Just like the Western Yao Kingdom, they're already making moves. The Emperor has sent people over, but what's the use of just sending people? Without military supplies and provisions, are they supposed to send their own soldiers to fight the enemy on empty stomachs? It's obvious that's impossible. Even if they do engage in battle, there's not much point in fighting.
Therefore, this idea was most likely conceived by the Emperor.
The Emperor's meaning is clear: if you want your daughters to enter the palace, you'll have to bleed a little to replenish the national treasury so we can all get through this difficult time together.
They just hadn't expected Han Luoxue to agree. Wasn't she just a village girl? She was willing to compromise for the sake of the country! She even took the initiative to stand at the front, which showed that this village girl wasn't entirely useless.
Some people might not realize it at first, but there aren't many fools who can get to this position.
Some people have already started to consider how much money and grain they should raise.
Their family wasn't particularly wealthy, so they needed to find a suitable amount that would allow their daughter to enter the palace without causing too much financial strain on their family.
Upon hearing Han Luoxue's words, everyone pricked up their ears, eager to hear what she had to say next!
Oh no, it should be what the Emperor or the Empress Dowager wants to say!
"The standard is very simple: it's limited to the amount of money and grain I can raise. As long as it exceeds the amount I can raise, she can enter the palace as a concubine!"
What? Everyone was shocked, never expecting that the Empress herself would personally raise funds and provisions.
But... isn't their Empress a village girl? She probably doesn't have much money!
"Your Majesty speaks so elegantly, but with the funds and provisions you've raised, how can we possibly compare? You have the Zhou family backing you!"
No one believed that Han Luoxue could raise enough money and grain; she would probably ask the Zhou family for help.
After all, the Zhou family is related to the Emperor. It's not impossible that the Emperor would ask the Zhou family for help for Han Luoxue's sake!
"That's right. We all know that most of the grain and food in the capital recently has been bought from the Zhou family. If Your Majesty asks the Zhou family for help, even if we all work together, we still can't compete with you!"
A girl in a pale yellow dress also spoke quietly.
"This is inherently unfair! So what if I can beat you? So what if I can't?"
At this moment, a girl dressed in dark blue appeared. Han Luoxue didn't know their names, but she knew that their backgrounds were not simple.
"This fundraising is based on the principle of voluntariness. Those who are willing can come and sign up here, and those who are not willing can do so as well."
"No matter how much money is raised, it will all be turned over to the national treasury. The baseline for entering the palace is the amount I raise. Everyone can rest assured that I will not ask the Zhou or Wu families for help. I will only rely on my own abilities to raise the money. Everyone can be my witness."
"By the way, the conferment of a title upon entering the palace will also be related to the amount of money raised. Everyone who is interested in this should sign up enthusiastically!"
"After all, you all know that I used to be just a lowly village girl. You can't possibly be inferior to even a lowly village girl, can you?"
Ladies... since you've already said this much, what else can we say?
So we won't say anything then, right?
However, Han Luoxue is right about one thing: she is just a village girl. If the standard she raises is the limit, then wouldn't it be possible to enter the palace by raising just a little money?
Many girls were secretly pleased. Didn't the Emperor disagree? Now that the Empress has come up with such a good idea, if the Emperor is still unhappy, wouldn't that be a slap in the face to the Empress?
But if they were to enter the palace, although it would cost some money, what is that little bit of money? Compared to the future wealth and glory, what is it?
Those from wealthier families could raise more money, hoping to curry favor with the emperor and perhaps even be made a concubine or imperial consort. Then, with a few clever tricks, getting rid of this village girl wouldn't be difficult.
"Does everyone understand the rules I just explained? If you're interested, you can register here later. Registration is only open until tomorrow, so don't miss out!"
After Han Luoxue finished speaking, she gave everyone a bright smile, which made the ladies present even more smitten.
"Your Majesty, is what the Empress said true?"
Some ministers were still uneasy. The words had just been spoken by the Empress, so what was the Emperor's intention?
When they've spent the money and produced the grain, but the emperor denies it, who will they turn to for justice?
"The Empress's will is my will!"
...
"Snow Girl, how did you suddenly come up with this idea?"
After the banquet ended, the Empress Dowager grabbed Han Luoxue's arm, her eyes full of disapproval.
She knew Han Luoxue meant well and wanted to help Ouyang Zhen solve his problem. But none of those women were easy to get along with; who knew what kind of trouble they would cause once they entered the palace.
Han Luoxue used to live in the countryside, how could she possibly compete with those women?
The Empress Dowager was genuinely worried. Looking into her concerned eyes, Han Luoxue felt a warmth in her heart: "Grandmother, don't you still trust me?"
"Oh dear, I think you're just worrying too much!"
Old Madam Wu also rushed over; she came to ask Han Luoxue's opinion.
"I believe Xue is not an impulsive person; she must have already thought of a foolproof plan!"
As she spoke, Old Madam Wu winked at Han Luoxue, though she knew Han Luoxue's methods.
There are very few people in the capital who are richer than Han Luoxue, and as for food, there's not much to say about it.
The entire Zhou family's grain supply, as well as the grain supply from the border region, was provided by Han Luoxue. I don't know where those young ladies from noble families got the courage to compete with Han Luoxue in terms of money and grain.
When she heard Han Luoxue's suggestion, Old Madam Wu thought to herself, "How cunning!" Everyone thought Han Luoxue was just a village girl, but what they didn't know was that this little village girl was not what they thought.
Don't you care about Xueya?
Since having two children, the two old ladies have gotten along much better and no longer bicker as they used to whenever they met.
But sometimes there are arguments, especially when holding the baby.
Both of them especially liked Mengmeng; Xueyatou was just too cute.
"What's there to worry about? I believe in Xue Yatou!"
The old lady laughed heartily, walked over to Han Luoxue's side, and whispered a word of advice: "Xue girl, take it easy, don't cripple them!"
"Grandmother, I understand!"
Han Luoxue covered her mouth and chuckled softly, noticing out of the corner of her eye that several maids were looking in their direction.
A look of sadness suddenly appeared on her face: "Alas, as long as it can help the Emperor, I'm willing to do anything!"
The Empress Dowager and Madam Wu were both taken aback. When they saw the woman not far behind them, they wisely refrained from pointing it out.
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