The prince is more stable

Chapter 608 The Head Mistress
With the arrival of Di Ying and her two daughters, the Prince's mansion became lively.

Previously, only the three women, including Niao Niao, lived there, making the large Prince's Mansion seem somewhat deserted. There were dozens of servants and hundreds of Imperial Guards, but the true masters were only Zhao Xiaoqian and Niao Niao.

Now, she has arrived, she has arrived, she has come with the majesty of a mistress.

The arrival of the Princess Consort caused great tension throughout the Prince's mansion. The servants were trembling with fear, unsure of the Princess Consort's temperament, and afraid of displeasing her.

Zhao Xiaoqian's six women are now all gathered in this Prince's Mansion, putting immense pressure on the servants.

As the day passed, the servants gradually realized that the Princess Consort was not so strict. She was very kind to the servants and did not put on airs at all. She was also efficient and decisive in her work, clearly a young lady raised in a wealthy family.

In one day, Di Ying reorganized the Prince's Mansion and corrected the previously chaotic management methods.

Many servants were reassigned, and several cunning maids were dismissed in front of everyone. The Prince's household accounts and storeroom were taken over smoothly, and it was announced that each servant in the household would receive a gift of one tael of silver.

Within a day, Di Ying naturally secured her position as the mistress of the household. With a combination of kindness and strictness, everyone in the mansion respected and appreciated Di Ying, and obeyed her without question.

Zhao Xiaoqian had to admit that Zhao Xiaoqian was truly impressed by Zhao's management skills.

"My lord, do we only have a mansion in Zhen Ding City, and no other properties?" Di Ying asked, flipping through the mansion's account books.

Zhao Xiaoqian looked bewildered: "Does our family need any property?"

"Of course we need it. The government has monthly expenses, and we can't do without income. This place is a border city between the Song and Liao dynasties, with many merchants and goods coming and going. If we buy a few shops in the city, we can start trading in salt and tea, and we can also do business directly with foreign countries, which will bring us more profits."

"Well, whatever you decide, Madam, I have no objections." Zhao Xiaoqian decisively relinquished power.

Di Ying smiled with satisfaction; this was exactly what she had been waiting for.

"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony. I'll have someone bring the money to buy the shops first, and tomorrow I'll go to the city to take a stroll and find a few bustling places..."

Zhao Xiaoqian pointed outside the door and said, "There's no need to go any further. The most prosperous area is near our Prince's Mansion. The street outside our house is the most prosperous place in the whole city."

Di Ying was taken aback: "When you bought this house, you actually chose the most prosperous area? It must have been so expensive."

“Madam, you’ve got it backwards. It’s because my residence is here that the area has become the most prosperous place,” Zhao Xiaoqian corrected.

Di Ying exclaimed in surprise, "You are so powerful in Zhengding Prefecture? It seems you are very popular with the local people and merchants."

"He was a gentle and refined young man who wielded great power, was dashing and debonair, and loved the people like his own children. Who wouldn't like him?"

Di Ying rolled her eyes at him and said, "It's a pity that this young man has too many women in his family, and they are almost full. Young man, there are only a few rooms in the backyard of our mansion. Do you know how much effort I spent arranging for your women yesterday?"

Zhao Xiaoqian, exuding an aura of royalty, waved his hand with a flourish: "It's alright, let's expand. Why stop planting crops just because we're listening to cicadas chirping?"

Di Ying gritted her teeth and pinched him hard: "You wait tonight, I'll see just how capable you are with so many women!"

Closing the ledger, Di Ying said deftly, "Since the area outside our house is the most bustling, it saves us trouble. Tomorrow, we'll have someone inquire about the prices of nearby shops and buy at least three to five."

"There aren't many capable servants in the manor, so I'm afraid we'll have to transfer a group of talented people from the Chu Prince's manor in Bianjing."

Zhao Xiaoqian said indifferently, "It's your decision, I have no objection."

After a pause, Zhao Xiaoqian added with concern, "When buying shops, negotiate the price carefully. Don't bring up the Prince's Mansion to scare people. I didn't earn this reputation in Zhengding Prefecture easily, so don't ruin it for me."

Di Ying glared at him and said, "Do you need to tell me? I have never done anything to bully others. Husband and wife are one, and your reputation is my reputation. Of course I will cherish and protect it."

Zhao Xiaoqian said leisurely, "I think our family doesn't really need any industry. Just put me in a cage, charge admission to the whole city, and welcome everyone to come and visit. We'll make a fortune."

"Great idea. If we do this, our family's reputation will be completely ruined, and we'll never be able to recover for generations."

As the couple were chatting, a maid carrying a tray passed by, and Di Ying called out to her.

"What is it? Who is it for?" Di Ying asked.

The maidservant said tremblingly, "It's a highly nourishing meal that His Highness ordered for Lady Niaoniao."

Di Ying glanced at the tray and said, "Ginseng chicken soup? Is this the dish every day?"

The maidservant replied timidly, "Yes, His Highness has ordered that an old hen be stewed every day."

Di Ying turned her head and punched Zhao Xiaoqian angrily, saying, "Pregnant women shouldn't take supplements indiscriminately! Do you think drinking ginseng chicken soup every day is enough? If you overdo it, both mother and child will suffer." Zhao Xiaoqian said, bewildered, "Are you crazy? Is it wrong to drink ginseng chicken soup every day?"

Di Ying ignored him and pointed at the maid, saying, "Take the chicken soup back and have someone find a reputable doctor from the city to prescribe a diet to nourish and stabilize the pregnancy for Niaoniao. From now on, Niaoniao's diet should be strictly in accordance with the prescription."

The maidservant hurriedly ran away, and Di Ying slowly withdrew her gaze, giving Zhao Xiaoqian an unfriendly glare.

“This is our family’s first child, so you must be careful, especially with what you eat. It’s always good to listen to the doctor. Don’t make any rash decisions. Luckily, you’re only recently pregnant, otherwise it could have caused a disaster.”

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked. Well, he'd never been a father in either of his lives, so he really had no experience in this area.

However, in the previous life, there didn't seem to be so many rules. Basically, pregnant women could eat whatever they wanted. There was a magical saying that if a person wanted to eat something, it meant that their body was lacking that element and needed to be replenished in time.

This superstitious belief has provided countless overweight people with a perfect excuse to lose weight.

Di Ying's behavior was unusual, and Zhao Xiaoqian looked her over with great interest: "Why haven't I seen you with such a sharp and assertive demeanor before? Were you pretending to be a weak and delicate young lady before you married me?"

"When have I ever pretended to be weak?" Di Ying rolled her eyes at him.

“When I was still a young lady, my family taught me how to manage and run the household, and how to maintain and expand the family business. People from humble families are not qualified to learn these things, but young ladies from wealthy families must learn them, otherwise they will be looked down upon by their husbands’ families after marriage.”

Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly realized: "No wonder Madam is so capable. She has been hiding her true abilities. I can leave the manor to you from now on and go out to fight with peace of mind."

Di Ying was taken aback, and asked in a daze, "Is my husband going to war again?"

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded and said, "Perhaps soon. The time is almost here to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun. Let our generation do what needs to be done so that future generations can enjoy peace and tranquility."

Turning to look at her, Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "Your father did a great service last time. Did he write a letter home to tell you? Your Di family will rise up soon from now on."

"By the way, my father-in-law is currently training troops at the Juma River camp. There's no fighting lately. Should I give him a few days off and have him come to Zhen Ding City so you and your daughter can have a get-together?"

Di Ying shook her head: "Military and national affairs are of utmost importance. You cannot delay your training of troops because of me. Otherwise, I will die a hundred times to atone for it, and you will not have to see Father again. I will wait for your triumphant return."

…………

Bian Jing, Yanfu Palace.

Zhao Hao sat in the Qingshou Hall, chatting and laughing with Empress Dowager Xiang.

Previously, Zhao Hao frequently sent gifts to request an audience. Empress Dowager Xiang was afraid of causing gossip and was extremely annoyed by Zhao Hao's requests for an audience. However, she did not want to offend him, since Zhao Hao's son, Zhao Xiaoqian, was now in the limelight and had become a pillar of the Song Dynasty. The Emperor needed his assistance.

Therefore, Empress Dowager Xiang usually declined Zhao Hao's requests to see her eight times out of ten. On the remaining two occasions, she would allow him to see her, but the palace would be filled with eunuchs and palace maids, and the topics of conversation would all be trivial matters concerning the imperial family and relatives.

Later, Zhao Hao learned of Empress Dowager Xiang's concerns, so when he sought an audience later, he brought along several other members of the imperial clan. Each time, one king or another would accompany him. Since they were all relatives of the royal family, they would sit together in the main hall, chatting and sharing their kinship, which indeed eliminated any gossip.

Of course, Zhao Hao's gift-giving remained strong; over the past year, the gifts he gave to Empress Dowager Xiang were worth at least a million strings of cash.

The younger brother-in-law really went to great lengths for his widowed sister-in-law.

The sister-in-law was very confused. There were some things she couldn't ask him face to face, but she really didn't know what her brother-in-law meant. If you're going to give a gift, then give a gift. But why give such an expensive one? What kind of dirty thoughts are you up to?
I am your sister-in-law, you beast...

Today, in the Qingshou Hall, Zhao Hao requested an audience with Empress Dowager Xiang again. The Empress Dowager was about to politely decline again, but upon hearing the palace maid's report that the old Imperial Clan Head Zhao Zongsheng had accompanied the Prince of Chu, who was equivalent to the head of the Zhao imperial family, the Empress Dowager could refuse to see Zhao Hao, but she would absolutely not dare to neglect Zhao Zongsheng.

Therefore, Empress Dowager Xiang had no choice but to put on a smiling face when receiving guests.

Look, even the Empress Dowager has to force a smile and socialize. In life, there are never so many things that go as planned. The idea of ​​not being able to do whatever you want is more poisonous than any toxic motivational quote.

The three chatted casually in the main hall. Even after entering the Celebration Hall, Zhao Zongsheng, who was nearly eighty years old, was still a little confused.

At his age, he's getting senile. An hour ago, Zhao Hao forcibly dragged him out of the mansion, and an hour later, he and Zhao Hao appeared in the Empress Dowager's Celebration Hall. Zhao Zongsheng didn't even know what he was doing there.

Zhao Hao came to foster a closer relationship, a pure and innocent bond between uncle and sister-in-law, and also to deliver a gift.

Zhao Zongsheng was brought in to make up the numbers; his name was used to force Empress Dowager Xiang to meet him, and once that was done, Zhao Zongsheng's usefulness was gone.

The three were chatting happily when suddenly a palace maid rushed in in a panic. Disregarding etiquette, she burst into the hall and cried out, "Empress Dowager, something terrible has happened! The young prince is seriously ill!"

(End of this chapter)