A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 679 The Mistress Comes to Visit
Li Yi returned to Shengye Lane by carriage.

The procession was accompanied by hundreds of guards, a spectacle that Li Yi didn't particularly like, but the Crown Prince had specifically instructed him to...
Each of the prime ministers dispatched imperial guards to protect them.
Li Yi was protected by a hundred imperial guards, and the Prince of Dai's residence also had a hundred imperial guards on duty in shifts.

Li Shimin even specifically advised Li Yi to ride horses less often recently, and to travel to and from court by carriage instead, as it would be safer.

Where the carriage passed,
The people quickly made way for them.

Li Yi didn't like this scene; it was too aloof and detached from the masses.

Back at the mansion,

We have guests at home.

A guest who surprised him.

Li Rulian paid a visit to Du Shiniang.
When did the Li family arrive?

"We've been here for over an hour."

The household was well aware that Li Yi had two women outside the mansion: Huo Yu and Li Rulian. These two were not ordinary mistresses from other residences.

After all, Huo Yu was the Lady of Wen State, and she herself had once been a leader of the rebel army. After returning to Tang, she even served as a steward. Her son was a sworn brother of Cao State Duke Li Shiji, and she herself had accumulated merits and become the Duke of Wen State after returning to Tang.

Li Rulian is no ordinary woman either. She comes from the Li clan of Zhao County and married into the Lu clan of Fanyang. Now she is not only a young and beautiful widow, but also a very wealthy one.

Li Yi was a little worried that Shi Niang and Ru Lianhua would quarrel.

"Where did the Princess and Lady Li meet?"

"After having tea in the south hall, we're now at the small sports field in the north courtyard. Madam Li has brought a women's polo team to have a match with our women's team."
"A football match is going on right now; Li Niangzi's team is really strong."

Li Yi asked, "They didn't argue or anything, did they?"

"No, the Princess and Lady Li had a very pleasant conversation. Oh, Lady Li also brought her cousin. It is said that she is about to marry Duke Zhang Liang of Changping. Lady Li even brought an invitation to deliver it."

"These two Li sisters are very generous; their invitations were made of pure gold, weighing a full two taels. After entering the mansion, they gave rewards to everyone they met, in gold coins."
One weighs a full two qian (approximately 6 grams)...

When Luo San Niang talked about these things, she still felt a little sour. How dare an outsider swagger into her house like that?

They're even throwing money around like this.

Li Yi didn't know what Li Shi meant by this today, but giving gold to everyone he met was a bit too extravagant.

Two qian of gold, worth 1,600 Kaiyuan Tongbao coins, could buy more than one shi of rice.

Li Yi smiled and asked Luo San Niang, "Did she give you any money?"

“She wouldn’t dare! If she really dares to give me gold coins, I’ll just throw them in her face. Does she think we have no one else in our household?” Luo San Niang said. Although she was only a concubine in the household, she still shared the same attitude as the princess towards women outside.

Li Rulian wasn't that naive; of course, she wouldn't reward the concubines in her household with gold. She brought gifts, which were carefully selected.

From the princess to the concubines like Luo San Niang, everyone in the manor received an exquisite gift, none of them of considerable value.
Every young man and woman in the household had a gift prepared.

Luo Sanniang accepted the gift, but still disliked Li Shi. "I heard she used to make a fortune in the grain trade, buying grain from the Jianghuai region and transporting it to Daibei, then selling horses, cattle, sheep, and furs from Daibei southwards, and even transporting prisoners of war and slaves southwards."
He earned far more than ten thousand taels of silver.

"But isn't it all thanks to Ah Lang's connections? Now he's putting on airs, throwing money around at our mansion."

Hearing that no fight had broken out, Li Yi breathed a sigh of relief.

It's really not good to bring up the matter of Ru Lianhua in front of Shi Niang, let alone bring her home directly.

Li Yi entered the room, hurriedly changed out of his Diao Chan crown and court robes, and went to the polo field.

This polo field is fenced off separately and is mainly used for women to play. People in Chang'an love to play and watch polo; not only men but women enjoy it too.

There is women's polo, and there are also women playing polo on donkeys.

As soon as Li Yi entered,

Then I saw the two young widowed sisters from the Li family of Zhao County. They were dressed very conspicuously. These two women were indeed young and beautiful, and they knew how to dress very well.

The two stayed by Du Shiniang's side, chatting and laughing.

Concubines such as Ji Lingyi and Zheng Rouniang also accompanied them.
On the polo field

Two women's teams are galloping across the field on horseback, wielding moon staffs and vying for the ball, showing no less prowess than the men.

Women are just as capable as men.

"When did Lady Lian assemble such a formidable women's polo team?" Li Yi said with a smile as he walked over.

When Du Shiniang saw him arrive, she smiled and got up to greet him.

"Ah Lang is back so early today. Madam Li from the Lu family and her elder sister have come to visit."

The Lotus Sisters also stood up.

Li Rulian smiled slightly at Li Yi, "I've been saying I wanted to come and see my sister, the Princess."

It's good that no fight broke out.
Li Yi chuckled as he watched the polo match.
Although it was supposed to be a friendly exchange, both matches were extremely exciting.

While watching the polo match, I listened intently to a group of women chatting. The atmosphere seemed harmonious, but there was a subtle back-and-forth exchange in their conversation.

As long as a fight doesn't break out, Li Yi will pretend he doesn't understand.

"When did our family get a women's polo team, and such a good one at that?" Li Yi asked Zheng Rou Niang with a smile.

“It was set up a long time ago. Most of the top noble families in Chang’an have polo teams. Since our family has such a large polo field, we can’t be without one. We need both men’s and women’s polo teams.”

Polo teams have considerable expenses.

You need both good horses and good players.

Training and competitions often result in injuries to horses and riders.

Therefore, owning a polo team was a symbol of a wealthy and powerful family; the top noble families played with polo teams.
Ordinary nobles could only afford to maintain a troupe of female entertainers. The Li family's power...
We now have two men's polo teams and two women's polo teams, each with one main team and one reserve team.

Top-tier nobility,
They all have all sorts of money-burning gadgets.
Orchestra, team
Other activities include hunting dogs and hunting.

It's true what they say: on the road there are starving ghosts, while behind the rich gates, meat and wine go to waste

Even though the price of grain in Chang'an is still a high 100 coins per dou (a unit of dry measure), for the nobles...
They lack nothing, yet they still enjoy a life of extravagance and debauchery.

The rent and other income from a farm of several hundred or even a thousand acres might not even be enough for them to buy a good horse in a year.

"I heard that the Prince of Dai has taken another concubine, Diaochan, from the Wei family of Jingzhao. I've come here today specifically to see her."

Li Rulian is incredibly bold.

After a polo match, she invited Li Yi and his wife to give rewards to the two polo teams. While Shi Niang went to distribute the rewards, she leaned over to Li Yi and started talking.

"Oh, how are you feeling?"

"She is indeed as beautiful as a fairy, but you brought the Wei family's pearl home like this, showing no respect to the Wei family at all."

"What face does the Wei family care about? They don't even care about their own reputation, so why should I give them any face?" Li Yi said dismissively.

"Won't you be breaking the heart of the beautiful Diaochan by doing this?"

“The Wei family broke her heart long ago,” Li Yi said bluntly.

"That little beauty, she opened up to you so quickly?"

Du Shiniang awarded prizes to the players of the two polo teams. "Competition comes second, friendship comes first. Today, each of the female players from both teams received ten bolts of silk and a thousand coins as a reward."

The top three performers from both teams will receive an additional silk reward.

In addition to the gifts from the hostess, the Princess Consort, the ladies in the stands also gave tips.

"Have you already consummated your marriage?" Ru Lianhua asked curiously. "Is your little beauty moist?"

Li Yi chuckled, "I had a pot of tea at her place yesterday. Her tea-brewing skills are quite good, but I don't really like boiled tea."

After chatting for a while, I felt that it was a relief for her to leave the Wei family. The Wei family only used her as a tool for political marriage. They arranged for her to be engaged to the Yang family of Hongnong early on, and later they planned to send her to the palace of the deposed crown prince. After the fourth day of the sixth lunar month, they planned to send her to the palace of the new crown prince.

This constant back and forth has disgusted even the new crown prince, which is why he bestowed this reward upon me.

"Then you've gotten a great deal! Diao Chan's beauty is known throughout Chang'an."

Li Yi laughed and said, "You are also very charming."

“Then please bring me into the palace, my lord. I will be your concubine; I do not aspire to be your attendant.”

Li Yi shook his head.

"You really want to come to the Prince's mansion?"

"I really would like to come, but I'm afraid the Li family of Zhao County and the Lu family of Fanyang might not be willing."

Madam Li reached out and gently pinched Li Yi's waist. "My lord has been back in the capital for so long, and he hasn't come to see me even once. He doesn't care about me at all."

"busy."

"Hmph, how come Ah Lang has time to see Steward Huo?"

"Am I not as good as Lady Huo? She's much older than me. Ah Lang built such a big manor for Lady Huo in Leyouyuan, south of the city, but he doesn't remember me at all." Ru Lianhua leaned against Li Yi, swaying coquettishly, "I want one too."

"Wherever you fancy, just buy the land and build one," Li Yi said with a smile. He wasn't short of money, and neither was Li Rulian.

Lianhua smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go find a site tomorrow. Once I find one, I'll call you to come and see it together. If we like it, we'll start construction, and it will be our love nest."

With the words "love nest" already mentioned, Li Yi couldn't help but laugh out loud.

“Ah Lang, I also want to adopt a child like the Huo family, no, I want to adopt several.”

Li Yi looked at her; she was still so young. "If you really like children, then we can just have a few ourselves. We don't necessarily have to adopt."

Like a lotus flower, frozen in place.

It took her a while to come to her senses. Her eyes were full of excitement, and even tears welled up in them. As a woman, her biggest regret was marrying a short-lived man and becoming a widow without ever having a child.

Now that we are incredibly wealthy, what good is it?

"Really?"

"What's the big deal about whether it's true or not? If you're willing, then have the baby. It's not a big deal. We're both young, so let's have it."

Li licked her lips. "You really want me to have a child, our child?"

"Yes, of course. In the future, if you're willing, you can let this child be recognized as a member of the family. If you're not willing, you can let him form his own branch outside. Anyway, we'll give him some property, which is enough."

"Yes, yes, I'm willing to give birth, I want to give birth!" Li's excited voice rose several octaves. Du Shiniang had just finished distributing the rewards and heard it immediately.

However, she only paused for a moment before regaining her smile and walking over.

Li Rulian realized what was happening and her face turned extremely embarrassed. After all, this was the Prince Dai's residence. To say that she wanted to have a child with the Prince Dai in front of the Princess Dai was indeed likely to get her mouth torn apart and her face scratched.

"What are you talking about?" Du Shiniang asked with a smile.

“Li Niangzi said she wants to have a few children with me,” Li Yi said.

"This is a good thing. Ah Lang is still young. Having more children will help the family to expand. Remember to bring the children back to recognize their ancestors and return to the clan. They will also have a share in the family business of our Prince Dai's Mansion in the future."

Even though Li Rulian was thick-skinned, she felt her face burning and dared not look directly at the Princess Consort.

(End of this chapter)