Too high to reach

Chapter 216 The Key to Life is in Hand
"Your Majesty!" Granny Zhao arrived, dressed in her finest attire.

"Granny Zhao." Mo Yi felt relieved when she saw her arrive.

"Your Highness, you look so beautiful today!" Granny Zhao looked her over carefully.

"Right?!" Mo Yi rubbed his scalp. "The jewelry that Blue Star found for me... it's just that my scalp hurts."

Granny Zhao smiled, "Beautiful jewelry is all like this. Today, Granny is here to accompany you to meet the guests."

"Thank goodness the old lady came. I've been standing here for a while and still haven't figured it out at all."

"You are a princess, and newlywed, so the most important thing today is to recognize people. There's nothing else to worry about. Don't worry!"

"The Fourteenth Prince has arrived, and the Zhao brothers are also here. They can help receive most of the male guests. The Prince is in the small study, meeting with the guests privately. Just now, the nanny checked and found that the tea, snacks, meals, and welcoming arrangements are all prepared perfectly."

Mo Yi looked around. Today, all the maids were dressed in blue and pink striped clothes and had the same headbands tied on their heads.

The female steward was dressed in blue and wore a gold hairpin.

The male steward at the front was dressed in black, while the servants wore black and blue striped clothes.

They all looked clean, tidy, and full of energy.

"Preparing such a banquet must be quite a hassle, right?"

"Actually, once you get used to it, it's not too difficult. As long as you have the right people under you, set up clear procedures for assigning tasks, and then check the results layer by layer, it's not particularly difficult."

Just then, Consort Feng arrived with her entourage. "Your Highness, it's Granny Zhao."

"Consort Feng, you've worked hard," Mo Yi nodded.

When Consort Feng saw Mo Yi's attire, she felt a pang of sorrow.

So all these days I've been so busy I haven't had a moment to breathe, haven't been sleeping well at night, and have been going over things over and over again... I was so busy yesterday I didn't even have time to go to the Zhao family's house...

And she just dressed up like that and waited for the guests to socialize?

I guess I'm just destined to be a housekeeper!

Despite her indignation, she maintained a proper smile: "This is what I should do. Your Highness and Granny Zhao, please take a look and tell me immediately if there are any problems or changes needed."

Granny Zhao smiled and said, "I just looked around and everything is fine. Consort Feng is very capable."

Consort Feng smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Granny Xie. I have other matters to attend to, so I will head over now."

"Okay. Go ahead and get busy." Mo Yi nodded.

"Yes." Consort Feng turned around and left with a few people.

Granny Zhao led Mo Yi on a stroll.

Walking around the main hall, he said, "Our prince's mansion has a predecessor. When it was given to the prince, it was only expanded and added to. However, the prince is often not in the mansion, and his mind is not on this."

You must understand, to maintain an army, you can't do it without reserves of silver, grain, weapons, and horses. That takes a lot of money! The money spent on building this mansion wasn't actually that much. Most princely mansions have theaters and viewing pavilions, but our mansion doesn't have those. All the materials were also primarily practical.”

"But in my opinion, it's already quite luxurious."

"In recent years, with more money, we've been able to renovate a few places. The garden of the Prince of Yong'an's mansion is truly luxurious. Apart from not violating regulations, everything there is the newest and best."

Along the wall of the main hall, there was a row of long tables with tea stoves and snacks on them. Two pretty young girls were there to serve tea.

"It's still cold, so we haven't set up any seats outside. We've prepared some simple tea snacks here, including our homemade sesame candy, walnut candy, and chestnut cake, all of which are quite unique. You can have a piece while you're having tea."

"Granny, does the Prince like sweets?"

Granny Zhao was pleased. She had noticed yesterday that the prince and princess got along very well. "The prince is not picky about food. He often eats outdoors in all kinds of weather. When he is on the march, he is lucky to have a bowl of hot meat soup."

Mo Yi casually said, "My meat wontons and shepherd's purse wontons are quite good. I'll make them for the prince later."

"You have a small kitchen in your house, so you can buy some things and make some snacks. Just don't fry or stir-fry anything, otherwise the fumes will get into the house and you won't be able to stand it."

"Ah."

"This is for guests to change clothes."

After entering the main gate, there are large cubicles with coat racks, chairs, sinks, and mirrors. A small door leads to an inner room... which is for using the restroom.

Incense burning...

So many rooms?

"With so many guests, this isn't enough. The cleaning staff can't stop. The chamber pots have to be changed constantly, the lids closed, and then you go out through this small door to a long corridor leading to the backyard. After washing, the chamber pots are brought back... This way, you can avoid the guests."

"If you hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have thought of that..."

"This is just as important as a meal." "Sister-in-law!" The Zhao sisters arrived.

"We've come to keep you company, sister-in-law. Just let us know if there's anything you need!" Zhao Yun said with a smile.

The two aunts followed behind them.

"Auntie," Mo Yi quickly greeted them.

After talking for a while, the guests arrived one after another.

Entering through the second gate, the first hurdle is getting past Consort Feng.

Consort Feng knew everyone who came.

She knew her place, so she didn't put on airs. She greeted everyone politely, no matter who came.

She already knew who had exchanged New Year's gifts before the holiday, so she would say a few more words about it.

Seeing that the people who came were all very friendly to him, he felt a little more at ease.

But when people saw Mo Yi, it was still through Granny Zhao's introduction...

Everyone knew who Granny Zhao was. Not to mention, the ladies and young women of the Zhao family were all standing around the princess, which further highlighted the prince's approval of her.

Therefore, everyone's greater enthusiasm is now focused on Mo Yi.

He laughed and talked, his mouth full of flattery.

Consort Feng was already sensitive about this, and now she felt even more like she was doing all the work for someone else...

The evil thoughts in my heart kept welling up again.

……

Zhang Debao's family also came, and they even split into two groups.

Because Zhang Debao went to the Mo family early in the morning and came with Mo Fan. And right now, he's in the front study with Li Chang, busy with preparations.

Everyone knows about the relationship between Li Chang and Li Jing. But what is the relationship between Zhang Debao and His Highness Prince Qi?

What is he doing here?
Although people don't pay much attention to him, they all know him.

Many people secretly looked on with curiosity.

Madam Zhang then accompanied her husband. Upon seeing his father appear, Zhang Debao acted as if he were half the host, saying, "Dad, your son has found you a good place. Come... sit here, it's warm."

"Your son has seen it all. Today, the Prince's residence has prepared oolong tea, in case it's too strong for your stomach. And... just between you and me, His Highness also had some milk tea brewed... but not much. Look, your son got you a copper kettle and put it on this stove. Here's a cup; keep an eye on it and enjoy it warm by yourself, haha!"

Lord Zhang looked at his simple-minded son and grinned bitterly: Who do you think you are, kid? How dare you cause such a ruckus in the Prince's mansion?
"Uncle Zhang!" Mo Fan also arrived, carrying a small plate with some snacks and candies. "Please enjoy them with your tea."

The sickly and delicate Master Zhang, who was always the one giving gifts and currying favor with people, has now become the center of attention.

"When did he get the Prince's Eye?" someone asked in a low voice.

"I don't know! Old Zhang... It's rare to see you like this. How are you feeling?" Someone went over to greet him directly.

Mrs. Zhang was in the back, in a good mood today. Seeing Mo Yuan in the crowd, she seemed even more pleasing to the eye than yesterday…

When I got home yesterday, I discussed this with my son. She felt she had compromised and said that it might be her.

But her son wouldn't let her take care of him...

Is not this nonsensical?

If his mother doesn't care about his marriage, who will?

Finally, the simple-minded son stammered that he was worried the girl wouldn't like him, and he wanted to behave well and wait for her to agree. Otherwise, if he made things clear, it would immediately strain their relationship, and it would be difficult to get along in the future.

Mrs. Zhang pointed at her mentally challenged son, speechless for a long time, and almost hit him!

Was he afraid that girl wouldn't like him?
I only reluctantly accepted him because of his current hard work and ambition, and she still doesn't like him?!
crazy.

The two argued more and more, until the son blurted out: "The prince wants Mo Fan to go to the grand martial arts competition in June, and I want to go too..."

This time, Mrs. Zhang was stuck again...

The elderly couple began discussing how many gifts to give and whose connections to use to get them.

My son wants to improve himself, so of course I should support him!

Ugh……

Mrs. Zhang sighed: No matter how capable I am, my weakness is still in the hands of this foolish son.