The Emperor, with more men than women, made me his mistress.

Jin Chenyuan left his courtyard and hadn't gone far when he ran into Chuan Wu and Huang Zhong, who were patrolling with the manor's guards. He called the two over and told them to get the carriage ready. He himself went to the accounting office in the outer courtyard after leaving the inner courtyard.

The household's accounting office was located in a small courtyard in the outer courtyard, not far from his study where he handled official business.

"Greetings to the prince."

"Greetings to the prince."

Upon arriving at the outer courtyard, there were noticeably more servants.

The servants who were working quickly bowed and greeted Jin Chenyuan as he approached.

Haoyun and the steward, who were busy in the accounting office, immediately put down their account books when they heard the greetings outside the door. They came out with about a dozen servants who were working with them. When they saw Jin Chenyuan, who had already reached the door of the accounting office, they immediately greeted him in unison, "Greetings to Master."

"Greetings to the prince."

"Rise." After Jin Chenyuan and the others had all paid their respects, he raised the hand holding the folding fan, indicating that they should get up.

After everyone else got up to do their work, Jin Chenyuan left only Haoyun and the steward Liancheng behind. As the three of them walked towards the accounting room, Jin Chenyuan asked, "Uncle Cheng, how's the inventory of the Prince's Mansion's properties going? How long will it take to complete?"

Liancheng is the steward of Prince Chen's mansion. He is from a branch of Jin Chenyuan's maternal family. Since Jin Chenyuan handed over the government to the emperor two years ago and left the palace to establish his own mansion, he has been managing all the affairs of Prince Chen's mansion.

However, all of Prince Chen's properties outside the palace were in the hands of Jin Chenyuan's four personal guards.

The reason Liancheng was allowed to get involved in the external industries this time was because Jin Chenyuan was in a bit of a hurry to compile statistics on all the industries.

Liancheng, who was following behind Jin Chenyuan, immediately reported upon hearing his question, "Your Highness is in a hurry this time, but over the years, Haoyun and the others have managed the Prince's Mansion's properties very carefully. Every shop, field, farm, orchard, forest, and real estate across the country is recorded very clearly. We just need to copy these down. I believe that with so many people working together, we can compile a complete list in less than five days."

Inside the accounting office, the prince sent more than ten people to sort out the Prince's estate. Liancheng said five days, which was an overestimation. After all, no one knew if any unexpected events might occur while sorting out these assets.

Given the prince's temperament, if he says it will be sorted out in five days, and you take five and a half days, then you are considered incompetent.

He wouldn't allow someone who lacks ability to work around him.

Therefore, Liancheng always gives himself ample time when reporting on what he needs to do.

This is also why Jin Chenyuan did not allow Liancheng to interfere in his properties outside the manor.

Liancheng is a very cautious and prudent person, and not decisive enough. If he is asked to handle an emergency, he will hesitate and think it over.

So after understanding Liancheng's personality, he instructed Liancheng to only manage the Prince Chen's residence.

After getting the answer he wanted, Jin Chenyuan said a few more words to the two of them, then turned and left the small courtyard of the accounting office.

Upon arriving at the main gate of Prince Chen's residence, Jin Chenyuan saw Chuan Wu and Huang Zhong already waiting there in their carriage. He lifted his robe and nimbly stepped into the carriage.

"Go to the Ministry of Revenue," Jin Chenyuan ordered after settling down on the low couch in the carriage.

"Yes."

Upon receiving the order, Chuanwu raised his whip and cracked it in the air. Hearing the crack, the horses pulling the carriage immediately trotted off.

..........................................

An hour later, Jin Chenyuan, who had been rushing to complete Yue Li's household registration at the Ministry of Revenue, got off his carriage at the main gate of Prince Chen's mansion and went directly into the inner courtyard.

Upon entering his courtyard, Jin Chenyuan saw Haoyun still waiting at the gate. Without waiting for Haoyun to pay his respects, he asked directly, "Has the Princess still not woken up?"

Haoyun greeted her and replied, "Yes, the princess has not woken up since the master left."

"Understood." After saying that, Jin Chenyuan raised his hand, waved his folding fan, and gestured for Haoyun to leave.

Upon seeing this, Haoyun immediately took two steps back.

After watching Jin Chenyuan push open the door and walk into the room, he returned to his original spot.

Jin Chenyuan walked past the screen separating the outer and inner rooms and looked at the bed curtains, which were still hanging down as they had when he left.

He walked a few steps to the bedside, lifted the bed curtains, and looked at Yue Li, who was still fast asleep on the bed. Jin Chenyuan checked the time; it was already 5 PM, time for dinner.

Thinking that Yue Li had only eaten lunch all day, Jin Chenyuan sat down by the bed, intending to wake her up.

If I keep sleeping like this, I definitely won't be able to sleep at night, and how can my body handle eating only one meal a day?

"Li Bao, are you awake yet? Wake up, it's time for dinner."

Jin Chenyuan turned Yue Li, who was sleeping facing inward, over and called out to her.

But even after being turned over, Yue Li slept soundly.

"Li Bao, wake up, or you'll get hungry again." Jin Chenyuan teased, pinching Yue Li's pert nose.

Swatting away the hand that was messing with her face, Yue Li opened her sleepy eyes and mumbled, "Jin Chenyuan, what are you doing? Can't a person get any sleep?"

Yue Li, who hates being disturbed while she's sleeping, immediately lost her temper.

Seeing Yue Li's morning grumpiness, Jin Chenyuan, though finding her lovable no matter what, immediately coaxed her, "Li Bao, it's time for your afternoon nap. If you sleep any longer, you won't be able to sleep tonight. Besides, it's already late afternoon. Get up and get ready; it'll be time for dinner. You didn't eat breakfast this morning, and if you don't eat dinner, you'll definitely be starving. It's not good for your health to go hungry every day."

"Why are you so long-winded?" Yue Li patted Jin Chenyuan's arm as he was helping her up.

"Yes, yes, I was being long-winded. How about I help Li Bao get dressed?" Jin Chenyuan coaxed Yue Li as she sat up and leaned against him.

After taking a nap, Yue Li felt sticky and uncomfortable all over. She reached up and touched her neck, where there was still a thin layer of sweat. "It's so hot! Look, I'm sweating even after just one nap."

She stretched out her sweaty hand in front of Jin Chenyuan, letting him see just how hot it was in his room.

Seeing the thin layer of sweat on Yue Li's fair hands as she touched her neck, and then looking at the ice basin in the bedroom that had already melted.

Jin Chenyuan immediately realized the problem: the two ice basins in the room had melted, and he had forgotten to tell You Yun to go into the bedroom to replace them at a certain time. Without his instructions, You Yun would not dare to go into the bedroom on his own, so the bedroom became hot again.

This directly caused Yue Li to sweat while sleeping in bed.

"I'll have someone bring two more ice basins later, and the room will cool down in no time."

Following Jin Chenyuan's gaze, Yue Li also saw the ice basin that had turned into water.

"I want to take a shower. I'm all sweaty from sleeping, it's really uncomfortable."

"Okay, but would you like to eat first, or take a bath first, Li Bao?" Jin Chenyuan readily agreed and then asked.