My father-in-law is Kangxi

Chapter 1846: New and Old Replacement (rolling to ask for monthly tickets)
Kangxi looked at Concubine Yi and thought of Concubine Hui.

When Concubine Hui was 50 years old last year, the chief eunuch of the Jingshifang asked for permission to remove Concubine Hui's green card.

The current system in the palace follows that of the previous dynasty.

According to the rules of the previous dynasty, concubines had to remove their green badges when they turned fifty and no longer serve the emperor in the palace.

Kangxi rejected the chief eunuch of the Jingshifang and retained Huifei's green card.

This grace is not only for Concubine Hui, but also for Concubine Yi and Concubine De.

As an emperor and a man, Kangxi liked young concubines, but young beauties could be replaced, but the concubines who had been with him for decades and gave birth to his children were irreplaceable.

Concubine Yi never thought that Kangxi would "take this as an example" again.

She felt that the Fifth Prince's situation was already chaotic enough and Kangxi should not add to the confusion.

As for the Ninth Prince, he lives a comfortable life and doesn't need them to interfere...

In Ningshou Palace, the Empress Dowager had rice dumplings for dinner.

What’s different from the usual rice rolls is that a lot of motherwort is added to it.

The accompanying sauce is watermelon beef sauce.

The Queen Mother was also full, so she held onto Nanny Bai's arm and strolled around the room.

"I haven't seen Shushu for half a year, but I've received several tributes from you. The tangerine peels from Guangdong this year are of good quality. You should keep two boxes of tangerine peels from the old tree, and then send them to Shushu together with lotus root powder and lily powder after she gives birth..." the empress dowager instructed.

Nanny Bai smiled and said, "When the annual tribute came into the palace at the beginning of the month, the queen mentioned it once, and I remember it."

Tributes from outside continue to arrive throughout the year.

Starting from the Dragon Boat Festival tribute, to the Mid-Autumn Festival tribute, to the three tributes in the Northeast, to the annual tributes in various places.

Every time tribute came into the palace, the emperor would first set aside a portion and send it to Ningshou Palace.

When they arrived at the Ningshou Palace, the Empress Dowager would always leave a portion for the Fifth Prince and the Ninth Princess.

When there are grandchildren and wives later, the empress dowager will leave a portion for the Fifth Concubine, and later for the Ninth Concubine.

This year's annual tribute is an exception.

The Empress Dowager did not mention the Fifth Lady.

Nanny Bai thought about it in her mind but didn't say anything more.

The human heart is made of flesh.

Ever since the Fifth Concubine married into the royal family, the Empress Dowager has been pampering her, not because the Fifth Concubine is so good, but because the Empress Dowager loves her and loves everyone in her.

This is also the reason why I valued the emperor's grandson later on.

But the Fifth Lady was confused. She only thought that she could show off in front of the Fifth Prince because she had a grandson. She forgot what was more important...

*
The principal wife of the Ninth Prince's Mansion.

The couple also had their meal.

The Ninth Prince said, "I will be free from tomorrow. Leave the household affairs to me. You just need to take a good rest."

Shushu nodded and said, "Then I'll wait. Everything else is fine, but I'll take the time to spend with the children. I'll be in confinement and won't be able to see the children every day. I'll have to tell them in advance so that the children won't be sad."

"Uh-huh……"

The Ninth Prince responded, "Didn't they say that Cao Shun's eldest daughter would be brought into the palace after the New Year to serve as a companion to the eldest princess? Why hasn't she been called in yet?"

The couple had discussed it before and felt that Cao Shun's eldest daughter would be a good candidate for Ni Guzhu's study companion.

The Ninth Prince asked Cao Shun about it, and Cao Shun was naturally eager to do so.

The eldest daughter lost her mother, so it is inevitable that people will find fault with her when she is married off in the future. Now that she has the care of the county magistrate, not only will she make up for the shortcomings, but she will also be looked up to by others in the future.

Shushu looked a little hesitant.

The Ninth Prince said, "Have you inquired about it and found out what is wrong?"

Shu Shu shook her head and said, "I was thinking of Cao Gege in the palace. Cao Gege was brought to the palace by the emperor to be the princess's study companion. Her future marriage was also arranged by the royal family. A marriage arranged by the royal family, even if it doesn't have to be all-inclusive, can earn people a little more respect..."

With a ready-made Prince Ping there, Cao Gege's marriage would be first-class in the eyes of the world.

"We have brought Sister Hui into the mansion. When she grows up, I dare not agree to her marriage..."

Shu Shu said.

The Ninth Prince was puzzled and said, "With Cao Shun, our dear father, here, why should we worry about this? She is to be Niguzhu's companion, not our daughter..."

Shushu looked at the Ninth Prince and did not explain.

Isn’t that because both of Cao Yin’s daughters married into the royal family?

If they follow the palace's lead, they should also show mercy and find a decent marriage for Hui Jie'er among the royal family.

But apart from their uncles and other princes' houses, they had little contact with other clan members.

The Ninth Prince said, "If you don't want her to come in, just change someone else. It doesn't necessarily have to be a girl from the Cao family."

As for what the Ninth Prince had told Cao Shun before, that’s nothing, he can just find an excuse to change his words.

Shushu still prefers Huijie'er. Niguzhu has met her several times and is also happy to be close to this young lady.

Shushu said, "I'm overthinking it. Grandpa happens to be at home. Let Cao Shun and his wife bring Hui Jie'er in to stay for half a day tomorrow to see if the child can stay."

Children as old as eight or nine years old can already read people's faces and act well-behaved in front of others, but we still have to wait and see what their true personalities are.

The Ninth Prince nodded and said, "Okay, if Niguzhu likes it, then keep it. If Niguzhu doesn't like it, forget it and choose someone else..."

If Cao Shun's daughter was not suitable, he thought of those girls from idle royal families.

If all else fails, you can pick two girls from idle families.

The couple wanted to see Cao Huier, so the Ninth Prince sent He Yuzhu to find Cao Shun and pass on the message.

The next day, the Ninth Prince thought he would wake up late, but he actually opened his eyes at 12:00 am.

Shushu also woke up.

However, since the Ninth Prince did not have to go to the yamen, the couple were no longer in a hurry.

"Have you told Bai Guo about Gui Yuan's matter? I don't know when Gui Yuan will come back from Shengjing. Let him meet Ji Er then."

Brother Ninth said.

Shu Shu said: "I said it, but I didn't shake my head. Didn't Ji Hong come here two or three times in the past few years? He didn't meet Gui Yuan."

The Ninth Prince thought for a moment and said, "I don't think I've seen him before. When Ji Er came before, he was entertained by Fu Song or Cao Shun, an old acquaintance."

Shushu thought about her due date and said, "Master, do you want to arrange for Guiyuan to go to Suzhou after the New Year?"

The Ninth Prince immediately shook his head and said, "My Lord knows the priorities. There is no need to rush. With the Ji family here, it won't delay anything if Gui Yuanwan is gone for a year or two."

Shu Shu said: "Then let's release Bai Guo out after the Dragon Boat Festival to prepare for marriage."

The Ninth Prince shook his head and said, "Don't worry, let's do it around the Mid-Autumn Festival. Before the canal stops sailing, let them take the official ship of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the south."

Shu Shu nodded.

In this pearl farm, the rest of the year is preparation time, and spring is the busiest time.

They can't make it in time for next spring, so a few months earlier or later won't make much difference.

The couple talked for a few words and went back to sleep.

When I woke up again, it was already bright.

The couple just got up and washed.

After breakfast, the Ninth Prince said, "Sir, go to the front and check the public accounts of the mansion. You must know the situation and not be fooled."

Shu Shu nodded and said, "Go ahead, sir. After you have settled the accounts, you can also settle the shops under my name."

The accounting office is the place where malpractices are most likely to occur.

Even if it is someone you trust, don't test their heart.

Shushu has to do an accounting review at the end of every year. This year, he didn't have enough energy, so he asked Baiguo to do it for him. But he can still fill in the gaps by going through it again.

The Ninth Prince nodded and said, "Okay, I'll make a note of it."

The Ninth Prince walked towards the front yard.

After a while, Cui Baisui came and reported, "Fujin, the owner of Shun'an Silver House wants to see you."

Shushu listened and nodded, "Bring it here!"

Most of the people who were in charge of the properties under her name had come to settle their accounts before Laba Festival.

Manager Zhihou was ill and took leave at the time. He should have recovered now.

Manager Hou was her mother's companion and had been serving her all along. Given his age, there was nothing for him to avoid.

Cui Baisui responded and went to the front to bring people over.

When Shopkeeper Hou came in, he knelt down before Shu Shu and said, "I wish you a happy new year in advance..."

Shushu asked Baiguo to help him and said, "No wonder they say 'old people become smarter'. You are here to coax my New Year's wallet."

Shopkeeper Hou stood up, and Shushu was quite surprised when she saw his expression clearly.

Shopkeeper Hou was less than fifty years old. As the head shopkeeper of a silver shop, he was always well-groomed and looked very young.

After a serious illness, I look much older.

It was because of the smallpox epidemic last month. Shopkeeper Hou was a familiar face and was fine, but he lost his first wife and grandson, and he himself became ill.

"Condolences..."

Shushu asked Baiguo to move a stool for him.

I used to think that smallpox was very far away, and as long as we guarded our homes, it would not have much impact.

But it was only afterward that people began to feel scared, as they realized how close the danger had once been to them.

Shopkeeper Hou sat down and said, "It is all because of my bad luck that I came here with such a thick face to ask for your mercy."

This was the old man that Shushu had been serving before her wedding. He had always been loyal and cautious, and Shushu also treated him with respect.

"Did you encounter any difficulties?"

Shu Shu asked.

Shopkeeper Hou sighed and said, "My old lady had a stroke at the beginning of this month. The doctor gave her acupuncture but it didn't help. She is almost 70 years old now, so I thought I would quit my job and take care of her for two years."

Hundreds of good filial piety first.

There was no reason for Shushu to stop him.

She thought about it and said, "Your eldest brother has been working as a handyman for you for several years. He should be able to take charge of things on his own. Let him take over your job..."

Shopkeeper Hou stood up quickly and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Madam. I will ask him to kowtow to you later."

Shushu waved her hand and said, "Don't worry, just follow the crowd. I'm too impatient to see people now."

Shopkeeper Hou also knew that Shushu was not in a convenient position right now, so after finishing his business, he stood up and said goodbye.

Shu Shu said, "I'm in need of help. Even though you've gone home, don't think about hiding away. Just pay me a tribute and spare a few days a month to help me patrol the shop."

Most of the people she can use are young people, and there are not many experienced old people like her, so she is reluctant to let them rest.

In fact, she wanted to say that she would come back to work after seeing the old man off, but that sounded unlucky, so she thought of hanging up an offering so that it would be convenient for her to come back later.

For Shopkeeper Hou, who is less than fifty years old, this is a blessing.

Shopkeeper Hou went out, grateful.

Shushu not only asked Baiguo to give him two pairs of purses, but also two rolls of palace silk.

Clothes for the elderly must be prepared in advance.

This kind of material is not available outside, and it is also a rare and decent thing for the elderly.

*
Front yard, study.

The Ninth Prince sat behind a desk with account books in front of him.

Hearing that someone wanted to see his wife, and that his wife had seen him, he asked about the identity of the person and became interested. He told He Yuzhu, "Go to the main courtyard and take a look. If anyone comes out, bring him here to see me..."