novelhk Chapter 127: The Queen sets a trap, Ling Rong is promoted
Chapter 127: The Queen sets a trap, Ling Rong is promoted
"For one month, it should be nine hundred and sixty taels of silver, but some months have an extra day. If this amount is also recorded, it will be nine hundred and ninety-two taels of silver."
Shen Meizhuang has been taught by her mother since she was a child. These are the most important abilities for a mistress of the family, so her mother naturally taught her all these things, so she figured them out quickly.
"If you calculate it this way, it will add up to a lot of money over the entire summer."
The Queen pretended to be worried and turned to look at the Emperor.
Naturally, the Queen spared no effort to set a trap for Shen Meizhuang. Everyone knew that the allowance in Concubine Hua's palace was always overspent. In this way, even if Shen Meizhuang didn't want to confront Concubine Hua, she couldn't do so.
"What the Queen said makes sense, but this expenditure has been in place since the time of the previous emperor. If we cancel it hastily, it will probably cause resentment among the people below."
The emperor naturally would not cancel this expenditure just for the money.
He was not some emperor who was detached from the world, so he naturally knew that this little mung bean soup was a rare benefit for his subordinates in this hot summer.
"Your Majesty is right. The servants in this palace are pitiful for leaving their hometowns to come to the palace. If the master can give them some rewards, the servants below will work more wholeheartedly."
Shen Meizhuang also quickly nodded in agreement.
"So I think this expense cannot be saved."
Zhen Huan's attention now shifted to Shen Meizhuang. After hearing what she said, she smiled at Sister Mei and nodded in agreement.
"Mr. Wan, please tell me what you think."
The emperor naturally saw the eye contact between Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang, and asked with some curiosity.
"How could this concubine know these things? Sister Mei has been learning from the Empress for such a long time that she can speak so clearly. I don't know anything, so I'd better not show off my skills in front of the Empress."
Zhen Huan naturally would not come out at this time to steal Sister Mei's limelight, so she smiled and declined.
"As the saying goes, those who are capable should do more work. I am not as good as Sister Mei, so I can only sit here and drink tea honestly."
Zhen Huan looked at the emperor with a smile and said.
The emperor smiled and nodded. Chunyuan was also ignorant of the world when she was in the palace, so these trivial matters were left to Yixiu to take care of.
"What about An Changzai? Tell us what you think."
The emperor shifted his gaze to An Lingrong. Although he was not very interested in her answer, since he had asked Concubine Wan, he might as well ask her.
After all, he quite liked the girlish feeling of An Lingrong, who was born in the Jiangnan water town, so he naturally would not lose face for her in front of so many people.
"Your Majesty, this is the first time I've heard that the palace has green bean soup specifically for the servants to cool down. Although this is a considerable expense, it can also demonstrate the royal family's generosity towards their servants. So I have the same idea as Your Majesty, and this money cannot be saved."
Although An Lingrong's voice was gentle and a little shy, she still expressed her thoughts generously.
After all, my sister once said that what the emperor hates most is people who are timid and petty.
So naturally she would not let down her guard in such an occasion, and she would never go wrong by following the emperor's words.
"My words were not spoken well, I hope Your Majesty will not blame me."
After saying this, An Lingrong shyly smiled, like a newly blooming jasmine flower, small but with a pleasant and refreshing fragrance.
"What An Changzai said makes sense. How could I blame you?"
The Queen looked dignified and generous, and said to An Lingrong with a smile.
"Rong'er has always been timid, so it's not easy for her to say something like this."
The emperor also smiled and spoke.
Although Zhen Huan was a little jealous before, seeing An Lingrong looking timid and shy, she couldn't help but reach out and pat An Lingrong's hand to comfort her.
"Rong'er has been in the palace for such a long time. She has been serving me wholeheartedly and has always been humble and respectful to you, the Queen."
"I think it's time to make some changes to her position, Queen. What do you think?"
The emperor looked at the queen, thought for a moment, and then spoke.
Although these words were directed at the Queen, the tone of voice contained an irrefutable implication.
The Queen did have some intention of winning over An Lingrong, so naturally she would not reject the Emperor's proposal.
"Of course. An has always been well-behaved and sensible. I like her very much."
The Queen looked at An Lingrong lovingly and said.
This sudden promotion made An Lingrong a little stunned, and she was unable to react for a while.
Seeing this, Zhen Huan quickly spoke up to remind her.
"Your Majesty, look at Sister An, she is so happy that she doesn't know what to do."
An Lingrong then woke up as if from a dream. Helped by Chuntao, she stood up and walked before the emperor, kneeling down to express her gratitude.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
"Okay, get up quickly, you are Lady An now."
The emperor spoke.
"Congratulations, Sister An."
Shen Meizhuang also smiled and looked at An Lingrong and spoke.
Although An Lingrong is not as close to them now, she still helped her and Huan'er out of obligation last time. Naturally, she is very happy to see Sister An get promoted.
"Empress, in fact, many concubines in this palace have more than enough food to eat. For example, for the position of noble lady, these food can never be finished."
Shen Meizhuang turned to look at the Queen and continued the previous topic.
"As for the higher ranks of concubines and imperial consorts, there are even more palace rules, and of course it is impossible to use them all up either."
An Lingrong felt something was not right when she heard what Shen Meiyu said. Although they, the concubines, could not finish the food, the leftover dishes would be distributed to the servants in the palace, and they would also add oil and water. Naturally, there would be no room for waste.
But now it is Shen Meizhuang's home court after all, and it is not appropriate for her to say such inappropriate words in front of so many people.
Zhen Huan also felt that there was something wrong with what Sister Mei said. For the same reason as An Lingrong, she could only suppress her doubts for the time being.
"So I thought it would be better to convert all these things into cash, including the raw materials needed for the mung bean soup, and distribute them to the various palaces."
"On the one hand, it can save the loss of transportation during this period, and on the other hand, it can also not reduce the original treatment of each palace."
Shen Meizhuang confidently put forward a suggestion that she had thought about for a long time, trying to gain the approval of the Emperor and the Empress.
The emperor listened to Shen Meizhuang's words with an ambiguous expression on his face.