The struggle for the throne among nine princes—I really don't want to be the crown prince.

Chapter 59 Lying Makes You Feel Uncomfortable
Daxing County Government Office.

The sun was exceptionally scorching, the air was still, as if something was on fire, everything was being baked, and the air was parched and hot everywhere.

As the county magistrate, Nian Dongliang could only listen to his advisor calculate the accounts while he was drenched in sweat.

These days, he is experiencing both pain and joy.

The pain comes from working non-stop from the moment he opens his eyes until the lights go out, feeling like his bones are about to fall apart; the joy, of course, comes from Wanfuyuan, which has transformed him into a highly sought-after and important figure!

Not to mention the Shuntian Prefecture government, even people from the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers' offices came to him hoping to get some half-price housing purchase quotas.

Moreover, he heard that the usually meticulous Ministry of Revenue almost came to blows because of this incident, with the fourteen secretaries of the Ministry of Personnel refusing to give way to each other.

This sounds like a joke, but upon closer examination, it becomes clear that this isn't what people are arguing about.

What does a house mean to these junior officials in the Ministry of Revenue who are in charge of a region? Their real intention is not what they seem; they are fighting for reputation.

After all, who wouldn't want to be a capable and loyal agent, and catch the eye of the Crown Prince!
Having no other option, the high-ranking official in the Ministry of Revenue had someone contact him again, requesting some more quotas before the matter was finally settled.

While these activities weren't particularly lucrative, they did build a considerable network of connections. In the current government, how does one cultivate such connections? By planting more flowers and fewer thorns, of course!

Besides, if one door closes, another opens; he's not without ways to make money.

Take the merchants at the Shanxi Guild Hall, for example; they were planning to acquire a hundred houses.

Moreover, it's not even half price.

Thinking about his smooth-sailing life, he began to miss his position as the county magistrate.

While he, the county magistrate, was suffering from exhaustion and busy work, he actually went to escape the summer heat as if nothing was wrong!

Who can I talk to to explain this?

However, what can one do when one's title is not only that of a third-rank Assistant General, but also that of a favorite of the Crown Prince?

I'll just do more work myself.

But if this person doesn't come, he won't even have a place to cool off!

Nian Dongliang shook the folding fan in his hand vigorously, feeling increasingly irritated.

He was just about to take off his official robe to cool off when his personal attendant, Nian Er, walked in.

"What's the matter?" Nian Dongliang asked casually.

Nian Er bowed deeply and then said in a deep voice, "Master, news just came from the governor's office that our eldest daughter has been bestowed the title of a beauty to the Crown Prince."

"The imperial decree from Cining Palace has been issued."

Because he and Nian Xialing were from the same clan, Nian Dongliang's servants generally referred to Nian Xialing's residence in Beijing as the Governor's Mansion.

Currently, neither Nian Xialing nor the eldest son, Nian Xiyao, are at home; the one in charge is the second young master, Nian Gengyao.

Nian Dongliang didn't like Nian Gengyao too much. He felt that although the boy had some ability, he was arrogant and had a haughty personality.

Most people would look down on them.

For example, even though he is his cousin, he always treats me with indifference.

What, you think you're at a disadvantage having a brother like me?
However, the news from the second year still made his head buzz for a moment.

The eldest daughter of the Nian family has already been rejected; her fate is sealed.

But now, she has suddenly become a beauty in the Crown Prince's palace. Is this a stroke of luck for the Crown Prince to win over his cousin, or...?

Or did my words reach the Crown Prince's ears?

Thinking about what he had said to that nominal county magistrate, he didn't know whether to be happy or surprised.

Does he, as a county magistrate, have such great influence in front of the crown prince?

"Prepare the sedan chair, I need to go to the governor's mansion."

Although he didn't know how the eldest daughter of the Nian family had suddenly turned her luck around, it seemed a bit unreasonable for him, as a relative, not to go and visit her when faced with such a situation!
Just as Nian Dongliang put his official robes back on and prepared to go out, Luo Hu, the foreman in charge of managing the craftsmen of Wanfu Garden, hurriedly came over.

"Greetings, Your Excellency!" Subordinates often address the county magistrate as "Your Excellency."

Nian Dongliang didn't care about Luo Hu, a nobody, and waved his hand, saying, "Get up. Why aren't you keeping watch at Wanfu Garden? What are you doing here?"

Luo Hu hurriedly said, "My lord, I have something important to report."

Nian Dongliang stopped and asked, "What is it?"

Luo Hu said, "Sir, these past two days, one or two thousand disaster victims have been coming every day." "The number of craftsmen working at Wanfu Garden has now reached twelve thousand."

Are we still hiring?

Upon hearing this number, Nian Dongliang paused for a moment, but then waved his hand and said, "Having more people makes the work easier!"

"That's just three or four thousand more people. You just need to supervise them to get things done."

"It's not like we can't pay our workers."

At this moment, Nian Dongliang was thinking most about the Nian family's affairs.

What's wrong with Wanfuyuan having more workers? If they build more houses, then they'll have everything they need.

Just then, Nian Er came to report that the sedan chair was ready.

Watching Nian Dongliang leave, Luo Hu helplessly rubbed his head.

The current Wanfuyuan is a large construction site, with all sorts of people doing various things. It can certainly operate with three or four thousand more people.

Moreover, the progress is faster.

Money and supplies are not a problem.

After all, we have money in our hands!

However, chatting with some of the disaster victims still made him somewhat uneasy. These victims had come from other places because they had heard that there was work to be done and money to be made in Shuntian Prefecture.

These disaster victims have arrived, but what about the other disaster victims?

in case……

I hope I'm just worrying too much.

If something goes wrong, those big shots will naturally take care of it; you just need to do your job well.

In fact, it wasn't just Nian Dongliang who was bewildered by the fact that the eldest daughter of the Nian family had entered the palace; the person involved was also somewhat confused.

Nian Xinyue sat in her embroidery room, her heart trembling slightly.

She had entered the palace as a candidate for the imperial concubines, but because she was too beautiful, she was almost destined to be rejected, so her entry into the palace was just a formality.

She didn't even need to think about becoming a concubine in the palace.

Firstly, the legends in the palace made her somewhat afraid.

Secondly, when she met her, a palace maid said that her eyes were too alluring, as if she was flirting with everyone she looked at, captivating people's hearts.

Heaven have mercy, she really didn't have any.

Fortunately, she was eliminated in the first round of selecting the imperial concubines.

Her father, who lived far away in Hunan, sent a letter saying that he had started looking for a husband for her and that she should do more needlework at home.

Just as she was waiting patiently for her father and brothers to make arrangements, the imperial decree from Cining Palace was issued.

Although the beauty was not as good as the prince's concubine, she was still the crown prince's beauty.

Once the crown prince ascends the throne, she will at least be a concubine!

"Sister, the matrons who teach you manners in the palace will be here soon. When you meet them, be sure not to look at them."

Nian Gengyao was only seventeen or eighteen years old at the time, but he was already capable of taking charge of the household.

He said with a helpless look, "Just look down at the ground and don't worry about anything else."

Seeing Nian Gengyao's appearance, Nian Xinyue was immediately displeased: "Little brother, do you think the Crown Prince will like me like this?"

Upon hearing his sister's question, the young General Nian said something insincere: "Sister, in the palace, one should be dignified and elegant."

"The Crown Princess is known for her dignified and virtuous character."

"If you don't learn proper manners from the nannies, I'm afraid the Crown Prince won't like you."

After saying this, the future General Nian felt a pang of heartache.

Lying is really unpleasant!

　During the new book launch period, your support is very important. I'm asking for all kinds of support!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)