The pharmaceutical workshop under the name of Huaiwangfu is located in a small village called "Guizixi" on the eastern outskirts of Yongjing.

It's not too far, just three miles out of the East City Gate.

The workshop covers an area of nearly ten acres, but there are less than thirty craftsmen and handymen in total.

According to Uncle Jiang, these people signed a "contract of employment" with the Huai Wangfu, not a deed of sale.

What surprised Li Fengming even more was that nearly half of these people were women. Moreover, only three or five wore the buns of the married women, and the rest wore the braided hair of unmarried girls.

"I've heard that women in Qi can't easily show their heads," Li Fengming looked at the diligent and busy girls, "They won't be embarrassed by their families when they go out to work like this, right?" ”

Aunt Jiang held her right arm and explained, "You can't show your face, it's a girl from a rich family or a noble family." If you are from a poor and good family, you can't raise a mouth for idle food, and the girl has to go out to find an errand. ”

Uncle Jiang added later, "The princess doesn't know, the dozen girls and women in this workshop are even more different, they are all orphaned bereaved families of fallen soldiers in the south. ”

The words "orphaned bereaved families" are very heavy and tragic behind them.

This means that there is not a single adult male left in the homes of these girls and women in front of them, and all of them are gone.

Li Fengming was slightly stunned, "Then, they came here from the border by themselves?" ”

"Where can I be? It was all General Lian who cared about the friendship of their comrades, and as long as they saw that there were orphaned and bereaved family members who were about to be unable to survive in the local area, they begged the royal palaces in Beijing to accommodate them. Having said this, Aunt Jiang's voice was much quieter.

"Most of the other highnesses like to ignore it, so our highness and the two princess mansions are willing to take over."

The Lian family itself is not without the financial resources to accommodate these orphaned bereaved families, but they must avoid suspicion, for fear of being maliciously accused of winning the hearts of the army.

Xiao Mingche didn't have this concern, he was an unfavored prince, he didn't have much real power in the court, and he didn't take charge of the army, giving the bereaved families of these fallen soldiers who had a difficult life a way to make a living, and he actually paid for the worries of the court.

The other two princess mansions are also very similar, and it is unprofitable to protect the weak in good faith.

"Aunt Jiang, which two princess mansions are also in charge of this matter?" Li Fengming was thoughtful.

Aunt Jiang replied: "The eldest princess and Princess Pingcheng." ”

Li Fengming nodded and took it to heart.

Huaiwang Mansion, North Courtyard Study.

There were two thick stacks of paper on the desk, and Xiao Ming had to read them as soon as possible, so he was actually not idle.

But he was alone in the study, holding the pen in his hand but not moving, staring at the two stacks of papermaking for nearly half an hour.

At this moment, the picture of the two pairs of chopsticks overlapping in the sugar sand during breakfast repeatedly appeared in front of Xiao Mingche's eyes.

At that time, Li Fengming probably forgot for a moment that he didn't need to dip in sugar sand, so he thought that she was not paying attention, and explained to him to appease him.

As everyone knows, there was a moment when Xiao Mingche thought that confessing was actually none of her business.

But he couldn't tell why he was making a ghost, so he deliberately aimed at the tip of Li Fengming's chopsticks.

In the end, he pushed the boat down the river, and pretended to say that he didn't care about her.

Li Fengming is not stupid, maybe he has come back to his senses now and understands that he is actually provoking her?!

When she returns home later, will she settle accounts with him? What would he do if she did the reckoning?

The more Xiao Mingche thought about it, the more embarrassed he became, and he was weak and flustered.

He and Li Fengming had an agreement on the night of the wedding, saying that they would be allied for the sake of profit and would not interfere with each other in private.

So did his actions at breakfast today count as a breach of the agreement to harass her?

"No...... Right? He muttered to himself, the pen in his hand scribbling across the blank paper.

When he came back to his senses and looked closely, there were two words scribbled on the paper.

It's not an intrusion, it's a seduction?!

Xiao Ming was dumbfounded, and suddenly crumpled the piece of paper into a ball, and threw the pen in his hand onto the inkstone.

I'm not, I don't. Don't talk nonsense.

In order to prevent himself from continuing to think about what he didn't have, Xiao Mingche asked Zhan Kaiyang to be called into the study.

He didn't want Zhan Kaiyang to do anything, so he let the other party sit at the desk. When someone is there, he won't easily get distracted and talk to himself.

In this way, Xiao Mingche finally settled down and focused on flipping through the two stacks of papermaking.

This was presented to him by Zhan Kaiyang.

It is a transcription of all the news that was released by the imperial court outside the palace gate during his departure from Beijing for half a year, and everything was said.

Zhan Kaiyang was directly stacked and presented by date, and was not classified according to the content.

This caused Xiao Mingche to be still watching the "Ministry of War Request for Additional Allocation of Money and Food to Improve the Pension of the Bereaved Families of the Fallen Soldiers", but the next one was "The List of Holy Oracles Zhu Pi's 'Bestowal Knights' This Year".

The news was staggered and mixed so far that Xiao Mingche's thoughts jumped repeatedly, and in the end, there was only a mess left in his mind.

Near noon, he stopped flipping through the motions, raised his eyes to look directly at Zhan Kaiyang, and breathed in a deep voice.

"Tell me, why does King Heng suddenly want to be honest?"

The information in these papercopies is too messy, and although Xiao Mingche reads it carefully word for word, he does not find a clear clue about this issue.

He didn't expect Zhan Kaiyang to clear the fog, but the dead horse was used as a live horse doctor, and it was just a matter of discussion.

Zhan Kaiyang looked at him worriedly, and replied uncertainly, "Perhaps, King Heng just wants to use General Lian's matter to drag you into the water." You offended him once two years ago, and he probably wanted revenge. ”

King Heng's biological mother, Concubine Shugui, favored the harem, and King Heng was also very loved in front of Emperor Qi. Therefore, he has always only regarded the prince as an opponent, and did not take Xiao Mingche in his eyes, and even disdained to deliberately embarrass him.

But when the marriage of Qi and Wei was decided two years ago, Xiao Mingche offended King Heng.

At that time, the crown prince proposed a marriage between Qi and Wei, and also took the initiative to express to Emperor Qi that he was willing to marry the princess of Wei.

King Heng strongly objected, emphasizing that Wei practiced the system of "equal responsibilities and rights of men and women", and Emperor Wei would not agree to go to Qi to make a side room for the prince if he wanted to maintain this national policy.

Unless the crown prince leaves the current crown princess and makes room for the princess of Wei, the marriage will not succeed, but it will offend Wei.

Although the crown prince wants to promote the marriage between the two countries, he also has to take care of his own private reputation and reputation, how can he openly make a merciless act of "divorce his wife and make up the throne"?

"Your Royal Highness, think about it, at that time, the crown prince was blocked by King Heng and couldn't come to power, and the marriage of Qi Wei almost ended, but you ......"

"Do you want to say this? I don't know how I got married to King Heng? Xiao Mingche interrupted coldly, inexplicably not wanting to hear him recall what happened two years ago.

At that time, Emperor Qi had faintly shown signs of being moved by King Heng's words, but Xiao Mingche took the initiative to stand up, saying that he had not yet married a wife, and he could take the responsibility of marriage.

Although he didn't mean to help, he really relieved the siege for the prince, causing King Heng to lose the upper hand.

King Heng will remember Xiao Mingche for a revenge because of this, which is not unexpected by Xiao Mingche.

His real question at present is that King Heng and the crown prince have nothing to do with military power, and this matter has always been under the control of Emperor Qi himself.

It is impossible for King Heng not to know that he is attacking Lian Zhen, but what he really has to face is Emperor Qi, and the slightest mistake will cause suspicion in the Sacred Heart.

Xiao Mingche shook his head, "King Heng is not so stupid, he takes such a big risk to stir up trouble, he will not just take revenge on me." ”

But he couldn't understand King Heng's true intentions.

Zhan Kaiyang said cautiously, "Or, when the princess comes back in the afternoon, his subordinates will ask her for advice?" Perhaps, her insights will enlighten you. ”

Xiao Mingche glanced at him coldly. "Won't I ask for advice myself? Do you want to do it for you? ”

"Your Highness, I don't mean anything else. is worried that the princess will tease you again like she did at breakfast, which will make you angry and inconvenient to speak. When you entered the study in the morning, your face was as cold as ice, and everyone saw it. ”

Zhan Kaiyang hurriedly explained.

"I heard that she wanted to help you regardless of her reputation, and I knew that she was sincere in protecting you. But I can also see that you are just a pity for her, and it is difficult to accept such a woman emotionally, so I ......"

Xiao Mingche was irritable and indifferent, "Shut up." Get out. ”

I don't even understand whether Li Fengming cherishes talent or something else, even I haven't understood it myself.

You stupid and blind Zhan Kaiyang, you see a ghost.

At the beginning of the Shen period, Li Fengming returned to the Huai Palace.

At this moment, she couldn't remember anything about "Xiao Mingche was suspected of molesting her during breakfast", and when she entered the mansion, she went straight to the north courtyard with a smile on her face.

The waiter of the North Courtyard went to the study and said to Xiao Mingche, "Your Highness, the princess said that there is something urgent to discuss with you." ”

Xiao Mingche and Zhan Kaiyang were stunned.

Zhan Kaiyang closed his mouth tightly, and muttered with emotion in his heart that the princess is so tight with His Royal Highness, no matter how you look at it, she has a deep love for Her Highness!

"Let her in." Xiao Mingche lowered his eyes slightly, and pretended to pick up the teacup casually.

The bottom of the teacup was not two fingers away from the tabletop, and he quickly put it back in place as if it was being burned.

Zhan Kaiyang reached out to probe the wall suspiciously, and whispered, "It's not hot." ”

"I didn't say it was hot." Xiao Mingche looked down at the messy papermaking paper spread out on the table, and hid his abrupt and slightly trembling fingers under the table.

When Li Fengming came in, he saw that Zhan Kaiyang was also there, so he laughed and drove people away, "Mr. Kaiyang, can you please go out for a while?" I'll talk to Your Highness about something, and I'll be gone soon. ”

Xiao Mingche didn't say anything, and made the appearance that he was still concentrating on the papermaking.

Zhan Kaiyang woke up like a dream, and hurriedly got up to salute, "The princess is polite, it is the negligence and rudeness of her subordinates, so she will avoid it." ”

It wasn't until Zhan Kaiyang went out and the door of the study was closed again that Xiao Mingche slowly raised his head.

Li Fengming was opposite the desk, but he didn't sit down, but supported the edge of the table with both hands, leaning over to look at him slightly.

In fact, there is a desk between the two, and such a distance of conversation is not too much according to common sense.

But perhaps Li Fengming's smile was too bright and dazzling, and her standing posture was too wanton, Xiao Mingche always felt that she was too close to him.

Close enough, I could vaguely smell the unknown soft fragrance on her body.

Xiao Mingche unconsciously tightened his face, his waist stiffened and leaned back silently, "What's the matter?" ”

Li Fengming winked at him, "Mingren doesn't say dark words." His Royal Highness King Huai, I want to talk to you about a small deal, and I hope it will be fulfilled. ”

Her enthusiasm came abruptly and strangely, completely different from the friendly and casual attitude she usually had.

Xiao Mingche's heart was alarmed, and a creepy chill suddenly jumped on his back, as if a beast had suddenly encountered a natural enemy.

His tone was suspicious and wary, "What deal?" ”

"It's just a small thing, don't be nervous." Li Fengming raised two jade-white slender fingers on his left hand.

She pointed at the abdomen of her left index finger with her right index finger, "First, I'll help you teach Zhan Kaiyang to be a not so stupid strategist." ”

Xiao Mingche was noncommittal, only grabbed her with his eyes, didn't say a word, and wrote "Go on, I'll see what the hell you want to do."

She smiled sweetly, and tapped the nadge of her left hand.

"Second, I'll help you expand the scale of that workshop in Guizixi. In this way, if needed in the future, more orphaned bereaved families can be taken in. ”

Both conditions were exactly what Xiao Mingche needed, but he was not excited, but became more vigilant.

"What do you want in exchange?"

Li Fengming got straight to the point: "I want to buy a small building in Dongshi. ”

"Buying a house?" Xiao Mingche was puzzled.

Li Fengming explained the ins and outs: "In the afternoon, when I came back from the workshop with Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang, we passed through Dongshi and took a fancy to a small building with a street frontage. The owner of the house is a merchant from another country, and he is now planning to sell his small house and return to his hometown. ”

She had never worried about money before she was seventeen, so she developed a habit of "seeing the wind is raining" when it comes to spending money.

On the way back, he lifted the curtain of the car and looked at it twice, and immediately jumped out of the carriage to ask the owner of the house for a price.

"The location and interior layout of the small building are very much to my liking, and the price is fair, if someone else buys it first, I am afraid that I will be angry and beat my heart." She went out of her way to express her longing for that small building.

"If you want to buy it, you can buy it. You don't have to ask me or talk about conditional deals. Xiao Mingche was shocked by her eager eyes, and his whole back was tightly attached to the back of the chair.

"When you withdraw money from the treasury, just inform Uncle Jiang."

"The owner of the house only needs 200 gold, and I will pay this money myself, and I will not spend it on you. I came to beg you because the owner of the house saw the sign of Huai Wangfu hanging on the carriage, so he put forward an additional condition to me. ”

Li Fengming smiled so much that his eyes were crooked and narrowed, and the end of his words was soft and light, like a fox's tail sweeping around.

"People said that if I don't agree to this condition, I won't sell it if I give more money. But I can't do this myself, and no one else can help me, so I have to come forward with His Royal Highness King Huai. ”

There was a very bad premonition lingering in Xiao Mingche's heart. "What do you want me to do?"

"The owner of the house is a Xia woman. She heard about the victory in Luoshan, and admired His Royal Highness King Huai of Qi, who was handsome and bloody. I really hope that before I return home, I can have a meal with you, which can be regarded as a dream come true. ”

Li Fengming's smile has turned to flattery, and his voice is sweet and soft.

"I know that's too much for you. But I really want that little building, can you help? Please. ”

Xiao Mingche didn't say a word, his expression was neither happy nor angry, he just stared at her, staring at her all the time.

Although he didn't speak, the meaning of refusal was obvious.

Being stared at by him for so long, Li Fengming gradually couldn't hold back the deliberately sweet and soft smile.

"The transaction is that I ask for a price, and you pay it back on the spot. Okay or not, you can give me the right words. If you have any doubts, just say it, don't keep quiet. ”

"There is a question," Xiao Mingche's eyes were gloomy, and his voice was also gloomy, "You actually plan to sell your husband for glory, don't your conscience hurt?" ”

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