Several carriages slowly came to a halt outside the former Prince Mu's Mansion.
After the carriages stopped steadily, Jiang Mian got out of one of them, supported by a maid as she stepped down.
There were quite a few servants waiting outside the Prince Li's Mansion. They were all former servants of Prince Mu's Mansion. The leading one was a kind - looking eunuch. After Li Zhao and Jiang Zhiqing also got out of the carriages, the eunuch led the others forward and bowed deeply.
"Your humble servant, Wen Hai, pays respects to His Highness Prince Li, Her Highness the Princess, and Her Highness the Princess Consort."
Since Jiang Mian was standing behind Li Zhao and Jiang Zhiqing, she also received this salute.
"Rise," Li Zhao said calmly.
Only then did Eunuch Wen lead the others to stand up.
"I've known that Your Highness, Her Highness the Princess, and Her Highness the Princess Consort would arrive today. I've already had the main hall and side halls cleaned, and all the daily necessities prepared. You can move in and settle down directly," Eunuch Wen said with a smile.
When Jiang Mian looked up at the plaque of the mansion, she found that it had somehow been changed to "Prince Li's Mansion".
Did His Majesty give the order to change it?
Li Zhao said, "Thank you, Eunuch. Since we've just arrived at the mansion, we don't know the situation here yet. Later, I'll have to trouble you to introduce it to us."
Eunuch Wen smiled and said, "Of course."
He motioned for the servants behind him to come forward and carry the luggage into the mansion. Then, he led Li Zhao and the others into the mansion.
Prince Li's Mansion was the largest and most imposing mansion of a prince in the capital. Even the mansion of Prince Xuan, the son of the former imperial concubine, was inferior to it, not to mention the mansion of the out - of - favor prince, Xiao Wuchen.
Eunuch Wen walked in the front, smilingly introducing the layout of the mansion to Li Zhao and the others.
The main hall of the mansion was called Yingying Hall. In the past, Xiao Tianchi had lived here, and now it was naturally vacated for Li Zhao.
Jiang Mian, as the princess consort, would live in Youle Courtyard, not far from Yingying Hall. There was a two - story main house, two seven - shaped wing rooms, a patio, and a small garden there. It was very suitable for a young girl to live in.
In addition, the other side halls were all empty. Eunuch Wen said, "The empty courtyards and rooms are cleaned every day. If Your Highness has other uses for them, just give the order."
Jiang Mian thought of Mo Zhizhang and quietly reminded, "Father, what about Brother Mo's residence?"
Glancing at Jiang Mian, Li Zhao said, "I remember you mentioned just now that Zhaixing Courtyard is quite close to the back yard of the mansion?"
Eunuch Wen smiled and said, "Yes, it is."
"Arrange that courtyard as well. Maybe someone will move in a few days. This person is the princess consort's sworn brother, surnamed Mo. In the future, when you see him, just call him Young Master Mo."
Eunuch Wen readily agreed, and Jiang Mian breathed a sigh of relief.
Although her parents hadn't said much about her and Mo Zhizhang's sworn - sibling relationship, Jiang Mian vaguely felt that her father didn't like Mo Zhizhang very much.
They followed Eunuch Wen. After seeing the front hall, the flower hall, and the warming pavilion for receiving guests, they headed towards Yingying Hall.
Yingying Hall was extremely spacious, twice the size of the Wentao Courtyard in the Li Mansion in Luozhou. As Jiang Mian observed the layout of the room, she couldn't help but wonder if His Majesty had felt lonely when he lived here alone all those years ago.
After seeing Yingying Hall, Li Zhao and Jiang Zhiqing accompanied Jiang Mian back to Youle Courtyard so that she could get familiar with the way.
The two - story main house in Youle Courtyard was also very spacious, but all the shelves were empty. There was nothing on them. The curtains and wall paintings were too dull, and it didn't look like a young girl's boudoir.
However, it was understandable. Since no one had lived here before, it was mostly used for guests staying overnight in Prince Mu's Mansion. Naturally, it couldn't be decorated too gaudily.
This would be her home and residence from now on. In the future, she would gradually fill the shelves, hang up her favorite curtains and wall paintings, and place some flowers and plants.
Eunuch Wen's arrangement was impeccable. Li Zhao nodded in satisfaction, told Jiang Mian to rest well, and then left with Jiang Zhiqing.
The servants brought the luggage they had brought from Luozhou to Youle Courtyard. Su Yu arranged for Su Lan and Su Xue to put Jiang Mian's things in various places in the room. Seeing Jiang Mian massaging her shoulders, she asked considerately,
"After sitting in the carriage for so long, Your Highness the Princess Consort must be tired. Do you want to change your clothes, let down your hair, and lie down for a while?"
Jiang Mian shook her head and said, "No need. Later, Eunuch Wen should send someone over, and I still have something to tell you."
Su Yu replied seriously, "Yes, Your Highness the Princess Consort."
Jiang Mian and the others hadn't stayed in Luozhou for long, so they didn't have much luggage. Soon, everything was settled. As expected, Eunuch Wen came to the outside of Youle Courtyard again.
Jiang Mian had someone lead him in and invited him to sit down with a smile.
"Eunuch Wen, did you come here to tell me something?"
Eunuch Wen said, "Your Highness the Princess Consort is really smart. I did come here to talk to you."
"Since His Majesty ascended the throne, this mansion has been empty. Most of the servants have entered the palace with His Majesty. Only I and some old fellows have remained in the mansion."
"Now that I've handed over the mansion to His Highness and Her Highness the Princess, the mansion really needs to recruit a new batch of servants. Her Highness the Princess asked me to come and ask for Your Highness the Princess Consort's opinion."
Jiang Mian had already guessed Eunuch Wen's intention, so she said with a smile, "Eunuch, you've come at just the right time. I was also going to look for you about this."
Jiang Mian called Su Yu and the others over.
"You've served me well these days. It shows that I didn't misjudge you when I chose you in Luozhou."
Jiang Mian said with a smile, "The capital is different from Luozhou. Now that you're all from Prince Li's Mansion, even as servants, you represent the dignity of the mansion when you go out. Naturally, you can't act as you did before."
Then she turned to Eunuch Wen and said, "I'll have to trouble you to find an old maid who knows the palace rules and is easy to talk to. Also, find a few more maids like them, who are quiet and quick - witted, and place them in my courtyard."
After thinking for a while, she added, "Among these maids, it would be best if one knows some martial arts to protect me."
After saying that, she hinted for Su Yu to step forward and slip two silver coins into Eunuch Wen's hand.
Jiang Mian was easy - going and well - behaved. Eunuch Wen was delighted and readily agreed.
After Eunuch Wen left, Jiang Mian said to Su Yu and the others, "When the old maid arrives, you must learn the rules well. You'll have many opportunities to go out with me in the future. Don't disgrace me."
To be honest, if they hadn't been chosen by Jiang Mian as her personal maids, Su Yu and the others would still be pitifully waiting for employers to choose them from the human traffickers.
Even if they were chosen, the families they served might not be as wealthy as the Li family, not to mention having a mistress like Jiang Mian.
Su Yu and the others quickly agreed.
Since Li Zhao had to put on his official robe and go to the morning court in the palace early the next day, Jiang Mian returned to Youle Courtyard after dinner in Yingying Hall. Although it was already autumn, the weather was still a bit hot. They hadn't had a good bath during the journey.
Su Yu had already boiled the hot water. Jiang Mian took off her clothes, sent the maids away, and got into the bathtub alone.
Surrounded by the hot water, Jiang Mian scooped up a handful of water and splashed it on her face, letting out a comfortable sigh.
To let in some air, the window was only half - closed. Unexpectedly, at this moment, a figure slipped in through the window like a ghost and landed in front of the bathtub.
The person looked up, and their pair of clear, light amber eyes met Jiang Mian's shocked face!