Chapter 270: New Neighbors
Chapter 270: New Neighbors
"What was that?" Zuan Hu asked as she and the other two women turned their heads to look in the direction of the high wall of the manor that was standing at the end of the back garden of the kitchen where they were currently enjoying their lunch.
"It looks like something crashed on the other side of the wall." Xiang Ling answered as she tried to listen to the movements on the other side of the wall through her heightened hearing.
"Oh! That might be the people moving in the stuff. I heard someone bought the manor next door and is moving in today." Chao Xing informed the other two about what she knew.
Listening to the voices, Xiang Ling also came to the same conclusion. It did seem like people were moving things in the manor next door.
"Any inforamtion about this new neighbor of ours?" Zuan Hu asked as all three of them returned their attention to the food.
"Not really. The only thing Aunt Yan knew is that they are a young couple from a merchant family and they are not from Nanxia." Chao Xing answered as she too resumed eating.
Xiang Ling, who was about to have her first taste of the delicious looking pork belly, stopped before her chopsticks could have touched the food and stared at her Second sister-in-law. The description about their new neighbors sounded way too familiar.
"Xiang’er, is something wrong?" Zuan Hu asked when she noticed the troubled look on Xiang Ling’s face.
"I... I just realized that I have matters to take care of today. I will finish my food quickly to take my leave first." Xiang Ling answered with a shake of her head and a little smile before she once again dived into the food.
She hurriedly finished her lunch and left her two sister-in-laws behind to continue with their chatting. Stepping outside the manor’s front gate, she headed toward the manor next door and found a very familiar person at the entrance.
Just like she was expecting, her new neighbors were none other than the Crown Prince and Su LiangLin.
"Where is your Young Master and Young Madam?" Xiang Ling asked Mo Li who was directing servants as they emptied the kitchen rations from the cart and took it inside the manor.
"Young Lady Chen, they have been expecting your arrival. Let me escort you." Mo Li greeted Xiang Ling before he turned around and started walking inside the Manor without allowing Xiang Ling any chance to speak.
Since she was there to meet the Crown Prince and his Consort, she silently followed after Mo Li. This Manor was about half the size of the Chen Manor, but it was really beautiful and newly built. They crossed a garden and arrived at the Main Hall where Wu Tian, Wu Ding, and Su LiangLin were enjoying tea.
"Young Lady Chen, you are finally here. You did take your time." Wu Tian commented as soon as he noticed Xiang Ling walking in the Main Hall.
"Sister Chen, it’s so good to see you again. Hope you had a nice night after returning to your home." Wu Ding spoke the words with his innocent mind. Little did he know exactly how his words affected the other party who suddenly started coughing.
"Did you catch a cold, Ah Xiang?" Su LiangLin asked as she handed Xiang Ling a cup of tea.
"It’s nothing like that. It might be the dust here." Xiang Ling replied as she took a sip of the tea.
Su LiangLin sighed as her gaze shifted around the Main Hall. "You are right. This place needs a thorough cleaning. Unfortunately, we haven’t hired any servants yet."
"But I just saw some servants unloading-"
"They are the staff of the shops from where we purchased the rations and other necessary stuff this morning. Mo Li only knows skills of a royal guard. He’s even clumsy with setting up the furniture in a room. As for Zi Yun, she alone can’t do all the work." Su LiangLin seemed exceptionally worried about the matter and went as far as to glare at Wu Tian as if all this was his fault.
As if the Crown Prince was waiting for this very moment, he turned his attention toward Xiang Ling and spoke, "My dear wife, you are worrying way too much. Don’t you know that your best friend is now our neighbor. Just ask Young Lady Chen to bring some of her servants here to help you in setting up this place."
Su LiangLin’s eyes immediately filled with glow as she turned her attention toward Xiang Ling as if silently asking whether such a help would be possible or not.
Xiang Ling remained silent for a while and used the time to sip more of the tea. It was the top quality tea that the Crown Prince had brought with him from the palace, and she was really enjoying the taste of such an expensive and rare tea.
Setting the empty cup down on the table beside her chair, she turned her attention toward the Crown Prince and answered, "That does sound like a great solution. Considering my close bond with Su LiangLin, I will be generous. How about... ten taels of silver per hour?"
"..."
"Huh?"
Both Wu Tian and Su LiangLin were left shocked. On the other hand, Wu Ding snickered which caught Xiang Ling’s attention. When she turned her attention to look at the Seventh Prince, she recieved a thumbs up from him which made her smile in response.
"Young Lady Chen, what are you talking about?" Wu Tian asked while staring at Xiang Ling.
"Young Master Wu, you are asking me to bring my servants here so that they can help you in cleaning up this place. Though I don’t mind doing so, I’m sure my servants will not think the same. After all, cleaning and setting up this place will require extra hardwork on their part. Don’t you think they deserve reward for working hard?"