Chapter 13 (Revised)
Since she had taken over the task of arranging the Eastern Palace, Chu Miaomiao decided to do a good job. Perhaps if the prince was satisfied and happy, their past grievances could be put to rest smoothly.
With the help of the Prince's steward, the energetic Chu Miaomiao arranged for the palace maids to clean and decorate the place, and also selected some palace decorations according to Wei Zhen's preferences and tastes. In addition, with the New Year approaching and the palace maids working hard, the steward also helped Chu Miaomiao prepare silver for the New Year rewards for the palace maids.
Although it wasn't a big deal, these trivial matters still made Chu Miaomiao, who didn't often deal with household chores, feel exhausted. When the smiling housekeeper told her that it was time to call it a day, she breathed a long sigh of relief, her heart leaping with joy, and she just wanted to go back home and have a good night's sleep.
Just as she thanked Jia Ling for his help over the past few days and was about to leave, Wei Zhen came back, and with him came the second thing that was waiting for Chu Miaomiao.
"Preparing New Year gifts for the ministers?" Upon hearing this, Chu Miaomiao's first reaction was to refuse repeatedly, "No, no, I can't do this."
"You haven't tried it, how do you know you can't do it?" In comparison, Wei Zhen was much calmer.
"I'm not from the Eastern Palace, so I have no obligation to do this, right?" Chu Miaomiao frowned. "Besides, I just arrived in Beijing and know nothing about the ministers' situation. How can I prepare?"
The most important reason Chu Miaomiao didn't dare to say out loud was that this matter was given by the saint. If it was done well, everyone would be happy. If it wasn't done well, she would be the one to be pushed out and take the blame. She wasn't that stupid!
Wei Zhen also had his own thoughts on the preparation of the New Year's ceremonies instructed by the sage.
To show appreciation for the hard work of officials throughout the year, the imperial court would distribute rewards at the end of each year. Provincial officials were responsible for annual gifts, while the Ministry of Rites prepared gifts for ordinary officials in the capital. The sage personally determined the gifts for important officials and noble families.
The annual gift rewards are personally selected and decided by the Sage and Prince Yu every year. Although it is not a big deal, it is also part of the supreme imperial power.
The saint's action was both an expression of trust in him and a test of him.
Wei Zhen thought about it again and again and felt that Chu Miaomiao was a more suitable candidate than Jialing.
Chu Miaomiao had just arrived in the capital and was unfamiliar with its connections. If she performed well, she might receive praise from the sage, which would also help her precarious reputation. If something went wrong, she would have a perfect excuse to stand in her way. Regardless of the outcome, as someone solely responsible for issuing orders, she wouldn't be significantly affected.
"You don't have to worry too much about this matter. Jia Ling will help you."
Chu Miaomiao still shook her head and refused.
"No, I really can't do it. First, I'm not familiar with the various households in the capital, and second, I don't know the dynamics of the court. Although there are precedents to refer to when preparing New Year's gifts, I also have to consider whether there are subtle differences in the ceremonies of each government office. As for the balance between these, I really have no experience and I'm afraid it will be difficult to grasp."
I didn't expect that after not seeing each other for a few days, Chu Miaomiao started to think about things.
Wei Zhen was slightly surprised, then showed some interest in her words and asked, "You said there is a difference? What do you think?"
Hearing Wei Zhen's question, Chu Miaomiao looked puzzled. Could it be that the intelligent Crown Prince didn't understand such a simple thing?
She had no choice but to explain, "Of course there are. Some people work diligently for the court for a year, while others slack off. If we give them the same New Year gifts, wouldn't that discourage those who work hard and indirectly encourage those who slack off?"
Isn't this the same method her mother used to punish her subordinates? Although she hadn't seriously learned from her mother how to manage the affairs of the palace, she had seen enough to understand some of the principles.
Wei Zhen smiled, and a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes, which were always as calm as an ancient pond.
This child is truly teachable.
"Look, aren't your thoughts very clear? I'm relieved to leave this matter to you."
Although Wei Zhen's tone was calm, it also revealed a majesty that could not be refused: "If you don't have confidence, besides the family leader, I will find someone else to help you."
Chu Miaomiao was speechless, so her words were in vain just now, right?
"If you want me to move on from the Pingzhou incident, shouldn't the princess be more sincere?"
“…”
Chu Miaomiao really wished she could go back to the time when she first met Wei Zhen to stop herself from making the mistake that caused her to be precisely controlled at all times.
I, who thought Wei Zhen was a sucker, am the real sucker!
Although she had many complaints about this arrangement, Chu Miaomiao tried hard to suppress her resentment and immediately immersed herself in the trivial matters of preparing the New Year gifts.
Wei Zhen said he would find help for her, and he showed up the next day. It was none other than Princess Yukang, Wei Zhen.
Chu Miaomiao had vaguely heard some rumors about Princess Yukang when she was in Pingzhou.
What people talked about the most was that although this princess was a woman, she had a burly figure. She could easily fight ten burly men alone. She was like a man-eating yaksha.
Now that she had met Wei Yu in person, Chu Miaomiao once again realized how outrageous the rumors were. She was simply a beautiful, slender girl! It was just that her expression was a little cold, not like a demon at all!
This was also the first time Wei Yan met Chu Miaomiao.
The girl before him had a bright and beautiful face, like a begonia under the bright sunlight, extremely beautiful. Her clear almond eyes held a hint of curiosity, and it seemed that she was also observing her carefully.
This is the girl who made the prince fall in love with her.
"This is Princess Pingyang, and this is Princess Yukang." After a brief introduction, Wei Zhen said to Chu Miaomiao, "Yukang is more familiar with the situation in the capital, she may be able to help you."
Chu Miaomiao looked at Wei Yan with a hint of gratitude in her eyes: "Then I'll trouble Princess Yukang."
Wei Yu simply nodded, then asked Wei Zhen, "Will this year's gift come from the Saint's private treasury or the Eastern Palace's Treasury?"
"Eastern Palace Treasury."
Wei Yan then looked at Chu Miaomiao: "Does Princess Pingyang have any ideas?"
Chu Miaomiao glanced at Wei Zhen and boldly expressed her thoughts: "I want to see the performance evaluation results of these officials this year."
Chu Miaomiao received several surprised glances as soon as she said this. Not only Wei Zhen and Wei Yan, but even the attendants, the Crown Prince's Household Manager and Chu He, looked at her in shock.
"That's a bit too much, isn't it..."
Wei Zhen was speechless: "More than that."
According to tradition, officials of the Yong Dynasty, regardless of their rank, underwent a minor examination annually to determine their rank. At the end of their term, they underwent another major examination, which determined promotions, demotions, rewards, and punishments based on their rank. All examination records were compiled and archived in the Ministry of Personnel's Examination and Reward Office.
Retrieving the examination records wasn't a difficult task for Wei Zhen, but the person who was supposed to be reading them wasn't the right person. After all, Chu Miaomiao's father had long harbored rebellious intentions towards the court, and Wei Zhen wasn't sure if she was involved.
Wei Zhen was a little hesitant, but when he met Chu Miaomiao's bright and clear black eyes and saw her slightly embarrassed expression, he felt an indescribable feeling in his heart.
As the saying goes, "Trust the people you employ, and don't employ the people you don't trust." He entrusted the task of preparing the New Year gifts to Chu Miaomiao. No matter how she planned to do it, he should choose to trust her.
Wei Zhen nodded immediately: "I will explain the situation to the Ministry of Personnel. You and Yu Kang can go there with my seal when needed." As he said that, he took off the purse on his waist, took out a black jade seal and handed it to Chu Miaomiao.
"Oh, thank you, Your Highness."
Chu Miaomiao, who thought Wei Zhen would refuse, was instead shocked by his straightforward promise. She took the seal and thanked him in a daze.
So the prince is such an easy-going person?
Wei Xun, who had been silent the whole time, looked at Wei Zhen with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
Although she wasn't particularly close to Wei Zhen, she knew him to be a man of principle. Princess Pingyang wasn't a court official, yet her request to review the examination records of the most important officials and nobles in the capital was truly presumptuous. Normally, Wei Zhen would never have agreed, but today, not only did she agree, but she did so with such gusto.
You have to know that if this matter were to reach the ears of the Saint, he would be the one to be blamed and punished. This is not simply a matter of worldly desire, it is simply biased.
Wei Yan complained silently in his heart.
With Wei Zhen's permission, Chu Miaomiao seemed encouraged and became more motivated.
She first instructed the Imperial Household and Treasury Director to review this year's gift list based on the list of rewards bestowed by His Majesty over the previous three years, and to prepare a draft. Then, under Wei Xuan's guidance, they went to the Ministry of Personnel's Examination and Reward Office to review the examination books. After reviewing their achievements and grades for the year, they made additions and deletions to the draft.
In order to get this matter done as quickly as possible, Chu Miaomiao went out early and came back late for several days, and stayed in the file library of the Ministry of Examination with Wei Yan from morning to night, buried in the files.
Immersing oneself in something with full concentration seemed a little unfamiliar to Chu Miaomiao.
Perhaps it's because he's been a playboy for too long and is used to spending his time having fun, so it's hard for him to regain the patience to do things.
Before becoming a hopeless playboy, Chu Miaomiao was a child who worked hard at her mother's request, hoping her mother would pay her more attention. She diligently studied calligraphy, needlework, and embroidery. However, these efforts failed to earn her mother's attention; instead, she was met with indifference.
Because he was a trustworthy child, she didn't have to worry about him too much. To her mother, her sick brother was the most important thing.
Maybe if she was a terrible child, her father and mother would see her.
Wei Yan noticed that Chu Miaomiao's writing had stopped, and thinking that she was tired, he said, "Take a break."
Chu Miaomiao shook her head, trying to get rid of those dark emotions in her mind: "It's okay, let's continue. Whose family is next?"
Wei Yan looked at the list, a look of disdain on his face: "Anchang Marquis' Mansion."
"Oh~ It must be Bai Xiaochen's house."
Chu Miaomiao was about to get up and look for the relevant files when Wei Yan stopped her: "No need. The rewards from the Anchang Marquis' Mansion remain the same, no changes are needed."
"Okay. Next."
Wei Yan raised his eyebrows slightly: "You trust me so much?"
"Yes." Chu Miaomiao nodded, thinking it was a matter of course. "Since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked you to help me, he must trust you very much. Why should I doubt you?"
Hearing this, Wei Zhen suddenly laughed out loud, his expression became warmer, and the cold aura that made people retreat gradually dissipated.
"No wonder, no wonder the prince treats you differently."
The longer you live in a world of calculation and calculation, the more you will feel the value of those with pure minds in this world.
Wei Zhen was chosen as the heir after a series of eliminations, a process inevitably characterized by mutual scheming. Those with a strong sense of purpose are naturally drawn to those with pure intentions. What seemed like common sense to Princess Pingyang was unbelievable to people like them.
"Um, I think you have some misunderstandings."
"After you left Yiheju that day, the people left behind by the Crown Prince wrote down the names and backgrounds of those playboys one by one. Among them was Bai Xiaochen from the Anchang Marquis's Mansion."
Chu Miaomiao was shocked: "You, how do you know I've been there! How did you know that!" It's over, it's over. This matter has reached the ears of Princess Yukang. Does that mean that this matter has spread all over the city?
"Don't worry." Wei Yan soothed him, "I know about this because the Crown Prince gave me a mission."
Why does the prince like to assign tasks to others? Chu Miaomiao complained inwardly and asked again, "What task?"
"A mission about you." Wei Zhen looked directly at Chu Miaomiao, his eyes sparkling.
"I?"
"Bai Xiaochen is considered my cousin. The prince asked me to teach him to keep his mouth shut. If there is even a rumor about you in the capital, he will not be able to escape."
Chu Miaomiao was stunned. She didn't know that Wei Zhen had done such a thing for her behind her back.
"They said they wanted me to help you prepare the New Year gifts, but in reality, they wanted me to cover the losses. If anything goes wrong, and the Saint blames me, I'll be the one who takes the blame. With my father and the Queen protecting me, I'll just get a few scoldings, and it won't be your fault."
Chu Miaomiao was somewhat moved: "He..."
"The Crown Prince may seem unkind, but he's actually quite thoughtful." Wei Yan sighed, "But this thoughtfulness only applies to you."
*
After nearly half a month of hard work, Chu Miaomiao finally handed a prepared gift list to Wei Zhen. She secretly observed Wei Zhen's expression and saw a slight smile on his lips, which made her feel a little proud.
Chu Miaomiao is also reliable in doing things!
"Very good. I will submit it to His Majesty for review tomorrow." Wei Zhen looked at Chu Miaomiao with admiration. "Your Highness, you have worked hard during this period."
It was a rare occasion for Chu Miaomiao to be praised. She scratched her head awkwardly, "Your Highness, you are too polite. As for the matter of Pingzhou City—"
Wei Zhen met that hopeful gaze and smiled faintly, "Since the princess is so sincere, if I continue to dwell on this matter, it will only make me look petty."
Chu Miaomiao didn't show it on her face, but she was already in a state of panic inside.
"It's just that I was inexplicably kidnapped and then abandoned. The resentment and grievance in my heart are hard to let go."
Chu Miaomiao was stunned: "Huh?"
"Why don't you do two or three more things for me first?"
"So is it two things or three things?"
Wei Zhen smiled without saying anything. Chu Miaomiao knew that the conversation was over.
At this time, Chu Miaomiao, who had lost her spirit and had dull eyes, moved out of Wei Zhen's study step by step.
She wanted to take back all her previous gratitude to the prince, and write four big words on his forehead again - vengeful villain!
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