Shipin Dalizheng

Steward Tao said, "The person who delivered the invitation today said that the second master of the Xie family has brought back his daughter who was raised in the countryside. Tomorrow we will hold a formal family recognition banquet so that each family can recognize her and avoid misunderstandings when she goes out in the future."

Rong Tang and Rong Zhan looked at each other. They had all heard that the Xie family had brought back a niece from the countryside to form an alliance with the Liang family. But why was the banquet held not earlier or later, but when Minister Liang might be in financial trouble? Was it to announce to the public that Grand Tutor Xie supported the position of this in-law?

Besides, everyone in Beijing knew that the relationship between Rong Tang and the Liang family was tense, so what did it mean to post to him?

Rong Tang was not at all adept at the diplomatic tactics of these officials, so he could only ask Butler Tao, who had been dealing with the imperial court for a long time, for advice. Butler Tao said, "I find this strange too. Normally, families hold banquets like this to let outsiders recognize their daughters and allow those interested in marriage to take action. It's basically a matchmaking banquet. But the Xie family is said to have already exchanged engagement letters with the Liang family, and I hear they're getting married next month. This banquet is bizarre."

It’s not the banquet itself that’s strange, it’s the name.

"They probably won't choose me for a blind date. I'm already engaged. It seems like this banquet might be a Hongmen Banquet."

Rong Zhan and Butler Tao were both unaware of the Hongmen Banquet story and looked at him questioningly. Rong Tang laughed it off, "He's just someone with bad intentions. He might be setting up some kind of trap."

Butler Tao was a little nervous, "Then why don't you go?"

Rong Tang was not so scared that he dared not show up. The more he was scared, the more he wanted to let people see that he was not someone who could be bullied easily.

Now that he had the money, which was his well-deserved property, he had no worries about spending it. He asked the housekeeper Tao to invite Xue Xiu Niang to take his measurements and make clothes for him.

Speaking of this, we have to mention his figure. He was almost of marriageable age, but his secondary sexual characteristics were not developed at all, and his chest was still like two raisins. Even when Xue Xiu Niang used a tape measure to measure his chest and waist, she had no doubt that he was a girl.

"Prince Rong is still a little thin. I will make you some dresses with raised shoulders. With broad shoulders and narrow waist, paired with your handsome face, you will be a perfect lady killer."

Rong Tang also bared his big white teeth and joked with her, "Thank you for the compliment, Master Xue."

Xue Xiu Niang took the measurements and left. She had already thought about what kind of clothes to make to suit Prince Rong. People outside said that Prince Rong was a devil and villain, but she didn't believe a word of it. He was spending money to support hundreds of disabled people. How bad could he be?

Minister Qu of the Ministry of Works drew up the layout of the new workshop and came to see him, and the two of them returned to Rongjia Village together. The hundreds of acres of sandy and gravelly land had already been leveled, and teams of convoys carrying bricks and tiles were coming and going, almost ready to build the wall.

The county craftsman who had been building his new yard was thinking it was almost finished and that it was time for him to start looking for new work with his men. This was a perfect opportunity, and he was so overjoyed that he ran over to listen to the Minister's explanation of the blueprints he had borrowed. Minister Qu was also a humble person, naturally approachable to the craftsmen, and patiently explained the various construction principles to them.

Rong Tang saw them squatting under the tree and talking. He didn't know anything about construction, so he walked back with Rong An. His new yard had reached the finishing stage, and most of the workers had moved to the waterwheel workshop to dig the foundation and build the wall.

This is a four-courtyard house with a traditional quadrangle layout, covering a total area of ​​five acres. There are dozens of wild fruit trees planted around it that were dug up from the mountains. They were dug carefully and left large mounds of soil. After planting, it is said that the survival rate is very high.

Two lions are squatting at the door to protect the house. The vermilion door is fastened with several rows of copper nails. When you walk in, you will see a screen door wall with a painting of koi carp jumping over the dragon gate, which is the favorite of the villagers. It is very tacky, but also has a special homely feel.

Chuncao jumped out and said, "Master, look at our new home. It has more than a dozen independent courtyards of different sizes. Is it big and luxurious?"

If it were placed in the village, it would indeed be the most luxurious.

Chuncao dragged him into this courtyard and then into that courtyard, chattering non-stop about where Rong Tang lived, where she lived, where the four guards lived, and how every single person in the family was properly arranged. Her little face flushed with excitement. After running around, she found that Rong Tang's eyes were empty, and he wasn't listening to what she was saying at all. Her little face fell, "Master, you didn't even listen to me!"

Rong Tang came back to his senses and said, "I heard you. I'll do as you arranged. Once the finishing touches are finished and the new furniture is delivered, you can move it in."

Chuncao wrinkled her nose and glared at him, then took him to see two small courtyards side by side. Both had three small sunny rooms and two small east wing rooms.

"This is for Brother Shen. Brother Qianqi is getting married. Master, our family is about to have a wedding."

Rong Qianqi blushed and refused to admit it, "That's not true. Don't talk nonsense."

"Who's talking nonsense? I've questioned Sister Huixiang, and she's incredibly satisfied with you."

Rong Qianqi couldn't stand it any longer. She started to falter like a grown-up girl, and even stuttered when she spoke. "I'm not in a hurry. My master hasn't gotten married yet. I'll wait for my wife to come in..."

Then the air became quiet, and Rong Qianqi was also stunned. Oh my God, when did he forget that his master was a girl?

Chuncao held up Rong Tang's face and looked at it again. She was very anxious. Why did the young master look more and more like a man? It's not that he was ugly, but his temperament was no longer that of a young woman.

"Stop it." Rong Tang removed her hand. He was a professional disguiser. Disguising as a man wasn't just a matter of changing clothes; it was a matter of how he spoke and acted in public, and it was also a matter of daily psychological cues. It could be said that he didn't need to make any cosmetic changes now. Even the old people of the Southern Dynasty wouldn't recognize him as Feng Xiaoliu, and they wouldn't mistake a man for Feng Xiaoliu.

Rong Qianqi wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve. Was he old? Was he suffering from dementia? When had he subconsciously forgotten his master's gender?

Rong Zhan looked at him sympathetically. He knew that his master had some special abilities that could influence other people's cognition. If they were not careful, they would be affected. Maybe the master did not deliberately target them, but if they were close to him, they would always be affected.

As for whether his subordinates are willing to get married, Rong Tang takes a natural attitude. He will not object, nor will he promote it. Because in his opinion, the two people have known each other for a short time, have not spent much time together, and do not understand each other well enough. It is too far-fetched to say that they are attracted to each other. It is probably just for the sake of life.

Aunt Dahu prepared the meal and came to call them. Minister Qu was also invited over. As soon as he entered the door, he praised the development of Rongjia Village.

"Prince Rong, you are truly an extraordinary person. This was a lifeless village two months ago, but now with the workshop and school built, the workers are enthusiastic. In less than an hour, the foundation of the courtyard wall has been laid. I think the main wall will be completed tomorrow. Such a large workshop can be put into production in less than two weeks. I will go back and tell the Minister to send the necessary wood, tung oil, etc. a few days in advance for the start of work."

The new workshop opened half a month later, and the sorghum was almost ready for harvest. Many villages would suffer a reduction in production due to lack of water in the fields, but there was nothing that could be done about it. The water hose truck was launched a little late, and it would be too late to manufacture it now. The orders from the Ministry of Industry were scheduled for several years later.

Rong Tang was still not satisfied with the speed. While eating, he said to Rong An, "Send more manpower, build walls, build factories, and get everything done within five days. The sooner the finished products are manufactured, the more food can be saved."

When Minister Qu saw them, master and servant, eating at the same table and talking about serious matters, he sighed and said that this was really different from all the other noble sons.