Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen: Intersecting Differences

  The baby didn't make a sound, but was a bit anxious.

  "What about that skirt?"

  "Just in time for damage control."

  The tide was originally going to say something, but now it doesn't want to say a single word.

  Her fingers were swollen, but it didn't matter; her eyes were bloodshot, but that was nothing either.

  She had originally wanted to tell Man Er that she had found Liang Hongjin, copied the pattern, and had already embroidered a rough outline, this matter could be passed off with great hope.

  But Man's words really made her feel uncomfortable.

  "Actually... I didn't mean to. It's just that at the time, I was in a rush and said it like that. Chao Sheng, don't blame me..."

  After a pause, Man Er said: "You have face in front of Wang Ye, this matter is put on me and it's just a beating to death, but if it's put on you, maybe it's just a fine... Wang Ye will certainly speak for you, but where can I find someone to speak for me..."

  She started with a soft voice, but as she spoke, her words became smoother and more confident, as if she had gained momentum.

  Chao Sheng listened to her words, and suddenly thought of things from when he was in school. At that time, her family situation was considered good among the class, and when going out with classmates, several girls would often ask her to treat them. Originally, she had treated them, and Chao Sheng didn't mind spending money, but after treating them, he heard that some people who had taken advantage of her were still talking behind her back, saying things like "her family has money, so it's only right that she pays". They had already planned to take advantage of her together, and after taking advantage of her, they still thought of her as a fool.

  Who made your family rich? You have money and you should be cheated.

  What's the logic in this?

  That thing and this thing with Manzi now are two different things.

  But what Man'er meant was that with Wangye backing him up, Chao Sheng could completely take the blame for this matter.

  It feels just like what those former classmates used to say.

  If Man'er had begged her first and then spread the words, Chao Sheng would not have blamed her.

  But now, the words have already been spoken, and then she will be informed afterwards.

  And looking at Wan Er's posture, she must be made to agree.

  Chao Sheng just felt a little disheartened.

  Man'er was about to say something else when someone outside asked: "Is Miss Chao Sheng in the house?"

  Chao Sheng responded with a "yes".

  "Auntie Li asked me to bring some stuff for the young lady."

  The tide of life is busy and has passed by opening the door.

  The woman outside the door accompanied by a smile, holding a box: "This is what Li Auntie ordered to be sent to the young lady." She saw Man'er and smiled as she called out: "Hey, isn't that Miss Man'er? It's about time to close the gate now, if you don't go out now, you won't be able to get back in."

  Man'er felt a little uneasy in her heart. Actually, she had come to see Chao Sheng before, and others didn't say anything when they saw her. But this time she hesitated for two sentences, saying: "Chao Sheng, it's not early, I'll go back first... you mustn't forget, okay?"

  Chao Sheng wanted to invite the old woman into the house, but she was very perceptive and knew that Chao Sheng just wanted to sleep, so she declined. Chao Sheng then handed her several dozen coins, and she left happily.

  What did Aunt Li send her? Not during the day, but at night someone was sent to deliver it.

  Chao Sheng opened the box cover, and inside was another bowl cover.

  The bowl contains steaming hot and fragrant wolfberry black sesame glutinous rice porridge.

  The hot air rushed into her eyes all at once, and Cai Sheng supported herself against the edge of the table, slowly sitting down.

  Is Aunt Li afraid that she will spoil her eyes, so she specially made this for her? Although people at that time did not have nutrition like later generations, they also studied medicinal diet with great effort. Aunt Li had been in the palace for many years and had a lot of experience in treating medicinal diet.

  Chao Sheng stared at the bowl of porridge for a while.

  After all these years without seeing each other, Man'er now seems to be a different person from the simple girl she used to know.

  The tide was born and blew out the candlelight on the bed.

  She needs to take care of her spirit.

  That skirt is still waiting for her to mend it.

  Tide Sheng does things and will not give up halfway.

  She continued to mend the skirt.

  Maybe it's because of a different state of mind, but I don't feel as tired when embroidering again. Although Man Er is like that, the Fourth Prince, Xiao Shun, Li Gu Gu and Qi Zong Guan all made an effort for this matter, if this skirt really can't be mended, it would be unfair to their hard work.

  Xiao Shun was very anxious and feared disturbing Chao Sheng's rush work, so he peeked out to take a look countless times in one day.

  The mansion is bustling with preparations for the New Year. Madame Wang's illness has improved, and she gets out of bed to take care of things. Before the young mistress got married, she had learned all about managing the household and handling festivals and ceremonies, so now she assigns tasks one by one, and everything proceeds in an orderly fashion. The bright red couplets are pasted up, new palace lanterns are hung, and everywhere is swept and dusted...

  Chao Sheng finally finished the entire peony embroidery on her twenty-eighth birthday. Auntie Li took pity on her and forbade her from continuing, taking over the task herself.

  Although Aunt Li is not good at needlework, she managed to alter the original skirt's back panel into a front panel, and the piece embroidered by Cai Sheng was used as the new back panel. When Aunt Li bit off the thread and shook out the skirt.

  Xiao Shun rubbed his eyes hard.

  "Wow, this... is truly flawless!"

  Auntie Li was also very pleased and scolded him with a sentence: "What do you know? Is this how you use the heavenly clothes without seams?"

  But the phrase "flawless" is also very fitting here.

  Isn't there any weakness at all?

  The crimson fabric, the golden clusters of flowers, as soon as the whole skirt was shaken open, luxurious yet elegant, not a hint that it had once been tattered, nor that the embroidery was done by different hands.

  "Actually... there are two places that are slightly different. And my needlework is also a bit different from the original embroidery..."

  Xiao Shun didn't dare touch it, afraid of staining her skirt, so she leaned in to take a closer look. Of course, he couldn't see anything special, but he clicked his tongue in admiration.

  "I think it's the same. Besides, this flower is so dazzlingly golden that it's blinding, it's hard for you to embroider it. Others may not be able to see the stitches at all when they look at it."

  Auntie Li solemnly folded up her skirt and wrapped it in a piece of oilcloth.

  "This one doesn't need to be given to Man Er anymore, just send it directly to Qin He."

  Chao Sheng Wei hesitated for a moment, and Auntie Li said: "This skirt can be ironed once, it can also be ironed twice or thrice. Even if it's not ironed, it's hard to guarantee that it won't get tangled or caught on threads. There are many people in the main courtyard with busy hands, so it's better to just give this directly to Qin He."

  The hesitation is not because of this.

  "What if she finds out?"

  Although Chao Sheng also felt that this skirt had exceeded her level, it can be said that she had performed exceptionally beyond her normal standard. However, Qin He and Wen Shi looked at her with a gaze that was always...

  What if she is picky and meticulous, how can this skirt cover it up?

  Li Aunt smiled: "What's the point of seeing it? Qin He is not a fool, this skirt only has one piece, and the queen must wear it when entering the palace. Now she's looking for trouble, which doesn't do anyone any good. Does her face have a radiant glow just because the skirt has a flaw?"

  Chao Sheng suddenly thought of a possibility: "Qin He... will she have already guessed that something is wrong with the skirt?"

  Auntie Li nodded: "It's possible."

  That day Qin He asked about Man Er's skirt, and Man Er used Chao Sheng as an excuse. However, after that, Qin He didn't urge again, nor did she send someone to ask Chao Sheng...

  Yes, in Man Er's house, it is said that there are many prying eyes. She took on this task, and others can't help but feel envious. If she ruined the skirt, wouldn't someone have known? Those who knew might go to Qin He to tattle.

  But the task was given by Qin He to Man Er, and if something went wrong, she would indeed find it hard to avoid being blamed for being inefficient.

  This thing...

  The more I think about it, the more complicated it becomes.

  Auntie Li said, "Actually, whether we're serving inside or outside the palace, it's all the same. Some things the master might know about, some he might not. Anyway, as long as the end result is that everyone's happy and satisfied, even if the master is a bit foolish, it doesn't matter."

  Maybe.

  In the palace, behind the gates of a mansion, many people often pretend to be ignorant while actually understanding.

  When sending skirts, Xiao Shun insisted on accompanying Chao Sheng together.

  "What are you doing?"

  Xiao Shun smiled and said: "You see what you said, if they find out that the skirt is fake and want to hit you, I'll also help you punch back."

  A burst of laughter, a cold day, and this sentence warmed my heart.

  "Alright, then I'll have you escort me."

  The little maid outside the door went in to deliver a message and kept coming back to steal glances at Chao Sheng several times.

  Chao Sheng touched his temples and felt that what he was wearing today wasn't out of the ordinary, couldn't pick out any flaws.

  Xiao Shun said in a low voice: "She's just envying your beauty."

  Chao Sheng lowered his head.

  I'm afraid in the imperial court, these palace maids' mouths, her reputation isn't very good, is it?

  However, Qin He quickly came out from inside: "Oh, Chao Sheng sister has arrived? Please come in."

  "Don't be polite, I'm here to deliver the clothes. There's something else ahead and I need to hurry back. Take a look at how well they're ironed?"

  Qin He took over the package and opened it on the spot.

  Undoing the package, a brand new and neatly folded skirt was revealed inside.

  Of course there are no wrinkles above, and those with wrinkles have been scalded rotten.

  Qin He smiled and carefully examined it from front to back, saying: "Sister Chao Sheng's craftsmanship is really good, this looks just like a new one."

  Chao Sheng did not dare to call her "sister".

  In the palace, in the government it's all the same, people with good relationships are polite to each other according to seniority, usually calling each other sister. Those who don't have a close relationship will see who has more prestige, Qin He being the first person by Madame Wen's side, calls Chao Sheng "sister" repeatedly, which Chao Sheng really can't bear.

  Qin He's words sounded as if they were hinting at something.

  Chun Mo said: "This was originally new, the princess hasn't even worn it yet. Yesterday she was still asking about this skirt, now she can probably put her mind at ease."

  This can be considered as having been inspected on the spot.

  The heart that had been on tenterhooks finally fell back into her stomach. She and Xiao Shun came out, and Qin He and Chun Mo still politely saw them off.

  She didn't see Man'er and didn't ask about her either.

  As soon as he walked out of the hospital gate and turned into the alley, Cao Sheng's legs went soft.

  Fortunately, Xiao Shun was by her side and quickly supported her with one hand.

  "What's wrong with you?"

  "I don't know... My legs feel weak..."

  Xiao Shun smiled slyly: "Scared, huh? What's there to be afraid of? I'm here."

  Chao Sheng thought it wasn't all because of the skirt incident that made him tense.

  But she suddenly felt that inside the mansion was full of hidden dangers, and the quietest places were the most perilous.

  Maybe everything is an accident.

  Is it really like this?

  Some people are secretly doing evil to ruin this skirt, some people push their own mistakes onto others, some people pretend to be stupid while being clever inside, who knows what they're plotting...

  People's hearts are separated by a belly skin, and everyone in the same courtyard has different plans.

  This skirt is barely passable.

  But what about afterwards?

  The snow fell again, silently and quietly, like a huge net, covering everything underneath.

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  Yeah, I see everyone complaining less about updates now...

  Next week I'll try to update more...

  Recently it's going to get colder, everyone should pay attention to their body.