Chapter 13

Chapter 13

◎With the Support of the Little Prince◎

"You're incredible! We've done this three times already, and thankfully, I'm in great shape," Huiyin said, still trembling slightly as she leaned against Li Cheng's chest.

She embraced her enjoyment and didn't like putting on an act of innocence or shyness. Why shouldn't a woman be allowed to feel pleasure?

During the day, Li Cheng found that he and Huiyin were formal with each other, but at night, in bed, it was like they were navigating a vast, unrestricted sea, free from all reservations. She was beautiful and lovely, generous yet tactful. If she were truly sincere with him, it would be perfect.

"Princess..."

"My personal name is Huiyin. You can call me Huiyin or Huiyin." Huiyin didn't want to be so formal with him.

Li Cheng was a bit taken aback and tried calling her, "Hui'er."

"You just have to say it differently, don't you?" Huiyin bantered.

Li Cheng had been lively in his youth, but after the successive deaths of his parents, he gradually became more reserved. Hearing Huiyin's playful tone, he couldn't help but laugh. "Were you always this mischievous at home?"

Huiyin nodded with a smile. "Of course! They always said I was fun and lively. Back when my brother wasn't married, we used to climb trees together. Once, there was a caterpillar on the tree that bit me, making my body ache and itch."

Li Cheng also laughed. "I was naughty too when I was young, but my mischief was pretending to be sick to skip school, applying ink around my eyes. I thought I was foolproof, but my father had already caught on. My mother, who doted on me, let me sleep in and covered for me."

It seemed he had been raised with love, as he always smiled when talking about his parents.

"In the blink of an eye, we've grown up and started our own family. In the future, we might have our own children. I never thought my marriage would lead me to you, and that we would be so compatible." Huiyin spoke earnestly.

At Li Cheng's age, most people were already married. He had married Princess Zheng through a political alliance, intending just to go through the motions. But she had surprised him greatly.

Princess Zheng was stunning, with a beauty that could captivate nations, and she was both witty and charming. She was upright, generous, and seemed determined to live a good life with him. She looked up at him and asked, "If we have children, do you think they'll look more like you or me?"

"I've heard that men with feminine features are destined for wealth, and women with masculine features tend to work harder. So, whether we have a boy or a girl, it's best if they look like you," Li Cheng said with a smile.

Huiyin hadn't expected him to say that and immediately imagined a beautiful future...

The next day, Manager Qiao brought over various account books, with several managers sitting below. Huiyin first flipped through the gift records, which clearly showed where Li Cheng had the closest interactions.

The most significant gifts Li Cheng sent were to the Prince of Wei. Huiyin looked up and asked, "Why is the gift for the Dragon Boat Festival twice as large as the one for the Cold Food Festival? Is there a specific reason?"

Manager Qiao had expected Huiyin to start with the storeroom, but she began by reviewing the gift records. He explained, "May is the birth month of the Prince of Wei's wife."

"I see. It's appropriate to give a more substantial gift to an elder."

Huiyin then examined the local interactions in Xuzhou. There were numerous rewards for Yuwendang. She made a mental note and flipped through the pages, realizing it was impossible to remember everything at once.

After reviewing the gift records, there were the household accounts, detailing monthly allowances, food, clothing, and small items for the entire household. She saw that eggs were listed at two qian each and remarked, "Are eggs in Xuzhou so expensive? In Jizhou, an egg costs just three wen."

The kitchen manager, He Guanshi, stood up and smiled. "Princess, these eggs are special because they are fed with the finest medicinal herbs, making them more valuable."

"The Little Prince mentioned he'll be training troops and won't be back for a while. Since I'm the only legitimate master here, we can buy regular eggs. I don't need to eat so extravagantly." Huiyin smiled.

But He Guanshi couldn't help but say, "Everything follows established rules..."

"Even in the palace, the hierarchy among concubines is determined by silk, not eggs. Besides, if I don't mind, why should you?" Huiyin didn't expose him but knew these nuances. An egg costing two qian, which is 200 wen, was like treating people as fools.

Seeing the new princess speak so sharply, He Guanshi didn't dare to say more and stammered in agreement.

Huiyin then pointed to the salt. "Xuzhou is renowned for its salt production, with 90% coming from well mines and 10% from sea salt. Yet, your salt costs one tael of silver per dou. The Little Prince told me it should cost just ten wen per dou. Are the salt sellers related to you?"

"There were no shouts or threats of violence, just a direct call for improvements. He Guanshi immediately knelt and swore by the heavens, 'Young Princess, I made a mistake, but I’ll definitely correct it moving forward.'"

Huiyin smiled and said, "I’m new here, so I’ll need everyone’s help. He Guanshi, you have more experience than I do. Take a look at these accounts and check the market prices, so we don’t get swindled by dishonest merchants."

He Guanshi visibly relaxed, relieved that the young princess wasn’t going to replace him. Seeing that she had handled the situation calmly, he quickly kowtowed in gratitude, understanding that she didn’t want to create unnecessary drama.

As Huiyin flipped through the accounts, she didn’t nitpick every detail but highlighted the key areas that needed improvement. Her quick assessments showed that she knew exactly what she was doing.

"Alright, you’ve handed over the account books to me today, and it’s getting late. I’ll keep the books and take over from here. Starting tomorrow, we’ll implement a new accounting system. As for the storeroom, I’ll inspect it personally after lunch." Huiyin waved them off.

At lunch, she changed into fresh clothes and invited Li Cheng over. She explained, "I didn’t realize you were paying two qian per egg. If it were up to me, three wen eggs would be fine. I think we can cut back on some of these expenses."

This was a subtle way of pointing out that things had gotten out of hand in his absence.

Li Cheng put down his chopsticks and replied, "Two qian per egg isn’t cheap. The household is mostly run by my late mother’s attendants or the Empress Dowager’s people. I’ve been away, so I wasn’t aware of this."

Huiyin smiled and said, "I haven’t noticed any difference after eating these eggs for a few days. Back in Jizhou, eggs cost three wen each, and if you buy in bulk, the sellers even deliver them. Even when I eat egg custard at the palace or the princess’s mansion, I don’t notice any difference. Since you’ll be away, there’s no need for me to eat such expensive eggs."

"What about the price of grain outside the mansion?" Li Cheng asked.

"Back home, Huiyin often helped her mother, Madame Ji, with the household accounts. She kept a close eye on the prices in Jizhou and remembered them well."

This wasn’t the time for false modesty. She needed to demonstrate her competence to earn Li Cheng’s trust. While people can like you instantly, a strong working relationship built on mutual interests and shared goals lasts much longer.

Li Cheng wasn’t unaware of these matters. As a general, he had to plan the army’s supplies and rations in advance. He wanted to see if Huiyin truly understood these things. Her confident explanation showed that she wasn’t just a sheltered noblewoman. Moreover, she wasn’t stingy—she hadn’t cut the servants’ monthly allowances.

"You seem like a sheltered noblewoman. How do you know so much about these things?" Li Cheng probed.

Huiyin smiled and said, "Even though I’m a noblewoman, I still need to understand household management. My mother often had me help with the accounts, so I learned a lot. I hope I’m not coming across as too showy, Young Prince."

"Not at all. I see that you’re truly capable. You can handle this household without needing to consult me on every little thing." Li Cheng nodded approvingly.

This was exactly what Huiyin wanted to hear. She gave him a thumbs up and said, "Young Prince, it’s true what they say—trust the person you appoint and don’t second-guess them."

With Li Cheng’s support, Huiyin felt more confident during the afternoon inspection of the storeroom. The servants noticed that she personally checked each item and clearly knew what she was doing. She understood how to care for porcelain vases and properly place screens, so they didn’t dare try to deceive her.

Nanny Fan was talking to He Guanshi’s wife and said, "She pointed out some of your husband’s mistakes but didn’t fire him. What did he say?"

He’s wife replied, "What could he say? He was as meek as a quail, terrified that the young princess might fire him for the slightest mistake."

Nanny Fan inwardly cursed, thinking what a coward He Guanshi had become. He usually had a short fuse when managing the kitchen, but this time, he didn’t react at all to the criticism.

Nanny Fan added, "For now, he’s just being tested, but who knows if he’ll survive in the long run."

He’s wife pursed her lips and said, "Nanny Fan, we understand what you’re saying, but the young prince fully supports the young princess. This afternoon, he even accompanied her to inspect the storeroom, and everyone saw it. As servants, we can’t go against the young prince."

This was the reality. In Huaiyin Mansion, the Prince of Huaiyin’s word was law. Even though He Guanshi was loyal to the Empress Dowager, she was no longer in power. With the young prince’s favor and support, who would dare oppose the new mistress?

While Nanny Fan was still worried, a few days later, she received a letter and was overjoyed. Miss Xun was finally arriving!