Manbao didn’t care about them and tugged at Mingda, saying, "Forget about them, let’s go play."
Changyu finally got to eat the stead at and at pie she had been craving, and drank a particularly sweet bowl of chicken soup. Satisfied, she felt a bit sleepy and said, "Let’s sit and rest for a while first. We’ll go out after we’ve rested."
So Manbao led them to rest inside the estate.
The estate was quite large, with separate courtyards. Manbao’s room was next to those of her two nieces, adjacent to the courtyard chosen by Bai Shan, Bai Erlang, and Mr. Zhuang.
As they walked along, the trees planted last winter had all sprouted, and the flowers and plants sent from the city and various hos this spring had been planted. It was a ti when sumr blossoms were flourishing.
Even though the flowers and plants were common and not rare, seeing so many blooming flowers along the way was quite uplifting.
Seeing a beautiful rose, Changyu picked a blossom and pinned it in Mingda’s hair, saying, "Manbao, your estate is really well kept. Although it’s still early, and with more ti, the garden will surely look even better."
Manbao nodded.
Changyu couldn’t help but complain to them, "Daming Palace is much worse. It’s been so many years, yet more than half of it is still barren. I wonder if we’ll go there to escape the sumr heat this year."
Mingda laughed, "The national treasury is empty, and Father’s private treasury is tight. It’s naturally hard to build. I actually think it’s okay now. Though only half of it is built, the main palaces are completed. As for those gardens, leaving them untended for now adds a wild charm."
Changyu couldn’t help but laugh heartily, "What wild charm? It looks exactly like a desolate wilderness."
Manbao said, "But I saw you having a great ti last year."
Changyu waved the grass she had plucked, saying, "The first ti is naturally fun, but if it’s this kind of wild charm every year, what fun is it? And last year you two accompanied . Will Zhou Man be able to visit Daming Palace every day this year?"
Manbao sighed and said, "It depends on where the Empress Dowager resides."
Mingda’s smile faded a bit when ntioning the Empress Dowager’s illness. Perhaps it was due to the change of seasons, but the Empress Dowager’s health had been poor lately. Director Xiao and Imperial Doctor Liu visited daily, sotis calling Ms. Doctor Liu from the Imperial dical Office for acupuncture; most of the ti, Zhou Man accompanied them.
After thinking for a mont, Mingda said, "Grandmother probably won’t move palaces."
Although the Taiji Palace is quite hot, moving would be unadvisable with the Empress Dowager’s current condition, and surely, she would prefer to stay in the Taiji Palace.
Mingda said, "If Grandmother doesn’t move, then Father and Mother likely won’t go to Daming Palace to escape the sumr heat this year."
Upon hearing this, Changyu knew they wouldn’t be able to go this year either.
Arriving at Manbao’s courtyard, Manbao led them into her room to rest.
Her room was about the sa size as the one at the Zhou Residence in the city, but not as elegantly furnished, given it’s an estate and not a permanent residence.
The screen in the room was made of bamboo, with no patterns on it, but when drawn, it exuded a rustic charm. There was also a wooden couch by the window, and it was quite large, seeming bigger than her bed. This was sothing Zhou Dalang specially had craftsn make bigger.
Since they always liked to sit on the couch to read, as they grew, it seed odd to be huddled on a small wooden couch. So Zhou Dalang simply had it made bigger. The room was spacious enough, and she didn’t have too many books or things cluttering it, so there was enough room to accommodate.
The three sat on the couch, exhaled simultaneously, and leaned on the couch, drinking tea, chatting, and occasionally nodding off.
Bai Shan and Bai Erlang explained a bit about the Crown Prince and Prince Gong’s relationship to the family, reassuring them, "It’s okay, as long as they don’t start fighting at our ho."
Old Zhou sighed, "What a sha, how did brothers end up like this?"
Bai Shan couldn’t help but hush him, "Eldest Uncle Zhou, you can’t say that."
Old Zhou was puzzled, "Why can’t I say it when they’ve done it?"
Bai Shan lowered his voice, "It’s not that you can’t talk about them quarrelling as brothers, but you can’t use the words ’what a sha.’"
"Why?"
Bai Shan was at a loss for words because standing outside were quite a few Imperial Guards and many palace maids and eunuchs. How could he openly talk about it?
Ms.Qian shot Old Zhou a sideways glance, "Just don’t say it if you’re told not to. Why must you ask ’why’?"
Old Zhou imdiately fell silent.
Old Madam Liu smiled, "Everyone has been busy for half a day. I find the two princesses easy to get along with. Let the children play by themselves; we shouldn’t disturb them."
Old Zhou nodded repeatedly and told Bai Shan, "The kitchen fire is still burning. If you want anything to eat, tell your eldest sister-in-law to make it for you."
Old Zhou suddenly rembered and turned to his daughters-in-law, "The officials outside haven’t eaten yet. Hurry and prepare sothing in the kitchen for them, don’t neglect the guests."
Old Madam Liu initially wanted to say sothing but considering, it’s better to be polite to these people, as it’s also beneficial for the children. After all, it’s easier to deal with a king than with his minions.
Junior Ms.Qian agreed and went to prepare the food.
Ms.Fang, Ms.Lu, and Ms.Qiu quickly followed her.
Old Madam Liu turned to Nanny Liu and said, "Let the household servants assist, so everything gets done faster. Since the food for the Imperial Guards needs to be prepared, make sure to prepare lunch for the palace people as well."
Nanny Liu bowed her head, responded with a "yes," and left courteously.
Initially, the palace maids had taken out the dry rations they carried to make do, but then a servant ca to inform them that the kitchen was preparing their als and they could eat in just a short while, so they stored their rations back.
If there’s hot food available, who wants to eat cold food?
Conveniently, the masters had eaten early, so it was just about lunchti now.
Changyu, leaning against the pillow, slept for two quarters of an hour and was awoken by the chirping birds outside. When she opened her eyes, she saw that Manbao and Mingda were still sound asleep opposite her.
She nudged Mingda with her foot, but Mingda just turned over and continued to sleep, not waking up, and Manbao was even more so, sleeping deeply, her wrist resting on Mingda’s arm. It was visible that her wrist was a bit chunkier, chubby and fair, making Changyu feel a sudden urge to take a bite.
She lay on the couch gazing at them for a while, but seeing they showed no signs of waking, she got restless.
She sat up and looked out the window, spotting a few birds perched on a nearby tree. As if sensing her gaze, they flapped their wings and flew away.
Changyu couldn’t help but lean forward to watch them fly over the wall and disappear, thinking to herself how such small birds might not even have half a pound of at each, yet Manbao claid she had eaten them when she was young.
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