Zhao Hanzhang coughed lightly and explained in a low voice: "Theoretically, it's time to take a break. In fact, there are still many things to do in the yamen, so everyone is working overtime."
Seeing Wang looking at her quietly, Zhao Hanzhang immediately said: "I also went out to work overtime today."
Even a general like her has no time off, so naturally everyone has to work overtime.
Mrs. Wang snorted softly and said: "Your wedding date is coming soon, but you don't care at all. It is said that the bride should stay home half a month early, but the wedding date is only two days away.
Yet you still go out and look at your home and outside your home. Is there anything that looks like there is a happy event going on?"
"Why not?" Zhao Hanzhang defended: "Look at the red paper on the windows, the red cloth hanging in the yard, and the red paper on every house and the red lanterns hanging in the streets and alleys outside. It's almost full.
The city has turned red, isn’t this festive?”
Zhao Hanzhang hugged her arm and said with a smile: "Auntie, this wedding is already very grand. I feel it is too extravagant."
"You have cut down your expenses again and again. Is this still extravagant?" Mrs. Wang wiped her eyes and choked up when she said this: "Your expenses are not even one-third of what your grandfather prepared for you. The dowry
Not to mention, I ordered the dowry again today, and compared it with the list your grandfather prepared for you, I found that it was not even a tenth of it, which is too unfair."
Zhao Hanzhang looked embarrassed. She had spent all the dowry her grandfather had given her, including the betrothal gift prepared for Zhao Erlang.
Princess Hongnong on the side was also a little embarrassed, because the Fu family did not prepare much dowry. She felt that the Zhao family's small dowry was probably because of the betrothal gift.
According to custom, the dowry should be compared with the betrothal gift. If the betrothal gift is small but the dowry is large, it is actually an insult to the Fu family.
Princess Hongnong felt uneasy and was about to grit her teeth and prepare to go back to find someone to borrow money. She would give more betrothal gifts first and then pay them back in the future...
Before she could make up her mind, she heard Zhao Hanzhang coaxing Ms. Wang: "Madam, betrothal gifts and dowries are just cosmetics. They are just beautiful and not practical. We know it ourselves. Tinghan and I have many properties that are not on the list.
, but those industries are still our assets, this is the inside."
"Lizi is much more important than face."
Mrs. Wang: "You can save your face and write them down on the list. How nice it will be."
Zhao Hanzhang shook his head repeatedly and said helplessly: "Auntie, the war has just ended. The next five years will definitely be the period of explosive growth of civil marriages. What works above and what works below is effective. Only if I am frugal will the folk custom be frugal. This can actually increase the marriage rate and promote population development.
"
"If I am too extravagant, the people will follow my example, and the situation will become worse year by year. People are obviously suitable, but they cannot get married because the cost of marriage is too high. Isn't this damaging the country's foundation?"
Wang: "...so big?"
Zhao Hanzhang nodded solemnly, "It's so big, so we have to be cautious."
After coaxing Mrs. Wang, Zhao Hanzhang quickly picked up the remaining three pairs of earrings in the box and gestured to his ears, "Look, look again, and finally, which one looks best?"
Wang:……
She couldn't help but pat her, "You just stayed for two breaths, how can I compare?"
Zhao Hanzhang acted coquettishly, "But Auntie, I'm very hungry."
Only then did Wang realize the loss of time. She quickly apologized to Princess Hongnong and said, "It's my fault. I forgot about the time because I tried so hard. Princess, please wait a moment. I'll go see how the kitchen is being prepared."
Princess Hongnong smiled and said it was okay.
When Mrs. Wang left in a hurry with Qing Gu and others, only Ting He, the two girls serving tea, and Ren Hui beside Princess Hongnong were left in the house.
Princess Hongnong looked at Zhao Hanzhang with a smile.
Zhao Hanzhang seemed to know that she had something to say, so he turned to tell Ting He, "Go to the kitchen to get some pastries and make a pot of tea."
Ting He agreed and took the other two girls with him when he left.
Princess Hongnong also nodded to Ren Hui, and Ren Hui bowed and left. After going out, she stood guard not far from the door. This position was not far or near, and she could see the expressions of the two people in the lobby so that they could call people.
You can respond very quickly, but you can't hear them.
Zhao Hanzhang closed the jewelry box on the table, took it off, and looked up at Princess Hongnong opposite. The two of them could finally talk face to face.
"Tinghan is very happy that the princess can return to Luoyang smoothly. It is his and my luck, and it is also the luck of Jin Dynasty."
Princess Hongnong: "I am the daughter of Emperor Xiaohui. Now you are in charge of the government. I am supposed to be more beneficial to you outside. Why do you have to come all the way to welcome me back?"
Zhao Hanzhang said: "Princess, I am different from the Eight Kings, and I am also different from Gou Xi, Wang Yan and others. In my heart, my power is not the most important, but the people of the world. Maybe you will think that what I say is right.
It's too big and too empty, but I really mean it sincerely. You are the princess of Jin Dynasty and have always been loyal and brave. I need your approval."
Princess Hongnong thought for a moment and then sarcastically said: "Is it because the peace has settled down and the noble families from all over the country have their thoughts wandering again?"
Zhao Hanzhang said nothing.
Princess Hongnong sneered: "I knew..." Looking at the silent man opposite, Princess Hongnong exhaled and said: "I believe you, you are different from them. Those noble families will only fight for their own interests."
, what do you want me to do?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said: "Princess, you don't have to do anything special. As long as you are in Luoyang and stand by His Majesty's side, that is enough."
She is the legitimate daughter of Emperor Hui of the Jin Dynasty and has a reputation of loyalty and bravery. Even the young emperor is inferior to her in terms of status, not to mention King Langya of Jiangnan and Jiangdong?
As long as she is in Luoyang, we support her;
As long as she is in Luoyang, there will be those who claim to be loyal among those aristocratic nobles with wandering minds and will turn to Luoyang.
Oh, by the way, their worries were not because King Langya was more legitimate than her, but because her vigorous policies to settle the refugees, the policy of allocating land for relief, and the various detailed regulations to strongly support agricultural development began to touch their minds.
The foundation is established.
During the previous war, the main conflict was with the Xiongnu and Shi Le. Everyone was working together, so they didn't care about it. The policies at that time were all regional, and their actions were not strong.
Unlike now, when there is a national movement and the war has stopped, everyone starts to seek development on their own. At this time, interests conflict.
Zhao Hanzhang didn't want to get into too much of a fight with them, and they would end up beating her, or she would beat them, so Princess Hongnong was a shield she set up.
She believed that they would side with Princess Hongnong and push her to fight with her.
Princess Hongnong slowly clarified the relationship and looked at Zhao Hanzhang. Their eyes collided in the air, and they seemed to be looking into each other's heart through their eyes.
Zhao Hanzhang saw surprise and...fear in her eyes, and Princess Hongnong found that she could not see through Zhao Hanzhang opposite her.