It was a little past midmorning when Liu Tián Qǔ was seen by several house servants rushing toward the stables. She had to prepare her stablehands for the expert stablehand that the Grand Prince was supposed to send over shortly.
As she rushed over to the stables, Liu Tián Qu's thoughts flickered over the events of the morning. Liu Tián Qu had disappeared behind the stone wall into the hidden enclosure for over an hour, so she didn't know what happened with the situation with the young maid from earlier. Neither did she have time to go find out at the moment.
However, from the mood of the servants and the fear in the eyes of some of the younger female servants Liu Tián Qǔ passed as she raced towards the stables. She knew that something major had happened while she was enclosed behind the stone wall in the hidden enclosure.
The situation with the enclosure was partially solved. Liu Tián Qu had sent manager Kuo home for the rest of the day. The Manager's emotions were too unstable to focus on work.
Now that the Kuo family was once again rich. There was much for Manager Kuo to do. The first thing on manager Kuo's agenda was to get his family out of the slums. Liu Tián Qǔ understood his priorities and sent him home after holding an in-depth conversation concerning several things.
Before leaving, Manager Kuo not only taught Liu Tián Qǔ how to find the hidden enclosure. He also taught how to enter, exit, and operate the enclosure. At Liu Tián Qu's request, the manager also showed her how to use the functions of the transporter bracelet. They even picked some of the ripe Durian after the manager showed her how to store them in her transporter. Liu Tián Qǔ intended to have some sent to her guest and to have some sent over to Wang Royal Manor along with some Loquats, Lycée and Honey.
Just as Liu Tián Qǔ suspected, the Loquat and Lycée were already in season to be harvested. The manager had reported to Liu Tián Qǔ that he already arranged for one of his assistant gardeners to meet with Butler Zhou about where to store the fruit harvested from the small grove.
Butler Zhou had assigned a charmed underground storage space for the fruits to be stored. The gardeners were already picking and storing the fruits in the underground storage.
Liu Tián Qǔ was happy to hear that. Loquat and Lycée were fruit that should be stored immediately after ripening. What made her more pleased was that she never had to worry about the delicate fruits expiring or going bad. As long as they were stored in the charmed underground Storage Space. They would never go bad.
As far as the contents of the hidden enclosure, there was nothing else Liu Tián Qǔ could do other than wait to hear back from Manager Kuo first. However, there was one thing playing on Liu Tián Qǔ's mind, and that was the Knell stones. Liu Tián Qǔ was considering having knell stones buried alongside the root of each tree that was removed from the hidden enclosure and replanted on the big hill. Liu Tián Qǔ didn't want the trees to began deteriorating or dying after being removed from the enclosure. It was clear to her that the only reason the trees prospered in the Tolling Lands, to begin with, was because of the Knell Stones.
Liu Tián Qǔ was convinced that there was a deeper story behind the knell stones. She was curious as to why they littered her residence but was found nowhere else in the Tolling Lands. This was a question that was begging to be answered. However, Liu Tián Qǔ decided not to focus on it at the moment. She still had much to do before her residence was settled enough for her to deliberately make herself get sick by taking the Black Blossom Dual Potions.
Liu Tián Qǔ felt as if she was being pulled in a thousand different directions. She had no help, no family, and could only depend on herself. However, she felt as if she could handle it. It was a hundred times easier than managing a massive corporation.
A short while later, Liu Tián Qu had arrived at the stables to find Sōng Shǔ and the other four stable hands waiting for her. Upon Liu Tián Qǔ's arrival, the stablehands all greeted her. After returning their greetings, Liu Tián Qǔ wasted no time and immediately held a small meeting with her stablehands standing right next to the stables.
Liu Tián Qǔ looked at everyone gathered before her and said, "I had originally planned to tour the stables with everyone and see how everyone was settling in. However, right now, there is something else I must attend to so that must wait. As of right now, you five are the first of the stable hands to come to Liu Residence."
"All of you are slaves. However, as you know, everyone will have the opportunity to buy their freedom. I have a question for the five of you." Liu Tián Qǔ said as she looked at the five stable hand that stood before her attentively listening to her every word.
"Have you thought of how you want to live after buying your freedom?" The question shocked all the stablehands standing before her and answered her question. None of them bothered to look that far ahead. They were busy surviving from day to day, they never the luxury of worrying about the future.
By the time the small meeting ended. All the stablehands felt as if a new world opened up for them. Liu Tián Qǔ didn't give them a long speech. She told them of the plans she had for the stables. She also told them of the opportunities that will present its self to them under the training and tutelage of the expert stablehand from Wang Royal Manor whether they wanted to reach out and grab it that was up to them to decide.
At the end of the meeting, Liu Tián Qǔ said, "Sōng Shǔ, although you are young, you are the most knowledgeable stablehand here. I also like the qualities that I have observed in you." I will temporarily assign you as an assistant supervisor. If I am pleased with how you carry out your duties, later on, you will be assigned as a supervisor."
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"That will be all for now. The expert stablehand from Wang Royal Manor should be arriving shortly. I will not be able to greet him right now. Sōng Shǔ I will put you in charge of this matter. I forgot to tell the guards of his arrival. I am on my way to the garrison now, so I will have someone send word to the guards guarding the front gate. For now, I want you to go and welcome the stablehand that will be arriving and escort him here to the stables. Every day at this time, he will arrive to tutor everyone for two hours each day. I will advise each of you to make the best of the knowledge the expert stablehand will impart to you."
"Yes, Young Master, " Sōng Shǔ and the four apprentice stablehands bowed.
Several minutes later found Liu Tián Qǔ once again rushing through her Residence. This time she was en route to the residence garrison. 'Aiya,' Liu Tián Qǔ thought to herself as she broke into a jog. 'I really missed the technology of earth. 'What I wouldn't give right now for a golf cart. I will even be willing to downgrade to a hoverboard. All this running back and forth across the residence is good exercise, but it's too time-consuming.'
While Liu Tián Qǔ spent her day fighting the fires of her residence and holding meetings. In the Imperial Palace, another meeting was taking place.
Imperial City; Elder Wang's Imperial Courtyard
It was very rare for Elder Wang to be able to meet his grandchildren and great-grandchildren for a comfortable, quiet breakfast. Due to the past events, he had spent more time with his grandchildren and great-grandchild in the Imperial Palace.
In times when the power of the Imperial Family was being shaken. Presenting a unified front and showing the might and power of the Imperial Family was very important, and so Elder Wang made his presence felt.
Now that the most important things were taken care of and power of and the Imperial Family of the Tolling Lands was no longer being challenged. Elder Wang was having his final meal in the palace with his Imperial Family before going back to his medicine shop.
Elder Wang, the Emperor, the Grand Prince, Wang Fèn Yǒng, the Dowager Queen, the Queen, and Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā were in a breathtakingly beautiful pavilion in the rear courtyard of Elder Wangs Imperial Courtyard. They had just finished breakfast and were having tea while quietly discussing the final clean up of the events surrounding Elder Chen and the Melded Blood Storm. When the Grand Prince who appeared to be lost deep in thought all morning cut into the conversation that the Emperor and Elder Wang was having by saying, "Imperial Grandfather, the old Chen's residence that Young Master Liu bought. Did it once belong to the Imperial Family years ago?"
The gaze of the Emperor and Elder Wang swung over to the Grand Prince. Elder Wang gave the Grand Prince a deep look before saying, "If so, I know nothing of it. We can always have the historians check. Why do you ask?"
"I just don't understand," the perplexed Grand Prince said.
"What's the matter, Imperial Older Brother? Did something happen?" The Emperor asked.
"You went to Young Master Liu's residence yesterday with us. I wish you had come in with us. Only then would you understand." the Grand Prince responded.
Wang Fèn Yǒng quickly shot his mother, Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā and the Dowager Queen a meaningful look.
Understanding immediately, the First Lady of Wang Royal Manor quickly cut her husband off by saying, "Husband, that is not something that should be spoken of here."
Everyone, including the Grand Prince, looked over to see the multitude of servants who had attended upon the Imperial Family during breakfast and was now attending upon them while they were having tea.
"Let us adjourn to my receiving room," Elder Wang said while also glancing over at the Dowager Queen, giving her a meaningful look.
Everyone began to rise from the table in the pavilion where they had dined and drank tea. The Queen personally went over and joined the Dowager Queen personal servant in assisting the Dowager Queen to rise from the table. As the Dowager Queen rose from the table, she staggered slightly and almost fell.
Shouts of, "Imperial Mother!" From the Grand Prince and Emperor.
"Imperial Mother-in-law! " From Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā and the Queen.
"Imperial Grandmother!" From Wang Fèn Yǒng.
"Imperial Daughter-in-law!" From Elder Wang.
The cries of the many servants also rang through the air as the Queen and the Dowager Queens personal servant caught the Dowager Queen before she fell to the floor.
Everyone quickly surrounded the Dowager Queen, and some began calling for an Imperial Physician.
Once the Dowager Queen regained her balance, she elegantly raised a hand, calming the cries and alarm of everyone, "I'm fine. There is no need for an Imperial Physician. I'm fine. I just got over a cold. Instead of coming over in a palanquin, I decided to walk over. I must have over exerted myself. I'm just a bit tired and slightly dizzy. I think I will go back a rest for a while." The Dowager queen said, deliberately leaning a bit heavy on the Queen.
Of course, there was nothing wrong with the Dowager Queen. The Dowager Queen quickly understood the meaningful looks that Wang Fèn Yǒng and Elder Wang sent her.
For the discussion that was about to be held, Elder Wang's nor Wang Fèn Yǒng thought it wise to have the Queen present. However, to move the Queen out of the way without making her none the wiser. They could only move the Dowager Queen to do it.
The Dowager Queen was a striking woman who had aged very well. She was neither short nor very tall. Although she was not a beautiful woman that could overturn empires, nonetheless, there was a bewitching charming, alluring aura about her. Her elegant but, stately and slightly militant deportment balanced out the bewitching enchanting, alluring aura about her. It kept her from looking seductive, but somehow it made her stand out and appear all the more captivating.
However, it was her eyes that totally grabbed at the soul of people who looked into them. The Dowager Queen had eyes that appear completely breathtaking. Her eyes were phenomenally fathomless yet spellbinding mesmerizing. She had eyes that seemed to see deep into the soul of people. It made people not want to look into them, yet couldn't help but look into her eyes. The Queen hailed from a militant family, she once commanded armies and led campaigns against enemies of the Tolling Lands.
Elder Wang had commanded a servant to quickly summon a palanquin for the Dowager Queen. The Queen and the Dowager Queen's personal servant quickly assisted the Dowager Queen into the palanquin. The Queen and a multitude of servants then escorted the Dowager Queen back to her courtyard to rest.
Elder Wang dismissed all the remaining servants. Then everyone else retired to a spacious, elegant but sparsely furnished receiving/sitting room in the chambers of Elder Wang's courtyard. Being that all the servants were dismissed, Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā set about making a pot of tea as everyone seated themselves around a long low table that sat in the center of the room.
The Grand Prince waited until his wife finished make tea and serving everyone a cup of tea. When she was finished and took a seat beside him, only then did he began. The grand Prince reached into his robes and pulled out a small pouch and passed the pouch over to his Imperial grandfather.