Chapter Eighty-six News

  Chapter Eighty-six News

  Chunmo has been feeling down lately.

  It's not just her, everyone in the entire Yiqiu Palace is a bit uneasy.

  Because reliable news came from the palace - the fourth prince is going to get engaged.

  Like the second prince, he couldn't make his own decisions about whom to marry and when. Although it was his wedding, no one asked for his opinion from start to finish.

  Auntie Li poked the back of Cai Sheng's hand with her chopsticks: "What are you doing?"

  Chao Sheng showed her the work in his hand: "I want to sew a secret pocket on the clothes, so that I can put something in it."

  Auntie Li took it over and looked at it with a smile, saying: "Your hands are quite skilled. Hmm, what do you want to put inside?"

  "A handkerchief or something like that can also hold some loose change."

  "Go ahead, then come back and sew one for me too, it looks quite convenient."

  It's certainly more convenient, but modern clothes without pockets are not uncommon. So in this era, everyone's clothing doesn't have pockets, which is quite inconvenient. Handkerchiefs are stuffed into sleeves, or simply use the waistband tied around the waist to wipe away sweat and tears. I didn't know what to do with the waistband that was used to tie up skirts and pants before, but now I understand. If there's anything loose, it's simply put in a purse or a money bag, these bags and pouches are all placed on the outside, their decorative function is greater than their practical use.

  Chao Sheng smiled: "If you don't mind my clumsy hands, I'll help you alter it when we get back."

  She lowered her head and continued working.

  Auntie Li thought to herself, this girl's composure is quite good.

  It's probably after going through ups and downs, suffering hardships, and being wronged that I'm different from those chattering, ignorant little girls.

  The news that the fourth prince is going to be engaged spread, and the people in the Yiqiu Palace were restless. Some were busy inquiring about the news, some were absent-minded and didn't know what they were thinking, while others hurriedly fawned on several influential people, normally loving to sneak around and being lazy, now suddenly becoming diligent, with sweet words like honey.

  Pffft!

  Auntie Li has been in the palace for so many years and has seen all sorts of people, yet she can still be fooled by their three tricks and two schemes.

  Good is good, bad is bad, who doesn't have bright eyes? Who doesn't have a balance in their heart?

  "By the way, I saw several people coming over from the west courtyard this morning, what were they doing?"

  Chao Sheng turned the top needle and smiled with a pursed mouth: "They're looking for Spring Ink sister."

  "Oh?"

  Auntie Li must have had a number in mind, she was just teasing her into talking.

  Tao Sheng said: "At that time, they were assigned to serve the Eighth Prince... Now it seems that there is movement on our side, and I'm afraid that within a year or two, they will be transferred out of the palace. I heard one of them say that at the time, it was only temporary to assign them to serve the Eighth Prince, and they were still considered people from our side. If the Fourth Prince really wants to get married and set up his own household, they will naturally follow him..."

  Li Aunt smiled secretly: "You're thinking too much. I also knew about it at that time, and I said it then, to serve the eighth prince, and on the name list, it's also counted as the eighth prince's person. In a twinkling of an eye, another one came out temporarily. What did Chun Mo say?"

  "Spring Ink sister's face didn't look good, she only said that this matter wasn't something a single palace maid could decide on her own, who goes out and who doesn't go out, who counts as whose person, it has to be decided by the master, otherwise, they have to ask Lord Wei, what does it have to do with her."

  "Hmm, Chun Mo doesn't have the heart to reason with them."

  However, it's clear that those people didn't achieve their goal, they looked very unhappy, and their eyes were filled with resentment.

  In fact, their affairs were really something Chun Mo couldn't handle.

  According to what Aunt Li said, they have changed their names and definitely cannot be counted as people on the side of the Fourth Prince.

  If it's as they say, then shouldn't everyone in the Western Palace be able to follow along? Why leave the Eighth Prince behind alone?

  Just kidding.

  Those few people are probably not thinking that way, they must be thinking that Chun Mo can do it and won't let them do it. Maybe they think that as long as Chun Mo speaks a few good words in front of the Fourth Prince, they can follow him out of the palace together, without having to continue suffering in the palace.

  Although they also serve the prince, but how old is the eighth prince? How many years will it take for him to be able to take care of himself and manage his own affairs? By then, these people will have been simmered into old pumpkins after autumn, what can be expected of them?

  The fourth prince is already a bright and clear path.

  The fourth prince is in his prime, with a good life and a good temper. The princesses naturally don't think so, but someone has to attend to the prince at all times? In wealthy and powerful families, which one doesn't have a group of concubines?

  Dong Zhi and Xia Bi are not that kind of foolish person, the little palace maids below will not have such thoughts either. It's just this kind of person who thinks they have charm and a bit of cleverness, but is neither here nor there, who would tread on one head while leaning against another.

  To have one's feet in two boats; when the heart is at both ends, neither end can be relied on.

  Chao Sheng bit off the thread and shook her skirt.

  The dark pouch is sewn just right, the opening is at the pleat of the skirt, and it's not visible at all, unless you stick it on to look, can see where there is a mouth.

  "Not bad, not bad." Aunt Li glanced at her, her eyes seeming to hold a deeper meaning: "With these skilled hands of yours, you'll be able to find a good husband in the future."

  Chao Sheng didn't blush or show embarrassment like ordinary little girls when teased, but only said: "Auntie is teasing me again."

  "Don't you believe me? Want to make a bet with me?"

  Chao Sheng just said: "Marrying anyone is not up to oneself anyway."

  Even princes and princesses cannot decide their own marriages.

  The second prince is like this, and the fourth prince will also be like this.

  Besides, she is just a small slave girl.

  The evil old society gave birth to a new life in its belly and cursed again: The evil arranged marriage.

  The fourth prince is still doing everything as usual, going to school when he should be in school and resting when he should be resting. However, over the past half month, he has entered the palace no less than five times. Once was when the emperor caught a cold, and he went to the palace to pay his respects. The remaining few times were all summoned by the emperor.

  It seems like the Emperor has been favoring this son lately.

  The fourth prince's child would generally be in a difficult situation.

  Mother had no status and died early.

  If they were the emperor's first or second child, their father might have doted on them. If they were the youngest, they should also have been spoiled. But being stuck in the middle, neither high nor low —

  Some people say being a middle-aged person is the most uncomfortable, too old and too young at the same time, stuck in between.

  The fourth prince has two elder brothers above him and a string of younger brothers below him, this sandwiched position is quite solid.

  Of course, as a son, the fourth prince is excellent.

  Excellent in both moral character and learning, with a distinguished temperament. If we were to line up the princes and compare them, the fourth prince is more steady than the second prince, more handsome than the third prince, and more open-minded than the fifth prince... Hmm, it seems like this person has all the advantages.

  It's no wonder the emperor has been treating him like this recently.

  The fourth prince has real talent and material, this is not something that can be boasted about.

  The twilight merged into one color, and Chao Sheng stood on the steps, dazed for a moment.

  People always miss home especially when night falls.

  Ke Chao Sheng didn't know where his home was... should be or in what direction.

  The croaking of frogs came from far away, the courtyard was empty, and it seemed that these sounds filled all directions.

  But feel empty in heart.

  Taking advantage of the kitchen stove not being extinguished, she boiled water and took a good bath. Her hair was not dry and could only be scattered about.

  Her damp hair gave off a faint scent of soap, and Chao Sheng combed it smoothly. She heard someone outside ask, "Sister Chao Sheng, are you asleep?"

  "No, you come in."

  Shanhu pushed open the door and stepped inside quietly, as if afraid of startling someone.

  "Tidal life couldn't help but laugh: 'What are you doing?'"

  Shanhu stared at her for a while: "Chao Sheng sister, you look really good."

  Chao Sheng just smiled and said: "You're looking for me, is there something going on?"

  "Oh." Coral said in a low voice: "Chao Sheng sister, I heard that you can read?"

  Several people knew that Chao Sheng could recognize characters, but like Chun Mo, they thought he only recognized a few common characters and could keep accounts.

  "I... had a letter sent to me at home." Coral rummaged around her body, pulled out a crumpled piece of paper: "Tide-born sister, can you help me read it?"

  Tide nodded and said: "Good."

  It's not easy to bring this letter either. Normally, people in the palace and outside cannot deliver items at will, and Coral doesn't know how long she has been hiding this letter on her body.

  She took over the letter and the words on it were written quite neatly.

  "Is this written by someone in your family?"

  "It's not... no one in my family can read or write, this was written by someone else..." Coral moved the candle holder closer.

  Alas, such things are common at this time. The person writing the letter is illiterate, and the recipient is also illiterate. For those doing business outside, who want to send letters or packages back home, they have to find a scribe on the street to write for them. It may take several months for the letter to reach home, and then the family still has to ask someone to read it aloud.

  Fortunately, the letter is written in plain language and not in a pretentious tone. The letter was dictated by Coral's mother, saying that everything at home is fine and the harvest is good. Coral's sister-in-law gave birth to a son, telling her not to miss home, not to catch a cold from greed for coolness, and to take care of herself.

  Coral's eyes turned red, and as she listened, she wiped away tears with a handkerchief. Only after finishing reading the letter did she realize that she had also blown her nose on the handkerchief - the problem was that this handkerchief wasn't hers, it was Chao Sheng's. It had been casually placed on the bedside earlier, and Coral hadn't even looked before grabbing it to use...

  "Oh dear, Chao Sheng sister... I'll go back and wash it clean for you."

  Chao Sheng folded the letter and handed it back to her: "Don't worry, I'll wash it myself."

  Coral thanked and apologized again and again, but after being sent away by Chao Sheng, she was wide awake.

  To be honest, she's a little jealous.

  Coral still has family and can continue to seal the letter.

  She has nothing.

  In this era, she has only herself.

  Home...

  Where is home?

  How's your family?

  The next day she got up with dark circles under her eyes. Xiao Shun teased her: "Hey? Did you sneak out to steal chickens last night?"

  Chao Sheng shook his head.

  "What's wrong, didn't sleep well?" Xiaoshun easily grabbed a handful of dates.

  Xiao Shun and Aunt Li have a good relationship, and he also gets along well with Chao Sheng - it seems like he's close to everyone and can get along with anyone. So he often comes to the small kitchen to scrounge for food, and Aunt Li doesn't bother him about it either.

  "Hmm..."

  "Is something on your mind?"

  Chao Sheng nodded: "It's just a little homesick..."

  What she said was home, and what Xiaoshun thought of, were not the same place.

  Xiao Shun took a date and threw it into his mouth: "Hey, I just miss home, looking at you like that. Next time I go out again, I'll go to your house and take a look, maybe your uncle will be back."

  "Then I'll have to trouble you again."

  She can't always say she's thinking of that home.

  She thought...

  That's a place where you can never go back.

  ——————————————

  Uh, National Day has a double ticket activity again, from September 28th 12:00 to October 8th 12:00... If you still have tickets in your hands, just keep them until then and vote.

  Vote for me! Vote for me!~~~~~

  If I update two chapters every day, can you all give me all the votes in your hands?... covering face and running away