Chapter 293: Chapter 294: Currying Favor and Pulling Strings

「In the Imperial Study Room.」

Li Ji met with the Emperor.

The Emperor set down his brush. He picked up the hot tea beside him, took a slow sip, and only then did he speak.

"I heard you smashed up Ruyi Building yesterday?"

Li Ji admitted it frankly. "Yes."

The Emperor set down his teacup.

The cup clinked crisply against the desk.

"Ruyi Building was doing just fine. Why did you have to go and smash it?"

Li Ji said nonchalantly.

"I was bored and had nothing better to do. I felt like smashing some antiques to hear the noise.

Besides, it’s not as if I’m not going to pay.

I told the Shopkeeper at Ruyi Building to have their owner come to the Prince Zhao Mansion to settle the bill. I won’t be short a single coin of what’s owed."

The Emperor looked at him, exasperated. "You know full well that the owner of Ruyi Building is Liu Ze. How could he possibly go to you for money?"

As one of the Emperor’s favorites, Liu Ze not only possessed outstanding abilities but was also adept at reading people and situations.

He knew how much the Emperor favored Prince Zhao. Even with his property destroyed, he would never dare to seek compensation from the Prince. In fact, he wouldn’t even dare to utter a single word of complaint.

Li Ji smirked. "It’s precisely because I knew he owned Ruyi Building that I had to go smash it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to stomach my anger."

The Emperor knew he was still resentful about Princess Consort Zhao’s injury.

"I’ve already had the eunuch responsible for the dogs beaten to death. I trust Consort Liu has learned her lesson by now. Don’t keep making a fuss over such a small thing. You’ll just make yourself a laughingstock."

Li Ji said, "My Princess Consort was grievously injured and nearly died. This is no small matter."

The Emperor’s brow furrowed slightly. "She’s just a woman."

Li Ji said sternly, "She is not just any woman. She is my wedded wife."

The Emperor knew how obstinate he could be, so he didn’t argue the point. Instead, he changed the subject.

"The ancestral worship ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple is on the first day of the new year. As is tradition, we need to send someone to inspect the temple beforehand and make any necessary repairs. Since you’re idle anyway, I’ll leave this matter to you. You can request whatever funds you need directly from the Ministry of Revenue."

Li Ji asked, "Will the Ministry of Revenue actually provide the funds?"

The Minister of Revenue was a notorious skinflint, tight-fisted in the extreme. Getting money out of him was harder than ascending to the heavens.

The Emperor chuckled. "As long as they’re legitimate expenses, of course the Ministry of Revenue will pay. If he truly refuses, just come to me. I’ll get the money from him for you."

Li Ji smiled as well. "With Your Majesty’s assurance, I am relieved."

...

He Family planned to make two new sets of clothes for her daughter. Feeling that her daughter had grown a bit taller, she took her measurements on the spot.

Hua Manman spread her arms, letting He Family measure her with the tape.

She said with a grin, "I can’t believe I’m already married and can still wear new clothes made by my own mother."

"You could be seventy or eighty, and you’d still be my little girl!"

He Family reminded her as she worked. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"You should wear new clothes for the new year. And remember to make a new set for Prince Zhao, too."

Hua Manman stuck her tongue out. "You know how terrible my needlework is."

"Good or bad, it’s the thought that counts," He Family said, exasperated.

While mother and daughter were talking, He Qiuwen was sizing up the room’s decor, her eyes darting about incessantly.

Hearing Hua Manman, He Qiuwen quickly sidled up to her and said in a fawning tone.

"My needlework is quite good. I can make the Prince’s clothes for Manman."

He Family put down the tape measure and frowned at her.

"I’m asking Manman to make clothes for the Prince because it’s the thought that counts. If we were going to have you do it, we might as well just hire an embroideress."

He Qiuwen was indignant. "I was just trying to help! Besides, my needlework is no worse than an embroideress’s.

I make all the clothes for my husband, sons, and daughters myself. Any one of them would be considered excellent."

He Family retorted, "Can your family be compared to Prince Zhao?"

He Qiuwen seemed to be getting angry.

"Why would you say that? I was just trying to be nice!"

He Family opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but she remembered they were in the Prince Zhao Mansion. Not wanting her daughter to lose face, she held her tongue.

To ease the tension, Hua Manman pointed to the pastries on the table.

"The kitchen just made this jujube cake. It’s sweet and sour and delicious. I hear it’s also good for the appetite and digestion. You should try some."

Wanting to support her daughter, He Family picked up a piece of jujube cake, took a bite, and praised how delicious it was.

He Qiuwen also had some of the cake.

The pastries in the Prince Zhao Mansion were indeed excellent, but her mind wasn’t on food.

She wiped her fingers with a handkerchief, scooted her cushion closer to Hua Manman, and asked with great interest.

"I heard our eldest brother’s son, Zhiyuan, got into the Tiger Roar Camp. Did you ask the Prince to get him in?"

Before Hua Manman could speak, He Family cut in.

"Who have you been listening to? Eldest brother got Zhiyuan into the Tiger Roar Camp through his own connections. It was all his own doing and had nothing to do with Prince Zhao."

But He Qiuwen didn’t believe her.

"Don’t try to fool me. My husband has a relative who serves in the Tiger Roar Camp.

He told me that ever since Zhiyuan joined, he’s been well taken care of by his superiors and has barely suffered at all.

You know what the Tiger Roar Camp is like.

New recruits are bound to suffer a lot in their first few months. Getting bullied is unavoidable.

But Zhiyuan is doing just fine. How is that possible?

It’s because he has someone powerful watching his back, isn’t it? And isn’t the man at the very top of the Tiger Roar Camp none other than Prince Zhao?"

He Qiuwen laid out her case so logically that He Family was at a loss for a rebuttal.

He Qiuwen grabbed Manman’s hand again, pleading in that same fawning tone.

"Since you already got Zhiyuan into the Tiger Roar Camp, why not get my two boys in as well?

With Prince Zhao watching over them, they’re guaranteed to have bright futures. Once they’re successful, it will reflect well on you, too!"

At this, He Family finally understood why her sister had pestered her to come along to the Prince Zhao Mansion.

’So she wanted to come to the Prince Zhao Mansion to curry favor and pull some strings!’

Hua Manman didn’t answer.

But He Qiuwen refused to give up, continuing her earnest, nagging persuasion.

"We all know what kind of person Prince Zhao is. When he loses his temper, he’s capable of disowning his own family.

Just yesterday, I heard he smashed up Ruyi Building. See how violent his temper is?

What if one day he suddenly raises a hand to you?

When that happens, you’ll have to rely on your side of the family. Only we can stand up for you when you’re being bullied.

Listen to your auntie, you can’t go wrong.

First, help my two boys get established. Once they’re successful, they’ll be able to support you. You..."

Hua Manman cut her off.

"Prince Zhao won’t hit me."

Her words were deliberate and resolute.

She trusted Prince Zhao completely. He would never be like her own father, who blamed all his troubles on his wife and daughter.

Prince Zhao had a pride all his own!