***
When Yue Jiang returned to Qi Luan Palace, Empress Ye sent her many gifts and tonics while she was away, ranging from clothing and jewelry to ginseng and bird's nest.
These things may not seem like much, but you should know that for the past forty years, Jing Kingdom has had to continuously send silver to Anfeng Kingdom, while Jing Kingdom also has to train soldiers and maintain people's livelihood.
The Jing Kingdom's treasury is under great pressure, and frugality has been practiced since the Jing Palace.
Even Empress Ye, the mother of the nation, aside from her daily affairs in the harem, set aside several unused palaces specifically for raising silkworms in order to alleviate the pressure on the national treasury.
The silk produced from the silkworms was used by palace embroiderers to weave cloth. Some of the cloth was sent to various parts of the palace for tailoring, while the rest was sent outside the palace to be exchanged for silver.
Even if Jing Yan destroyed Feng Kingdom and recovered eight million taels of silver, he would first use the money to reward the soldiers and repay the people for their hard work in paying taxes over the years. He probably wouldn't leave a single silver ingot in the national treasury.
Even at such a critical time, Empress Ye was still able to send wave after wave of rewards. I wonder if she used her own money to subsidize them.
“Granny, Her Majesty the Empress has been kind to me. I should go and thank Her Majesty.”
"Moreover, there is something I must achieve to truly convince people that I am the Crown Princess. Only Your Majesty can help me with this."
Granny Ye did not object. She even prepared a few pastries that she had made that morning, arranged them on a plate, put them in a food box, and held them in her hand.
"It is only right for the princess to visit the Empress. In my opinion, the Empress is the only one in the entire palace who has an unconditional affection for you."
"This old servant inquired about Her Majesty the Empress's taste preferences beforehand. They are all traditional Yue Kingdom pastries with a moderate softness and not too sweet or greasy. You can give them to Her Majesty the Empress."
"Granny, you always think of everything so thoroughly for me, and you're becoming more and more loving!" Yue Jiang's words were not flattery, but a genuine exclamation.
When they were young, the Moon Kingdom assigned a nanny to take care of each of them, but none of the nannies were kind-hearted or gentle.
Just like the thoughtful and considerate Granny Ye in front of us, she was very strict with Yue Jiang when she was a child, and she would scold her directly if Yue Jiang did anything wrong.
As Yuejiang grew older and more outstanding, her nanny's nagging decreased, and she often smiled at her, occasionally revealing a poignant sense of relief. Yuejiang knew that this person was not inherently stubborn or bad-tempered.
Feeling embarrassed by Yue Jiang's words, Granny Ye's eyes welled up with tears: "I had no choice. The princess is so successful and still wants this old, wicked woman like me. How can I not repay the princess?"
How these servants should treat their masters is entirely up to their superiors.
Their value exists as long as their master is successful, and they can live a peaceful life. If their master is unsuccessful, they will suffer as well.
By the time their master had completed his apprenticeship, they had grown old. Day after day, year after year, they knew perfectly well the attitude they had taken to help their master advance.
When a petty and suffering master becomes successful, he can immediately kick people out, and some can't even leave with their bodies intact.
Of all the people from Granny Ye's group, only she remained by Yue Jiang's side. She once asked Yue Jiang why she kept her around when she had treated Yue Jiang so badly.
Yue Jiang said that she really hated herself when she hadn't made it through, and she would scold herself every night before going to sleep.
After she got through it all, she understood all the hardships. She would rather be treated kindly and demandingly than be manipulated and scheming.
Yue Jiang has learned enough of this on her own.
After leaving Qiluan Palace, Yue Jiang headed straight for Jiaofang Palace, but when she passed Qingluan Palace, she heard several sounds of porcelain shattering on the ground, followed by a woman's suppressed sobbing.
Granny Ye sighed, "Princess, I heard recently that Empress Dowager Zheng is going to discuss a marriage for Princess Jingning, it seems to be a marriage alliance to send her far away."
Princess Jingning was the daughter of Consort Zheng Qinghong. She was nineteen years old, the age when she should be engaged in marriage, but Jing Kingdom had not made a marriage alliance with another country for forty years.
The wedding preparations for Jingyan and Yuejiang are just getting underway, so why are they in such a hurry to discuss the marriage of a princess to a distant place?
"Do you know why?" Yue Jiang asked as she walked.
Granny Ye shook her head: "I don't know. Last time Consort Zheng came over, I was seeing off Her Majesty the Empress's people when I came back. There was a loud shout in Qingluan Palace that she was against the marriage alliance."
"When they saw the old servant passing by, they hurriedly closed all the windows. Princess Jingning's Qingluan Palace has been silent ever since, which must be related to the marriage alliance."
Yue Jiang carefully remembered this matter and instructed Granny Ye: "Granny, things in the palace may seem ordinary, but they all have causes and effects. Great events are made up of countless small things."
“You are older and of higher rank than me, and everyone gives you face. You are also more eloquent than a young girl like Qingke. This matter is not urgent; please keep an eye out for it for me.”
Granny Ye took it to heart and replied, "Yes."
Inside the Jiaofang Palace.
Yuejiang presented the pastries she had brought to Empress Ye, who was very pleased and wanted to taste them on the spot. At Yuejiang's suggestion, she took a piece of Spring Water Glazed Cake.
This pastry is made with various fruit juices from springtime, and can be any flavor. Empress Ye loved silkworms, so she took a mulberry-flavored one.
She brought it to her mouth, took a small bite, chewed it a few times, and gave Yue Jiang a look of surprise.
"Jiang'er, I dislike overly sweet and sticky things the most. This glass cake is not only beautiful but also delicious. It's really kind of you to put so much thought into it. The Moon Kingdom is truly blessed with outstanding people and resources, which has nurtured such a considerate girl like you."
Yue Jiang humbly replied, "In front of Her Majesty the Empress, Yue Jiang is not the one who puts in the effort. Her Majesty the Empress has sent so many things to Yue Jiang."
"Yue Jiang is like a child who has just come back from playing outside. She is overjoyed to see so many gifts prepared for her by her elders. The little bit of food that Yue Jiang gave her is nothing."
"Her Majesty treasured Yue Jiang's small token of affection, ate it herself and praised it. Yue Jiang lost her mother at a young age, and her father, the King, was busy with important matters," she said, her voice hoarse and aggrieved.
"Even though there are plenty of people around to serve her, Yue Jiang feels a deep regret that she cannot laugh and serve her loved ones without any restraint."
"After seeing Your Majesty, I feel like I've made up for what I regretted. Your Majesty, please don't think that Yuejiang is just using sweet words. It's just that Yuejiang really wants to be good to Your Majesty."
Empress Ye quickly put down the pastries in her hand, picked up a bright yellow handkerchief, and personally wiped away Yue Jiang's tears, comforting her.
"Jiang'er has a pure heart and a natural nature. I believe what Jiang'er says to be true. How could I say it but doubt you in my heart? Wouldn't that be a waste of Jiang'er's feelings? Stop crying."
Even ordinary families have to go through the full ceremony when a bride is married, let alone the royal family. Yue Jiang brought a lot of dowry, but Jing Kingdom has not yet prepared an equivalent betrothal gift to send over.
The clothes and food she sent over right now were really nothing.
Yue Jiang saw the genuine smile in Empress Ye's eyes, a smile that reflected her sincere appreciation for her efforts. She knew that Empress Ye truly liked her and would be a good support in the future.
"Your Majesty, another expense report has arrived from Yihua Palace," a palace maid said, presenting a letter with both hands.
Empress Ye's expression immediately darkened. She raised her hand to take the money, her voice slightly surprised: "One thousand taels of silver? Does the entire Jing Kingdom only have orphans who suffered the An Guo disaster who are going to die?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
