Chapter 171 Nurturing the Appetite of Painting
Shen Wantang chuckled. Du Juan rarely spoke so disrespectfully to Xiao Qingyuan. Today, she must have been furious to be mocking Xiao Qingyuan for being brainless.
"Alright, it's no big deal, just a few clothes. Since the young master has spoken, we can't refuse him."
Shen Wantang said in a calm tone: "I have donated tens of thousands of taels of silver and a lot of grain and cloth to the refugees outside. Naturally, my own maids cannot go cold. Qinxin, go to the clothing storehouse and get four sets of new winter clothes. Send them to Huayi. Remember, make sure they are made of good materials and in colors that Huayi likes. Don't try to fool her."
Qin Xin stamped her foot anxiously: "Princess Consort, you really sent some to Huayi! When the weather first turned cold, the whole mansion had already distributed winter clothes. We head maids each received four sets. Even the eldest daughter of a legitimate family in ordinary families doesn't get such treatment!"
"Now you're going to give her four more sets. Aren't you afraid of spoiling her and making her arrogant? Be careful not to fatten her up and then she turns around and bites you!"
"You're too kind-hearted. If you ask me, you should have refused outright when the young master came to ask for clothes. Otherwise, if he asks for clothes and medicine today, who knows what he'll ask for tomorrow!"
Hearing the maid's earnest voice, Shen Wantang looked up and went outside.
The winter wind was bleak, blowing all the leaves off the tall sycamore tree in the yard, leaving only bare branches swaying.
This reminded her of her previous life.
One winter, her fabric shop was in a very bad business, and the turnover became very slow. At this time, all the managers she had carefully trained resigned.
The already struggling shops were hit with a major setback, and almost all of them went bankrupt that winter.
Later, she learned that her managers had secretly gotten involved with other clients because they paid her ten taels of silver more each month.
She felt both angry and amused; ten taels of silver had almost caused all her shops to close down.
But from then on, she was very willing to pay money to any shopkeeper or waiter she hired, as long as they were truly capable, at prices that no one in the industry could afford.
She would even turn a blind eye to the shopkeeper's secret attempts to make small profits for himself, as long as it didn't affect the overall direction of the shop's operation—for water that is too clear has no fish.
Shen Wantang's gaze became distant, and her voice became exceptionally gentle: "Huayi is my maid, and I was the one who sent her to the Prince's side. I need her to do things, so I can't be stingy. As long as I give her enough, it will be difficult for others to bribe her."
"A person's appetite can indeed grow, but what if I raise her to such an enormous size that no one else can afford to feed her?"
Qin Xin hesitated: "This... if its appetite grows too big, won't it devour its master?"
Shen Wantang smiled and said, "Then that's another way. If she's not afraid of breaking all her teeth, then go ahead and bite."
Qin Xin was still angry: "Anyway, the young master made a special trip for her, there must be something fishy going on here! I was afraid that you would underestimate Huayi and be overshadowed by her again."
Shen Wantang remained composed: "When she came last night, she was indeed dressed in very thin clothes. It's understandable that the young master felt sorry for her."
Qin Xin gritted her teeth: "She must have deliberately worn so little. We've given her winter clothes, but she insisted on wearing thin clothes. First, it's to make her figure look slender and graceful, and second, it's definitely to win the prince's favor!"
Shen Wantang neither nodded nor denied it.
Perhaps the painting was indeed intentional, but this intention was not necessarily directed at her, the Crown Prince's consort.
At least, Huayi is still young and inexperienced, so she wouldn't dare to go against her, the Crown Prince's wife.
Trust those you employ, and don't employ those you don't trust. Shen Wantang chose Huayi not entirely because of her special abilities, but more importantly, because she knew Huayi was intelligent, knew how to conceal her talents, and knew what she wanted.
She didn't believe that Huayi would instigate Xiao Qingyuan to provoke her just because of a few clothes; Huayi wasn't that stupid.
Xiao Qingyuan came today to ask for clothes and ointment for her, but Huayi probably doesn't know that.
Shen Wantang waved her hand at Qin Xin: "No need to say anything more. Go to the clothing store now and get your clothes. The sizes of you are all about the same, so it won't be difficult for the clothing store to take out four sets of ready-made clothes."
"Go ahead, after you get the clothes, send them directly to Xinghe Courtyard. Oh, and bring two more maids with you, make a big show of it, let everyone know that the young master helped Huayi get clothes, and I gave them to her without hesitation."
Qin Xin was initially very angry, but after hearing Shen Wantang's instructions, she was taken aback.
She belatedly realized that the Crown Princess's promise to give Huayi clothes seemed to have a deeper meaning; otherwise, there would have been no need for such a grand send-off.
She didn't know what the Crown Princess was up to, but she was loyal and would do whatever the Crown Princess told her to do, even if she was unwilling.
After she left, Du Juan also sensed that Shen Wantang had other intentions. She hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, should I instruct my servants to make medicine? Should I send it to Huayi?"
This time, Shen Wantang shook her head: "There's no need to send the medicine. We gave enough last night. That's enough for Huayi to use until next year."
It's not that she's completely out of medicine; she naturally keeps all the emergency medications on hand, and she couldn't possibly have given them all to Huayi.
But when Xiao Qingyuan asked for it, she made excuses, only promising to give him clothes, but not the medicine.
Du Juan was a little confused: "Princess Consort, didn't you send clothes to Huayi in such a grand manner? Why didn't you send medicine? Is there any difference between the two?"
Shen Wantang pointed a finger and tapped her head with a smile: "Silly girl, of course there is no difference between the two, but, I can't just rush to give the young master everything he asks for, can I? Wouldn't that make me lose face?"
"Oh, it is a bit embarrassing, but if you want to save face, you can refuse the young master and give him nothing. That way, everyone in the manor will know that you are the one who makes the decisions!"
"You're still being foolish. If I refuse them all, wouldn't the young master lose face? I can't just think of myself and not his."
Du Juan doesn't think much of Xiao Qingyuan these days. She said in a huff, "Why should you care about him? Ever since I married into this family with you, he has never cared about you. I think you don't need to give him any face at all. Anyway, he doesn't know what's good or bad."
Shen Wantang sighed softly: "If I were a princess, I could naturally disregard everyone's feelings, but I am not, so I naturally have to be considerate in my actions. In the end, the Ning Prince's Mansion belongs to the Xiao family, not the Shen family, so we still have to give the young master face."
Being the mistress of the Ning Prince's mansion is not an easy job; she can't just do whatever she wants.
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