Fan was amused by Yuan Jing's joke. Isn't that right? Xiao Mingrui, the prince of Cheng, is indeed very lucky. Many girls from good families, such as Shuang'er, want to marry him. It is said that the concubine who is still vacant is also being eyed by several families. After all, with the addition of Meng Susu, a master at making money, Xiao Mingrui's chances of rising to the top are even greater.
But in Fan's opinion, even if Xiao Mingrui could finally ascend the throne, this man was not someone she could rely on. If she were to make the choice, she would not marry her daughter into Prince Cheng's mansion, where she would be fighting with the people in the backyard all day long.
Just as Fan thought, in the life in Zhao Han's memory, Fan had never wanted to marry her to Xiao Mingrui as a concubine, but Zhao Dechang had taken a fancy to this potential stock, and Xiao Mingrui asked the palace for an imperial decree to grant the marriage, so the original body had to marry into Prince Cheng's Mansion. The original body's later behavior was actually inseparable from Fan's teachings, otherwise, according to Zhao Dechang's temperament, he would have asked the original body to fight for it.
So as agreed, Fan and Yuan Jingjun did not go to Prince Cheng's Mansion. They only prepared a gift of moderate value and sent it over, which made the dignitaries who were paying attention to Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion and Fan's house laugh. Especially when they saw the unhappy look flashing across Zhao Han's face, they were even more willing to laugh at the joke.
Nowadays, people in the capital have long regarded Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion and Fan Residence as two unrelated mansions. When sending a favor to Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion, a copy will also be sent to Fan Residence. Although on the surface the couple did not go through the divorce procedures, everyone knew that Mrs. Fan would never go back to the Marquis Mansion. She seemed to be living so comfortably outside. With the Grand Princess Mansion and Prince Duan Mansion, Fan did not have to care about other people's opinions at all.
While managing her own business, Fan socialized with other noble ladies and heard about the scene on the third day of the baby's bath from them. Although she was not there in person, she could imagine the scene at that time.
The old lady of the Huaiyuan Marquis's Mansion and Zhao Dechang seemed to have won a comeback and could finally hold their heads high. However, the concubine Meng Susu, who was at the third bathing ceremony, stole all the limelight with her complexion and appearance, as if she was the protagonist of the ceremony that day. It is conceivable that Zhao Han, who had just had a son, would be very angry again when he knew the situation outside.
Fan was now completely relaxed towards Zhao Han and just listened for fun.
Yuan Jing knew even more details. He discovered that Ming Yu had placed more and more people in Prince Cheng's Mansion over the past two years. Even if most of them were only on the periphery, they were able to understand the situation inside Prince Cheng's Mansion well enough.
Since the news of Zhao Han's pregnancy was exposed, he found that Meng Susu put more energy into the harem's quest for favor, and pregnancy was one of the necessary means. How could she not give birth to a son who could continue the family business? Didn't you see that the current emperor needed to adopt a son from the royal family because he couldn't give birth to a son? Is this old emperor really happy? Otherwise, he wouldn't have dragged it on until now.
So Meng Susu used all her skills to entangle Xiao Mingrui, and after a while she finally got pregnant as she wished. This really made Xiao Mingrui enjoy a period of good fortune. Meng Susu, who came from an open modern society, certainly has more tricks in bed than Zhao Han.
After getting pregnant, Meng Susu began to take care of the baby with peace of mind. She didn't notice that she was less and less concerned about the business of Meiyi Pavilion. If those products did not need to be provided by her, she might have completely lost control of Meiyi Pavilion in the end.
She had to take care of her baby, and Xiao Mingrui started going in and out of other concubines' courtyards again, which really made Meng Susu unhappy. She muttered to herself, "If it weren't for the fact that you will become the emperor in the end, who would be willing to compete with others for this public cucumber? It turns out that you can't expect much from men in ancient times. But who says you can't keep a man's heart if you're pregnant?"
Meng Susu rolled her eyes and came up with an idea of how to keep Xiao Mingrui. She told herself that all this was for the future. Only if she could firmly hold Xiao Mingrui's favor could she pave the way for her son. After her son came to power, she would be the most honorable woman in the Zhou Dynasty and could do whatever she wanted then.
So everything we do now is for a better future.
Sure enough, she kept Xiao Mingrui in her yard again that night, and even called for water twice, which made the beauty in Xiao Mingrui's backyard jealous.
Meng Susu, who was in the middle of a situation, didn't realize that her current methods of competing for favor were any different from those of Shuang'er, a woman of the same generation whom she looked down upon?
Yuan Jing found out that the intelligence sent to him even included how many times Xiao Mingrui had called for water at night, and he almost burst into tears. Moreover, after the beginning of Meng Susu, the people in Xiao Mingrui's backyard were even more resourceful, making Xiao Mingrui's nightlife very exciting.
Occasionally, when he met Xiao Mingrui during the day, Yuan Jing couldn't help but pay attention to Xiao Mingrui's face, thinking that with such good fortune and wonderful nightlife, wouldn't Xiao Mingrui's body be exhausted? However, he had to say that the protagonist is the protagonist, at least Xiao Mingrui is in good health now.
Of course when he discovered this, Yuan Jing also reflected on himself. How could he forget that there was Meng Susu? Even if Xiao Mingrui was weak, she could immediately make Xiao Mingrui full of energy again. So, Meng Susu's methods also indirectly benefited other beauties in the backyard?
Yuan Jing was very amused by the gossip in Prince Cheng's mansion. At the same time, he expanded the intelligence system left by Ming Yu and further strengthened the construction of the system, striving to extend its tentacles to every corner of the capital and expand outward.
This made the leader who was in charge of the intelligence system and took orders from Yuan Jing after Mingyu left, initially doubt whether the prince's actions were too emotional. Now, he no longer doubts the methods of Yuan Jing, the doctor. No wonder the prince did not hesitate to hand them all over to Doctor Yuan instead of Prince Duan. I think the prince knows Doctor Yuan's ability best.
"Doctor Yuan, this is an urgent letter sent from the border." Liu Li, the head of the intelligence system, handed a confidential letter to Yuan Jing.
Yuan Jing opened it immediately. Half a year had passed since Ming Yu went to the border. His actions in the past six months were clearly recorded through correspondence. Now the secret letter said that he was going to go to war with the barbarians. Through war he could better control the border.
Therefore, he needed to tell Yuan Jing in advance and let Yuan Jing and Prince Duan's Mansion keep an eye on the logistics of the capital and the public opinion in the court.
After reading the urgent letter, Yuan Jing burned it and ordered: "Everyone, move and send the food and grass prepared during this period to the border in batches."
"Yes, Doctor Yuan, I will never delay the master's important matter!" It finally came, and the subordinates were also very excited.
One caravan after another went northwards. No matter who checked, these caravans were specialized in trading with the north. Privately, the armaments needed for war were constantly concentrated in Xiao Mingyu's hands.
Back when they were in Ningcheng, Jiangnan, Xiao Mingyu also doubted Yuan Jing's intentions, but as they got along year after year, Yuan Jing became the person he trusted the most, no one else. He trusted Yuan Jing more than he trusted his father. The reason why he dared to go to the border was because with Yuan Jing in the capital, he had no worries and could give it a try.
More than a month later, the imperial court received an urgent report from the border. Just half a month ago, the barbarian soldiers suddenly launched an attack on three border towns, including the border town where Xiao Mingyu, the prince of Prince Duan's Mansion, was located. The court was in an uproar, and the capital was also in an uproar.
Why did they start fighting again? Didn't they sign an agreement with the Northern Qi royal court, sending a certain amount of money and goods to the Northern Qi royal court every year, and the two sides would not invade each other. Usually, those barbarian soldiers often gathered around to rob the grass and valleys, and the court turned a blind eye. Anyway, as long as they didn't attack, they could pretend not to see it and continue to sleep soundly.
But what happened this time? Why did the Northern Qi royal court break the agreement between the two parties? There was a quarrel in the court, and some people said that they should send someone to the border to ask the King of Northern Qi what he wanted to do.
The Great Zhou Dynasty had already been frightened by the war that took place in the past. The Northern Qi royal court had strong soldiers and horses, and the army of the Great Zhou Dynasty was no match for them. Everyone felt that it was a very cost-effective thing to exchange silver, money, fine silk and porcelain for the peace of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Could it be that Northern Qi felt that the things they sent were not enough? Should they add more things or what?
There were also faint voices in favor of war, but they were drowned out by the voices of the peace faction. They looked at each other with anxiety in their eyes. Now they could only place their trust in the Prince of Duan who was at the border. They hoped that he could really win a beautiful victory as he said and restore the confidence of the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
The peace faction was in power, and the emperor himself was unwilling to fight, so after several days of arguing, they drafted officials to be sent as envoys to Northern Qi. Since most people were unwilling to deal with the barbaric people of Northern Qi, this task fell on officials who were usually not very useful.
As a result, before the delegation set out, new urgent news, no, news of victory, was delivered to the court.
"What? Prince Xiao led his troops to a victory? How is this possible?"
The Northern Qi army was strong and powerful. How could the old, weak and sick people of the Zhou Dynasty defeat the Northern Qi army? It was simply a fantasy.
Prince Duan was so angry that he jumped up and down: "How can it be impossible? When the old Marquis Yiyong was here, when did the Great Zhou Dynasty become so afraid of the Northern Qi army? Just because you weaklings can't do it doesn't mean my son can't do it either."
While Prince Duan was engaged in a war of words with those officials in the court, Yuan Jing quickly spread the news of the victory at the border among the people. The people were very encouraged. Many people still remembered the war and chaos of those years. The common people did not want to live such a hard life again. They hoped that the old Marquis Yiyong could be reborn to beat back the arrogance of the barbarian soldiers.
"That's great. Prince Duan has spread the prestige of our Great Zhou Dynasty and won a great victory. Prince Duan is the most amazing."
"That's right. The polo team led by Prince Duan was invincible in the capital. It's the same on the battlefield."
"Prince Duan is only thirteen years old and he is so brave. This is God's blessing to the people of Great Zhou."
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