The Dragon King: [Such a cute girl. She still remembers this fool.]
Lin Yu: [Since Ming Li is a man, he can't live with the girls.]
Shen Baozhu looked at the subtitles in confusion. "They don't have to live in the same room. It's a big compound with many rooms."
The Dragon King: [Would it be bad for the girls' reputation?]
Seeing that Shen Baozhu had difficulty understanding this question, Princess Jingning tactfully voiced her concerns. "He Qing and Hai Yan are both petty. If you let Ming Li live in the compound, they'll be unhappy and think you're being partial."
This question was simple. Without a second thought, Shen Baozhu said, "Then let Eldest Brother and Third Brother move in, too... And Second Brother!"
Shen Baozhu didn't want to be partial at all. She might as well let all three of her brothers live in the compound. Then she could see the people she liked as soon as she opened her eyes every day. How wonderful!
Princess Jingning sighed and said bluntly, "Do you really want He Qing to live next door, Baozhu? Then it'll be even more convenient for him to supervise your studies."
The Dragon King: [Oh-ho!]
Lin Yu: [Previously, they didn't live in the same compound, so He Qing couldn't take Baozhu to morning reading. If they live together, he can not only take Baozhu but also supervise Miao Chun. It's killing two birds with one stone.]
"Moreover, have you forgotten, Baozhu? Hai Yan has always wanted you to practice martial arts. If they all move in, you might have to do horse stance while reciting books."
"And Dan Qing..."
Shen Danqing doted on Shen Baozhu the most in the family, but he was also the strictest with her. With him around, Shen Baozhu's days were going to be tough.
As Princess Jingning described, Shen Baozhu imagined her miserable future in her mind.
She would have to get up before dawn for morning reading. When the sky was just beginning to brighten, she would have to do horse stance under Third Brother's supervision. Then she would have to learn characters and practice calligraphy... In the evening, she would have to study with Eldest Brother.
Second Brother was the strictest. Unlike Eldest Brother and Third Brother, he was not easy to talk to. If he said she couldn't eat pastries, she really couldn't eat a single bite. She probably wouldn't even be able to drink sweet soup.
No, this wouldn't do!
Shen Baozhu shook her head like a rattle. The veil on her hat almost fell off. "We won't live together. Definitely not!"
Princess Jingning took Shen Baozhu to other parts of the estate. The biggest impression the estate left on Shen Baozhu was its vastness. It was huge. Besides the main compound, there were several small yards. Further away were the farmlands and the residences of the farmers.
The Dragon King: [Not bad, not bad. It's big enough. I like it.]
The Immortal Qingyun: [It's so well-prepared. Are you planning to stay here for a long time?]
Lin Yu: [Judging from the time it took to get here by carriage, this place is too remote. Miao Chun still has to go to the poetry club to study, and it'll be inconvenient for Ming Li to collect rent.]
The Dragon King: [Then let Chen Miao Chun and the fool continue to live in the princess's mansion. The cute girl and Qiu Qiu can live here.]
Lin Yu: [That's unlikely. They've even prepared a room for Miao Chun.]
While the subtitles were in discussion, Princess Jingning also told Shen Baozhu the real purpose of this estate. "Baozhu, do you know what those buildings over there are?"
Shen Baozhu looked blank. "What are they?"
"They're the improved spinning machines, one of the blueprints the immortal gave you last time. Now they've been developed by the Ministry of Works. The improved spinning machines are stored in the embroidery workshop over there. They're in charge of Su Ming, the elder brother of Su Qian." Princess Jingning stood on a hill with Shen Baozhu and looked into the distance. Vaguely, they could see the figures of people.
The Dragon King: [Su Ming? Is that crybaby here, too?]
Shen Baozhu stood on tiptoe and tried to look into the distance like her mother. But all she saw was the vast farmland. It was evening, and the afterglow of the setting sun poured down, forming a beautiful picture.
Princess Jingning's firm and gentle voice came. "Baozhu, this estate is a gift from mother. The farmers in front are the veterans rescued by the Mu family. They're at your disposal."
Shen Baozhu had the help of the immortal. Princess Jingning wasn't sure if these veterans would be useful to her. But she loved Baozhu. Even though mortals were insignificant in front of the immortal, Princess Jingning would do her best to give Baozhu the best.
Lin Yu: [It sounds like private soldiers. Is it really okay to tell Baozhu such an important thing?]
The Dragon King: [Of course it is. With me here, even if the cute girl tells the emperor in person that she's raising private soldiers, that human emperor will only say that the cute girl is doing a good job.]
Lin Yu thought of the emperor and Prime Minister Sima flattering the Dragon King. He put his heart at ease. That's right.
Watching Shen Baozhu snuggle in Princess Jingning's arms, the Immortal Qingyun thought of the first time he saw Baozhu. As parents, some people did their best to give their children the best, while others went to great lengths to harm their own flesh and blood.
...
Four days later, in a small town in Xiangyun Kingdom, in the backyard of a cloth shop.
A very tall and strong man stared with his eyes as big as copper bells. "This... This... Dan Qing is going to play the master tailor?"
The military advisor beside him rolled his eyes. "What else? Who asked that Princess Rou to be so impatient to come? I haven't even spread the news of inviting her, and she's already sent someone to make an appointment for a fitting today. She wouldn't even agree to a sample dress first. She has to come in person today."
"I've been busy with the surrender of Xiangyun Kingdom these days. Where do I have the time to find someone at the last minute? I heard that Concubine Dan Qing is good at embroidery, and he knows a bit, too. So I might as well ask him to be the master."
"Don't let the cat out of the bag. If people find out that you're the main general of Dayong, we're all doomed."
General Mu patted his chest. "Don't worry. I'm just a laborer in the shop."
Afraid of something going wrong, the military advisor checked again.
Shen Danqing was the master tailor who only made clothes for fated couples. He was the accountant hired by Shen Danqing. General Mu was the old laborer in the cloth shop, and Shen Heqing was Shen Danqing's disfigured elder brother. He wore a mask to avoid scaring people.
After everything was ready, the military advisor opened the shop to welcome customers.
As soon as the shop door opened, Princess Rou in a bright red silk dress and wearing a phoenix hairpin led her husband in. Taking advantage of the opportunity to welcome the customers, the military advisor looked outside twice. Princess Rou's carriage was parked outside the cloth shop. She must have arrived at the door of the cloth shop a long time ago.
The military advisor thought it was strange. This Princess Rou could actually wait outside for the shop to open. Had a good-tempered person emerged from the royal family of Xiangyun Kingdom?
Little did he know that it wasn't that Princess Rou had a good temper. As soon as the carriage arrived at the door of the cloth shop, Princess Rou ordered the guards to kick the door open, but she was stopped by Shen Yunfeng.
Shen Yunfeng had been busy fabricating lies these days to make his story of being kidnapped believable. He wouldn't allow Princess Rou to draw too much attention until he had cleaned up all the traces.
Moreover, Shen Yunfeng was going to put on a good show during this opportunity.
Normally, Shen Yunfeng would walk side by side with Princess Rou. But today, he walked one step behind. Before getting out of the carriage, he even powdered his face with rouge to make himself look pale, as if he had been coerced.
After entering the cloth shop, Princess Rou's maid introduced their identities to the accountant. Then the accountant invited the master out.
Shen Yunfeng looked around and took off his mask. From today on, he was no longer Princess Rou's husband. He was the substitute male favorite kidnapped by Princess Rou.
Running through the excuses he had fabricated in his mind, Shen Yunfeng took a deep breath. When he looked up again, he met the eyes of a familiar person. It was Shen Danqing!
Shen Danqing didn't expect that before Shen Heqing came out to recognize him, Shen Yunfeng would take off his mask by himself. He bumped into him as soon as he came in.
For a moment, he didn't know whether he should be surprised that Princess Rou's husband was actually Shen Yunfeng or that he was being suicidal by taking off his mask.
Seeing Shen Danqing, Shen Yunfeng's breathing quickened. He had to quickly tell the "truth," or it would be too late.