Chapter 9 New Year's Eve Banquet
"Eunuch Shi, thank the prince for his thoughtfulness. I will definitely learn well! I will make sure that the next time the prince comes, he will be satisfied."
Seeing that Concubine Ji was so sincere, Shi Yan smiled and said, "Then the prince can wait."
The two of them talked for a few words, and then Eunuch Shi left.
Ji Yunqing excitedly came to the table and looked at all the rewards given to her.
"This cloth is so thick. Make me two new sets of clothes. Make sure they're thick!
You can add the remaining cotton to your cotton-padded jackets. With an extra layer of new cotton, you can stay warmer. By next winter, I will have saved some money and I will make new clothes for all of us."
It was obvious that the cloth was not suitable for the maids to wear, so she refused to give it to them to avoid causing trouble.
When the maids heard that their master was thinking about them, they were deeply touched.
Hemerocallis: "Master, we are not cold. This is how we get through every winter."
Xiuqiu also said: "Xualancao is right. I have seen that these can be used to make four new clothes for the master. The remaining fabric can also be used to make a jacket. The master will definitely look good in it!"
Ji Yunqing's face was stern: "I don't want to listen, what are you talking about? You dare not listen to the master? Just do as I say, I will wear two pieces, and the rest of the cotton is for you to use."
After saying that, Ji Yunqing turned around and went back to his room.
She had only taken two steps when she turned back and hugged the damn prince's clothes. Next time they met, she would put clothes on the unjust prince who had no hands.
Sooner or later, she will let the prince of evil dress her with his own hands!
Although up to now, the bastard prince only knows how to take off people's clothes.
Suddenly, there was a cry of surprise from behind, and Ji Yunqing looked over.
"What's the matter—silver?"
Yes, what rolled all over the ground was silver.
Ji Yunqing looked at the silver that fell on the ground, and then looked at the prince's dark clothes with auspicious cloud patterns on them in his arms.
This silver was actually hidden inside the prince's clothes?
What do you mean?
If she doesn't touch the dress, she won't get the money?
The maids over there had already picked up the silver swiftly. Hong Xing was young and not very steady, so she shouted in surprise: "Master, there are ten ingots of silver in total, which is a full one hundred taels!"
Is this too much?
In the morning, only Xuancao had the courage to go in and serve, so the other maids didn't know about this. Now when they saw the silver, they were all very surprised.
Coming back to his senses, Ji Yunqing quickly said, "This is a reward from the prince. Take out an ingot first and buy you two sets of thick clothes, two sets for each of you."
You don’t need so much money to buy clothes!
Ji Yunqing also knew that the purchasing power of ten taels of silver was still very strong. Even for these maids, the monthly allowance was only two taels each.
"The rest we can use to buy some daily necessities. Oh, and a stove so we can use the choking carbon."
A few days ago, she was given one or two baskets of charcoal for daily heating.
It only lit once, and Ji Yunqing felt it was choking, so he didn't use it again.
Just wear thick clothes and carry it.
"What stove?" Several maids looked at their master in confusion. Doesn't this stove also produce smoke?
"I've thought about it, don't worry."
Ji Yunqing excitedly put aside the troublesome clothes and directed Hong Xing to get paper and pen.
Then she recalled her childhood when she and her family would warm themselves by the stove.
Thinking of this, she slowly drew it on paper.
"There needs to be an iron box in which the carbon is burned. The box must not leak air, otherwise a lot of smoke will escape. Let the smoke escape through this pipe and go outside. Yes, that's it."
"Oh, right, the box should be made into two layers, with a few wires separating the middle. When the ashes are burned, they will fall directly to the bottom, and the bottom can be made into a small drawer..."
At the beginning, Ji Yunqing was not very skilled, but the more he thought about it, the more he became interested, and he started adding and subtracting strokes with the brush.
According to her observations when she was a child, the stoves in each household seemed to look different, but the basic functions were similar.
After her description, the maids probably understood, but they didn't quite understand.
Hongdou asked curiously, "Master, will the smoke really go out automatically? Without me blowing it?"
Ji Yunqing nodded: "Of course, you will know when it is done. Does anyone know where there is a blacksmith shop with good craftsmanship and reliability?"
When this question was mentioned, Xiuqiu said a little embarrassedly: "Master, I know a blacksmith who is usually very honest and has good craftsmanship."
Seeing Xiuqiu's slightly nervous and shy expression, Ji Yunqing was considerate and didn't ask any more questions. He just said, "That's it. I'll leave this matter to you. Can you handle it?"
Xiuqiu nodded repeatedly: "Sure, Brother Tiezhu knows everything."
It was rare for him to have money, so Ji Yunqing was not stingy: "Just tell me how much money you need. After I'm sure he can fight, I'll give you the deposit first.
Wait until you receive the item and make sure it is OK before paying the rest, understand?"
"I understand!" Xiuqiu said firmly.
Now that someone was doing the work, Ji Yunqing was finally able to relax.
Ji Yunqing gave Xuancao ten taels of silver in private, and reminded her that if it was not enough, there was more here, and she should not delay her treatment.
Daylily was very surprised, "That's enough!"
With this money, my mother will be able to survive the winter and get better.
Ji Yunqing finally had some money in his hands, and he could also roast food over a stove that didn't produce any smoke or fire. He felt very happy.
With this, she can also use it to boil water, heat up food, etc. In short, it has many benefits.
But on the other hand, Concubine Zhao was not in a good mood.
The prince was not a very sexual person and he seldom went into the backyard often these days. Even if he did, he would go to the rooms of the concubines or the secondary concubines. It was not her turn at all.
She certainly couldn't compare with those old people in the palace, so she could only blame Ji Yunqing who entered the palace with her.
Why did that vixen have one more time than her?
The prince is partial!
No, she had to think of a way to win the prince's heart.
……
So, Ji Yunqing hibernated comfortably in the yard, while the neighbor next door not far away started to make all kinds of noise.
Fortunately, the effect is significant.
By the time of the New Year's Eve banquet at the palace at the end of December, Concubine Zhao had become the most favored newcomer.
In order to attend the New Year's Eve banquet, Ji Yunqing rarely went out. He wrapped himself tightly in three layers of clothes, and went to the princess's main courtyard with Hemerocallis.
After a while, they happened to meet Concubine Zhao. A group of maids surrounded Concubine Zhao in the middle and stopped in front of Ji Yunqing.
"Look, who did I meet? Isn't this our concubine Ji? Why did she go out? It's really rare!"
Bishui, who was beside Concubine Zhao, was very skilled in making a joke: "Master, today is New Year's Eve, Concubine Ji must go out at least once. As for why she doesn't go out on weekdays, who knows why?"
Another little maid took over the conversation: "Isn't it because you have fallen out of favor and are too embarrassed to go out?"