Tianliangyuan

Chapter 312 They're Going to Grant Me a Marriage

And so, Schelling was about to start working at the Imperial Academy in a daze?

Xu Zhaozhao would not make baseless accusations.

She is now the wife of the heir of the Duke of Huguo's mansion. Although Xie Xiaolin's lineage is not the main branch of the Xie family, it is still a clan.

Therefore, it's still necessary to protect them occasionally and offer them some benefits.

In this way, Xu Zhaozhao only needed a few light words to make the clansmen realize just how capable this Crown Prince's wife was.

Even Xie Lin's brother-in-law was promoted by Xu Zhaozhao, so those members of the Xie clan who wanted to gain benefits or be promoted regarded Xu Zhaozhao as a golden opportunity.

Xu Zhaozhao wasn't afraid of them trying to curry favor with her. She wanted to establish her authority; killing could establish authority, and promising benefits could do the same.

Afterwards, in the twelfth lunar month, the Xie family would also distribute porridge inside and outside the city, which had been a tradition for many years.

Many powerful and influential people in the city would do the same.

Firstly, it was to demonstrate his benevolence and kindness, and secondly, it was to gain a good reputation with the emperor.

This year, the Xie family's porridge distribution was arranged by the Zhou family within the city, while the Yu family was responsible for the distribution outside the city.

Xu Zhaozhao naturally wouldn't show her face. She only needed to use her words to win people over; there was no need for her to go through the trouble of the dead of winter.

She didn't need to say much; people outside naturally spread the word, such as how much porridge the Marquis of Anxin's mansion was distributing this year, how fragrant and rich the porridge was this year, and how the Hundred Fruit Garden was also distributing porridge. They even put out some flawed thick cotton cloths every day, but you had to collect them based on your household registration.

Xu Zhaozhao was leisurely reading a miscellaneous book in Yuehua Tower. It was a kind of book about love between men and women that had recently become popular in the capital and had gained a lot of popularity among the women. Xu Zhaozhao was using it to pass the time.

Dingxiang brought in some refreshments: "Would you like to have tea and snacks on the second floor, or would you like to go downstairs?"

"Here it is. Move it to that low couch over there. The colors in this room are nice. Bring over that pure white tea set."

"Yes, master."

Xu Zhaozhao moved to the couch, and Shaoyao helped her get two large pillows so that her mistress could sit more comfortably.

Dingxiang brought out the tea set, and then arranged the incense burner and other items one by one.

Xu Zhaozhao washed her hands first, then lit incense. A small charcoal stove on the low table slowly heated water.

In the dead of winter, drinking black tea is a good way to warm up, but Xu Zhaozhao suddenly had a whim today and thought that drinking a few sips of green tea would be nice too.

This green tea was a gift from the palace, a tribute sent from Jiangnan.

Of all the Duke of Huguo's mansions, only hers has this kind of thing.

Xu Zhaozhao took only one sip and found it exceptionally refreshing.

Even though this tea has been stored for more than half a year, it still tastes exceptionally good.

"Has the young master sent any news back?"

"No, Master."

"Where can we find peace in the fourth house?"

"Our master was right. The Fourth Madam had been wanting to arrange the Laba porridge for the past few days, but we didn't expect that she wouldn't be given any. I heard that the Fourth Madam had a fight with the Fourth Master last night. This morning, news spread that the Fourth Madam is ill."

"Ha, real illness or fake illness?"

"We didn't have the imperial physician come to see him, but we had the kitchen prepare some bird's nest soup and send it over."

"Then everything's alright." Xu Zhaozhao was truly speechless at this little Lin woman.

To be fair, Kobayashi wasn't a particularly bad person, but sometimes she just wasn't very bright and was a bit stupid.

Kobayashi wanted to compete with Yu for the power to manage the household, but she didn't even consider what was there to compete for.

If we're talking about managing internal affairs, no one is more qualified than Xu Zhaozhao.

However, Xu Zhaozhao found it troublesome and was unwilling to manage it, so she let Yu Shi continue to manage the household affairs. This was not a good thing. Every day, she had to take charge of the eating, drinking, and toileting of the entire household. Wasn't that troublesome?

Even now, Xu Zhaozhao cannot manage Jinxiu Garden herself; she arranges for Granny Yu and Xie Zheng's wet nurse, Granny Lin, to manage it.

As for what happened inside the house, only Xu Zhaozhao's maid, Granny Xu, and a few senior maids were allowed to enter.

Xu Zhaozhao simply couldn't understand why Madam Lin, knowing full well that she wasn't of high enough status and wasn't particularly clever, would still be so eager to take charge of the household. Was she afraid of not losing face enough?

"My lord, Miss Shana is outside requesting an audience."

Xu Zhaozhao's expression froze for a moment.

This Shana still doesn't understand some of the rules of the Central Plains.

Even if you're just visiting someone's home for a chat, you still need to send a note in advance.

"Master, is this young lady simply out of practice regarding etiquette and manners in Daxing, or is she doing it on purpose?"

It's no wonder people have doubts. After all, Shana has been here for quite some time. Doesn't she even know how to deliver a visiting card?

"That's enough. She was originally a pearl of the grasslands. It's already unfair to her to keep her in this treacherous capital. There's no need to argue with her anymore. Please invite her downstairs."

"Yes, master."

The second floor was Xu Zhaozhao's own little world. Xie Zheng would occasionally come over, but it depended on Xu Zhaozhao's mood.

Xu Zhaozhao went downstairs and found Shana with two pretty maids, looking at the potted flowers in the room.

"Xu Zhaozhao, you're here! What kind of flower is this? It's so beautiful!"

Shana glanced at her once, then turned her gaze back to the camellias.

Granny Xu's expression turned serious: "Miss Shana should address my master as the Crown Prince's wife, or Princess Anle."

Shana paused for a moment, then changed her words: "Princess Anle?"

Xu Zhaozhao had already reached her: "It's alright, sit down. It's freezing outside, why did you still want to go out?"

Anyway, Xu Zhaozhao didn't want to go out in the dead of winter; it was too cold.

Even if there were a carriage, it wouldn't work. She felt that as soon as she stepped out of the house, there would be a cold wind and chill everywhere, and she wouldn't want to suffer like that.

"I've heard that you have a custom of distributing porridge in the capital, so I'd like to go and see it. Do you want to go?"

Xu Zhaozhao shook her head: "What's so interesting about distributing porridge to ordinary people?"

"But I have never seen it."

"Don't you ever give gifts to ordinary herders on the grasslands?"

Shana tilted her head and thought for a moment: "Yes, but that one is different."

Xu Zhaozhao smiled and didn't dwell on the topic any further.

Do you like this camellia?

Shana smiled again: "I like it!"

"When you leave later, have someone carry a potted plant to your car."

"really?"

"of course."

"But I don't know how to grow flowers. What if they die?"

"I'll have someone write down all the care instructions for this flower in a bit. Take it back and try it yourself. If it doesn't work, bring it back and I'll try to save it again."

Shana thought it was a good idea.

She had never grown flowers before. On the grassland, people just followed the seasons and saw what flowers were available each season. Unlike the nobles in Daxing, who could actually grow such beautiful flowers in winter.

"Xu Zhaozhao, uh, Princess Anle, did you know that His Majesty the Emperor is going to bestow a marriage upon me?"