Ch. 661..665: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 661-665

Chapter 661: Chapter 661 Allocation (7)_1

"You have me." She couldn’t help but say.

"The queen is flirting with me again." Chu Suifeng said cunningly, "In front of so many people, I’m so embarrassed." There was no hint of shyness on his face, he was fully pleased!

The likes of Congyi, Hong Ying and the others, who heard this at the back, couldn’t help but laugh.

Lin Ziyin felt both embarrassed and annoyed; she was enraged enough to scratch him.

Chu Suifeng laughed heartily and pulled her by the hand towards the front, "No, my queen, in front of so many people, I’d be embarrassed. Even if our home’s grapevine collapses, we should close the door before fixing it."

Having heard this, Hong Ying and the others laughed even harder. The story behind the collapsed grapevine was actually something Lin Ziyin shared during idle times. Almost all the maids following her and the guards around Chu Suifeng had heard it.

"Chu Suifeng." Lin Ziyin said, both embarrassed and annoyed.

With this diversion, the sense of hurt that the old lady had brought was completely forgotten.

"Here is the gift list for the queen’s return to her family three days later. Please review it, my lord and queen." As soon as they returned to the room, Bai Xian came over with a thick list of gifts.

Chu Suifeng took the list and scanned it carefully, then instructed Bai Xian to add a few more things to it. Only then did he give it to Lin Ziyin, "My queen, see if anything is missing?"

Upon seeing the long list of gifts, Lin Ziyin felt touched. Because Chu Suifeng valued her, he even sought to give her family the best.

"My lord, it is already very good, no need to add more."

Seeing her satisfied, Chu Suifeng felt secretly pleased, but fearing that he hadn’t done enough, he asked the Maids Qin and Lu to accompany Bai Xian to the warehouse to see what else needed to be added.

Maids Qin and Lu didn’t dare delay and immediately followed Bai Xian.

With a cart full of gifts, the old lady returned to the Marquis Residence. The Marquis and his second son, along with their children, had already gathered around. They all wanted to know the exact situation of the old lady’s stay in the Wang Residence.

Although the old lady stayed only one night, the Wang Residence was not a place where just anyone could stay. The most noble Prince of the Northern Land lived there.

"Mother, what did the prince say?" The Marquis originally wanted to ask about their situation tactfully. But seeing the old lady impatient, he immediately changed his mind and went straight to the point.

"What do you want the prince to say?" The old lady opened her eyes, "The prince publicly promised, from now on the Marquis can survive and flourish in the Northern Land, is this promise not heavy enough?"

"Did the prince mention anything about Yanran?" Madam Mu couldn’t hold back her curiosity. She bore a grudge against Chu Suifeng, for if not for his heartlessness, her daughter wouldn’t have been so miserable.

"Grandmother, did you ask cousin about my marriage again? I’m willing to be the prince’s concubine, even a lowly one." Li Yanran fell to her knees, crying. Yesterday, at the prince’s grand wedding, her father, afraid she would cause trouble, locked her up in the house. She didn’t witness Chu Suifeng in his groom’s attire.

But just thinking about the Prince on a high horse during the welcome ceremony, Li Yanran felt unbearable pain.

The man she had admired for more than ten years had abandoned her in a heartbeat. She could not accept it.

But the person she hated the most was Lin Ziyin. If it weren’t for Lin Ziyin’s meddling, she could have married the Prince had any other woman become his queen. Why would Lin Ziyin, an insignificant and lowly farm girl, demand that the Prince be bound to her for a lifetime?

"Shut up." The old lady looked coldly at Li Yanran, without a trace of affection in her eyes, "Find a matchmaker for her tomorrow."

"Mother." The Marquis was taken aback. Which big family’s daughter would use a matchmaker? Those were for people who couldn’t be married off. If they used a matchmaker, they would certainly become a laughingstock.

"Grandmother, no." Li Yanran stood up in her rage.

"Mother, I don’t agree." Madam Mu trembled with anger. If they used a matchmaker for Li Yanran’s marriage, they wouldn’t even be able to find an old prestigious house’s son, let alone a decent upper-class family who would accept such a bride.

No, her daughter, a Mu, cannot end up in such a situation.

Madam Mu hated the old lady’s heartless decision and Chu Suifeng’s disloyalty. "Mother, have you ever thought about Yanran’s future?"

"Well then, have you, the lady of this Marquis Residence, ever considered the future of the Li family?" The old lady asked sternly, "If you do not agree, then you can quit from being the lady of the Li family."

How could she be so cruel to her own daughter and granddaughter? Madam Mu stared at the old lady in disbelief.

People from the second family were surprised to hear this, but they were secretly delighted. Li Yanran and Madam Mu had taken advantage of the authority in their hands and been causing them trouble. Now facing this situation, it was beneficial to them.

"I have given ten shops in the south of the city to the prince and queen as tokens of respect. The remainder of the ten shops, you two brothers can have five each," said the old lady, taking an even more shocking action.

Gave away ten shops? Now the people from the second family were also unable to remain calm. The price that the old lady had paid for a night’s stay in the king’s house was too heavy.

"The deeds are here, you may take them. As for the rest, anything given by Empress De will be sent back to the prince’s house. The rest, I have already allocated. The list is with Qilan, you can see for yourselves later." The old lady looked tired, "I’m tired, you all may leave."

Chapter 662: Chapter 662: Cow Snake Ghost God(1)_1

The old dowager’s allocation was undoubtedly a huge bombshell for the Li Family’s descendants, leaving everyone present stunned with fear. When she commanded everyone to leave, no one listened. Like roots beneath their feet, they all stood rooted to their spot.

In the dowager’s possession were over twenty shops, a fortune gradually accumulated since her days in the Northern Lands, and startlingly, she gave away ten at once. Adding the betrothal gifts given to Lin Ziyin a few months ago, she had practically dispersed most of her wealth.

Traditionally, big estates always bequeathed their family property to the eldest son or eldest grandson. Even those of the second or third branch families only received a small slice of the inheritance. Never before, like the dowager, had the bulk been gifted to the grandchildren and grand-daughter-in-laws on the maternal side.

If Chu Suifeng were an ordinary man, they would have no fear. After the dowager’s demise, the Marquis Residence could file a lawsuit with the officialdom, claiming the dowager was confused due to illness when she conferred the shops. According to regulations, the shops wouldn’t go far and would ultimately return to the Li Family.

However, Chu Suifeng was no ordinary man. Who was he? He held the highest officialdom in the Northern Lands and was of the most noble status. It was not simply a matter of the Li Family reclaiming the shops, but even considering it would require careful deliberation.

The thought that such a significant portion of their family property had vanished caused the Marquis Li grievous pain.

While those of the second branch also felt the pain, they were not as distressed as Marquis Li. After all, they shared the remaining half of the property. Even if the shops weren’t gifted to the Prince, they probably wouldn’t have received them.

In comparison, those in the second branch were easily satisfied.

"Grandmother, how could you give away so many shops?" Li Jiesong protested anxiously. Being the eldest grandson of the main branch, all those shops could have potentially become his inheritance if the dowager had not given them away.

Now, with merely a few shops left, and some more to be given to his sister Li Yanran as her dowry, and younger brother Li Jieyong also getting a share, how much would he be left with? Li Jiesong felt that his wealth had dramatically shrunk.

"If you’re not satisfied, you can choose to forsake it," the dowager spoke coldly before closing her eyes, "All of you, disperse."

The last statement was made with an unwavering conviction.

The ire made Lady Mu clench her fists, yet she dared not refute the dowager. Not because the dowager was her mother-in-law and an elder, but because backing the dowager was the Prince. However, she most certainly would not look for a matchmaker for her daughter. Absolutely not!

The room was soon emptied of people.

Only after everyone left did tears stream down from the corners of the dowager’s eyes, trailing down her cheeks like a stream.

"My lady, you must take care of your health," Nanny Qilan’s heart also felt heavy as she sympathized with the dowager’s plight. Over the years, Marquis Li had behaved quite disgracefully, completely against the late Marquis’ initial intentions when they moved to the Northern Lands. Without the dowager holding the fort, the Li Family would have long been kicked out of the aristocratic circle.

Even now, with the dowager still present, the other true aristocratic families were reluctant to interact excessively with the Marquis Residence. How bitter the dowager’s heart must be!

"Qilan, do you think I’ve done something wrong?" The dowager asked, choking back tears, her eyes closed.

"My lady was fully devoted to the Li Family and the Prince, without failing anyone," said Nanny Qilan, her own tears beginning to fall. "If there’s anyone my lady’s been unfair to, it’d be yourself. Over the years, every task you took up was for them, your actions irreproachable under heaven and earth."

"No, I haven’t been fair to you either, Qilan." The dowager let out a melancholy sigh, "If I had forced you to marry back then, you wouldn’t be alone now. What will you do when I’m gone?"

Chapter 663: Chapter 663: The Ox, Snake, Ghost, and God (2)_1

"Madam, please don’t talk like this. You will surely live to a ripe old age," Nanny Qilan rallied together a cheerful demeanor in an attempt to convince her.

"You’ve been following me since you were eight, enduring so many hardships over the years on my behalf. Despite our master-servant relationship, I’ve always seen you as a sister. But looking at the possessions in this residence, I fear that after my departure, they won’t show you any kindness." As she spoke, the old lady’s tears increasingly streamed down her face.

Ever since she lost her daughter and her husband died, the old lady had been unable to shed tears. But now, all of her bitterness was pouring out with her tears, perhaps this was a kind of release at the time of death. "I want to entrust you to the Prince. Only he, remembering how you served me, would be kind to you. Both the Prince and his wife are good-hearted people; they will definitely not mistreat you."

"Madam, please stop. Your servant isn’t going anywhere; I will always be by your side. Wherever you go, I will also go. And don’t even think about entrusting your servant to the Prince and his wife. Your servant is already old and would only cause trouble in the Wang Residence." Nanny Qilan cried even harder. Being an orphan from a young age and following the old lady for many years, she saw her not only as her master but also her closest family.

"I know my own body. The Prince and his wife are kind-hearted. As long as you treat them well, they will never forget your kindness. Unlike the ingrates in this residence. I’ve failed the Marquis, raising them to be this way. Over the years, I’ve always felt a sense of guilt for bringing them to the Northern Land, so I’ve turned a blind eye to some things. Little did I think they would become more and more presumptuous. It’s all my fault." After finishing her statement, the old lady cried until she was short of breath.

Fearing that she would get upset, Nanny Qilan quickly distracted her. "Your servant will listen to the Madam fully and follow the Prince and his wife in the future."

Upon hearing this, the old lady’s crying lessened. "With you by their side, I can be at ease after I’m gone."

To make her happy, Nanny Qilan gave her a forced smile. "Although your servant might not be able to do other things, I can at least help you watch over the Little Prince."

Upon mention of the child, the old lady’s mood finally brightened, "They are already married, and there will soon be a child. In the future, the Prince won’t feel upset during festivals."

Remembering how dejected the Prince had been on festivals throughout the years, the old lady’s mood instantly fell again.

"Madam, you woke up early today, so it’s best to take a nap now. Don’t worry or overthink things. If the Prince and his wife find out, they will worry about you even more." Having no other choice, Nanny Qilan finally mentioned Chu Suifeng and Lin Ziyin to address her concern.

"I am really tired. I’ll take a nap first. You deliver the trunks from the inner room to the Wang Residence personally. I won’t be at ease otherwise." The old lady insisted, keeping her eyes wide open.

"Old Madam, why are you doing this?" Nanny Qilan sighed. The things might indeed be valuable, but the Prince, who lacks nothing and doesn’t care about material possessions, is different. The Marquis and others, however, already seemed dissatisfied, clearly visible from their expressions and reactions earlier.

"You think I want to do this? But these things are all the late Empress’s. Leaving them to them would only lead to spoilage." The old lady looked extremely tired.

Nanny Qilan remained silent, covered her with a quilt, and then left with a sigh.

After a while, people came in to help move the trunks, careful to keep the noise to a minimum as to not disturb the old lady.

The old lady laid alone on the bed, alternating between laughter and tears, before eventually falling asleep.

"All of these things are being sent to the Wang Residence?" Li Jiesong stood at the main courtyard gate, watching the servants busily moving the trunks, his face turning red with anxiety.

Chapter 664: Chapter 664: The Bull, Snake, Ghost, God (3)_1

With so many boxes, there must be a wealth of treasures inside.

"Nanny, what is inside these boxes?" Unable to curb his curiosity, he shamelessly asked.

"All the items inside were bestowed by the late Imperial Consort many years ago. They have simply returned to their rightful owner now. As for what they are, this old servant is not sure." Nanny Qilan responded with an evasive answer.

Li Jiesong was furious inside, but he dared not let it show on his face. Qilan was merely a dog of the Marquis Residence, yet she dare to disrespect him. Were it not for the Old Lady, he would definitely have sold this old servant.

Of course, Qilan saw the hatred in his eyes, but she didn’t care. She urged the servants to move faster.

"Big brother." Li Jieyong looked at Li Jiesong standing in the doorway, frowning, "It’s so cold outside, what are you doing standing here?"

"Don’t you care about these items?" Li Jiesong mocked him. Although they were brothers, they were not close. "Don’t act like a good guy. We’re both the same."

Li Jieyong’s frown deepened. "Don’t impose your thoughts on others. The items belong to the Old Lady, and I don’t care how she distributes them. I do, however, have a piece of advice for you, ’Don’t constantly covet something that doesn’t belong to you.’"

After saying that, he didn’t care how ugly Li Jiesong’s face looked, and he turned away.

It’s not that Li Jieyong is outstanding, but he’s rather smart. He knows what he can compete for and what he simply can’t. Among everyone in the Residence, only he can understand some of the Old Lady’s thoughts, so he only has respect for her, without any resentment.

The Prince’s tolerance towards the Marquis Residence has reached its limit. If the Marquis Residence, without the Old Lady, controls too many shops in the market, it will only bring trouble to the Residence. Moreover, a considerable portion of the money initially used to buy the shops was provided by the late Imperial Consort. As the only son of the late Imperial Consort, the Prince should naturally inherit the shops.

Unfortunately, his parents and brother are all unable to see this and understand the Old Lady’s painstaking efforts. As for him, he’s even more helpless. After all, his status in the Marquis Residence is not great.

In the post station, Prince Chu was seriously looking at the man kneeling before him.

"Your Highness, we have checked. Although Blackie escaped, he was seriously injured. The third batch of grain has not yet been transported. Please make a decision, Your Highness." The man trembled slightly.

"Must this Prince make every single decision? What are you all for?" Chu Suiyun’s tone was gentle, but the man on the ground trembled even more.

"Your Highness, please spare my life. It is my inaction that caused this. I will arrange for the grain to be transported right away." The man’s face turned pale as he hurriedly thought of a way to remedy the situation.

Chu Suiyun continued to laugh lightly at him, "Let’s see you transport it."

All the people in the room were Chu Suiyun’s trusted aides. They naturally sensed his current rage and, frightened, they dared not make a single sound.

"This?" The man on the floor did not understand what he meant and was drenched in sweat from anxiety. "Si Jinhan is elusive, and if the grain is left in the gambling house, it will not be safe. Your Highness, I believe that we should find a way to transport the grain out."

After saying that, he cautiously lifted his head to look at Chu Suiyun, waiting for his final decision.

The light laughter of Chu Suiyun had turned into cold laughter, "If it cannot be received, then return it to the original owner. Then retrieve the silver. Do you really need this Prince to teach you every single detail?"

Return it? The man on the ground was initially startled, then a joy crossed his face. Indeed, under the current circumstance in the Northern Land, this was the only feasible method. Fortunately, they didn’t pay for the silver which made returning the goods the most convenient, least amount of effort and safest method.

Chapter 665: Chapter 665: The Bull, Snake, Ghost, God (4)_1

But sometimes, it was not as simple as one plus one. If the grains were returned, where would they find more to trade with the crown prince of the North Country?

"From the North Country?" A person tentatively asked, but immediately stopped when they saw Chu Suiyun’s killer gaze. "Yes, I understand what needs to be done. I will inform Blackie to terminate our business with the Tatars immediately."

Chu Suiyun snorted coldly without giving any opinion.

The man on the ground stood up and slinked away.

Meanwhile, there were several additional people in Prince Rui’s quarters.

"Is everything settled on that end?" Prince Rui asked with a cunning smile.

"Yes, I’ve sorted out the underground warehouse of the gambling den and delivered the blueprints to the third young master," the guard standing nearby replied respectfully.

"It seems Ling Wang doesn’t appreciate all my efforts. If he can’t appreciate it, we’ll just switch to them next time," Prince Rui said confidently.

"Prince, rest assured. Si Jinhan is a smart man. When you show them such a great favor, they will naturally express their gratitude towards you," the guard flattered Prince Rui, which greatly pleased him.

Lin Ziyin found the absence of elders in Ling Wang’s residence comforting. She had no stress.

Although there had been a small unpleasant incident on her wedding day, as soon as Qin Madam and Lu Madam found the time, she no longer had to worry about any trivial matters. She just needed to enjoy her life. Chu Suifeng was very indulgent towards her. He had told her earlier that once they got to the Wang Residence, she could do anything she wanted, as long as she brought enough staff with her. She didn’t need to report anything to him.

Bai Xian was also a good butler. Lin Ziyin had granted him a lot of authority. He was free to handle any issues occurring in the front yard without her, the lady of the house, getting involved. As for matters that required her intervention, they would come to her.

As for matters in the back yard, they were entirely managed by Lu Madam and Qin Madam.

On the second day after their wedding, everyone’s roles were clearly defined. The servants of the entire Wang Residence soon got into work mode.

"Are you tired?" Chu Suifeng, having just gotten married, was lazing about and not going to the military camp for the time being.

As Lin Ziyin, Bai Xian, Lu Madam, and Qin Madam were discussing and setting the regulations for managing the Wang Residence, he sat leisurely on the side, snacking on a basket of grapes and sometimes shoving a few into Lin Ziyin’s mouth. Such fruits were not normal in winter and reserved only for people of his stature.

After all the arrangements were finished and dinner was complete, the Wang Residence was already lit with red lanterns.

With a new lady of the house, the Wang Residence became much warmer and inviting with its abundance of red. It had lost much of its former cold and monotony.

"From now on, when I am present, none of you need to wait on us," Chu Suifeng stated casually.

"Yes, Prince," the servant girls answered in unison, exchanging glances but none daring to utter anything else.

Thankfully, the main quarters of the Wangfei’s residence had many chamber rooms not too far away but also not too close. If anything were to happen, they could quickly arrive with their nimble movements.

"Wangfei, let me help you with your bath," Chu Suifeng kindly offered, bringing hot water and a footbath for her once all the servants had left.

Lin Ziyin gaped in surprise at his actions. Was this the formidable and wicked Ling Wang?

"Prince, I can do it myself," she hastily said. Apart from washing her feet, a woman also needed to clean her private parts. The last thing Lin Ziyin wanted was to explain this to a man.