CHAPTER 376: CHAPTER 373 LONG-TERM

The news from the previous court reached the harem.

The Empress was speaking with Mrs. Meng.

Mrs. Meng was stunned for a long time and only recovered her senses after the eunuch left, then she looked at Empress Xu in panic.

Empress Xu, however, appeared very composed. After instructing the female official to leave, she gazed calmly at Mrs. Meng.

In that calm demeanor was a hint of authority.

Mrs. Meng knew the Empress was angry and hurried to apologize, "Your Majesty, it’s our fault. We didn’t expect Xie Liangchen to be so prepared; there wasn’t the slightest hint before..."

Since they were prepared, naturally they wouldn’t inform others.

Empress Xu said, "Sit down. After all, the Xu Family is my maternal family. I only have this one brother, and no matter what happens, I cannot ignore the Xu Family. You don’t need to be so anxious."

Watching the Empress take a sip of tea, Mrs. Meng cautiously sat back on her chair, "Why... so quickly... have the rewards been decided?"

"Previously, it wasn’t decided because the Secretariat hadn’t discussed it properly, and also because no one in the court was paying attention to the matter," Empress Xu said calmly. "Now that people are discussing the Chen Family Village and it’s all praise, naturally it can’t be delayed."

The Emperor always follows the will of the people, especially since the Chen Family Village had merit first. It can only be said that whether it’s Xie Liangchen or Song Xian, they both did excellently, leaving no room for reproach.

Xie Liangchen, who was raised in the countryside as a descendant of Prince Guangyang, made a lasting impression on others without any backing, gaining fame through wax paper and wool felt.

Mrs. Meng pressed her lips tightly, "But after all, the Chen Family Village and Xie Liangchen are just merchants. Even if they are now titled Commandery Princess, they shouldn’t cause much trouble in the future. Isn’t it ultimately the court that decides whether they can earn Silver Coin?"

Empress Xu did not speak, her expression grew even more solemn. Only someone like Mrs. Meng would think it was about wax paper and wool felt.

The wax paper and wool felt are trivial; what matters is Xie Liangchen’s strategy. Just after the war ended, they found a path for the people of the Eight States.

Empress Xu said, "Everyone in the court is discussing how to relieve the Eight States; you should know this, right? With wax paper and wool felt as a start, what do you think Song Xian will do next?"

Following Empress Xu’s suggestion, Mrs. Meng began to understand.

Empress Xu continued, "No matter how much rice and grain the court provides as relief, it is not a long-term solution. If we truly want to support the Eight States, why not buy official paper in the Eight States? With official paper, we can open more paper workshops. As the workshops increase, the people can run small private paper workshops to produce high-quality paper like wax paper. The court also needs those cold-resistant wool felts; once the market opens, we can buy more furs. Plus, the Eight States is already suited for sheep farming. Thus, when mentioning fur goods, one would think of several states in the North."

No need for Empress Xu to continue, Mrs. Meng understood it all; it was indeed a more lasting solution than asking for disaster relief grain.

"Song Xian is not foolish," Empress Xu sighed deeply, "marrying Xie Liangchen has his own purpose."

Mrs. Meng felt a chill down her spine, struggling to reconcile the Xie Liangchen Empress Xu spoke of with the one she knew. Is the Empress overestimating Xie Liangchen?

Even if the Chen Family Village produced these things, the idea must have come from Song Xian.

But what difference does it make if it was Song Xian or Xie Liangchen? The Emperor has already decreed their marriage; if all goes as expected, they’ll soon wed.

Having spoken too much, Empress Xu felt a bit tired and waved her hand, "You may leave."

Watching Mrs. Meng’s departing figure, Empress Xu’s eyes narrowed slightly. She hadn’t met Xie Liangchen but remembered how people around her described Princess Guangyang.

Princess Guangyang was greatly supported by the people and did much practical work in her territory; a woman who could lead scholars to compile books.

Now, what Xie Liangchen does resembles Princess Guangyang in many ways.

Similar, truly similar.

...

Old Mrs. Chen was basking in the sun in the courtyard; today was a rare fine day. The sunlight was warm on her body, momentarily making her forget it was winter.

However, Old Mrs. Chen hadn’t enjoyed the comfort for long when Mrs. Gao came, saying, "Madam, someone from the court has come, saying they’re here to confer rewards to Brother-in-law, Liangchen, and the Chen Family Village. Many have come and brought clothes, and they’re cleaning the courtyard. Once everything is in order, we’ll go to the front courtyard to receive the decree."

Old Mrs. Chen got up from her chair and looked at the surprised and delighted Mrs. Gao, "Why panic? Didn’t we already know this day would come?" She always said that Miss Chen was destined to be a ’Madam,’ and a Commandery Princess is even more prestigious. Was she wrong?

Mrs. Gao said, "We knew it, but seeing it... ah... seeing a wild boar running in the mountains and actually eating the boar meat are different, right?"

Old Mrs. Chen, hands behind her back, remained unfazed, "How is it different?" In her view, it was all the same, eating while awake or in a dream.

There might be more joyful news to come. Mrs. Gao secretly smiled; she overheard Brother-in-law and Miss Chen talk about requesting a title of noble for Old Mrs. Chen the following day.

If they really get it, let’s see if Madam Chen can still act all indifferent.

Old Mrs. Chen moved forward, and as Mrs. Gao heard a sound from Mrs. Chen’s waist, she immediately whispered, "Madam, when changing into new clothes later, don’t forget to remove the purse from your waist. It jingles every time you walk."

Old Mrs. Chen straightened her back, "What? Are you disdainful of the old lady’s purse?"

Mrs. Gao hurriedly said, "Not at all. The Chen Family Village has money to spend thanks to your purse."

Of course, Mrs. Chen muttered to herself, it’s just that this purse can never be filled.

Xie Shao Yuan and Xie Liangchen supported Old Mrs. Chen, leading the people of the Chen Family Village to receive the imperial decree in the front courtyard.

The eunuch smiled and said, "After the court meeting, General Zhongwu and Princess Jia’an, don’t forget to come to the palace to express your gratitude."

After the eunuch left, Song Xian came with Chang An, as he too just received two imperial decrees: one appointing him as Commander Xuanwei and the other granting marriage to him and Princess Jia’an.

Song Xian looked at the marriage decree in Xie Shao Yuan’s hand and properly knelt down to pay his respects to Xie Shao Yuan and Old Mrs. Chen.

"Grandmother, Father-in-law."

Xie Shao Yuan put down the decree and reached to help Song Xian up, "You two are not yet married, so there’s no need for such formality now."

Song Xian looked at Xie Shao Yuan, "Rest assured, Father-in-law, until I marry Liangchen, I wouldn’t dare call it out recklessly."

Xie Shao Yuan patted Song Xian’s shoulder, feeling somewhat helpless, "You child."

Song Xian glanced at Xie Liangchen beside him, who wore a lotus-colored dress with a hint of a smile on her face.

"We still need to discuss tomorrow’s palace visit," Xie Shao Yuan said, looking at Song Xian. "As per custom, I should express gratitude to the Emperor, and Liangchen should pay her respects to the Empress, right?"

The Emperor might not summon female family members, but Song Xian believed that the Emperor would call Liangchen for questions.