The vermillion calligraphy on it was visibly soft and immature. Looking at it, this book seems to have been around for some years. Mu Hanzhang flipped through the whole set of books one by one. It turned out that he was already working so hard since he was very young. It was no wonder that Jing Shao was able to defeat the Xiongnu in his teens, rise above his two imperial brothers, and also receive a title, that of "Cheng Wang" before them.
"Wang Fei, I went to ask Sister Zhi Xi." Yun Zhu bounced in and moved in front of the desk while grinning.
"What did you ask?" Mu Hanzhang, seeing him smile, put the book in his hand with the rest of the volumes and returned it to its original place.
"Previously, the schedule for attending Wang Ye's bed was set by the Secondary Wife. Each month she would get twenty days, and the other two concubines would get four each." Yun Zhu, thinking of Zhi Xi's expression when she spoke, couldn't help but snicker. "Those eight days are when the Secondary Wife is menstruating."
Mu Hanzhang glanced at his little servant who had a face with an evil smile, and helplessly shook his head. Having a not yet married girl like Zhi Xi explain this kind of thing, he really is...
"But Wang Ye has been out fighting wars all year round, and has rarely stayed overnight in the West Court." Yun Zhu was afraid that his master would be uncomfortable in his heart, so he quickly added a sentence.
"So young yet so crafty, you understand a lot." Mu Hanzhang knocked on Yun Zhu's head.
"Of course, my uncle said that, in a couple of years, it will be about time to find me a wife," Yun Zhu shook his head proudly and picked up the book on the side, "Wang Fei doesn't have the problem of menstruating. Why not arrange for Wang Ye to come to the East Court for 25 days, and the rest of the days just give them each one."
"How could that be?" Mu Hanzhang broke into laughter. If he arranged it like this, he was afraid that, very quickly, rumors would be spread about him envying the benevolent and create an unfavorable reputation for himself. Although, thinking of that pain he had felt in the bridal room that day, he still had lingering fears. If he had to do that for most of the month, it would just be too hard to bear. Furrowing his brows, he opened the peony flower book. All of the previous records were all there, and they were according to the same way that he had heard from Yun Zhu. Sandwiched in the middle of the book were some papers. On them were written the new arrangements Madam Song had devised. The meaning was more or less that it was split by the fifteenth of each month. The first half of the month, the Wang Ye would rest in the East Court with Mu Hanzhang at night, the second half, the Secondary Wife would get nine days, and then each of the two concubines would get three.
"Which family's first wife doesn't reserve at least 18 days? The Secondary wife really schemed well." Yun Zhu stood on the side and couldn't help but curl his lips. These two years, when the side wife was the one to manage the household, his monthly allowance of silver has never risen. The red envelope he received at the end of the year was less each year. Yet the few chambermaids she brought with her had quite a cushy and lucrative job. All the servants in the prince's mansion were long unsatisfied with her.
Mu Hanzhang raised his eyebrows. This arrangement, contrary to belief, was actually not bad for him, so he took the writing brush and, using powerful yet elegant calligraphy, copied word for word the Secondary Wife's arrangements in the painted flower book.
* * * * *
When Jing Shao came back, it was already dark. He first took a shower and washed away the sweat and mud then changed into a loose casual attire.
"Wang Ye, today, Li Daren came again. Your subordinates responded to him according to what you instructed." After dinner, Steward Yun came over and reported to Jing Shao about the situation of today's visitors.
