Chapter 166: Thin Rebuke
Song Zhiyuan escorted his mother back to Chunhui Hall, then turned towards the main courtyard, instructing Madam Song to prepare a small courtyard for Marquis Cheng’en to reside in.
"Mother said that when the time comes, all the expenses for that small courtyard will come from her private funds. It’s not easy for an elderly person to save some personal silver. Just listen to her; it’s just a small courtyard, and it’s not a permanent residence, so there’s no need for large expenditures. Just use the public funds," Song Zhiyuan instructed.
Madam Song hurriedly said, "Then there’s no need to use mother’s private funds. Instead of public funds, I can use my dowry silver to cover it."
"No need to use your dowry silver; save it for buying flowers to wear. Just use the public funds. It’s just for a child, and even if the small kitchen is used, the expenses won’t be much."
Seeing his insistence, Madam Song said, "I will follow your instructions. Prime Minister, so it seems that Duke Cheng’en Mansion also needs to be restored, just waiting for its owner?"
"Yes. Marquis Cheng’en is only six years old. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor will not allow him to live alone in Duke Cheng’en Mansion; he will reside in the palace for many years. When he comes of age, he will naturally leave the palace."
"In that case, there’s already a Duke Cheng’en Mansion. This little Marquis Cheng’en is truly lucky." A small orphan, rising to the top—isn’t that luck?
Song Zhiyuan did not respond to this. He was thinking about how to recruit and train the two hundred soldiers and how to maintain them. All these expenditures need to be accounted for.