Chapter 176 Accounts
The successive deaths of the two princes left Xiao Heng deeply distressed. Although he appeared normal during the day, he continued to manage state affairs in an orderly manner. However, apart from the Yufu Palace, he never set foot in any other palace in the harem.
Only Liu Yuetang went to the Qinzheng Hall once.
After the fourth prince died, Xiao Heng promoted Su Nanqing to a beauty and gave her the title "Rou".
"Rou" means gentle as water, quiet and gentle, which is in line with Su Nanqing's character.
On this day, the Lixi Kingdom presented a lot of cloth as tribute, and the queen specially sent one of the pieces of Yanyunsha to the Yaoyue Palace.
Yanyunsha is extremely precious, as thin as a cicada's wing but with a lustrous luster like moonlight.
Each piece of silk required palace ladies to pick the silk before the morning dew dried, and then dye it with a secret method for 49 days.
With such a generous treatment, Liu Yuetang would naturally go in person to express her gratitude.
Weiyang Palace
The palace maids were busy running up and down carrying gifts. Hongxiu saw Liu Yuetang and quickly bowed: "Your servant greets Her Majesty Xipin."
"Her Majesty is looking at the account books inside. I will pass the message on for Her Majesty."
After a while, Hongxiu came out and bowed, saying, "The Queen, please invite Concubine Xi in."
Liu Yuetang nodded slightly and walked towards the hall with lotus steps.
In the main hall, the table was piled with thick account books. The queen's eyebrows were slightly frowned, as if she had encountered a difficult problem.
Liu Yuetang bowed and said, "Your Highness pays respects to Her Majesty the Queen."
The queen restrained her expression and put on a dignified smile: "No need to be polite, Concubine Xi."
Liu Yuetang slowly stood up and glanced at the messy account books on the table: "It seems that I have disturbed the Queen."
"We are all sisters, why would you bother me?"
The Queen put the account book away, her brows furrowed slightly. "But I'm really busy today. I just finished an audience with the ladies of honor this morning, and now I'm checking the monthly accounts submitted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It also happens that the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and the tea, fruits, and lanterns needed for the palace banquet have not yet been prepared. It's so complicated, I'm sorry to bother you, sister."
Liu Yuetang smiled faintly: "The Queen has worked so hard to ensure the peace and harmony of the harem."
Fu Liu, who was standing by, sighed softly, "Isn't that right? Our queen was so busy that she didn't even drink her bird's nest supplement today, not even a sip of tea."
The Queen turned around and said angrily, "You are the one who talks too much. If you were more clever and prudent, I wouldn't have to work so hard."
Fu Liu lowered her head in shame: "It is my own fault that I am stupid and cannot help the Queen."
The Queen shook her head lovingly yet helplessly, then looked at Liu Yuetang: "What do you want from me?"
Liu Yuetang nodded gratefully: "I heard that there were only ten pieces of silk brought into the palace this time, but the Empress gave me the three most precious ones. I came here to thank you for your grace."
As she spoke, she bowed and walked away.
Seeing this, the Queen raised her lips and smiled, "You don't have to thank me, this is also what the Emperor meant."
"Your birthday is in a few days, but since the Fourth Prince died not long ago, it's not convenient for the palace to hold a banquet. So I thought of giving you some beautiful fabric to make you a beautiful dress to wear on your birthday for His Majesty to see."
Liu Yuetang was a little surprised. She had originally been a little suspicious whether the Queen was flattering her, but after hearing this, her suspicions were somewhat dispelled.
She said respectfully, "Yes, thank you, Queen, for your kindness and for remembering my birthday."
The queen raised her hand and gently stroked the nine-tailed phoenix hairpin on her temples. The drooping tassels swayed slightly, making her smile even warmer.
She has been very busy recently and has no idea about Concubine Xi's birthday.
It was just that the emperor remembered and recited a few sentences beside him.
"Please get up. I haven't visited Miss Rou for several days. I wonder how she is doing now?"
"Sister Su is still the same, not talking much and looking depressed. The departure of Aunt Lan and the Fourth Prince has been a huge blow to her. I'm afraid she'll need some time to get over it."
The Queen sighed softly, "Yes, anyone who has experienced such misfortunes one after another would find it unacceptable."
Liu Yuetang's eyes were filled with sadness, and she then looked at the Queen earnestly and said, "Thank you, Her Majesty, for pleading for Sister Su on the day she gave birth."
The Queen lowered her brows slightly, her eyes drooping like ripples in spring water, and she spoke slowly, "Since ancient times, women have had a hard time, especially women in the imperial palace. There is almost no way out."
"As Empress Dowager, I have the responsibility to protect all the women in the harem. I am merely offering a helping hand in times of crisis, providing her with a small piece of the pavement to help her cross the river."
Liu Yuetang said admiringly, "But the most difficult thing in the harem is lending a helping hand in times of adversity. Having the Empress in the palace is a blessing for the harem."
The queen shook her head slightly. She knew that she had not done well enough.
The frequent incidents in the harem were also due to her poor management of the harem.
The only thing she did was to be tolerant, generous, dignified and virtuous.
She could only try her best to be a competent queen.
Looking at the accounts piled on the table, the Queen's eyes lit up slightly, and she looked up at Liu Yuetang: "You have always been smart, come and take a look for me, what is wrong with this account."
"Although two concubines gave birth and a royal heir were born in the past two months, the expenses are staggeringly high. Furthermore, no matter how I calculate it, it's not right. It's giving me a headache."
Liu Yuetang stepped forward and looked through the account book carefully. She first separated the accounts for the concubines' childbirth and the accounts for the royal heirs' funeral. After a careful calculation, she quickly discovered something wrong.
"Your Majesty, look at the cost of renting the horses for the ceremonial guard. Under normal circumstances, we wouldn't need so many horses. Also, the Fourth Prince was buried in a small vermilion coffin. How could it possibly hold so many burial objects?"
The queen took a closer look and sure enough, there were fifty burial objects of various sizes, and most of them were precious gold and silver items.
Then Liu Yuetang pointed out other places in a clear and orderly manner.
The Queen suddenly realized, and her face became increasingly gloomy: "Those eunuchs are enriching themselves!"
She looked at Fu Liu and said, "Go to the Imperial Household Department immediately and bring the eunuch in charge of these account books to me."
Fu Liu quickly agreed and left in a hurry.
The Queen straightened her expression, touched Liu Yuetang's hand and breathed a sigh of relief: "Although I am the Queen, I am not as careful as you. As a concubine, I am sorry for putting you in such a difficult position."
The Queen's words made Liu Yuetang's heart tremble. Just as she was wondering if the Queen was afraid of her words, she said, "I will propose to the Emperor someday that you manage the harem with me. Are you willing?"
Liu Yuetang looked up in surprise, and the Queen was waiting for her answer with a smile.
Liu Yuetang said respectfully, "I am still young and inexperienced, so I am afraid I cannot take on this important task."
The Queen patted her hand gently and said, "I believe my sister can do the job. Besides, you are just assisting me."
"But this is just an idea, and I still need the emperor's consent. If the emperor agrees, my sister is not allowed to refuse."
Seeing the Queen's sincere expression, Liu Yuetang stopped refusing and said, "Then I will obey the Emperor and the Queen."
As long as she gained control of the harem, she would be one step closer to her goal.
Only then can you sit in a high position and take power and destiny into your own hands!
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