0p0 Chapter 453: Telling Them on Purpose
Chapter 453: Telling Them on Purpose
Before noon in the morning, Jiang Siyuan arrived at the side door of the palace. Behind him were dozens of workers, young and old, carrying various tools on their backs.
Xiao Yu was still asleep.
Su Lingyue had to show up for such a major event as the start of construction and sacrifice. Today, there was a foreign man, so she wore a veil and went to greet Jiang Siyuan.
The unfinished house of Muyunxuan was covered with oilcloth. The housekeeper had someone set up a table for the sacrifice, and Su Lingyue completed the sacrifice under the guidance of the housekeeper.
Afterwards, the housekeeper gave each worker ten taels of silver according to Su Lingyue's wishes.
"The princess said that as long as everyone works hard, in addition to the monthly salary, there will be extra money after the completion of the work."
These workers are the breadwinners of their families. They need money to support their families, and everyone's expression lights up when they get extra wages.
"Good!" The workers cheered happily.
Jiang Siyuan looked serious and raised his hand, and the workers immediately fell silent.
"The prince and princess like quietness, so you must not make noise while working. Also, there are female relatives in the mansion, so you must not enter other courtyards to avoid bumping into them. Violators will be severely punished. Do you remember this?"
As the eldest son of the Jiang family, he is usually the most gentle to others, but he is definitely not without dignity.
When he said this, his face showed the sternness of a superior who brooks no room for questioning.
The foreman hurried forward and bowed, "Yes, master, rest assured, I will watch them and will not embarrass you."
If you come to work in the palace, not only will the palace give you extra money, but you will also be provided with two meals with fish and meat.
With such good treatment, who would make a mistake?
Jiang Siyuan nodded with satisfaction, "During this period, the words of the prince and princess are my words, and you must obey them."
The foreman responded with “yes” again and again.
After explaining everything, Jiang Siyuan resigned from Su Lingyue and went to the Ministry of Revenue to handle official business.
*
After returning to Furong Pavilion, Su Lingyue had a simple breakfast. She wanted to go back to the bedroom to stay with Xiao Yu, but then she remembered that she had not yet taken the fertility medicine she promised to give to Qin Wanning.
Xiao Yu should still be asleep at this moment, so she feels at ease having Yan Qing accompany her.
Su Lingyue took Caidie Caiyi to Baicao Garden to make pills. While making the pills, she also taught them some basic pharmacology.
The two sisters will get married sooner or later, learn some pharmacology, and take good care of themselves when she is not around.
Xiao Yu slept until almost noon. Su Lingyue returned from the Baicao Garden and brought back the medicine prepared by Doctor Lu.
After having a simple lunch in the room, the two of them washed and changed their clothes.
Su Lingyue was wearing the dress made by Concubine Zhen.
It was rare for her to go out with Xiao Yu, so Su Lingyue also dressed Xiao Yu in the clothes made by Concubine Zhen. Knowing that Su Lingyue liked it, Xiao Yu lowered his eyes and smiled at her, letting her dress him.
After getting dressed, Su Lingyue looked at the two people's clothes of the same color and similar attire with satisfaction, and said with a raised lip: "My prince has an elegant demeanor, and he looks good in any outfit!"
But she frowned again soon, "It's annoying that my husband is too good-looking. What if someone else is thinking about him?"
Xiao Yu chuckled and asked, "Besides Yue'er, who else would miss your husband?"
Su Lingyue raised her little face proudly and said, "I don't know, but I want everyone to know that the prince and I are in love, and others have no chance."
Xiao Yu pinched her bright little face and said in a gentle voice: "It's your husband who should be worried."
"Hmm?" Su Lingyue looked at him in confusion. Xiao Yu chuckled and said, "Let's go!"
*
Yan Qing’s idea of carrying Xiao Yu on his back failed.
When Yan Qing came out of the bedroom and offered to carry Xiao Yu on his back, Xiao Yu refused directly and ruthlessly, "I can walk by myself, just support me!"
Yan Qing looked disappointed, with worry in his eyes, "But Uncle Lu said that the prince doesn't get tired easily."
Xiao Yu won't let anyone carry him!
He has his own pride and self-esteem, and he would not let anyone think that he is weak or succumb to illness.
Although his steps were a bit heavy, Xiao Yu still got into the carriage with the help of Yan Qing and Su Lingyue.
Su Lingyue turned her face away, not looking at the knuckles in her hands that had turned white from the force.
The carriage can only carry a limited number of people. Before leaving the house, Caidie told Caiyi and Lijing: "Take good care of the young lady and the prince, and come back soon!"
Li Jing crossed her arms and replied calmly. Cai Yi patted the hand holding her sleeve and said, "Have someone prepare the bathing soup for the prince and the young lady in advance. If you have nothing to do, you can mend the few stitches that are missing from the young lady's shoes."
Now that she had something to do, Caidie didn't feel as disappointed. She nodded in agreement and watched them leave the house.
The carriage stopped at the side door of He's house. When the servant saw it, he immediately went in to report.
As soon as Xiao Yu and Su Lingyue got off the carriage, He Wen came out to greet them.
"Your Highness pays respect to Prince Su and Princess."
"Master He, please stand up. The prince and the princess are here to congratulate your daughter on her return home."
After Xiao Yu finished speaking, Yun Ting handed over a few boxes in his hand, and the servant next to He Wen took them respectfully.
"My house is honored to have the presence of the prince and princess. Please come in."
He Qianqian's welcoming banquet was not large in scale, but all members of the He family took leave, and the families of the He family's first and second wives all came. Some colleagues who had a good relationship with the He family also sent gifts, including the Jiang family.
As soon as Su Lingyue and Xiao Yu entered the hall, they saw that their aunt and eldest cousin seemed to have just come in. Prince Xiao Changshi was sitting at the upper seat in the hall.
He Qianqian is Xiao Changshi's future Crown Princess, so it is reasonable for him to come. Although Tutor He is unwilling to make this marriage happen, he still has to deal with it for the sake of face.
Su Lingyue frowned unhappily and met Xiao Changshi's eyes.
Xiao Changshi also frowned, but soon relaxed his brows. He smiled and stood up with Tutor He and walked towards them.
"Imperial uncle...Imperial aunt." After Xiao Changshi glanced at Xiao Yu, he smiled meaningfully and bowed. This smile made Su Lingyue feel uncomfortable, and she subconsciously tightened her hand that was clasped with Xiao Yu.
"Your Highness Prince Su."
Everyone followed suit and saluted.
Xiao Yu squeezed Su Lingyue's hand to comfort her, and said softly, "Everyone, please stand up."
After saying this, he looked at Xiao Changshi who had already stood up, and said in a light tone: "The emperor's nephew is very polite, why doesn't he see the concubine?"
Xiao Changshi's face was full of vigor and he smiled with curved lips: "The concubine is pregnant, so she is naturally recuperating in the mansion."
Xiao Yu glared at him and asked in a cold voice: "The main wife hasn't even entered the house yet, but the concubine is already pregnant. I wonder how she will deal with it when the main wife enters the house in the future?"
Xiao Changshi was stunned for a moment, then raised his lips and said, "Of course, he is raised under the name of the principal concubine."
Fortunately, when he went to see the queen mother, she had already told him how to answer in advance.
Xiao Yu looked at him coldly and asked, "What if the wife has a legitimate son in the future?"
Xiao Changshi was speechless for a moment.
He did not discuss this issue with his mother yesterday, but it would not be wrong to please Tutor He and Lord He now.
Xiao Changshi said seriously, "Of course the legitimate son comes first."
Seeing the tension between the two, Master He tried to smooth things over by saying, "Your Highness, Crown Prince, I have just got some good tea from the south. How about you two try it first?"
Xiao Yu looked away and responded.
Master He smiled and invited them to their seats. He asked the maid to serve more tea, and the people in the hall began to chat again.
Old Madam He led Su Lingyue and Madam Jiang into the inner hall. Su Lingyue knew most of the people inside. They were all officials' wives who had some friendship and kinship with the He family.
The first lady, the second lady and Wan Ning of the He family were all there. There were several relatives of the He family between Qin Wan Ning and the first lady, and their faces were not in a good mood.
Sitting in the middle was a pretty and lively woman with willow-shaped eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes and an oval face. She was talking to the elder beside her in a graceful manner.
She wore a pink and white skirt with a pink brocade coat with peach blossom pattern, and a ruby headpiece on her head, which showed that she was of noble status.
This woman should be He Qianqian.
Madam He smiled and introduced He Qianqian: "Qianqian, this is the wife of Prince Su and the wife of Lord Jiang, the Minister of Revenue. You should call her aunt. Come and greet her."
After everyone stood up and saluted Su Lingyue, He Qianqian stepped forward alone and bowed to Su Lingyue and Madam Jiang, "Qianqian greets the Princess of Su and Aunt Jiang."
Her voice was like that of a kingfisher, with the clarity and agility that only a young girl could possess.
Su Lingyue smiled and said, "Miss He, there's no need to be so polite."
Mrs. Jiang stepped forward and pulled her up. After looking at her lovingly, she smiled and said, "I haven't seen you for a few years. Miss He has grown into a big girl. I couldn't recognize her!"
Several people nearby echoed: "That's right!"
"When I left Beijing, she was only waist-high, but now she has grown into a beautiful lady!"
……
Amid the praises from the crowd, He Qianqian stared at Su Lingyue's face, opening and closing her mouth. She seemed to want to say something but was a little hesitant. Su Lingyue couldn't help but cover her lips with a handkerchief and laughed out loud, saying, "Miss He, I'm Su Lingyue."
He Qianqian widened her eyes in surprise.
After the eldest lady reminded him, she managed her appearance and asked in surprise, "Aren't you the prince's concubine? How did you become the princess?"
It seems that she knows something about what's happening in the capital, but not much.
The eldest lady interrupted her question and said, "The Crown Prince's concubine is the princess's sister, so don't talk nonsense, kid."
After that, he apologized to Su Lingyue, "Princess, please don't blame me. Qianqian has been away from Beijing for many years, and I remembered many things wrongly."
The marriage exchange had caused quite a stir at first, but the matter was done and they had no choice but to go along with it.
One is the crown prince, the other is Prince Su. Their father-in-law, Su Heng, has dominated the court for many years, and no one can afford to offend him.
At most, they would talk about it in private, and no one dared to talk about it openly. Unexpectedly, He Qianqian actually said it directly.
Su Lingyue smiled dignifiedly but not awkwardly, and said to He Qianqian with a hint of grievance in her expression: "Originally, the marriage was between me and the prince, but my sister and the prince are in love with each other... You know I have been without a mother since I was a child, so I can only ask for concessions in many things."
Speaking of the sad part, Su Lingyue symbolically wiped the corners of her eyes, and then a look of relief appeared on her face: "Fortunately, the prince treats me sincerely, and my life is easy. Everything is destined by God."
With a few words that were left unsaid, he expressed vividly the injustice and grievances he had suffered, while leaving appropriate room for the listeners' imagination.
Most importantly, she said this to He Qianqian and the first lady.
If she even dares to bully the future daughter-in-law chosen by the Queen, it goes without saying how arrogant and domineering the Prince's concubine is.
Mrs. Jiang tried to smooth things over at the right time, "The moon has passed, come, everyone, sit down!"
Then everyone dispersed and sat back in their seats.
After listening to Su Lingyue's words, He Qianqian's joy of reuniting with her family just now disappeared, just as expected, and her face was filled with sorrow.