The Prince Rui's mansion was finally renovated. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau, avoiding the ghost month, selected an auspicious day and informed Gu Yan Chen that he could move on this date.
Gu Yan Chen was delighted. Since their marriage, he had been living in his wife's residence. Now, he could finally afford to house his wife properly. Before officially moving, he took Lu Nian Fu to tour the new house, under the guise of familiarizing themselves with the territory.
As they toured, Gu Yan Chen began to feel uneasy.
With such a large mansion, how many people would he need to manage it? Would his salary be enough? What if he needed his wife's financial support again? This anxiety reached its peak when he saw the hundreds of servants allocated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Fortunately, along with the servants came the properties bestowed by Emperor Chang Wu: five estates and several shops.
Gu Yan Chen wiped his sweat and handed all the deeds, property titles, and deeds of sale to Lu Nian Fu. "These things will be your responsibility from now on."
Lu Nian Fu flipped through them one by one. Receiving such a substantial inheritance, she was naturally overjoyed. However, when she reached the deeds of sale, her brow furrowed slightly. Seeing her frown, Gu Yan Chen mistook it for agreement and quickly said, "Does Madam also feel there are too many servants?"
"It's alright," Lu Nian Fu recalled that the Ning Prince's mansion in her previous life had far more servants. "You are no longer the unfavored young master of a marquis's household. You should have the proper retinue."
"Then why did you frown just now?"
"I was just worrying. The servants allocated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs might have all sorts of connections. If they commit any offenses, should we handle it or not?"
"The deeds of sale have been given. Can they still cause trouble?"
"I fear their connections are complex. One wrong step could offend someone. You are now a figure in officialdom. It's better to plant fewer thorns and more flowers."
Gu Yan Chen was dismissive, "They are just servants. If they are unsatisfactory, I'll sell them. We'll keep the old ones in our courtyard. These people can just be placed in the outer court for appearances."
He truly disliked dealing with interpersonal matters, so Lu Nian Fu would have to shoulder more of this burden.
The auspicious day for moving was chosen for the eighth day of the eighth month. After moving in and settling down, it would be just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival. However, before that, the moving banquet could not be overlooked. This was Gu Yan Chen's first banquet as Prince Rui. If it were not handled well, it would undoubtedly become a topic of gossip. Lu Nian Fu knew the character of the ladies in the capital well. Although she disliked associating with them, she had to muster all her energy.
Gu Yan Chen and she had not yet moved into the prince's mansion, but the servants sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs were already living there.
On this day, a eunuch calling himself Fu Gui came to Hulu Street to deliver an account book to Lu Nian Fu.
It recorded the new daily necessities purchased for the Prince Rui's mansion and their personal expenses over the past five days. As the masters, this money was naturally to be paid by Gu Yan Chen.
Lu Nian Fu glanced at the ledger, "Are you the steward?"
"Reporting to the Princess Consort, this servant is merely a messenger. Steward Xin has matters to attend to today, so he sent this servant on this errand."
"Slap," the thick ledger landed on the table. Lu Nian Fu said indifferently, "He seems busier than I, the Princess Consort."
Fu Gui quickly knelt down, "This servant deserves death."
Lu Nian Fu looked at him with a half-smile, "This is not a major matter, why kneel? Could it be that there is something fishy about this ledger?"
"The, the Princess Consort is joking."
"I, the Princess Consort, do not believe in collective punishment. You are just a messenger. You can go back once the ledger is delivered."
Fu Gui was unsure what Lu Nian Fu was thinking, but remembering Steward Xin's instructions, he braced himself and said, "Princess Consort, this ledger lists the expenses for the past five days. Many are yet to be settled, and some have been paid by Steward Xin. May I ask..."
Lu Nian Fu raised an eyebrow, "Are you asking me for money?"
"This servant dares not. It's just that these expenses..."
"I cannot just hand over money to any commoner who presents me with a ledger, can I? Leave the ledger here. Once it has been verified, you will certainly receive what is due to you."
"Yes, yes, yes. This servant spoke too much."
Lu Nian Fu waved him away and reread the ledger, unable to help but laugh.
Qing Miao leaned in, "What is Miss laughing about?"
"Laughing at these people for treating me like a fool."
Lu Nian Fu handed her the ledger, "Take a look at the prices of these items. How do they compare to market prices?"
Qing Miao disliked going out, but she was aware of basic prices. Upon opening it, her voice rose, "Seven wen per jin for vegetables, ten wen for an egg? This is too outrageous! And what about these flowers? One tael of silver per seedling, and five hundred were bought? Is our prince's mansion planning to build an imperial garden?"