bookrebus Chapter 723 The Princess of the Ming Dynasty (6)
Chapter 723 The Princess of the Ming Dynasty (6)
"Big brother, have you fallen out of favor with the old man?" Wangyou took the letter without even reading it and said with a smile.
"Little sister, take a look at the letter first. Your older brother is here to learn from you." Zhu Biao said helplessly.
Concubine Lü remained silent, staring at Wangyou with her eyes darting around, seemingly plotting something.
"Consort Lü, if your eyes keep darting around like that, I'll gouge them out," Wangyou said in an exceptionally cold voice.
Upon hearing Wangyou's words, the people in the princess's residence immediately realized that their master was unhappy, and their faces turned grim.
Lady Lü was startled; the sickly princess had such a strong presence. She immediately lowered her head and dared not look around again.
Zhu Biao was also taken aback; this younger sister seemed to be really different.
Wangyou opened the letter and glanced at it. After reading it, she couldn't help but laugh. What was Old Zhu thinking? He actually sent the crown prince of a country to study under her. What was he supposed to learn? How did she joke around every day? Was he an ignorant and incompetent person?
"Brother, did you do this voluntarily?"
"It's voluntary. Father said you're better than me and that I should learn from you. By the way, little sister, how are you feeling? Are you feeling any better?"
“I’m not sick at all. I was just fooling the old man. Don’t tell anyone else.”
"Really?" Zhu Biao was not very convinced, mainly because Wang You's face was abnormally pale at the time.
"It's up to you, sister-in-law. You don't look well. You must be tired from the journey!" Wangyou said to Changshi.
"Yes, a little."
"Then let the imperial physician examine you." As he spoke, the imperial physician had already arrived.
Physician Sun looked left and right, then said with a joyful expression, "Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince, and congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Princess! Your Highness is pregnant, almost a month along."
After the initial shock came immense joy. Since the death of their eldest son, Zhu Xiong Ying, there had been no other children in the household besides Yun Wen. Now that the Crown Princess was pregnant again, it was an incredibly wonderful thing.
"Brother and sister-in-law, you must be tired from your journey. Please go and rest!"
"Alright." Wangyou waved her hand, signaling someone to take them down and settle them in.
"Qinglan, arrange for someone to keep an eye on the Lü family and prevent any unclean things from getting in."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Wangyou never expected to witness the palace intrigue she hadn't seen in Old Zhu's harem, but in her elder brother's backyard. It was just that her sister-in-law was not young, and this pregnancy would probably not be easy. It seemed that the imperial physician would have to check her pulse more often.
The next day, Zhu Biao came to Wangyou to learn from her, full of energy, only to find that she was still sleeping.
"Your Highness, His Highness said that he would like me to take you around Qingzhou today," Qingzhi said with a smile.
"Very well, take me with you."
Zhu Biao spent a few days exploring Qingzhou and finally understood why the old man felt uncomfortable everywhere when he went back. He didn't want to go back anymore and decided to study here for a few more years.
Of course, what Zhu Biao didn't know was that his wish could only remain a wish. In a few years, not only would Old Zhu not agree, but even Wang You would never agree.
Zhu Biao not only toured Qingzhou City, but also visited all the counties and villages under its jurisdiction. He had to admit that his younger sister was truly capable. Why wasn't she a man? He could have relinquished his position as crown prince.
After returning to Qingzhou City, Zhu Biao devoted himself to studying under Wangyou. After studying for a while, Zhu Biao felt that it was difficult to put his ideas into practice.
First of all, Wangyou is ruthless. Anyone who violates the rules she sets will be severely punished without any mercy. This is similar to the old man. However, the difference is that the old man would protect his own family members, but Wangyou would not.
Furthermore, Wangyou is very wealthy, and he is envious of her wealth. Heaven knows how stifled he, as a prince, has been; he has lived a miserable life all these years.
The old man advocated frugality. Putting aside other places, the Crown Prince had to set an example by doing so. Moreover, as the Crown Prince, he could not show his joys and sorrows and had to be magnanimous and tolerant. The Crown Princess had to do some needlework to supplement the family income, and life was really tough.
Looking at Wangyou's side, although a meal isn't as extravagant as hundreds of dishes, every single one is exquisite and delicious, and the chef is paid thirty taels of silver a month!
Moreover, Wangyou was very generous to his subordinates. If any servant's family member fell ill, they could report it to the steward, and as long as it was verified, they could be given money. Of course, if anyone was found to be involved in prostitution, gambling, or drugs, the punishment would be severe, with the most serious offense being being beaten to death on the spot.
He was fortunate enough to witness it once, and to be honest, he had nightmares afterward. But Wangyou didn't even blink, her eyes were full of indifference, and that family didn't have a good ending either.
Zhu Biao admitted that he couldn't be so ruthless, but he had to admit that his sister had taught him a valuable lesson: those in positions of power don't need to be overly compassionate.
But the most important thing is that he has no money. He doesn't want to learn the art of managing people from Wangyou anymore. He wants to learn how to make money, but he doesn't know if it's too late. Otherwise, he won't even be able to support the Crown Prince, let alone win over the hearts of his subordinates.
"Big brother wants to learn how to make money?"
"Yes, sister, you have no idea how much I've suffered!"
“Brother, unless you give up being the crown prince, you won’t be able to make any money. Otherwise, the moment you start making money, the censors will impeach you. You’ll have to be able to withstand their criticism and also intimidate them.” Wangyou felt sorry for her brother, but that was all she felt.
Reminded by Wangyou, Zhu Biao immediately became dejected. Indeed, the Crown Prince had been thinking about ways to make money over the years, but as the Crown Prince, he was always being watched.
"Little sister, give your brother some advice. Your sister-in-law is pregnant again, and she can't take on any more work."
“Since you’ve asked so sincerely, I’ll give you an idea.”
"Please speak, little sister."
“I plan to open a pastry shop and a cosmetics shop in the capital. I will provide the shop and raw materials. You or your sister-in-law can find someone to manage the shop. I will give the Crown Prince 20% of the profits.”
"Alright." Zhu Biao readily agreed. If all else failed, beating up the censor wouldn't be out of the question.
Wangyou glanced at Zhu Biao. It seemed that this elder brother really didn't know how to do business, and was too honest. To be an emperor, honesty and kindness alone were not enough. It seemed that he really needed to teach him a lesson.
But this would put her plans to go to sea on hold. Oh well, I'll just teach her then.
So, the shop in the capital opened, and Zhu Biao began his arduous and demanding study life.
Not only did he relearn all the imperial strategies and methods of governing the country that he had learned, but they were also different from what he had learned before. But what's going on with him being woken up every day to exercise at his advanced age?
He's already so old, it's too late for him to start learning martial arts now.
"I don't expect you to become incredibly skilled. Just aim to avoid becoming a burden to others in case of danger. Sometimes, not causing trouble is a virtue." Wangyou ate grapes while watching Zhu Biao gesturing on the martial arts stage.