Time is tight and the task is heavy, Chunmo wants to rush work and also produce fine products, can't help but feel anxious and irritable. Chao Sheng has been scolded by her for mistakes these two days, and he can't even count how many times on his fingers. Every time this happens, Chao Sheng would lower his head and admit his mistakes.

  She complained that the wind was blowing through the window, she lit a lamp and complained about the smoke irritating her eyes, and when walking, she said that the footsteps were too heavy. Even she herself couldn't do it, and Chu Sheng politely said: "Do you want me to replace you with a few stitches so you can rest?" which could also make her angry.

  Chao Sheng abruptly shrank his head and pretended he didn't exist.

  Fortunately, after rushing to finish it, Spring Ink's pen bag was finally completed before the fourth prince's birthday. She treasured it dearly and wrapped it in fine silk, unwilling to show it to anyone.

  Alright, Cao Sheng understands her feelings. Who gives gifts without hoping for a bit of mystery and surprise? If everyone knows in advance, what's the point of being surprised?

  It's good that they don't have to think about what gifts to give, luckily.

  Even if they were sent, what could they send? Everyone is so poor that their monthly salary is often not enough to make ends meet.

  That day, I just bowed my head to Shou Xing and considered it a birthday greeting - the fourth prince had to give red envelopes to them instead.

  However, even on his birthday, the fourth prince still got up early and went to the Chongwen Temple, leaving these people busy. The yard was cleaned up, a carpet was laid out, tables and chairs were arranged, and freshly cut flowers were inserted into vases, with every place decorated like a brocade garden.

  Chao Sheng helps Qiu Yan with her work - actually, Qiu Yan can't stand being controlled by Chun Mo, so she deliberately lets her relax.

  The kitchen was also busy, but it was a busy and orderly scene. Everyone knew what they were supposed to do, which showed that Li Gu Gu was a capable person. On the one hand, she was shouting at people to carry out the steamer baskets, inside of which were noodles that had been rolled out and steamed until they were half-cooked, to be rinsed with water and then dried. On the other hand, she was taking out a plate from another small steamer basket: "Come on, try some."

  Chao Sheng took a look at Qiu Yan's autumn-colored pastry and Qiu Yan smiled, saying: "Try some and see if the flavor is sweet or not. The filling was mixed by me and Li Gu Gu, usually we just eat the same old things, rose, osmanthus, green bean paste, red date paste, nothing new, how about you try some?"

  Chao Sheng took one, opened it, and a burst of hot air and sweet fragrance wafted out.

  Indeed, it's not ordinary stuff.

  A bite, sweetness inside with a hint of acidity, a refreshing fragrance.

  "Can you eat your way out?"

  "Seems like... some apricots are sour?"

  "Right." Qiu Xuan said with a smile: "It's just dried apricot and peach slices, specially without adding fragrant oil and honey, afraid of greasiness, mixed with ground fresh lotus seeds, the taste is not bad?"

  "Very refreshing, not greasy at all."

  "Hmm, that's good." Qiu Yan also tasted one: "Your Highness doesn't like sweet and greasy things very much, this can probably be eaten a bit more."

  "It's actually a birthday celebration, eating longevity cake is auspicious, how can you live long without eating cake?"

  Chao Sheng had never heard of this saying before and couldn't help but laugh.

  "Originally eating cake was to curry favor with the boss."

  Auntie Li said: "That's natural. Longevity noodles are also for good luck. Whether these things taste good or not is secondary, anyway Your Highness has to eat a few mouthfuls for the occasion."

  The mold used for making dim sum was brought back by Chao Sheng on that day.

  Other dishes already prepared were placed on the chopping board in the room.

  "Alright, let's get out of here, don't make any more trouble."

  The tide was born with the autumn ink, and she heard her say: "Spring ink doesn't have a bad heart, but sometimes it's a bit urgent, don't take it to heart."

  "I know, Autumn Ink sister."

  "You're actually quite good, careful and capable, not a restless person at all. When you first came, I was worried, but now I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Look at us here, just the three of us, foolish and clumsy, unable to do anything right. Those with some cleverness are also not very well-behaved." Qiu Yan pointed to the west wing: "In the past when your sisters Dong Zhi and Xia Bi were around, I didn't have to worry about these things."

  Chao Sheng just pursed his lips and followed her with a slightly lowered head.

  "Originally, Duke Wei said he would select a few people from the inner courtyard to make up for it, but then the young master said he liked quietness and didn't like so many people running around in front of him. As a result, Duke Wei took two people, and one was even intercepted halfway. Fortunately, you can take care of two at once, which saved me a lot of trouble."

  Chao Sheng raised her head, and Qiu Yan rushed over to her with a smile.

  "That autumn, Sister Ai got me a double salary."

  Qiu Yan was taken aback, and burst out laughing: "So you can still talk nonsense? I thought you were dull and stupid. Alright, let's get down to business. Today is going to be very busy, with several princes coming. It'll be lively, but once things get busy, it's easy to make mistakes. You have to be careful and keep a close eye on things, don't let any big blunders happen."

  "Uh-huh!" Chao Sheng nodded in response: "I'll definitely be careful."

  The second prince arrived first, he came with the tenth princess. These two are siblings, after Liu Fei's death, the tenth princess was raised by Xian Fei.

  When Chao Sheng served her tea, the tenth princess looked at her and said, "You're new here, aren't you?"

  Chao Sheng replied: "Yes."

  The tenth princess took the tea, suddenly covered her sleeve and smiled, the pearl on her hairpin slightly trembling: "I know, you are the 'Grape' that my second brother mentioned?"

  Chao Sheng bowed his head even lower and said calmly: "The slave's name is Chao Sheng."

  The tenth princess put down her teacup: "Lift up your head and let me take a look."

  Chao Sheng slightly raised her head, and the tenth princess reached out to lift up her chin - if this pose were between a man and a woman, it would be standard flirting!

  "Hmm, this grape is good, it's just like a real one." The tenth princess said: "Is the grape delicious? Second brother didn't even give me any, but he gave you a whole bunch."

  Chao Sheng really didn't dare continue discussing grapes with this princess.

  It's not easy for people around to cool down on this topic, and now let the tenth princess bring it up again... that would be another day of unrest.

  The tenth princess was born very beautiful, with eyebrows and eyes similar to those of the second prince, but more delicate and lovely. Probably for the birthday celebration, she wore a crimson palace dress, under which was a thin silk hundred-fold skirt, with plum blossom makeup on her forehead.

  Before crossing over, I always thought that some of the costumes in ancient dramas were a bit far-fetched, with all sorts of glittering decorations and whatnot. But after arriving here, I discovered that women's makeup back then was actually not much different from modern times. The noblewomen in the palace would cut out intricate gold and silver foil into various flower shapes and stick them to their foreheads, between their eyebrows, and at the corners of their eyes, making them shine brightly and catch the eye. Today, the tenth princess also applied a light dusting of golden powder to the corners of her eyes, matching the plum blossom design on her brow.

  Fortunately, other guests arrived, and then the princess let go of her hand.

  Huaye House is bustling today, the second prince will certainly come, and among the princesses, there are not only the tenth princess, but also the eleventh princess and the thirteenth princess. When the fourth prince returned, he didn't return alone, several princes came back with him.

  Among them was the third prince born to the empress, whom Chao Sheng had heard of. He was already married and no longer lived in the palace. Today, he came to the East Palace specifically for the birthday of the fourth prince.

  Compared with the second prince, he looks older than the second prince.

  Perhaps it was because he stood tall and majestic, while the Second Prince could only sit - this high and that low, the contrast was really striking.

  These dragon and phoenix among them, with the second prince as the eldest, but in terms of momentum, it was the third prince who dominated, which is a obvious fact.

  ——————————————

  Uh, next week... annual meeting.

  I heard that Chengdu has a lot of delicious food, but they are all spicy and numbing... I want to eat, but I'm also afraid...

  I will still work hard to update and won't stop updating.

  However, the originally scheduled completion may be postponed again... Waaah, don't hit me...