Chapter 255: The Queen Mother's Advice to Study (asking for monthly tickets)
Zhao Yuanxi sneered. How could forcing others to do things be better than doing it willingly?
"I'm just afraid that you'll be unhappy."
"Aren't you afraid that I might be unhappy now?"
"You've already agreed. A gentleman's word is worth a thousand gold. There's no reason to go back on your word!"
Madam Mi snorted softly, "I am but a humble woman, I only know a few words, I haven't even read all those poems and essays, let alone the gentleman's way. I don't understand what you are saying."
Zhao Yuanxi was frustrated, but he knew that Madam Mi still had some resentment in her heart, so he followed her temperament and said some nice words.
Mrs. Mi was amused and stopped joking with her, but started talking about serious matters.
"The distribution of land and houses is easy to say. The construction of the Zhengguo Canal has added four million acres of fertile land to the Guanzhong Plain. It's a time when people are needed to cultivate it. They can fill the gap. However, marriage requires mutual consent. How can it be implemented with just a word from the Queen Mother?"
Since ancient times, marriages were mostly arranged by parents and matchmakers, and no one was forced to marry without the Queen Mother's order.
"Of course it's coercion and inducement! You don't expect me to reason with them!" Zhao Yuanxi said righteously.
Mrs. Mi: ...
Shouldn't she be thankful that she is past the marriageable age and has two sons? Otherwise, if she fell into the hands of the empress dowager, she would probably have a miserable life.
"Then how do you intend to coerce or bribe?"
"Anyone over eighteen years old who is unmarried may marry a Qin person. If you have previously held an official position, you can send me a letter of marriage. I will recommend you to the Imperial Court for assessment. If you pass the assessment, you can serve as an official in Qin. Even if you fail, I will give you a dowry to add to your bride's beauty."
"Those without official positions will need to take another cultural test, which will test their understanding of Qin's laws and their ability to handle political affairs."
"If a woman marries a Qin man, she will also receive land as a dowry and tax exemptions."
"As for those who refuse to cooperate, we can only ask them to pay more taxes and do more work. If they still don't obey, we will beat them up."
If you want to be free, you have to pay a price.
After listening, Mrs. Mi had only one question, "Are you so rich?"
Zhao Yuanxi said complacently, "The man standing before you is the richest man in the Qin Dynasty. He owns millions of acres of farmland and controls Qin's paper, printing, porcelain, and textile industries. He will also develop sugar production and animal husbandry in the future. He also possesses Qin's most advanced production technology and technical personnel. Do you think I am rich?"
Madam Mi said that she could be a prince. In fact, she was already richer than some princes. She might not be good at politics and military affairs, but who could compare with her in economic production?
The Queen Mother Zhao's energetic appearance made Madam Mi dazed. Although she already knew that she had many businesses under her control, she was still shocked to hear her talk about those things in detail.
"It seems I was worrying too much."
Zhao Yuanxi smiled and said, "If Gan Tang thinks more, I will have less to worry about."
Using your brain is a very tiring thing. Zhao Yuanxi wished he could think of nothing and just wait for someone to give him advice.
You then came in to report, "Empress Dowager, Hu Qizi requests an audience."
Although Zhao Yuanxi didn't have a good impression of Hu Qizi, she couldn't resist her attractive appearance. She asked Madam Mi mysteriously, "Have you ever seen a real beauty?"
Madam Mi was a little unprepared for Queen Mother Zhao's sudden change of subject. She was stunned for half a second and then said with a smile, "Are you referring to this Hu Qizi?"
No matter what, she is the concubine of the King of Qin. Why does Queen Dowager Zhao look so eager to try?
Zhao Yuanxi arched his eyebrows and said to You, "Let her in!"
After Hu Qizi came in, Madam Mi finally understood why Queen Mother Zhao was so happy to hear about her. She was indeed an unforgettable beauty.
"I have met the Empress Dowager."
"Get up! Why did you come to see me today?"
Hu Qizi bowed gracefully, "The Empress Dowager has been very kind to me and has given me such a valuable gift. I have come to express my gratitude to her."
Her every frown, smile, word and action are like a picture of a beautiful woman standing there.
Zhao Yuanxi looked happy and waved his hands, "What's there to thank me for? Since you're here, why not have lunch with us later?"
Hu Qizi's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he quickly bowed, "Thank you, Queen Mother!"
"Come and sit down!" Zhao Yuanxi called her. She and Madam Mi had almost finished discussing everything, so they were just chatting now.
Zhao Yuanxi noticed that the girl didn't seem to understand much but was trying hard to listen. He thought she was eager to learn. When he heard that she was from Donghu, he couldn't help but ask, "Since you can understand Qin language, do you know Qin characters?"
Hu Qizi bit her lower lip, looking aggrieved, "My family is poor and I can't read."
"I have a talented person here who is fluent in many languages. If you'd like, you can ask her for advice. Gan Tang, what do you think?"
Seeing that Queen Mother Zhao was in high spirits, Lady Mi didn't intend to interrupt her. Besides, it was just teaching a girl to read, which wasn't a difficult task. She replied, "Of course."
"Thank you, Her Majesty! Thank you, Madam!" Hu Qizi couldn't help but feel happy when he heard that he could come to Ganquan Palace often. He didn't expect that such a good opportunity would come to him.
"Let me think about it. Ziying has a set of unused literacy books. You can take them back and study them later. Copy the words on them a hundred times. Then you will be able to write." Zhao Yuanxi thought about it and asked You to find the set of books.
An inch-thick pile of books lay before Hu Qizi, and her expression nearly collapsed. She forced a smile, "Do I have to learn all these?"
The Donghu people did not have their own writing system. Men only needed to herd sheep and hunt, and women only needed to raise children and serve their families. There was no need for them to learn these messy things.
But the words have been spoken, and Hu Qizi has no room for regret. Now he is just making his last struggle.
"Of course, this is just one of the enlightenment books. There are a few more books. When you can recognize more words, come and get those."
Zhao Yuanxi saw a bitter look between her brows and was a little puzzled. "Are you unwilling?"
Hu Qizi quickly smiled and said impatiently, "Yes, I am willing!"
"That's good. Although the Donghu people don't care about these things, now that you have come to Qin, it won't hurt to learn more."
"Don't give up halfway, I'll test you later!"
Zhao Yuanxi's exhortation to study was simply a bar of bad news for Hu Qizi.
She seemed to understand why Eunuch Zhao had warned her not to approach the Queen Mother casually.
Hu Qizi stared at the book and gritted her teeth. Isn't it just learning some Qin characters? She didn't believe she couldn't learn it!
When she can recognize Qin characters and read some poems, the king will certainly look at her differently and may even keep her by his side to serve him. Then she will be the only favorite concubine of the King of Qin.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
