Chapter 8: Blizzard Warning

Tang Zhao flipped through the account book, calculating silently in her mind.

After half an incense stick’s time, she saw that the total on the final page matched her mental calculation, and only then did she feel completely at ease.

With this account book in hand, there was absolutely no possibility of Song Sheng turning against her.

"Hiss," Qiu Yu, who was adding tea to the side, gasped, "A profit of seven hundred and forty-five taels!"

This—this is so much money!

"It’s not much."

"This is still not much?" Qiu Yu clicked her tongue.

Of course, it wasn't much, Tang Zhao chuckled. The Buyi Workshop followed a high-end, luxury route; the people coming and going were either high-ranking officials or noble families. A single bolt of fabric or a piece of clothing could easily sell for several or even dozens of taels.

Haven't you seen modern international brands? You can't even count the zeros on their turnover.

This was nothing compared to that.

Tang Zhao stood up and stretched her limbs. "It’s about to snow, isn't it?"

"It should be soon, it's already mid-November," Qiu Yu looked at the gray sky outside and said excitedly, "When it snows, this servant will accompany you, Miss, to build a snowman and have a snowball fight."

"What a sharp tongue; clearly you're the one who's playful, yet you want to pin it on the Miss," Chunfeng teased.

"Who told the Miss to spoil me?" Qiu Yu made a face.

Tang Zhao chuckled and was about to make a witty remark when a "ding" notification sounded in her mind.

【Ding! Weather warning: Heavy to blizzard-level snow expected in three days, temperatures to drop by over 8℃. Please take care to stay warm.】

Chunfeng and Qiu Yu stopped their bickering, looked at the Miss’s slightly furrowed brows, and asked with concern, "Miss, what’s wrong?"

"Have the winter clothes and charcoal been prepared?"

This was Tang Zhao’s first winter in Dayu. Although Luoyang was not located very far north, the winter was still cold enough to freeze water into ice. If there wasn't enough charcoal and winter clothing, people could freeze to death.

"They were prepared long ago. The maids and the Nanny have been rushing to make winter clothes these past few days. The Prince’s mansion’s quota hasn't been shorted at all."

"Go buy some more," Tang Zhao said, still uneasy. "Clear out the storage room in the backyard."

Qiu Yu said "aye" and went off to make arrangements.

"Chunfeng, go tell the Crown Princess and ask her to prepare more charcoal."

Tang Zhao felt that it wasn't enough for just her to be prepared; if the others in the mansion were freezing, she couldn't just watch, could she?

Inside the Qingmo Hall, the Crown Princess, Lady Ming, pondered.

"Does the Crown Princess really intend to listen to the Fifth Young Mistress?" Nanny Ming was anxious.

"The sister-in-law wouldn't send such a message without reason. I fear she knows something," the Crown Princess was also hesitant.

"Only by following the rules will there be no mistakes," Nanny Ming disagreed. "The Fifth Young Mistress doesn't manage the household; how would she know the difficulties of managing it?"

The mansion’s funds were also very tight. This year, because of the Fifth Young Master’s wedding, a large amount of silver had been spent, and the daily expenses of the mansion were already somewhat difficult.

If she opened her mouth to buy charcoal, who would pay for it?

"Go and find out how much charcoal the Bidan Courtyard bought."

Tingqin acknowledged and went out, returning a moment later to say, "The Bidan Courtyard bought five thousand catties of charcoal: two thousand catties of silver-frost charcoal and three thousand catties of ordinary charcoal."

Five thousand catties—this was not a small amount; it was enough for the entire mansion for two months. "Who paid for it?"

"The Young Mistress paid for it," Tingqin said cautiously. "She said she used her own dowry money."

"Does the Princess Consort know?"

"She knows. When this servant was inquiring, Nanny Zhang was there too, and she even said that since it was the Young Mistress’s own dowry, she could spend it however she liked."

Nanny Zhang was the most trusted nanny by the Princess Consort’s side; her meaning was the Princess Consort’s meaning.

Nanny Ming gritted her teeth. Now, even if the Crown Princess didn't want to buy it, she had no choice.

"Take my private funds and buy three thousand catties of silver-frost charcoal and seven thousand catties of ordinary charcoal."

The Crown Princess thought it through clearly. Charcoal wasn't fresh produce; it could be stored for a year or two and still be used. It was better to prepare more than to be unable to buy it when prices rose in the winter.

For a time, the Prince Xuan’s mansion bought a large amount of charcoal, causing much discussion and ridicule throughout Luoyang.

Three days later, the temperature in Luoyang dropped sharply, and goose-feather snow began to fall.

Qiu Yu ran into the room and stood in front of the stove to warm her hands. "Miss, don't go out. It’s freezing out there. This servant only went to collect the monthly allowance, and my hands and feet are already numb."

"Aren't you going to have a snowball fight and build a snowman?" Chunfeng teased.

"Who would have thought this winter would be so cold? It’s only just begun!" Qiu Yu retorted. "We spent ten years at the villa, and even before the first lunar month, it was never this cold."

Xia Mo said nothing, serving a bowl of mutton, yam, and goji berry soup. "Miss, drink some more. Mutton is the most nourishing food in winter."

"Has it been sent to the husband?" Tang Zhao took a sip and felt exceptionally comforted. "What about the others?"

"It was sent to the Master long ago," Xia Mo said. "This servant boiled two large pots today; everyone in the Bidan Courtyard can have a bowl."

Qiu Yu cheered and pulled Chunfeng excitedly toward the small kitchen to drink soup.

In the small kitchen, Nanny Li held a soup ladle, standing guard like a general. "Only one bowl per person! Those who have already had some cannot have more!"

As she spoke, she raised her hand and slapped Bai Cheng on the head as he kept trying to squeeze forward. "You little monkey, you’ve already had some, why are you still squeezing in?"

Bai Cheng put on a thick face. "I’m just smelling the aroma, just smelling the aroma is enough."

The black-clad guards joined forces to throw this troublemaker out.

Nanny Li was satisfied and gave an extra two pieces of mutton.

The black-clad guards finished the mutton in a few bites, downed the soup in one go, and returned to the study to stand guard.

In the study, three stoves were set up, making it as warm as spring.

Gu Ci drank his soup while reading official documents.

Zhaohui and Zhaoyi didn't need to queue at the small kitchen for soup; the girl Xia Mo by the Young Mistress’s side was very tactful and sent their portion along with their master’s, keeping it warm on the stove to be served whenever they wanted.

"Serve another bowl," Gu Ci ordered.

Zhaohui put down the bowl and spoon, served his master a third bowl of soup, and advised, "Master, have a little less; you still have to eat lunch later."

"Miss Xia Mo personally cooked sweet and sour pork ribs and sweet and sour pork tenderloin."

Gu Ci acknowledged.

He didn't know why, but even with the same recipe, the taste of the food made by the cook in the Bidan Courtyard was just not as good as the food made by that girl named Xia Mo.

It was a strange thing.

After lunch, Tang Zhao sat by the stove, warming herself while admiring the snow scene.

Although she couldn't really appreciate anything.

But it didn't matter; it was just for show.

All the ladies and misses in Luoyang city were like that.

"Miss, when will this snow stop?" Dongmei asked, holding her face in boredom. "This servant hasn't gone to the Buyi Workshop to inquire about news today."

"Don't go; it’s not worth freezing yourself in such heavy snow," Tang Zhao grabbed a handful of candies for her.

Dongmei ate one and felt the sweetness reach her heart; all her worries vanished.

Tang Zhao watched the snow for a while, her eyelids slowly growing heavy.

Dongmei brought a thin quilt and covered her Miss with it.

Just before Tang Zhao’s consciousness faded, a notification sounded in her mind again.

【Ding! Blizzard warning: Continuous snowfall for the next half-month. A snow disaster is expected in Luoyang and the north. Please take precautions!】

A snow disaster!

Tang Zhao was startled, and all her sleepiness vanished.