Lu Ze nodded lightly and said, "It's her. This news should spread throughout Shengjing City tomorrow. The Song family will definitely be crowded with people tomorrow. Do you want to go to the Song family to congratulate them today?"

Qi Yuning sighed, "How can this be considered a happy event? It can only be considered as her wish coming true."

Qi Yuning continued to sort out the account books in front of her. Lu Ze saw the thick stack of accounts and asked, "Do you want me to help you?"

Qi Yuning shook his head and said, "No need, go play with Lingling."

Lu Ze walked into the courtyard and accompanied Lingling to feed the red koi in the tank.

Lingling fed the koi while muttering, "Little fish, little fish, grow up quickly. When you grow up, Lingling will be able to eat you."

Lu Ze rubbed the little tuft on Lingling's head and said, "Lingling, you can't eat the little koi."

Lingling asked, "Why?"

Lu Ze said, "Koi meat isn't tasty at all."

Lingling put the fish food aside, ran to Qi Yuning and said, "Mom, I don't want to raise koi anymore. Daddy said koi can't be eaten! Lingling wants to raise fish that can be eaten!"

Qi Yuning smiled and touched Lingling's head. "Although the little koi can't be eaten, it's very cute, just as cute as Lingling. Lingling can be raised for fun!"

"But even though the koi are cute, they can't fill my stomach," Lingling said. "I still want to raise fish I can eat."

Qi Yuning instructed Gu Yu who was standing beside him, "Go to the kitchen and ask if there are any small crucian carp or grass carp. Bring one for Lingling to raise."

Guyu returned from the kitchen not long after, bringing a small grass carp. Lingling saw the swimming grass carp and asked, "Daddy, can we eat this fish when it grows up?"

Lu Ze said, "Well, this fish can be eaten when it grows up."

Lingling put the fish into the lotus pond and chanted to herself, "Little fish, grow up quickly."

Qi Yuning looked at the father and daughter feeding the fish in front of the lotus pond, and saw the dark clouds in the east of the sky, which gave him a feeling that a storm was coming.

Although the sun is setting in the west, the sunset glows golden and the scenery is magnificent.

After dinner, Lingling played for a while and then asked Lu Ze to tell her a story. After a while, Lingling fell asleep.

Lu Ze walked over to Qi Yuning and saw three ledgers piled in front of her. He asked, "Are you going to finish reading all of them today?"

Qi Yuning said, "I've been in North City for over a month, and I have to make up for what I've missed."

Lu Ze said, "Now that Ah Ping has entered the Qi family, can we give these account books to Ah Ping to deal with?"

Qi Yuning said coldly, "Do you think Ping's gentle nature can suppress the people below?"

Lu Ze said, "Yes, I'll help you check the accounts."

Qi Yuning said, "No need. I didn't check the account books to verify the authenticity. My subordinates don't have the courage to bring the fake accounts to me. I just want to know the situation."

Lu Ze looked at the three booklets beside him and flipped through them. The more he read, the more shocked he became. "Are these all the assets of your Qi family?"

Qi Yuning nodded and said, "Yes."

The Lu family estate had a considerable legacy, and was now managed by his second and third uncles. Lu Ze only knew that the annual dividends and surplus were very generous, but compared to the Qi family's assets, the Duke's estate was only superficial.

Lu Ze said, "I didn't expect Prince Qi's Mansion to be so wealthy that it could rival a country."

Qi Yuning smiled helplessly: "Don't look at the large number of industries, the Qi Palace also has a lot of expenses. There are more than 200,000 soldiers to support, and the annual expenses of 20,000 cavalry alone are like running water.

The 20,000 large horses often had to be replaced due to illness or death in battle, and ponies were difficult to raise. Buying and feeding horses every year cost a huge sum of money.

As for the soldiers, they have to fight against the bandits all year round and their livelihood is really a life of swords and spears. The salary given by the court is far from enough, and the Qi family has to subsidize them themselves.

At first glance, the Qi family seems to be as wealthy as a country. They sent medicine, food, and silver to the North City, but the surplus silver they had wouldn't be much more than your Lu family's."

Lu Ze asked, "When did you take over the family business?"

Qi Yuning said: "After I could recognize a thousand words at the age of six, Aunt Yueya taught me how to use an abacus and read account books.

When I was thirteen or fourteen, Aunt Yueya and my brother let me take over the family business. Fortunately, the people below were all loyal and capable, so I only had to make a few decisions, which wasn't too tiring.

Lu Ze was standing beside Qi Yuning. People often said that Princess Qi was arrogant and willful, but few knew that Qi Yuning had shouldered the heavy responsibility of the Qi family at such a young age.

Qi Yu'an was in the military camp and relied on the Qi family's assets.

In Shengjing City, a daughter's housekeeper who is in charge of the harem's accounts can boast that she is worthy of being the mistress of the house.

Guan Zhiyi became famous before because she could manage the household at a young age, but managing a few shops and merchants and the account books in the backyard of the Guan family was really nothing.

The family business managed by Qi Yuning is thousands or even tens of thousands times larger than those families, and many wealthy businessmen dare not boast that they can manage it.

Princess Qi, who seems high and mighty in the eyes of outsiders, is not so easy to be.

Qi Yuning glanced sideways at Lu Ze, who was looking at her. She met Lu Ze's eyes and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Lu Ze stepped forward, took Qi Yuning in his arms, and said, "I feel sorry for you. You are so young, and no one asked you if you are willing. You have to take over this huge family business."

Qi Yuning leaned on Lu Ze's shoulder and chuckled, "You don't have to feel sorry for me. Our Qi family is hundreds of times bigger than your Lu family's. It's almost the same as if I feel sorry for you."

Lu Ze also chuckled and said, "I am the one who is marrying up to the princess."

"It's good that you know." Qi Yuning said, "But in Shengjing City, for this princess, marrying anyone other than a member of the Zhao family is considered marrying down. Only marrying you can be considered a match made in heaven."

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