Chapter 848 - 827: Struggle for Heirship 9

Chapter 848: Chapter 827: Struggle for Heirship 9

After returning to the manor, Anning still didn’t go out.

During her stay at the manor for over a month, she wasn’t idle; she set up a greenhouse there, specifically for Xiao Yuan to grow vegetables.

When it was almost New Year’s, cucumbers, eggplants, beans, and other vegetables in the greenhouse were ready to eat.

Anning even specially cut some chives for Xiao Yuan to make dumplings.

She asked someone to bring Miss, Second Miss, and the young lord over. She played with the children while Xiao Yuan washed his hands, mixed the dough, and made dumplings.

Anning played with Miss while saying, "Make some with shrimp, and some with eggs and black fungus. If there’s meat, that’s fine too. Chive meat filling is also good."

Xiao Yuan laughed, "I’ll make some with radish and lamb filling for Miss and Second Miss. They’re still young; too much chive can be bad for them."

"Alright."

Anning nodded.

Watching Xiao Yuan skillfully make dumplings, Anning couldn’t help but laugh, "You really are like singing whatever tune is needed at the mountain you’re on."

Xiao Yuan also laughed, "What else can I do? Should I go against the norms, and work openly? If we were just an ordinary family, I’d find a job and earn to support the family. But since we’re part of the royal family, if I went out to work, Your Majesty wouldn’t be lenient with me."

That’s indeed the case.

Anning casually grabbed a piece of dough for Miss and Second Miss to play with. She held the young lord in one hand and taught him to talk, "Say ’mother.’"

With a toy in hand, the young lord played while calling out without even looking up, "Mother."

She pointed to Xiao Yuan, "Say ’father.’"

The young lord smiled at Xiao Yuan, "Father."

Anning lifted the young lord up high, and Second Miss wanted to play too when she saw.

Anning played with the three children for a while, then let them sit on the bed, giving them toys to play with on their own.

After eating dumplings, Anning discussed the New Year’s gifts with Xiao Yuan.

As soon as the twelfth lunar month began, each household started sending New Year gifts.

Families like the Xiao Family and Xu Xianjun’s family needed to send some New Year’s gifts. Additionally, gifts also needed to be sent to the various Imperial Princess Mansions.

Overall, less went out than came in.

After all, Anning was a princess, not just receiving New Year’s gifts from Imperial Princess Mansions and in-laws, but officials under her, as well as her disciples, had to show respect during the holiday season.

"Let’s follow the example from previous years."

Xiao Yuan thought for a moment and said.

Anning considered, "This year, Eleventh Sister and Twelfth Sister are married. Gifts must be sent to their mansions too; remember to add a bit extra for Eleventh Sister."

Xiao Yuan nodded.

Indeed, gifts to Eleventh Princess Mansion needed to be more generous, since she and Anning shared the same father.

After finishing the discussion on gifts to the Imperial Princess Mansions, Anning spoke about what to send to Emperor Feng Jing at the New Year’s Eve Banquet.

Xiao Yuan suggested, "Send some vegetables you grew. Your Majesty has seen everything; no matter how precious the items, she isn’t interested. It’s better to please her with vegetables you personally grew."

That’s indeed true.

Anning said, "Then I’ll go stay at the manor for a few days and tidy up the greenhouse properly."

After thinking, she added, "I’ll plant a couple of flowers. If they bloom, sending them would be perfect."

As they discussed, evening came.

During the following period, various mansions sent holiday gifts. The Fifth Princess Manor saw carriages constantly coming and going, with several large carts of items every time.

The village chiefs and shopkeepers under Anning’s name started sending holiday gifts too. She owned several large manors and even had northern mountains; during the holiday season, those village chiefs hurried to the Fifth Princess Manor.

During this period, Xiao Yuan was truly busy.

He had to check gift lists every day, ask people to account for them, and prepare holiday gifts for each mansion.

Even though he organized the Imperial Princess Mansion, the servants each performed their duties, yet it was still busy. Surely, in the future, it would be even busier.

While Xiao Yuan worked on the lists, Anning saw a few village chiefs.

One was Zheng, the village chief of Xinghua Manor, who bowed to Anning, "Servant greets the master."

Anning raised her hand, "I trust this year’s harvest was good?"

Zheng laughed, "The harvest was indeed good. Before coming, the young ladies hunted quite a bit in the mountains and even caught a pair of deer—sent as gifts for you to enjoy or to eat."

Anning had long seen the gift list; she nodded, "Go tidy up; I might have something for you tomorrow. Stay here until after the New Year."

After Zheng left, Anning called several other village chiefs over.

She gave each of them instructions and was about to rest when Qingyu hurried in, "Master, Your Majesty has dealt with Prime Minister Shen."

Anning chuckled, "I knew it."

Prime Minister Shen’s downfall was expected.

After Prime Minister Yuan fell, how could Prime Minister Shen be fine?

The two had battled for decades, each trying to outdo the other, yet ultimately served others.

With Prime Minister Shen gone, Emperor Feng Jing promoted a prominent family in the Capital—Huang family, replacing Shen with Prime Minister Huang, now evenly matched with Prime Minister Liu.

In addition, early on, because of issues with Seventh Princess forcibly taking peasants, numerous more problems followed, implicating several princesses.

Anning pondered the court situation and mentioned to Xiao Yuan, "After the New Year, I might have to fulfill duties."

"What happened?"

Xiao Yuan asked.

Anning explained in detail, "Mother Emperor now has to guard against Big Sister and Third Sister. Thus, the only ones capable of fulfilling duties in the court are me, Second Sister, and Seventh Sister. After spring opens up, the salt administration needs checking in the south, along with cargo shipping and spring flood matters. Someone has to handle these; I fear I must visit the Yellow River shores."

"When do you expect to depart?"

Xiao Yuan thought about what to prepare for Anning.

"Before the first month ends."

Anning calculated the time.

Quickly, it was New Year’s Eve, and she needed to attend the palace for instructions in the evening, followed by a banquet.

By noon, Anning and Xiao Yuan packed and entered the palace with the remaining carriage.

This time, it was just the two of them entering, without taking the Secondary Prince Consort, let alone any children.

Upon entering the palace, Anning went to pay respects to Emperor Feng Jing, while Xiao Yuan went to Luange Palace.

Xu Xianjun had precisely prepared a meal. Upon entering, Xiao Yuan saw fresh pastries on the table along with a pot of tea.

He went over to pay respects to Xu Xianjun before sitting down, as Sun family arrived with the servants.

Xu Xianjun invited Sun family to sit, then asked Xiao Yuan, "How is Third Miss?"

Xiao Yuan smiled, "Doing well, eating and sleeping well. Lately, she has been quite naughty, demanding to be held whenever awake. You can’t put her down. By next spring, she’ll be even more exhausting."

Xu Xianjun laughed, "Let her be held then. We have enough servants; assign more to take turns holding her."

He then asked Sun family, "Where’s Eleventh? Where has she run off to?"

Sun family murmured with a smile, "She bumped into Tenth Sister and went to Fengji Palace together."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xianjun urged Xiao Yuan and Sun family, "Hurry up and eat something to tide you over, otherwise, in Tianyuan Hall, you might not have anything to eat."

Xiao Yuan then lowered his head and ate pastries.

Sun family followed and ate as well.

Once the two finished eating, Xu Xianjun had the servants bring four wallets for Xiao Yuan and Sun family, each taking two, "These contain some dried meat; each of you take one while giving the other to Fifth and Eleventh when you meet them. Watch over them tonight; don’t let them drink too much."

Xiao Yuan and Sun family hurriedly stood up for instructions.

Just as they stood, they saw Xu Xianjun’s close aide Bai Mo quietly approach Xu Xianjun and whisper something.

Sun family didn’t hear what Bai Mo said, but Xiao Yuan heard it clearly.

Bai Mo said that the Eighth Prince was seriously ill.

The Eighth Prince married into the northern Di Clan the year before; he hadn’t returned to the Capital ever since, only sending messages back occasionally.

Xu Xianjun had always been concerned about the Eighth Prince, frequently inquiring about his conditions outside. When it was time for the Ninth Imperial Prince to marry, Xu Xianjun had tearfully pleaded with Emperor Feng Jing for mercy to let him stay in the Capital.

Xiao Yuan remembered the Eighth Prince being a year younger than Anning. Now, only eighteen, at the prime of youth, how could he be seriously ill?