CHAPTER 934: CHAPTER 934: LITTLE RICH GIRL

After finishing the inventory of the utensils, Lian Hua flipped through the ledger and found that the accounts for this tray were all accounted for, with nothing left to calculate. She instructed Xiao Jizi to store the neatly organized warehouse ledger, and then took out another account book to start calculating the silver rewards for the servants during the New Year.

"...This year, it’s not suitable for a big celebration, so the original program is canceled, and many expenses are gone. So, let’s do this, everyone has worked hard all year, let’s give half of the saved expenses back to everyone as a reward, according to their rank and responsibilities, let them secretly be happy."

As she spoke, she started calculating how many of her people were there, how many people were under Nanny Qi, how many people often ran errands for Star Palace, how many tiers the red envelopes were divided into, how many were needed for each tier, and how much scattered broken silver was needed in total.

After finishing this calculation, Lian Hua wrote a note, instructing Xiao Jizi to lead Da Zhuang and the others to the warehouse to collect silver and then find the Bureau of Palace Attendants to exchange for broken silver, to complete this task today, and distribute the red envelopes to everyone tomorrow morning.

Xiao Jizi accepted the order and kept the note safely.

So, Lian Hua pulled out the whole inventory of rice, flour, grain, oil, meat, and vegetables needed for the entire court during the New Year, calculated what dishes to make daily, how many servings, how to set up soups, how to arrange extra meal items, and calculated the cost for each, giving instructions. She even calculated up till the Lantern Festival, and soon finished it.

Closing the ledger, Lian Hua was at a loss, why didn’t these things take long to calculate?

She didn’t even lose her appetite for accounting, as the work was done in no time. Of course, this appetite might never fade in her life; now she handles Canglan Court affairs with ease, finishing them in just a quarter of an hour after waking up and having her meal each day.

Feeling it was not enough, she started tinkering again, re-structuring the accounts previously recorded by Nanny Qi, re-inventorying the warehouse items, reorganizing various affairs at Canglan Court, setting an expense range for each matter, redefining the responsibility scope for each servant, and so on. She calculated and inspected the New Year’s affairs several times, yet quickly finished again.

With the formal affairs officially settled, Lian Hua let Xiao Jizi and the others go out to do their tasks. She tidied up the things on the table, unable to resist, and pulled out one of the books before her, thoroughly flipping through it, delightfully observing her current assets and how much silver she saved in a year.

Last year today, she and Xiao Qing pitifully huddled around a stove to keep warm in the Side Hall, calculating precisely what to eat daily, what kind of dumplings to make for New Year’s eve and New Year’s, and how to eat enough while being so poor their pockets echoed empty sounds.

This year today is a stark contrast, daily eating well and living comfortably, with no issues in food, clothing, shelter, and sanitation. Nearly ten thousand taels of silver surplus are in the accounts, something Lian Hua never dared to imagine before.

The money inside includes her monthly allowance silver, the silver won from her pitch-pot game, almost equivalent to her yearly monthly allowance silver, with most of it being rewarded by the Emperor and supplemented by Nanny Qi. The reward and supplement money far exceed Canglan Court’s daily expenses, so the silver accumulates more and more. The silver initially sent to the Emperor to repay her parents’ debts was also returned, making Lian Hua a little wealthy now.

It boosts one’s mood, looking at silver. Lian Hua touched the ledger, pondering respectfully: "The world praises the Emperor’s grand favor, which is indeed true. I am now able to lead the young ones to a life of luxury and prosperity, all thanks to His Majesty’s benevolence and indeed thanks to Granny too. Granny is not bad either, hahaha..." She grinned, her smile hiding her eyes.

The Emperor glanced at her with a chuckle, teased, "Little miser, you’ve fallen into the charm of silver; does this little silver already entice you?"

Lian Hua turned to look at the Emperor, snapped the ledger shut, stood up, walked over cheerfully: "His Majesty, you underestimate me, my resolve is very firm; not just any silver can sway me? Alas, it’s only because you’re too gracious, not only handsome but even the silver you rewarded is extraordinary, very pleasing to the eyes. I couldn’t resist; I had no choice."

The Emperor laughed heartily, put his book aside, reached out and pinched her cheek: "Naughty, do you feel better today?"

Upon hearing this, Lian Hua’s brows drooped down, walked over to the small couch beside the Emperor, and sat closely: "Alas, Xiao Qing is not here, Sister Consort De is not here, and I can’t see Granny. Having work is fine; without it, I often feel empty inside. Haven’t seen Granny for many days; tomorrow is New Year’s eve, don’t know if I can spend it with Granny?"

Nanny Qi was afraid of infecting Lian Hua and the Emperor with her cold, so she hadn’t come to the Main Hall here, nor did she allow Lian Hua to approach the Side Hall, thus they hadn’t seen each other in seven or eight days.

Emperor hugged her: "Yesterday, I asked the Imperial Physician; Nanny Qi’s cold is nearly cured, no hindrance for tomorrow."

Lian Hua’s brows relaxed a bit, then furrowed again upon remembering: "Sister Consort De, I wonder how she is? It’s so cold now, and she’s gone to such a frigid place — I heard that in Northern Liaoning water freezes into ice upon being thrown and that it’s snowing heavily, sealing the roads and making them difficult to traverse. Alas, Sister rushed too much, while I failed to dissuade her..."

Lian Hua’s master, a man who’s traveled broadly, even delayed heading back to Shu Region due to snow and frozen rivers halting navigations. Yet Consort Xu De suddenly headed to an even colder place; how could Lian Hua not worry?

Emperor rubbed her head: "Xu Rongying grew up with Xu Hu in the military since childhood, served in the army for many years, and many times led troops hastily in harsh conditions. She’s traversed all kinds of roads and is highly skilled in swift movements over rough terrains. The Northern Liaoning region is somewhere she’s been before, known it inside out, and she meticulously prepared before departure. She’s also escorted by her guards, and Xu Hu has sent seasoned soldiers with her. Nannan, rest assured, your sister Consort will be fine."

"His Majesty is right, I hope sister does well." Lian Hua felt a bit more at ease. She hoped Xu Defei was doing fine and could achieve her desire.

Lian Hua understood why Consort Xu De was in such a rush; Shen Ming’s death impacted her greatly. After enduring many years of anguish, hearing news that someone resembling Shen Ming was spotted at the border; upon hearing such news, how could she sit idly, staying in the Capital is no different from another form of torment.

Lian Hua leaned against the Emperor, playing with his hair, and continued: "His Majesty, can you request that fat eunuch to allow Xiao Qing to return for the New Year?" She missed Xiao Qing, unaware of how she was doing.

Previously, Xiao Jizi suddenly brought Xiao Qing to request, stating Xiao Qing wished to try learning martial arts to protect Lian Hua, thus sought Lian Hua’s agreement.

As for why Xiao Qing desired to learn martial arts, it stemmed from one day, Hu Miaomiao inadvertently witnessed Xiao Qing alone, flipping over a water jar and emptying the block of ice formed inside.