Chapter One Hundred and One: Distant Journey

  Qizongguan and Aunt Li talked for a while before coming out, and Aunt Li saw him off at the gate before returning. The group of women hurried to welcome her and asked about it, but Aunt Li just smiled and said: "Alright, hurry up and get back to work. No matter how nice the words sound, if you don't do your job well, I won't be polite."

  The tide was born to pat pat clothes station got up: "I should go back too."

  "But Auntie Li said: 'Wait a minute.'"

  Chao Sheng felt a bit puzzled and followed Li Aunt into the house again.

  What did Director Qi and Auntie Li say?

  They have a good relationship, which is naturally beneficial. Although this is a small kitchen, the personnel matters of the mansion are now all in the hands of General Qi, and there are also procurement matters that need to rely on him. If they don't get along, it's likely to lead to trouble.

  "Little Qi..." Aunt Li shook her head: "It's a habit to call out like that, can't change it now. Hmm, he mentioned something just now."

  Looking at Aunt Li's expression, this matter must be related to Chao Sheng.

  Otherwise, why would Li Auntie, who is so experienced and worldly, need to discuss anything with Chao Sheng? Hasn't she always made her own decisions firmly and decisively?

  "He also said in a low voice in the courtyard... Chen Sufen is unlikely to be the Empress's person."

  Huh?

  Cháo shēng de xīn yí xià zi tí le qǐ lái.

  Translation:

  The heart of Chao Sheng suddenly rose up.

  "He had seen someone come to find Chen Sufen before, that little eunuch was very unfamiliar, he had seen him twice, the first time didn't pay attention, the second time felt that there might be some inside story, so he asked someone...” Li Gugu's voice was very low, and she spoke very slowly: "That little eunuch is serving in the Jade Bell Palace."

  The tide was caught off guard for a moment.

  Jade Roost Temple

  Where is that?

  Auntie Li silently looked at her.

  Ah, Jade Roost Palace...

  The tide has come back to mind.

  After picking the pearl, she mentioned it again later, after Chen Fei was promoted to An Fei and moved out of the Smoke and Clouds Palace. She didn't know where she lived before, but mentioned it casually in conversation later on.

  Yu Ming Palace - isn't it where Consort An currently resides?

  Anfei...... Anfei...... She also had secret dealings with Chen Suping?

  So, can the relationship among them be sorted out as: An Fei —— Chen Su Ping —— Qiu Shan —— Chao Sheng?

  No, it's impossible...

  Chao Sheng shook his head.

  "I don't know..."

  "I also can't figure out what's going on." Li Aunt said: "At first, Xiao Qi didn't take this matter seriously, but after I calculated Chen Sufen and had a falling out with Pei Zhangshi, Xiao Qi found out that there was a connection between them and became more cautious. An Consort... normally speaking, she shouldn't have taken such action against you. However, if the person behind Chen Sufen's back was the Empress, she probably wouldn't have been so easily calculated by me. Even if it wasn't her, the Empress definitely won't let things go so easily. But look, from then on..."

  Yes, it has been calm ever since. They were on high alert, but there was no more movement in the palace. Chao Sheng still had doubts about this matter, did the Empress Dowager forget about her or was she held back by something and couldn't take care of her?

  But if Chen Suping's backer was not the Empress, then it makes sense.

  Because the person behind her was afraid of exposing himself and absolutely did not have the connections and strength to make another move...

  Chao Sheng's palms were sticky and sweaty, he didn't know when he had started sweating so much.

  Anfei, is that really you?

  "But Aunt... if it's really her... why would she want to do this?"

  Chao Sheng thought that when he was wrong, he would definitely be diligent and never slack off. An Fei's miscarriage was a regrettable thing, which no one could have anticipated. Chao Sheng was also implicated in this matter and almost lost his life.

  If Anfei felt that she was not doing her job conscientiously and things were not going well, then...then there was no need to use such tactics to get rid of her.

  Unless her reason cannot be spoken out loud, she can't openly and honestly do this thing.

  Auntie Li thought for a moment, then shook her head: "No, it won't be. A tiger doesn't eat its own son... Besides, Empress An is already old, this child is too important to her, she can't possibly do anything herself... She didn't gain any benefits from this matter."

  Yes.

  Auntie Li couldn't understand either.

  After Chao Sheng returned, he was dazed for several days.

  What reason does Anfei have to get rid of her?

  Maybe it's Director Qi who made the mistake?

  The tide was born at night, lying down, always can't help but think wildly.

  In a Tang Dynasty court drama, there was a woman who suffocated her own daughter to death in order to frame a rival and bring her down.

  And even if it's just a fictional story, Empress An would never have done such a thing.

  That woman could bear to abandon her daughter because she already had a son, and with him by her side, she could use her daughter as a weapon, using her death to attack her enemy.

  Anfei didn't say anything.

  I don't know...

  Chao Sheng thought back to An Fei's appearance, smile and demeanor.

  I don't know how.

  She attaches great importance to this child and is very careful everywhere.

  No matter whether it's a boy or a girl, after being born, she will always have something to rely on and depend on for the rest of her life.

  Something must have gone wrong somewhere.

  Honeymoons always pass by quickly, so fast that one can't even savor the sweetness thoroughly. The fourth prince has received an order.

  Hardship

  The second prince also received a difference, but it was an idle difference. He was in charge of the musicians and performers in Liyuan, which made the second prince as happy as a mouse falling into a rice jar. The emperor was indeed wise, knowing that this son had no other hobbies except for drinking wine and listening to music, so he let him take care of Liyuan. Now the second prince was delighted and could listen to music whenever he wanted, watch plays whenever he wanted. He could sit and listen, stand and listen, lie down and listen, or even go to Liyuan to listen, call people to his mansion to listen, or even take them out for a stroll in the garden while listening...

  The third prince was in charge of military affairs.

  This is the result of the queen and her brother-in-law working together.

  Look at how insightful others are, even the ancients knew that power comes from the barrel of a gun. No matter what you say, when you have real power, titles and status are just icing on the cake. But when you don't have real power, they become poison that hastens your demise.

  So, taking advantage of Imperial Uncle Lu Da's influence, Third Prince Gao entered the Ministry of War with great fanfare.

  The fourth prince, of course, the emperor would not arrange a task like Liyuan for him, and the task given to him would not be more important than that of the third prince.

  The fourth prince then went to the Ministry of Works for a walk and saw that the first errand was to follow Servant-in-Attendance Bao Yue to inspect the river works.

  Who doesn't know that being a river worker is a tough job?

  But this is just the beginning of trouble, how can the Fourth Prince tell his father that he's afraid of hardship and doesn't want to go?

  This is obviously impossible.

  The emperor was quite considerate and allowed his sons to take their honeymoon, probably hoping to have grandchildren soon. But as a result, the fourth prince had to travel hundreds of miles away, not to mention that it would take a considerable amount of time just on the road, and if things didn't go smoothly, they might not be able to return for several months.

  The fourth imperial concubine was very understanding of the great righteousness, and she strongly supported her husband's proper business. After the news was confirmed, she began to pack up her luggage. Accompanying her were Xiao Shun and Xiao Su, as well as several guards. In addition, there was also that Bao servant and his attendants and lower-ranking officials, this group of people was not small in number, and safety was not a concern.

  Just the food and clothing for this trip, can't be compared to being at home. Clothing must be durable and practical, those that are fancy but not practical cannot be brought. Shoes, socks, undershirts, etc. need to be packed in multiple sets for changing. Common medications must be brought along, such as cold medicine, injury medicine, bruise cream, and band-aids, a whole big bag of them was prepared. Looking at the quantity, it's not just enough for the Fourth Prince alone, even if the attendants who went together with him had headaches or injuries, there would still be enough to use.

  The fourth prince has been immersed in the Ministry of Works, reviewing the archives and account books of previous years. After all, he had never touched this area before, and materials, labor, dikes, dams, and bridges were all unfamiliar to him. If he went there and didn't understand anything, it would be a joke at best, but if things went wrong, it would have serious consequences.

  The fourth imperial concubine ordered people to make arrangements, Chun Mo worried and anxious.

  She seems to have a kind of old mother hen mentality, appearing more worried than the fourth prince's consort.

  But even if she was worried, the Fourth Prince couldn't possibly take his maid with him.

  It's not a joke, nor is it a play, like in the "Incognito Visit" where the elegant emperor goes out to flirt with flowers and willows, and coincidentally eliminates violence and brings peace, accompanied by his teacher, maid, and even monks - The fourth prince is on official business, with countless pairs of eyes staring at him from above and around.

  Chao Sheng and Auntie Li worked together in harmony, preparing a batch of takeaway food.

  Including Chao Sheng's skilled braised meat, Li Gu Gu's pickled peanuts, melon seeds, dried vegetables, crispy fish, stir-fried noodles, honey rice cakes, pancakes, and many more, all packed in jars, convenient to eat on the go and easy to store and carry. Chao Sheng also thoughtfully attached paper labels to each one.

  Xiao Shun took one look at those jars and was tongue-tied: "Aunt, what's going on here... are you planning to move house? There are inns along the way, how can we not have food to eat?"

  Auntie Li tapped him on the head: "What do you know? You've only been out a few times, right? Leaving the capital and heading south, the flavors along the way may not be to your taste. Rushing along the road, no one can guarantee that there will be a place to rest and eat at noon and night. This is being prepared for any situation. Besides, working on the river project must be very hard, if Your Highness can't get used to it, you'll be in trouble later."

  Xiao Shun patted his head and smiled: "Yes, Auntie is still thinking about it. It's just... isn't this a bit too much..."

  Chao Sheng couldn't help but laugh: "What's wrong with you? This doesn't need to be carried or held, anyway there are horse-drawn carriages, just put everything on the carriage and that's it?"

  "Alright." Xiaoshun smiled: "I've never been on a long trip before. Auntie is an experienced person, she must have thought it through. Then I'll let someone pack and move my stuff."

  Auntie Li warned him again, "Don't knock over the jar, there's something underneath it. Also, this is prepared for the young master, who knows when he'll be back? You can't just keep sneaking bites."

  "I know, I'm that kind of person who doesn't distinguish between what's important and what's not."

  The night before the fourth prince's departure, according to Xiaoman, she seemed to have heard the fourth prince's consort crying.

  Chao Sheng didn't believe it: "You must have misheard? You're not a servant in the house."

  Does Mr. Wen look like someone who would cry because of separation?

  Not like.

  The fourth prince also asked Chao Sheng: "Is there anything you want? I'll bring it back for you on my way."

  Tidal life is favored and surprised, busy saying no.

  The fourth prince said: "Alright then, let's see about that when the time comes."

  ——————————————

  It's getting cooler again...

  Continue to thicken your skin and ask for votes.

  Da Chengzi's kindergarten is going on an excursion the day after tomorrow, who knows what they were thinking, and chose a lake as the destination, which is especially far away.