"Baoqin, quickly go and tell the stables to prepare the horses. I'm going out, leaving the Thirteenth Mansion." Lanqin said while eating breakfast. "Sihua, go and tell Master Niu to prepare so that we can leave the mansion together."
Cui Niang was outside instructing the maids to bury the coal ash that had burned through the night before into the flower bed when she heard Lan Qin's voice. She immediately gave them a few more instructions and then came in with a cloak.
"My lady, the weather is nice today. I've ordered my servants to take all the clothes out of your closet and chests and air them out," said Cui Niang.
"Hmm. Okay. Aunt Cui, what is your brother-in-law doing?" Lanqin suddenly remembered Li Wei's younger brother, who seemed to have failed the imperial examinations in the autumn.
"He's currently unemployed at home, saying he'll prepare for another two years before taking the exam again." A hint of worry flashed in Cui Niang's eyes as she spoke of her younger brother-in-law.
“Cui Niang, why don’t you bring him to the manor another day so I can take a look? If he’s suitable, I’ll find him a job so he can support himself and won’t have to rely on the imperial examinations. If he’s truly not cut out for it, and forcing himself to work won’t yield results, then we might as well try another path!” Lanqin said. Last time she visited the Li family, Lanqin had met Old Madam Li. Aside from being somewhat protective of her youngest son, there was nothing particularly noteworthy about her; she was a normal old lady in feudal society. Although she didn’t particularly like her daughter-in-law, she was still quite reasonable. Li Chuang seemed taciturn, and Lanqin hadn’t paid him much attention.
"Master, you've helped me so many times already. I can't trouble you any more." Cui Niang was touched to see Lan Qin wanting to take care of her brother-in-law's affairs, but her attitude was firm.
“This isn’t trouble, it’s making the best use of resources. What’s the point of your brother-in-law staying home all day? Why not find something suitable for him to do to distract him? If your brother-in-law’s problem is solved, your mother-in-law will be relieved,” Lanqin said.
"Master!" Tears welled up in Cui Niang's eyes.
"Cui Niang, your mistress is about to embark on a major undertaking and needs the right people to help me. Would you mind helping me out?" Lan Qin said with a smile. That's just the kind of person she is; if someone treats her well, she'll treat them even better.
Finally, Cui Niang smiled through her tears and said, "Then I will bring him over tomorrow so that Master can take a look at him."
Lanqin nodded, finished her breakfast immediately, then put on the cotton shawl in Cui Niang's hand, and together with Si Hua and Shui Ling, they got into the carriage and headed to the Thirteenth Mansion.
Lady Zhaojia has already selected the people. In the past two days, she has once again reorganized the entire Thirteen Mansions, selling off a group of those who were unreliable and cunning. This immediately invigorated all the servants and princesses in the Prince's Mansion.
At this moment, Lady Zhaojia was sitting in her main room, with the Thirteenth Prince's two concubines sitting below her—his only two concubines. The Thirteenth Prince was probably the prince with the fewest concubines, second only to the Eighth Prince.
Sitting on the left is Madam Yang, the only princess born to the Thirteenth Prince; sitting on the right is Madam Qi, once one of the Thirteenth Prince's favorite princesses. Now, the Thirteenth Prince has been confined to the Bee-Raising Alley for six years, and the three women who were once as beautiful as flowers are now all in their early twenties. The two princesses' eyes are lifeless; they are like flowers deprived of rain, drooping and listless, as if their former charm and beauty are now unbearable memories.
"Did you both hear me clearly? What I'm about to do will alleviate the financial pressure on our Thirteen Mansions. You two need to be on your guard. Yang, from today onwards, I'm entrusting you with all the affairs of the Thirteen Mansions, except for the accounting. If anything goes wrong in the Thirteen Mansions, I will hold you responsible. You, Qi, will help me manage the hot pot restaurant. There's no reason for you to hide behind and enjoy yourself while I'm working so hard." Zhao Jia Shi, abandoning her usual dignified and serene demeanor, spoke solemnly. These words were taught to her by Lan Qin, and this was the first time she had heard them like this, yet she found them surprisingly reasonable.
Yang and Qi were startled and immediately straightened their backs, sitting up straight. Yang, in particular, had always looked down on Zhao Jia, relying on being the thirteenth prince's first woman. Later, after the thirteenth prince's accident, she lost her anchor, and Zhao Jia took over, forcing her to restrain herself. Just now, when she heard Zhao Jia's plan to open a hot pot restaurant, she had only sneered, thinking Zhao Jia was crazy—a woman going into business, especially the emperor's daughter-in-law? It would be a laughingstock. But when Zhao Jia said she was entrusting all the affairs of the thirteenth prince's household to her, all her sarcasm vanished. Seeing Zhao Jia's serious expression, she realized she wasn't crazy or testing her, but genuinely entrusting the affairs of the thirteenth prince's household to her. She couldn't help but feel respect for the thirteenth prince's wife. Because at this time, the thirteenth prince's wife hadn't given up, hadn't given up on rebuilding the thirteenth prince's household.
"Your Highness, are you really entrusting the affairs of the Thirteen Mansions to me?" Madam Yang's voice sounded somewhat weak. She realized that she had just been too petty in her inner mockery of Your Highness.
“Words spoken are like water spilled. Lady Qi heard it too,” Lady Zhaojia said firmly, looking at Lady Yang.
Yang's expression shifted several times before she finally managed to compose herself and said, "Thank you for your trust, Madam. I will definitely reorganize the Thirteenth Mansion. Those servants who don't work hard and serve properly will all be sold off. How can servants ride on their masters' heads?"
Zhao Jia nodded. She knew that she couldn't manage the increasingly decadent Thirteenth Mansion by herself alone. She had to mobilize everyone's efforts, especially the Thirteenth Prince's two concubines. There was no reason for her to shoulder the burden alone while they enjoyed the benefits.
"Qi Shi, what about you? What do you have to say?" Zhao Jia Shi turned her head to look at Qi Shi and asked.
"I... I'll do as you say, Madam. Whatever you ask me to do, I'll do," Qi said cautiously.
“Alright, you’ll work with me in charge. Come over every day and manage the hot pot restaurant with me.” Madam Zhao nodded and said, “From today onwards, the three of us will work together to support the Thirteenth Prince’s residence. No one will be allowed to slack off or take advantage of others. If you want a good life, you have to rely on yourself. The Thirteenth Prince is suffering right now, and we can’t just watch the Thirteenth Prince’s residence decline day by day. We can’t let others look down on us. I believe the Thirteenth Prince will come back. I hope that when he returns, he will see a vibrant and dynamic Thirteenth Prince’s residence.”
Encouraged by Zhao Jia's words, Yang and Qi immediately stood up from their seats, curtsied to Zhao Jia, and said, "We will follow Your Highness's arrangements in everything!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com