Eunuch Li bowed to Wanyan Wenliu and smiled as he accepted the purse containing half a bag of gold melon seeds: "Deputy Chief, please take care. If you need anything, just give me a word."
"You're too kind, Eunuch Li." Wanyan Wenliu didn't put on airs. She was originally just a palace maid, and she only got to where she is today because of the favor of the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Guo. She was very familiar with the thoughts of these palace maids and eunuchs and did not want to make enemies.
Li Gonggong was quite pleased to see Wanyan Wenliu off, but as soon as he turned around, his expression turned much more sinister: "Come on, guard the gates of Changchun Palace for the Emperor. The Empress is not well and needs to rest. Let me see who dares to wander around recklessly!"
The guards at Changchun Palace have become increasingly tight, but the palace servants inside are still unaware, overjoyed at the rewards they have just received.
In the Palace Administration Office, Wanyan Wenliu reported the information he had obtained to Qian Shengyan in detail, and then said, "This humble subject will now check the list of the Laundry Bureau..."
“No need.” Qian Shengyan smiled slightly as she looked at the unfamiliar name. “There’s no need to check the laundry department. Go check the former Yuqing Palace and Xian’an Palace to see if this nanny’s name is there.”
These two places...
Wanyan Wenliu was startled, but didn't ask any further questions. After bowing, he took his leave.
Qian Shengyan still didn't quite understand. She now knew that Princess Shushen had sent this old nanny into the palace, but then what?
What kind of trouble could an old nanny, trapped in Changchun Palace and unable to go out, possibly cause?
Infectious disease? If this old nanny really had a disease, would Ulanara still keep her in the palace to serve her?
Qian Shengyan couldn't figure it out, so she could only put it aside for the time being. Fortunately, the situation wasn't one where the enemy was in the dark and she was in the light. In fact, she was slightly ahead and would soon be able to find out the old woman's background.
"Your Majesty, why be so cautious? Why not just send the person out of the palace?" Guo Shi was somewhat puzzled. If there was danger, why not nip it in the bud?
Qian Shengyan just smiled and didn't go into details.
This wasn't the first time Shushen had caused trouble in the harem. Qian Shengyan could indeed expel Granny Chang now, but what would happen after that? If Shushen's first plan failed, she would come up with another. Did Qian Shengyan have to be on guard all the time?
There's no such thing as a thousand-year-old thief, only a thousand-year-old thief. Qian Shengyan decided to wait and see what Shushen, Ulanara, and this Granny Chang were up to.
When the time comes, we should catch her red-handed and put Shushen and Ulanara to death!
Moreover, she had already agreed to Song's request.
Qian Shengyan let out a slight sigh of relief. After finishing her official duties with Madam Guo, she went to check on the preparations for the Golden Banquet Festival and returned to Yongshou Palace in the evening.
After visiting the side hall's children, Qian Shengyan returned to her bedchamber and discovered that Yinzhen was already there.
She was somewhat surprised: "When did the Emperor arrive?"
“I had some free time today, so I didn’t leave after my lunch break.” Yinzhen patted the person next to him, gesturing for her to sit down.
Qian Shengyan sat down next to Yinzhen, glanced at what he had written, and then: ?
"What is this?" Qian Shengyan asked curiously.
Yinzhen smiled and said, "If you have time this winter, you can stay at the estate for a few days, soak in the hot springs, and take a look at your factories. The estate has been uninhabited for a long time and needs renovation, so I drew up the plans for our accommodation. What do you think?"
Qian Shengyan: ...
It seems that Yinzhen really has free time today. The last time he personally drew up blueprints was when he was in the Prince's Mansion. Since ascending the throne, he has rarely done these things.
Qian Shengyan took the blueprints and examined them carefully. It was roughly a design for a bedroom, with east and west warm pavilions, a front hall and a rear hall. There was also a small room built on one side of the rear hall, with a short corridor connecting it to the bedroom. According to the markings, hot springs were specially introduced into this room to create a private hot spring pool.
"It looks great. Will it be fixed this year?" Qian Shengyan liked it, but was worried that the time was too short. "It's already October."
"Renovations have been underway since summer," Yinzhen said with a smile. Even if the place where the emperor was to stay was a village, a separate palace would have to be built. His drawings were just for final confirmation.
The two agreed that after the winter solstice ceremony, they would go directly from the Temple of Heaven to soak in the hot springs, stay for a month, and then return for the Chinese New Year.
Seeing her expectant look, Yinzhen couldn't help but laugh and said, "There are still almost two months until the winter solstice, why are you in such a hurry?"
"Having accompanied His Majesty on his travels all year, my heart has become wild," Qian Shengyan frankly admitted. She added with a smile, "Now that I'm back in Yongshou Palace, I feel like there's not enough room for me."
Yinzhen felt the same way. Putting aside everything else, the Hall of Diligent Governance in the Yuanmingyuan was much larger than the Hall of Mental Cultivation. In addition, the Hall of Righteousness and Brightness and the Hall of Tranquil Peace in the Nine Provinces made everything feel spacious. Now that they were back in the palace, they could hear Xiaoqi and Xiaoba crying.
They chatted for a while longer, and played with the two children for a bit before dinner—but now they dared not hold both children at the same time. If they did, the two children would always start fighting for some inexplicable reason, and the person holding them would be brutally beaten.
Qian Shengyan held Xiao Qi, who was giggling, while Xiao Ba sat next to her with a blank expression. The twins looked alike, but even without wearing different colored clothes, they were easy to distinguish—the one with the blank expression was usually Xiao Ba.
However, once the two of them grow up and can control their expressions, it will probably be harder to distinguish them.
Qian Shengyan smiled and pinched and touched this one and that one, thinking that it was not bad to have buns to play with. However, the two little buns were still a bit small and could not stay still for a while. Xiao Qi even clung to Qian Shengyan's arm and tried to stand up.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince, the Sixth Prince, and the Princess have arrived," Qingxue said with a smile. Qian Shengyan looked up and saw her three big buns.
After paying his respects to his father and mother, Hongshan rushed to the soft couch like a gust of wind, picked up his two younger brothers one by one and bounced them around: "Hey, you've gotten fatter again."
The two younger brothers stared at him with their dark eyes, unblinking, and were both very happy—this older brother always gave them fun things and delicious treats; he was their favorite older brother.
After bowing, Folgour picked up Xiao Ba, who was sitting on the tatami mat, as if she knew what was going on: "Fatty, let your big sister see how fat you've gotten."
Hongli was still the most composed one, but now that he had just become a father, he inevitably liked children. At this moment, he smiled and handed over two rattles: "Your son had someone buy these outside the palace. They're not very exquisite, just for fun."
Foerguo Chun and Hongshan each took one and were responsible for entertaining the children. The sound of the rattle drum sticks accompanied the children's laughter, mixed with children's voices and girls' laughter, filling the room with warmth.
Even Su Peisheng and Qingxue, who were standing at the door, couldn't help but smile.
"Hey, do you remember what the Prince's mansion looked like before the young master arrived?" Su Peisheng suddenly asked.
Qingxue paused for a moment, then smiled helplessly: "I remember..."
What else could it be like? A desolate scene, everyone harboring their own secrets. The emperor lived in the front courtyard year after year, never forgetting to walk in the back. The entire front courtyard was almost silent except for the sounds of servants moving around. They usually served by his side but dared not speak.
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