One day later, the fifth prince's concubine Lan Ning entered the palace.
Concubine Fu smiled and asked her: "The day before yesterday was your stepmother's birthday. I sent people to deliver birthday gifts to the mansion. It was hard for her to come over to thank her for the gifts despite the heavy rain. I felt a little sorry. I had asked people to stop her. Yes, but I still can’t defeat her.”
"Etiquette is indispensable, not to mention that the wife abides by this the most on weekdays." Lan Ning said, "The empress didn't ask her to come, because the empress was considerate. But if she really doesn't come, she will feel uncomfortable. It still makes her feel at ease. Somewhat better.”
"I still want to ask you, is she not wet in the rain? She is not young anymore, so you have to be careful." Concubine Fu couldn't help but feel a little worried.
"Don't worry, Madam! I went there to see her before entering the palace. My wife is fine. I also mentioned that the birthday gift my Madam sent me is quite expensive. I must go to the palace to express my gratitude in person one day." Lan Ning said with a smile.
"Hey, why is this valuable? It doesn't matter what kind of relative it is. Your stepmother is good at everything else, but she is too timid. This feels heavy, and that feels heavy too." Concubine Fu mentioned Mrs. Lan with a smile. Bringing out some helplessness, "It's so troublesome that I have to think about what I want to give her for a long time."
"My daughter-in-law came to the palace this time because she wanted to ask her mother for something." Lan Ning pursed her lips and smiled, "My aunt and my wife have mentioned this matter to me several times."
After hearing this, Concubine Fu asked: "It sounds like someone's child is getting married."
"Concubine Mother is really smart. She did it just for this." Lan Ning smiled and took Concubine Fu's hand and said, "She is the little girl from my uncle's family. You have also seen that child. She is seventeen this year. . I have been clamoring for her to get married for the past two years, but nothing is suitable."
"I remember that child. He looked very good, and his words and actions were very steady. He should be able to find a good in-law." Concubine Fu nodded after hearing this.
"My wife and aunt both said that they want you to help me, my mother-in-law, to look for you." Lan Ning said, "You have good taste and noble status. You are the person they trust most."
"Actually, I don't know how to protect others, but since my wife has asked me to come here, how can I not agree." Concubine Fu looked at Lan Ning and said, "Besides, you have to look at other people's faces even if you don't care about them. Isn’t it your face?”
"As expected, my mother and concubine love me the most. My aunt and the others also know this, so they specially asked me to come into the palace to tell you." Lan Ning and Concubine Fu are not mother and daughter, so how could the relatives on the other side of the Lan family not care about me? Know?
"Go back and tell your wife and aunt that I'll take over this matter. But I'm slow-tempered and can't be rushed." Concubine Fu told Lan Ning, "Also ask them if they have taken a fancy to it in advance. Yes, you might as well tell me, it will save me the trouble of screening."
"I've thought about this too. After asking several times, they all said they didn't agree. It's all up to the mother and concubine to make the decision." Lan Ning was thoughtful and had already thought of this.
However, his aunt and others all said that there was no such thing, which shows that there really was no such thing.
"Okay, then I can support you." Concubine Fu said, "Have you gone to all the palaces to say hello?"
"We've all been there, except for the Imperial Concubine's palace. I think my mother and concubine might have to go there too, so why not my daughter-in-law accompany you there so that we can sit there for a while longer." Lan Ning said, "Lin'er is here I don’t want to come in because I want to see the birds in the pear tree.”
"Now is the time when he is beginning to know how to be naughty. The room is very dull, and it is normal for children not to want to come in.
Let's go out and go to the palace of the Dowager Empress. Yesterday, when the rain stopped, I went to the Dowager Empress to say hello, but she was still mumbling about it. He said he hadn't seen Lin'er for half a month and thought he had gained weight again. Concubine Fu said and stood up, taking Lan Ning's hand, "Girl Heng Zhao, follow me. The concubine likes to eat the tea you ordered." "
As soon as they walked out of the palace gate, a eunuch from the royal palace came over, saw Concubine Fu and Lan Ning, and stopped to say hello from a distance.
Knowing that he had something to do, Bi Shu said, "Eunuch Zuo, what's the matter with you?"
"The young one is here to reply that the leaky warehouse has been repaired. By the way, I would like to ask the queen for instructions. There is a part of the wall there that is soaked by the rain. Do you need to repair it? If it is repaired, the things inside will be damaged. They all have to move out." Eunuch Zuo asked.
"If we move the things inside, I'm afraid there won't be a suitable place to put them for a while." Concubine Fu pondered, "Besides, it is the rainy season next."
"Young children are also worried about this." Eunuch Zuo said, "The things in that room are all wood and silk, as well as some calligraphy and paintings. They are all afraid of being bumped and damp."
"Just don't act in a hurry. I'll think about it later." Concubine Fu was very cautious in doing things, especially since it was a public matter, and she tried her best not to make any mistakes, no matter how big or small.
Then we arrived at Concubine Rong. The old lady liked children very much.
When she saw the little grandson, she immediately wanted to hug her and touch his chubby little face and chubby hands. The little grandson was not afraid of strangers and smiled at everyone he saw.
"This little guy really looks like a little tiger kid." Concubine Rong said lovingly, "It's not like when Lao Wu was little."
"Yes, the fifth child was very old-fashioned when he was young." Concubine Fu couldn't help but smile when she mentioned her son, "When he grows up, he is more lively than when he was young, but after all, it is limited."
"It's good for Lao Wu to be calm and steady," said Concubine Rong, "It's up to you."
While everyone was talking, Xue Hengzhao had already ordered three bowls of tea.
Concubine Rong and others then had tea and talked.
When it was time for lunch, Concubine Fu and Lan Ning both stayed to eat vegetarian food with Concubine Rong.
Since she didn't need so many people around to serve her, Concubine Fu asked Xue Hengzhao and others to come down.
Xue Hengzhao returned to his residence, but Chi Su was not there.
She took out the glazed jar that she had put in yesterday from under the bed. It only took a little more than one night. The piece of wall covering that was placed inside it had not changed much, but the corner of the cloth that was originally placed inside to maintain humidity had grown. Dense white hair.
Xue Hengzhao uncovered the fine paper on it and touched it lightly with a bamboo chopstick. The corners of the cloth were already like mud and rotted when touched.
Xue Hengzhao couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. He stood up and looked around the room. He saw on the window sill a mahogany comb that Chi Su had used two days ago.
The comb is small and can be held in the palm of your hand.
Xue Hengzhao walked over, soaked the comb in the copper basin, and then put it into the glass vat.
Still wet the fine paper, covered his mouth, and put it on the bed again.
Chi Su came back after a while, lunch in hand.
"Your Majesty had a meal at Tong'an Palace today, and the daily rules were delivered, and the chief health officer asked us to share them." Chi Su said as he put the things on the table, "Have you washed your hands? Quickly? Come and eat.”
Xue Hengzhao agreed, washed his hands first, and then sat at the table to have lunch with Chi Su.
