Chapter 1294 - 978: Dowry_4
Huo Xing’Er, upon hearing this, thought it made sense.
Then said, "Today I’ll keep an eye on the main gate. As soon as she returns, I’ll catch her for you!"
"That would be wonderful. That little girl is quite slippery, hard to catch. Thank you, second sister-in-law, for your trouble."
Zhu Xiuxiu said as she walked into the room.
"The account books, warehouse keys are all here, and the dowry list too.
The guest list for the Ji Mansion’s banquet, I’ve almost finished. The most important thing now is to coordinate with the Ancestral Clan Bureau, Household Bureau, and the National Master Bureau to confirm all the arrangements for the sacrificial ceremony to inform the ancestors.
Moreover, the selection of the escort for the dowry is rather tricky. Our Ji Family has not stayed long in the capital, and there’s no suitable candidate from our mansion. Pan’Er doesn’t have a personal attendant by her side either, which is simply unacceptable!"
Upon Zhu Xiuxiu’s words, Xiao Zhenzhu, who had been listening silently, spoke.
"When it comes to choosing an escort in ordinary prestigious households, indeed, it requires careful consideration. However, in the royal family, it is unnecessary. The empress can only bring one maid as a personal attendant. I have a suggestion, though I’m not sure if it’s feasible!"
With Xiao Zhenzhu speaking, Zhu Xiuxiu and Huo Xing’Er couldn’t help but look at her, "Feel free to speak."
"It’s like this: I noticed that Suisui is always not at home, so can we transfer Yun Duo or Yunxiang from her courtyard directly to serve the Empress as a personal maid?"
"Yun Duo and Yunxiang were chosen by His Majesty specifically to look after Suisui. Is it appropriate to have them enter the palace with Pan’Er?"
Zhu Xiuxiu was a bit hesitant.
Xiao Zhenzhu said, "Actually, they are the most suitable. I have my reasons for saying this.
Firstly, Yun Duo and Yunxiang originally came from the palace; they are familiar with palace rules and probably have some connections there.
You must know that after the Emperor and Empress’s grand wedding, the four concubines will follow into the palace. The Empress will manage the harem, so she cannot lack knowledgeable people about palace regulations by her side."
Upon hearing Xiao Zhenzhu’s words, Huo Xing’Er and Zhu Xiuxiu couldn’t help but nod.
"What the eighth sister-in-law said makes sense. I’ll speak to Nanny Zhang about whether it’s feasible. Also, I heard that when you were a talented girl in Chuxiu Palace, you saved two girls skilled in martial arts from the laundry room and had them transferred over?"
"Indeed, that happened. One is named Liu Fei’Er, and the other Liu Xue’Er. It’s said their father committed a crime, so they were made slaves and sold to the palace."
"I checked, and the two girls aren’t actually daughters of the Liu Family; they assumed false identities.
They were martial servants of the Liu Family. When the Liu Family was in trouble, out of gratitude for the mistress and young lady’s kindness, they voluntarily entered the palace under false names.
When you have a chance to enter the palace, ask Eunuch Ling for help, and transfer those two girls to Kunning Palace first!"
"Ah, they’re impostors, that’s a capital offense!
If this were exposed, wouldn’t they lose their lives?"
Thinking of those two young girls always secretly protecting her, Xie Pan’Er couldn’t help but worry.
"Young girl, why don’t you understand your second sister-in-law’s good intentions? If those girls can risk themselves for their mistress, they will naturally be loyal to you in the future.
As for whether they will be exposed, that’s a matter for the future. You are the Empress, your husband is the Emperor. If you can’t protect two girls, how can you protect the people of this world?"
Zhu Xiuxiu sincerely cared for Xie Pan’Er, poking her forehead with a finger.
Xie Pan’Er pouted immediately.
Quickly saying, "I’m just so foolish! I hadn’t thought of these things. My sisters-in-law think of everything for me, and I must learn more from them in the future!"
"Then study well and soon learn from your eighth sister-in-law how to select people!
Later, I’ll have Steward Liu take you to the broker to choose some staff, so they can serve as your escorts and handle affairs outside the palace!"
"Why do I still need to choose people?
Didn’t the eighth sister-in-law say earlier that after I enter the palace, I can only bring one person?"
Xie Pan’Er was puzzled and quickly asked.
Huo Xing’Er, looking at her silly demeanor, couldn’t help but laugh.
"Look at her, a great fortune falls from the sky, and she doesn’t even realize it. I wonder what good deeds she did in her past life to deserve such good sisters-in-law!"
Zhu Xiuxiu laughed, squinting her eyes at Xie Pan’Er, time indeed flies. The Xie Family girl, once bullied into servitude as a maid, was now the Empress.
She never imagined Xie Pan’Er’s future would be this noble.
At first, she was wholeheartedly thinking of her as her sister-in-law!
Though now it doesn’t make a difference, as she’s the adopted daughter of the Ji Family, one of their girls, but the palace, it’s said, can eat people.
Hopefully, she will maintain her original heart after entering the palace and be a good empress who brings welfare to the people!
Xiaosuisui: Pretty Auntie cannot bring fortune to the people, but her future son can achieve great feats, ensuring peace throughout the kingdom, so she can be the mother of a nation!
"Sisters-in-law, please don’t make fun of Pan’Er anymore, letting the sixth and eighth sisters-in-law laugh at me."
Hu Shu’Er quickly said, "I wouldn’t dare! You are the Empress; whoever dares to laugh at you certainly wouldn’t dare laugh at anyone else!"
Xiao Zhenzhu remained silent, but she wondered internally, knowing the Empress could only bring one personal maid, why did Zhu Xiuxiu say they should choose people?
"Sixth sister-in-law, if you keep joking about me, I won’t discuss the military grain supply issue!"
"What did you say?"
Hu Shu’Er, hearing Xie Pan’Er’s words, became excited.
Quickly asking, "Did you... Did you talk to His Majesty?"
Xie Pan’Er purposely acted angrily, "You teased me, so I won’t say!"
"Oh, good sister, tell me, how did His Majesty respond? Can we engage in the military grain business?"
"We can, we can, as long as you don’t tease me again, I’ll do business with you!"
"Really?
However, I was not teasing you, I was merely stating the truth."
"Alright, enough joking; let’s get to the main matter and let your third sister-in-law rest."
Huo Xing’Er was tired of it; she already loved to laze around. If the matriarch hadn’t specifically sent Nanny Zhang to find her to oversee the big picture, she wouldn’t have wanted to leave her courtyard!
"Second sister-in-law is right, the third sister-in-law’s health is what’s important!"
Hu Shu’Er slyly made a face, whispering to Xie Pan’Er, "We’ll talk about it secretly later."
Xie Pan’Er suddenly found this sister-in-law very endearing, no wonder she and the sixth brother have such a close and affectionate relationship.
"Pan’Er hasn’t been home for long, and during this period, you should familiarize yourself with your dowry assets and items; these things will be your reliance after marriage. Your third brother knows the Emperor is financially strained, so he specially prepared three hundred thousand taels of silver for your bottom drawer. The money is ready; it’s only that your enthronement as Empress hasn’t been announced to the world, so the silver is still in the bank and hasn’t been entered into the treasury yet!"
When Zhu Xiuxiu spoke, she seemed so casual, yet Xiao Zhenzhu and Hu Shu’Er were completely taken aback.