novelhk Chapter 243 Princess Yongqing Leaves the Palace
Chapter 243 Princess Yongqing Leaves the Palace
Princess Yongqing felt depressed in the palace and was about to fall ill. Since her sister-in-law refused to come to the palace to see her, she decided to find a way to leave the palace to see her.
After making up her mind, she pestered her mother to leave the palace to visit her sister-in-law. Empress Song was also worried about her daughter-in-law who had not been seen for a long time, so she agreed after thinking about it.
Princess Yongqing went to the Empress Li Xianfei, who held great power in the harem, and begged for permission to leave the palace to visit the emperor's sister-in-law to relax. Unexpectedly, Empress Li Xianfei agreed without hesitation, and smiled and asked Yongqing to take a message to Princess Qin, saying that she missed her too and asked Princess Qin to come to the palace to play when she was free.
Yongqing was as excited as a bird that had been locked in a cage for a long time and finally flew out of the cage. He left the palace with two palace maids and Concubine Li's order.
The palace guards checked the warrant and let her go. Princess Yongqing stepped out of the palace gate and looked up at the white clouds in the sky. She let out a breath and said, "The clouds outside the palace are even whiter and softer!"
The personal maid Wanting smiled with her eyebrows curved, "Princess, the white cloud you see inside and outside the palace is the same."
Another palace maid Hui Er smiled and said, "It's the same cloud, but when you look at it, your mood is different, and the cloud in your eyes is also different."
Princess Yongqing nodded in agreement and said, "That's what I mean. Let's go find the Empress Dowager." After saying that, she got into the carriage escorted by four guards.
Princess Yongqing didn't care about the cold wind. She ordered the cotton curtain to be lifted and the locked window to be opened. She pressed her head against the window and admired the bustling streets with great interest.
The bustling crowd, the constant hawking, the vendors carrying red candied haws on their shoulders, the steaming steamed buns shop at the door, the shops with colorful plaques, the nobleman riding a tall horse, and three young girls walking hand in hand...
Princess Yongqing's two eyes were not enough, and she was envious when she looked at the backs of the three girls. She was deeply touched by what the emperor's sister-in-law said: freedom is the happiest thing.
Princess Yongqing, who was full of expectations and longing, was almost depressed to death. Butler Zhao who came to greet her told her that the Princess of Qin had been living in a workshop on a farm outside the city and was busy with business matters. She had not returned to the Prince of Qin's Palace for a long time.
Princess Yongqing, who was almost crying due to depression, had no choice but to leave. She finally came out for a trip, but she didn't want to go back to the palace. The palace maid Wanting suggested, "Princess, we finally came out for a trip, let's go to the East Market!"
This was exactly what Princess Yongqing wanted. She closed the windows and told the driver to turn the carriage around and head back to the East Market. She decided that since it was the way back to the palace anyway, she would not enter the palace until dark.
After getting off the carriage in front of a golden building in the East Market, Princess Yongqing walked into the golden building with two personal maids.
The first floor was filled with cheap and ordinary goods, so Princess Yongqing went straight to the third floor. Although she didn't have much money, her social status was there, so she couldn't buy cheap jewelry.
The third floor is the VIP area, which receives the wives of high-ranking officials and wealthy families. The waiter's warm smile is humble, and those who can come here are the nobles they can't afford to offend.
"Miss, you've come at the right time. Our store has launched several new fine products. All of them are finely crafted and novel in style. Would you like to take a look?"
The waiters on the third floor were all experienced employees with excellent eyesight. They could tell that although this customer was unfamiliar, her temperament was definitely that of a noble lady of incomparable status. The two maids beside her also had extraordinary temperaments and dignified manners. They were definitely not the kind that could be cultivated by a small family or a wealthy merchant family.
"Take it out and let us see it!" Princess Yongqing said.
On the tray, a set of ruby-inlaid head ornaments on the fine red velvet cloth was gorgeous and noble, attracting Princess Yongqing's attention. "Boss, how much is this set of ruby hairpins?"
The distinguished guest was received by the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper, who was in his fifties, wore a professional smile and said respectfully, "Miss, this set of ruby headpiece is a new model of our shop. It is unique in design and fine in workmanship. The price is 16,000 taels of silver."
"Sixteen thousand taels?" Princess Yongqing took a breath and said, "It's too expensive. I can't afford it."
The shopkeeper's humble smile disappeared immediately, and a trace of contempt flashed in his eyes. "My lady, there are no cheap goods on the third floor. If you want to buy cheap jewelry, please move to the first floor!"
This man had a look of contempt on his face, and the maid Wanting was not happy. Her pretty face turned cold, "Boss, how can you talk like that? My young lady is of noble status, and you want us to buy those cheap jewelry on the first floor?"
The shopkeeper curled his lips and said, "Those cheap jewelry on the first floor are much better than the street vendors outside. I'm just afraid you can't afford them."
: "How dare you! You are such a dog looking down on others. Are there any businessmen like you?" Wanting scolded angrily.
"Okay, okay! Wanting, we've finally come out to go shopping, so don't be angry! Let's go somewhere else." Princess Yongqing magnanimously stopped Wanting.
Wan Ting reluctantly suppressed her anger, "Yes! Miss, let's go buy jewelry somewhere else and not get angry with this dog-eyed servant."
This golden building was the property of the Shi family. The shopkeeper was used to taking advantage of the power of others. When he saw this poor young lady's maid calling him a dog servant, the shopkeeper, who was a dog servant of the Shi family, could not help but get angry. "How can you talk like that? You are so poor that your pockets are jingling. Do you think you can just enter this golden building?"
"You dog slave! Do you want a beating?" The palace maid Hui'er couldn't help but get angry.
"Oh! Isn't this Princess Yongqing? Why did you leave the palace to visit the Golden Tower?"
A sweet voice sounded, and two graceful ladies opened the pearl curtain of the partition, greeted Princess Yongqing with a smile, and came forward to bow.
Princess Yongqing recognized the people and said, "No need to be polite, Miss Luo, Miss Li, I am just strolling around. Are you here to buy jewelry?"
The shopkeeper was so frightened that he fell to his knees with a plop, and kept begging for mercy, "Princess, I am blind and have offended you with my words. Please spare my life!"
Luo Ruixue gave him a cold look and said, "You are a dog slave who doesn't know the real master. How dare you speak disrespectfully to Princess Yongqing? You have lived long enough and are now courting death."
"That's right! How dare you offend the princess? Are you tired of carrying your head?" Li Jiaqi, the concubine daughter of Minister of Works Li Jieke, also scolded angrily.
The shopkeeper kowtowed repeatedly until his forehead was bleeding, and he begged for mercy.
Princess Yongqing waved her hand generously, "Forget it, why bother with a servant? Miss Luo, Miss Li, you continue to pick things, I'll go out for a walk."
Luo Ruixue walked up to Princess Yongqing and held her hand affectionately, "Princess Yongqing, you don't leave the palace easily, so it's not easy to see you. Today is a chance, and we have nothing else to do, so I'll accompany you to stroll around the East Market?"
Li Jiaqi also said affectionately: "Yes! Princess, since we have nothing else to do, we will accompany you shopping to prevent you from being offended by some blind servants."
Seeing the two people's affectionate attitude, the lonely Princess Yongqing nodded and said, "Okay! Then I'll trouble you two."
Luo Ruixue wanted to buy the ruby-inlaid headpiece and give it to Princess Yongqing.
Princess Yongqing was very principled in this regard and refused to accept anything, so Luo Ruixue had no choice but to give up.
The three young girls chattered happily along the way, visited various shops, had tea and rested in the private rooms of teahouses, bought various snacks from the street to satisfy their appetite, and had a delicious lunch at the most upscale restaurant. They said goodbye to each other and went home until it was almost dark.
Before leaving, Princess Yongqing politely asked them to come to the palace to play with her when they were free, and Luo Ruixue and Li Jiaqi smiled and agreed.
Then, the two of them would go to the palace together every now and then to chat and play with Princess Yongqing. They were both girls of similar age, and after three or five times, Princess Yongqing, who was lonely in the deep palace, had two good friends.