Chapter 9.2

Zhao Sui: “We’re husband and wife. Let’s dispense with these formalities in the future.”

Yao Huang: “Alright, I thought they felt rather formal too.”

Her tone was natural.  Zhao Sui, for some reason, recalled their intimacy from last night,

and lowered his eyes. “Sit down.  This is a register of the mansion’s servants. Take a look.”

Qing’ai promptly produced a book, bowing and placing it before the guest seat to the lower

left of the Prince.

Yao Huang lifted her skirt slightly and sat down.  Looking at the Prince seated in the main

seat, she praised him with a smile, “This seating arrangement is excellent. It makes it much

more convenient for both of us. If we sat side by side, we’d have to twist our necks to talk,

and our necks would be stiff after a while.”

Qing’ai: “…”

He nervously looked at the Prince.

Zhao Sui: “Go and see if everyone’s here.”

Qing’ai bowed and left.

Yao Huang sensed the Prince’s urgency to finish this matter quickly.  Without delay, she

picked up the register and began to read.

The first page listed only three names: Guo Shu, the steward overseeing the mansion’s

internal and external affairs; Eunuch Cao, in charge of the male servants; and Matron Liu,

in charge of the female servants.

Zhao Sui: “The mansion has many servants, and you’re new here. If you need anything, you

can directly summon these three. You’re the Princess; unless your request is unreasonable,

they will all listen to you.”

Yao Huang understood.  For example, regarding money, with Prince Hui’s generosity, she

could withdraw hundreds or even thousands of taels from the treasury without issue. But if

she were to take all of Prince Hui’s five thousand taels of annual salary at once, Guo Shu

would certainly have to ask Prince Hui himself for permission.

Yao Huang continued to flip through the pages.

The register listed the servants according to their rank.  Each of the mansion’s three

courtyards and the back garden had a steward responsible for the maintenance of

buildings, daily cleaning, flower and tree care, etc.

Following this were lists organized by specific tasks: the kitchen, the embroidery room, the

flower room, the storeroom, the workshop, the stable, the laundry room, etc.  Each

location, from the steward to the youngest maids and servants, was meticulously

documented.

Besides the vast majority of servants who had signed indentures, the mansion also employed two resident physicians, both renowned doctors with excellent medical skills.

As Yao Huang read and roughly counted, she discovered that there were over a hundred

servants in the mansion.  She was surprised.  Closing the register, she quietly asked Prince Hui, “Prince, with so many people, the monthly wages alone must be considerable, right?”

Zhao Sui: “…If we can afford them, we can keep them. No need to worry.”

Yao Huang quickly did a rough calculation. The Prince’s annual salary was five thousand

taels, averaging just over four hundred taels per month.  The monthly allowances, food

expenses, and maintenance of the mansion and gardens were estimated at one hundred

taels, leaving only three hundred taels of the Prince’s monthly salary.  After deducting

another hundred taels for the couple’s food, clothing, and medicine…

From Yao Huang’s background as the daughter of a centurion, two hundred taels remaining

each month for the mansion was certainly more than enough. But considering Prince Hui’s

promise from last night to let her spend freely, and the fact that a single gemstone hairpin

could cost hundreds of taels, if she, as the Princess, were to spend lavishly, the mansion

would soon run out of money!

Zhao Sui watched as his Princess furrowed her brow, then quickly smoothed it out.  She

said to him with a serious expression, “Prince, rest assured, I will be frugal. I will never

spend money I shouldn’t.”

She loved jewelry, but she wouldn’t buy new, expensive pieces every month. As long as the

Prince didn’t mind, she would happily wear beautiful and affordable jewelry.

Zhao Sui: “…”

Qing’ai returned, “Reporting to the Prince, they are all here.”

Zhao Sui: “Tell Fei Quan to bring them in.”

The servants were waiting outside Mingantang, and over a hundred people were quickly led

in by the three stewards in an orderly manner.

Qing’ai pushed Zhao Sui out, and Yao Huang followed behind.

Guo Shu, the head steward, announced loudly, “Greetings to the Prince and Princess!”

The crowd immediately knelt down and bowed in unison.

Zhao Sui looked at Yao Huang.

Yao Huang understood and told everyone to rise.

After standing up straight, everyone respectfully gazed at the Princess’s features, recognizing her face before respectfully lowering their heads.

Zhao Sui said, “Just as you respect me, you must respect the Princess from now on. Anyone

who dares to disobey will be punished according to the mansion’s rules.”

The crowd knelt down and acknowledged the order.

Having established Yao Huang’s authority, Zhao Sui dismissed the crowd and said to Yao Huang, “I’ll accompany you on a tour of the mansion.”

This was the courtesy a newlywed husband should give his wife.

Yao Huang was very interested. This was her new home, of course, she wanted to take a

good look around.

However, she felt that it would be easier to cultivate their relationship and speak more

freely if they toured alone, so without hesitation, she walked behind the wheelchair and

said to Qing’ai, “You all stay here. I’ll take care of the Prince.”

Qing’ai: “…”

He didn’t even dare to ask the Prince’s opinion, and because he was standing behind the

wheelchair, he couldn’t see the Prince’s expression.

Seeing the Princess reach out to take over the Prince, Qing’ai hesitated, unsure whether to

release his grip on the handle behind the wheelchair.

Yao Huang noticed and bent down, tilting her head to ask the main person, “Prince, is it

alright?”

Zhao Sui: “Yes, Qing’ai, Ah Ji, follow from a distance.”

Qing’ai breathed a sigh of relief.

Yao Huang smiled and took over the wheelchair, “Prince, you lead the way. Don’t worry, I’ll

push you steadily.”

Zhao Sui pointed in a direction.

The courtyards on the east and west sides had different uses, some for receiving guests,

some for banquets, and some as storerooms or libraries. After a brief tour, the four of them

finally arrived at the back garden.

In late April, the garden was lush and full of flowers.  Rockery, pavilions, and towers were

hidden amidst the beautiful scenery.  Even the air they breathed was fresher than on the

road.

Yao Huang breathed a sigh of comfort and said happily, “This garden is truly beautiful. If I

hadn’t married the Prince, I wouldn’t have seen such a beautiful view in my lifetime.”

Zhao Sui pointed to the east, “Let’s start from here.”