The carriage moved slowly along the official road. The accumulated snow on both sides had completely melted, and a damp, cool wind blew into the carriage, causing everyone to pull their clothes tighter.
In the dawn light, a fine horse galloped from afar, and moments later, it blocked the two carriages.
"Who goes there?" Two guards stepped forward, swords drawn, their brows furrowed. "How dare you block Lord Feng's carriage? Move aside quickly..."
The person who arrived was none other than Yun Siman, who had come out of the city to welcome Jinhe.
He was supposed to have arrived yesterday, but Xiao Xinling had clung to him, crying and making a fuss, even demanding that he ask the Emperor for a marriage decree. Yun Siman had used all his patience to coax her. When Xiao Xinling's mood improved, she finally let him leave.
"Fourth Uncle?" Yun Jinhe heard the commotion and quickly lifted the carriage curtain. "Fourth Uncle, why are you here?"
Murong Qing also poked her head out and greeted Yun Siman.
"Your grandfather and grandmother were worried about you and sent me to welcome you. Did anything happen on the way?" Yun Siman asked.
Yun Jinhe smiled. "With Lord Feng escorting me, what could possibly happen..."
"Then let's go, let's go. I'll buy two roast geese from the neighboring village and catch up with you later!" Yun Siman said, flicking his whip to go buy the roast geese.
There was no other way. Xiao Xinling had been particularly craving food these past few days, insisting on freshly roasted roast geese, and they couldn't be too salty.
To serve that princess well, Yun Siman's legs were almost worn out.
Meanwhile, inside the Yun residence.
Xiao Jinheng sat in his study, engrossed in writing something, when Kong Xingzhu suddenly pushed the door open and entered.
"Your Highness, General Gu is here and wishes to see you!" Kong Xingzhu said.
Xiao Jinheng did not respond. After writing the last character, he slowly put down his brush and handed the paper to Kong Xingzhu. "This is the list of custom palace gowns for the palace maids and wet nurses. Please take it to the Imperial Household Department and have them purchase ready-made clothes from the Chu Cloth Shop from now on!"
Kong Xingzhu: "..."
Crown Prince, you are truly good to Sweet Baby.
In fact, even without your patronage, the Chu Cloth Shop's business was already booming.
"Your, Your Highness!" Kong Xingzhu twitched his lips and whispered, trying to persuade him, "The Imperial Household Department has always been responsible for purchasing clothes for the palace, and the Jiangnan Textile Factory also supplies ready-made clothes and fabrics to the palace all year round. To suddenly change to the Chu Cloth Shop, I'm afraid... I'm afraid it's not very appropriate!"
"Hmm?" Xiao Jinheng frowned and slammed the desk. "Commander Kong, rules are dead, but people are alive. What I want to do is not for others to comment on. Go and do it immediately!"
Kong Xingzhu: "..."
You are becoming more and more overbearing.
"Understood, Your Highness!"
"Oh, and let General Gu in!"
"Alright!"
A moment later, Gu Zhenshan strode in and bowed to Xiao Jinheng. "Your Highness..."
Xiao Jinheng glanced out the window and asked, "Has the troop deployment returned?"
"Your subordinate has followed Your Highness's orders and secretly recalled two thousand elite soldiers back to the capital. They are now ambushed around the palace. If Consort Xian makes any move, these elite soldiers will annihilate them all..." Gu Zhenshan replied.
Xiao Jinheng clenched his fist. "Good, it's a done deal, and we can't retreat now. The next step is to see if Consort Xian has the courage to assassinate His Majesty. General Gu, if this matter is successful, I will have His Majesty grant you the first merit!"
In the end, Gu Zhenshan obediently followed Xiao Jinheng's arrangements entirely out of consideration for his sister and the Yun family.
After all, Xiao Jinheng was nominally the Crown Prince, but he had been living in seclusion in the countryside for many years, which led many palace staff to not take the Crown Prince seriously.
"Your Highness is too kind. This is what your subordinate should do..." Gu Zhenshan said with a look of embarrassment.
The two chatted about some details, and then Gu Zhenshan went to visit Madam Gu.
Xiao Jinheng had Madam Gao brew a bowl of chicken soup and steam a few small flower rolls, then he took Xiao Ying and Xiao Jun to the Chu Cloth Shop.
"How can you not eat?" Xiao Jinheng looked at the ravenously eating village children with great helplessness. "There's a restaurant right across from the cloth shop. You could at least go in and eat a bowl of noodles. What if you ruin your stomach?"
Although he was complaining verbally, he felt very concerned in his heart. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of Xiao Xi Tian's mouth. "Eat slowly. The chicken soup has cooled down. I'll have Xiao Ying reheat it for you..."
"No need, I'm full!" Xiao Xi Tian let out a burp and put down the soup bowl. "There's too much to do at the shop these days. It will be fine after this period."
Under Xiao Xi Tian's diligent management, the Chu Cloth Shop's business had become unprecedentedly popular.
Three tailors were not enough, so she hired two more and set aside a room in the backyard for the tailors to use as a workspace.
The ready-made clothes in the shop sold out every day, with a huge output.
"Since you like designing clothes so much, why don't you stay in the capital from now on? I'll open a separate ready-made clothing store for you..." Xiao Jinheng said with doting affection.
Xiao Xi Tian waved her hands repeatedly upon hearing this. "No, I'm just temporarily managing it for Brother Jiang Tun. I can't stay here. Besides, there are still a lot of things waiting for me at home, so I have to go back!"
She was still too young to stay in the capital for now.
Xiao Jinheng curved his lips and stared at Xiao Xi Tian for a moment. "In the end, you still don't like going into the palace with me!"
Xiao Xi Tian: "..."
What kind of logic is this?
"You rascal, those are two different things. What would I do if I went into the palace now? I'd be hounded to death by those empresses and concubines!" Xiao Xi Tian's small face flushed red, and she said indignantly.
Xiao Jinheng couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. "Little village child, you are so cute, it's inevitable that you'll be pestered a bit..."
But if she were to become the Crown Princess, who would dare to pinch her little face?
The warehouse was short-handed, so Xiao Jinheng instructed Xiao Ying and Xiao Jun to go up and help, and he also rolled up his sleeves and joined in the work.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Yun residence, Old Man Yun sat on the steps, basking in the sun with his pipe.
Jiang Tun had been focused on losing weight during this period and hadn't had time to visit him.
This house with its grand gates and courtyards, Old Man Yun still got lost after living here for so long, so it was most comfortable to stay at the main entrance.
"Alas, I wonder if Xue Ling's stomachache has gotten better!" Old Man Yun exhaled a smoke ring and muttered to himself. "And those two blockheads, Daman and Erman. If they don't take good care of the dairy cows, I'll fight them when I get back, cough cough..."
Although Old Man Sun was taking care of the cattle at home, Old Man Yun was still not at ease.
He was destined to be a worrier, and he had to do everything himself.
Just then, a carriage drove over from the street corner.
A moment later, the carriage stopped in front of the neighboring gate, and an old man with a white beard alighted from the carriage.