Chapter 320 Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace, Gao Xiyue 10

"What? Yongjin's scared now that we've changed places?"

"No, I'm not afraid! When I grow up, I'll be a Baturu of the Qing Dynasty. I'm not afraid at all. I'm worried that Mother might be scared!"

Gao Xiyue frowned, looking troubled. "But what if Mother isn't afraid at all?"

Yongjin twisted her body and pouted, "No, you're scared, you're scared~"

Gao Xiyue found it both amusing and helpless. "Alright, alright, Mother is scared and needs Yongjin to sleep with her."

"Okay, Yongjin will protect Mother!" Yongjin smiled happily and patted his little chest, looking quite proud.

Winter arrived in the blink of an eye, and the concubines, dressed in exquisite and warm winter clothes, gathered at Changchun Palace to pay their respects to the Empress.

The Empress entered the hall and sat at the head of the table. The concubines bowed and said, "Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress."

"Get up and sit down."

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."

Consort Jia looked at the simple and elegant clothes worn by the Empress and praised, "The Empress's clothes today have few patterns, but they are mainly clear and elegant, and look very dignified."

Consort Chun examined the garment carefully and said with a smile, "The embroidery technique of the broken branch flowers on Your Majesty's garment is similar to the embroidery style that was popular when our Great Qing first entered the Central Plains."

Consort Wan smiled at the Empress, "Your Majesty, your clothes have a very classical style and look quite unique."

Hearing everyone's praise, the Empress smiled with satisfaction. "So it seems everyone still thinks my outfit is quite nice?"

The other concubines echoed, but the two sitting at the front did not respond. Consort Xian lowered her eyes and was lost in thought.

Gao Xiyue played with the tassels hanging from the headdress, completely ignoring the Empress. After all, her 'first child' was lost because of the Empress, so it was no wonder she wouldn't give her a kind look.

The Empress continued, "I have reviewed the accounts of the Imperial Household Department and found that the annual expenditure on clothing in the harem is enormous. Although my clothes are embroidered, they are simple and unadorned."

"And the clothes you wear, not to mention the fabric, the embroidery alone costs too much. The decorations worn in the palace are often sought after by the common people."

"That's why the price of fabrics from Jiangnan in the capital has doubled, and even embroidery has become increasingly expensive. If this continues, extravagance will become the norm, and how can we possibly manage?"

The Empress glanced at Gao Xiyue, knowing she wouldn't agree with her, then turned to Consort Xian, "Consort Xian, what do you say?"

Knowing she had a grudge against the Empress and not wanting to offend her further, Consort Xian praised, "Emperor Renzong of Song is celebrating with mutton soup."

"The Empress did not want to indulge her own desires and start endless slaughter, nor did she want the common people to know the palace's likes and dislikes and develop a culture of extravagance. Her actions were just like those of Emperor Renzong of Song."

"What the Empress says is true, but His Majesty has always said that the Holy Ancestor and the late Emperor worked diligently to govern the country, making it prosperous and strong..."

The Empress interrupted Consort Chun, saying, "Even if the country is rich and powerful, the harem cannot squander it. Otherwise, how many generations can the legacy left by our ancestors last?"

"Look at what Your Majesty the Empress is saying, how could we have reached the point of squandering our ancestors' legacy? Our Emperor is wise and mighty, and naturally he can support us wives and concubines."

Why are you saying it like the emperor can't afford to support them and that he has to use up the family fortune to support them?

"Moreover, Your Majesty, we concubines represent the Emperor's face to a certain extent. If we were to wear such simple clothes like you..."

"If those wives see this, they'll think the Emperor is even skimping on the clothes and jewelry of his concubines. The concubines in the palace are dressed worse than the wives and maids outside the palace. It's really a disgrace to the royal family."