Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 381 The Fate of the Retired Emperor (4)
Dugu Kangze was stupefied by the barrage of questioning and was dumbstruck as he was taken away.
"Master, should we inform His Majesty about this?" Hua Wuying stood to the left of Dugu Chen, and seeing the prince’s iron-green face, he whispered.
Dugu Chen thought for a moment and nodded, "Tell His Majesty that the Taishang Huang has passed away."
"Yes."
In the second year of Jiayou, on the tenth day of the sixth month, the Taishang Huang passed away.
Upon learning of the matter, Feng Xuxu could only sigh helplessly. She couldn’t kill her own biological father, so she could only imprison him and provide for him until his death, offering a different kind of punishment, sparing others from his calamities.
With the affair concluded, the search for a wet nurse for the child still had to continue; one couldn’t always drink rice porridge and water from the Spiritual Spring. A new round of selection began, and after much scrutiny, they found a seemingly satisfactory woman with a simple family background. After the previous incident, Feng Xuxu directly brought the wet nurse’s husband and child into the Prince Residence. The butler found a job for the wet nurse’s husband, which could also guard against those with ulterior motives.
Ever since Xiaobai was poisoned, it became even more inseparable from the young master, sleeping wherever the little master slept.
The present ’Summer Garden’ was much improved from the early spring, now fast becoming a miniature matchmaking spot. Many beauties found good marriage prospects there, which is why aristocratic ladies from the Capital City and noble sons often visited to watch flowers and drink tea.
Feng Xuxu and Dugu Chen had arrived at the ’Summer Garden’ early in the morning, sitting in the top room of Zuiyun Pavilion, with the windows open, admiring the sea of flowers below.
"Wife, what do you think about building a Summer Villa there? When the weather gets hot, we can take the children there to escape the heat," Dugu Chen suggested, pointing towards the woods near the innermost part of the garden.
Raising her eyes to follow his gesture, Feng Xuxu saw the ideal location built against the mountain, indeed a great idea. When there was nothing else to do, they could stroll in the mountains, enjoy the wild wind, and feast on wild game. A great idea indeed.
"Good, husband, you go ahead and take care of it, and the children and I will wait for it to be ready," she said playfully, batting her large eyes and smiling radiantly.
"Then, Wife, that’s settled!"
"Husband, we..."
A knock at the door interrupted Feng Xuxu’s words, and Dugu Chen frowned unhappily, saying coldly, "Come in."
Zhu Lengqing entered, curtsied, and softly said, "Prince, princess, Young Master Jueqing, Young Master Zongzheng, and Young Master Beitang request an audience."
Dugu Chen looked at Feng Xuxu with a face full of jealousy. They had come out to play for one day, and still, there were inconsiderate people disturbing them: "Let them in."
"Yes, Prince."
Within a short time, Zhu Lengqing led the three men into the room, and then she withdrew.
"Commoner Beitang Xuan..."
"Rise, all of you, please sit," Dugu Chen said, dismissing formalities.
"Thank you, Prince, thank you, princess," they said as they rose and sat down at the Eight Immortals Table.
Once seated, Jueqing took out a ledger from his wide sleeves and started itemizing. He meticulously went over the monthly incomings and outgoings of the winehouses, teahouses, and storytellers. After detailing everything at length, Feng Xuxu, feeling overwhelmed, waved her hand and decided that from now on, they should hire several accountants: one to track revenues, another for expenditures, and a chief accountant to oversee them all. At the end of each month, they would reconcile together to clarify the accounts. Furthermore, they would produce four copies of the winehouses, inns, and teahouses’ accounts, with each party receiving one. If there were any questions, they would consult the three accountants directly.
As for the dried flower teas in the garden, which constituted her own income, Feng Xuxu appointed a separate accountant for that, so she could also clearly see the monthly earnings.
"Princess, this is a good plan," Beitang Xuan said with approval after listening.
"Of course," Jueqing replied proudly.
Beitang Xuan silently rolled his eyes.
Watching their banter was a daily amusement for Zongzheng Zehang.
Soon, the door was knocked on again, and Dugu Chen turned his head to look at his beloved wife, raising his brows in a silent question, ’Are they here for you?’ 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
With a twitch of her mouth, Feng Xuxu glared at him secretly, ’What if they’re here for you?’
"Come in," Feng Xuxu said, parting her lips ever so slightly, her voice steady and cool.
This time, Zhu Lengqing didn’t dare to appear. Instead, Baihe entered, saying, "Prince, Young Master Xiu is requesting an audience."
Feng Xuxu’s lips pursed into a shallow smile as she looked at Dugu Chen and raised her eyebrow, ’See, they’re here for you.’
Dugu Chen snorted softly, replying in a muffled voice, "Let him in."
The people sitting in chairs all bowed their heads awkwardly, quietly sipping the water in their cups, self-hypnotizing that they hadn’t witnessed anything.
Xiu Bingxi entered the room and respectfully greeted his master and mistress without looking aside.
"Please, sit," Dugu Chen glanced over and slightly lifted his chin, indicating him to sit down.
"Thank you, Master."
Dugu Chen looked up at Xiu Bingxi, his voice low as he said, "I presume, you are no stranger to these gentlemen."
Just as he was about to rise, seeing the master gesture for him to stay seated, Xiu Bingxi sat back down and nodded, "To the master, I recognize them."
"Yes, they are the princess’s men. From now on, you are to live in harmony as you are all on the same side," he said softly but decisively.
After speaking, everyone stood up and bowed respectfully, saying in unison, "To the master, the mistress, we will comply."
Feng Xuxu raised an eyebrow at the swift change, they had just been addressing him as the prince, and now, within moments, they were his subordinates. Shaking her head, she continued drinking her tea on her own.
After everyone was seated again, Xiu Bingxi looked at the others, then at the mistress, and with a determined heart, he stood up, "I have a request for the mistress."
Taking a sip of tea, Feng Xuxu was taken aback and looked at Xiu Bingxi. She didn’t recall having any interaction with this man, yet he had a favor to ask of her. Excited, she set her teacup down and slightly parted her lips, inquiring, "What’s the matter?"
