Chapter 68 New Year's Fun
Early in the morning of the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month.
The prince brought his men back to the palace only in the early hours of yesterday morning. Xu Zhi expected that the prince would not be able to get up early this morning, so he had a rare good night's sleep and did not get up until noon.
After getting up, Xu Zhi sent someone to ask at the gatehouse in the main courtyard. There was no movement from the master's side, so he leisurely ate a hearty breakfast and then went to the main courtyard to wait.
Xu Zhi saw Liu Zhong, Xiaoyue and Xiaoju at the gatehouse. He greeted them one by one and was very sweet-mouthed, calling them Brother Liu, Sister and so on. It was the New Year holiday, so no one bothered with him.
Xiaoyue asked with a smile, "Last time you came back in such a hurry to deliver the letter, I didn't have time to ask you. I heard that several of the guards commanders around the prince have made meritorious deeds. Did you get any credit?"
Xu Zhi laughed heartily: "I'm not as capable as them. I'm just a messenger between the master and the front. How dare I go to the battlefield?"
"You've been serving the prince since you were little, learning martial arts from him. Who doesn't know how skilled you are? Don't tell us the truth."
Xu Zhi said seriously, "The truth is, I'm really incompetent and can only rely on my master's protection to make a living."
Liu Zhong smiled and said, "It's good to follow the master. There is no better master than these two in our mansion."
"Hey, what Brother Liu said is exactly what I think." Xu Zhi quickly responded.
How many years have they served the prince? Forget about the prince, let's just talk about the princess. The princess has been in the palace for some time, and those who serve her closely are well aware of her temperament, methods, and ways of dealing with people.
If these slaves were unlucky enough to meet a master with a mental disorder, their lives would be worse than death. If they met a good master like them, even though they were slaves, they might not be worse than those officials.
The most important thing for a servant is to abide by his duties. There are many things that cannot be said out loud. A few people looked at each other and understood each other.
Xiaoju didn't quite understand, but it didn't matter. Sister Wei had taught her. Just because she was a maid who had served the young lady since she was a child, no matter how smart these people were, they couldn't surpass her and would even give in to her.
As an ordinary person among a group of smart people, you will only be bullied in other places, but if you have a good master, your life will not be bad.
So Xiaoju also laughed along with the others.
Several of the most trusted people in Prince Qi's mansion were drinking tea and chatting in the gatehouse. The door was covered to block out any movement inside, so not much sound could be heard outside.
As soon as the golden bell that came from the main courtyard rang, the servants outside the house immediately brought hot water into the house to serve in an orderly manner.
"Master, what would you like for breakfast?" Xiaoju handed over the hotpa.
Breakfast? Gu Youan glanced at the sun hanging high outside. Is it time for lunch?
Prince Qi smiled and said, "It's still half an hour before lunch. You can have breakfast first if you want."
"Have a cup of hot tea to wake yourself up, and then have lunch."
Gu Youan took the hot handkerchief and wiped his face, then his hands. The maid brought some cream to moisturize the skin, and he took a jade stick to put a little on the palm of his hand, then applied it carefully on his face.
Prince Qi wiped his face and came over to sit beside her, watching her wipe her face. Gu Youan smiled gently, moistened her palms with ointment, sat down next to him, and wiped his face.
Prince Qi held her shoulders and said, "It's rare for the princess to serve me. Please spread the cream evenly for me."
Gu Youan glanced at him with a smile, but ignored him. His hands continued to move gently, and after a while he said, "Well, our Prince Qi is indeed the most handsome man in all of Songjiang City."
Hearing this, the servants in the room lowered their heads and suppressed their laughter.
Prince Qi couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth. After all, there were servants around, so he couldn't do anything rash. He just restrained himself and squeezed her hand, thinking to himself, he would ask her for it back in the evening.
The couple, who were so in love, were still aware that there was someone else in the house. Gu Youan coughed lightly, retracted his hand, and ordered repeatedly: "Xiaoju, ask the kitchen to steam a plate of preserved meat for our prince to try at noon."
"Hey, I'll go right away."
Prince Qi had returned, and Gu Youan had even less time than usual. With Prince Qi taking care of everything, she could rest easy. The visiting cards filled up a basket in Prince Qi's mansion. Zhou Chen had someone carry them to the main courtyard, but Gu Youan waved him off and told him to carry them to the study in the front courtyard.
When Zhou Chen arrived, Prince Qi was discussing matters with several advisers. When he saw the notes in the basket, he found that some of them were talking about useless nonsense about coming to the palace to pay a visit, while others were flatterers. Zhou Chen did not hesitate to ask them to take them to the kitchen and burn them.
"Your Majesty, I have something else to report."
"What is it?"
"In previous years, we didn't hold a New Year's banquet in our house. This year, we have a mistress, so shouldn't we hold one?"
"What did your princess say?"
"Your Highness, it's up to you whether you want to do it or not. It depends on your opinion." Zhou Chen's palms were sweating. Fortunately, he asked the princess first and then reported to the prince, otherwise he would be in a dilemma.
Prince Qi thought for a moment and said, "Then let's do it the same as in previous years. Don't do it."
"Yes, I will take my leave."
After Zhou Chen and his men left, a counselor in the room said, "Actually, it wouldn't be a bad idea to hold a banquet in the mansion. At least we can invite the city officials to meet you."
Prince Qi lowered his eyes to look at the map on the table and said casually, "Songjiang City is under my rule. If they do their job well, they will naturally be promoted and make money. Why do they want to see me? Am I promoting them just because they are handsome?"
“…”
The counselors looked at each other, what was the prince saying?
Prince Qi held his forehead and laughed. He was really influenced by An An and was talking nonsense.
With his right hand half-clenched and his knuckles tapping lightly on the table, Prince Qi asked, "Do you think the Tartars will move west? Then seek an opportunity to move south?"
The counselors were encouraged, and one of them nodded hurriedly and said, "Migration to the west is very likely."
A counselor added, "The key is that the tribes on the grassland have multiplied so much in recent years. In normal years, it's fine, but in years of disaster, the grassland simply can't support so many people, and they will inevitably move south to plunder."
They were old rivals, and the Tartars also knew that the Yinshan line was densely garrisoned and guarded by the Grand Commander-in-Chief of Zhenbei. If they wanted to break through the blockade and plunder southward, they would suffer heavy losses.
This time, the Tartars chose to break out from the northeast. If their spies hadn't sent the news in advance, the prince would have been prepared. I'm afraid the northeastern line would have been lost. If the border line couldn't be held, all the prince's plans would have been in vain.
Prince Qi sat up straight, frowning slightly. "When people are starving to death, even if rivers of blood flow, the Tartars will still march south. It will be difficult to stop them."
The Grand Commander of Zhenbei also thought so, so he intervened when the court made things difficult for Prince Qi and the Northeast Army. With Prince Qi around, at least the Northeast direction was stable, and one more person meant one more help.
For the sake of stability on the northern border, for the sake of justice, and for the innocent people of the Zhou Dynasty, even though the Grand Commander-in-Chief of Zhenbei knew that Prince Qi was taking the opportunity to win over the garrison in the northeast for his own use, he still had to protect Prince Qi.
"Has anyone gone to Tianyi Temple to see Taoist Master Li recently?" asked King Qi.
A counselor said, "I went there half a month ago, and Taoist Li said that next year will have abundant rain and will be a good year."
A good year is good news for them, and also for the Tatars on the grassland. If they have enough food, they will not risk their lives in war.
From another perspective, it is also a bad thing, because the population on the grassland will continue to grow, and if this trend continues, there will be a day when it will not be able to support such a large population.
King Qi looked over the map of the Great Zhou Dynasty. In the final analysis, the Great Zhou Dynasty was not strong enough, and Zhou Xuan was no good!
King Qi's eyes finally fell on Yanzhou and Liaodong. Since Zhou Xuan was not capable, then he would do it.
King Qi kept his advisers until mid-afternoon before letting them go. When the advisers left, Liu Zhong personally saw them out and prepared a gift for each of them. The advisers all thanked him with a smile, accepted the gifts and left.
Prince Qi returned to the main courtyard. Gu Youan smiled and glanced at him, "Why? Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. What difficult matter is there that requires you to stay here to discuss it?"
Prince Qi smiled and said, "It's indeed a difficult matter, but it's not urgent. If the situation stabilizes, it can be done in a few years."
"What if the situation is unstable?"
Prince Qi took the scroll from her hand, picked up her teacup and took a sip, then put it down and said slowly, "If the situation is unstable, we must cut the Gordian knot quickly."
Gu Youan lowered her eyes in thought, but he came over to disturb her, touched her hair, and asked with a smile: "There are only two of us in our family. Are you going to your father-in-law and mother-in-law's house for New Year's Eve tomorrow?"
She gently held his hand and said with a smile, "No need, just come back to my parents' home with me on the second day of the New Year."
"I'll do as you say."
Since his mother's death, although he had countless servants around him, they were not his family after all. He was alone during the New Year, and he had long lost interest in celebrating the New Year. It made no difference to him whether he celebrated it or not, or where he celebrated it.
Gu Youan disagreed with his idea. Festivals like the New Year should be taken seriously. It is rare to have a rest throughout the year, so one should indulge oneself and have some fun, right?
Prince Qi had no demands or expectations, but Gu Youan did. The next morning, New Year's Eve, Gu Youan looked at the menu and tried several dishes for lunch. If a dish didn't suit her taste or the side dishes she didn't like, she would find fault.
Gu Youan wasn't picky herself, she also kept asking Zhou Qi if he liked it. Zhou Qi got impatient and opened his mouth after a few more words. Gu Youan said to him: "You left three days after we got married. You came back after such a long time. I don't even know what you like to eat. Aren't we too unfamiliar with each other?"
Prince Qi regained his spirits and said with a smile, "You are right. What other dishes do you want to try? Bring them all here."
Gu Youan was satisfied and asked people to continue serving dishes. After trying various flavors, Gu Youan found that he liked salty and fresh tastes, did not like the fishy smell of the sea, liked to eat meat, and did not like vegetables.
Gu Youan stared at his face, and Prince Qi asked with a smile, "What are you looking at?"
Gu Youan sighed softly: "God really favors you. With your lifestyle, your face is so clean and you don't even have a single pimple."
King Qi was very happy to be praised.
The couple chatted and laughed for a while, and today's food tasting was over.
The results of the food tasting were remarkable. The chefs in the mansion knew the master's likes and dislikes better, and the banquets they prepared were more to the master's taste.
About half an hour after the banquet in the main courtyard was served, people from all over the mansion and the busy kitchen picked up their wine glasses and started eating and drinking. At that time, Liu Zhong, the chief steward, received the order from the princess to give a reward to the chef who prepared the New Year's Eve dinner today.
The chief steward, Zhang Er, grinned from ear to ear and stood up, shouting, "Everyone, come and thank the master for the reward."
"Hey, here I come."
"Hahaha, we've received several rewards since the princess came into the mansion. I didn't expect to get another one tonight."
"Thank you for the reward, Masters!"
Everybody was smiling and chattering, and thanking for the reward very sincerely.
That's right. The prince didn't spend much time in the mansion before. Even when he was there, he didn't care about food and clothing. They did their job seriously, and they only received rewards together with the people in the mansion during festivals. They didn't get any special rewards.
It’s different when the princess comes. If you do well, you will naturally be valued and receive extra rewards.
Not only the people in the kitchen, but also the embroiderers, the coachmen in the stables, the farmers on the farms, and the guards who often accompanied Gu Youan when he went out, many people had a good New Year this year.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, the couple didn't want anyone to accompany them. Prince Qi held a lantern and the couple went for a walk under the corridor to help digest the food. Hearing the lively laughter from all over the mansion, Prince Qi felt at ease.
"Thank you for your trouble."
"You're welcome. The Prince Qi's Mansion is yours as well as mine. If you manage these little things well, we can all live more comfortably."
For her, managing these affairs in the mansion doesn't take much effort and is a piece of cake.
The couple held hands and spent the new year happily.
The sound of firecrackers outside the gate added to the liveliness of the mansion. Liu Zhong, Xu Zhi, Xiaoyue, Xiaoju and other personal servants who had been following closely all came over with a smile to wish their master a happy new year.
The sound of firecrackers rang out inside and outside the mansion. The New Year had arrived, and it was the eighth year of Ruixing.
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