Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
The weather is getting colder, and the snow in the north is falling one after another. Just two days after the snow melts, the roofs are covered with white again.
The war on the border had ceased for many days, and there was no more panic in Beiguan City. The people began to prepare for the upcoming "New Year".
In the past two days, Yunluozhai, opened by Wei Yunlan on the main street of South City, has been doing particularly good business. It sells bamboo decorations at a low price, the cheapest one being only two copper coins, which is affordable for everyone living in South City.
The most expensive item costs less than half a tael of silver. Because it is finely made and dyed red, it is quite festive. Many ladies in the north city are willing to buy one to bring good luck. The items in this shop may not seem to be profitable individually, but there are many people buying them. Every day, they make hundreds of taels of silver.
Jiang Wu, who was rescued from Cao's villa, managed this shop very well.
Wei Yunlan only needs to provide part of the supply and delivery personnel, and does not need to worry about anything else.
In just one year, Jiang Wu earned tens of thousands of taels of silver for her just from this shop.
Almost all of this money was spent on the several farms in Huangzhou.
It was not used to repair the manor, but to fill the cellars and granaries under the manor.
It is better to take precautions before it happens. Even if something unexpected happens to her in the future, or if something unexpected happens in the space, the Wei family can hold on for a long time with this batch of food, and even have enough strength to support Beiguan City and the troops under King You.
Nearing noon, the warmest time of the day, the streets became busy.
People began to stock up on New Year's goods. The Wei family was no exception. When the shouts of "malt sugar" and "sugar chestnuts" were heard outside, Nanny Wang took Wang Gui and Guixiang to the street, saying that they wanted to buy more things while there was still some time before the end of the year and prices had not risen.
It was a rare few days of relaxation, so Gao let them do as they pleased.
Most of the people in the yard ran to the street to watch the fun, and the house became much quieter.
Gao took the records about the Tianshi Mansion's collection of books that she had sorted out in the past few days and went to Wei Yunlan's room.
After only a few steps, the hand holding a stack of papers, with its sleeve exposed, turned red from the cold.
Wei Yunlan hurriedly took the things from Gao's hand, handed the heater to Gao, and pulled her to sit down on the kang.
"It's coldest when the snow melts. You caught a cold the past two days. Just send someone to call me." Looking at Gao's red fingers, which had returned to their usual whiteness and there was nothing unusual about her face, and she seemed to be in much better spirits than when it snowed the past two days, Wei Yunlan breathed a sigh of relief.
"How can I be so delicate?" Gao smiled and said,
"But the weather is really cold. I wonder how cold-resistant those barbarians are. They are still conducting military exercises in such freezing weather."
A snowfall delayed the military exercise a little.
But it was only delayed for one day.
Tomorrow is the day when the Northern Barbarian Chanyu will lead the tribes in military exercises.
Qi Xu was already prepared to add a touch of "highlight and color" to this military exercise.
Wei Yunlan will also lurk on the other side of the border tomorrow with another team, so that they can be ready to meet the team that brings Princess Changning back at any time.
Even though she knew her daughter was quite capable, Gao still reminded her again, "Be careful."
"Don't worry, I will come back safely."
After a pause, Wei Yunlan said solemnly: "I will also bring cousin Changning back with me."
…
The people in the north are simple and honest, and prices are low.
In addition, since they had just won a victory not long ago, it was not difficult for the people of Beiguan City to have a good New Year.
Before the end of the year, the city has already been filled with a festive atmosphere.
Thousands of miles away in the capital, the atmosphere was much more heavy.
Ever since Ji and Ding states suffered natural disasters, grain prices have risen in the vicinity of the capital, more than doubling the original price and have never dropped since.
As a result, various other items also became more and more expensive.
If it were somewhere else, maybe they could open up a vegetable plot in front of or near their house and grow something. But living in the capital is not easy, and ordinary people living in the capital don’t have a yard big enough to open up a vegetable plot.
The continuous rise in food prices has made some immigrants whose families have no one working as an official or going to school consider leaving the province.
However, more families have no way out and can only grit their teeth and endure such a life. They wish they could split a piece of silver into two to spend. How can they have the leisure to stock up on New Year's goods and decorate their houses?
The dignitaries living on Zhuque Street and Xuanwu Street didn't need a few or dozens of taels of silver, but the current emperor claimed to be ill and had not appeared for a long time. The second prince controlled the government and was eager to support officials from the Ling family and exclude dissidents, making the court a mess.
Who has the time to wait for the New Year?
Aren’t you afraid that the Second Prince will find an excuse to take everything away from you the next day, and that your family’s property will be handed over to the Second Prince and the Ling family?
Today, the Left Censor-in-Chief Xiang took the wrath of the Second Prince on behalf of the Left Censor-in-Chief You, who had provoked the Ling family. His life was safe, but he was accompanied by the former Right Censor-in-Chief Wei, who was banished from the capital last year, and will also be exiled to the North Gate...
It is said that Lord Xiang has a frail girl at home, and I don't know if she can withstand the severe cold along the way.
Every court official felt insecure. Some old officials who could not stand the situation went to the palace to pay homage to Emperor Xiaoming, but were stopped on pretexts and have not been able to see Emperor Xiaoming since then.
These old ministers and wives of dukes and marquises went to the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, but they did not have any real effect. It seemed that the Empress Dowager had tacitly agreed that the harem was controlled by Concubine Ling and the second prince.
Many people privately speculated that perhaps the mother and son had some conspiracy and even the Empress Dowager had to be coerced by them.
People outside the palace were in panic, and there was no festive atmosphere at all.
The atmosphere in the palace was even more solemn.
This was especially true in the Cining Palace where the Empress Dowager lived.
It is said that the Second Prince controls the court and Imperial Concubine Ling controls the harem, but this is not true.
The real person in charge of the harem has always been the Empress Dowager. This has not changed since decades ago when the late Emperor was still alive until today.
The Queen Mother has spies in many unexpected places. After decades of management, any disturbance in the entire harem can be heard by her.
Including the current situation in the Qionghua Palace where Concubine Ling and Emperor Xiaoming are located.
Living a life of drunkenness and dreams, and debauchery without limit.
This is the current emperor of the Great Yong Dynasty, who is not even a bit comparable to her Nan'er.
This dragon throne should be sat by her Nan'er.
Ninety-nine steps have been taken, only the last step is left...
She would never allow anyone to ruin her plans.
Even if it was a child that you really raised under your knees for a few years, it would not be acceptable!
Nan'er said that he would deal with the Northern Barbarian Chanyu himself.
Then she would clear the obstacles for Nan'er in Dayong.
"Has there been no news from Wei Hong yet?" The Queen Mother called over the few remaining secret guards around her and asked with a frown.
When he got a negative answer, his brows furrowed further and further.
I felt panicky for no reason.
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