When Li Guan, the steward, heard that the authority over the Wang Mansion’s management would be handed to the princess, he immediately hurried over, all eager and excited.
The princess had to be made aware of the mansion’s financial situation; otherwise, in just a few months, the silver in the accounts would be exhausted.
Wen Jinhe thought of the items in her storage space. She would need to find an opportunity to bring them out openly for use.
“Man Qiu, Man Dong, do you two know how to handle accounts?” She had only these two maids she could rely on for the task.
Man Qiu and Man Dong replied, “Yes, Your Highness, we know a little.”
Wen Jinhe thought of the dowry sent by the Kingdom of Linyue and felt disgusted. “From now on, aside from the bride price sent by the prince, all other items in my dowry are to be sold outside the mansion. My personal property will be managed by the two of you, just like Li Guan, and you are to report twice a month.”
Man Qiu and Man Dong lowered their heads respectfully. “Yes, Your Highness.”
That night, when Li Junche came to the backyard to dine, he noticed that Wen Jinhe’s attitude toward him had slightly changed; she even glared at him from time to time.
“Is today’s meal not to your taste?” he asked.
Wen Jinhe put down her chopsticks, looked at Li Junche, and spoke in a very gentle tone, “No, it’s not that. I just looked at the mansion’s accounts today, and I think, in this lifetime, you’ll only have me as your woman.”
Li Junche asked, “Why is that?”
Wen Jinhe took the last piece of chicken from his plate. “Because you can’t afford it. I’m full; please enjoy your meal, Your Highness.”
Li Junche stared at Wen Jinhe as she walked away, and when he reached for more food, he found only vegetarian dishes left.
No wonder her waist is so slim with such selective eating.
Man Qiu quickly sold all the dowry items. “Your Highness, a total of 100,000 taels of silver.”
Wen Jinhe sighed inwardly. She couldn’t help but think how stingy the Kingdom of Linyue was—even a princess’s dowry was so meager, offering nothing but face value. “Deposit it into the accounts. Let’s tidy up; today we’ll leave the mansion to take a stroll.”
Taking Zhao Bi and He Shi along, the party of five set out.
Wen Jinhe wore her veil hat as she moved through the streets, occasionally asking the stall owners about the prices of goods.
Man Qiu watched as the princess inquired at several shops but didn’t buy a single thing.
Could it be that she knew the mansion’s accounts were empty and was deliberately being frugal?
Setting aside her jade hairpin, Wen Jinhe scanned her surroundings.
A steamed bun cost two wen; a bushel of rice, seventy wen.
One tael of silver could buy fourteen bushels, or 168 jin (about 84 kg), enough to feed one adult male for half a year.
However, the mansion had many people and high expenses, and their needs differed from those of ordinary families, so costs naturally soared.
Man Qiu leaned close and whispered, “Your Highness, it’s almost noon. Should we return to the mansion for lunch or eat outside?”
Wen Jinhe’s eyes fell on a noodle stall by the street. “Outside—let’s go there.”
Following her gaze, the others saw a simple, modest noodle stall.
They hesitated, but then noticed that the princess had already started walking toward it.
They couldn’t help feeling surprised—who would have thought the princess could be so plain and approachable?
The noodle stall owner saw the five approaching. Noticing that Zhao Bi and He Shi were armed with swords, he suppressed his nervousness, quickly pulled out a wooden bench, and greeted them warmly, “What would the five of you like to eat?”
Wen Jinhe replied, “Just the usual daily fare.”
The mansion’s meals were decent, comparable to an ordinary small restaurant. She wondered how the food outside would taste.
“All right, please wait a moment. It’ll be ready shortly.”
The owner busied himself with preparing the food.
Wen Jinhe removed her veil hat and felt the lively, rustic atmosphere of the ancient streets, her mood relaxing slightly.
Quiet and poised, independent of the world around her.
As her bright, delicate features appeared, the passersby couldn’t help but focus their gaze on her.
Noticing the two maids beside her and the two guards at the next table, many passersby dared only to steal glances.
It was obvious at a glance that she was the daughter or lady of a prominent family.
The noodle stall owner carried the bowls over and froze for a moment when he saw Wen Jinhe’s face, hastily putting the bowl down to handle the rest.
The clear broth had flecks of green onions and small pieces of leftover pork fat from rendering lard.
It had the flavor of a roadside stall from the 2000s, though the noodles weren’t quite as white in color.
The handmade noodles were reasonably well-made.
Man Qiu, seeing that her princess had finished the entire bowl of noodles, quietly took out a handkerchief to wipe Wen Jinhe’s mouth.
“Do you know which brokers in the city run the biggest business?” Wen Jinhe asked, turning to Zhao Bi and He Shi.
He Shi thought for a moment before replying, “Most brokers live in the bustling east district of the city.”
Wen Jinhe wanted to acquire some real estate. “Then let’s go there.”
When the brokers at the gate saw Wen Jinhe wearing her veil hat, their eyes lit up. “Honored guest, welcome! May I ask what business brings you here?”
Though they couldn’t see her face, the maids and guards alone revealed her noble status.
Wen Jinhe, seeing the brokers’ obsequious expressions, knew she was dealing with a seasoned businessman. “I want to buy two shops and some farmland.”
At the mention of purchasing shops, the brokers’ eyes gleamed. “Honored guest, you’ve come to the right place! We have the most comprehensive listings in the entire city.”
They quickly brought out a map of the city. “Madam, would you like shops in the west, east, north, or south district?”
Wen Jinhe’s eyes fell on the east. The Che Mansion was located in the east district, convenient for management. “The east district.”
The brokers then asked for her full requirements, before saying, “These two shops on East Street meet your needs. Shall we take a look at the smaller one first?”
Wen Jinhe declined. “No rush. Which farmlands do you have for sale?”
The brokers pointed north. “Recently, some landowners have been selling their lands, but mostly low-grade fields. If you wish to purchase high-grade land, there are plenty outside the city.”
Wen Jinhe furrowed her brow slightly. “I want land within the city. Low-grade is fine; take me to see it.”
“Ah,” the brokers quickly had people harness a carriage.
Outside, seeing the horse carriage He Shi had brought over, the brokers were shocked—it was the Che Mansion’s carriage.
This must be the newly married princess of Prince Che, the political bride from the Kingdom of Linyue.
Their attitude became even more deferential, heads lowered, not daring to look directly.
As they reached the central street of the north district, a group of mounted soldiers passed through.
He Shi, driving the carriage, whispered to the princess, “Your Highness, that was the prince just now.”
Wen Jinhe lifted the carriage curtain and saw only his back. Man Qiu mentioned that Li Junche had gone outside the city early to supervise a change of guards—so he had returned surprisingly early. “Let’s go.”
Murong Nie followed Li Junche. “Prince, that carriage just now was from the Che Mansion. The driver was He Shi. I suppose the princess has gone out.”
Li Junche pulled the reins and turned his head to watch the carriage disappear around the corner. “Zhao Bi is also with her, so nothing should happen. Let’s return to the mansion.”
Standing on the ridges between the fields, they could see the farmers at work.
The brokers pointed to the stretch of overgrown land in front of them. “This low-grade land spans at least 100 mu. The plots ahead are high-grade, and the owner has already arranged for people to cultivate them.”
“Without proper care, even low-grade fields have turned to wasteland. It’s a pity.”
“There is a river about ten li from here, which is considered good for low-grade fields.”