0p0 Chapter 472 The Year is Approaching!
Chapter 472 The Year is Approaching!
With the New Year approaching, everyone in the Prince's Mansion is busy, but Mu Xin Nuan, the mistress of the manor, is unusually leisurely.
Aunt Fang, who works under her, is truly exceptionally capable. She doesn't need to oversee even the smallest matters, but she always reports back to Aunt Fang after making a decision. She also submits a shopping list for any items that need to be purchased.
Mu Xin Nuan was happy to have some peace and quiet. She didn't really like dealing with these household affairs, but now that Aunt Fang was helping out, and she was also willing to mentor Rong Yue, she had nothing to worry about.
Mu Xin Nuan could sense that Aunt Fang had deep feelings for Duanmu Chu Ze, and that even Granny Song's feelings for him were probably not as deep as Aunt Fang's.
Thinking of this Granny Song, Mu Xin Nuan suddenly remembered Song Jing, whom she had ignored for a long time.
"Your Highness, Song Jing has been much more well-behaved lately. She no longer dresses up in a flamboyant manner to greet us, and she hasn't even left the west wing."
Hearing Mu Qing's words, Mu Xin Nuan raised her eyebrows slightly, "Have you figured it out, or do you have other plans?"
Mu Hua frowned. "Your Highness, it seems to me that Song Jing hasn't come to her senses. A few days ago, Granny Song specifically went to see Song Jing."
Mu Xin Nuan nodded, "Everyone be careful. The New Year is approaching, and our Prince's Mansion is preparing to hold a grand banquet to commend the officials who have done a good job in solving the problem of displaced people in these five counties. We must not embarrass the Prince at this time."
"Yes, princess."
Thinking about Mu Hua's words, Mu Xin Nuan felt that this Granny Song had indeed gone a bit too far.
Although I haven't paid any attention to her these days, it doesn't mean I'm completely unaware of what she's been doing.
She was clearly just a maidservant. Although she was the head steward of the inner quarters, that didn't mean she could make decisions for her mistress. And she actually dared to assign Aunt Fang to do things for her? She was utterly overestimating herself!
As for Granny Yu, it's said she caused trouble every now and then during the first few days. However, Mu Xin Nuan had no intention of interfering. She knew what kind of person Granny Yu was—she could say both kind and harsh things. At worst, she could just coax her a few more times.
Now that Granny Yu has established herself in the kitchen, Granny Song, having received two favors from her, is too embarrassed to cause any more trouble.
In fact, Mu Xin Nuan believes that water that is too clear has no fish.
If Granny Song was merely greedy for small gains and trying to squeeze out more benefits, she could understand and even tolerate her. But if she dared to harbor any intentions detrimental to the Prince and her, then she would absolutely not tolerate her any longer.
"Chunyu, weren't you also working for the Prince before? Who exactly is this Granny Song working for?"
Chunyu was taken aback, not expecting the princess to ask directly whose person she was, instead of asking whether she was loyal to the prince.
"Your Highness, the Prince has ordered an investigation for a long time, but has not found any results. However, it is certain that she is not the Empress's person."
Mu Xin Nuan narrowed her eyes. So, Duanmu Chu Ze had suspected her for a long time. However, her background was too complicated. After all, she came from the palace. With all the back and forth and the frequent transfers, it was hard to be sure whose side she was on. Mu Xin Nuan could understand that.
However, after being by the prince's side for so long, she really hasn't done anything that would be detrimental to him.
Chunyu seemed to see through her thoughts. "Your Highness, although Granny Song is the head of the household, the Prince did not live in the back courtyard before, and Granny Song's authority was not great enough to interfere in the front. Therefore, since the Prince was seven years old, Granny Song has not had many opportunities to come into contact with the Prince."
After Duanmu Chuze turned seven, he no longer lived in the inner palace. However, he did live in the East Palace for a few years. At the age of thirteen, he moved outside the palace and had his own residence in the city. However, at that time he had not yet been granted the title of king and was only registered as the residence of the fourth prince. It was not until he returned from the border that he was directly granted the title of Prince Chang Le.
Thinking about it, he didn't actually have many opportunities to interact with this Granny Song.
"Since we can't find out, we'll have someone keep an eye on her. Just remember, we'd better not get caught. If she's not the Empress's person, then she must have a reason for keeping her by the Prince's side. She might not do anything on a regular basis, but once she makes a move, it could be fatal."
"Yes, Your Highness, I understand."
Duanmu Chuze set the banquet before the New Year for the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month.
Because there is a custom in Yandi that on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, all family members must celebrate together at their own residence.
Zhao Zihe hadn't been home for several years, and this time, without exception, he stayed in Yanzhou. After all, although the situation in those counties was temporarily under control, it didn't mean the problem was completely solved. So, he chose to stay.
Most importantly, he didn't want Princess Chang Le to run off to Huayang County right after he left.
Mu Xin was filled with gratitude for Zhao Zihe's decision. After much thought, she decided to send someone to the capital to prepare New Year's gifts for the Li and Mu families, and also to send a gift to the Zhao family.
The celebratory banquet held before the New Year naturally required inviting officials of all ranks in Yanzhou City.
Because it was the first year, and the disaster had not yet completely subsided, this victory celebration banquet was only open to officials, who were not allowed to bring their families. Therefore, Princess Mu Xin Nuan, the Princess of Chang Le, was not required to attend.
On the evening of the 22nd, the front yard was exceptionally lively, with singing and dancing adding to the festivities and music playing continuously.
Mu Xin Nuan lay alone on the soft couch in the main room, holding a book in her hand, but her eyes seemed to have drifted far away. Because Duanmu Chu Ze was worried that she couldn't stand the cold of Yan, he had the underfloor heating in Yi Jing Garden kept running for twelve hours a day.
In addition, the weather has been exceptionally cold these past two days, so we added another charcoal stove here.
The silver charcoal occasionally hissed in the stove, but it didn't smoke, and there was no smoky smell in the room, indicating that it was high-quality charcoal.
"Your Highness, you should go inside and rest. The Prince will probably be drinking late into the night."
Mu Xin Nuan's left eyelid twitched. She put down the book in her hand and suddenly felt uneasy. She wondered if a twitching left eyelid meant good fortune or disaster.
"Yes, remember to have someone wait for the Prince at the second gate and the entrance of our Yijing Garden. Don't let him fall again because he's drunk too much."
Chunyu's eye twitched upon hearing this. Could someone like the prince really fall down? She was just worried that the prince might have been plotted against by someone.