qin Yi still looks like a humble gentleman, Chu Jinyao, an outsider, will think that the prince is cunning, not to mention the emperor. But Qin Yi showed his grudge in front of the emperor without any concealment, and made his presence felt in front of the emperor day after day, but every time he did it just right, making the emperor angry but not angry.

His grasp of people's hearts and opportunities is very scary.

Chu Jinyao admired him deeply. Qin Yi is Qin Yi. No wonder he has been able to sit firmly on the throne of the prince for more than ten years. Even Empress Xiao Qi couldn't get any good in front of Qin Yi. Now it is indeed Empress Xiao Qi who favors the harem alone and seems to have the upper hand, but Prince Qin Yi, he can totally wait, but what about Empress Xiao Qi?

Xiao Qi Hou is now like sand in the water, looking majestic and majestic, but with every day and every year, her advantage is slipping away. So Chu Jinyao now has the same plan, she will not fight with Xiao Qi Hou, she just waits and wastes time, and she can win. Xiao Qi Hou

picked and chose for a long time, and after an hour, she was finally satisfied with the dress, and Chu Jinyao also stood there for an hour. The little Queen looked at the mirror with satisfaction, reached out to touch the ruby ​​hairpin on her head, and said to Chu Jinyao insincerely: "Crown Princess, you must be tired from standing. I combed your hair for so long today, thank you for keeping you waiting."

"Your Majesty, you worry too much. You are naturally beautiful. I watched you comb your hair and learned a lot without realizing it. I couldn't wait to watch you for a while longer. How could you be tired?" The

little Queen Qi chuckled. There is no woman who doesn't like to be praised for her beauty, and the little Queen Qi, who was conceited about her appearance, was even more so. She stood up slowly and let Lan Yu help her walk out: "The Crown Princess is really good at talking. Life in the palace is boring, so only you can come and talk to me and make me happy."

Empress Xiao Qi suddenly used "this palace", and Chu Jinyao secretly felt uneasy. When Empress Xiao Qi was in a good mood, she always called herself "I". If she changed to a respectful title, she would definitely be unhappy.

It was fine just now, and no one made Empress Xiao Qi unhappy. What did she remember that made her mood change so much?

Nanny Chu Jinyao pondered what Empress Xiao Qi had just said, and slowly realized that the problem should be with the emperor.

After all, even if Empress Xiao Qi was still favored, there were so many beauties in the harem, and the emperor was dividing them up day by day. How many days could he stay with Empress Xiao Qi? Chu Jinyao had seen the splendor of the emperor's harem with her own eyes. It was not an exaggeration to say that there were so many beauties.

This was a matter between the emperor and Empress Qi. Chu Jinyao did not intend to intervene except to think about it in her heart. What did the relationship between her father-in-law and mother-in-law have to do with her? What's more, this was her stepmother-in-law.

When Chu Jinyao came, it was sunrise time, full of vigor. By the time Empress Qi finished dressing up lazily, an hour had passed. Most of the day was wasted like this.

Everyone in the palace lived such a leisurely and luxurious life. It was already high in the sun, and the second princess had just finished washing up and came to pay her respects to Empress Qi. When Empress Xiao Qi saw her daughter, she immediately smiled. She thought Chu Jinyao was a nuisance, so she sent him away in a few words.

Chu Jinyao was very happy and took the opportunity to say goodbye. After leaving Kunning Palace, Chu Jinyao seemed to have some feelings and looked at the second princess who was sitting in front of the window and acting coquettishly to Empress Xiao Qi.

There were three princes and three princesses in the palace. Qin Yi, the second prince, and the eldest princess were all born before Empress Xiao Qi entered the palace. The third prince and the second princess were born to Empress Xiao Qi. In other words, after Empress Xiao Qi ascended the throne, except for Empress Xiao Qi herself, only the third princess was born safely in the palace.

And the third princess' mother was pregnant by Empress Xiao Qi when she was pregnant. Because of this incident, the third princess has been following the second princess until now, being submissive and not daring to act on her own.

Chu Jinyao suddenly remembered the palace maid she accidentally spotted when she went out that day.

Chu Jinyao thought a lot in her mind, but her expression remained the same. The water here is too deep, and she'd better not get involved. Even if she has to, she must do it on the right foot.

Chu Jinyao returned to Ciqing Palace thoughtfully. Not long after she sat down, Linglong came in lightly and whispered to Chu Jinyao: "Crown Princess, those four people seem to be making trouble these days. Erxue has been tolerant everywhere, as if she wants to regain the trust of the four of them."

"It's not up to her." Chu Jinyao said, "Take out the Lusi horse from the box, pick the one with the light blue Ruyi twisted branches, and give it to Erxue as a reward."

Linglong accepted the order, and she said, "Crown Princess, the two maids who taught you to behave yourself before have nothing to do, and they rely on their status as your foster maids to boss people around in the palace. Look, are we..."

Chu Jinyao also had a headache after hearing this. These two maids were sent by the queen to teach Chu Jinyao to behave herself before marriage. Due to the title of foster maid, Chu Jinyao couldn't touch them, but she couldn't let them take charge either. She could only keep them in high esteem and spend money to buy peace. These two people can get a lot of support without doing anything, but they are still restless and keep making decisions in Ciqing Palace, trying to show off their power as the benefactor of the Crown Princess. How can Chu Jinyao keep them to continue to ruin her reputation? Moreover, if she wants to continue to hide from the Queen, these two people must be eliminated.

However, there are also some considerations on how to eliminate them.

Chu Jinyao thought for a while and shook her head to Linglong: "We can't do anything, so let's keep them for now. I have other arrangements later."

Linglong said "ah" and went downstairs.

When Chu Jinyao came back from Kunning Palace, most of the morning had passed. She asked a little about the things in the palace, and then it was time for lunch. Just now, Xiao Linzi came to report that Qin Yi would not be back at noon today, so Chu Jinyao could only eat by herself.

The meals in the palace were all sent from the Yu Kitchen. No one dared to treat the meals sent to the East Palace harshly. In such a cold day, they were still steaming hot when they were sent. It was obviously a rule that the Yu Kitchen would prepare the meals for the East Palace first, and then send the eunuchs to deliver them as soon as they were out of the pot. Chu Jinyao asked someone to give the eunuch a reward. The eunuch pinched the silver in his purse, and was so happy that he knelt down and kowtowed to Chu Jinyao.

The palace has a lot of rules. Each palace has a set number of dishes and soups for three meals a day according to their status. If the empress in the palace wants to eat something else, she has to spend money to ask the Yushanfang to open a small stove. Only a few large palaces in the palace have their own small kitchens, such as Kunning Palace, Cining Palace, Ciqing Palace, etc. However, these stoves can only cook porridge and soup. If you want to cook a big dish, you still have to go to the Yushanfang.

But even so, having a small kitchen is also very convenient. For example, Chu Jinyao never has to consider other people's eyes when she wants to use hot water. Whenever she wants to use it, she can ask someone in her own palace to cook it.

Chu Jinyao had his meal and slept comfortably on the couch for half an hour before getting up to arrange other things. Ciqing Palace was the residence of the crown princes of all dynasties, so it was repaired all year round and was solemn and spacious. From the outside, Ciqing Palace looked like a long courtyard, with the outer hall in front, where Qin Yi studied, met with close ministers, and received imperial edicts.

Walking through the hall in the middle, you will reach the inner hall. Walking into the hall, you will see a screen wall in front of you. Going around the screen wall, you will see five tall palaces in front of you, facing north and south, with three pavilions in front and back, and side rooms on the left and right. There are three side halls on the east and west sides of the main hall, and four inverted rooms on both sides of the hall in the south, which are used to accommodate servants. The eaves on all four sides are connected by corridors, and small doors are opened at the four corners. When opened, they can easily be integrated into the corridor outside. Once closed, this is an independent palace complex.

There is also a small courtyard behind the main hall. A small door is opened behind the side room, which is not connected to the outside palace road. If you want to go out, you must pass through the main hall where Chu Jinyao is. Now it is used to store large items. When there are other concubines in the East Palace, they should be moved here.

Chu Jinyao lives in the main hall, which is five rooms wide, with three side pavilions extending to the north and south, making the space quite spacious. Whether it is a palace or a private garden, it is most taboo to see everything at a glance, so many spaces in the palace are divided by screens, partitions, and gauze cabinets. Chu Jinyao and Qin Yi's bedroom is the innermost one on the west side. Chu Jinyao often receives guests and meets people in the three side pavilions in front. The three side pavilions in the back are close to their bedroom and are already very private places.

Chu Jinyao plans to tidy up the furnishings of the main hall of Ciqing Palace today. Qin Yi used to live here alone, and he often stayed in the outer hall in front, so he rarely used other places except the bedroom. It's not that the rest of the palace is dusty and deserted. On the contrary, the agate and porcelain on the Baibao Pavilion are wiped every day, and the hanging curtains on both sides of the artificial partition doors are also replaced regularly. It's just that although the furnishings in the palace are gorgeous, there is always a sense of coldness. Chu Jinyao wants to make this place more lively.

Chu Jinyao walked to the east and looked around slowly. The lighting here is good and the place is large enough. It is suitable for a study. Qin Yi's own study is in the front hall. Chu Jinyao brought pens, ink, chess and music in her dowry. Although she doesn't use them often, she also wants to have a place for herself to calm down and practice calligraphy.

No matter where Chu Jinyao goes, she will be followed by a large number of palace maids and eunuchs. Chu Jinyao looked at the east room for a while, and after figuring out how to change it, he instructed the eunuch behind him: "Move these vases and this wooden lattice to the front wing, push this wooden cabinet to the corner of the wall, and expose the window first..."

Chu Jinyao was directing everyone here, and his voice soon spread outside. The head palace maid Qiu Chan ran in, and when she saw these people touching the Crown Prince's furnishings, she glared at them angrily: "How dare you! Your Highness's things?"

Chu Jinyao came back from outside, and frowned when she heard this, and said lightly: "I asked them to change it."

Qiu Chan turned around and saw that it was Chu Jinyao. She suppressed her displeasure and saluted Chu Jinyao, then said: "Hello, Crown Princess. Crown Princess, these are His Highness's things, and they have not been touched for so many years. I'm afraid His Highness will be unhappy if you change them so suddenly."

Chu Jinyao glanced at Qiu Chan and recognized that she was the head palace maid beside Qin Yi, who had been working for Zi Yan for many years. Qiu Chan is still in charge of the affairs of the inner hall of Ciqing Palace. Chu Jinyao doesn't want to appear anxious, so she lets everything in the palace go on as usual and lets these old people handle all the important matters. On the contrary, Linglong, Dingxiang and other maids beside Chu Jinyao have only been serving Chu Jinyao these days and have not been assigned any tasks.

Chu Jinyao replied calmly in a flat tone: "This is a matter between me and His Highness. If he doesn't like it, he will naturally tell me. Why are you so anxious when His Highness hasn't said anything yet?"

Chu Jinyao didn't change his arrangements before she was familiar with them for the sake of Qin Yi's face, but this did not mean that a little palace maid could question her decision. Chu Jin looked for a while and found that Qiu Chan was still standing there. Chu Jinyao glanced at her and said, "Qiu Chan, they still have things to move. If you don't have anything else to do, don't block their way. Just get out of the way."

Qiu Chan pursed her lips and said nothing. Another senior palace maid, Yuyan, heard the voice and saw this scene. She hurriedly pulled Qiu Chan away and said, "Please forgive me, Crown Princess. Qiu Chan is outspoken and is used to asking directly about everything. She is not neglecting your orders. I will apologize to you on her behalf! If your princess wants to move something, I will lend a hand."

Chu Jinyao glanced at Yuyan and Qiu Chan. Qiu Chan was pulled behind by Yuyan. She seemed dissatisfied, but Yuyan held her wrist tightly. Chu Jinyao didn't want to argue with the two palace maids, so after scolding them a few times, she waved her hand and said, "Although I am not as good as Your Highness in the East Palace, I don't like someone who doesn't even understand things clearly and rushes in in a hurry to stop my orders. This time, considering that this is your first offense and you are in charge of people outside, I will give you this face and will not pursue your dereliction of duty. If there is a next time, I will not be able to protect you. Okay, get out."

Yuyan quickly saluted Chu Jinyao, then pulled Qiu Chan out. When they were alone, Yuyan turned around and glared at her: "Are you crazy? That's the Crown Princess. How dare you question her?"

"But that's His Royal Highness's decoration. It's been like that for many years. We have to wipe both sides every day. How long has she been here? How can she change it so easily?"

Yuyan couldn't believe what she heard: "What are you thinking! The Crown Princess is His Royal Highness's legal wife. The entire East Palace's internal affairs are under her control. It's just a few changes. What's the big deal?"

Qiu Chan still didn't accept it. The two of them were arguing when a group of people suddenly walked out of the hall. Qiu Chan's eyes lit up and he ran over immediately: "Your Royal Highness!"

Xiao Linzi stretched out his hand to stop Qiu Chan. Xiao Linzi has a very high status in the East Palace. Although Qiu Chan and Yuyan are the maids-in-waiting who are in charge of internal affairs, they cannot compare with Xiao Linzi, who is a popular person serving the prince. Qiu Chan was very excited to see Xiao Linzi. She called him "Eunuch Lin" and then saluted Qin Yi across the crowd: "Your Highness, you cannot enter the palace for the time being."

Qin Yi stopped and asked, "Why?" "

The Crown Princess is directing the servants to move things inside, saying that she wants to make major changes to the layout of the East Palace."

Qin Yi was upset and scared him. He thought something was wrong. Qin Yi continued to walk inside without caring much, saying: "If she wants to change it, she can change it, just don't knock herself."

Qiu Chan's eyes widened in disbelief. That was the decoration that His Highness had been used to for more than ten years. How could he change it just like that? Qin Yi had already walked away quickly. Qiu Chan lowered his head and bit his lips silently.

Yuyan saw Qin Yi off respectfully. After Qin Yi entered the house, she walked to Qiu Chan and looked at Qiu Chan with a penetrating look: "I will keep today's matter a secret for the time being and will not tell Aunt Zi Yan. You take care of yourself. If there is a next time, don't blame me for not reminding you."

Chu Jinyao struggled in the house for a long time and finally arranged a rough appearance. She vaguely heard Qin Yi coming back, and immediately put down what she was doing and walked to the main room.

"Your Highness?" Chu Jinyao came out and found that it was Qin Yi. She was overjoyed. "Your Highness, why did you come back so early today?"

"There was nothing to do in Wenhua Palace, so I came back first."

In fact, it was not. Qin Yi lived in Ciqing Palace, but he handled daily court affairs and approved documents on behalf of the emperor in Wenhua Palace. Wenhua Palace was very close to Wenyuan Pavilion, where the inner cabinet was located, and there was only one door between them. From Wenyuan Pavilion to Ciqing Palace, where the prince lived, it only took a cup of tea.

Therefore, the prince was really a very important position. He could often meet the emperor in the inner cabinet and get along with the people in the inner cabinet day and night. It was not an exaggeration to say that the prince was the crown prince.

In the past, Qin Yi, due to his sensitive status, would always stay in the outer hall for a while after returning from Wenhua Hall to handle state affairs, to discuss the gains and losses of the day with Zhan Shi from the East Palace, or to read a book and calm his mind. But recently, as soon as the things in Wenhua Hall were finished, Qin Yi wanted to go back.

Chu Jinyao didn't need to know all this. Qin Yi pulled Chu Jinyao over out of habit and asked, "I heard that you were going to clean up the study today? Isn't it too boring to stay alone there?"

"Not really." Chu Jinyao was embarrassed to admit it, so he excused himself, "I always feel that I'm far behind, and I want to make up for it in the afternoon when I have nothing to do."

Qin Yi was interested when he heard this: "What do you want to learn?"

Chu Jinyao took Qin Yi to read the books he brought. Qin Yi held Chu Jinyao in one hand and took out a few books with the other hand. He glanced at the titles of the books and couldn't help laughing.

"What are you doing reading these?"

"To study the Four Books and Five Classics." Chu Jinyao answered seriously, "When I went to see Princess Baoqing, I heard them say that they were disciplined by their families to read these since they were young. Zhao Lanhui even started to study with his brothers in the clan."

Qin Yi couldn't help laughing more and more. He held Chu Jinyao and sat on the couch beside him, looking at Chu Jinyao with a smile: "You are the only one who believes this."