CHAPTER 641: [635] QING CHUAN CHENG WANGFEI 4 (2 MORE UPDATES)

"I will, I shall not disappoint Your Highness’s expectations."

Yun Mi thought for a moment, but in the end, he said nothing, just nodded his head and left.

After his departure, Xiyuan looked at the open door, thinking to herself that although Prince Cheng did not like her face, the fact that he entrusted her with the management of the Prince Manor’s domestic affairs today showed he was someone who could take responsibility and also let go when needed. Of course, it could also be seen as a scrutiny of her capabilities.

Only—

"Princess Consort, should we invite Nanny Cheng over?"

Nanny Cheng was the nanny of my aunt, quite adept at handling the world’s affairs. Before marriage, I had learned from her for a while—for instance, how to manage accounts, how to manage servants, and how to employ people. But that was in the past, and now that I am married, how could I use my aunt’s nanny to interfere with the matters of the Prince Manor?

So she looked at Su He, expressionless, "No need, why? Do you all worry that I cannot handle it?"

"No, that’s not it, Princess Consort, please forgive me," Su He hurriedly knelt down upon seeing the displeasure on Xiyuan’s face.

"Alright, there’s no need to mention this matter again. I have my own plans. However, you mentioned earlier that he has a few concubines, right?"

"Three concubines, and one concubine. Because you were unwell today, they were stopped by our servants when they came."

To my knowledge, Yun Mi has one wife, two concubines, and one concubine on record. Although there is only one registered concubine and she is someone with a bit of status, the number of other concubines that are hidden away is not clear, but there must be at least three or four, right?

It seems this man is indeed surrounded by a host of wives and concubines!

But since I was born in ancient times and have entered a powerful household, to expect to gain exclusive affection due to this honor is impossible. Thus, if my husband is decent to me in the future, I shall cope with it. But if he treats me with cold disdain, I think it wouldn’t be bad to live a lifetime safeguarding this power and wealth.

However, in history, Mrs. Wuya had a good life; she bore Prince Cheng six daughters and one son, but only three survived to adulthood. The legitimate son inherited the title. It is worth noting that Yun Mi only had a total of seven daughters and four sons, but Mrs. Wuya accounted for seven of them, which is sufficient to show the importance Yun Mi placed on his wife.

Since she could fare so well on her looks alone, Xiyuan felt she had no reason to do worse than her.

Although it’s not a good start, who can tell the future?

"Let it be known, there’s no need for Mrs. Yang (the concubine) to come pay respects tomorrow (concubines do not have the privileges to pay respects),"

At a time when newlyweds should be endearing, Prince Cheng chose to sleep in his own courtyard, which was also a sign of his dissatisfaction with me, his wife. Although he did not go to Mrs. Yang’s place, I also did not want a beautiful concubine before my eyes, so I preferred out of sight, out of mind.

Yun Mi had not mentioned going to Yuanming Garden to pay respects tomorrow, presumably because he saw the bandages around my head. With my condition, it would take at least three to five days to heal, which meant I might also miss the three-day return visit to my parent’s home.

After all, having an injury on the head is a disgrace, both for the Prince Manor and Shangshu Mansion.

I was still pondering how to deal with this when the next day, Nanny Liu from my legitimate mother’s side came to inquire about my injury, and then she spoke on my mother’s behalf.

"The Princess Consort said that with injuries on her face, it’s not appropriate to appear publicly," he said. "Why not wait until she’s healed and choose an auspicious day to return to the manor?"

"I actually had the same idea, but I hadn’t figured out yet how to report this to my father and mother. I didn’t expect that Mother Superior had thought more thoroughly than I had. Naturally, this is excellent. I am grateful to Nanny Liu for making the trip." After saying this, he had Su He deliver a red envelope and personally saw the visitor out.

By her current status, she needn’t have been so courteous to a servant. However, her own mother was a concubine, and being kind to others would mean less hardship for her mother. After all, the favor and glory for a concubine do not last forever. Even if a wife loses her beauty, she still has her social standing and birthright to rely on, which always affords her more right to speak than a concubine.

In ancient times, a concubine was considered even lower than a nanny with some standing in the manor, let alone her own bastard sons and daughters. When others were eating, she had to be there to serve, ranking even lower than the servants.

Yun Mi indeed kept his word. After Nanny Liu left, he had the steward bring several shopkeepers to meet her.

It was surprising that Yun Mi, only seventeen years old, had already managed to own a restaurant, one hundred acres of farmland, and six shops. His assets were not to be underestimated.

Of course, this also had much to do with Kangxi and Yong Zheng’s favoritism towards him.

Regarding these properties, she felt it would be best to have a look after she recovered. Having received the account books and pawn from the steward, she let them leave. From their conversation, she had gotten the gist of things. What followed was how she would remodel these step by step.

This was the Qing Dynasty, but in reality, it wasn’t much different from the ancient times she knew. When it came to doing business, she knew how.

However, to remodel the restaurant, she needed to ’learn’ how to cook first. To change some of the farming methods, she needed to find a master to conduct experimental cultivation in the courtyard of the Prince Manor. Only after these skills were honed would she dare to come forward with guidance.

Xiyuan was only fourteen this year and had not yet reached marriageable age when she was married over for a reason. One was because she was from the Manchu Eight Banners, and girls between thirteen and sixteen had to participate in the imperial selection. Well, she attended this session of the selection and was then chosen by Yong Zheng to come here. As for why they didn’t wait for her to reach marriageable age, she was not sure. Maybe the Emperor wanted them to get to know each other first?

Thinking this way, if Yun Mi did not consummate the marriage, could it be out of respect for her?

Xiyuan couldn’t help but feel a chill. She would rather believe that others found her too unattractive to approach.

Yes, that must be the reason.

***

On the way to Yuanming Garden, the personal eunuch Little Yuanzi reported the matters of the manor to his master one by one.

"Did you say she has asked the kitchen staff to teach her cooking? And had someone fix up her small kitchen?"

"Yes, my lord. Seeing the Princess Consort’s earnestness, it seems she’s not feigning. Moreover, she’s quick with arithmetic, very rhythmic indeed. She’s also specifically asked the steward to find skilled farmers from the farm to teach her about cultivation. It looks like she’s really planning to tear down all the flower beds in our manor and turn them into vegetable gardens. My lord, are you really going to let her do that? When others have gardens filled with rare and exotic plants, our manor will be drifting with the scent of farm manure spread over fruits and vegetables. What are we to do?"

Yun Mi, having pictured the scene described by Little Yuanzi, found it rather unbearable: "She dares to spread farm manure inside the manor?"

Little Yuanzi wore a sorrowful expression, "My lord, isn’t that how it is done with farming? Without manure, how would the vegetables grow?"

Suddenly, Yun Mi narrowed his eyes: "It seems I need to inquire about this thoroughly when I return tonight. If it’s as you say, what kind of home would that be?!"