freenovelworld Chapter 562 About the Banquet!
Chapter 562 About the Banquet!
Although Haitang knew that Jin Hui had stayed in the main courtyard, she naturally didn't assume that something had happened between him and Mu Xinyao. After all, the two had been married for so long and had always adhered to the rules, never consummating their marriage. Who would have thought that she had just lost her virginity to Jin Hui, and then what happened next?
Mu Xin Nuan sent Hai Tang to the Jin residence, not expecting Hai Tang to find out any useful information for her.
After all, once a woman gives her body to a man, her heart will inevitably begin to lean towards him.
When Mu Xin Nuan decided to give Hai Tang to Jin Hui, she had already considered this point. Therefore, regarding the Jin family, she was more concerned about whether the family was peaceful. As for Hai Tang, in her opinion, she was unlikely to be able to defeat Mu Xin Yao.
With the Lunar New Year approaching, the weather is getting colder and colder.
Mu Xin Nuan was already somewhat sensitive to the cold, and with nothing much to do in the winter, she was even less willing to go out.
Once the twelfth lunar month arrived, gifts began to arrive every day.
From large items like gold and silver jewelry to small items like animal furs and all sorts of trinkets, they truly had everything.
After looking at the list, Mu Xin Nuan shook her head, feeling both amused and helpless, and said, "With these things, it seems we don't need to prepare anything extra for the holidays."
"Your Highness, what date would you like to hold this year's banquet?"
Mu Xin Nuan raised an eyebrow slightly. "I don't really understand these things either. Let's ask the Prince first. Since it's a banquet for the families of his officials, all of them should be available."
Aunt Fang smiled and said, "Yes, Your Highness. In fact, once you've made the decision, these ministers will naturally have some free time."
Mu Xin Nuan gave her a reproachful look. "I always thought Aunt Fang was an honest person, but I didn't expect her to tease me like this. It seems I've been too good to Aunt Fang. Maybe I should send you to stay elsewhere for a while?"
Aunt Fang wasn't afraid of her, knowing she was being teased. "Your Highness, I'm not joking. The Prince's eyes and heart are always on you, and we servants can see that clearly. Even though the Prince has been busy lately, he hasn't forgotten to instruct the servants to take good care of you, and he often comes back to dine with you. It's clear how thoughtful the Prince is."
Mu Xin Nuan thought about it and realized it made sense. Duanmu Chuze had been busy all year round, first with Chang Le Fang, and now with the school.
Although construction on the school hasn't officially started yet, the process of relocating residents has already begun.
"To be honest, Your Highness has a tough life. This fiefdom was chosen in such a harsh and cold place. If Your Highness doesn't quickly find a way to govern this place properly, I'm afraid we will all have to live a hard life in the future. Your Highness is different from other noble sons. He cares about me, but he also cares about the people, especially the people of Yan. Since they are his subjects, he has to find a way to make them live a good life."
Aunt Fang nodded, feeling a pang of sympathy as she thought about how busy the Prince had been lately and how much weight he had lost. "Indeed," she said. "It's fortunate that we brought back the eldest son, otherwise, the Prince would be even busier. Even though the Prince is talented, he still needs capable people by his side, doesn't he? It seems that the Prince was too honest back in the capital. If he had asked the Emperor for more money and more manpower, he wouldn't be working so hard now."
Is he still honest?
Upon hearing this, Mu Xin Nuan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Aunt Fang, you really do favor the Prince. I can see that if I ever quarrel with the Prince in the future, you will definitely side with him. Someone like him, honest? I think the real honest one is someone picked out from among the honest people."
"Who are you talking about? Who's been dishonest?"
A clear, melodious voice rang out. Aunt Fang smiled and turned to greet him, taking the cloak from Duanmu Chuze's hands before discreetly withdrawing.
"It's nothing. Why are you so quick to come back after I've only said a few words to you?" Mu Xin Nuan could tell from his expression that he must have heard everything. How could someone with such superb skills have such poor hearing?
"Yes, my ears were burning the whole time I was in the National Assembly. I was thinking that my Ah Nuan must be missing me. I haven't been back for a single day. So here I am."
Mu Xin Nuan rolled her eyes at him; he certainly knew how to take advantage of the situation!
"Alright, stop fooling around. Now that you're back, let me ask you, what day do you think would be convenient for the pre-New Year's banquet?"
Duanmu Chuze thought for a moment, "The 22nd, I guess. On the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, all the government offices will basically close. This year I set a new rule: the 23rd will be the official day off, with only a few people on duty remaining. The people in the government offices will not go back until the 10th of the first lunar month."
"You mean there are people in all these government offices during the New Year?"
Duanmu Chuze nodded. "Of course! It's always been done according to the rules. It's just that the people here are lazy, so they've all gone home. Nobody wants to stay at the yamen. But then again, it's the New Year, who wouldn't go home for a family reunion dinner?"
Mu Xin Nuan pouted, "Then why did you repeat this again? Aren't you afraid your subordinates will scold you?"
"Don't be afraid!" Duanmu Chuze smiled. After sitting by the stove for a while, he felt that the chill on his body had dissipated. Then he went to Mu Xinnuan's side, hugged her tightly, and kissed her hard on the face before laughing, "This year I have issued an order that all those on duty who do not go home will have their salaries doubled."
Mu Xin Nuan's eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape, and it took her a while to recover. "You mean everyone who works in the government office during the holidays gets double pay?"
"Of course! They deserve it. Everyone else has gone home to reunite with their families, but they have to stay at their posts. They have to make people feel that their master still cares about them, right?"
While Mu Xin Nuan was surprised, she had to look at Duanmu Chu Ze in a different light!
"Sometimes, I really want to crack open your head and see what's inside! How do you come up with so many strange and wonderful ideas? Yet every single one of them seems to be extremely useful! It makes one admire your intelligence and boldness!"
Duanmu Chuze was naturally very pleased with Mu Xinnuan's evaluation.
"Anuan, the banquet arrangements are now in your hands. However, there's one thing you need to understand. According to the rules, Jin Hui and his wife are not qualified to attend the banquet. After all, he's just a minor sixth-rank official, hardly worthy of the Prince's attention. But since she's your sister, it's a different story."