novelaction Chapter 427 First Arrival at the Lu Residence!
Chapter 427 First Arrival at the Lu Residence!
Things were done quickly, and within just two days, a series of plans were devised.
The recruitment notice immediately caused quite a stir among the refugees.
Due to the increased workload, Duanmu Chuze had no choice but to take advantage of Lu Shaofeng's influence in Yanzhou and recruit more than twenty talented young men, who were then assigned to various places to work on the stone carving project.
While things were bustling about outside, the Wangfu (Prince's Mansion) was just as busy.
In order to be of some help, Mu Xin Nuan has been reading a lot of books about stone carving and other decorative arts these past few days.
"Your Highness, please take a rest. Your eyes will get tired from reading like this all the time," Aunt Fang said with some concern.
Seeing how diligently the princess was helping the prince, Aunt Fang was also delighted. Having served the prince for so many years, she naturally had extraordinary feelings for him.
Upon hearing this, Mu Xin Nuan gently closed the book in her hand and sighed softly, "I didn't know until I saw it. Now I realize how little I know about the world. Just take stone carving, for example. There are so many different carving techniques: relief carving, round carving, sunken carving, shadow carving, openwork carving, and pierced carving. I feel dizzy just looking at them. I really don't know how difficult it must be to actually do it!"
Aunt Fang also sighed, "Yes. The lives of ordinary people are naturally not easy."
Chunyu felt a pang of heartache seeing the princess spending the last few days in the small study reading books about stone carvings.
“Your Highness, my family used to be stonemasons. But we suffered a disaster, so I was the only one left. Luckily, I met Your Highness, otherwise I would probably be dead long ago.”
Mu Xin Nuan was taken aback. "Your family used to be stone carvings?"
“Exactly!” Chunyu nodded. “I know a little about stone carving. Back then, even though I was young, I helped my father with chores a lot to make sure I had enough to eat. There are many kinds of stone carvings and many ways to classify them, but the processing steps are roughly the same. The most important thing is the selection of the stone. If you choose the wrong stone, no matter how beautiful the patterns you carve later are, it will all be for nothing.”
"How long would it take to sculpt a statue that's as tall as a person?"
"Your Highness, it depends on what is being carved. If it's a human figure, it will be more difficult, especially carving the face of the statue, which can take more than a month. The main reason is to make it more exquisite and not to damage the entire statue."
Mu Xin Nuan nodded, "It seems that being a stone carver is not easy."
"Your Highness, it seems that the eldest young mistress of the Lu family is ill. She hasn't come over for some time," Aunt Fang reminded her.
"Ill? Although Liu was born in the south, she doesn't seem like the kind of person who is too delicate. How come she suddenly fell ill?"
"Your Highness, recently Young Master Lu has been helping the Prince with his affairs. What do you think?" Aunt Fang's meaning was clear: as the mistress of the Prince's mansion, shouldn't she go and visit him?
"Okay, go and prepare some tonics. We'll go to the Lu residence now."
"Yes, princess."
Mu Xin Nuan didn't delay. She changed her clothes, took a few maids with her, and went out.
When the princess leaves the palace, Aunt Fang naturally has to go with her. The princess is young, and she is afraid that the princess will suffer any more grievances outside.
With the arrival of Princess Changping, the entire Lu family naturally had to personally open the main gate to welcome her.
"No need for formalities. I heard that Sister Liu was ill, so I came to Chizhou specifically to visit her."
Mrs. Lu's mind went blank for a moment!
In just a few days, the princess has changed her address for Liu to "Sister Liu".
Upon hearing this, a hint of resentment flashed in Yang's eyes. She felt that her own birth was noble, and how could a mere Liu have won the favor of the princess?
"Princess please."
Mu Xin Nuan entered the Lu residence, but instead of heading towards the main hall, she turned her head and asked, "This concubine is new to the Lu residence. Does she know where Sister Liu's boudoir is?"
Seeing this, Madam Lu knew that the princess was really after Liu, so she quickly invited her over herself.
Mu Hua glanced at Yang Shi from the side.
Yang's eyes darted back and forth over the chests and trunks behind them, her greedy gaze suggesting she wished she could take them all into her own room!
"And what kind of noble lady is she!" Mu Hua's eyes flashed with disdain. She ignored him and simply raised her hand, and all the guards followed.
This surprised Yang again. Did this thing have to be carried to her sister-in-law's yard?
"Mother, isn't this a bit against the rules?"
Madam Lu turned around and saw a group of men dressed as servants carrying the things behind them. Madam Lu's eyes flickered. She naturally wouldn't covet these things, but since they were entering the inner quarters, these men from outside the household? It seemed a bit inappropriate.
Before Madam Lu could ask, Aunt Fang smiled and said, "Don't worry, Madam Lu, they are all eunuchs of the Prince's mansion, it's alright."
Madam Lu nodded in realization. So it was a eunuch? No wonder! Otherwise, how could the princess be so ignorant of etiquette as to bring a man into the inner courtyard?
Madam Yang was slightly taken aback. She glanced at the servants again and casually remarked, "So they're all eunuchs!"
What seemed like a casual remark was actually full of disdain and contempt for these eunuchs!
The servants simply lowered their heads slightly, and none of them said anything. After all, they were all servants. But in their eyes, there was inevitably a flash of resentment.
So what if they're eunuchs? Aren't eunuchs human? Even the prince and princess have never spoken to them like this. Where does a mere Yang Shi get the audacity to be so arrogant?
Mu Xin Nuan seemed to have heard this as well, and stopped in her tracks. Then she gave Yang a sharp look, which made Yang tremble with fear. She lowered her head and didn't dare to make a sound for a long time.
Madam Lu was preoccupied with Liu's matter and didn't hear what her second daughter-in-law said at all. However, the nanny next to her relayed Yang's words, and Madam Lu's face turned ugly upon hearing them.
Even if the person in this prince's mansion is just a gatekeeper, how could a common woman like you possibly have a say in their affairs?
However, she was still his daughter-in-law, so he couldn't just watch her be reprimanded by the princess. He quickly changed the subject, saying, "Your Highness, this way please. I will immediately send someone to fetch Lady Liu and have her come out to greet you."
"No need. Since Sister Liu is ill, it is only right that I go to visit her." Mu Xin Nuan's voice was gentle, without any sign of anger, which put Madam Lu at ease. However, when no one else could see, she still glared fiercely at Madam Yang.