The Ninety-sixth Reunion

  The sky was overcast and gloomy, with a sense of urgency and chaos. My emotions were in turmoil, and I didn't even get a good look at the house.

  The house is very neat and spacious. The second gate outside, of course, cannot be entered by the tide, but only the inner courtyard and garden are enough to turn around for half a day. Unlike when I lived in Yiqiu Palace before, three princes lived in one palace, crowded to death, and there was nothing to say. The eighth prince played on this side, and the sound of Songtang Pavilion on that side was clear and clear. What the second prince did on that side, Huayeju on this side was also clear and clear.

  The mansion still looks empty now, but in a few days, the fourth prince's wife will be married in, and the dowry and servants she brings will make this place lively.

  It will also become more complicated.

  Chao Sheng took the name list, and the inner servant monitor brought over a number of people from the side courtyard. What these people specifically did was not something Chao Sheng could control. Although they had always been serving the Fourth Prince, logically speaking, they should have continued to serve him closely now.

  However, it's hard to guarantee that there won't be any changes. For example, if the fourth prince's consort favors someone and wants to promote them, or if the fourth prince feels that the person is not capable enough and wants to choose a few more...

  Chun Mo's first place might be in jeopardy.

  As for Chao Sheng, she wasn't worried at all.

  At worst, send her to the kitchen, she would be happy to be a scullery maid, and spend every day with Auntie Li.

  She hadn't even entered the door when someone came out from inside to greet her.

  "This older sister is good."

  The girl bowed to her and Cao Sheng also returned a courtesy.

  "You're welcome."

  "Sister must be someone by the lord's side? We originally said it was over, but in the end, tidying up things in the morning delayed us."

  "It doesn't matter, whoever comes is the same."

  But of course it's different.

  If not, why didn't Chun Mo come himself?

  Because she is self-reliant and independent.

  It's better if Chaosheng comes over and says something.

  Chao Sheng followed her in. The room was tidy and clean, but Chao Sheng noticed that there were still some unopened packages on the trunk.

  It shouldn't be that there isn't enough luggage space and things can't fit in.

  But they didn't plan on staying here for long.

  It's also the case that they just temporarily squeeze in this courtyard, and when they come back, whoever is assigned to which place will say it's not good. Now that they've settled down, when they come back and the chores change, they have to start all over again.

  "Sister, please sit down. There's no tea in this house either, I'm really sorry." The girl smiled and said: "My name is Ying Ge, what about you, sister?"

  Chao Sheng smiled: "I'm Chao Sheng, Chun Mo sister sent me to ask if you've settled in properly and if there's anything missing. If there's any inconvenience, feel free to speak up."

  These palace maids are not like them, the whole family came together, with familiar things and accustomed household items. The situation of these palace girls in the inner courtyard is unclear, but they were assigned to the royal mansion, each person probably only had two sets of personal clothes and a small amount of private savings - if they had any private savings at all.

  Even if there were, it would be very limited. There are thousands of palace maids in the backyard, all struggling to make ends meet, relying on a little salary, without some external rewards and bonuses, they really can't save up any money.

  Moreover, they were newcomers and didn't have as much seniority as Chun Mo Chao Sheng.

  Ying Ge said: "Spring Ink sister is thoughtful, I'll thank everyone first. There are eight of us in total, does Chao Sheng sister want to meet now?"

  Ying Ge's figure is tall and slender, with a pair of bright phoenix eyes, looking more mature than Chao Sheng. But she just calls everyone "sister" with an extremely humble attitude.

  Chao Sheng nodded and said: "I have the name list, when it's time for each person to take on their duties, we'll wait for Master to assign them."

  The emperor assigned a eunuch to the fourth prince, of course. Chao Sheng caught a glimpse of him yesterday, his surname was Qi, about thirty years old, with a pale face and no beard, he had a stern expression on his face, looking like someone who wasn't easy to talk to.

  But Chao Sheng thought it was quite good this way.

  She's seen more than one person with a sweet tongue and a knife in their heart, smiling on the surface but tripping others up behind their back.

  This serious type, one board and one eye, says no go, no go, most things are done according to rules. As long as you don't break the rules, it's actually good to deal with this kind of person.

  "They were in the house, and two went to fetch water." Just then, two people carried water into the yard.

  One of them glanced into the house and suddenly stopped in his tracks.

  Tide born

  The voice was both familiar and strange, Chao Sheng raised her head to look over, the person who called out to her was standing there in a daze, with an expression on his face that seemed to be smiling yet not smiling, wanting to cry yet not crying. He looked like he wanted to walk over, but his hands were still holding onto the water bucket.

  Chao Sheng was also stunned.

  "Full?"

  After being apart for two years, Man Er's appearance had changed greatly. If she didn't speak first, Chao Sheng really wouldn't have recognized her.

  Her figure is at least a head taller than when she left, her hair is high and tied up, wearing a light green dress, looking elegant and refined, where can you find half of the shadow of that rough and sloppy girl in the past?

  Tide born

  Man'er finally came back to his senses, put down the bucket in his hand and ran over quickly.

  Chao Sheng stretched out her hand and Man Er grasped it tightly.

  "Tide born, you, how did you end up here?"

  This sentence is still what I want to ask her.

  But there's no need to ask, she already understood.

  Man'er and she were together in the laundry alley, she went to the East Palace, Man'er went to the Imperial Harem. For such a long time, there was no news, I didn't know which department she was assigned to work in, nor did I know how to get in touch with her.

  I thought that once I left the palace, it would be even more impossible to meet again in the future.

  But who would have thought that she was actually among the eight palace maids assigned by the Imperial Household Department.

  "I... I serve the Fourth Prince."

  Man'er bit her lip, her eyes red-rimmed, forcing back tears as she smiled and said: "How coincidental... I was thinking that this time I might not see you again..."

  "It's a coincidence."

  Ying Ge has come back to her senses and smiled: "Oh, so you guys knew each other all along?"

  Man'er nodded, but judging from her appearance, she didn't seem to get along well with Ying Ge.

  Chao Sheng has been in the palace for many years, and his eyes are no longer comparable to those of his early days.

  At least between Man and this Oriole's song, stiffness can be seen from a nod, a word.

  The tide cannot be delayed for long, and there are too many things on her body. She can only tell Man Er where she lives now, and promise her: "After noon, when it's not busy, I'll come to find you, or you can go find me."

  Man Er held her hand and didn't want to let go.

  "Then I'll come find you."

  "Alright, we'll wait for you."

  Ying Ge smiled and said: "That's enough, Man Er, send off Chao Sheng, you can have a good chat."

  The two of them left the house, and suddenly Man'er's tears couldn't stop flowing down. She hurriedly raised her hand to wipe them away, but as soon as she wiped off the ones in front, more fell from behind.

  "Don't cry, don't cry."

  Chao Sheng also wiped away her tears for her.

  The fourth prince has just moved in, and it's another joyful day. Whether to say that crying is a big deal or not a big deal, it's also a fault.

  "I knew it." Man Er sniffled: "I just didn't think I'd see you again..."

  "Me too."

  The two of them walked a few more steps, and Man'er said in a low voice: "So after you left there, you went to serve the Fourth Prince? I only knew at the time that Wei Gonggong was from the East Palace, but I didn't know where you were. It's not like we could even send a message through someone else. If you were also in the palace, even if we couldn't see each other, sending a verbal message would still be possible. As it turns out, this really is fate - it's as if we're tied together by an unbreakable thread. Look, we couldn't see each other in the palace, but now that we're here, we've ended up in the same place again! Have you been serving the Fourth Prince all along? We heard some news a few days ago and only knew that there was someone named Chunmo who had a lot of power..."

  It's true that Chun Mo is really famous.

  Chao Sheng thinks being low-key still has its benefits.

  "Uh-huh, I mainly work in the kitchen and do some needlework when I'm free. Chunmo sister has been serving the fourth prince for many years, so she naturally has a say."

  "Uh, okay, you go first, I won't keep you any longer, we'll talk more when we get back." Man'er suddenly leaned in closer and whispered: "That Ying Ge, originally wasn't with us, this person isn't very reliable, if she tries to get close to you, be careful."

  Tide nodded and replied: "I know."

  Man'er saw him off all the way to the fork in the road and stood there for a long time. Chao Sheng turned his head twice, both times seeing that she still hadn't left.

  Even though I've walked a long way, there's still an unreal feeling about it all.

  Did she really see Man Er?

  Never thought it would be like this...

  What a coincidence.

  Man Er looks like he's been reborn, completely transformed into a different person.

  But still love to cry.

  She cried when they parted at first, now they are reunited and she is still crying.

  But after all, she's no longer a little girl. She now knows that some people are "unreliable" and also knows to be "on her guard". She didn't understand these things when she was in the Washing Clothes Alley.

  Nor does she know what setbacks these experiences have come from.

  Not pleasant at all.

  Growing up and maturing has never been a pleasant easy thing.

  Many times it's bloody and filled with traumatic pain.

  If Chao Sheng hadn't personally experienced that brutal beating, he wouldn't have been able to see the dark cruelty of the court struggle.

  She returned to the house, and Shanhu quickly came over to say: "Chao Sheng sister, Xiao Shun came by just now and said he was looking for you about something."

  "Oh? Where is he?"

  "He told you to go to the study."

  Chao nodded and said: "I know."

  Mostly for some decorative items in the study.

  When moving, in order to be convenient and safe, some fragile things were wrapped layer by layer and put in boxes. Yesterday was busy and chaotic, and there wasn't enough time to take everything out, just the easy-to-distribute items were settled first. Those small miscellaneous items are hard to find. That's why I came looking for her.

  Cháo Shēng asked while walking out: "Where did Spring Ink sister go?"

  Shanhu looked out of the door and whispered: "Someone from the Wen family has arrived. Chunmo sister went to the main house."

  Chao nodded slightly.

  "Hey, Chao Sheng Jie, why are your eyes red?"

  "Oh, got sand in it, rubbed it."

  This excuse is really old and comes easily off the tongue.

  Shanhu didn't ask any further, she tiptoed and whispered: "The dowry of the Wen family seems to be a bit off."

  "What? How did you know? You can't just say things randomly."

  "It's not nonsense, I heard Spring Ink sister say that the headboard carving seems to be cracked."

  Chao Sheng was shocked.

  How could such a thing happen? This is very inauspicious in the eyes of the world.

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  Ah, how fleeting is the holiday...

  Yes, I heard it's going to get colder again, everyone should take care of their bodies