Fei Peng's face flushed red. She sat down awkwardly, unsure of what to do with her hands. "Yes, thank you, Princess."
"Uncle Fu, is there anything you need to do these days?" Zhao Shu thought to herself, "It's only been a few days, I'm afraid he hasn't made any arrangements yet."
As expected, Fei Peng said, "Not yet."
"Very well, since your brother says you're good at mental arithmetic, then help this princess look at the account books. You can look at these account books first, and come to me if you have any questions. If you pass the test, you can work as an accountant in the manor from now on, how about that?"
Zhao Shu stared intently into Fei Peng's eyes, which were filled with helplessness, confusion, and a glimmer of hope.
He felt uncomfortable under Zhao Shu's gaze, and stammered, "I...I don't know, is it necessary to sign another indenture?"
“Since you entered this manor as a soldier, you are naturally one of us. However, since we're talking about indentures…” She thought for a moment, then suddenly decided not to continue. “Let’s talk about it another day.”
“Yes.” Fei Peng was born into a wealthy family and used to live the life of a young master, but now his family has fallen on hard times and he works as an accountant in the mansion. The bitterness in his heart is something that no one can understand. Zhao Shu smiled to herself, thinking how unpredictable life is.
Just like the women in the palace.
Two days have passed, and Zhao Shu has not made any special inquiries about the palace. The Crown Prince has also not visited the Prince Yong's residence again, so it is possible that he has already left the capital.
After giving the ledger to Fei Peng, Zhao Shu went directly to the training ground.
Those who followed him included Uncle Fu, Xiao Guozi, Xiao Zhuzi, Green Luo, and the six maids.
The group consisted of ten people, a large and impressive procession.
This configuration is comparable to that of the four imperial concubines in the palace, even surpassing that of a princess.
"Father, are you really not coming?" Zhao Shu asked Uncle Fu.
Uncle Fu was embarrassed, but he dared not show it. It was not easy for the manor to have a master who was willing to take charge, and he could not let this master who was willing to take charge lose interest in taking charge.
"Your Highness, the Prince said that Your Highness should handle this matter entirely." He spoke with utmost sincerity.
Recalling that when he went to invite Prince Yong, the prince was playing chess with him, no longer going out to fight crickets, but still not getting involved in anything. When he explained his purpose, Prince Yong didn't even raise his head. "Lord Wei hasn't selected a commander for the imperial guards yet? His efficiency is so low. Tomorrow I will report him. Since it was A-Jun who sent you to invite me, you can tell A-Jun that you can play however you want without informing me. Alright, you can leave now." And then he said nothing more.
Zhao Shu chuckled. It would be better if she didn't participate. Once the military system was implemented, it would definitely cause political turmoil. It would be much more childish for her, a princess, to do it than for the emperor's own brother.
Arriving at the training ground, they stood on a high platform made of wooden frames. More than 800 soldiers were already standing neatly below the platform. They had received news early in the morning that the county magistrate was going to dismiss most of them today. At this moment, they looked at Zhao Shu with trepidation and hope, hoping to be spared.
He took out a list and handed it to Xiao Guozi. Xiao Guozi understood and, in his high-pitched, shrill voice, said, "Those whose names are called next, stand on the right."
"Moqin."
"Yes." A middle-aged man in his forties stepped out from the crowd. He was of medium build, with a dark complexion and eyes as bright as an eagle soaring in the sky.
When everyone saw that Mo Qin, who was over forty years old, was able to stay, their hearts were filled with hope.
After Mo Qin stepped forward, Xiao Guozi continued reading, "Yang Ergou."
"Yes." Yang Ergou was an honest and simple young man of eighteen or nineteen. Hearing his name, he smiled shyly and stood next to Mo Qin.
"Zhou Jiagui, Wang Tieniu, Wu Liang, Zhang Liu, Huo Sanlang, Guo Chu, Yang Jun, Zhang Haishan, Gao Dan..."
Soon all two hundred people stood on the right side; these two hundred people were relatively young.
The more than 600 soldiers who had not been called stared intently at Zhao Shu, hoping that the princess would speak up and allow them to stay.
The two hundred selected men all looked delighted. They had heard that those who could stay after the reduction of the garrison soldiers would receive a monthly salary of five taels of silver, a job that was hard to find anywhere else.
Before they had to wait long, Xiao Guozi said, "Those of you who were not chosen to stay, don't be discouraged. The Prince and the Princess will never abandon you, and they will never kick you out of the palace like this."
He spoke for a long time, his throat was a little dry, he swallowed his saliva, and then said: "For those who were not chosen to stay, there are two paths. First, the princess will give each of you two hundred taels of silver to help you return home."
Upon hearing that it was two hundred taels, the crowd erupted in excitement. Two hundred taels! That's two hundred taels! None of these people had ever seen two hundred taels in their lives. Two hundred taels could support their entire family back home for several years without worrying about food or clothing.
Unexpectedly, the princess was so generous. Even the elderly veterans were moved to tears. As they grew older, their hearts grew cold.
Going home feels like a burden, but not going home leaves me feeling uneasy. As I get older, who doesn't want to return to their roots? At home, I can enjoy the happiness of having my daughters around me.
However, their years of military service left them with nothing but scars. Their meager military pay was barely enough to buy a few bags of rice for their families, and they couldn't do anything else.
However, they never dreamed that they would receive such a large sum of money in their old age. With this money, they could support a child's education and buy several acres of paddy fields.
"Secondly, the Prince and the Princess will open a shop to do business. You can all work as shop assistants in the shop with your own hands. In addition to a fixed two taels of silver per month, you will also receive a commission."
"I can give you all a day to consider. If you have any questions, you can ask me."
Immediately, the crowd below the stage began to whisper among themselves.
Someone mustered up the courage to ask, "Excuse me, Eunuch Guo, where do the Prince and Princess plan to open a shop?"
"Currently, it's only in Beijing." This means that after establishing a foothold in Beijing, they will open branches in other places.
Upon hearing this, the crowd began to whisper among themselves again.
"Disperse, the princess still has something to say to everyone," Xiao Guozi said, clearing his throat.
Those who weren't selected were also eager to find a place to discuss things with someone they knew.
After bowing, they all withdrew.
After the more than 600 people dispersed, the huge training ground was suddenly empty, and the 200 people placed there suddenly looked much thinner.
Two hundred men were led by Xiao Zhu to stand below the high platform. Zhao Shu then said loudly, "Everyone, if you do not wish to continue serving as guards in the Prince's Mansion, you may choose to leave. I, the Princess, will make this clear today: those who remain in the Prince's Mansion will face only one fate if they are found to have betrayed their master—death! I will also give you one day to consider. Those who do not wish to stay should register with Uncle Fu."
Most of these people are young, with only a handful being older.
Without saying a word, Mo Qin immediately knelt down and said, "Mo Qin, a soldier of the Prince's Palace, swears to serve the Prince's Palace to the death and will never betray his master!"
Zhao Shu smiled. Mo Qin, one of the generals from humble backgrounds in the future army to reduce the power of the princes.
Wei Tingsi's judgment was indeed insightful.
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