I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 224 Accounting
Inside the Crown Prince's residence, the Crown Princess knew something was wrong when she heard that the Duchess of Wei was coming to see her daughter. Sure enough, that very night the Crown Prince stayed at Consort Tang's place.

The next day, while having breakfast, the Crown Prince said, "Ming'er is much better now and doesn't need to rest anymore. Let's move her to a different courtyard."

The Crown Princess picked up a pickled cucumber with her chopsticks and placed it in the golden dish in front of the Crown Prince. "It was my oversight. Why don't we let Sister Tang move to Shuxin Garden? It's quiet and beautiful there, and it's also close to the Crown Prince's study."

"You can arrange it as you see fit," the Crown Prince said, finishing the last mouthful of bird's nest porridge before rising to go to the front courtyard for a meeting.

The smiling Crown Princess finally sat down, and a nanny quickly stepped forward to take the golden chopsticks from her hands. "Crown Princess, don't be angry. The Crown Prince only gave that little slut some face because of the Duke of Wei's family."

"Angry? I'm not angry."

The Crown Princess slightly raised her chin towards a plate of cold shredded chicken, and the nanny deftly stepped forward, picked up a chopstick, and placed it into the Crown Princess's golden cup.

The Crown Princess took another pair of golden chopsticks, picked up the food, and put it in her mouth. After chewing and swallowing it slowly, she said, "The fact that the Crown Prince dotes on that slut shows that the Duke of Wei is on the Crown Prince's side. Only then can the Crown Prince's position as heir apparent be secure, and he will be able to smoothly ascend to that position in the future."

Once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, she will be the Empress! No matter how much favor that bitch surnamed Tang gains, she can only be made a Noble Consort or even an Imperial Noble Consort, but no matter which one, in front of her, the principal wife, she will always be a concubine!

"But what if the Crown Prince, out of respect for the Duke of Wei?" The old woman swallowed the rest of her words under the Crown Princess's gaze.

"Although my family has declined, we are not to be bullied. Besides, my grandfather's disciples are all over the world. If the Crown Prince insists on making that lowly woman his empress, aren't we afraid of being cursed by the world?"

The Crown Princess never worried about that. Her only concern was whether the Crown Prince could successfully ascend the throne. Everything else was simply unimportant!

Inside the Prince of Wei's residence, upon hearing that the Duchess of Wei had swaggered off to the Crown Prince's residence with several cartloads of medicinal herbs and food, the Prince of Wei flew into a rage. "What does the Duke of Wei mean by this?"

King Wei, who was delighted to hear this morning that his maternal grandfather had not left the cabinet because of his uncle's suggestion from the Duke of Wei, was soon met with this devastating news.

"It seems the Duke of Wei hasn't decided whether to support the Prince or the Crown Prince, so he's hedging his bets," the advisor speculated. "Why doesn't the Prince invite his concubine back to the manor to find out what's going on?"

“What you say makes sense.”

That afternoon, Tang Wan returned to the Duke of Wei's mansion with several cartloads of goods.

"My father has been traveling a lot, and I was worried about his health, so I brought him some medicinal herbs and tonics as a gift."

The Duke of Wei, who hadn't seen his daughter for a long time, was overjoyed. "You've been very thoughtful. How have you been doing at the palace?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Wan burst into tears, forcing back her sobs as she said, "I'm doing very well, thank you for your concern, Father."

Already feeling guilty for abandoning Tang Wan, the Duke of Wei was moved by his daughter's aggrieved face. "Don't be afraid. No matter what, your father will protect you."

Tang Wan's eyes lit up, thinking this was the Duke of Wei's guarantee. Feeling that she had fulfilled her task, Tang Wan's mood brightened. "Father, can I go see Mother?"

Duke Wei was taken aback; he hadn't thought of Song Qingyan, who was imprisoned in the Buddhist hall, for a long time.

"My mother has been confined to her quarters for several years, and she has copied almost all the Buddhist scriptures and sutras that needed to be copied. Although I cannot let my mother leave the Buddhist hall, can't I at least let my daughter go in for a look?"

Duke Wei hesitated, but ultimately his guilt towards the mother and daughter prevailed. "Go, don't linger too long."

"Thank you, Father!" Tang Wan was overjoyed and immediately went to the Buddhist hall in the backyard, dismissing all the servants and rushing into Song Qingyan's arms, "Mother!"

"Wan'er!" Song Qingyan exclaimed with surprise and joy, "Why are you here? Let your mother see you!" Seeing that her daughter hadn't lost weight or looked haggard, Song Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief. "How could your father and grandmother agree to let you come to see me?"

Tang Wan told her mother everything the Duke of Wei had said.

Song Qingyan was overjoyed upon hearing this, "Your father really said that?! Then my son will surely be the empress of the world in the future!"

With the support of the Duke of Wei's troops, how could the Crown Prince possibly defeat the King of Wei?
The Duke of Wei played such a significant role in the King of Wei's ascension to the throne that the position of Empress must belong to a woman from the Tang family!
"At that time, I will bring my mother out of the Buddhist temple and bestow upon her the title of First Rank, no, even more honorable than the title of that lowly woman Tang Zhao's mother!"

"Silly child, what title is higher than that of a first-rank imperial consort?" Song Qingyan was happy, but she was not stupid. She had been reprimanded by the late emperor himself. Unless the late emperor came back to life, even if the Prince of Wei ascended the throne, he would not risk being condemned by the world for being unfilial to bestow a title upon her.

Song Qingyan instructed, "When you become Empress in the future, remember to help your brother, so that you will have someone to rely on in the future."

"Don't worry, Mother, I understand," Tang Wan said confidently.

The mother and daughter whispered to each other for a while longer when the old woman guarding the door urged them, "Your Highness, the Old Madam invites you to have dinner."

"What time is it?" Tang Wan said, dissatisfied. "I want to talk to my mother a little longer."

“Don’t be willful. Before you reach that point, remember not to offend your father and grandmother,” Song Qingyan said, smoothing her daughter’s hair. “Your father respects your grandmother, so remember not to make her angry.”

"Your daughter understands," Tang Wan said, turning back to look at herself several times as she left the Buddhist hall. Reluctantly, she went to Shou'an Hall, had dinner with the old lady of the Duke of Wei, and chatted for a while before returning to the Prince of Wei's residence.

After hearing Tang Wan's description, the Prince of Wei regained confidence that the Duke of Wei was on his side, and stayed at Tang Wan's place for several days in a row, which angered the Princess Consort of Wei so much that she tore several of her handkerchiefs to shreds.

For a time, the two Tang concubines were so favored that they attracted attention in both the Crown Prince's residence and the Prince of Wei's residence, and all the young women admired and envied them for having such a good family.

Tang Zhao, far away in the Northwest, did not think so; she did not even want to have a family of her own.

But since it's already happened, you can only grit your teeth and bear it.

Chunfeng came in and said, "Miss, all the shopkeepers have arrived and are waiting in the front hall to report their accounts to you!"

"Let's go listen to how much money we made last year."

The shopkeepers, who had been sitting in the front hall drinking tea and chatting, all stood up and knelt down to pay their respects upon seeing Tang Zhao, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness!"

"No need for formalities," Tang Zhao said, sitting at the head of the table. "Please sit down."

The shopkeepers took their seats.

"The accounts should have been settled at the end of the year, but I was in the Northeast at that time, so it was postponed until now. Unless something unexpected happens, the accounts will be settled at the end of the year."

"Yes!"

Tang Zhao set the rules, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Who goes first?"

The shopkeepers looked at each other, but in the end, Tang Zhao made the arrangement: "Song Sheng, you can go first. After all, the tofu shop is my first business."