As for Fuchashi… Muhua glanced over the account books, all kept using the Arabic Numerals Bookkeeping Method promoted by Fang He and the Princess of Chengyuan.
The accounts were clear, with thoughtful notes on various incomes and expenses, saving her a great deal of trouble.
Definitely a capable person.
Yinhui entered and asked, “How was it?”
Muhua blurted out, “Pretty, capable…” and not short on silver!
But remembering that the person before her wasn’t someone who’d always applaud whatever she said, like the Imperial Noble Consort or her own mother, she stopped herself and respectfully stood.
“In reply to My Lord, Tong side princess consort is easy to get along with, her face full of good fortune, while Fucha side princess consort is well-mannered and gentle—certainly able to serve My Lord well. I am quite pleased.”
Yinhui: “…..”
Are these really the Tongjia and Fuchashi he knew?
Seeing the Water Moon Gauze and the pile of account books nearby, Yinhui fell silent.
Tongjia had never been so generous with him, only making him a few Cloud Rosy Brocade outfits.
As for Fuchashi, she actually handed over the flower and herb accounts—he’d intended to use those as leverage!
He asked, face complicated, “Did you give them… a very generous meeting gift?”
Muhua was stunned, then shook her head, “I’m a bit short on silver right now, so I just used leftover fabric from making the Imperial Noble Consort’s clothes to sew a few handkerchiefs for them.”
“…..”
Though scraps, they were Cloud Rosy Brocade, double-sided embroidery with orchids and plum blossoms, just as Tongjia and Fuchashi liked.
She’d long since calculated the fabric and had them ready in advance.
Yinhui fell even more silent and didn’t say another word until they left the manor in the carriage.
So, she spent not a single coin, just did some needlework, and for a cup of tea, got a bolt of Water Moon Gauze and won over Fuchashi?
Having worried a bit about those two misbehaving, Yinhui really didn’t know what to say.
Worse, he’d had Zheng Yusheng deliver an extra heavy reward to the Main Courtyard—enough to fill half the storeroom—and he didn’t even get a handkerchief himself.
At the palace gate, Yinhui finally realized, “Didn’t I have Wei Zhu send you twenty thousand taels of silver as a dowry? How come you’re short on silver?”
Muhua replied matter-of-factly, “What’s the use of holding on to silver? Anyway, I’ll get a monthly allowance from now on. I had my Imperial Mother use it to buy land near Changchun Garden and Xiao Tangshan.”
Since Kangxi’s southern tour last year, maybe because he really liked Jiangnan’s scenery, and now that the treasury was filling again, he’d become keen on building more gardens as retreats for governance.
Now, construction was booming near Changchun Garden, the largest estate was awarded to Yinhui, and the other princes all got a garden, everyone busy with building.
Muhua’s mother thought the Emperor would spend more time near the gardens in the future, and in winter, at the hot springs palace—so land around Changchun Garden and Xiao Tangshan would only appreciate.
Sadly, the Xitala Clan wanted to buy but couldn’t—their official rank was too low, not qualified, and couldn’t keep it if they did.
But as the Fifteenth Prince’s Consort, Muhua could!
A few riding outfits was all it took for Fang He to arrange with Wei Zhu to handle the deeds.
Adding her own savings of three thousand taels, plus trousseau money from Fang He, Jiujiu, Minbao, and Yinhui, she had a total of thirty-six thousand taels.
She kept only five hundred for emergencies, exchanged it for a five-entrance, two-winged manor by Changchun Garden and a three-entrance small manor by Xiao Tangshan.
Just those two manors’ annual yields would be enough to cover all Prince Rui’s expenses.
Since she’d be running the inner courtyard, who wouldn’t want a cut of the purchasing silver?
That way, after all the annual costs, she could save a few thousand taels a year—at most ten years, and by the time her child started schooling, she’d already recouped her investment.
Muhua knew she couldn’t hide any of this from Yinhui and needed his support, so she explained everything in detail.
Yinhui’s response was… hard to describe.
Did this woman realize all the silver came from his private treasury?
Was she just making money off him?
And she thought of the children, but hadn’t considered pleasing him at all?
Yinhui wasn’t one to complain.
After half a month in the Main Courtyard, he resumed his routine and began visiting the side princess consorts.
He often heard his mother talk about “three days in, two days off,” so he copied his father: about eighteen days a month in the Main Courtyard, the rest at Tongjia and Fuchashi’s.
He wanted to see if, besides silver, his princess consort would ever remember she was his wife.
But after two months, there was still no movement in the Main Courtyard… well, not exactly none.
One day, returning from the palace on his scheduled Main Courtyard night, he found it empty.
“Where’s the princess consort?” Yinhui asked the maid, Yinxiao.
Yinxiao crouched awkwardly and replied, “Replying to My Lord, the princess consort said she lost a particular embroidery thread, so she went to the suburbs to look for it. She’ll be back late and can’t attend to you tonight.”
Yinhui frowned, but didn’t dwell on it, merely asked Zheng Yusheng to greet her at the city gate.
The next month, same thing—another excuse.
Yinhui’s face darkened and he turned away.
He wasn’t stupid; he knew Muhua was hugely popular with his sisters-in-law and sisters.
Jiujiu, Yin Xi’s consort, and the rest nearly fought over the five garments a month they got from Muhua.
This month, Muhua had “served” for nine days; same for last month—was she finding ten days too many and it was cutting into her money-making?
The next day, Yinhui summoned Muhua to the Shufangzhai.
“Let’s talk,” Yinhui said coolly, “Your Lord doesn’t mind you earning silver with your skills, but perhaps you could prioritize. I’d hate for rumors to spread that the prince can’t support his own consort, and that the consort feels neglected. What do you think?”
Muhua, her mind still on new embroidery designs, paused and finally caught his meaning.
She looked baffled and asked, “You mean, I haven’t done well enough? But I’ve managed all the inner courtyard affairs perfectly!”
She’d especially learned from the Imperial Mother: responsibilities assigned, rewards for good work, deduction of allowance for poor work—so effective!
“And I’ve spoken to Tongjia and Fuchashi several times. They’re well-behaved now and serve My Lord more diligently than ever.”
She’d openly shared all her tips for avoiding Yinhui’s annoyance—labeled with prices, even—with both women.
Since she’d joined the household, those two had never once made Yinhui frown.
Whenever he returned to the Main Courtyard, she never missed her duties; even in bed, she sometimes switched positions as per Imperial Mother’s advice, just to keep things fresh.
She’d heard it improved marital harmony.
She just wanted to serve one day less, so she wouldn’t have to rush her embroidery and could protect her eyesight.
What more could she do?
A vein twitched on Yinhui’s forehead, but he couldn’t refute her.
This really had been his original reason for marrying Muhua.
She ran the household smoothly, kept good relations with the other consorts, and made his brothers friendlier with him.
But… why did he still feel something was off?
He pondered a moment, then asked, “Why are you so eager to earn so much silver? If you need money, why not just ask me? Seeing you work so hard… it makes me ache for you.”
Zheng Yusheng said that whenever Yinhui wasn’t in the Main Courtyard, Muhua was always in the embroidery room or courtyard, working tirelessly.
He’d married an embroideress, not a wife… and most importantly, he never even got any of it!
Muhua touched her nose and answered frankly, “I want to buy my maiden family a bigger house, help Mother do more business so Father has more face with officials, and so we can build up some savings—to help you.”
Of course, the main thing was, when she had children, whether prince or lady, they wouldn’t grow up in poverty like she did.
She didn’t want her children to lose out to any other imperial grandchildren.
Once Yinhui ascended the throne, her son by birth couldn’t be less than his siblings; she had to plan ahead.
But as she didn’t yet have children, she left that unsaid.
Yinhui stared for a moment, his gaze warming.
He rose and took her hand, his voice unconsciously softening, “I never looked down on your family’s background. You don’t have to… work so hard for me.”
Muhua glanced at their entwined hands, remembering what her mother once said.
His father had also told her mother something similar—he didn’t mind her humble origins, she needn’t be so stubborn, just be a good wife and raise children in peace.
And then?
Men and women can change, but gold and silver never betray their owner.
Better to stand on your own than ask for handouts.
But saying that sounded like she was doubting Yinhui’s loyalty, so she thought a moment, then slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
“I’m willing to give My Lord everything, so you’ll know your kindness to me is all worth it!”
Yinhui’s lips tingled at her closeness, a tickle spreading through his heart, warming him.
He couldn’t help but lean in for more.
In the end, having a too-simple princess consort… maybe it was worth spoiling her a bit more.
Who could resist someone so silly and lovable?
Afterward, Yinhui broke his own three-days-in, two-days-off rule and stayed in the Main Courtyard almost every night.
Muhua rarely put down her embroidery, but this time she responded with unprecedented warmth, making Yinhui forget about visiting Tongjia and Fuchashi’s quarters for over twenty days.
At morning greetings, Tongjia and Fuchashi couldn’t help but show it on their faces.
Tongjia said sourly, “Princess Consort looks radiant these days. My Lord dotes on you so much, he must have forgotten where our doors are.”
Fuchashi, still thinking about the unfinished clothes she owed, put it more tactfully.
“My sister and I have prepared some tonics for My Lord, just in case last winter’s exhaustion has weakened him. Please let us help care for him.”
Muhua knew what they meant and remained unruffled.
“My complexion is probably because I haven’t had to bend over embroidery lately.”
“I’ve rested enough now. Sisters, please help serve My Lord well, so I have more time to visit the Imperial Mother and Imperial Grandmother.”
“As for your tonics, Fuchashi, you can stew them in your own quarters. I’ll have My Lord come over for them.”
Once the two left, grinning, Yinxiao who was beside her stomped her foot in anxiety and asked, “My Lady, why bother with them? My Lord comes to our Main Courtyard because of your abilities. Why push him away?”
Muhua held her belly and said, “I haven’t had my period this month. I think I’m pregnant. Isn’t it good to have others attend to My Lord? I need to rest and save up energy, so I can earn some savings for the little ancestor in my belly!”
Yinxiao was stunned, “Really! How careless of me to forget. I’ll go fetch the imperial physician!”
“…..”
“No, wait!” Muhua quickly stopped her, “It’s not full term yet, wait a bit longer to call the physician.”
Mainly, if the prince found out she was pregnant, he’d be even more reluctant to leave her, and she had so many embroidery patterns still to design—she just didn’t have the time to keep serving him.
Yinxiao asked, “But you’ll have to tell My Lord… What if he comes over?”
“Didn’t I just have Fuchashi stew tonics?” Muhua smiled.
“My Lord is considerate and thorough; he won’t disappoint Fuchashi. Just go and pass on my message.”
Having spent over half a month in sweet bliss, Muhua was now focused on the money she’d missed and had little energy left for the newly doting Yinhui.
Anyway, as long as the prince wanted a virtuous wife and good mother, and for her to manage the inner courtyard, she was only thinking of his interests.
Yinxiao: “……” That actually makes a lot of sense.
But after stepping out, she couldn’t shake the feeling something was off, though she couldn’t say what.
She just thought she’d ask Cui Wei next time her mistress went to the palace.
Stepping outside, she saw Yinman and Yinying at the door, faces pale.
Yinxiao looked down to see two deep footprints in the stone floor, the cracks spreading under their force.