Chapter 603: Pleading for Mercy
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling’s original intention for opening the grain stores was to promote all kinds of high-yielding seeds. Thus, as long as the grain stores did not suffer a loss, she would continue the expansion.
However, she could not say this to Wang Quan, lest it dampened his enthusiasm and restricted the development of the grain stores.
However, Wang Quan was extremely ashamed by Mu Yangling’s words. After hearing her explanation, he felt that this was the highest realm of doing business. Pulling himself together, he promised, “Fourth Madam, don’t worry. I will definitely manage the grain store well and build a good relationship with the farmers. I will definitely make them choose us first willingly.”
Zhu Liang glanced at Wang Quan, then carefully glanced at the smiling Mu Yangling. He lowered his head and fell silent.
He had been by Fourth Madam’s side for a long time, so he understood her original intention of opening the grain store. Now that he saw that Wang Quan had been fooled, he lit a stick of incense for him in his heart. Then, he stood there obediently and decided to pretend that he did not know anything.
Satisfied, Mu Yangling asked Wang Quan to leave. Then, she said to Zhu Liang, “Hand the farmstead to your subordinates, then pack your things and follow us to Qiannan.”
Mu Yangling paused for a moment and said with a smile, “Your father is now in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs under Young Master Zijin. We originally wanted you to help your father, but His Majesty said that since you’ve been with us for many years and are used to it, you don’t have to go back. Fourth Master thought about it and agreed. Coincidentally, there’s no one in charge of matters in our residence at the moment. Therefore, he wants you to be the chief butler. Fourth Master will arrange for you to follow us to Qiannan this time.”
Delighted, Zhu Liang hurriedly knelt down to kowtow. “Thank you for your nurturing, Mistress.”
Mu Yangling said with a smile, “You don’t have to thank me. I’ve seen your abilities over the past few years. Previously, I had no choice but to let you manage a farmstead. Now that there’s a better opportunity, I naturally won’t bury your talents.”
However, opportunities also differed in terms of size. Zhu Liang knew that in terms of closeness, he was far inferior to Fei Bai, who had risked his life by the Fourth Master’s side. Yet, he was able to surpass Fei Bai and become the chief butler of the Prince’s estate. It could be seen how much trust the two of them had in him.
As for working alongside his father in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, although it sounded better to be the Emperor’s servant, he knew very well that servants like them would not be able to come into contact with many core matters in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Since there were officials in charge of things in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he would at most be just an assistant. Aside from having to constantly tread on thin ice, he would likely be bullied, only to be paid a pittance.
However, it was different in the Prince’s estate. The good-tempered Fourth Madam rarely flared up at the servants, let alone vent her anger on them. And although the Fourth Master’s temper was explosive, he treated his servants well. Word had it that throughout his many years of serving under Fourth Master, Fei Bai had only been beaten once.
And that one time he got beaten up, he did deserve it—he didn’t keep the lid on confidential information and let Fourth Madam’s whereabouts be leaked.
Any other master would have beheaded him for such a crime. Furthermore, when Fourth Master heard that Fourth Madam was safe, he stopped pursuing the matter. Even now, Fei Bai was still serving as Fourth Master’s right-hand man.
As the saying went, ‘Even the Prime Minister’s doorman was equivalent to a seventh-grade official’, not to mention that Fei Bai was the butler of the Prince’s estate.
After Zhu Liang sincerely kowtowed to Mu Yangling three times, Mu Yangling passed on some of her core philosophies, such as how to manage external affairs well. Also, she cautioned him not to wield the power of the Prince’s estate to cause trouble outside, and to supervise the servants well. In addition, she wanted him to protect the reputation of the Prince’s estate and timely deal with the servants who took advantage of their position to bully others…
“Since we’re about to leave soon, you should start packing. We’ll leave together then.”
As they had been packing for more than 20 days, they had already prepared everything they needed and were only waiting for the day to set off.
Now that Mu Yangling and her son were the only masters in the Qi Residence, the entire mansion was under her control. The carriages filled with their things were placed in the courtyard and did not block the way. Hence, when Madam Xu and Little Madam Wu saw that there were many carriages in the previously spacious Qi Residence, their faces twitched a few times.
Rain calmly interrupted their line of sight and said with a smile, “Second Madam, Third Madam, let’s go. Fourth Madam is waiting at the pavilion.” Little Madam Wu frowned slightly and asked, “How do we get to the pavilion?” “It’s hot now, and Third Young Master can’t stand the heat, so Fourth Madam moved there.”
Madam Xu tugged at Little Madam Wu to remind the latter that even if she was unhappy, she shouldn’t show it on her face.
The two of them came to send Mu Yangling off, and also to beg her to bring them to the palace to see Madam Wu.
Ever since Madam Wu entered the palace, Qi Shaosheng submitted a memorial every other day to request to meet her, but was met with no reply. It took him a long time to realize that he was going about this the wrong way—Madam Xu should be the one handing over the token instead.
Hence, this time he decided to send Madam Xu.
When Madam Xu handed over the token, there was a reply. However, at that time, the palace was busy with the Empress’s conferment ceremony and was in a mess, so the palace rejected her request with this reason.
Qi Shaosheng was furious, feeling that they were just being perfunctory. Considering they only needed a guide to visit the Imperial Noble Consort in the palace, in what way did it hold them up?
The brothers were even more worried about Madam Wu’s situation in the palace. It was not easy for them to wait until the ceremony ended before handing in the tokens, but they were still rejected on the grounds that Imperial Noble Consort Wu was unwilling to see them.
Not to mention Qi Shaosheng and his brother, even Madam Xu and Little Madam Wu didn’t believe this reason. They had no choice but to beg Mu Yangling.
Mu Yangling thought for a moment and asked, “The Empress has the final say in the harem. Why did you two come to me?”
Madam Xu hurriedly said, “The Empress naturally has to make the final decision. However, since we don’t get to see the Empress, we can only beg you to plead on our behalf when you enter the palace to see the Empress. Second Master and Third Master miss their mother… Imperial Noble Consort. We just wish to show filial piety. After all, this is the first time we’ve been separated from the Imperial Noble Consort for so long…”
Mu Yangling nodded thoughtfully. “Then I’ll help you ask Her Majesty when I enter the palace tomorrow.”
Madam Xu heaved a sigh of relief and thanked her with a smile.
Now that her main goal had been achieved, the relieved Madam Xu asked with a smile, “When will you move into Prince’s Residence, Sister-in-law?”
“In a few years,” Mu Yangling answered as she took something to tease Little Bear.
Stunned, Madam Xu asked, “Why is it taking so long?” She glanced at Spring and the others and said with a smile, “Even if you want to go to Qiannan, you can get the servants to move in first so that they can take care of the residence. Otherwise, the house will be damaged if you leave it vacant for too long.”
“The floor of the Prince’s Residence has been upturned. Previously, in order to find the stolen money that Minister Qin was hiding, they even knocked on the roof beams. It’s extremely messy and has to undergo massive repairs before anyone can live in it. Now that the treasury is empty, even His Majesty has to seal several palaces in order to save money. Fourth Master said that we’ll be away for a few years anyway, and no one will live in the Prince’s Residence even if it’s repaired now. If we get someone to look after it, we’ll have to spend additional money. Therefore, we decided to leave it for now and deal with it only when we come back.”
Little Madam Wu pursed her lips, feeling that Mu Yangling was just showing off. On the other hand, Madam Xu praised, “Fourth Brother shares His Majesty’s worries indeed. No wonder Your Majesty thinks so highly of him. Our Second Master, who is solely focused on his studies, definitely can’t compare to him. I wonder when he’ll be able to stand out.”