无翼乌工口里番无色无摭挡

A few Chunlai servants knelt down immediately and kowtowed: “We will serve Princess Consort wholeheartedly in this life, without any double-mindedness.”

Jiang Ning laughed: “Get up, all of you. It’s justified to make money by working. I’m feeling very hot now, go get some ice cubes and some food, I want to eat fruit. Chilled watermelon, chilled duck pear.”

Huang Ying laughed: “I’ll ask Xiaoman to go buy some.”

“Who is Xiaoman?”

“Doesn’t Princess Consort know? Besides us, the Prime Minister also brought Jiang Fu and his wife Sister Fu and their son Jiang Xiaoman for you. They all have served the Jiang family for generations.”

So the entire family came along as dowry?

Well, the maids only manage the house, so someone has to deal with the outside stuff.

Jiang Ning nodded: “Then give them some money too. This house is even stingy with us, not to mention giving them a monthly allowance. They need money for food and drink, don’t let them suffer.”

“Yes, I’ve got it.”

Huang Ying left with a smile.

With money, things are easy to handle.

Jiang Xiaoman got the money and immediately bought a cartload of stuff.

There was an ice basin in the room, which cooled the air right away.

Over a dozen kinds of fruits, all cut up, were chilled on ice.

In the cool room, Jiang Ning sat in a lounge chair, reading a book, while Chunlai’s soft little hand massaged her shoulder. Dongxie used a fork to bring the cool, silky fruit to her mouth. She could eat by just opening her mouth.

The other maids either did needlework or gossiped.

Who cared about the prince’s house anymore?

Just as they were having fun, a little maid ran to the door and announced, “Informing Princess Consort, Madam Zhao, Maid Fang and the rest have come.”

“Let them in.”

“Yes.”

The sound of jingling jade bracelets and girlish laughter filled the room.

Two young women in luxurious clothes, fanning themselves, followed by a group of maids and old women, swarmed in.

They all knew that she had asked for ice early in the morning and came back empty-handed.

The news had spread throughout the house.

They had thought that the room would be unbearably hot and stuffy, but instead, they were met with a refreshing coolness.

They had thought that the crippled Princess Consort would be downcast and-clouded.

But who knew –

She was wearing a light silk satin skirt, her slender arms and half-bare feet exposed, sitting barefoot on the lounge chair, leisurely reading a storybook. The little maids attended her, feeding her fruit.

She had no heavy jeweled headpieces on her head, her long hair simply braided and casually draped over her shoulder.

It had not been slicked back with osmanthus oil either.

Her loose hair playfully ran wild.

Relaxed, at ease, and comfortable.

The scene was so different from their imagination that the group of people crowding at the door forgot to react.

Huang Ying stood up and said, “Our Princess Consort prefers peace and quiet. It’s enough for the two maids to come. Everyone else, leave.”

Madam Zhao laughed, “We were just unaware of these rules. You all heard the girl’s words, why don’t you all just go wait outside?”

After the shock, the servants hurriedly left.

Maid Fang came forward, bowed her knees, and said softly, “Greetings to the Princess Consort.”

Jiang Ning lifted her gaze from the storybook and glanced at them: “What are you here for?”

“We have come to pay respects to the Princess Consort.”

“Oh, I thought you were here to kowtow.”

Maid Fang glanced at Madam Zhao.

By customary rules, they should have come to kowtow and greet their mistress when she entered the main house.

However, the Prince didn’t value her and didn’t even give her the housekeeper’s authority.

She was only a nominal Princess Consort.

How could the two maids who held the authority of the housekeeper be willing to kowtow to her?