Silence.
Xia Tingfeng was silent for quite a while before he reacted. It turned out she had been troubled by this matter for so long. Xia Tingfeng couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration.
"I’m going off to war, not for a leisurely trip. Why would I bring a woman!"
If he were indeed going for leisure, he would take her with him, wouldn’t he? Why would he bring someone else? Moreover, to take concubines just three months after marriage? What did they take him for! He never wanted to take a concubine in his life. His mother was a concubine, and he knew better than anyone what kind of life she had endured. So if he didn’t like it, he shouldn’t harm other girls by doing so. It would be better for them to marry someone else, even if it were to a farmer or Coachman, at least they would be someone’s legitimate wife... Cough, he was thinking too far ahead.
Xia Tingfeng brought his thoughts back to the present. He pulled Ni Manxue into his arms.
"Stop worrying about nonsense. Let’s sleep!"
"Mm!"
Lady Ni felt a complex mix of emotions in her heart, unsure whether to feel grateful, happy, or bitter. But she didn’t dwell on it any longer, closing her eyes and obediently falling asleep.
On the third day, Xia Tingfeng entered the palace early in the morning, retrieved the military tally, and led five thousand elite soldiers out of the Capital City towards the Northwest.
The conflict in the Northwest was not significant. The Capital City had not felt the slightest impact. In fact, not even rumors had reached it.
However, on that day, Zhao Junyao received a memo from the Ministry of Revenue.
The memo stated: The price of grain in Jiangnan had suddenly risen quite a bit, and the common people were clueless and confused.
The same day he received the memo, Zhao Junyao summoned the Minister of Revenue to discuss state affairs together. It was a pity, though, that the Minister of Revenue also had no idea why, and could only respond cautiously.
"Your servant has only received the news; as for the reasons, we have yet to thoroughly investigate!"
Zhao Junyao felt somewhat dissatisfied but could not voice any complaint.
The Ministry of Revenue was an official body, not a commercial one. Such price fluctuations were inevitably stirred up by merchants in Jiangnan, and furthermore... it was generally difficult for outsiders to investigate.
Zhao Junyao then said, "Very well, go back for now! Send people to check which merchants are raising prices on their own accord to see if there’s any foul play behind it!"
The Minister of Revenue hurriedly complied. "Yes."
"Your servant will follow your divine decree!"
Having said this and seeing that there was nothing else, he bowed and withdrew.
Zhao Junyao picked up the memo again for another look before temporarily setting it aside.
It wasn’t that he didn’t take it seriously. Rather, the affairs of the marketplace could not be rashly meddled with by the Imperial Court without clear reasons. This was prescribed by law, and not even the Emperor could violate it. However, after giving it some thought, Zhao Junyao figured there likely wasn’t a significant problem. So he temporarily let it go.
The two significant issues facing the Imperial Court weren’t too immense. An emperor seasoned by adversity wouldn’t be thrown off balance by such matters. Thus, in Zhao Junyao’s view, the affairs of the court had essentially returned to normal.
There should no longer be any major turmoil.
As for the Harem, there was even less need to mention it. The Empress had long been in control, and recently, she had become close with the Empress Dowager again.
Speaking of the Empress Dowager, Xia Ruqing found it quite strange.
"Was all that before just an act?"
"How can she no longer mind so quickly, and now... her treatment of the Empress is almost like that of the former Noble Consort!"
"I always feel that something is not quite right!"
Perhaps it was because she had spent too long in the Harem. This kind of inexplicable favor always made her feel uneasy inside. After all, pies don’t just fall from the sky.
Zi Yue thought for a moment and said, "This servant doesn’t understand these matters."
"But... the Empress Dowager has been much more cheerful lately, and I hear her health has improved!"
"Anyway, that should be considered a good thing, right?"
Isn’t that just the way it is in the Harem? If those above have it good, then those below can get by!
Xia Ruqing thought about it. "Seems like that’s the principle! Hmph! Whatever, let’s just cross that bridge when we come to it!"
Worrying about all these unnecessary things now is useless, isn’t it?!
"Mistress, you’re absolutely right!"
Xia Ruqing smiled.
...
Little Bun had his lunch and then went to sleep, with the puppy and Da Bai and Xiao Bai all in his room. Xia Ruqing wasn’t worried.
Perhaps it was due to frequent contact with these little animals, but Little Bun’s immune system seemed to be a bit stronger than other children his age. This had become even more apparent since he learned to walk. Every day he’d take his cats and dogs out for mad adventures, sometimes getting lost and turning up covered in mud. It drove the three governesses absolutely crazy with worry. They wished they could keep their eyes on him at all times, for fear that this little ancestor would accidentally cause some disaster. Of course, they were also quite frustrated about something else: the Little Prince behaved this way, and Her Ladyship actually didn’t care!