Chapter 9: Isn't it appropriate to give jewelry, silk, and satin to a daughter-in-law?

Dongsansuo

The servants in Chuyu Courtyard were all spirited, as if they had a feeling of being proud and confident, even walking with a sense of elegance.

Now, who would dare to neglect the main courtyard? Those lowly people who left their masters and now want to come back to curry favor, they won't even be allowed in!

The more they thought about it, the more delighted they became. They were the old servants who had endured hardships with their master.

Oh, Kangxi just sent Wei Zhu over. It was said that His Majesty praised Chuyu for taking good care of the Fourth Prince and specially rewarded a pair of walnuts.

Chuyu fell asleep crying at noon, and when Wei Zhu arrived, she was still asleep.

When Zao'er and Xing'er went to call her, they were startled. Chuyu's eyes were red and swollen at this time. How could she meet people in this state? They were at a loss.

After this nap, Chuyu also figured out a lot. Her worries and anxieties were all in vain. It's enough to bury her longing for victory in her heart. The days ahead must continue, and they must be lived happily and contentedly. This way, it wouldn't be in vain for her to live longer in this lifetime, as granted by the heavens.

Chuyu quickly tidied up and went out to meet Wei Zhu.

"Thank you, sir, for making this trip. It's cold outside, take care on your way back," Chuyu said sincerely when she saw that their shoes and socks were wet.

Wei Zhu was taken aback by her words and quickly thanked her.

Chuyu then solemnly knelt down to receive the walnuts rewarded by His Majesty.

Wei Zhu thought to himself, this Fourth Lady is quite different from the rumors. She doesn't seem to fit the description of being ugly at all. She seems like a sincere person.

In fact, as long as the items rewarded by His Majesty are personally received, there is no need to kneel, after all, there is no imperial decree, right?

Looking at Chuyu's red eyes, Wei Zhu thought, this Fourth Lady's days must be quite difficult.

After receiving His Majesty's reward and asking Xing'er to keep it, he quickly instructed Zao'er to bring some warming ginger jujube tea.

Unable to refuse, Wei Zhu thought he might as well have a cup, as it was indeed quite cold outside, with snow falling.

In no time, Zao'er came back, carrying a large teapot, and a little maid behind her was holding a tray with several large bowls.

Chuyu was sensitive to the cold, so ginger jujube tea was always available. Chuyu had instructed the servants in the courtyard that whenever they came back from outside, they should drink a bowl to warm their stomachs and dispel the cold.

"Sir, please have some tea. Although it may not taste good, it's very effective," Chuyu smiled and had the little maid pour a full bowl for each of them.

The few little eunuchs brought by Wei Zhu looked at each other, and finally looked at Wei Zhu. Seeing Wei Zhu nod, each of them took a bowl and started drinking.

After drinking a large bowl of ginger tea, they all felt warm and began to sweat slightly.

"Fourth Lady, the servants thank you for your hospitality. We will take our leave now," Wei Zhu said as they got up.

At this moment, one of the little eunuchs beside Wei Zhu's stomach grumbled, and everyone was a little stunned. The little eunuch blushed and wished he could find a hole to hide in.

He had overslept today and missed breakfast. The Fourth Lady had prepared a lot of food on the guest table, and now the smell made him unable to resist.

After realizing what had happened, Chuyu smiled gently and instructed Zao'er to pack some food for them to take away. It was just some roasted potato slices, sweet potato slices, fried meatballs, chicken pieces, potato sticks, and meat strips.

"Fourth Lady, please don't. We are just servants. You have already been very kind to us today, and we dare not take the food," Wei Zhu was also very embarrassed at this point and gave the little eunuch a stern look. The little eunuch shrank his shoulders in fear.

"This food is not precious. It's good for a snack. You can carry some with you when you don't have time to eat during your duties," Chuyu smiled and pointed to Xing'er and Zao'er, "They also like to eat. You should all try some."

Xing'er and Zao'er also nodded and smiled.

Unable to resist Chuyu's warmth, each of them left with two packs of food. Although Chuyu did not give them any money, Wei Zhu still said to Chuyu, "Fourth Prince's stomach ailment still requires the Lady's hard work."

When Wei Zhu returned to Qianqing Palace, he found that he was not cold at all. He glanced at Dongsansuo and touched the food in his arms, feeling that the Fourth Lady had truly warmed his heart.

In this deep palace, there were not many who treated the servants as people, and the Fourth Lady was one of them.

For someone like Wei Zhu, who was the second in command in Qianqing Palace, rewards were never lacking, as everyone wanted to know some news from the former Qianqing Palace. In Wei Zhu's view, those rewards were really of no use to him. After all, he was a eunuch with no family, and he ate and drank in the palace. What use did he have for money?

But the Fourth Lady was different. She was simply caring for them. The ginger soup may not have tasted good, but it truly dispelled the cold.

Thinking back to when the little eunuch said that the Fourth Lady was nothing like the rumors, Wei Zhu also agreed. This kind of Fourth Lady had been rumored to be jealous and ugly, but it was clear that the rumors were not to be believed.

So when Wei Zhu reported back, Kangxi asked, "How did she look?"

Wei Zhu replied, "The Fourth Lady looks quite spirited. It seems that her illness should be cured. She knelt to receive the reward out of gratitude to Your Majesty. When I left, I saw that her eyes were red." He spoke the truth.

Kangxi didn't say anything and let Wei Zhu leave.

But he couldn't help but wonder if this Fourth daughter-in-law was a bit out of place. Why was she crying over a pair of walnuts? Had she never seen good things before?

In the East Third Mansion, Chu Yu didn't realize that her small gesture had actually won the favor of the legendary untouchable Deputy Chief Wei Zhu of the Inner Palace.

Chu Yu was now pondering whether she had taken good care of the Fourth Prince. Did the Fourth Prince have a stomach ailment?

"How do you think I've been taking care of the Fourth Prince?" Chu Yu felt like her brain wasn't enough and called for suggestions from Zao'er and Xing'er.

Zao'er rubbed her head and said, "Did the Fourth Prince speak well of you?"

Xing'er slapped her thigh and said, "It must be that you sent food that the master likes to eat, and that's why the Emperor sent a reward."

Chu Yu thought it probably wasn't just about the food, but it must be related to it, because every time she sent food, a reward would come in the evening.

Then she couldn't help but sneer.

Wasn't it said that the Emperor's rewards were either gold, silver, and jewels, or silk and satin?

How come the Emperor rewarded her with a pair of walnuts?

Although these walnuts were already semi-transparent and somewhat resembled jade, they were still walnuts, inedible and unsellable. What use did they have? Chu Yu felt like rolling her eyes.

In fact, the Emperor didn't know what to reward Chu Yu with. Jewelry and silk were for his women, not quite suitable for his daughter-in-law. Gold and silver would also work, but the pair of walnuts that had just been presented as tribute seemed like a good choice. It was better than the tacky gold and silver, and it could also showcase his taste as the Emperor.

If Chu Yu knew this reason, she would definitely be disgusted. She preferred the tacky gold and silver!

"Master, should I send for the evening meal? It's already past the mid-hour of the Shen period," Xing'er felt that the master rarely had no appetite like this.

"Don't have them go to the Imperial Kitchen to fetch it. It's too cold. Just let Wang Dali prepare something simple."

It was already five o'clock in the evening, and Chu Yu was starting to feel a bit hungry.

Just as the meal was being served, a loud voice came from the door, deliberately raised by Jiang Fuhai:

"May the master be blessed, and may good fortune be with the master!"