Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 382 New Year's Gift
Princess Xia believed that even if her son couldn't gain the Tuolong's approval for the time being, having her son make contact with the Tuolong first would allow for other possible solutions!

Princess Xia believed that with her charm, she would surely satisfy her prince and make him willingly find ways to solve even the most impossible problems!
Immediately, Princess Xia turned her expectant gaze to her husband, her burning gaze seeming as if she couldn't wait to devour him whole!
The weather is bad now;
Yu'er is still young after all;
"Make sure you keep warm when you go out." Zhu Zhanhe was completely taken aback by his mother's sudden remark. He frowned and hesitated for a moment, then looked at his wife's expectant eyes. In the end, Zhu Zhanhe readily agreed.

"On behalf of Yu'er, I thank Mother for her kindness!"
"This humble servant thanks Your Highness for your kindness!" Seeing her husband agree, Princess Xia was overjoyed. She excitedly rose from her chair, knelt respectfully before the Dowager Consort Wei, and bowed her head deeply!
Seeing this, Aunt Xiu'er, who was holding Zhu Qiyu in her arms, quickly knelt down. After all, this reward was for the little prince in her arms!

Looking at her daughter-in-law kneeling on the ground, Consort Wei couldn't help but reveal a satisfied expression in her eyes.

"Xia, you have given birth to the eldest grandson of my Han Prince's Mansion;"

Moreover, he managed the Prince's Mansion in an orderly manner;

You have also educated and taken good care of your younger siblings.

Now, both Ping'er and Ke, the two young maids, are pregnant with the Prince's children;

In the future, when your younger brother gets married or your younger sister gets married, you, as the eldest sister-in-law, will have to work hard and take care of everything.
Daughter-in-law, you have also made great contributions to the Prince's Mansion.

This time, I've swallowed my pride and asked He'er for a reward for you, as a way of making amends.

From now on, this palace will depend on your hard work in managing it, inside and out.

"Get up," said Consort Wang, her eyes full of smiles and her face kind to her daughter-in-law.

It must be said that Consort Wei, who had been in charge of the Han Prince's Mansion for many years, was a master of domestic power struggles. With just a simple request to her son, she firmly grasped the lifeline of her daughter-in-law, Xia!
And yet, Princess Xia was moved to tears of gratitude! She was deeply thankful!
"Daughter-in-law, I will heed your teachings!" Upon hearing the words of the Dowager Consort Wei, Princess Wei immediately understood the reason for her reward. Princess Xia couldn't help but feel secretly fortunate. After all, one of her mother's praises was that she had helped another woman conceive the Prince's child!
Fortunately, she didn't let her own desires take over and allow other women to conceive the prince's children. If she hadn't prevented others from conceiving the prince's children after giving birth to the prince's eldest grandson, she probably wouldn't have received this reward.

It seems that in the future, in order to protect her own interests, she must do her best to ensure that the prince has an heir! Princess Xia thought to herself.

"On behalf of Yu'er, I thank Your Highness for the reward!" After thanking her mother, Madam Wei, Princess Xia knelt down before her husband once again.

"Your Highness, please rise."

Yu'er is still young and cannot stay outside for long periods of time;

And the weather isn't very good right now;
"From now on, he'll spend half an hour with Uncle Wei every day." Seeing his wife's excited expression, Zhu Zhanhe thought for a moment and decided to have his son spend half an hour with the alligator dragon every day. That's equivalent to an hour in modern time.

"Of course I will obey Your Highness's orders." Princess Xia didn't seem to mind that her husband only allowed her son to stay with the dragon for half an hour. After all, the weather was indeed not very good right now, but she would do everything she could to have a proper conversation with her husband once the weather improved!
If she couldn't communicate effectively on her own, she could have many other sisters work together to communicate with the prince! Princess Xia believed that her prince would be understanding and appreciate her good intentions!
"Mother, the Prince, and the two younger sisters of the Mu family are now pregnant with the Prince's children."

"I was thinking, should we formally establish their titles?" Seeing how much her mother, Lady Wei, valued the continuation of the family line, Princess Xia, being quite astute, brought up the two pregnant Mu sisters to make the decision.

After all, Mu Sheng was a key minister under the Prince. Now that both of Mu's sisters were pregnant with the Prince's children, it would be inappropriate for them not to have a formal title. At the same time, Xia Shi was also doing her husband a favor.

"Your Highness, you can discuss this matter with your mother. One of them will be made a concubine, and the other a secondary concubine."

From the women selected for the imperial concubines in Annam, one concubine or princess can be chosen.
"The selection of young ladies from Yunnan and Guangdong will be expanded to include more women of marriageable age, allowing my two younger brothers to begin choosing wives." Zhu Zhanhe naturally understood Princess Xia's overtures. However, he did not object, as it was his own wife showing great compassion by choosing a wife for him, and Zhu Zhanhe had no reason to object.

However, at this stage, Zhu Zhanhe's focus remains on Annam. Therefore, he demands that a concubine from Annam be selected as soon as possible. After all, if a concubine from Annam becomes pregnant, Annam will truly be stable. As for the specific identity of the Annam concubine, that can only be determined after Zhu Zhanhe has had a thorough discussion with her.

However, the selection pool in Yunnan and Guangdong will be wider, and the age limit can be appropriately relaxed. After all, my two younger brothers are the main focus of the selections in these three regions.

"I will obey Your Highness's orders!" Princess Wei naturally had no objection to her man's request. She immediately agreed without hesitation.

"Mother, I have official business to attend to, so I will take my leave now." Zhu Zhanhe glanced at the still snowy sky outside and remembered that he had matters to attend to. So, Zhu Zhanhe quickly got up to say goodbye to his mother, Madam Wei.

Go on~ Go on.

"For me, having my daughter-in-law and grandson is enough." The Dowager Consort Wei knew her son had just returned from Annam and was indeed very busy. She casually waved her hand, indicating he could leave.

Now, Consort Wei's eyes are filled with her grandsons, while her once most beloved son can now be relegated to the back of the list.

"Your son takes his leave!" Seeing his mother playing with her grandson, Zhu Zhanhe wisely decided not to disturb her any longer.

"Respectfully seeing off Your Highness!" Seeing her man about to leave, Princess Xia quickly rose to see him off.

"Stay with Mother and take good care of the children." Zhu Zhanhe gently patted his wife's hand, gave Xia Shi another instruction, and then turned and left.

"Your Highness, the Guangdong and Guangxi Provincial Administration Commission has sent New Year's gifts. They are from the Guangdong and Guangxi Provincial Administration Commission and are accompanied by the left and right provincial administration commissioners and other officials."
Lord Liang, the head of the merchant caravan of the Prince's residence, also sent many gifts, saying they were New Year's greetings from merchants in Guangdong and Guangxi to Your Highness. However, this servant dared not accept the gifts sent by Lord Liang, and awaited Your Highness's personal decision;

Minister Xia and Minister Mu of the Cabinet, along with officials from the Six Ministries, were also waiting for the Prince's summons and court assembly. "Xiao Xizi had been waiting outside the East Third Palace. Upon seeing his master emerge from the main hall, Xiao Xizi immediately went to greet him and respectfully reported several important matters to his master."

"A court assembly was held in Chengyun Hall."

The princess was allowed to choose a few of the gifts from the Guangdong and Guangxi Provincial Administration Commission, while the rest were put into storage.

"What gifts did Liang Dayu send over on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce that would cause you trouble?!" After hearing Xiao Xizi's account of the events, Zhu Zhanhe immediately arranged for a court assembly.

After all, he had been back for several days and hadn't properly received his officials from the Prince's Palace yet. This was a good opportunity to hold a meeting together. As for the gifts from Guangdong and Guangxi, Zhu Zhanhe accepted them without any pretense. After all, he had exempted Guangdong and Guangxi from taxes for several years! Accepting some gifts was normal, wasn't it?
(End of this chapter)