Chapter 55-Part 1

This residence is indeed so simple that there is nothing to criticize.

Thus, after the two madams caught their breath and walked around, they said nothing.

However, Madam Hui did mention that Tian Ying’s residence was too far from the Crown Prince’s quarters. Madam Hui, being sharp-tongued, smiled while subtly asking why the Crown Prince favored one over the other—was it because he believed that the Princess of Han was not as noble as the Princess of Yan?

The steward glanced at Young Master Jiang, who remained indifferent, and cautiously replied, “If we talk about distance, among the three concubines, the Princess of Bo’s residence is the furthest…”

Although the steward only spoke half a sentence, Madam Hui understood the implication: if even the Princess of Bo didn’t complain, what right did the Princess of Han have to be picky?

Madam Hui, unwilling to back down, was about to argue further when Young Master Jiang interrupted.

Sighing, Young Master Jiang said, “Everyone in Luo’an City knows that His Highness has always been frugal since childhood. He doesn’t fuss over his own food and drink. Now, in order to welcome the three concubines into the residence, he has indeed put in a lot of effort, spending much of his hard-earned savings. His Highness personally inspected each residence to ensure fairness. However, the proximity of the residences was truly difficult to arrange…”

Jiang Xiurun paused and continued, “I couldn’t bear to see His Highness, who is already busy with state affairs, be further burdened by matters of the inner courtyard. So I took the initiative to ask for the furthest residence for my sister, leaving the two better ones for Princess Tian and Princess Cao…If you two madams have no further complaints, and if it’s not a major issue, please be considerate and don’t trouble His Highness…”

Upon hearing this, Madam Hui glared, feeling that this tactless hostage was implying she was being unreasonable, and was about to retort.

Suddenly, Young Master Jiang choked up and said, “Last night, His Highness stayed up all night revising the documents for the Water Transport Department. We all saw this and were deeply concerned. Even an iron body cannot withstand such exhaustion…”

By the end of his words, Young Master Jiang seemed genuinely moved, with tears welling up in his eyes. Seeing this, the steward, not wanting to be outdone, tried to cry as well, but since he couldn’t, he instead rubbed his eyes vigorously until they reddened and then sobbed a few times.

At this point, the two men were both moved to tears, and Madam Hui felt that continuing to argue would make her seem unreasonable, as if she were burdening the Crown Prince.

Moreover, Madam Zhao, the Empress’s attendant, was standing nearby. If Madam Hui continued to haggle over the residence’s location, Madam Zhao might add fuel to the fire when reporting to the Empress, which wouldn’t be favorable.

Although Tian Ying’s residence was indeed far, it was only a few extra steps. Compared to the Princess of Bo’s residence, which required a journey through mountains and rivers, it was much closer.

Thinking this way, Madam Hui felt somewhat relieved and decided to drop the matter, saying no more.

Madam Zhao, too, was originally dissatisfied with the simplicity of Princess Cao’s residence. But Young Master Jiang’s words made sense—after all, the Crown Prince had always been frugal, not concerned with luxuries.

If the newlywed Princess Cao were to be picky about everything, wouldn’t that make Princess Tian and Princess Jiang seem more “virtuous”?

With this in mind, Madam Zhao also refrained from mentioning the residence’s decor any further, deciding instead to report back to the Empress and let her make the final decision.

After successfully seeing off the two madams, the steward went to report to the Crown Prince.

His Highness had just finished discussing the canal-digging project with the officials of the Water Transport Department when the steward arrived with his report. The Crown Prince knew how difficult the two madams could be, and thought the steward had come to consult him on how to handle the situation.

To his surprise, the steward reported that the two madams were quite satisfied and had already left the residence in their carriages.

Hearing this, Feng Liwu raised his eyebrows in surprise.

The steward, smiling, then recounted how Young master Jiang had cleverly worn the two madams out with a tour of the garden and then how he silenced them, relaying every detail. He concluded by saying, “Although Young Master Jiang is young, he is exceptionally shrewd and skillful, using unorthodox methods to deftly pacify the two madams.”

Feng Liwu remained silent, acknowledging that the steward’s words were not an exaggeration. Those crooked ways were indeed something that could only be thought of by that guy.

After reporting on the two madams, the steward asked the Crown Prince, “With the new year approaching, we need to start planning the wedding arrangements. Are we really going to keep the wedding simple?”

The Crown Prince had instructed the previous day that the wedding should be understated, even to the point of omitting a banquet.

This was essentially a quiet way of bringing the three princesses into the residence without fanfare!

The steward could hardly believe his ears, as even the wealthiest villagers wouldn’t be so shabby when taking a concubine.

Feng Liwu, head lowered, replied, “If the two families ask, just tell them that with the canal digging imminent, the state treasury is about to be drained. Since this is merely a trial marriage for three women, according to ancestral customs, they can be quietly brought into the residence. There’s no need for a banquet. Once they are officially acknowledged or granted titles by the Emperor, we can then hold a proper banquet.”

The steward knew that the Crown Prince’s words couldn’t be repeated verbatim. Otherwise, the three princesses would surely cry their hearts out.

But with the Crown Prince’s decision made, experience told him that not even the Empress could change it.

It seemed that this tricky matter would need to be discussed with Young Master Jiang!

With this in mind, the steward respectfully bowed and took his leave from the Crown Prince…

Soon, it was the twelfth lunar month. In Luo’an City, each household prepared according to custom with five types of beans—soybeans, broad beans, mung beans, peas, and cowpeas—mixed with millet to cook a thick, sweet “five-bean porridge,” symbolizing abundance as they prepared to celebrate the New Year.

During the festive season, the staff of the Crown Prince’s residence would generally return home for the holidays. Jiang Xiurun had already instructed Qian’er to buy New Year’s goods and send them back home, as she planned to return to the hostage residence for the New Year.

A few days earlier, her brother Jiang Zhi had officially married Wen Niang. Having a woman of the house made all the difference, especially since Wen Niang was adept at managing the household, so the hostage residence was filled with a lively atmosphere during this New Year.

Jiang Xiurun made a point to visit her family before New Year’s Eve to bring some of the cured meat that the Crown Prince’s residence had gifted, as well as to pick up the fabric and hairpins she had bought earlier for her new sister-in-law.

As she was leaving the shop and getting into her carriage, she suspected that someone was following her and instructed Qian’er to be alert. Sure enough, after a short distance, they noticed several shadowy figures trailing behind.

Now, whenever Jiang Xiurun left the residence, she was always accompanied by skilled guards from the Crown Prince’s residence—partly for her safety and partly to monitor her movements.