Tianliangyuan

Chapter 231 The Monkeys Begin to Reign Supreme

Xu Zhaozhao was very busy, and had too many things to worry about lately, so she didn't pay attention to Dingxiang and Zhuzi's matter for the time being.

"Miss, Miss Biao has arrived."

"Invite her in."

Chen Xiangxiang was unaware that the old lady had chosen a future husband for her. She had been living quite well in the mansion these past few days, mainly because she no longer had to pay her respects to the old lady every day, nor did she have to deal with that cousin.

"Sister Zhao Zhao, I heard you're planning to go to Lantian?"

"Yes, I do plan to go and take a look. I haven't been there once since that area was designated. If it were far away, it wouldn't matter, but it's only a few dozen miles from the capital, so I have to go and see for myself."

"Sister, you're amazing! I heard you sent people over to build houses. A thousand households, are they all occupied now?"

"How could that be? There should only be about three hundred households in total now. Did you come here today specifically to ask me about Lantian County?"

Chen Xiangxiang asked curiously, "Can I go and see too?"

"We'll see when the time comes. As for whether you can go, we'll have to ask your brother first."

Chen Xiangxiang immediately jumped up with joy: "My brother will definitely agree!"

Xu Zhaozhao had no intention of taking her there.

Construction is underway there, and she might not be able to get there. The workers there are all men, and unless the main residence is already completed, the Marquis's mansion will not allow her to go.

It's not necessarily that it's dangerous; it's just a matter of reputation.

Xu Zhaozhao didn't explain in detail to her. Chen Xiangxiang sat for a while and noticed that Xu Zhaozhao was busy looking at the account books. She also thought about how many properties under her name were profitable and felt quite envious.

My elder brother said that after our father and the others arrive, he will hand over some of the property to me and I will have to learn how to manage it.

At the very least, she should learn how to read account books.

The black and white tea that Zhuzi brought back were mostly from last autumn and winter, and there were also two kinds of tea that were last spring tea. Now that he brought them back, they were basically old tea.

Those who truly understand can tell just by looking at and smelling it.

The methods of tea making are still relatively rudimentary, lacking advanced technology and sophisticated techniques, so regardless of how it is made, it is undoubtedly a high-quality product.

Xu Zhaozhao first used some broken old tea leaves to have someone boil tea eggs, and then simmered them in a clay pot for a day and a night. After adding various seasonings, the aroma of the tea eggs came out.

With this great method, Xu Junting found that eggs weren't so hard to swallow after all.

The Marquis and the Second Young Master have gone on an expedition, and half of the military families in the capital have followed them to the north.

This time, it is clear that the Emperor has made up his mind and is determined to sweep away the North.

Leaving aside the vast lands, just the fact that the Turks were driven a hundred miles deeper into the grasslands would be a monumental achievement for Daxing.

Perhaps because many military generals went to war and took some of their unruly sons with them, the capital city became peaceful.

It is said to be peaceful, but it is really just an illusion.

Without the real privileged second-generation nobles like Xie Zheng and Cui Xuanming keeping order, some spoiled brats who used to only dare to have fun in private gradually surfaced.

This gives one a sense of absurdity, like when the tiger is gone, the monkeys reign supreme.

Xu Zhaozhao took Chen Xiangxiang to Meirenzhuang to choose some useful face powder. Meirenzhuang also sells some exquisite women's accessories, but most of them are small items, and each piece is exquisite and valuable, so it does not compete with ordinary jewelry shops for business.

Those earrings alone would cost an average family ten years' worth of food. Let alone buying them, even asking about the price would feel like an offense.

This is Xu Zhaozhao's business. Whatever Chen Xiangxiang takes a fancy to, as long as it's not too outrageous, Xu Zhaozhao is willing to give it all to her.

In the end, Chen Xiangxiang only chose lip gloss and some face powder, and did not choose any jewelry.

“Those earrings suit you very well. I think they make you look delicate and lively. They looked great when you tried them on just now.”

“Those earrings are indeed beautiful, but I don’t have much money on hand. I can buy them after my parents arrive.”

She is a person of good judgment.

Xu Zhaozhao smiled and looked up. Zhang Niangzi immediately understood: "Miss, you have a good eye. Every pair of earrings here is exquisitely designed and finely crafted. Moreover, because they are difficult to make, there are only three pairs of the one you just tried on, and they are all different sizes. The one you chose is the middle one, which fits you perfectly with your height and face shape."

Chen Xiangxiang shamefully fell in love.

But she didn't have enough money. Should she borrow from her brother?

"Wrap up those earrings, we'll take them with us later."

"Yes, master."

Since Xu Zhaozhao had spoken, Zhang Niangzi naturally complied.

Chen Xiangxiang was stunned for a moment, then realized: "Is my cousin going to give me a ride?"

"Silly girl, you call me cousin, so it's only right that I give you a little something. But you still need to treat the female teacher that your mother chose for you with respect. No matter what the subject is, you must study hard. If you receive praise from the female teacher in the future, I will give you something else."

Chen Xiangxiang is still young and has always been pampered at home, so she hasn't grown up in terms of mentality.

Despite being only two years younger than Xu Zhaozhao, she is incredibly naive.

These kinds of young girls are so easy to fool!

Xu Zhaozhao took her to the second floor for tea. After they had chosen their things, they decided to rest there for a while and open the window to enjoy the view outside.

"Get out of the way! The Chang family is arresting runaway slaves. Anyone who dares to obstruct us will be executed!"

Xu Zhaozhao frowned. What an arrogant servant.

If this were done in the mansion, it would be one thing, but this is Chang'an County, which is under the jurisdiction of the county government. How can such people be allowed to act so presumptuously?

"Help! Please, someone kind enough, help me report this to the authorities! I am not a runaway slave from their household. I was drugged and brought to the capital by human traffickers. I never signed any indenture. I am a respectable woman!"

Xu Zhaozhao's expression remained unchanged, while Chen Xiangxiang curiously poked her little head out of the window, wanting to see what was going on.

"Nonsense! You've already entered the Chang family, so you're a servant of the Chang family. It's your good fortune that our young master has taken a liking to you. You're just a lowly maid. Letting you warm the master's bed is already giving you face. And you dared to run away in secret! That's an even greater crime!"

Xu Zhaozhao quickly searched her memory for information about the Chang family, but she couldn't recall anything about them.

Dingxiang, standing to the side, was also completely bewildered. She turned her head and saw the pillar standing at the door.

"Reporting to Master, the Chang family is the former Ningyang Earl's Mansion. The former Ningyang Earl passed away, and the Chang family made a mistake. According to the law, their titles were reduced, and now the Chang family only has the title of Baron."