Secrets of Yuqing Palace

The next day, at the hour of Mao, Wanyu was pulled out of her warm bed by Xia Lian.

As the mistress woke up, although it was still dark outside, the entire Qiyun Courtyard began to come alive.

Xia Lian brought two maids, Mei'er and Lan'er, to help Wanyu wash, dress and do her makeup.

Nanny Zhang Jia was packing the things that would be taken to the carriage later, and from time to time she asked Zhu'er and Ju'er to help her.

Xia He took the maid, Wei'er and Zhi'er to the kitchen to take away the ingredients to be taken out of the house today, and brought back Wanyu's breakfast.

Before Wanyu had even finished cleaning up, Mu Jin excitedly rushed into his yard.

"Third sister, I've packed everything."

"When do we leave?"

Wanyu saw that he looked energetic and asked, "Have you had breakfast?"

Shi Mujin embarrassedly pulled the braid behind her back with her backhand.

"not yet."

"I'm worried that I might miss my sister's departure time."

"But I asked Mu Ke to bring some snacks. If you get hungry later, you can eat them in the carriage."

Wanyu had no choice but to tell Mei'er beside her, "Mei'er, your sister Xia He has gone to the kitchen."

"Hurry up and go to the kitchen. Ask your sister Xia He to tell the kitchen staff to prepare breakfast for our brother Mu Jin and bring it back together."

Mei'er replied, "Yes, I'll go right away."

Mu Jin came over and said sweetly, "Thank you, sister."

Wanyu nodded at him. "You, sister won't forget you, why are you so anxious?"

Mu Jin smiled ingratiatingly and then sat on a stool nearby.

She rested her elbows on the table, supporting her head, and watched Xia Lian dress her up.

Wanyu reminded her, "Xia Lian, we are going out of town to enjoy the autumn in the mountains today, so just style your hair in a simple bun."

"Yes, I will listen to you, Princess."

Wanyu looked at Xia Lian's movements in the mirror, but she expressed her concern for Mu Jin.

"The weather has been getting colder lately. Have you asked the people around you to prepare cloaks?"

"No, my brother is used to it and doesn't feel cold."

Wanyu frowned and said, "While it's still early, quickly ask Mu Ke to return to your yard and bring you a cloak or cape."

"We are in the mansion now. If we feel cold, we can always put on more clothes."

"But there's no way out of the city, and it's always colder in the mountains than in the city."

"If you don't take care, you'll easily catch a cold."

Without waiting for her brother to speak, Wanyu gave instructions to Xia Lu directly.

"Xia Lu, go ask Mu Ke to go back to Linfengju and bring a cloak for the Fourth Prince."

"Yes."

Not long after Xia Lu left, Xia He came back with Mei'er and Zhi'er, carrying food.

Wei'er, along with two maids and the cook Zhang Zaosheng, carried the ingredients and seasonings for today, as well as bowls, chopsticks, and plates, and took them to the carriage outside.

While Wanyu and Mujin were having breakfast, Nanny Zhangjia had already packed up everything.

When the two finished eating, it was already getting light outside.

It was almost noon, the agreed time.

So they rushed out of the house without stopping, while Xia Lu stayed behind to clean up the mess and guard the yard.

When the brother and sister left the house, Shi Wenzhuo and Fu Cha were already waiting at the side door.

At this time, three carriages were parked outside the side door of the west wing of Guwalgiya.

The carriage in front, which was obviously twice as large, was the one the master was riding in.

The two carriages at the back were obviously smaller and simpler, and they were used by the maids and servants who were serving today.

Before the master got on the carriage, all the servants waited by the carriage in an orderly manner.

Behind the carriage was a team of guards and five horses.

After the carriage leaves the city, this team of guards will guard both sides of the carriage of the siblings and protect their masters' safety at any time.

After the couple gave some worried instructions, the brother and sister got into the exquisite and spacious carriage in front.

As the sound of horse hooves rang out, the brother and sister lifted the curtain of the carriage and waved goodbye to their father and mother.

"Ama, mother, we are leaving first."

"Don't worry, we will be back in the city before the hour of You."

"Okay, be careful on the road."

"Especially Mu Jin, remember to listen to your sister."

"Father, mother, I know."

The carriage traveled westward along the streets of the inner city, passing through the residential areas of the Bordered Yellow Banner and Plain Yellow Banner people where Andingmen and Deshengmen Inner Street were located, and reached Xizhimen Inner Street directly.

As the carriage approached Xizhimen, two carriages and a group of people were parked not far from the city gate.

The carriage in front was larger than the one carrying Wanyu and her sister, and had a sign of Prince Wen's Mansion hanging on it.

Outside, Aunt Zhangjia, who was standing next to the coachman, asked him to stop the car.

Then he stood up and carefully entered the carriage.

"Princess, Fourth Prince, we're at the Xizhimen city gate."

"I saw Amurgege's carriage parked in front. I wonder if Gege and Prince want to go?"

Wanyu asked, "Are you sure this is the carriage from Prince Wen's mansion?"

"I saw the sign of Prince Wen's Mansion on the carriage, so I think it should be correct."

Mu Jin immediately looked at her third sister, "Third sister, shall we go to Sister Amur's carriage?"

"The carriage at the Prince's Mansion is definitely more comfortable than ours, and Sister Amur must be so lonely riding in the carriage all by herself."

"Shall we go and accompany our future sister-in-law?"

Mu Jin looked at Wanyu with a pair of eyes as bright as stars, as if saying, go, let's go.

Wanyu tapped his forehead and said, "Don't think I don't know. You just feel it's too boring to be alone in the carriage with just the two of us, so you want to go play with Sister Amur."

Mu Jin chuckled, "Sister, it will take nearly an hour to get to Xiangshan."

"You can't just rest with your eyes closed in the carriage forever, right?"

Wanyu ignored him and looked at Nanny Zhang Jia for instructions.

"Mammy, take my zither and the box I asked you to prepare yesterday, and follow me to Amurgege's carriage."

Then he turned back to look at Mu Jin and said, "Let's go."

When Shi Mujin heard his sister's instructions, his brows couldn't help but raise slightly.

"Uh-huh."

"Madam Zhangjia, go and do what my sister asked. I'll help my sister get out of the car."

Wanyu looked at his fawning look, raised her eyebrows slightly, and then slowly extended her hand.

She placed her hand on the one he extended and said proudly, "Let's go then."

Shi Mujin cooperated with his third sister's performance, slightly bent his upper body, and said respectfully: "Princess, please get out of the car."

In the carriage of Prince Wen not far away, the girl with a banner head lifted the curtain and looked at the scene taking place in the carriage of the Guwaljia Mansion with her eyes curved in laughter.

Then he turned around and said to Duolan beside him: "Brother Mu Jin is still so interesting."

Duo Lan also smiled and said, "Princess Wanyu and Prince Mujin have a good relationship as siblings, and they are both pure-minded and lively people."

Amur nodded enviously.

Although no one dared to neglect her in Prince Wen's Mansion, they still envied Wanyu for having the love and care of her brothers and sisters in the Guwaljia Mansion.

The current Prince Wen is her uncle, and the old lady in the mansion is also her uncle's biological mother, Mafa's step-wife.

This mama was also a princess from the Guwaljia Prefecture. I heard that the marriage was arranged by my great aunt after the mama passed away.

Although they are not from the same branch, they are of the same clan.

Before his father passed away, he reached a tacit understanding with his great aunt.

She petitioned the emperor for a marriage granting her a marriage with her brother Shi Liha, and since she was a child, she was often taken to the Guwaljia Mansion for a short stay.

My future as a resident of Guwalja Prefecture is set in stone, so this madam is quite nice to me.

Even before my father and mother passed away, they left me with enviable wealth and dowry.

He has the support of his great-aunt, the Guwaljia Mansion, and the kindness of his mother.

Therefore, even though money can tempt people, no one has ever become greedy.

And whether it is to the outside world or to the inside, he always gives himself enough dignity.

Just like when he was leaving the house today, he not only prepared a comfortable carriage for himself, but also had enough maids and servants to serve him.

Even the guards were carefully selected from the mansion for their good skills.

But no matter what, everyone knows that there is always a layer of separation inside.

Moreover, my uncle has only been married for two years, and my aunt has only given birth to a little princess who is still in swaddling clothes.

So I can't understand the sister-brother relationship like that between Sister Wanyu and me at all.