Phi-Fic Chapter 579 has been ordered!
Chapter 579 has been ordered!
Not long after Mu Xin Nuan returned to the manor, she heard that Madam He had arrived.
Mu Xin Nuan frowned slightly. What did Madam He want with her? Last time she came to recommend several female teachers to her, so why this time?
"Please invite her to sit in the front hall."
When Mu Xin Nuan arrived, Madam He was slowly sipping her tea. As soon as she saw the Princess Consort appear, she immediately stood up and bowed.
"Please sit down, Madam He. There's no need for such formalities."
After Madam He sat down, she didn't beat around the bush and directly stated her purpose.
It turns out that Madam He heard that Madam Fang, who was temporarily staying at the Chang Le Prince's Mansion, was about to give birth, so she came to see if there was anything she could do to help. In addition, she was thinking of inviting Mu Xin Nuan to attend a banquet at the He Mansion in a few days.
"Is it Miss He's birthday? Then we should have a proper celebration."
"Yes, originally I didn't want to make too much of a fuss. But when I think about how this girl has lived here for several years and made many friends, I realize that if she is transferred back to the capital in the future, she will inevitably miss them. So I might as well take advantage of the time while she is still here and spend more time with them."
"Well, in that case, I will definitely go. It's just a small matter, yet Madam He has gone to the trouble of personally delivering it. It's truly a great favor."
"Your Highness, you are being too serious. Your status is so noble that this invitation should naturally be delivered by me personally."
Mu Xin Nuan smiled upon hearing this and said no more.
It seems the Xie family's affairs in the capital have had a significant impact on Madam He. She has also learned to be more discreet and humble in her conduct.
"Furthermore, there is something else I have to say, but it is really difficult to talk about."
Mrs. He said it somewhat shyly, and then lowered her eyes slightly.
Mu Xin Nuan raised her hand, and Aunt Fang called all the servants out before putting down her teacup. "Madam He, please speak your mind. I am listening."
"Your Highness, I heard that His Highness and several ministers of the Council of State have made a decision to build quite a few schools in Xingwen District?"
"That's right. The government provides the funds, which are used for both public and private schools."
"It's like this, as you know, my husband's family is surnamed He. They'd like to purchase a private school in Xingwen District. Would that be convenient for you?"
Mu Xin Nuan was slightly taken aback. Wasn't the purpose of building houses in Xingwen District to sell them? Why did Madam He sound as if they were impossible to buy?
"Madam He, I truly don't understand what you mean. Doesn't the He family already have its own clan school? Why would they need to purchase another school?"
"Your Highness, the He family's clan school is quite old and dilapidated. My husband's idea is to purchase a new one in Xingwen District, then demolish the clan school and rebuild it into a residence for the He family members to use as a resting place."
Hearing this, Mu Xin Nuan roughly understood.
The He family lineage has flourished in Yanzhou for generations, so naturally not all of them could reside there. Their current plan is to reopen a new clan school in Xingwen District, demolishing the old one and building residences for clan members from other areas.
"However, the matter of the school in Xingwen District should be decided by the Prince and the other officials. I'm afraid I can't be of much help."
"Your Highness, you are too modest. I will not hide anything from you. Because the He family has many members, my husband intended to buy two properties. However, yesterday he sent someone to the Council of State to inquire, and they said that the schools in good locations have already been sold. So?"
Mrs. He smiled somewhat embarrassedly and didn't continue speaking.
Mu Xin Nuan understood what she meant. There were still houses in Xingwen District that hadn't been sold, but the location wasn't very good.
However, what Mu Xin Nuan didn't understand was why the school was divided into good and bad locations.
Moreover, Magistrate He should have received the news from Xingwen District a long time ago, so why would he only think of making a purchase now? Besides, given Magistrate He's status, the Council of State would not dare to disrespect him.
Why would this Mrs. He come to me for help?
Mu Xin Nuan suppressed her doubts. "Madam He, I'm afraid I can't be of much help with this. These houses have only just started construction, how come so many have already been sold?"
In fact, Mu Xin Nuan had been busy entertaining her aunt and Mrs. Fang these days, and whenever she had free time, she would think about her girls' school. So, she really hadn't paid much attention to things in Xingwen District.
"Does the Princess really not know?" Madam He asked, somewhat surprised.
Mu Xin Nuan smiled somewhat embarrassedly, "As you know, my eldest cousin's wife is about to give birth, and my aunt and Madam Fang have also come over. There are so many things to do here, inside and out. Besides, the important matters that the Prince is doing are not something that a woman from the inner quarters like me can concern myself with."
Madam He then realized that she had been a bit abrupt and quickly apologized with a smile, "It was my oversight. As soon as the notice for recruiting laborers in Xingwen District was posted, I heard that many prominent local families took the initiative to go to the Council of State to inquire. I only found out yesterday that before construction even started, all the houses in those prime locations that were visible on the blueprints were gone."
Mu Xin Nuan was genuinely a little surprised this time.
It would be understandable if shops sold out quickly. But how come the schoolhouse sold out so fast too?
"This, I really don't know. However, I did hear that there are two streets there specifically for doing business. I wonder if they've been sold?"
Seeing the doubt on her face, Madam He was certain that she really didn't know.
"The princess is really oblivious to what's going on around her. The notices for Xingwen District were only posted a short while ago, and the first things to be snapped up were the shops. I heard that many people had to find acquaintances and pull strings to barely manage to buy one."
"So fast? If that's the case, then the market in Xingwen District is quite good."
"Of course! The Fu family directly purchased two schools in Xingwen District, and they are in excellent locations, right next to each other. They also bought several large shops."
Mu Xin Nuan was truly baffled this time. Couldn't those aristocratic families find their own places to build schools? Why were they rushing to Xingwen District? Did that mean their previous plans were simply inadequate?
Mu Xin Nuan only gave Madam He a reply that she would ask the prince later. After all, she had never paid much attention to these matters, and it was really not appropriate for her to directly agree or refuse.
As soon as Duanmu Chuze returned, Mu Xinnuan immediately had him invited to Yijing Garden.
"Aze, I heard that all the schools in Xingwen District that haven't even started construction yet have already been booked with money. Is that true?"