Chapter Seventy-Nine: Busy

  She didn't sleep well all night, worrying about Huan Xun's injury and not knowing if Song Can would make things more difficult for her after their confrontation. She tossed and turned all night, getting up at the fourth watch, washing and dressing, and going to the kitchen to help. Li Gugu yawned: "Look at your dark circles, here, put this on."

  Chao Sheng's mind was elsewhere, and he took the slice of melon handed to him by Aunt Li and stuffed it into his mouth. He chewed for a while before coming back to himself: "Pfft, it's raw."

  Auntie Li laughed so hard she was doubled over: "Who told you to eat it?"

  Chao Sheng also laughed twice, and after laughing, he still had a worried look on his face.

  Auntie Li suddenly stopped smiling and let out a sigh: "Jin Er, take the bucket to one side, who do you think is going to kick it with one foot?"

  The person who was called out responded with a busy tone and struggled to move the large water bucket towards the wall.

  "I used to have a good sister too... Our relationship was similar to yours and Huan Xun's. She was more delicate than me, and also looked better..."

  "What's her name?"

  Her surname is Song, Song Jiuer.

  Chao Sheng remembered: "I remember you mentioning her..."

  It was when the emperor came last time.

  "Yes, she's been dead for many years, and I don't even know where she was buried." Aunt Li knocked the spoon heavily, and the steam rose from the pot. She took advantage of the gap to wipe her eyes: "Now looking at you, it feels like seeing us back then... It's not easy to have a sister like this in the palace... I have medicine at home that is specifically for promoting blood circulation and removing stasis. Come back and take some for her, and apply it well. If the young girl's face gets ruined, it won't be good."

  Chao Sheng hastily agreed and thanked Aunt Li again.

  "Thanks for what? - Hey, hey, I'm telling you, don't overdo it with the firewood, or the fire will be smothered."

  Chao Sheng took the medicine and went to Songtao Pavilion.

  As a result, Yao Cui saw her today and didn't hide, she quickly walked two steps forward to greet her.

  These few little palace maids had a good relationship with Han Xiang, and they didn't lack the snacks that Chao Sheng brought. Song Can was strict with them in her daily life, and several people secretly cursed her behind her back.

  "Chao Sheng Jie, come and see Huan Xun!"

  "Hmm, she... how is she?"

  "She's fine, just resting. Ah, you're here, let me tell you."

  Chao Sheng was pulled by her to the corner of the house: "After you left yesterday, our young master woke up and saw that Huan Xun had been punished with kneeling and beating, but gave a big slap in the face to Song Cui sister."

  "What? Really?"

  "Of course." Yao Cui was very pleased with herself, as if she was the one who had made Song Can lose face. She cleared her throat and puffed out her chest: "Our master pointed at her and said 'Is she my slave or your slave? You're even more arrogant than the master!' And then he said 'Get out, I don't want to see you right now.' Sister Song Can's face was so red with anger that she locked herself in her room all night and didn't come out."

  The second prince is acting strangely this time... Chao Sheng can't understand it.

  Song Can has treated other palace maids and eunuchs like this many times before, not just once or twice, nor for just one or two days. The second prince used to ignore such things, but this time...

  "I'll take you to see Hu Xiang Jie, our master said to let her rest and even rewarded her with medicine."

  Han Xiang and another palace maid with the surname Fei lived in a small house, but at this moment she was alone. The sunlight shone through the window onto her pillow. Han Xiang had not yet woken up, her face still showed signs of medication, the redness and swelling had not completely faded. Her hair scattered around her, illuminated by the sun, had a soft luster like satin.

  Yao Cui said in a low voice: "I'll go out and take a look."

  Chao Sheng thanked her.

  While they were talking, Han Xiang moved his hand slightly and opened his eyes.

  "Is it born?"

  "Don't get up." Chao Sheng pressed her down: "Lie down, you knelt for so long yesterday, I don't believe your legs are fine."

  "It's...not that serious."

  Chao Sheng sat on the edge of the bed: "Let me see."

  She lifted up the quilt and rolled up her pant legs a bit.

  As expected, both knees are swollen, but I've already applied some medicine.

  Chao Sheng gently touched with his hand: "Does it hurt?"

  "It doesn't hurt much anymore."

  "It doesn't matter how much it hurts, you won't say anything."

  She smiled faintly, her hair scattered, looking particularly delicate and weak, the remaining bruises on her face didn't look bad at all, but instead made her look even more pitiful.

  "It doesn't hurt much, this medicine is good, it's said that such a small box costs more than ten taels of silver." Huanyin handed her the medicine box from beside the bed.

  Yes, this is one thing. As soon as you look at the box, you know that what's inside can't be cheap.

  This era is also particular about packaging. If you just casually wrap it in a paper bag, the immortal fruit won't sell for a good price either. But if you use this exquisite box to package it, even a pinch of pot bottom ash can be passed off as a miraculous medicine.

  The second prince has always been generous with his rewards, but what he gives is entirely dependent on his mood.

  This time, however, it was unexpectedly effective, and can be considered a suitable solution.

  Chao Sheng had often secretly criticized him before, but for his fair hosting this time, Chao Sheng was truly grateful to him.

  "I also brought medicine, but it seems you don't need it." However, Chao Sheng still had other things with him, a package of crackers and a package of fried noodles.

  "If the food doesn't taste good, use this to pad it. Stir-fry noodles, you can drink them morning and night, even if you can't eat a meal, they can fill your stomach."

  "Uh-huh, I know." Han Xun reached out and gently tapped her eyelids: "You didn't sleep last night, did you?"

  "Who said that? I don't know how well I slept."

  With a snort of laughter, "I didn't know you were like this, still trying to be tough with me. Alright, don't worry about me, this time Song Can won't dare to be like before, I'm fine."

  Tide also understands.

  The second prince's move not only saved Hanyun from further suffering, but more importantly, it instantly brought Song Can's arrogance down a notch.

  Song Can's dignity, which was once above everyone else's, has completely fallen apart. How can she still boss people around in the future? The little palace maids and eunuchs will no longer obey her wholeheartedly.

  Goodbye.

  Song Can's good times have passed.

  Even if she doesn't lose her status now, after Second Prince's wedding in a few days, her position will change anyway.

  The princess consort should be the inner general manager of the second prince, Song Can...

  The fifth prince has been running to the Autumn Palace very frequently lately.

  It was roughly the case that when the Emperor came to the East Palace several times, he went directly to the Yiqiu Palace, without going to either the Chongwen Pavilion or the Yichun Palace.

  Who doesn't want to show their face more in front of the emperor?

  In today's words, whether it's red or not, let's get familiar with each other first.

  However, the fifth prince's plan wasn't very bright.

  He wanted to find the Second Prince, but that one didn't get along with him and would make him lose face in front of everyone. The Fifth Prince's skin wasn't thick enough to ignore such treatment. As for finding the Fourth Prince, the Fourth Prince's free time was really scarce, either he was in the Imperial Study or busy with his endless homework. The Eighth Prince did have free time, but the Eighth Prince... cough, wasn't his target.

  The eighth prince has been breaking out in a rash for the past two days. Although the imperial physician said it's not serious, he still can't leave the house, can't be exposed to wind, and can't eat his favorite sweets like apricot kernel candies. He's being kept cooped up inside, crying loudly. The fourth prince sent over some gifts via a eunuch, including a set of tangram puzzles - it was the first time the eunuch had seen such a thing.

  It's almost the same as a modern-day sliding puzzle, only this set is much more exquisite, with ivory carvings of various shapes neatly arranged in a box. The color is soft and lustrous, and the feel is excellent. It must be very expensive. To give such an artwork to a child as a toy... Ah, well, he's a prince, after all. Can the children of the ruling class play with wooden boards and paper like commoners do?

  There is also a large kite with whistles on it.

  The eighth prince rushed over as soon as he saw it: "I want I want I want to fly a kite"

  "Eight Highness, our Highness has said it, this will be given to you first to dispel your boredom. As for releasing it, you'll have to wait until you've recovered from your illness. The imperial physician says that only when you're able to leave the house can we do so. At that time, our Highness will accompany you to fly a kite."

  The eighth prince was immediately fascinated by this painting: "Really? Second brother said he would accompany me?"

  Chao Sheng nodded: "The second prince instructed me so."

  "Good."

  The eighth prince finally stopped arguing with the kite, and Xia Bixue also let out a sigh of relief. However, Chao Sheng couldn't get rid of him, as the eighth prince was already tired of seeing the same familiar faces in the house every day. Now that he had finally met a new face, he wouldn't let her leave.

  "You come, um, you see me play with a sliding puzzle."

  "Okay."

  The eighth prince was still young after all, and could only play a few simple tricks. However, he wasn't discouraged at all, because when he found out that Chao Sheng was even clumsier than him in this regard, his sense of accomplishment suddenly skyrocketed.

  Chao Sheng didn't intentionally try to win him over, this is something he can swear to heaven about.

  She's just no good at this. In her previous life, when classmates and friends played with Rubik's Cube or sliding puzzles, she could only stare blankly, and if she was asked to try it herself, that would be a disaster...

  I heard that playing this can cultivate logical thinking ability, and also enhance hands-on ability, identification ability, spatial awareness and so on.

  That means... cough, she has no logical thinking, no hands-on ability, no discernment, and her sense of spatial awareness is super weak... it's simply a complete mess.

  The eighth prince was even more excited and refused to let her go, and even had Chaosheng serve her lunch. Chaosheng wanted to hurry back and report, but the eighth prince wouldn't let her go. Xia Bixia and Dong Zhi also begged her: "Good sister, just pretend for a bit and help us out. The young master hasn't been eating well these past few days, complaining that the room is stuffy. It's not easy to get him excited like this today. I'll send someone to tell Chunmo that we're borrowing you for just one day, and we won't let her blame you."

  What else can be said?

  Fortunately, the eighth prince ate lunch and played for a while before getting sleepy. After he fell asleep, Chao Sheng was finally able to slip away.

  Hey, coaxing kids is something she hasn't done in a long time. In the past... um, she did help her neighbor pick up their kid twice, and it seemed like she was pretty good with kids.

  After several rains, the weather became hot again.

  The second prince's side has already started to get busy.

  Marrying a wife is not such an easy thing.

  In modern times, to marry a wife, you have to buy a house and a car, decorate the place, buy new clothes, hold a banquet and a wedding ceremony... Of course, the most important thing is to find a wife first.

  For the second prince, Father gave him a house and also found him a wife. The decoration was handled by the craftsmen, and the betrothal gifts and wedding ceremony didn't require him to worry at all.

  But still there is something to be done.

  Take one's measurements to make new clothes.

  Still need to pack things up and get ready for moving.

  Anyway, Songtao Pavilion is crowded with people coming and going all day long, everyone is busy running around.

  ————————————

  It's sunny today, but it's still as cold as ever.

  Bought a set of woolen clothes for my son, but they were too small. Rushed to exchange them before the store closed, but they didn't have a larger size... so I had to exchange it for another style instead.