Jiang Yuwei looked calmly at the crowd below, not in a hurry to explain, but silently made a mental note of the few troublemaking old women.
Jiang Yuwei couldn't help but suspect their motives for leading the trouble at this critical juncture. She couldn't tell what these leaders were really thinking, so she could only observe them slowly.
Seeing someone take the lead, some of the people below became increasingly noisy. At this moment, Wang Ma came out from behind, glared coldly at the people below, and shouted sharply:
"Shut up, all of you! Are you all blind and deaf? Madam Jiang has already said that she is just a messenger for the Princess. The Princess is still in this courtyard, and you all dare to be so arrogant. Have you all been in charge for too long and want to experience what it's like to be a lowly maid?"
Everyone knew that this old maid, Wang Ma, was a senior servant who had served the princess. Now that she had spoken up, few dared to cause any more trouble.
Only one seemingly arrogant old woman pouted and spoke:
“Wang Ma, it’s not that we servants are disobedient, it’s just that Madam Jiang isn’t from our Wang Mansion. I’m just worried she might gossip and spread rumors. That’s why I…”
Wang Ma glared at her and scolded:
"Li Mama, shut up! It's none of your business to criticize the Princess's decisions!"
Upon hearing this, Granny Li could only shrug her neck and turn her head to the side, muttering under her breath:
"What's so great about it? It's just that she served the princess for a few more years."
Jiang Yuwei stood up and said to everyone:
"I see you have nothing to report to the Princess today, so I will go inside to serve her. You may all leave."
After saying that, he turned to leave.
The people present looked at each other, all of them showing signs of anxiety.
The princess has not managed the affairs of the palace for a long time, and there are still many accounts and matters waiting for her approval. If the princess does not give a reply today, it may cause a major problem.
Just as Jiang Yuwei was about to step into the room, she heard a head maid call out:
"Madam Jiang, I... I have something to report to the Princess!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuwei's lips curled slightly, and she slowly turned around to look at the person who had spoken, asking:
"What's up?"
"Yes, the Prime Minister's residence sent an invitation a few days ago. They are holding a chrysanthemum appreciation banquet tomorrow. In previous years, the Princess Consort would bring Consort Lin to attend this banquet. However, the Princess Consort is not feeling well this year, so I dared not reply rashly. Yesterday, the Prime Minister's residence even sent someone to inquire about it."
Jiang Yuwei nodded.
"Alright, I've got it. I'll go in and report to the Princess in a bit, and then I'll tell you what to do. Just wait outside!"
The old woman breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and nodded hurriedly in agreement.
Seeing this, others also crowded forward and started talking all at once.
"Madam Jiang, these are the household account books for the past few days. Please pass them on to the Princess for review."
"Madam Jiang, yesterday, Concubine Lin said she wanted to get some money from the accounting office to renovate the courtyard, and she also wanted to pick out some presentable decorations from the storeroom."
"The young master brought back a woman from a brothel a few days ago, saying he wanted to take her as a concubine."
...
Jiang Yuwei was already overwhelmed just from keeping track of all the chatter. How could she possibly handle all the affairs that had accumulated over the past few days in just one day?
So Jiang Yuwei waved her hand and said:
"The Princess is still ill and cannot overexert herself. Those who spoke earlier, please stay. The rest of you may leave and come again tomorrow!"
After saying that, Jiang Yuwei went into the inner room without looking back.
She first placed the account book on the table, then found a chair and sat down, carefully considering the matters reported by the group of managers earlier.
In previous years, the Princess Consort would attend the invitation from the Prime Minister's residence. If she doesn't attend this year, those who know her will assume she is unwell, while those who don't might think she is feigning illness to sever ties with the Prime Minister's residence.
If we let Madam Sun bring Xu Qianqian to the event, who knows what kind of trouble they'll cause? We'd better not embarrass the Prince's Mansion.
After thinking it over, Jiang Yuwei decided to have Ning Zixuan make time to go. Even if it was just for a short visit, it would show the attitude of the Prince's Mansion. If he could meet a suitable noble lady at the banquet, he could settle his marriage sooner.
As for the account books handed over by the accountant, I can only look at them myself. I'm afraid I won't be able to figure anything out by just looking at the accounts from the last few days, so I simply asked the accountant to send over the account books from the past few years.
I should take a good look at this myself and learn more about housekeeping. This way, if the power to manage the Prince's mansion falls into my hands in the future and something goes wrong, it's good to get acquainted with it sooner rather than later.
Jiang Yuwei thought of that troublesome Aunt Lin again. It's good enough that you have a courtyard to live in. Even the Princess Consort is not as extravagant as you, wanting to renovate the courtyard. This is definitely not something she can agree to.
Ning Chunlin is also a dishonest man. The princess is still ill, but her son goes out to philander all day long. It's not enough that he married Xu Qianqian, such a troublemaker; he also wants to marry a courtesan. This cannot be allowed to continue.
Jiang Yuwei thought for a moment and decided that it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep this courtesan in the mansion. After all, the Jingwang Mansion was so wealthy and powerful that it wouldn't be short of food. She could just let her stay in the mansion and fight with Sun Shi and Xu Qianqian.
Right now, both he and the princess need to keep a low profile, so the people in the mansion naturally need to be given some work to do, so they won't have the mind to interfere with him and the princess.
Thinking this, Jiang Yuwei casually walked out of the inner room. At this time, the stewards in the front hall were all waiting for Jiang Yuwei to reply. When they saw her come out, they swarmed over to her.
"Let the young master attend the banquet at the Prime Minister's residence tomorrow by himself. You can go and tell him in a little while."
The old woman accepted the order and left happily.
Jiang Yuwei then looked at the accountant.
"The princess has been quite bored lately due to her illness and wants to look through the account books from the past few years. Go and bring them to this Cuiyuan Courtyard. Once the princess has looked at them enough, I will have someone send them back to you."
The accountant was somewhat surprised upon hearing this, scratching his head and muttering to himself:
"I've been an accountant for so many years, and I never knew that reading account books could be a pastime."
Although he was confused, the princess had spoken, and as a servant, he had no reason to disobey. He could only nod to Jiang Yuwei and say:
"Then I will have someone collect the account books and send them over today."
Jiang Yuwei nodded and said:
"Go ahead, don't keep the princess waiting too long."
Upon hearing this, the accountant nodded hurriedly and left.
Jiang Yuwei then looked at the remaining people and said:
"Let's postpone the matter of the eldest young master taking a concubine for now. Just tell him that the princess is still ill and it's not appropriate for her to take a concubine. If this gets out, who knows what people outside will say about our Prince Jing's mansion. Just let him quietly keep that girl in the mansion for now, and we'll make a decision after the princess recovers."
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