Marrying a royal playboy and becoming a glamorous matriarch

Wei Qingrou pushed him away, both embarrassed and angry, "Husband, you're such a mischievous devil."

The two were playfully bickering when they suddenly spotted a figure.

The eldest prince, dressed in a slightly worn, pale white robe, appeared dejected and sorrowful, a far cry from his usual aloof and ethereal self.

“Cousin, I…” He stammered, unable to speak.

Wei Lanxin, who was standing next to him, gave him a push.

“What’s so hard to say? We’re out of rice at home. If you can’t swallow your pride, we’ll both just starve to death.”

The eldest prince looked even more dejected and said in a low voice, "Cousin, I want to ask you for a job."

Qin Ping'an's eyes were complicated, but he smiled in just a moment.

"Cousin, you flatter me. What kind of work are you interested in?"

"I...I haven't decided yet."

The eldest prince not only hadn't thought it through, he never even considered that one day he would have to work for someone else.

“He’s not picky,” Wei Lanxin smiled, pointing to the signboard at the entrance of Qianyu Tower.

"You're hiring an accountant here, right? He can do it. He's the one who reviewed Qianyu Tower's previous account books."

The eldest prince nodded in agreement, also relieved. Being an accountant was quite good.

Qin Ping'an followed their lead and said, "Alright, then let's make him the accountant. We can start calculating wages from today."

"Hmm," the eldest prince responded, then fell silent.

Wei Lanxin's eyes lit up, and she asked eagerly, "How much is his salary? You don't have social insurance and housing fund here, so what other benefits are there?"

Qin Ping'an pondered for a moment and then said, "Five social insurances and one housing fund? Other benefits, what do you mean by that?"

Wei Lanxin bluntly stated: "It's just a monthly allowance of rice, flour, oil, or other daily necessities."

Qin Ping'an was completely bewildered; he never paid attention to such things.

Wei Qingrou, who was reviewing the accounts, understood the situation and quickly chimed in, saying, "Don't worry, sister. We're all family, and we certainly won't mistreat the Crown Prince."

"The monthly allowance is ten taels of silver, plus rice, flour, oil, and two new sets of clothes every season."

"Besides these, we also have doctors we support, and it's cheaper for them to diagnose and prescribe medicine than outside."

People in ancient times also valued welfare and benefits very much.

What Wei Qingrou said was better than the usual treatment, but it wouldn't expose her true nature.

“Okay, not bad,” Wei Lanxin spread her palms out: “Then I’ll advance three months’ salary and benefits.”

"That won't do," Qin Ping'an said coldly.

If they had three months' worth of allowance and benefits, the eldest prince and Wei Lanxin could have kept going.

With only half a month left until the Lunar New Year, the eldest prince must return to the palace to celebrate the New Year this year.

Wei Lanxin snorted coldly and said to the eldest prince, "Hmph, I don't think you carry much weight with your cousin."

"You!" Qin Ping'an gritted his teeth in anger. "Wei Lanxin, are you even being reasonable? You haven't even done a day's work, and you're already asking for this and that. Is that appropriate?"

Besides, the eldest prince wouldn't let him work for three months; wouldn't he be losing out big time?

"If you don't want to give it to me, then forget it. Being stingy is being stingy."

"Wei Lanxin!" Qin Ping'an was so angry he exploded again.

Wei Qingrou shook her head helplessly. It seemed that Qin Ping'an's temper was particularly bad when he met Wei Lanxin. Maybe the two of them were a pair of bickering lovers.

"I can give you your benefits for this month first, that's all."

Wei Lanxin frowned, glared at Wei Qingrou, and complained.

"You're still my sister, and according to the rules you should address me as your elder sister. How dare you treat me so poorly now?"

Wei Qingrou smiled faintly: "Eldest sister, this is already very generous. You can go and ask around, which family gives out the monthly allowance first, and then they start working?"

"Alright, alright, as your elder sister, I won't hold it against you anymore. Hurry up and get your things."

Wei Lanxin was impatient and ungrateful, only urging him on.

Wei Qingrou didn't argue with her and had someone prepare the food: five catties of rice, five catties of flour, and two catties of oil.

"Why so little?"

Wei Lanxin frowned, her eyes filled with disdain.

"This is all we have. If we use it sparingly, it'll be enough to eat."

Wei Lanxin was still dissatisfied, "How many days can this last? There aren't even any vegetables or fruits."

"Fruits and vegetables? You really dare to say that." Qin Ping'an's eyes widened, his tone disdainful.

Wei Qingrou said calmly, "Eldest sister is joking. It's winter now, and fruits and vegetables are more expensive than gold. How can ordinary people afford them?"

"You're talking nonsense!" Wei Lanxin's eyes widened. "When the Crown Prince and I were at home, we were tired of eating fruits and vegetables, and no one ever stopped us."

Wei Qingrou smiled, "My sister wouldn't lie, you can go out and ask around."

Qin Ping'an retorted sarcastically, "You said it yourself, you used to be at home. Where are you now? If you want to eat, go home."

The eldest prince's gaze darkened, but Wei Lanxin was immediately furious.

"Qin Ping'an, what are you saying! We're living freely now, why would we want to go back?"

"Xiao Yu, let's go."

The eldest prince stood still, without moving.

Wei Lanxin frowned suddenly, glaring at him angrily: "Xiao Yu, do you think they're right and are planning to abandon me?"

"No," the eldest prince said calmly, with a hint of helplessness, "Have you forgotten where these things came from?"

“They gave it to me,” Wei Lanxin said, stunned.

The eldest prince shook his head and corrected him, "It was given to me by the master. Now, I have to work for the master."

Wei Lanxin then remembered that she had just sold the eldest prince to Qin Ping'an to be his accountant, and her expression immediately became embarrassed.

"Okay, you guys go ahead with your work, I'll head back now."

She tried to lift the flour sack and rice sack; they were heavy and felt very heavy in her hands.

She frowned coquettishly, rubbed her wrist, and called out to Wei Qingrou, "Hey, go see me off."

Wei Qingrou did not refuse. She also happened to have something to discuss with Wei Lanxin, so she took her into the carriage.

After the two women left, the eldest prince let out a long sigh of relief and looked at Qin Ping'an, asking, "Cousin, what should I do?"

"Huh?" Qin Ping'an looked puzzled. "Cousin, are you really going to be my accountant?"

"I am a servant of the emperor, and I am loyal to him. Since I have taken your things, they must be genuine."

The eldest prince was open and honest, with a calm gaze.

Qin Ping'an was unusually embarrassed. "If Grand Tutor Lin knew that you were working as an accountant for a playboy like me, he'd probably punish me, wouldn't he?"

“No,” the eldest prince said with a rare smile, “Grand Tutor Lin will smash my palms first.”

"Haha," Qin Ping'an laughed loudly, "Yes, yes, that old relic can't stand seeing you so degenerate."

The eldest prince's gaze instantly dimmed.

"Yes, Grand Tutor Lin was always patient and attentive to me, but unfortunately..."

Unfortunately, he may never have the chance to see him again in this lifetime.

"Cousin, you can actually turn back."

The eldest prince shook his head. "I don't want to go back. If I really have to go back..."