The news that the Emperor had asked Concubine Liu to accompany him to the Thousand-Man Guard of the Capital Camp spread quickly to the various main palaces of the harem.
Where there are people, there are spies.
Empress Tong in Kunning Palace and the former Noble Consort Fucha, who was confined to her own palace, both doubted their ears when they heard this news.
"When has the Emperor ever let me visit the military camp to boost morale?!"
Empress Tong and former Noble Consort Fucha were both incredulous.
"Who does Concubine Liu think she is?"
"Even if she's a female official, converted to the civil official rank, she's nothing more than a lowly ninth-rank petty official!"
"Does she think she's equivalent to the Chief Grand Secretary?"
"This is outrageous!"
Compared to former Noble Consort Fucha, who could only curse a few times to vent her anger, Empress Tong was even more infuriated.
"I, the Empress, am not dead yet! Does the Emperor still see me in his eyes?"
"How can the Emperor take Concubine Liu to comfort the troops in the capital? How dare he take Concubine Liu!"
The Empress was losing her mind.
If being temporarily stripped of her management rights in the palace was like blood flowing from her heart, losing face and power, then the Emperor not taking her, the Empress, but instead taking Concubine Liu out of the palace to the military camp was like slapping her face repeatedly!
Not only did her heart ache, but her face stung as well.
If Concubine Liu really went, the whole world would know that she, the Empress, was inferior to others!
The Empress, humiliated and enraged, stood up and shouted at her head maid, "Send a message to the Minister of Rites! Send a message to the Minister of War!"
"I want to ask them, since when did the Emperor start disregarding the face of me, the Empress, and ignoring the rule that miscellaneous personnel are not allowed in military camps?!"
...
Inside Donghua Palace.
Liu Chaniang, having heard her daughter Chu Chu's thoughts, was not surprised to hear that the Emperor wanted her to accompany him.
Instead, it was Consort Min and Chu Chu who looked astonished.
Fortunately, Xiao Yunzhou liked to explain, "I saw a report a couple of days ago saying that the embroiderers outside the palace have rushed to produce another batch of down pants, which have already been received by the Ministry of Works. It's perfect for you to come with me to distribute them."
[Oh wow, the down pants are really here?]
Most of the down-derived products that came from down jackets were managed by Liu Chaniang and Consort Min.
But since they handed over the palace affairs, all down production had been handed over to Min Rou outside the palace to lead the embroiderers.
Consort Min's brother was responsible for collecting, washing, and drying duck down.
Most down products were completed outside the palace, and after completion, they were uniformly inspected and accepted by the Ministry of Works.
So the matter of down pants was actually first reported to Xiao Yunzhou by the Ministry of Works.
[I can already see the skyrocketing Duoti followership~]
Xiao Chuchu smiled contentedly.
Xiao Yunzhou was also in a good mood. Soon the palace staff were ready, and he pulled Liu Chaniang onto the carriage.
"Tell the cabinet that there will be no court session tomorrow."
"If they have urgent memorials, have someone deliver them by express horse."
"Oh, and suspend the princes' studies for two days, have them come to the Capital Camp as well."
Xiao Yunzhou thought as he gave orders, "The princes should also see the competition and cooperation between the grasslands and our Jing Country. I don't want to raise princes who don't understand anything! Especially since the Little Princess predicted that in the future our country will perish, with no one capable and our military strength low."
Xiao Yunzhou now placed great importance on the education of the princes and the cultivation of military strength.
"Set off——"
[Ah, I'm finally going on a trip!]
As soon as Xiao Chuchu got into the carriage, Liu Chaniang personally held her in her arms.
Xiao Yunzhou wanted to snatch her, but he was a beat too slow.
Although it would take half a day to get from the capital to the camp, the palace maids and eunuchs were well-trained and had loaded all the daily necessities and travel items onto the carriage.
They swayed along comfortably, not feeling very tired at all.
Xiao Yunzhou leaned against the carriage cushion for a while, then sat up straight and inspected the small golden cup for his daughter to drink water from, clean diapers, silk handkerchiefs to wipe his daughter's face... and her ten sets of exquisite change of clothes and small capes, before nodding with satisfaction.
"Hmm, this wet nurse is quite thoughtful."
Liu Chaniang was about to respond when she heard her daughter's stomach rumble loudly.
[Oh my god, as soon as we leave, I want to eat a hamburger.]
[Emmm, spicy chicken burger, Filet-O-Fish... who understands?]
The carriage had a heater set up for fear of the Emperor getting cold, and with the curtains drawn, it felt like a warm spring day.
Xiao Chuchu, wearing a down jacket, felt as hot as Duoti.
[At times like this, it's best to have an ice-cold fizzy cola, eat a hamburger, and have a pair of fried chicken wings. Original recipe fried chicken is good too, ah, I miss it so much.]
You crave what you lack.
Xiao Chuchu deeply felt this at the moment.
[I mean, if there's no iced cola, even a spicy chicken burger would be good~]
What's that?
Xiao Yunzhou and Liu Chaniang both pricked up their ears.
Han bao?
[Oh, I really want to eat it, the more I think about it, the hungrier I get, I don't want milk...]
[When can I eat a hamburger, with sesame seeds on the bun, soft and warm, with crispy fried chicken fillet inside...]
[Spicy chicken wings, chicken nuggets... popcorn chicken... french fries...]
It all sounds fried?
This doesn't seem difficult.
Xiao Yunzhou instantly felt that this was simple. If the Little Princess wanted to eat fried food, how could they not have it?
[Ah, these hamburgers are so suitable for eating on the road.]
[We used to bring them when catching trains or planes.]
[No soup or liquid, not easy to spill, convenient to hold in hand, wrapped in paper, hands don't even get dirty after eating.]
As Xiao Chuchu kept thinking about it, she got so hungry her eyes were seeing stars, and Liu Chaniang immediately called for the wet nurse to quickly take her to feed.
Xiao Yunzhou was impressed, "This child..." She made herself dizzy with hunger, how could this be.
He didn't know what to say.
"When Chu Chu grows up and can run around, we must find someone to keep a close eye on her. We can't have her running off with someone just because she smells some food outside."
Now Xiao Yunzhou was really worried.
No, he must definitely work the palace chefs hard, in the future all the delicacies of the world must be available in the Jing Country imperial palace!
He was determined not to let the Little Princess run off with anyone else!
As Xiao Yunzhou pondered this 'han bao', Liu Chaniang was also somewhat concerned.
They would create everything their daughter thought of and desired, would she become suspicious one day?
How would they explain to their daughter that they could hear her thoughts? Would it frighten her?
Liu Chaniang was now a bit conflicted.
But soon she had no time to worry, as they were approaching the military camp, Xiao Chuchu, who had excitedly stayed up late last night to watch the 'live broadcast', was sleeping like the dead, while their carriage was stopped a hundred meters away from the military camp by the Minister of War and the Imperial Censor.
The military camp was right before their eyes, but the Minister of War and Imperial Censor blocked their way.
"Your Majesty, bringing a concubine and princess into the military camp is against the rules!"
"We request that Your Majesty visit the troops alone."
Liu Chaniang remained relatively calm, but Xiao Yunzhou's face changed.
"How dare you! Step aside!" Xiao Yunzhou's eyebrow twitched.
Joking aside, if Concubine Liu couldn't enter, how could he go in alone?
Oh, he wished he could!
But that Duoti from the grasslands, one of the 108 elites recognized by the celestial realm, only acknowledged Concubine Liu. What could he do?
Xiao Yunzhou closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I have my reasons for this decision."
During their half-day journey, he hadn't heard a single thought from the Little Princess about Duoti's progress.
What did that mean?
It meant this task wasn't something just anyone could do. Even he, the emperor, couldn't manage it.
Only Concubine Liu could.
"Your Majesty, may I ask which ancestral rule you're following by bringing a concubine into the camp?" the Imperial Censor protested.
Even the Minister of War frowned. "Even if Concubine Liu is a female official, traditionally civil and military affairs don't mix. For a civil official to enter the camp, there must be a valid reason."
"May we ask, what is the reason today?"
Xiao Yunzhou's expression darkened.
This task from the celestial realm wasn't something that stubborn and foolish mortals like the Minister of War had the right to know about.
Sigh.
As Xiao Yunzhou worried, his gaze suddenly fell upon the Little Princess, still sound asleep in the carriage, undisturbed by the commotion.
His eyes lit up, and he looked at Liu Chaniang. "Ahem, Concubine Liu just told me she's thought of a new type of military ration called 'sweat buns.'"
Liu Chaniang: "..."
The Minister of War and Imperial Censor: "?"
"Ah, if only the Ministry of War were half as clever as Concubine Liu, would I need to rush here for days, bringing her to the camp?"
