Chapter 1671: Chapter 1671 Hidden
Lady Zhao came downstairs with an unpleasant expression on her face. She claimed it was her own design, yet the Countess still wanted to see the jewelry designs again. What exactly was her intention? She was very clear about it.
Downstairs, the jewelry shop was bustling with customers. It was the end of the year, and ladies with some family background wanted to add a few more pieces of jewelry.
Stepping out of the jewelry shop, Lady Zhao wanted to check out the new embroideries next door at the embroidery shop. Yu Wen stood at the door and said, “Second Aunt, I’ll go to the bookstore up front.”
Lady Zhao turned her head to ask Yu Die and Yu Yi, “What about you two?”
Yu Yi and Yu Die were more interested in embroidery and signaled that they would go to the embroidery shop together.
Yu Jiao didn’t come today as she caught a slight cold; the little girl was resting at home.
Upon entering the bookstore, Yu Wen immediately noticed Gu Sheng, who was a bit surprised, and Gu Sheng also noticed Yu Wen, freezing momentarily.
Gu Sheng came to his senses, the bookstore was quite crowded, so he thought for a moment and said, “Miss Zhou Five.”
Yu Wen smiled lightly, “Mr. Gu.”
Today, Gu Sheng was out shopping with his elder brother and sister-in-law. The New Year this year held significant meaning for his family; they had bought many things for the celebration. After buying nearly everything, his elder brother wanted to take his sister-in-law for a stroll while he stayed with a young servant, parting ways. He didn’t expect to encounter the Magistrate.
Yu Wen was there to buy stories, asking the clerk about the new works by Mr. Yan, taking one off the shelf.
Gu Sheng stood still, glancing at the storybook, “Miss Five enjoys Mr. Yan’s works?”
Yu Wen tilted her head, “Have you read it too?”
Gu Sheng nodded, “I watched an adapted play with Mr. Wu.”
Yu Wen raised her eyebrows, “Was it a good play?”
Gu Sheng was silent for a moment, “It’s different from the usual plays, yes, closer to reality.”
Yu Wen smiled, “I really like Mr. Yan’s stories.”
Gu Sheng also smiled, “Then I’ll buy a copy to read as well.”
Yu Wen placed the book in Gu Sheng’s hand, “This one is for you.”
Gu Sheng blinked, “Alright.”
Yu Wen, in a good mood, turned back to take another copy; who would have thought Mr. Yan was Empress Dowager Chen? In recent years, Empress Dowager Chen had become enamored with writing, and many young ladies enjoyed her work.
Yu Wen selected her book, nodded at Gu Sheng, paid the bill, and left with her book.
Gu Sheng also settled his bill, returned to the carriage, opened the storybook, with eyes particularly bright as he thought the Magistrate was a pragmatic person.
At the theater, Chang Xhong was munching on iced pears, his mind not on the performance. Before he realized, he’d eaten more than half the plate of pears by himself.
Wu Shiheng held a fan in the freezing weather, idly remarking, “This man playing a woman roles isn’t inferior to women at all.”
The Fourth Prince, “Ha.”
Chang Xhong, “…”
Looking up at the stage, Chang Xhong shivered and spat out!
Wu Shiheng laughed heartily, while the Fourth Prince sneered, “When I return to the palace, I’ll repeat your words to the Elder Sister.”
Wu Shiheng, “!!”
This time, Chang Xhong laughed, stretching out his hand to continue munching on fruit. Although the theater wasn’t suffocating, he didn’t enjoy it here. Eating the icy pears calmed his mind, the breath he exhaled was icy cold.
Chang Xhong and his group were in a private box on the second floor. As the year-end approached, the government offices were on holiday. Many officials came to the theater today, and the venue was packed, with occasional cheers and generous rewards, starkly contrasting with the lives of ordinary people.
Wu Shiheng reached for the plate of cold pears, finding it empty. Turning his head, speechless, “Hey, you ate a whole plate, aren’t you afraid of an upset stomach?”
Chang Xhong snapped back to reality, “I have a good appetite. If you want more, order another plate.”
Wu Shiheng, “Are you upset?”
Chang Xhong wiped his hands with a cloth, “I’m just a bit sentimental.”
Wu Shiheng couldn’t understand what Chang Xhong was lamenting about, so he signaled the clerk to bring another plate of iced pears and turned his head back to listening to the performance.
Once the play ended, Chang Xhong wanted to head home; the Fourth Prince wanted to return to the palace, leaving only Wu Shiheng who hadn’t had enough fun yet.
As they descended, Wu Shiheng tapped his fan against his palm, “Oh, isn’t that Mr. Zhuo?”
Zhuo Guyu frowned, saluting the Fourth Prince, “Your Highness.”
The Fourth Prince did not show displeasure, even though he didn’t have a good impression of Zhuo Guyu, “You may rise.”
Wu Shiheng turned his head away, ignoring Zhuo Guyu and was the first to leave. Chang Xhong didn’t say a word as he followed, and the Fourth Prince nodded before departing as well.
Ye Jing asked, “Why does the future prince consort hold animosity towards you?”
Zhuo Guyu frowned, “I don’t know either.”
Recently, every time the future prince consort saw him, he was filled with sarcasm. He racked his brains and could not figure out where he had offended him.
Ye Jing said gravely, “Mr. Wu is favored by the Emperor, and both the Crown Prince and several princes are very courteous to him. If there’s anything unpleasant, it’s best to resolve it. I don’t think Mr. Wu is a righteous gentleman.”
The future prince consort acts on his whims. Such a person could very well complain about him to the Emperor.
Zhuo Guyu responded, “I will resolve it.”
The twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, Zhulan and Shuren ate pastries under Ming Jung’s expectant gaze.
Ming Jung eagerly asked, “Grandpa, Grandma, how do the pastries taste?”
Zhulan was surprised, “I only thought you liked to eat, didn’t expect you to be so handy too.”
Ming Jung looked at his grandfather, “Grandpa.”
Zhou Shuren drank tea to wash down the pastries in his mouth, “Not bad, but you didn’t bring these pastries just for us to taste them, did you?”
Ming Jung, “I want to learn to cook, but my dad won’t allow it. I made this plate of pastries secretly.”
Zhou Shuren’s face was stern, “Your dad won’t let you, do you think I would agree?”
Ming Jung shrunk his neck a bit fearfully, glancing at his grandma, whom he saw winking at him, suddenly he wasn’t afraid at all, “Grandpa, you are the most open-minded in my heart!”
Zhou Shuren snorted, Ming Jung’s fawning expression was exactly like his mother’s, “You can learn if you want to.”
Ming Jung was delighted, “Grandpa is the best.”
“Don’t be happy just yet. You must excel in one of the four arts: music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, and your studies must not fall behind before you can learn culinary skills.”
Ming Jung, “…That’s too hard for me.”
“You can also choose not to agree.”
Ming Jung looked at his grandma, but this time she was flipping through her handkerchief without giving him any hints, indicating her agreement with grandpa’s words. Ming Jung’s chubby face wrinkled like a bun, “I agree.”
Zhou Shuren dispatched his grandson and said to his wife, “Having too many children is a burden.”
Zhulan cast a sidelong glance, “I see you quite enjoy bearing that burden.”
At the Liu family, Sir Liu went to the storeroom to find material for carving seals, and after rummaging around, he couldn’t find it, “That’s not right, I distinctly remember placing it on the cabinet, how could it be gone?”
The young servant, “Master, it’s been a while since you last visited. Could you have remembered wrongly?”
Sir Liu, “I wouldn’t have remembered wrongly.”
He had a clear idea of where he placed valuable things.
Sir Liu briskly left the storeroom and headed back to the courtyard, “My dear, have you touched my little storeroom?”
Lady Gu didn’t lift her head, “No, the things in the little storeroom are all your private keepsakes.”
Sir Liu found it even stranger, “Then where has my seal carving material gone?”
Lady Gu suddenly smacked her forehead, “Oh, my memory, I gave Yuan Bo the key to your little storeroom the other day.”
Sir Liu’s voice instantly heightened, “How could you give it to him!”