Chapter 106 Summer Festival, Three Days of Assistance

Chapter 106 Summer Festival, Three Days of Assistance

After Xie Yan left, it started to rain, and a bolt of lightning tore through the dark sky, emitting a dazzling light.

Shen Nanzi slammed the wine cup in her hand heavily onto the table.

The tableware on the table shook slightly.

"Dog Xie Yan, wasting my time. At the most crucial moment, he made an excuse to leave."

"His claim of forcing her was just an excuse for his departure!"

"Even though he was drunk, he could still control himself and wouldn't say a single word he shouldn't have."

Shen Nanzi pounded her fist on the table, feeling a pang of regret. She wondered if she should have stopped him when he tried to kiss her.

She lured him to bed and, while he was in a daze, managed to extract some information from him.

The thought of sharing a room with him sent a shiver down Shen Nanzi's spine.

"No, absolutely not."

She doesn't even want to get close to him now; the thought of it makes her shudder.

We still need to look for other opportunities.

*

Because of the complicated affairs involved in holding the summer festival, Consort Wei was responsible for the ritual procedures and the determination of the sacrificial rites.

He then summoned the women of the inner court to assist him.

As the Princess Consort of Prince Jing, Shen Nanzi naturally had to enter the palace to offer her assistance.

The duration is three days.

Shen Nanzi, dressed in a neat light blue silk robe, with turquoise hairpins securing her hair, appeared before the women of the inner court with an exquisite and refined appearance.

"Princess Jing!"

Upon seeing her arrive at the Harmony Hall, the women all rose to greet her.

"No need for formalities." Shen Nanzi said with a slight smile, "We are all assisting with the summer festival, so there's no need for such formalities."

Consort Wei sat at a table that had been temporarily moved there, sorting through some bamboo slips in her hands.

Upon seeing her arrive, he merely raised his eyelids and said, "Princess Jing, you've come at the perfect time. Find a few helpers to draft the sacrificial regulations, informing those coming to perform the rituals of the dress requirements, etc. Here are the already organized regulations; write them all down one by one."

"Then, have someone distribute them to each participant in the ceremony."

"You only have three days. You'd better finish drafting it today and distribute it as soon as possible."

"Your Highness, please rest assured," Shen Nanzi said, taking the bamboo slips that Consort Wei had pushed towards her. "Your subject will certainly live up to your expectations."

After accepting the task, Shen Nanzi stepped back a few paces to allow the other noblewomen to step forward.

Shen Nanzi glanced around the hall and saw that Xue Qingning was already busy, surrounded by several female relatives. She wondered what she was helping with.

As expected, the Fourth Prince's wife, Lady Su, was also on the list, while Xue Qingning was the granddaughter of the former Grand Tutor.

Su Muyun is the granddaughter of the former Prime Minister Su. The two have been close friends since childhood.

Shen Nanzi looked away and glanced around, wondering which people to look for.

A woman dressed in moon-colored robes approached, curtsied, and said:

"I am Lin, the wife of General Zhenwei. May I assist you?"

Shen Nanzi looked at the woman, who was in her early twenties, with delicate features. She was the one who was most perceptive and quick-witted when they went to the Prince's mansion last time.

She and Lin Ruyi were sisters, but Lin Ruyi was born of the principal wife, while she was born of a concubine.

To distinguish them from outsiders, she was called Kobayashi.

I've heard that the two sisters have a very bad relationship.

Now it seems they really don't get along. She even sent Lin Ruyi to prison, yet she still dares to get close to her.

It seems to represent the general's intentions.

"Alright! Then I'll have to work hard." Anyway, we need manpower, as long as we don't cause any trouble.

“Princess Jing,” Consort Wei called to her, “please take Prime Minister Li’s seventh daughter with you.”

With Consort Wei's soft voice, all the other women turned their attention to the fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl in the hall.

The woman was dignified and beautiful, with a charming and innocent appearance. She slowly walked up to Shen Nanzi.

With undisguised joy on his face, he curtsied and then knelt before Consort Wei, who sat in the central position in the hall.

"Thank you, Your Highness, and thank you, Princess Jing."

Consort Wei did not say much, but continued to busy herself with her work.

Shen Nanzi then found a secluded spot next to a round sandalwood table, which she used as a temporary office.

The other women whispered among themselves.

"How did the Prime Minister's daughter get a job arranged by the Imperial Concubine herself? We all found our own jobs."

"You really have no eyes to see this. This is the Prime Minister's youngest daughter."

"Haven't you heard? The Sixth Prince has someone he's fond of, but she's still young. Maybe it's her?"

"His identity matches, and he's young. The Imperial Concubine specifically named him, so it must be him."

"I never expected that the Sixth Prince would be from the Prime Minister's family! No wonder, this Seventh Miss was the Third Princess's study companion before, and lived in the palace for many years."

The Sixth Prince has now taken up a nominal post and is involved in the struggle for the crown prince position. Consort Wei is trying to find external support for the Sixth Prince.

"It seems I'll be attending the Sixth Prince's wedding soon."

Shen Nanzi flipped through the bamboo slips; despite their seemingly minor nature, the regulations were extremely complex.

It seems we need to add another person. I looked up to look for someone and saw a quiet girl standing in the corner.

Tu Xinya!

Looks like he hasn't received his assignment yet and is waiting anxiously.

Shen Nanzi whispered something to Qinghe, and soon Tu Xinya was brought over.

With an extra person on the team, things went much more smoothly.

The round table was a bit small, making it very crowded for four people.

As I looked up, I saw a tall, imposing figure passing by the inner hall.

Who else could it be but Xie Yu? Shen Nanzi whispered a few words to Qinghe.

Before long, the round table was replaced with a relatively spacious, high-legged eight-immortal table.

It also comes with four chairs.

The other women glanced at it and their eyes showed a hint of envy.

How comfortable that must be!

Since it was a temporary assignment, no special tables and chairs were arranged in the Hall of Harmony.

Everyone made do, gathering in small groups of three or five.

But Shen Nanzi's desk was replaced!

It seems that Li Wanxi, the daughter of the Prime Minister, is undoubtedly the chosen wife of the Sixth Prince.

Listening to the women's discussions around her, Xue Qingning whispered to the Fourth Princess Consort Su Muyun, "Is this really the Sixth Prince's chosen wife by Consort Wei?"

Su Muyun glanced at Shen Nanzi and said, "I only found out today."

“Is it possible that this wasn’t arranged for the Prime Minister’s daughter?” Xue Qingning asked meaningfully, “There’s another delicate one on that table.”

Su Muyun glanced up again and chuckled, "No matter how spoiled she is, she can't compare to the Prime Minister's daughter! This is the Hele Palace."

"Don't you remember at Father's birthday banquet last time?"

Su Muyun remembered, but still didn't believe it. "It was just a coincidence."

Xue Qingning had no choice but to give up.

After Shen Nanzi and others sorted out the regulations and proofread them repeatedly, all that was left was to hand them over to the Imperial Household Department for printing.

"Thank you for your hard work today. Tomorrow is the distribution day. The three of you should come up with an effective method."

"I will go to the Imperial Household Department and confirm the matter upon my return. Then today's business will be considered complete."

"Yes, Princess Jing." The three helpers cooperated fully.

Holding the neatly arranged manuscript, Shen Nanzi walked out of the Hele Palace. This matter could not tolerate the slightest mistake, and she had to deliver it to the Shaofu personally.

*

Inside the Harmony Hall, the Prime Minister's daughter, Li Wanxi, touched the sandalwood tabletop with her fingers.

Despite the crowd and heat inside the hall, she felt a slight coolness between her fingertips, and an uncontrollable smile played on her lips.