Chapter 194 Returning
Now that Kaifeng Prefecture has cleared out so much land, it needs to be digested, and he doesn't plan to do anything about it for the time being.
His father took the initiative to give him a vacation, and he was happy to have some free time.
After returning to the Eastern Palace, Zhao Xing said he wanted to go to the study to read, and asked Zhang Guifen to go back to Chunhe Palace first.
Zhang Guifen bid farewell to Zhao Xing and returned to Chunhe Palace. Just as she changed into her casual clothes, Madam Qian reported: "Crown Princess, Consort Yu and Consort Sheng are here."
"Please let them in." Zhang Guifen said.
When the principal wife came in, Yu Yanran and the others would definitely come over to pay their respects, so Zhao Xing found an excuse to leave just to make room for them.
Zhang Guifen stood up and walked to the main hall and sat down at the top.
After a while, Yu Yanran and Sheng Shulan walked in.
"Greetings, Crown Princess!" they both bowed.
"No need to be polite, sisters. Please take a seat." Zhang Guifen said with a smile.
Although Sheng Shulan is older than her, she is the principal wife, and there is nothing wrong with calling both of them "sisters", and it even makes them seem close.
"Thank you, Princess." After expressing their gratitude, the two of them sat down nervously.
Although Yu Yanran had met Zhang Guifen, Zhao Xing was there when they met.
And Zhang Guifen didn't come in at that time.
Now Zhang Guifen is the Crown Princess holding the Golden Book and the Golden Treasure. In an ordinary family, Zhang Guifen would be the mistress of the house and they would be concubines.
This analogy is not appropriate. After all, the two have not yet been canonized and are not even concubines. They can only be considered maids.
Sheng Shulan has never even met Zhang Guifen, and now she is pregnant.
Generally speaking, if a concubine gets pregnant before the wife, she will not have a good ending.
She was naturally worried.
Zhao Xing had comforted her before, but it was of little use.
"Why are you two so nervous?" Zhang Guifen smiled and said, "As the saying goes, a harmonious family brings prosperity. This royal family is not like an ordinary family, but it is still a family. As long as you two sisters serve His Highness well and abide by the rules, I will not make things difficult for you two sisters."
"I will keep the Crown Princess's teachings in mind and will serve Your Highness and the Crown Princess well." Yu Yanran and Sheng Shulan said hurriedly.
"Sister Sheng is pregnant. You should pay more attention to your health and don't have to come to pay your respects every day." Zhang Guifen looked at Sheng Shulan and said.
"Thank you, Princess Consort. The imperial physician just told me to walk around more often. It's not a big deal." Sheng Shulan said.
"Then you don't have to get up so early every day. You can come and talk to me at any time." Zhang Guifen waved her hand.
"Yes." Sheng Shulan had no choice but to agree when she heard Zhang Guifen say that.
Seeing that the two were a little nervous, Zhang Guifen chatted with them briefly, asked about the situation in the Eastern Palace, had someone deliver the gift that had been prepared long ago, and then let the two go back.
……
The next day, Zhao Xing got up from bed to practice martial arts. Zhang Guifen had just finished washing up when a palace maid came to report that Yu Yanran and Sheng Shulan came to pay their respects.
Zhang Guifen smiled slightly when she heard this. Yesterday, she told Sheng Shulan that she didn't need to come to pay her respects, which was also a test.
If Sheng Shulan was spoiled and pampered, she would naturally not come over to pay her respects after hearing what she said.
Now it seems that Sheng Shulan is either an honest and well-behaved person, or a smart one.
No matter which one it is, it is more worry-free for her for the time being.
She was not the jealous type who was eager to deal with concubines to establish her authority.
Just as she said yesterday, as long as the two of them understood the rules, she didn't want to make things difficult for them.
Now that she has just entered the palace, if Sheng Shulan becomes spoiled and makes things difficult for her, she will actually be in a difficult position as well.
It’s not that she couldn’t handle it, but it was a bit too hasty since she had just entered the palace, and she was afraid that Zhao Xing would be unhappy.
Since Sheng Shulan is here, it means they can live in peace for a short time. As for whether Sheng Shulan is honest or has some clever ideas, we will have to find out slowly.
When Zhao Xing came back, Yu Yanran and the others had already left.
Zhang Guifen didn't say anything and Zhao Xing didn't ask.
Zhao Xing didn't ask about Zhang Guifen's meeting with Yu Yanran and the others yesterday.
The status of the wife must be guaranteed, which is necessary for the peace of the family.
Zhao Xing also knew Zhang Guifen's personality, so he naturally wouldn't ask about it.
When Zhao Xing came back, Zhang Guifen ordered the meal to be served, but Zhao Xing did not invite Yu Yanran and the others to eat together.
From now on, dining together will only happen at family dinners during festivals.
It is almost impossible to happen under normal circumstances.
Zhao Xing didn't like the ancient rules, but since he was in ancient times, there were some things he had to abide by.
Before Zhang Guifen came in, he could ignore the rules, but after Zhang Guifen came in, she had to abide by them. Otherwise, no matter how generous Zhang Guifen was, she would think too much.
After all, Zhang Guifen was educated in etiquette and laws since childhood, which was about respect for elders and juniors.
This has nothing to do with being generous or not.
Moreover, if this is done frequently, the other concubines will become spoiled.
After all, his future concubines will not be limited to Yu Yanran and others, and Yu Yanran and others may become spoiled because of his tolerance.
Many rules in ancient times were regarded as feudal customs, but many of them were necessary.
"The eunuchs and female officials from the six bureaus of the Eastern Palace will be here soon. In the past, it was Nanny Feng who was in charge. If you have any questions, just ask Nanny Feng." Zhao Xing said.
The Sixth Bureau of the Eastern Palace is responsible for managing all the miscellaneous affairs of the Eastern Palace, including food, clothing, housing and transportation.
These were originally managed by the Crown Princess. Before Zhang Guifen entered the palace, they were always taken care of by Nanny Feng.
Zhao Xing never let Yu Yanran and the others touch these things.
"Yes." Zhang Guifen was also a little nervous when she heard that.
Although she had learned housekeeping from her mother, the Eastern Palace was somewhat different after all, and she didn't know if she could manage it well.
But these were what she had to do, so there was no reason to refuse.
After dinner, Zhang Guifen stayed to meet the female officials and eunuchs in charge of the six bureaus of the Eastern Palace, while Zhao Xing went to the garden to fish.
It's sunny today, suitable for sunbathing and fishing.
…………
"Your Highness!"
Zhao Xing was lying in a rocking chair, holding a fishing rod, looking very leisurely.
Hearing this, he turned his head and smiled, "Sit down."
"Yes!" Yu Yanran and Sheng Shulan sat down after hearing that.
"Don't stay indoors all the time when you have nothing to do. Now that spring has come and the flowers are blooming, come out and enjoy the flowers." Zhao Xing said with a smile, "When I catch some fish, I'll ask the kitchen to make soup for you at noon."
"Thank you, Your Highness. You have to work harder. If you catch too little, it won't be enough." Yu Yanran said with a smile.
"Don't worry. If I can't catch any fish, I'll send someone down to catch them for you," Zhao Xing said.
"Sister Shulan can't stand the smell of meat recently. If His Highness caught it himself, Sister Shulan would definitely be able to drink it. But if it was caught by someone else, that might not be the case." Yu Yanran said with a smile.
"Shulan, are you still not feeling better?" Zhao Xing asked with concern.
"Your Highness, I'm much better now and there's nothing serious going on." Sheng Shulan said.
"If there is anything, you must tell me. Don't hide it. OK?" Zhao Xing said.
"I know." Sheng Shulan nodded.
"The Crown Princess has a cheerful personality. As long as you follow the rules, she won't make things difficult for you. Just go out for a walk as usual. I've asked someone to make a little toy. Once it's done, I'll teach you how to play with it. You won't be so bored in the future." Zhao Xing said.
He has already asked someone to do the mahjong, but there are only three people in the harem now, so he has to be included.
The two beauties were chatting and fishing leisurely.
If the reform is successful in the future, the Western Xia is pacified, and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun are recovered, the throne will be passed to his son early.
It seems like a good idea to take a group of beauties with me and travel around the mountains and rivers every day.
Zhao Xing had no idea of being emperor until his death.
It’s so cool to be the emperor emeritus. You’re free and easy and you don’t have to work.
But this idea is destined to be difficult to achieve.
Zhao Xing didn’t know whether that day would come.
Even if there was, he might be too old by then and wouldn't have the energy.
I had a good harvest in the morning, catching seven or eight crucian carps weighing between half a catty and one catty.
Crucian carp of this size is best for stewing soup, so Zhao Xing released the rest of the fish.
He asked someone to send the fish to the kitchen and tell them to divide the soup into three portions, one for each of Yu Yanran and the others.
…………
March 28
Early in the morning, Zhao Xing and Zhang Guifen took a carriage with several carts of gifts and went to the Duke of England's mansion.
Zhang Guifen looked a little excited. She had been away from home for a few days. Although Zhao Xing treated her very well and she now had a noble status, she could not help but miss home.
(End of this chapter)