Ninety-Seventh Crack

  The bed holds a very important position in the life of ancient people, especially when it comes to the new bed at weddings. Among the furniture made by the bride's family, such as tables and chairs, chests, stools, and desks - all these put together cannot compare with the weight and significance of one bed.

  Local customs vary, with some places requiring the bride's family to prepare all furniture, including beds. In other areas, it is customary for the groom's family to provide the bed. The craftsman who came to inspect mentioned that the Wen family's bed was exceptional in terms of materials, style, and craftsmanship, and even if he were to make one himself, he doubted he could replicate it. Because the headboard features an inlaid design resembling intertwined hearts, it is also known as a "same-heart bed" or "auspicious bed".

  Anyway, no matter what it's called, it's all about getting a good name and seeking good luck.

  But now the headboard is cracked?

  Chao Sheng didn't say much to Shan Hu, she went to the study room, where Xiao Shun happened to be.

  "I heard that someone from the Wen family has arrived?"

  Xiao Shun didn't hide it from her either: "Right, I don't know what's going on either. The bed was of course exquisitely crafted, and the day it was installed, people from the Wen family, the Nei Shi Monitoring Department, and the Jiang Zuo Monitoring Department were all watching together, choosing an auspicious time, and there was no taboo place. These days, no one has entered the main house, who knew that...

  "Who found it?"

  "Someone next to Director Qi. Because they said there were still things to be put away and then swept the dust again, that's when they found this..."

  The two of them didn't have time to discuss official business and instead started gossiping together.

  "Are you okay? Was it painful?"

  "Saw it in one glance, a long crack running down the middle."

  "Is it a flaw in the lacquer?" The lacquer may not have been applied well, and that's also possible. At the time, you couldn't see it, but when the weather gets cold or hot, it becomes apparent.

  "It's not, it's just that the wood cracked from the inside." Xiaoshun said with certainty: "I've been thinking... how it seems like it was already cracked when we were selecting materials before, and then it was hastily made, but in the end, it couldn't withstand the force, so it cracked open."

  "How can the Wen family use cracked wood?"

  Not to mention marrying into the royal family, even among commoners and officials, the dowry of the bride is also a top priority. The material for the bed must be the best and most solid of all woods.

  That... is one possibility.

  Someone has been tampering with it.

  I just don't know if this was done when I was at Wen's house or after I came here.

  The two of them exchanged a glance, and Xiao Shun shook his head first: "It shouldn't be our side."

  "Yeah, I think so too."

  It's been a while since the new mansion was built, and every day there are eunuchs and craftsmen coming to inspect and work on it. If someone wants to sneak into the main house to do something, it shouldn't be easy.

  Besides, Xiaoshun also said that it's obvious that it cracked from the inside out.

  The problem should still be on Wen's side.

  Is it an accident or intentional?

  Good grief... What's going on here...

  What a wonderful day, the most important thing in life, yet I encountered such an annoying thing.

  Not to mention ancient people being so particular about this, even if modern people think about it now.

  You're getting married, carefully selected a luxurious big bed, pulled back to find a crack in the seam, can't you bear it? It's so annoying. Finding trouble with the merchant is inevitable, but the primary problem is that the wedding is imminent, and exchanging goods may not be possible in time.

  At that time, there was no place to buy a ready-made bed. The type of wood, pattern, size, and workmanship... all these had to be carefully considered. Some people even spent two or three years making one.

  Although I've never seen this bed before, since it's the eldest daughter of the Wen family, I'm afraid the dowry has been prepared from a young age. This bed must have taken a lot of effort to make.

  The modern bed is broken, change one. Which era has such convenience?

  Chao Sheng shook his head.

  This matter is not something that she and Xiao Shun can handle, let alone solve.

  "Right, what did you call me here for?"

  Xiao Shun patted his thigh: "I've forgotten, the things in these few trunks were packed by you and Xiao Su, I don't know which thing is in which trunk, you'll have to take care of it yourself."

  "Isn't there a list?"

  "Hey," Xiao Shun smiled: "You might as well help out, anyway you're not busy with anything else right now, no need to stay in the house staring at those people."

  "Jing Hu said, Auntie Li's place is short-handed. Although there's a big kitchen outside, we still have to work hard for our meals."

  So, Cao Sheng still found the list and started looking for things against the numbers Jiaxu and Dingchou on the box.

  Xiao Shun helped out on the side, wanting to move and lift things, he rushed to do them.

  "We didn't know how much stuff we had until we moved. I have two big bundles myself, which I don't usually use, and it's a bit scary to move them."

  "Uh-huh."

  Xiao Shun is like this, they have a bit more of something. And as for His Highness the Crown Prince... it's even less necessary to mention.

  The fourth prince's family is quite wealthy.

  Of course, most of them are valuable but worthless things.

  For example, because he was good at reading, all kinds of stationery and treasures, the emperor's rewards, the gifts from the eunuchs, and so on, just these things filled three or four boxes. Not to mention inkstones, ink, and brushes, but just various types of paper were a staggering amount.

  There are also four princes' clothes, which are even more troublesome to move. Because some clothes can't be folded, they are usually hung on racks and in cabinets, packing and transporting them, and then unpacking and arranging them is a huge project.

  No matter in ancient or modern times, moving is a super strong physical and mental labor. It's not just tiring, but also easy to lose things if you're not careful.

  There is a bookshelf partition against the east wall of the study room. Behind it, there is a bed, a desk and a chair.

  This is where the fourth prince lived yesterday.

  Got it, has its own new home, but the new house can't go live in.

  Even later on, the main house would still be the domain of the Fourth Prince's consort——

  Just like other officials and nobles at that time, the main house was where his wife lived, the east and west wings were where his concubines lived, they could move around according to their mood, but if you say what really belongs to them, it's usually the study.

  Chao Sheng placed the jade screen that the Fourth Prince often played with on her desk, but when she turned around, she saw a figure and was startled.

  Another look, it turned out that there was a mirror embedded behind the frame, and what she saw was not someone else, but herself.

  It's really...

  Install a mirror here, and don't be afraid of scaring yourself at night.

  However, it seems that in "Dream of the Red Chamber", there is also a mention of a mirror being placed in the bedroom.

  Chao Sheng glanced at himself in the mirror and smoothed out the wrinkles on his sleeve.

  It's been a long time since she looked in the mirror like this.

  The people inside seemed both familiar and strange.

  When she moves, the person in the mirror also moves.

  But Chao Sheng felt that the clear image in the mirror was not her.

  Xiao Shun asked outside: "Is this also for the study?"

  Chao Sheng hastily replied and went out.

  That bed is probably a tough problem.

  If repaired, it will definitely be fixed.

  But this is too ominous.

  The prince is getting married. Oh, you've got a broken bed to fix, and after some banging and hammering, it's been repaired. But even if it's fixed, doesn't the person feel like they've swallowed a fly?

  But change the bed? That's not going to work. Even if a ready-made one can be found, its size may not fit. Even if the size fits, it may not match the status of the Fourth Prince and the Wen family, or meet the standards of this marriage.

  Chao Sheng didn't see Chun Mo until after noon, but Man Er came looking for her.

  Chao Sheng had been waiting in the house, feeling a bit restless. Man'er knocked on the door outside, her voice trembling slightly: "Chao Sheng?"

  "I'm here."

  She jumped out of bed and made her way to the door in three strides, opening it.

  Man'er was visibly nervous, looking around before taking a step into the house.

  "This house... is quite different from ours back home."

  "All are temporary residents, waiting for their masters to assign tasks, and they may still need to be reassigned."

  Chao Sheng poured her a cup of tea and brought out a square white pear-shaped box: "Here, there's your favorite candied fruit."

  In the past, in the alley where clothes were washed, it was rare to have a chance to eat once a year.

  Man'er's eyes lit up, one in each hand, and she took a big bite: "So sweet."

  Chao Sheng asked: "What did you eat for lunch?"

  "A cabbage, two small pieces of cured meat, and a big bowl of rice."

  It seems they didn't eat the food from the small kitchen.

  The fourth prince is not around, and the small kitchen will not be busy preparing meals at noon. Chao Sheng's lunch of fried tofu and vegetable soup is similar to Man Er's. However, the small kitchen is definitely better than the large kitchen in terms of hygiene and taste.

  The fourth prince went to Chongwen Pavilion.

  Although his wedding is approaching, the fourth prince has not been granted leave, and he still needs to attend school.

  Chao Sheng asked Man Er about what happened after they parted ways.

  "Ugh, don't even mention it. I thought that after leaving the laundry district, at least I wouldn't have to wash clothes every day. But after being assigned tasks, I still had to do laundry - just not as much. It wasn't until after half a year of washing clothes that I was reassigned... and then I had to learn new rules again. I thought my discipline was fine, you'd taught me before and I knew it all. But I still got scolded and punished, and only later did I realize that when you arrive at a new place, they'll use the excuse of 'learning the rules' or 'doing things' to give you a hard time, to knock you down a peg, so that afterwards you'll be more obedient."

  This is also known as the tide of life.

  At that time, didn't Chun Mo also want to give her a warning?

  However, Qiū Yuàn was there at the time and somewhat helped her out...

  Missing Autumn Ink, Chao Sheng felt a little dazed.

  "I thought I was doing well before, after leaving the laundry alley, I thought I could serve the nobles, stand out, and save up for my own house... The palace where we were was very quiet, and all the people living there were unhappy, with over a dozen women in one courtyard, and even after three or four years of entering the palace, they hadn't seen the emperor's face, maybe the emperor didn't even know these people existed... Although it wasn't as tiring as the laundry alley, there were many disputes, and every now and then someone would quarrel, frame each other, and sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night, looking at others sleeping peacefully, feeling especially scared. I don't know if they are plotting against me in their hearts, nor do I know what will happen to me in the future..."

  These experiences, Chao Sheng also has.

  She comfortingly grasped Man'er's hand.

  Her hands no longer have many calluses since she doesn't usually do heavy chores now. Man'er's hands, however, are still full of them.

  I'm sure you haven't eaten much.

  "Now we're together again." Man'er smiled at her: "I feel like I'm dreaming. In the past, I made so many wishes to heaven and the gods, but none of them came true. As a result, this time it actually worked."

  She couldn't sit for long, so Chao Sheng packed up some candied fruits and other snacks for her to take back.

  Man'er hesitated for a moment.

  Want to bring, but brought back, can't help but share with others.

  She can't bear to part with it.

  Chao Sheng couldn't help but smile slyly as he saw her frowning seriously over a problem.

  After seeing Man'er off, Chao Sheng went to the kitchen. It was still more than an hour before dinner, not yet busy time, so Li Auntie handed a handful of pumpkin seeds to Chao Sheng.

  "It seems everyone knows now." Aunt Li said: "It's really...such a scandalous thing has happened."

  Chao Sheng knew she was talking about that bed thing.

  "Yes, and I don't know how to smooth this matter over."

  Auntie Li lowered her head and thought for a moment: "This thing is really unthinkable - who would dare to be at odds with our prince like this?"

  ————————————————

  Big orange has homework now.

  His father accompanied him to do his homework, talked for half an hour with a dry mouth, and gulped down water... He sighed and said that being a teacher is not easy at all, and he should have been more considerate and respectful of his teachers back then.