Gong Yuanzheng really didn't believe that Gong Shangjiao was a melon-eating enthusiast like them. He could only say that Gong Shangjiao's personality as a cool, domineering and arrogant brother was very stable. Even though Gong Shangjiao's performance when facing Zhang Xueming in the past few days repeatedly refreshed Gong Yuanzheng's three views, the filter that the younger brother put on his older brother was as many as eight hundred layers, and he was especially good at finding excuses for his older brother, which could not be easily shaken.

He had no idea of ​​Zhang Xueming's true purpose and easily fell into her trap.

Zhang Xueming smiled even more beautifully.

The two chatted and laughed, sharing the snacks in their pockets, and before they knew it, they arrived at Zheng Palace. They didn't feel bored at all.

The four guards outside who had been carrying the sedan chair were so bored that they turned into snowmen. When they put down the sedan chair at the destination, they all used their inner strength to shake off the snowflakes on their bodies, and also steamed their hair and clothes. Their movements were very nonchalant and their style was very elegant, which stunned the guards on duty at the Zheng Palace.

When Gong Yuanzheng got down, he saw the four guards who were shorter than him and of average looks. They were standing beside the sedan chair with expressionless faces and straight eyes. They were dressed cleanly and looked refreshed. They didn't look nervous or timid, just like the previous few days. He felt quite satisfied.

He also felt that their sedan chair was carried steadily, which did not affect the enthusiasm of gossiping in the sedan chair at all. He thought to himself that his brother was still good at disciplining people. He was in a good mood for a while and waved his hand: "You four are good, each of you will be rewarded with a month's salary."

Zhang Xueming nodded with a smile to show his agreement, and said casually: "Thank you for your hard work, go to the kitchen and have a bowl of ginger soup to drive away the cold."

The four guards bowed and thanked him quickly, with some smiles on their faces.

All are happy.

However, the two guards on duty in the Zheng Palace who were watching made their noses crooked with anger: They were all guards, but there were no more guards in the Jiao Palace than in the Zheng Palace. They were all people working in the heavy snow, so why did Master Zheng and Miss Zhao only praise them and even give them money?

He held his head high in defiance, and saluted with extreme respect, no longer in his previous perfunctory attitude. However, he only got a surprised glance from Gong Yuanzheng and the usual nod in response.

Zhang Xueming noticed it and smiled faintly: "Well done. From now on, the kitchen will always have hot water and ginger soup. Go get them when you go to work."

She did not mention the reward, and went in with Gong Yuanzheng. What does it matter if you perform well once? Only if you persist, the changes will be noticed by those who should see them. Otherwise, the past will not be so easy to get over.

There was still some time before dinner, so Gong Yuanzheng said, "Zhao Zhao, come and have a look at my pharmacy?"

"Alright." Zhang Xueming took off his silver fox fur cape and threw it to the maid in the hallway, saying, "Let me wipe my face and wash my hands first. If I don't clean up after coming back from going out, I always feel greasy on my face and hands."

Gong Yuanzheng also liked to be clean, so after hearing her words, he took off his black fox fur cloak and gave it to the maid to take care of, and followed Zhang Xueming's footsteps: "Let's do it together."

After a few days, Qingzhi and Surong had a general understanding of Zhang Xueming's living habits.

The two of them discussed the matter, and Nanny Tong and Nanny Qin checked for deficiencies and filled them in. The other maids and the original servants in charge of Zheng Palace cooperated fully, and everything was arranged perfectly, so that Zhang Xueming could feel the warmth of home even in the palace gate - after all, the palace gate had lasted for hundreds of years, how could it lose to a martial arts family outside the valley with a history of no more than two hundred years?

Zhang Xueming never cares about these things. At this stage, she only makes requests, enjoys the results, and then uses her own experience as the standard to decide whether to praise, reward, instruct, criticize or punish the people who do the work.

She and Gong Yuanzheng passed the entrance hall and turned into a compartment that was decorated like a small living room.

There was a large bed that took up almost one-third of the compartment. In the middle of the bed stood two square low tables put together. On either side of the low tables were several red and blue satin embroidered cushions and large back cushions. Two bamboo-topped incense burners were emitting heat at the foot of the bed.

Zhang Xueming sat down on the side of the Luohan bed, and a maid came forward to take off her arm guard and clean it. Another maid helped her take off her boots and put on a pair of soft-soled cloth shoes with black suede and rabbit fur lining.

Gong Yuanzheng followed whatever Zhang Xueming did, but refused to let the maid get close to him. He took off his arm guard and handed it over. When he saw that the maid had brought him a pair of the same soft-soled cloth shoes with black suede and rabbit fur lining, he took off his boots and put them on himself, and even stood up and walked a few steps.

These shoes are plain and have no patterns, but the advantage is that the soles are thick, soft and warm, and it feels like walking on cotton.

It was the first time Gong Yuanzheng wore this kind of shoes and he felt it was good. He moved his toes and found it very comfortable.

"This one is comfortable to wear." Gong Yuanzheng sat back down, "It's just too plain, not moisture-proof, and not convenient to wear out."

"I wear these slippers at home for comfort." Zhang Xueming said lazily, took the hot towel handed to him by the maid, raised his head and covered his face with it, and said nothing more.

Gong Yuanzheng also raised his head and covered his face with the hot towel. He felt the cold air was immediately dispelled by the heat. His pores opened up under the heat, and he felt indescribably comfortable.

After covering it for a while, he wiped his face, ears and neck. Then he rolled up his sleeves and rubbed some soap to make bubbles. He was done only when he had washed everything from his wrists to his ten fingers clean.

At this time, a maid brought two small cups of warm white water and honey water. Drink the white water first, wait a while, and then drink a cup of sweet honey water, which awakens your taste buds.

A plate of six red date rice cakes and two bowls of red bean sweet soup were placed on the table.

These were kept warm on the stove in the tea room next door. Su Rong was afraid that if she gave him two too many, he would have trouble eating, so she cut the rice cake in half, and didn't add rice cake to the red bean sweet soup, just enough to fill the base.

Gong Yuanzheng's eyes narrowed as he ate, and a thought popped into his mind: This is life...

Zhang Xueming glanced at him and thought: That's right. When you are working, work hard, and when you are enjoying and relaxing, enjoy and relax. It's not like you don't have the conditions. Why do you have to act like an ascetic at such a young age, integrating your life and work, doing everything by yourself, and being busy every day like a busybody? Others will feel exhausted just by looking at you.

After closing their eyes and resting for a while, the two of them stood up and put on the cleaned arm guards. It was not a long distance, so they did not change their shoes because they had to come back for dinner later.

Walking along the eaves without an umbrella, Zhang Xueming saw servants doing rough work in the yard shoveling the snow on the passage to both sides with shovels. Their faces were blue and their fingers were red from the cold.

She thought for a moment and told Su Rong, "Su Rong, remember this. For every steward and servant in the Zheng Palace, you will be given two sets of thick cotton coats, two pairs of cotton shoes, and two pairs of open-finger and full-cover cotton gloves. Men will also be given two cotton hats with ear protection and two cotton scarves, while women will also be given two pairs of rabbit fur ear protection and two rabbit fur scarves.

Those who were frostbitten, had chilblains, or caught a cold went to the clinic to seek medical treatment and medicine.

I will pay for both items. Ask the sewing room to rush the stuff out, and it would be best if you can wear it tomorrow. You can choose the color yourself."

Su Rong was delighted, and her tone became more lively: "Yes, Miss Zhao."

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like