The number one sycophant of the Ming Dynasty

Then there are the tools.

Chen Han could select the incense burners, candlesticks, futons, tea sets, and tableware provided by Baoxiangzhai in advance.

Sun Yue wrote in her booklet that the best selections should be sent to Consort Zhao first, which was within the authority of the person in charge and should not be overstepped.

That was Qin Ruolan's idea, taken from Chen Han's perspective, wanting Chen Han to curry favor with Consort Zhao.

However, Qin Ruolan did not understand Consort Zhao and thought that Consort Zhao loved luxury like Consort Lu Jing. This was wrong, so Chen Han insisted on doing the opposite.

Consort Lu Jingfei loves luxury, so give her the most luxurious things.

A complete set of Ding kiln white porcelain tea set, a gilded and carved incense burner, and a brocade cushion embroidered with intertwined peonies.

All the respectable and extravagant items were sent to the East Courtyard to give Consort Lu Jing the respect she deserved.

Consort Zhao prefers simplicity, so let's give her the simplest and most appropriate attire.

Ordinary thick-walled celadon tea set, plain bronze incense burner, and a thick futon wrapped in moon-white cotton cloth.

It may look unremarkable, but every single detail is perfectly tailored to its core.

Consort Lu Jing would only see that her own things were a hundred times more luxurious than Consort Zhao's, and she would feel even more comfortable. Naturally, she would not make things difficult for Consort Zhao in these trivial matters.

But the things Consort Zhao used, though they looked simple, were actually quite elaborate.

A celadon cup with thick walls is ideal, as it won't burn your hands when you hold it, and you can warm your hands after drinking hot tea, which will help relieve the coldness in her fingers.

A bronze incense burner should have thick walls so that burning charcoal can warm the room without causing smog.

The cushion, made of moon-white cotton, should have two extra layers of new cotton stuffing at the top, with a layer of soft palm fiber in the middle, just enough to support her waist and relieve the pain from her old injury.

Consort Lu couldn't see these thoughts, but Consort Zhao, who was using them, must have sensed them in her heart.

This is what they call giving face to others while keeping the substance for your own people.

Most importantly, he needs to find a way to solve his back pain.

The most troublesome part of fasting and worship is the long time spent kneeling and praying.

Consort Zhao's back will definitely not be able to take it, and since Consort Lu Jing is in the same palace as Consort Zhao, she might use this as an excuse. He needs to be prepared for this.

Finally, there is Consort Li.

Consort Li is strong-willed and cannot tolerate being wronged; she is the one most likely to get into trouble during these three days.

Having spent thirty years in the inner court, Consort Zhao had long since learned to remain calm and to overcome strength with gentleness.

But Consort Li was young and ambitious, and as the favorite concubine of Prince Yu, she usually had the final say in the palace. Asking her to be a foil for Consort Lu Jing and Consort Jing had long been a source of resentment for her.

This fire must never be allowed to ignite in public.

Chen Han wanted to provide Li Fei with an outlet for her emotions, a place where she could easily withdraw and calm down.

"How to relieve the heat... relieve it..." Chen Han pondered as he walked, when suddenly his eyes lit up. "That's right... Qin Ruolan's letter said that next to the southernmost room in the west courtyard is a small quiet room, which was originally for the maids who kept watch at night."

"Have Qin Ruolan prepare this quiet room in advance and set it up as a small Buddhist shrine."

"Set up a statue of Guanyin, place a thick prayer cushion, put a handwritten copy of the Heart Sutra, and prepare a pot of hot tea."

"If Consort Li suffers any indignation in the dining hall or on the altar and can't bear it any longer, she can always claim that she wants to go and chant sutras for Consort Zhao and pray to the Bodhisattva to bless her with good health."

"This is the filial piety of a junior towards his elders, and no one can find fault with it."

"When she arrived at the Buddhist hall, she stayed quietly by herself for a while, flipped through a few pages of scriptures, and drank a cup of hot tea. Her anger naturally subsided."

"If you quell the fire before going out to deal with it, you will never make a mistake."

Chen Han's eyes lit up when he thought of this.

Moreover, this Buddhist hall is especially useful to Consort Zhao.

In Shen Zhiyu's letter, he wrote that Consort Zhao was a devout Buddhist who would recite scriptures for half an hour every morning for thirty years without fail.

She felt awkward and uncomfortable being sent by the Jiajing Emperor to the Sanqing Temple to perform Taoist rituals.

Give her a quiet, private little Buddhist shrine so she can have a place to peacefully chant scriptures every morning, and her heart will be at peace.

Once you feel at ease, you feel more stable.

With Consort Zhao's situation stabilized, Consort Li had a pillar of support.

With a pillar of support, Consort Li would no longer be led by the nose by Consort Lu Jing and Consort Jing, and would not give others cause for criticism.

These arrangements are interconnected and each step is indispensable.

But all the arrangements ultimately depend on one person to make them happen—Qin Ruolan.

She coordinated with the Sanqing Temple to arrange the rooms, stored the charcoal in the temple beforehand, sorted and delivered the utensils to each room in advance, and secretly arranged the Buddhist hall.

Chen Han was an outsider and could not enter the inner court, so he could only rely on Qin Ruolan.

But he also knew that Qin Ruolan's willingness to help Sun Yue find out these things was not solely due to her close friendship with Sun Yue.

Baoxiangzhai is the largest incense and candle offering merchant in the capital. Qin Ruolan was able to help her father manage the huge family business at the age of eighteen. Such a woman would never do things based solely on personal relationships.

She is investing.

Sun Yue is the daughter of Sun Sicheng, who is the resident official of the Guanglu Temple and oversees the largest official clientele of Baoxiangzhai.

Helping Sun Yue is helping Baoxiangzhai itself.

Chen Han, a minor official of the eighth rank, was treated as an honored guest by Prince Yu and received a personal imperial decree of commendation after only four months on the job.

Qin Ruolan must have already inquired about his background.

She bet on Sun Yue, and she also bet on Chen Han.

Chen Han had calculated this matter very clearly.

He was willing to let Qin Ruolan earn this favor.

Because he genuinely needed Qin Ruolan's help, and more importantly, because a woman who could understand the situation and knew how to plan ahead would be easier to work with.

She knows what she should and shouldn't do, what she should say, and what she should keep to herself.

Working with smart people is always the most worry-free option.

Having thought this through, Chen Han felt completely confident.

……

The following afternoon, Chen Han changed into a clean blue official robe.

First, I went to the Guanglu Temple to report for duty and informed the Temple Assistant Minister Sun that I needed to purchase incense and offerings for the Sanqing Temple's religious ceremony. Then I went to Baoxiangzhai to verify the goods.

With a wave of his hand, Vice Minister Sun approved it on the spot.

As he left Guanglu Temple, Sun Yue's carriage was already waiting at the street corner.

Cui'er was sitting next to the coachman. When she saw him coming, she smiled and waved.

The carriage curtain was lifted slightly, and Sun Yue peeked out.

Today she wore a pale yellow jacket, a white magnolia hairpin in her hair, and a thin layer of makeup on her face, clearly having dressed up carefully.

"Supervisor Chen, get in the car." Her tone was as calm as possible, but her ears were secretly turning red.

Chen Han did not get into the car, but stood respectfully beside it, cupping his hands in greeting, and said, "Miss, please go first. I will follow on foot."

Sun Yue glanced at him, but didn't insist, and gently lowered the carriage curtain.

The carriage slowly made its way south along the main street, and Chen Han walked leisurely beside it.

They hadn't gone far when the carriage curtain was lifted again.

"Supervisor Chen, did you sleep well last night?" Sun Yue's voice came from inside the car, tinged with a hint of cautious probing.

Chen Han was slightly taken aback, then replied, "Miss, I slept very well."

"Oh." The carriage curtain was gently lowered again.

After a while, the carriage curtain was lifted again.

"Supervisor Chen, what did you have for breakfast today?"

"Miss, the yamen's kitchen has plain porridge and steamed buns."

"Oh." The carriage curtain was lowered again.

Cui'er sat next to the coachman, covering her mouth and laughing so hard her shoulders shook.

My young lady usually doesn't respond to others when they talk to her, she's never had so many questions about making conversation.

This isn't about asking about breakfast; it's clearly a case of ulterior motives.

Before long, Baoxiangzhai arrived.

Qin Ruolan personally greeted them at the shop entrance, wearing a light blue jacket, with bright eyes and a composed demeanor.

She was two years older than Sun Yue and more beautiful, with a maturity and insight that Sun Yue lacked.

When she looks at people, she doesn't flinch or avoid eye contact, and her smile is just right, making people feel neither distant nor overly warm.

Her gaze immediately fell on Chen Han behind Sun Yue.

He was of medium to high height, with a straight back, clear and bright eyes, and an air of neither servility nor arrogance—exactly as she had imagined him to be…