The most dissolute couple in the capital

Li Chengjing stood with his hands behind his back under the corridor, watching the guards escort Steward Sun and his entourage away. The coldness on his face had not completely faded.

He turned to look at Cui Qingyi, a smile spreading across his face. "Qingyi, I didn't scare you, did I?"

Cui Qingyi smiled gently: "Your Highness is impartial and just in handling matters; I admire you greatly."

Ah, I overestimated King Liang. It seems the child has some brains, but not many.

Li Chengjing walked over, sat down in the chair opposite her, crossed his legs, and casually picked up a piece of osmanthus cake from the table and stuffed it into his mouth.

"But speaking of which, with Steward Sun gone, I'll have to trouble you with the affairs of the manor." He mumbled, chewing on a pastry. "Liu Lu is alright managing things here, but he can't handle the purchasing, the warehouse, the craftsmen, the stables... he can't manage all that outside."

Cui Qingyi lowered her eyes, her fingertips gently stroking the rim of the teacup.

This was exactly the situation she had foreseen.

Although Steward Sun was greedy, his old bones had indeed kept the outer courtyard of the Liang Prince's mansion running smoothly. Now that he's gone, the lower-level stewards have been implicated, and a number of them have been sold off. There's a lot to worry about now, from personnel procurement to the procedures for dealing with people.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I have already made up my mind," Cui Qingyi said softly.

Li Chengjing's eyes lit up: "Oh? What do you want to do?"

"I intend to go to the palace to seek instructions from the Empress Dowager."

Li Chengjing asked with some confusion, "Ask the Empress Dowager? Aren't you going to arrange it yourself? Don't you have Mama Xiao and the others under you?"

Cui Qingyi shook her head slightly: "Your Highness, Mama Xiao and the others are my dowry maids. They are capable of managing the small affairs of the inner quarters, but the affairs of the outer courtyard are not their forte. Besides, I didn't bring many people from my maiden family to begin with. If I were to place them all in the outer courtyard, it would seem as if I were using this matter to seize power."

She paused for a moment, looked up at Li Chengjing, her gaze open and honest.

"Your Highness is the Emperor's younger brother, and the person in charge of the Liang Prince's residence must be reliable. Rather than me making this decision on my own, it would be better to ask the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to appoint someone. This would be proper and would also prevent gossip from outsiders."

Li Chengjing paused for a moment.

"Qingyi, you're just too honest..." He looked at his princess with concern, "You're really too straightforward. If it were anyone else, after finally getting rid of that old bastard Steward Sun, wouldn't they immediately replace him with their own people? But you, instead, you went to ask the Empress Dowager for help."

Cui Qingyi smiled, inwardly thinking: That's because you don't know how fast the palace's information network is. The news about Steward Sun hasn't even left the side gate yet, but the Empress Dowager has probably already received it. If I really try to slip someone in, even if the Empress Dowager doesn't say anything, she'll definitely hold a grudge.

"If Your Highness has no further instructions, I will submit my summons to the palace tomorrow." Cui Qingyi stood up and curtsied.

"Go whenever you want." Li Chengjing waved his hand. "By the way, when you go, please bring a few boxes of my newly made peach blossom face cream for my mother. Last time she said the color was too pink, so I adjusted it. This time I used pearl powder from the Western Regions, I guarantee it will work well."

Cui Qingyi's lips twitched slightly.

There is probably only one person in the whole world, Li Chengjing, who can seamlessly switch to discussing face cream shades the very next second after dealing with the corrupt steward.

"Very well, I will take it to Your Highness."

-

The next morning, Cui Qingyi changed into a peach-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a moon-white shawl over it. Her makeup was light and elegant, and she looked both dignified and unassuming.

After entering the palace gate and passing through two passageways, you arrive at a side hall of the Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager's personal aunt, Granny Shen, was already waiting outside the palace gate.

"The Princess Consort has arrived," said Granny Shen with a smile as she approached. "The Empress Dowager has just finished her breakfast and was just talking about the Princess Consort."

Cui Qingyi's heart skipped a beat.

Were we talking about her?

It seems the news really did travel faster than her carriage.

She remained expressionless, smiling as she said, "Thank you for informing me, Granny."

Granny Shen led her inside.

The main hall of Cining Palace was spacious and bright, with a faint scent of agarwood burning in the incense burner. The Empress Dowager was reading a book when she saw her enter, and immediately put down the book, exempting her from the formal greetings.

"You've lost some weight. Have you been worrying about things at home?"

Cui Qingyi rose and sat down on the brocade stool the Empress Dowager had indicated. "I'm sorry to have troubled you, Mother. There were indeed some worrying matters at the manor, but His Highness has handled them properly, which is why I've come to pay my respects."

The Empress Dowager hummed in agreement, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said in a neutral tone, "I've heard about it. That old servant, Steward Sun, has served Chengjing for almost twenty years. I never imagined that he would commit such a serious crime in his old age."

Cui Qingyi lowered her head and did not reply.

The Empress Dowager added, "Chengjing handled it well. Taking some money is one thing, but to use the imperial name to tarnish the family's reputation is courting death."

"Although Your Highness is usually carefree and unrestrained, he has always been clear-headed when it comes to matters of principle," Cui Qingyi said at the right moment, praising her husband in just the right way.

A hint of satisfaction flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager was in a good mood, Cui Qingyi smiled and continued, "When I married, my family didn't bring many servants with me, and none of them knew the proper etiquette for welcoming and sending off guests as a prince. I'm foolish and afraid I won't be able to manage this vast household and bring shame to the royal family. I wonder if Your Majesty has any experienced and capable matrons or stewards who could be bestowed upon me?"

"The affairs of the outer court are indeed far more complicated than those of the inner court," the Empress Dowager began slowly. "Just the annual ceremonial exchanges among the imperial clan, the gifts exchanged between various households, and the various documents to be dealt with by the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs—not just anyone can manage all of that. It's just that most of the people under my command serve the inner palace."

She glanced at Cui Qingyi: "As for the Empress, she's in charge of all the affairs inside and outside the palace, so she has more people at her disposal. How about this, let Granny Shen accompany you to the Jiaofang Palace. The Empress and the Emperor will surely be able to find you a few incorruptible and well-mannered stewards."

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your kindness!"

Just as Cui Qingyi was about to take her leave, she suddenly remembered something, turned around and winked at Su Xin.

Su Xin immediately presented the brocade box.

"I almost forgot." Cui Qingyi smiled as she opened the brocade box. "His Highness said the peach blossom face cream he gave Mother last time was too pink, so he recolored it using pearl powder from the Western Regions, saying it would look more natural. His Highness repeatedly instructed his daughter-in-law to bring it, and said that if Mother didn't like it, he would adjust it again."

The Empress Dowager looked at the exquisite little porcelain bottle in the brocade box, and the expression on her face changed from dignified to subtle.

She pursed her lips, reached out and picked up a bottle, unscrewed the cap and smelled it.

A faint fragrance of peach blossoms wafted through the air, refreshing yet not cloying.

"This child..." The Empress Dowager sighed, but a smile appeared in her eyes. "He's married now, yet he spends all his time doing nothing but tinkering with these things."

Cui Qingyi smiled and replied, "His Highness said that when others offer gold, silver, and jewels to the Empress Dowager, they are all bought with money. Nothing compares to the sincerity of something he makes himself."

The Empress Dowager finally laughed out loud: "He's so good with words. Alright, I'll accept it."