bad, i'm a fool

"Where is Little Red Bean?"

"She, she came back before dawn to pack her things and is going out of the palace."

Somewhere in Yingchun Palace, someone was chatting like this.

"Leaving the palace? How long has she been back?"

The twilight before sunrise filled the palace walls, and most of them were about to wake up before dawn, busy around preparing for the next day's work.

And those who spent the first half and the second half of the night like Xiaohongdou usually only do one thing after dawn.

rest.

The night watch is not only for His Highness's bedroom, but also for the maids' presence. Everyone takes turns, and there is probably such a task of staying up late every two weeks.

After staying up all night, no one has the energy left to do anything else.

The usual little red bean went straight back to the Yingchun Palace after being on duty for the night. At most, she drank a bowl of soup to nourish the liver and spleen before resting. Naturally, the other sisters would not say anything, everyone was staying overnight. People know how hard it is.

But just because I knew it, I feel strange now.

He has been on duty all night, but he doesn't even have time to rest, and he's leaving the palace soon?

"Why is Mi Niangniang like this...!"

It was a voice of resentment and injustice.

Although Xiaohongdou was talked about a lot in Yingchun Palace, this unreasonable work arrangement not only fell on Xiaohongdou's head, it may even fall on herself in the future.

Naturally, he complained for her, and also complained for himself.

"Oh, please keep your voice down, it's nothing to do with Mi Niangniang." Someone corrected.

"It's His Highness's order."

After saying this, everyone seemed to be silent for a moment.

They also know that Xiao Hongdou is favored, which makes sense.

"It's Your Highness again." Someone said, with some resentment in his voice.

"Isn't it His Highness, but this is too tiring, maybe one day I will be exhausted..."

"That's right, the last time I was ordered to guard the gate for several days and nights, you said that in the past, His Highness was... so much. Although he doesn't have those thoughts now, it seems that his hands are still so ruthless."

"It's okay to be ruthless. How often does Little Red Dou go in and out of the bedroom and the middle palace? If I had this chance, I would..."

"Why, just seeing thieves eating meat, but never seeing thieves being beaten? You have won His Highness's favor, and seeing the world is so busy, of course you can't escape. If you have time to gossip here, why not hurry up and get ready for morning!"

A strong voice interrupted these whispers. Obviously, the owner of the voice also had some status among the court ladies, so those girls who still wanted to say a few words stopped there and said no more.

"By the way, remember to tell Mi Niangniang that Yi Chengcheng from Bianzhou left the palace with Xiaohongdou."

"Okay, Miss Sisi."

Looking at the crowd of court ladies scattered like birds and beasts, Lu Sisi finally relaxed her stiff face, her expression immediately became a little worried, and she looked in the direction of the Xuanri Gate which was blocked by the wall of Yingchun Palace.

"Concubine Chi...do you really have no chance?"

She talked to herself softly like this, but the voice was not unwilling, but deep anxiety.

"When Xiaohongdou comes back, she must ask His Highness what he thinks."

As if to cheer herself up, Lu Sisi pinched the hem of her skirt lightly, and walked quickly towards the Yingchun Palace.

The day after day in the palace began amidst the busyness of these maids.

----------

"Really, is it really possible?"

Xiao Hongdou looked at the big boat in front of him in trepidation.

After leaving the palace gate, the guards of the Ministry of Xiu took her out of Siyang on horseback, and came to the manpower-built official port south of the capital.

His Highness originally asked her to take a good vacation, and arranged for her to go to Haizhou to rest, Xiaohongdou thought it was a bit bad at first.

Tired, it was true that she had been tired for many days, but she knew that she was being chewed on in the Yingchun Palace.

Instead of going out of the palace to rest and coming back to face the jealous looks of those court ladies, she really thought it would be better to just grit her teeth and stick to her job.

She didn't know what she did wrong, and she didn't know what was going on in the minds of the other maids. They seemed to think that as long as Xiao Hongdou didn't enjoy the blessings, her suffering would not be so unbearable.

Xiao Hongdou plucked up the courage to tell His Highness her concerns. Han Dongwen thought for a moment, then simply nodded, saying that he understood, and asked her to call someone from Taishu Pavilion.

So Xiaohongdou is still going out of the palace, but it is not a rest.

It is overtime.

His Highness ordered it down early in the morning, and he planned to inspect Haizhou later. However, when he inspected the border of Bailan Mountain before his visit to West Asia, there were many problems.

In His Highness's own words, "the sun is dazzling", "the shoes don't fit well, and standing for a long time is uncomfortable", "the height of the chair is not right", "what is it?".

Therefore, from the Yingchun Palace, the personal maid who knows His Highness's preferences best is sent to Haizhou first, and all preparations are made to completely prevent similar situations from happening.

To ask Xiao Hongdou to go to Haizhou, to see where Han Dongwen will meet with Zongmen in the future, and to feel whether the weather is suitable. It takes a few people to shake the fans, and whether the wind is strong or not, will it hurt the dragon's body.

Ask her to visit the scenic spots and landscapes of Haizhou that His Royal Highness will visit in the future, to see if the road is smooth, whether it is possible to take a leisurely stroll, or whether it needs to be repaired, or travel in a sedan chair.

"You have a heavy responsibility, hurry up."

On the deck, Zhong Lilin greeted Xiaohongdou.

It's a big ship.

Although it is not as grand as the star boat, if you go from Simeng to Haizhou, you will not use the star boat. After all, sailing on the river by boat is also a rather elegant thing, and it is worth experiencing it slowly.

But it was also a big ship and a fast ship, and there were guards from the Ministry of Xiu on board, just like Han Dongwen traveling in person.

"Lord Zhong, forgive me!"

Xiao Hongdou stepped onto the deck quickly, and the little maid from Bianzhou, Yi Chengcheng, followed behind her, looking at Zhong Lilin curiously.

"No, I will follow His Highness when he travels, just observe carefully."

Zhong Lilin waved his hand, indicating that he was ready to set off, so the wind blew on the deck, and the surrounding personnel began to retreat at an accelerated rate.

Xiao Hongdou looked around cautiously, feeling uneasy.

Is this work, or rest?
"Your Highness will rest there when the time comes, go up and have a look." Zhong Lilin interjected.

He pointed to a pavilion built separately on the deck, which had the brightest view, and Han Dongwen would watch the waves there in the future.

"I……"

Little Red Dou stepped up the steps hesitantly, stood behind the gorgeous chair, and watched the big ship sail out of the official harbor and merge into the river with the wind.

Surrounded by plum groves specially pruned for viewing, she looked at the map and knew that further ahead was the waterway for civilians and merchants.

Further forward, you can see the sea.

Going south along the coast to Haizhou, although not as fast as taking the inland canal, the scenery is excellent.

"Sit down and see if the height of the chair is right and comfortable."

In Zhong Lilin's rigid and restrained voice, he said some scary words.

Xiao Hongdou opened her mouth in surprise: "I, this is His Highness sitting..."

"You know His Highness best, so you were asked to come out and inspect this trip first, didn't you?"

Zhong Lilin waved to his side: "Also, you should inspect these fresh fruits to see if there are any that don't suit His Highness's taste, and we can replace them when the time comes."

Several silver plates filled with delicate fresh fruits were brought up and placed on the idle table beside the chair, bright and inviting.

"Your Highness is used to taking a nap. If you are tired from staying, you can go to the main porthole to have a look, have some breakfast, take a rest, and check whether there is any noise and whether the boat is running smoothly enough."

After Zhong Lilin finished speaking, he took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Xiao Hongdou: "His Royal Highness's schedule is recorded here. When you arrive in Haizhou, you should go around one by one and study carefully. Miss His Royal Highness to go out."

"Sister Hongdou, what is this! It's so delicious!"

Yi Chengcheng on the side had already stuffed a deep pink grape into his mouth, muttered exaggeratedly, and looked up at Zhong Lilin:
"Master Zhong, when your Highness goes to Haizhou, will you be the only one with me?"

Zhong Lilin shook his head: "There will be other officials. I will accompany you this time. I have other things to do in Haizhou. If you need anything, just tell me at any time. The guards on this ship are all It’s my old department, so you can rest assured.”

"Thank you, Mr. Zhong."

Xiao Hongdou hurriedly lowered her head, and quietly reached out to pat Yi Chengcheng's hand that was stretched out to Yilian Xianmang.

"No, it's all arranged by His Highness."

After Zhong Lilin finished speaking, he turned and left the pavilion on the deck without stopping any longer.

It wasn't until he couldn't see his back that Xiao Hongdou straightened up and took a few deep breaths.

"Sister Hongdou, I thought I would be so tired, but it seems like resting!"

Yi Chengcheng smiled and handed a pear to Xiaohongdou's mouth: "Eat what Your Highness wants to eat, play with what Your Highness wants to play, if Sister Sisi finds out about this, I will make trouble again! Hehe, thank you, Sister Hongdou, for taking me with you!" I'm coming out!"

Xiaohongdou smiled helplessly, and glanced at Yi Chengcheng: "Don't talk nonsense when you return to the Spring Palace, we came out for His Highness's inspection, and we should concentrate on our work!"

"Alright, alright, be sure to concentrate!"

Yi Chengcheng spoke perfunctorily, her eyes had already shifted to the several pots of hot drinks brought up on the right, and she ran over to study them.

Xiao Hongdou sighed, and gently opened the letter that Zhong Lilin had handed to her just now.

Can I really treat this like a vacation?

Of course not, Your Highness also arranged for me to do something, and this letter contains...

Just as she was thinking about it, she suddenly fixed her gaze. On the first page of the letter she opened in her hand, there were only a few simple words written.

"Have a good rest. When you arrive in Haizhou, there will be a bodyguard from the Qimen Bodyguard Bureau to see you."