Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 181: A Generation Shorter Than Me

The Ministry of Industry was surprised: "Why?"

Lin Daiyu told him with a smile: "Because the words 'Lin Mansion' were written by the emperor.

"If you could ask His Majesty to write me another 'Princess Zhaoqing's Mansion', it would be a bit more interesting to change it up."

The official in the Ministry of Works was sweating!

Is this a job he can do?!

Who is he? Where is he? Who is he here to meet this time?

"Well, Princess, please allow me to report... I just took a look around the mansion. The mansion is very well-behaved and there is no violation of the rules. If you have no intention of changing the gate, then it is fine as it is."

Daiyu nodded with a smile: "Yes. When will the county lady's house be ready?"

Yuanwailang was sweating again, and he couldn't help but wipe it off himself before smiling and saying:

"Since none of the county lords in the capital had their own residences, this is the first time that I have built a residence for Yimin County Lord. We still need to check the etiquette carefully.

"There are many projects going on everywhere now, especially floods that have flooded many places. Many people from the Ministry of Works are out on business.

"I am not trying to shirk my responsibility. I just can't spare anyone. If the princess and the county lady can give me a few months..."

"A few months?!" Daiyu tilted her head and looked at him, her face full of curiosity, "Princess Yimin will soon reach the age of marriage, and the Empress Dowager will surely arrange a marriage for her soon.

"The Ministry of Works probably intends to delay the renovation of the County Princess's Mansion until she gets married and moves in with Yibin, so there's no need to repair it?"

The official was so frightened that he almost knelt down, crying: "We have absolutely no such intention! We would never dare to do that!"

Everyone knows the Queen Mother's temper, who can afford to offend her! ?

Tanchun saw that Daiyu had stopped talking and knew that her role as the good guy had come to an end and it was time for her to play the good guy.

He smiled and said, "I have tended the garden myself, so I know what it's like when you are busy.

"How about this, you give me the rules, I'll find someone to set them up, and draw a plan for you to see. If it's suitable, I'll find someone to build the house myself.

"Just one thing, everything must be done according to the rules, and you have to pay for it."

"That's right, that's right!" The official was so excited that he almost cried. He bowed to Tanchun with gratitude and thanked her seriously, "Thank you very much for your understanding, my Lord."

"Although I am on the list and have royal respect, it is still a private matter." Tanchun said gently, "You are officials of the court. It is very good that you pay more attention to the people's livelihood.

"Only when the people are healthy and the world is peaceful can we live a good life with peace of mind. It would be the best choice if we can contribute. If we can't contribute, at least I have to do my best not to cause trouble!"

Hearing this, Yuanwailang could not help but stand in awe and bowed solemnly:

"Your Majesty bestowed a plaque on the county lady earlier, and we were just following his orders. Now, listening to the county lady's subtle words of righteousness, she truly deserves the title of righteousness and intelligence!

"If all the nobles in the world were as aware of the overall situation, sensible of the general situation, respectful, frugal and modest as the county lady, it would be a blessing for our Heavenly Dynasty!"

Tanchun stood up and returned the greeting: "I really don't deserve it."

Several people from the Ministry of Works went out admiringly.

Yuanwailang made up his mind and went back to the ministry to spread the news of Tanchun's remarks. He also announced that he would give priority to Princess Yimin's affairs in the future!

Finally, he submitted a memorial to the Empress Dowager in a serious manner, praising her highly, saying, "Princess Yimin understands the righteousness of the world, and is the only unmarried girl I have ever seen in my life."

The Queen Mother was so happy to have such a good start that she couldn't stop smiling. She waved her hand and said, "My daughter has already said that we shouldn't neglect official duties for personal matters!

"So: the county lady's mansion will not use the official account, but my private account. I will cut my expenses for the second half of the year in half and use the money to build her house!"

The Emperor was also happy. After being persuaded by the Empress Dowager for two days, he wrote "Yimin County Princess's Mansion" with his own hand and gave it down, and told the Ministry of Works, "Forget about everything else, you have to make this plaque."

When Tanchun smiled and called Jia Yun over, she asked him to preside over the renovation of her house. She also said that the plaque was written by the emperor himself, so he should be careful. Jia Yun burst into tears on the spot: "Third aunt, you have finally gotten what you deserve! I am so happy!"

In a short period of time, countless gifts were delivered to the Lin Mansion, and countless invitations were handed in, inviting the newly-crowned princesses and county ladies to go to various mansions to "appreciate the autumn."

Daiyu couldn't stand this, so she stayed away from them and politely declined any invitations. Anyone who came to see Tanchun would quickly point her to Qingqiu Courtyard.

At the end of the month, the two of them handed over a sign and went into the palace to visit the Queen Mother.

It was still the morning hour, and the Yanjia Palace was bustling with activity. Princess Shouchang, Princess Hongchang, Princess Anchang, and Princess Yongchang were all there, and Shouchang and Yongchang had brought their own tutors with them.

The room was filled with flowers, red skirts and green hair, and different scents of rouge and perfume.

Daiyu and Tanchun only felt dizzy and their noses and throats were itchy.

"A-choo!" Daiyu sneezed first.

The Queen Mother heard it from afar and laughed: "Open the doors and windows, let this smell go!"

Then he looked at Princess Anchang and teased, "What? I told you not to put on that powder, but you refused to listen.

"First you made Hongchang and Yongchang sneeze! Now another one comes and makes them feel uncomfortable as soon as they enter the door. What else do you have to say?"

Princess Anchang, whose face was painted white, lowered her head, and the redness on her face could not be seen.

At the end of July, it was just the right time to open the windows and doors, so that everyone would feel cooler. Especially Baochai, who was sitting at the bottom, breathed a sigh of relief with the breeze. She quietly pulled at her skirt to let the sweat on her body blow away.

In just a moment, Daiyu and Tanchun had stepped forward and paid their respects to the Queen Mother.

The Princess of Yongchang also stood up and, together with Tanchun, bowed to the princesses of higher ranks.

The other lady from a noble family who was following Princess Yongchang also stood up and looked at Baochai - waiting for her to stand up so that they could pay their respects to Princess Zhaoqing and Princess Yimin together.

Baochai suddenly woke up, stood up immediately, knelt gracefully, and bowed her head to greet the two people standing at the bottom of the stairs together with the girl from the noble family: "Long live Princess Zhaoqing and Princess Yimin."

Although Baochai was dignified and well-mannered, her slowness was very obvious in front of everyone in the hall. Princess Shouchang could not help but frown.

She had to force herself to come, and there was nothing wrong with me coming, but she made a mistake!

He felt unhappy and turned away.

Daiyu and Tanchun didn't want to pay any attention. They just smiled and exchanged pleasantries with everyone, then asked about the Queen Mother: "I heard from Aunt Cheng the other day that the Queen Mother has been drinking a lot lately.

"Although it is the beginning of autumn, the heat has not yet dissipated. Please remember to prepare some cool soups to prevent internal heat from rising. If you are exposed to external cold in the morning and evening, you will easily cough."

The Queen Mother smiled so much that her eyes narrowed and she kept saying “yes, yes, yes”.

Princess Shouchang pouted: "It shows that you are filial. You are the only ones who know how to say it! Aunt Cheng, why didn't you tell me that grandma has fallen in love with drinking these days?"

Tanchun smiled and said nothing.

Daiyu fanned herself, and seeing Baochai about to speak, she smiled and said, "Well, you can't blame Aunt Cheng for that.

"Yimin is my daughter, so she can say this.

"The princesses may seem to be of high rank, but they are actually one generation lower. They are the granddaughters and grandchildren of the Empress Dowager. So even if you know, it's not easy to advise them directly."

After hearing this, several princesses froze involuntarily.

So, they were wrong to not move when they saw that the newly-appointed Princess Yimin was of a lower rank than them?!

All of them are a generation younger than this illegitimate girl!

The Queen Mother looked at them with a smile, counting them one by one: "Anchang, Hongchang, Yongchang, you three should call me little aunt, and Shouchang should call me little aunt.

"Well, did I calculate correctly?"