The grass in the factory should be plucked

Chapter 348 The Palace

With the explosion of popularity of "New Legend of Mirror Demon", the drought was alleviated and the capital city finally returned to its bustling and prosperous scene.

The Queen, the eldest prince and their entourage, escorted by the Southern Expedition Army, arrived in the capital a few years ago.

Jiang Li and Xie Changan, who had been delaying their trip, returned to Prince Jing'an's Mansion with the twins on the day when the second volume of "The New Legend of the Mirror Demon" was released.

When she left the capital, this was still the Mansion of Marquis Jing'an. Now that it has become the Mansion of a Prince, it has naturally been renovated according to the specifications of a Prince.

The palace gate stands majestically, and the single-eaved hip roof is covered with dark green glazed tiles, which glows coolly in the sunlight.

The vermilion lacquered gate is tall and heavy, with golden door nails in nine rows vertically and horizontally.

Above the gate, a huge plaque with a black background and gold plating hangs high, with five large characters "Jing'an County Prince's Mansion" inscribed on it.

A pair of majestic stone lions crouch on both sides, adding a touch of solemnity and majesty.

Looking at the magnificent gate, Jiang Li was speechless. She almost couldn't recognize her own residence.

"The prince has returned home!"

Following a call, the central door opened and a bunch of people came out, lined up neatly according to their ranks, and saluted respectfully: "Your subordinates welcome the prince, the duke, the young county lady, and the young prince!"

Jiang Li was surprised when he saw the dark crowd.

Not only did she have a headache, but she also felt pain in her body. How much money would it cost every month to support so many people?

According to the specifications of a prince, the civil officials allocated to the palace include one chief secretary, three imperial guards, four ceremonial officials, three stewards, one food manager, two treasurers, four craftsmen, and three chief herdsmen.

The military officer has first, second and third class guards, a total of fifteen people.

Even the Crown Prince Xie Buqi was equipped with a chief secretary, two imperial guards, three ceremonial officers, and ten guards.

As the Duke of Dingguo, Xie Changan's Duke's Mansion was also staffed with three ceremonial officers and four guards.

Not to mention the managers, servants, maids and domestic servants in various places, there must be too many of them to count!

When Jiang Li thought about the monthly salary, he felt dizzy.

When Xie Changan saw her face twisted slightly, he knew that this money-grubber must be heartbroken, and he couldn't help but laugh.

He said through the heart-to-heart contract: "Don't worry, these high-ranking officials are all paid by the court, and we don't need to support them."

Jiang Li finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Xie Changan glanced at her and said, "Have you forgotten all the "Great Chu Code" that I asked you to recite back then?"

When Jiang Li first entered the East Factory, Xie Changan asked her to memorize the "Laws of Great Chu" and "Code of Conduct of Great Chu" in full. Among them, "Code of Conduct of Great Chu" recorded in detail the rules and regulations of various departments of Great Chu.

Did this girl cut corners at the time? She only took on important official positions, and she didn't even look at these unimportant officials in the palace.

Jiang Li pretended not to hear and turned to her subordinates: "No need to be polite, stand up."

At this time, Aunt Lian also came out, surrounded by a large group of maids and servants. She was very happy and led everyone to bow down: "Welcome to the prince, the duke, the young county lady, and the young prince!"

Jiang Li hurried forward and helped Aunt Lian up: "Aunt, get up quickly!"

She hadn't seen them for two months and was just about to act coquettishly with Aunt Lian, but she didn't expect Aunt Lian to pass her by and pounce directly on the twins held by Mingyue and Cuibai.

"Miss, Master, I miss you so much!"

She hugged this and then that, and couldn't let go.

The twins, boy and girl, hadn't seen Aunt Lian for a long time, and they were giggling with joy.

Jiang Li pouted and said angrily: "Everyone get up!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Xie Changan smiled and took her hand, then walked into the palace surrounded by the crowd.

But seeing the flying eaves and brackets everywhere, which were magnificent and splendid, Jiang Li frowned slightly.

During the renovation of the palace, Aunt Lian also went to Dali to take care of her. There was no one to take care of her in the palace, so the Ministry of Internal Affairs only rebuilt it according to the specifications of a prince, which naturally did not suit Jiang Li's preferences.

The people in charge of the inner house were all eunuchs, and maids and servants were also allocated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs according to specifications.

Jiang Li thought about it and said to Xie Changan, "Let's go back to your place first."

Xie Changan knew that she was annoyed by the number of unfamiliar faces, so he nodded and said, "Okay, your usual items are all over there."

Jiang Li then said to everyone: "I will return to the Duke's Mansion, you can go and do your own things."

"Yes!"

Jiang Li then took Aunt Lian and the twins, passed through the corner gate connecting the two mansions, and returned to the big garden she had been longing for.

Zhou Bo also led his servants to greet them: "Prince, Duke, you are back!"

When he saw the pair of beautiful twins, he was so happy that he almost burst into tears: "These are the little county lady and the little prince, right? They look so good, exactly like the Duke!"

Jiang Li smiled and said, "They are very good at playing. I'll have to trouble Uncle Zhou to take care of them in the future."

"No, no, it is my duty to take care of the young master." Zhou Bo smiled.

The garden of the Duke's Mansion is magnificent, but it lacks some popularity. Now that there is a young master and the laughter of children, it finally feels like a home.

The twins were still young, and Jiang Li did not plan to let them live in a separate courtyard. She placed them in the main courtyard, right next to the principal house, and they were taken care of by Aunt Lian, Zhen'er and Zhu'er.

She finally doesn't have to look after the children anymore!

Jiang Li happily took a hot spring bath, returned to the familiar bedroom, and rolled onto the large carved bed, feeling so comfortable that she didn't even want to move a finger.

Xie Changan took out a handkerchief and wrung out her hair, saying with a smile, "Don't forget to submit the memorial to the palace. You still have to report to the emperor tomorrow."

Jiang Li sighed. After hanging out outside for a month, he almost forgot that he was a high-ranking official of the second rank and had to get up early to attend court!

She called Mingyue and asked her to go to the palace and ask the chief secretary to help her deliver the memorial.

At this time, Fei'er came to report that Nanny Zhou, the manager of the inner court of the palace, wanted to see her.

Jiang Li frowned. What was the matter that required her to come and see him today? Couldn't she just take a day off?

But Nanny Zhou came from the palace and was an old friend of the late Empress Dowager Zhang, so she had to be given some face.

"Let her in."

Nanny Zhou walked into the inner room with her head lowered and brows knitted, bowing and saying, "I am Zhou, your servant, greet the prince and the duke."

"Madam, please stand up. What can I do for you?" Jiang Li leaned lazily on a chaise longue.

Nanny Zhou raised her head slightly and saw the princess leaning on the couch. She seemed to have just stepped out of the bath, with her black hair cascading down like a waterfall. She was casually wrapped in a crimson nightgown with the collar half open, revealing her snow-white skin. She was so beautiful that she seemed out of this world.

She couldn't help but gasp. No wonder the late Queen Mother kept saying that it was a good thing that this girl refused to enter the harem, otherwise, how could the Emperor care about anyone else?

Nanny Zhou calmed down and said respectfully, "I want to ask, in which courtyard is Madam Zhang placed? I can have someone clean her up first."

"Mrs. Zhang?" Jiang Li was a little confused. Who is this person?

Xie Changan reminded: "Aunt Lian."

Jiang Li was slightly displeased: "Hasn't Aunt Lian always lived in Rongqing Hall? Why do we need to relocate her?"

"Your Highness, according to the rules, Rongqing Hall is still the residence of the old Lord..." Nanny Zhou said cautiously.

What she meant was that Aunt Lian was half master and half servant, and given her status, it was inappropriate for her to live in Rongqing Hall.