Yi Xin as a concubine

Chapter 144: New Year's Eve Reunion Dinner

After Xin Baoer left, Chu Xingchen did not rest obediently, but called Wangchuan in.

"How is things in the palace during this period?" Chu Xingchen asked with his eyes closed.

When Wangchuan saw that his master was asking about serious matters, he straightened his expression and reported everything.

"The Crown Prince is already at the end of his rope. He should let go and support his brave but foolish son to take the throne. The old Emperor is ill again and his health is deteriorating. It is said that he is looking for the descendants of some miracle doctor all over the world."

"With our help, the alliance between the second and third brothers has become closer and closer. They have secretly contacted several generals, but the ones with the highest status still sneered at them and ignored them."

"Old Five seems to be the most peaceful on the surface, but with his shrewd grandfather giving him advice, the leaders of the garrisons in the two southwest areas seem to be a little shaken."

"After the New Year, there will be a Lantern Festival in the palace. The border garrisons will come back to give gifts to Ning the thief. The names of the daughters of the families are on the lists of the two southwest regions. Most likely, they want to form a marriage alliance. However, no one can guess Ning the thief's attitude now. He neither deposed the crown prince nor showed much enthusiasm to the other princes."

"Hmm..." After listening to the report, Chu Xingchen had a rough idea in his mind.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Keep keeping a close eye on them. Also, send someone to check the whereabouts of the descendant of the miracle doctor."

"According to the recent feedback from Heqi Tower, the miracle doctor they described should be Huayu, the miracle doctor we found in the dungeon, and judging from his notes, he should... have no descendants. However, after Erqi read the notes in detail, he asked the brothers in the tower to help him find the whereabouts of a boy doctor. I think he is related to the miracle doctor, but there is no result so far." Wangchuan replied based on the sorted information.

"Then we'll continue investigating. If there really is such a person, it would be best if we can use him. Even if we can't, we can't let old thief Ning find him first."

"If a dying person is helped by a miracle doctor, it will eventually change the situation."

After Wangchuan received the order, he was about to retreat, but was stopped by Chu Xingchen.

"Wait, you go and arrange the Shangyuan Palace Banquet yourself. You must make sure that the whereabouts and actions of the people coming to Beijing are under our control." Chu Xingchen opened his eyes, a shrewd look in them.

"Yes, I will do my best." Wangchuan replied with his head down.

After Wangchuan left the room, Chu Xingchen leaned back in his chair and gently pinched his eyebrows.

It seems that the situation in the capital is becoming more and more complicated...

Xin Baoer returned to the room and was not idle. She took a rough look at the account book that Lancao and Zhao Xian had checked. The general situation of each store and farm was summarized in her head. She closed her eyes and digested it. When she opened her eyes, she was already clear-headed.

"Xian'er, have you finished the textbooks I asked you to organize?"

"It's done. I organized it according to the process you taught me with Lancao. Take a look at it first. I'll revise any inappropriate parts." He handed her a thin booklet and looked at her expectantly.

Xin Baoer took it and flipped through it, then asked, "Have you read Lancao?"

"We have checked it. We both checked it twice." Lancao continued.

"That should be no problem. After all, you two should still remember it clearly." Xin Baoer closed the booklet and smiled with satisfaction.

"I'll give you two some chicken legs later."

"Ayu, the Second Master came back yesterday, but he didn't have time to inform Steward Lin."

"Yeah, how about I go over now?" Wei Yu said as he was about to walk out.

"Wait, let's take him directly to the secret room after tomorrow night. I'm tired these past two days and don't want to walk so far."

Wei Yu stopped and said "yes". After waiting for a while and seeing Xin Baoer continue to give instructions, he hesitated for a while and said, "The five of them have made great progress recently. Do you want to take them in as well? It will be a good opportunity to have more people to help you."

Xin Baoer took her eyes off the account book and looked at Wei Yu, who was speaking with a lack of confidence. She smiled and said, "Why, did they mention this to you?"

Wei Yu shook his head. "No, I just work harder recently. I feel like I'm wearing myself out every day. But the progress is visible to the naked eye."

"Ayu, we never do things behind their backs. It's not up to me whether to accept them or not. They are different from you and Xian'er. I can trust you wholeheartedly, but there is still a gap between me and them. It's better to have no one around than to have someone who is not good enough!"

Xin Baoer rubbed her eyebrows. To her, the "Wuyin" were outsiders after all. If they didn't break free from their past identities, she wouldn't be able to use them with confidence.

"Lancao, tomorrow is the Little New Year. According to custom, we should have a reunion dinner. Before dinner, please prepare a menu for me to review."

"Oh, by the way, let's ask Wang Chuan and the others if the amount of food delivered on the Little New Year's Day in previous years is different from that on normal days. If it is the same as usual, we have to find other ways to get some meat and vegetables back. It is also the New Year, so we can't be too high-profile, but we can't be too shivering either."

"Okay, young lady. I'll go discuss this with Madam Lin right away."

Lancao received the task and ran away in a hurry.

Xin Baoer: "Xian'er, have you tried the reward and punishment system in a few stores before? Do you have any feedback?"

"Yes, there are three stores, including the newly remodeled hot pot restaurant. The response has been very good, and I think it can be promoted. When Lancao and I went to your second brother to get the teahouse account book, we talked about it before, and he asked us for that system. But at that time, we had just started the trial, and there was no effect, so we didn't give it to him."

Zhao Xian became excited when talking about this. Baoer is so smart. There are rewards for good work and punishments for mistakes. The rewards and punishments are clear. The enthusiasm of the store clerks is very high. It is said that most of them received rewards at the end of the month and vowed to work harder next month.

Xin Baoer nodded when she heard this, but did not continue the topic. She didn't know whether Mo Xuan Yifan would be in Shengjing for the New Year this year. She should discuss these things with him. Forget it, she would ask Chu Xingchen during dinner.

Thinking of this, he looked up at the sky, packed up the things in his hands, and planned to go to the main courtyard to take care of the wounded and check the homework assigned to Sheng'er.

During the days when Chu Xingchen was away, Xin Baoer often had the illusion that being a mother was a painless process.

The 23rd day of the 12th lunar month is the Little New Year in folk customs. From this day on, the countdown to the New Year begins.

"On the 23rd, sticky sugar-coated melons; on the 24th, sweep the house; on the 25th, grind tofu; on the 26th, cut up New Year meat; on the 27th, slaughter the rooster; on the 28th, let the dough rise; on the 29th, steam the buns; stay up all night on the 30th, and twist your body on the first day of the New Year."

When Xin Baoer got up early in the morning, she heard Mother Lin muttering while preparing breakfast.

"Today is the 23rd. Let's make some different kinds of sugar-coated melons today. Some will be used for the Kitchen God worship, and some will be kept for ourselves to eat during the New Year." Xin Baoer said in a good mood.

"That's great, I'll lend you some light and have a few more candies so that next year will be sweeter and sweeter."

The lights come on and the banquet begins.

He raised his head and looked in the direction of the Xin Mansion. It seemed as if he could hear the hustle and bustle of the house through the walls. Looking at the table full of delicacies, he felt a little bored. Looking at the three moody faces, he felt even more bored.

"What's wrong?" Chu Xingchen walked in from outside and was the first to see the little girl poking at her food out of boredom. He couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"I miss Yifan a little bit." Xin Baoer replied subconsciously, and only then realized who was talking to her.

He stood up in disapproval and the two of them supported him, glaring at Wangchuan. "Why did you come here with your wounds? If the wound opens, you will be the one who suffers."

Chu Xingchen was seriously injured this time, but he still insisted on coming over to show his face. Wang Chuan couldn't stop him, so he had to support him carefully. Unexpectedly, he was glared at by the future female master again. He looked at his master innocently and aggrievedly.

Chu Xingchen smiled weakly, "Don't blame Wangchuan, I just wanted to come over to take a look. It's a day of reunion, and it's lonely to eat alone. Don't be angry with me, I'll let someone notify Yifan to come back as soon as possible, okay?"

As soon as Chu Xingchen entered the room, he noticed how dull the banquet was. Naturally, he understood why the little girl said she missed Yifan. He ignored the good or evil looks from others and begged for mercy in a low voice. When he saw that the little girl's big round eyes were rejuvenated, he slowly walked to the main seat and sat down.