After several trials, the cement was finally ready to be used in construction, and by then it was already mid-November.
With the Lunar New Year fast approaching, as the Fourth Prince's wife, although most things are taken care of by those around her, there are still preparations to be made for the New Year.
For example, she personally distributes the reward money. In order to ensure that everyone can have a good New Year, Tong Cheng'er still has to distribute some reward money before the New Year. After a year of hard work, everyone should have a prosperous New Year.
Of course, Tong Cheng'er's personal involvement was limited to some stewards in the mansion. After all, the Fourth Prince's mansion was so large that there were countless servants just for cleaning and sweeping.
Tong Cheng'er is generous. She earned a lot this year, so she gave a lot as well, almost double what she gave in previous years.
Don't think that double isn't much. After Yinzhen was able to earn money himself, he wasn't a stingy person. He was also very generous to the servants in his household. The servants in the Fourth Prince's household already received more silver than the servants in other households. Now that Tong Cheng'er has increased it by nearly double, it can't be any more.
After all, we also have to consider the mentality of the servants in the other residence. If it's too outrageous, and word gets out, wouldn't they all want to come and work for the Fourth Prince's residence?
As the saying goes, "whoever feeds you is your mother," and with the generous financial support, Tong Cheng'er, the Fourth Princess Consort, quickly won the favor of everyone in the household.
Of course, those in the backyard were an exception. Tong Cheng'er only gave more silver to the servants in the mansion. As for Li Shi, Song Shi, Wu Shi, and others, she gave them gifts.
For example, the finest seasonal fabrics, clothes for the season, and porcelain teaware and ornaments that you can't use up but can't sell.
In short, they are all good things, but there is one problem: although these things are very valuable, they are not actually valuable; they are quite good for decorating a place.
Everyone in the household praised the Princess Consort for her magnanimity.
Only a few of the parties involved were so angry that they wanted to tear their handkerchiefs.
They need money to bribe officials!
Song Yuerong was originally a palace maid. In order to enter the Fourth Prince's harem, she spent all her savings, just to take a gamble.
She's succeeded now, but it's completely different from what she expected.
Although the Fourth Prince's household provided monthly stipends to his concubines, those stipends were never enough if they didn't want to be kept in the dark and managed to bribe their way through.
She's short of money right now.
Li and Wu might be in a better position, after all, their family backgrounds were much better than Song Yuerong's. But as good as they were, they entered the mansion as concubines and did not bring any dowry with them, so they were not very well-off.
They all looked forward to the New Year's reward money.
Who knew that the servants in the entire household received nearly double the reward money, not even counting their monthly wages! The rewards were all good things, but for the three of them, it was enough to accumulate some savings.
The clothes were beautiful, but the Fourth Prince didn't see them.
The room is beautifully furnished, but the Fourth Prince can't see it!
In short, it doesn't matter whether they dress up or not if the Fourth Prince doesn't come. But money is different. With money, they might be able to find out some information. It's better than just eating and waiting to die like this!
Tong Cheng'er did not actually mistreat them.
He even specifically instructed people not to neglect them, and that as long as it wasn't excessive, they could eat or wear whatever they wanted within their allotted quota.
But this is not the life they want.
Tong Cheng'er wasn't acting out of kindness; she was just afraid of gossip. After all, she was the only one favored by the emperor, and if rumors spread that she was mistreating the concubines in the mansion, her reputation would be ruined.
It can be done by a few people, anyway, it won't cost much.
Although she had her own considerations, others still didn't understand.
Ru Xue couldn't quite understand Tong Cheng'er's actions.
Ru Xue: "Why do you say that the Fujin sends good things to the courtyards of those people in the backyard? If you ask me, that's a waste of good things."
Ru Xue disliked the women in the backyard.
Seeing this, Rulan was afraid that she would say something inappropriate, so she explained to her: "They are just some material possessions. Even if we don't give them to them, they will just gather dust in the storeroom. If we give them to them, the Fujin will gain a good reputation and avoid being gossiped about. Besides, if you ask me, those girls would love for the Fujin to exchange all the items she sent for silver!"
Ru Xue understood at first, then asked curiously, "Why?"
The princess sent over some really nice things, quite valuable!
"Why would they be unhappy! The things that the Fujin sent are things that they can't break or touch, and they have to treat with respect.
"Oh, I see!"
After the reward money was distributed, the academy began construction before the end of the year.
Tong Cheng'er didn't show up. After all, the academy was located in a relatively remote area on the outskirts of the capital. The academy required students to stay at the academy, so it was quite far from the Fourth Prince's residence. It would be a long and arduous journey, especially in the freezing cold. Tong Cheng'er was impatient with the back-and-forth trip.
She had a clear understanding of her role: to provide the money and the plans, and as for the rest, she'd deal with it later. It was definitely not going to happen in winter.
Under An Linyu's leadership, the academy began construction in an orderly manner, and before long, the year-end was approaching.
Emperor Kangxi's sealing of his brush signifies the end of the year.
As for the New Year's Eve dinner, Tong Cheng'er wanted to have it with Yinzhen at the mansion, but the reality didn't allow it. As a prince, he had to attend the New Year's Eve banquet.
The New Year's Eve banquet in the palace was arranged by Consort Tong and was scheduled for the evening, but she and Yinzhen both entered the palace during the day.
The two first went to pay their respects to Emperor Kangxi, and then they split up. Yinzhen went to the Crown Prince's place, and as was customary, the brothers would go with him.
Tong Cheng'er went to Yonghe Temple to wish her mother-in-law a Happy New Year.
Of course, when Consort Wuya met Tong Cheng'er, the outcome was self-evident: one knowingly walked into danger, while the other happily became the "tiger."
During the Lunar New Year, Tong Cheng'er didn't want to upset her, but Consort Wuya insisted on picking a fight, which made Consort Wuya so angry that her face turned pale.
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