Chapter 1436 - 346: Crap for the Grand Scheme (Part 2)

Chapter 1436: Chapter 346: Crap for the Grand Scheme (Part 2)

"Grandmother."

He Sisi naturally addressed her.

"Come, sit, sit beside me."

The old lady reached out, and He Sisi took her hand, sitting next to the old lady.

"Pay respects to the great-grandmother. Great-grandmother, Lingxiang has missed you."

Lingxiang knelt down and kowtowed three times to the old lady.

The old lady pointed at Lingxiang with a smile, scolding:

"You’ve returned home, but what’s the point of being so formal? Your face is a mess after those kowtows, are you angling for a bit of this old lady’s rouge?

Enough, enough, Ah Yi."

"Grandmother."

"Go, take this silly girl down to choose some. Didn’t His Majesty just grant us a batch? Let her pick freely."

"Yes, Grandmother."

Lingxiang hesitated; she wanted to stay and chat because she knew the current situation of the Royal Mansion, but the old lady directly dismissed her.

Not daring to defy the old lady’s wishes, Lingxiang thanked her, stood up, and left with Lok Yi.

In the side hall, only the old lady and He Sisi remained.

"How is Brother Chengjue nowadays?" the old lady asked.

"Replying to Grandmother, he is well, but terribly busy. After dealing with matters at the government office during the day, he sleeps straight away upon returning home. He didn’t use to snore, but now his snores wake the child."

"Haha, by the way, did you bring Chan Ye?"

"Brought him."

The nanny waiting in the shrine brought the child inside.

The old lady looked carefully at the child, nodded with a smile, and said, "This child is robust."

As she spoke, the old lady took off the prayer beads from her hand and placed them on the child’s swaddle. "I’ve chanted with these beads for years; may Buddha bless him."

"Thank you, Grandmother." He Sisi accepted them without refusing.

"The matters outside are for the men to handle. We women should just stabilize the inner household so they don’t have to worry about family matters, and that is fulfilling our duty."

"Grandmother is right, Sisi will remember."

At this moment, a servant announced:

"Great-grandmother, Madam has arrived."

Madam refers to Lok Bing’s wife, Mrs. Wang, known as Madam Wang in the Lok Family.

She is also He Sisi’s honorary godmother.

Since He Sisi returned home for a visit, it was only natural she would come to see her.

"I knew she would come quickly, let her in."

"Yes."

Shortly after,

"Haha..."

The person hadn’t arrived, but the laughter did.

Today, Mrs. Wang wore a green waterbird blouse with a matching red skirt, lacking some decorum but gaining youthful charm.

The old lady saw and immediately scolded:

"Look at what you’re wearing today!"

"Oh dear, I heard my daughter was back; I was napping earlier, and when I woke up, I hurried to see her, not bothering with the outfit choice.

The girls heard the Princess and heir were here, and they’re all waiting to see, rummaging for gifts to present to the heir."

"No need, no need." He Sisi hurriedly replied.

"Oh, but it won’t do. It’s never been customary for a girl returning to her family to come empty-handed since ancient times."

The old lady nodded and said to He Sisi, "Take the child to see them. After all, we’re family, we shouldn’t become strangers. Ordinarily, they dare not come here."

"Yes, Grandmother."

He Sisi picked up Ji Chuanye and left the shrine with guidance from the maid and servants outside.

Madam Wang shook her head, sighed, and said:

"What a pity. I thought I could strengthen ties with this lineage, but who would have thought to see its splendor and now this quiet desolation.

With just an imperial decree, however much ruckus there was below, it wouldn’t come to anything."

Yanjing City is Yan’s political center, and any movement in the royal court can stir a tempest here.

After His Majesty went to the back garden to recuperate,

The Crown Prince officially oversaw the kingdom, wielding the great seal and governing all officials.

The advisors and officials from the Crown Prince’s Mansion were promoted, and the situation is quite clear; His Majesty is paving the way for the Crown Prince, and the power transition in Yan’s royal court has already begun.

Upon hearing this, the old lady laughed and said:

"Come here."

Madam Wang moved closer.

"Smack!"

The old lady slapped Madam Wang’s face, and Madam Wang was shocked and immediately knelt to the ground.

The old lady sighed,

closed her eyes,

though devoid of prayer beads, her hand seemed to still be caressing something,

from her mouth,

came two words:

"Stupid woman."

......

A war, in essence, is about money and provisions.

When the troops settled in a place, their consumption was much lower, and the massive labor force could continue production.

Once war starts, the troop consumption suddenly doubles, and rewards and compensations become like flowing water. Additionally, domestic production decreases or even halts, forcibly breaking the nation’s balance on both fronts.

Cutting expenses is impossible. As long as the commander of the Chu expeditionary army is Prince Jingnan, not only Ying Capital City wouldn’t dare cut back, but the court wouldn’t dare comment either.

This is the power of a famed general, no, a famous commander.

Whenever he leads the front, not only does he manage the opposing enemy with ease, but rear pressures also lessen considerably.

Thus, we can only find new sources of revenue.

Tax collections started years in advance; they can’t continue further, or everyone’s life will be unbearable.

Before the war began, Ji Chengjue already devised many revenue-increasing plans, and these plans have been gradually implemented.