The two of them quickly lowered their heads upon catching a glimpse of the look in Marquis Mu Houchu’s eyes, answering, "Yes."
Xin He felt an odd atmosphere, sensing something amiss about what was happening, but couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. As she was trying to figure it out, Mu Houchu directly asked the two to retreat.
Upon seeing her slightly frowning brow, Mu Houchu had an inkling of what she was thinking, and casually diverted her thoughts, "I’ve heard that you plan on proposing marriage for Xiao Bei to one of Song Family’s daughters?"
Upon hearing about Xiao Bei’s marriage, Xin He couldn’t help but get excited: "Xiao Bei told me himself that he wanted to marry the sixth daughter of the Song Family. This is the first time he’s ever shown interest in a girl now that he’s grown up. I plan to go propose to the Song Family once he finishes his exams."
Mu Houchu laughed softly, "If you have decided, then there’s no issue in whichever family Xiao Bei chooses to enter. However, at the moment, many noble families in Yu State have their eyes on Xiao Bei’s marriage. Whoever he marries might shift the winds in Yu State."
Currently, Prince Pingyang does not have a direct heir, and the only princess was just five years old, far from a marriageable age. Hence, this nephew of the Pingyang Prince had garnered a lot of attention. Moreover, the Princess cherished this little brother who was grown up in the royal mansion, which alone made him irreplaceably valuable by comparison
Since Prince Pingyang did not take any concubines, the best way to curry favor with him was naturally through Xiao Bei. Until today, many noble families were hopeful that they could offer their daughters as a match, and Xin He knew about all this.
Take for example Ah Guai’s last birthday banquet; many noble wives hinted to Xin He for information about Xiao Bei’s marriage. Those people were probably more concerned about Xiao Bei’s marriage than Xin He herself.
Upon hearing what Mu Houchu had to say about this, Xin He rubbed her temple in resignations: "Indeed, every single noble family in Yu State is eagerly looking forward to Xiao Bei’s marriage. In fact, many have approached me for details."
Unfortunately, once you’re in a certain position, though you might not want to get involved, you will be pushed to anyways. You can’t escape it.
In this noble circle where power is a priority, arranged marriages are an ordinary affair. Children of prominent families do not have the right to choose their marriage, as it is often a major exchange of interests. Thus, who Xiao Bei marries now won’t be seen as simply his choice, but rather an indication of which family the Pingyang Prince Mansion is about to get close to.
Over the years, there has been a significant reshuffle in Yu State and it’s still not clear which family is the foremost. The Song family did hold that position, but after several setbacks in recent years and the failure of Song Yalin’s marriage to the Great Prince, the Song family began to fade. The Main Branch of the Song Family was indeed thriving, but they were based in the capital, leaving Yu State without much news of them.
This has led to many noble families eyeing Mu Houchu, eagerly wanting to align with him and strengthen their own family’s power and position.
After which, Xiao Bei’s marriage became overwhelmingly important.
After some contemplation, Xin He firmly declared, "Regardless, I will not interfere with extra thoughts in Xiao Bei’s marriage. Choosing a girl from the Song family is not about choosing the Song family itself. I promised him that he could choose his marriage, so naturally I won’t worry about those intricate family interests."
Mu Houchu nodded, "Since Xiao Bei has chosen the sixth Miss of the Song family, there is no problem with this marriage. However, others might not have the same perspective as you concerning this marriage and the intertwining family interests. You will need to carefully handle some matters."
Of course, Xin He understood his meaning, "Yes, I understand."
Currently, Mu Houchu truly had no intention to associate with the Song family of Yu State. He viewed the Song family of Yu State as an empty shell, which has become increasingly declining due to various reasons. The long-term and future prospects are not worth considering.
— —
Early the next morning, Lai Fu and Li Saner were already waiting respectfully outside the door.
Upon seeing them, Xin He couldn’t help but laugh, "You two are quite eager. Considering how you’ve been traveling for half a month to get to Yu State, wouldn’t you want some rest?"
Lai Fu chuckled response, "If the master doesn’t rest, how dare we slack off? Although we were supposedly on the road for half a month, it felt more like a leisure trip. We haven’t done any actual work in so long that it’s making us dull. Since there are not many people around you who are familiar with your work, we naturally can’t stand idly by."
Xin He smiled, "You’re just as slick-tongued as you used to be. Alright, since you are so eager, let’s start by understanding the situation at the Winding Pavilion and the Full Flower Tower."
Lai Fu and Li Saner were two of the people who had helped Xin He set up business in the capital city. Due to their significant contributions, Xin He was able establish Qinghe Small Shop in the capital city and rapidly dominate the grape wine market over these six years. Xin He was well aware of their abilities. Now that they had come, she could finally start delegating tasks.
"Yes!"
Xin He, along with them, visited the Full Flower Tower and the Winding Pavilion in succession, letting Manager Jin and Madam Chen brief them about the business environment. They would soon be acting like Xiaoyu, working directly with Xin He. As the silent owner of many businesses in Yu State, it was not suitable for Xin He to be handling front-facing matters. All these years, these chores had been taken care of by Xiaoyu, the only one she trusted.
The workload was considerable, but Xiaoyu, being hard-working and intelligent, was able to manage. Now that Xin He had two more helpers, they could share some of his burdens, allowing him to focus more on his studies.
Privately, Xin He had always hoped that Xiaoyu would take the path of becoming a civil servant. Whether it was for Xiao Bei or Xiaoyu, she only wished them the best for their future.
"The goods in The Winding Pavilion come from various sources. Precious brocades and silk artworks are transported via canals from Jiangnan while lower-grade fabrics are acquired directly from the Da Xiu Zhuang in the prefecture city, which is just a carriage ride away. The most unique item is the lace made by our own workshop..." Manager Jin, in a matter-of-fact tone, briefed Lai Fu and Li Saner on the workings of The Winding Pavilion.
Xin He was leisurely drinking tea and listening in.
Suddenly Xiaoyu rushed in, whispering something into Xin He’s ear which instantly changed her expression.
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