Shen Mingzhu was just getting up. Hearing this, she turned to look at Chun Tao and couldn't help falling into deep thought. Indeed, if Chun Tao hadn't spoken up, she would have almost forgotten that she was now a married princess with a consort. She had to consider Xie Lang's opinion when going out.
"I'll go and ask."
Saying so, Shen Mingzhu stepped over the screen and walked towards the study.
She sat down, nodded slightly to the subordinate who had been waiting there for a long time, and said, "What's the matter today?"
"Your Highness," the man looked up at Shen Mingzhu, with a hint of joy on his face. "The construction of the Princess Mansion has been much smoother these days than before. If it continues at this pace, it will surely be completed in a few months."
Shen Mingzhu's expression softened a little. She took a sip of the warm tea and said to the man, "What are those old guys in the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Rites up to? Have you got hold of their weaknesses?"
It didn't seem right. Although this was a good thing, just thinking about the numerous obstacles she had faced before made Shen Mingzhu feel annoyed. When the Princess Mansion was being built, everyone wanted to get involved. Seeing that she was hastily betrothed to Xie Lang, she even couldn't get married in the Princess Mansion.
Logically speaking, she had quarreled with Shen Mingyuan a few days ago. There were many spies in the palace, so it was impossible for them not to know about this.
"Your Highness," upon hearing this, the joy on the man's face faded a little. He hesitated for a moment and then explained to Shen Mingzhu, "At first, I thought the same way. I was not very relieved, so I investigated."
Shen Mingzhu paused for a moment. Suddenly, a name came to her mind.
"But... But I actually found out that it was the Emperor's idea."
Shen Mingzhu's expression changed. She thought it might be Zhou Chengyu who had done this, but she didn't expect it to be Shen Mingyuan, that guy whose mind seemed to be filled with something strange.
What did Shen Mingyuan mean? Wasn't he the one who had made things difficult for her before? Now he was pretending to be a good guy. First, he had gone to the Queen Mother to curry favor, and now he was coming to help her.
Seeing that Shen Mingzhu's expression was not very good, the man quickly continued to explain, "Maybe there is someone behind the scenes using the Emperor's name to help you?"
Shen Mingzhu gave him a cold look. "Such an important matter. How could anyone dare to use the Emperor's name?"
Saying so, she opened the letter on the table but didn't unfold it. She just said to the man, "Go down. Don't worry. Since someone is helping behind the scenes, just keep an eye on it. No one dares to plot against me like this."
"Yes."
"By the way," just before the man was about to leave, Shen Mingzhu looked at him with a calm expression. "Remember to pay attention to the bedroom."
The man was confused, but seeing that Shen Mingzhu had specifically mentioned it, he was worried that he might misunderstand her meaning. So he had to summon up his courage and ask, "Your Highness means..."
"Make the bedroom bigger."
"Yes!"
Seeing the man leave, Chun Tao, who was standing behind Shen Mingzhu, almost burst out laughing. She let out a small gasp and was glared at by Shen Mingzhu.
"Cough cough cough." Chun Tao cleared her throat and said to Shen Mingzhu, "Then Your Highness might as well not make the bed. Instead, make a bigger one and send it directly to the Princess Mansion later. This can also save some silver."
Shen Mingzhu couldn't help but look up at her and then continued, "When has the Princess Mansion needed to save on such things?"
"I just thought that the beds you usually use take a long time to make. The things made in just half a month, no matter how good the materials and craftsmen are, are still not of the highest quality. It really doesn't match your status."
"If there is more time, a better one can be made." Chun Tao said. Seeing the hesitation in Shen Mingzhu's eyes, she knew what the person in front of her was thinking. So she asked, "I wonder what Your Highness thinks?"
Shen Mingzhu fell into deep thought.
Chun Tao was right. Although she was wealthy, it was a pity to spend half a month and a lot of silver on a bed that would only be used for a short period of time and then be discarded.
This...
"Alright," Shen Mingzhu said after a moment of thought. "Then clean up the next room today for the consort to stay in."
"Yes."
...
Xie Lang got up early. When he got up, it was still not completely bright. Seeing that Shen Mingzhu was still sleeping, he gently lifted the quilt, got up, put on his shoes first, and then went to the next room to wash up.
As soon as he went out, he saw Chun Tao. The two stared at each other for a few seconds. Then Chun Tao let out a deep sigh and said respectfully to Xie Lang, "It was my fault last night. Your Highness has cleaned up the side room, but I didn't expect the little maid on night watch to miss you."
"It's okay." Xie Lang's tone was cold when talking to others, with a hint of coldness that was never seen when he was in front of Shen Mingzhu. "She probably won't get up for a while. You wait here."
Seeing that Xie Lang was about to leave after speaking, Chun Tao hesitated for a moment and then quickly chased after him. "I'll clean up the next room today. If you come back late, you can go there directly."
Chun Tao pointed to the room, but unexpectedly, Xie Lang stopped in his tracks. He turned to look at her with a half - smile and said, "Who am I?"
Chun Tao lowered her head. "The consort."
"That's right." He said, still with a hint of smile in his tone, but there was an indescribable aura in his expression that made Chun Tao, who was used to seeing noble people everywhere, subconsciously frown and not dare to look him in the eye.
"I hope Miss Chun Tao can help me more." Xie Lang's tone became gentle again. He continued to Chun Tao, "Your Highness is lonely now. If I can win her heart earlier, wouldn't it be a good thing?"
After saying this, Xie Lang chatted with her for a few more words and then turned to leave.
He left the mansion and got on the carriage going out of the city.
Xie Lang was still a little sleepy, so he propped his head up and rested in the carriage. The people around Shen Mingzhu were all very loyal, so Xie Lang had never considered bribing them with gold and silver. Especially Chun Tao. If he really tried to bribe her with gold and silver, she would surely be on guard against him.
Only by showing her his true feelings for Shen Mingzhu could she really help him.
This was a rare good opportunity. He just didn't know if Chun Tao would help him today. Anyway, he must go back late tonight, preferably after Shen Mingzhu had fallen asleep, so that she couldn't drive him away.
Thinking of this, Xie Lang was no longer sleepy at all. Instead, he was full of energy.
He got off the carriage. The road ahead was a bit remote. He mounted his horse, gave an order to his subordinates behind him, and then whipped his horse away.
"My lord."
Seeing the masked Xie Lang appear here, the people in the small courtyard immediately became nervous and knelt on the ground in an instant.
There was a faint smell of blood in the air, mixed with a hint of rotting smell that couldn't be covered, which made Xie Lang frown slightly.
"The servant deserves to die! We know that the lord is coming but still didn't restrain ourselves!"
The people present were all dressed as farmers. There were even two women in coarse cloth clothes. There were also a few acres of fields outside the small courtyard, planted with some fruits and vegetables.
The scene was very discordant, but Xie Lang just frowned when he heard this. He dismounted and said, "Have you caught the people? How many?"