Chapter 75 Watching a play in the palace
The emperor discussed the details of grain payment with Hu Tong again.
This year, it was difficult for Hu Chuan's grain to be put on the market immediately for the people to buy.
The emperor allowed Hu Tong to purchase a batch of grain from Daliang at the market price.
At the same time, in order to show Daliang's sincerity, the emperor changed the original 30% supply to 25%.
Don't think that this is only a reduction of half a percent, but this half a percent can feed thousands of people in Hu Chuan.
Hu Tong was overjoyed when he heard it.
Qin Shu said 30% before, although he thought it was a bit too much, but after all, Qin Shu was willing to teach skills, Hu Tong did not bargain to show Hu Chuan's sincerity.
Little did they know that Qin Shu was actually paving the way for this moment. She had specifically asked for a high price at that time, just to give the emperor a chance to show the monarch's benevolence.
This operation not only eased the relationship between the two countries, but also made the image of the wise emperor far-reaching, and did not cause any loss to Daliang.
The emperor naturally noticed Qin Shu's intelligence, and secretly sighed in his heart that Qin Shu was worthy of being the head of the Qin family. She was silent but considered everything.
Today, the emperor came out of the palace, originally to watch the "good show" mentioned by Zhou Fangze, but he did not expect to establish diplomatic relations with Hu Chuan.
He was still in a complicated mood when he left the palace, and he was only happy when he returned to the palace.
At this time, the emperor was ready to return to the palace with satisfaction, but he saw Qin Xixi was already in Pei Xuanyi's arms.
Seeing how cute little Xixi was, the emperor couldn't help but keep her.
"Why not let Xixi go to the palace with me? I gave Xixi a token to enter and leave the palace before, but I've never seen her use it."
The emperor really felt that Xixi got along well with him, and it was not just a polite remark.
It had been a long time since Qin Shu gave Xixi the token, but she didn't take Xixi to the palace to play. If she refused again at this time, it would be a loss of face for the emperor.
Qin Qixuan wanted to say something but stopped, but still didn't say a word.
Qin Shu smiled and nodded.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Seeing that the parents agreed, the emperor smiled and touched Xixi's head.
"Little Xixi, do you want to go back to the palace with me to play?"
Originally, Xixi was not expected to have any reaction, but Xixi nodded happily, causing the emperor to laugh out loud.
"Okay! Xixi really gets along well with me. Let's go, let's go to the palace to play."
Little did he know that Xixi had long wanted to follow Pei Xuanyi into the palace, and was just trying to get close to him.
[Hehe, if I remember correctly, there will be a good show in the palace today! It just so happens that the emperor wants to take me to the palace to eat melons, so great! ]
Hearing this, Pei Xuanyi remembered the good show that Xixi mentioned last time - Zhou Fangze lost face at the Jinke Banquet.
He couldn't help but look forward to it.
What kind of good show will little Xixi talk about this time?
Since no one had any objections, the emperor took Pei Xuanyi and Qin Xixi back to the palace.
Watching their receding figures, Qin Qixuan looked a little melancholy.
However, he was still very cautious, and only sighed when he saw that Yu Linjun and the eunuchs had all left.
Qin Shu noticed that he looked like an old man and couldn't help but tease him.
"Why are your brows so wrinkled? Today is a good day for our Qin family to win a great victory."
Qin Qixuan shook his head when he heard it.
"I'm not sighing because of the Zhou family. Mother, do you think Xixi is too close to His Royal Highness the Grandson and His Majesty?"
Even if the emperor is a wise ruler and Pei Xuanyi is a gentleman,
they are the ones who hold the highest power in Daliang after all.
As the saying goes, "To be with the emperor is like being with a tiger." If Xixi doesn't do what they want, something might happen...
Qin Qixuan now understood the third brother's previous psychological activities.
Qin Shu listened to his words, but she was not very worried. Instead, she began to comfort Qin Qixuan.
"The emperor likes Xixi, which is Xixi's opportunity. Since Xixi can know some future things and we know her thoughts, it means that Xixi is extraordinary."
Seeing that Qin Qixuan was still a little worried, Qin Shu laughed.
"Even if Xixi really made the emperor angry, his majesty would not do anything to a child. Let's go back to the mansion and don't worry too much."
Qin Qixuan followed Qin Shu and got on the carriage back to the mansion.
At this time, Xixi had already sat in the sedan chair and returned to the palace with the emperor and others.
After arriving at the palace, Pei Xuanyi held Xixi and followed the emperor into the study.
Although little Xixi had seen the world before, she was also shocked by the emperor's study.
[Wow, what a big room! So luxurious! No wonder everyone wants to be the emperor. ]
Hearing this, Pei Xuanyi staggered in surprise.
He twitched his mouth.
Xixi is so bold!
The emperor had already sat on the chair and was about to start reviewing the memorials.
He gave Pei Xuanyi a look.
"Hey, let me hold Xixi."
But Pei Xuanyi was reluctant to part with this little baby.
"The emperor is busy with all kinds of affairs every day, and he has to review memorials. It's too hard. Let your grandson play with Xixi."
The emperor was unhappy when he heard this.
It was he who asked Qin Shu for little Xixi, so how could he let Pei Xuanyi, a little bastard, reap the benefits?
So the emperor thought of a way to send Pei Xuanyi away.
"Go and learn archery from the master. Come back when the master is satisfied."
Today's archery class did not go on.
Upon hearing this, Pei Xuanyi had to reluctantly hand Xixi to the emperor and hurried to the archery class.
The emperor hugged little Xixi contentedly and pinched her soft little face.
Xixi also giggled and held the emperor's beard and refused to let go.
The two got along well, and the emperor wanted to continue teasing Xixi for a while.
As a result, Wang Shanquan suddenly came in to report.
"Your Majesty, Concubine Shu is here."
The interrupted emperor frowned.
"Concubine Shu?"
He thought about it and realized that he hadn't seen this concubine for some time.
The emperor rubbed his brows.
These women in the harem are indeed troublesome.
"Ask her in."
Not long after, a graceful and elegant woman walked out of the door of the study.
"Your Majesty."
Her coquettish voice gave Xixi goosebumps, but thinking about the good show that would happen later, she still endured and continued to watch.
The emperor asked her to stand up with a normal expression.
As soon as Concubine Shu stood up, she saw Qin Xixi in the emperor's arms.
There was a flash of gloom in her eyes.
Is this the little girl that the servants have inquired about, who is doted on by His Majesty?
I heard that His Majesty wanted to make her a princess!
Concubine Shu gritted her teeth.
No way, her little Jiaojiao was the most favored princess in the palace!
Concubine Shu wanted to suppress Qin Xixi.
But the emperor didn't introduce her, and she couldn't just bring up Qin Xixi's affairs, which would make the emperor angry.
Concubine Shu always knew how to advance and retreat, so she simply turned a blind eye.
She ignored Qin Xixi and began to show her presence in front of the emperor.
"Your Majesty, you have been working day and night these days, and it's really hard. Let me massage your shoulders!"
The emperor has also become familiar with the personalities of these concubines over the years.
Concubine Shu has always been the best at massage in the harem, and the emperor likes her to massage him.
So the emperor nodded, and Concubine Shu immediately came behind the emperor with a smile.
Unexpectedly, after a while, Wang Shanquan came in again with a sad face.
"Your Majesty, Concubine An is here too."
The emperor had a headache after hearing this.
Xixi, however, was very excited.
[Great, the show is finally about to begin!]
She found a comfortable position and sat in the emperor's arms, ready to start watching the show.
Unfortunately, there were no melon seeds and she didn't have many teeth!
The emperor also knew that Concubine An and Concubine Shu had never gotten along.
Whenever the two met, they would argue and quarrel.
The chattering made his head buzz and he felt very uncomfortable.
Originally, the emperor wanted Concubine An to go back first, but Concubine Shu spoke first.
"Your Majesty, let Concubine An come in."
The emperor was puzzled. Why did Concubine Shu change her temper today?
But thinking of Concubine An's arrogant character, he was afraid that if he didn't let her in, she would make trouble in the palace for another day.
"Forget it, let Anpin come in too."