Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 343 Cao Kuangru Enters Yanjia Palace

Hearing this, Daiyu knew that Emperor Zhaoming was going to use her as bait again, and she didn't know who he was trying to trick.

But if Queen Wan is her target, then the clouded leopard mattress may not be enough.

After a moment's hesitation, Daiyu ordered softly, "Go to the storehouse and look around. If there are any very good and eye-catching items sent by your majesty that Yimin doesn't have, replace them."

Xiao Hong's heart tightened, her face tensed, and she whispered to confirm: "That's a lot! Do we really have to change them all?"

"Yes." Daiyu sat on the kang, lowered her eyes and looked at the tips of her ten fingers, "If there are any new and clever things we brought back from Jiangnan, put them on too.

"And fold some small things to prepare for the young ladies from noble families who come to the palace to celebrate the New Year, to reward them for their kindness."

Is this meant to be a big hit?!

Xiaohong roughly understood Daiyu's purpose, but she was still a little uneasy, so she smiled and said:

"Although you are a princess, you are of the same generation as me. It is somewhat inappropriate to give others your own things as rewards.

"How about I go again and ask my uncle?"

Daiyu glanced at her and smiled: "You are even more cautious than I am. Well, go and ask when you have time. If Uncle Shi agrees, you can do it later."

Xiao Hong blushed at this and quickly changed the subject: "The Emperor is here!

"They say that some seafood has arrived from Shandong, and I want to make seafood porridge tonight for the Queen Mother to share.

"Now he is playing chess with the Queen Mother outside.

"Aunt Cheng said that if the princess has rested well and can get up, she might as well go out and pay her respects. If she is still tired, then forget it."

Daiyu hurriedly threw off the quilt and got out of bed: "You little girl, why are you still helping the aunts to indulge me? I am still lazy when the queen is here, how can I be so lazy!"

Xiaohong smiled and helped her wash and dress up.

Because Daiyu had just recovered from a serious illness, she did not apply too much powder. She just wore her hair in a single spiral bun, pinned a hibiscus flower carved from emerald jade, and lightly touched up her lips with light pink rouge.

After buttoning up Damao's silver-pink jacket, she felt a sense of emptiness around her neck and cheeks, so she put a pair of Dongzhu earrings on her ears.

Xiao Hong looked at it carefully, and was finally satisfied. She chuckled and said, "Our girl's beauty is unparalleled in the world. She looks so beautiful even without makeup!"

Daiyu glared at her, held her wrist and walked out.

The emperor and the queen mother were playing chess. Tanchun chose a place far away to make tea, and Zijuan helped. Cheng Qian and Dai Quan were both resting in the corner of the hall. The whole hall was completely silent.

Daiyu moved lightly and quietly to Tanchun's side.

When Tanchun saw her come out, she sat up straight in surprise and was about to stand up, but Daiyu hurriedly held her down, and the two of them smiled and nodded deeply as a greeting.

Daiyu stood on tiptoe and looked at the chessboard carefully. Seeing that although the empress dowager was in a difficult position, she would not be defeated for the time being, she sat down next to Tanchun.

Tanchun understood and smiled, giving her the seat to make tea.

Daiyu carefully brewed two cups of good tea, then held them in her hands, slowly walked over, and gently placed them next to the Empress Dowager.

The two elders looked up at the same time, and when they saw her, they stopped.

The Queen Mother smiled kindly and stretched out her hand to pull her into her arms: "Are you up?"

The Supreme Master also smiled and twirled his beard, and asked her in a gentle voice, "You have been sick for a while, and you look thinner. Are you feeling better now?"

Daiyu nestled in the Empress Dowager's arms and replied with a smile: "In reply to the Emperor, I'm much better now. Hongchang came this morning and we talked for a while before going back to sleep."

The Queen Mother pinched her waist lovingly, making Daiyu curl up in a ball and laugh, but she sighed to the Queen Mother:

“This child is too heavy-hearted.

"After a trip to Jiangnan, I was already very tired. Yimin and I both slept soundly for two or three days. The imperial physician also gave us tonic medicine, and only then did we recover.

"She hasn't rested since she came back. The old lady of the Jia family is not well, and she is worrying about her again.

"I just don't understand, have the descendants of the surname Jia died out? They always blame this child for everything!"

Tai Shang laughed: "Other children love their grandmother, and you are so jealous!"

Before he finished speaking, a young eunuch ran in and said, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Jiangning County Magistrate Cao Yu returned to the capital to report on his work. He just entered the city in the afternoon and went to see Your Majesty.

"Your Majesty asked him to kowtow to His Majesty before returning home. He is waiting outside the palace now."

The emperor and the queen mother were both surprised: "Oh! Cao Kuangru is back? Quick, let him in!"

The young eunuch smiled and ran out to call for help.

At that moment, Cao Yu came in and kowtowed deeply at the corner of the hall.

The Supreme Lord looked at him from afar and smiled, waving at him, "Come here quickly! It's warm here, take off your cloak! Old Dai, bring him a mat so he can rest his feet!"

Seeing this, Daiyu and Tanchun wanted to get up and leave.

The Supreme One glanced at them and said, "We have met countless times in Jiangnan, and now you are trying to avoid suspicion. Please greet each other before you leave!"

Daiyu and Tanchun both laughed.

His Majesty Dan Cao Yu had just taken off his cloak and put it aside, and then he bowed and thanked Dai Quan for the cushion he handed over cheerfully. When he heard the words of the Supreme Lord, he did not dare to look up, and bowed deeply to the ground:

"Your humble servant Cao Yu greets Princess Zhaoqing and Princess Yimin. May I ask how they are doing?"

Daiyu and Tanchun returned the greeting: "Thank you for asking. Hello, Lord Cao."

Seeing Daiyu no longer said anything, Tanchun glanced at her and continued with a smile, "Lord Cao, you must have worked hard on your journey back to the capital. His Majesty has been thinking about you very much recently. Lord Cao might as well sit for a while and chat with His Majesty for a few more words."

Cao Yu quickly agreed with a smile.

Daiyu glanced at Cao Yu's forced expression, then leaned over and whispered something in Zijuan's ear. Zijuan looked at her in surprise and nodded slightly.

Daiyu and Tanchun politely retreated.

The Queen Mother smiled and talked to Cao Yu, asking about his errand and what he had seen along the way. The Queen Mother then signaled Zijuan to serve Cao Yu some hot tea.

Zijuan smiled and went over to whisper in his ear: "The princess said that Lord Cao must not have had lunch, so she asked for some snacks."

The Queen Mother raised her eyebrows and said "oh".

The Supreme heard it and looked at the Queen Mother: "What?"

"Zhao Qing said that Lord Cao must have skipped lunch since he was in such a hurry. Is it proper for him to ask the maid to prepare a plate of snacks for him?"

The Queen Mother smiled and asked Cao Yu, "Why? You went to see your Majesty, but he didn't give you anything to eat?"

Cao Yu stood up and replied embarrassedly: "I was talking about business and didn't think about this. I drank a lot of tea in the imperial study and I am really hungry."

Seeing how calmly he accepted Daiyu's kindness, the empress dowager's smile became more genuine. She repeatedly asked people to replace the hot tea given to him with ginseng soup, and also ordered some snacks that were easy to digest.

The Grand Master smiled and looked back at Dai Quan, pointing at the Queen Mother and jokingly said, "Look, she has been in the palace for thirty or forty years, has she ever been so nice to any of her ministers?"

Dai Quan hurriedly responded, "That's right! Even Feng Ziying probably hasn't enjoyed such a favor!"

When Zijuan heard this, she paused as she put down the plate of snacks.