Chapter 331: Changshi
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Yuwen Chu smiled happily. Though he didn’t say anything, he gently patted Mingzhu’s back twice, expressing his joy and tenderness. The golden light outlined his face, hair, and half of his body, making him look both heroic and handsome, with a hint of rare gentleness and cuteness.
Looking up at him, Mingzhu couldn’t help but call out, “Your Highness, tonight I want to personally make you a dish of lotus roots in osmanthus honey sauce.”
After being married for so long, it was the first time she had taken the initiative to offer to make something for him. Yuwen Chu felt happy inside but deliberately teased, “Are you just going to watch while others do it?”
Mingzhu panicked, “Who said that? Your Highness loves sweets, so I’ll make these osmanthus honey lotus roots for you, and of course, I’ll make them myself.”
“Okay, I’ll be waiting.” Yuwen Chu smiled and took Mingzhu’s hand, leisurely walking back to the carriage along the embankment.
A steward came up to report, “Cao Jinran has sent a basket of fresh fish, a basket of live crabs, a basket of live shrimp, as well as a basket of wild duck eggs, fresh lotus roots, water chestnuts, and some fresh vegetables.”
“Understood.” Yuwen Chu waved his hand, signaling him to leave, then gently kissed Mingzhu’s lips and rested his head on her thigh, closing his eyes to rest. “Tired, let me lie down.”
The carriage moved steadily forward, the curtains separating the inside and outside into two worlds. Mingzhu looked at Yuwen Chu’s calm and peaceful brows and eyes, feeling lost in thought. This man taught her how to handle people and things. He indulged her so completely, without fearing she might have malicious intentions, and he wasn’t afraid she might turn his mansion into chaos. In this world, aside from her father, brothers, and the Great Empress Dowager, she couldn’t think of anyone who could be more indulgent towards her than him.
The Great Temple’s estate was very large, with over a hundred servants alone, not to mention various other laborers and tenants. It took some time to drive from the gate to the inside. Mingzhu looked at the beautifully crafted courtyard buildings and couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness, was this estate bestowed by the late emperor?”
Back then, Yuwen You was so poor that even if he had two estates, they would still be miserably poor, with no production or income to speak of. The head of the estate often went to the prince’s mansion to cry poverty, which made Yuwen You very unhappy, but he couldn’t do anything about the head of the estate. Now compared to Yuwen Chu’s magnificent estate, it was like heaven and earth.
Yuwen Chu smiled, “Indeed, it was bestowed upon me when I established my mansion by the late emperor. However, at that time, it wasn’t this large, nor did it have so much land. It has been gradually developed over the years, digging canals to bring water, planting trees, fertilizing the soil, and repairing buildings. Slowly, it has become what it is today.”
It was because of good management that they had reached their current scale. Yuwen You must have received some rewards back then. Unfortunately, people are different, and the difference can be huge. Of course, it’s not entirely because he couldn’t manage it. The influence of subordinates and the surrounding environment is also significant. For example, anyone who disliked him or had a grudge with Consort Zhou could easily cause trouble for him with just a gesture to his subordinates. He could only swallow his pride and endure it.
Mingzhu was lost in thought, and before she knew it, the carriage had stopped. As usual, Yuwen Chu got off the carriage first and then turned to help her down. “What are you thinking about? Are you considering how to manage this estate? Don’t worry, I’ll have the head of the estate come over to explain to you in detail when we get back. The people here are very reliable, so you don’t need to spend too much effort. Just check the accounts at the beginning, middle, and end of the year, and ask questions if necessary.”
He wanted to entrust the management of this estate to her? Mingzhu was quite nervous. “What if I can’t handle it?”
“If you can’t handle it, don’t you still have me? Or there’s the Changshi.” Yuwen Chu gestured to the unfamiliar man standing nearby and introduced him with a smile, “Zhou Shuyi, the Changshi of the English Prince’s Mansion. I should have had him come to see you earlier, but he went out on official business a few days ago. He is the most familiar with the affairs of the estate. Tomorrow, I’ll have him explain everything to you.”
Zhou Shuyi smiled and respectfully saluted Mingzhu. “I have seen Wangfei.”
“No need for formalities. You’ll have to work hard in the future, Changshi.” Mingzhu curiously looked at this Changshi of the Ying Wang Mansion, in his thirties with a beard, fair and slender, appearing very amiable and easy to get along with.
Zhou Shuyi smiled shyly and sincerely, “Wangfei, it’s my duty to share the worries of His Highness and Wangfei.”
“You may retire now. You’ve had a long journey. There’s nothing to do tonight, so rest well.” Yuwen Chu’s attitude was very gentle and considerate.
Mingzhu saw this and understood that this person must be very important to Yuwen Chu. His level of trust in him was probably no less than that in Jing Song, let alone compared to someone like Zhu Changsheng. Therefore, there was also a hint of respect on her face. She specially instructed Su Lan, “Prepare an extra portion of the ingredients we brought back today and boil some good wine for Zhou Changshi and Commander Yang.”
Jing Song quickly thanked her together with Zhou Shuyi, and Yuwen Chu jokingly said, “After all, she’s a woman. Wangfei is much more considerate than I am.”
Zhou Shuyi and Jing Song exchanged glances, feeling a bit sour in their hearts. His Highness, Ying Wang, was subtly praising his wife for being considerate and understanding. It seemed that marrying this wife made a difference. But receiving someone’s kindness, one must be grateful. They sincerely thanked Mingzhu again and respectfully saw the couple off inside.
As Mingzhu and Yuwen Chu walked away, Zhou Shuyi shook his head with a smile. “Indeed, happiness brings a refreshed spirit, doesn’t it? His Highness has changed a lot.”
Jing Song sighed. “Isn’t that the truth?”
“I heard Zhu Changsheng is having a run of bad luck?” Zhou Shuyi gestured for Jing Song to follow him to a secluded courtyard, gloating. “I knew this guy would meet misfortune sooner or later. He relied on his early arrival and his connections with the Imperial Consort’s family, always playing tricks. Now he’s finally run into trouble and is only hurting himself.”
Jing Song sighed again. “Stop talking about it. His accounts are now in my hands, but what does a military officer of the Ying Wang Mansion like me have to do with managing finances? Tomorrow I’ll report it to His Highness and have you handle this matter.”
Zhou Shuyi quickly waved his hand. “Please don’t! I’m quite busy.”
Jing Song frowned. “Then what should I do?”
Zhou Shuyi smirked. “You’re tough-skinned, not like me, a scholarly type. Who else should handle it if not you?” He then playfully punched Jing Song’s shoulder and chuckled, “But you’re not as stupid as Zhu Changsheng, and the way Wangfei treats you seems quite polite.”
Jing Song smiled and whispered, “How did your silk trading trip to Jiangnan go?”
Zhou Shuyi grinned broadly. “It was quite profitable. His Highness’s private treasury will be enriched once again.”
Jing Song smiled joyfully. “Then there’s progress with setting up the horse ranch, right?” With money, horses, and good weapons, coupled with gradually expanding connections, they would be unstoppable one day.
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