New Year’s Eve, royal family banquet.
Gu Jiu followed Princess Pei into the palace.
Enter the palace from Mingde Gate and get off the carriage in front of the second palace gate.
Afterwards, he went to Changchun Palace to pay a visit to Concubine Shu.
The three unmarried girls in the palace have been living in the imperial palace during this period, fulfilling their filial duties to Concubine Shu.
As soon as Gu Jiu and his group entered the Changchun Palace, three young ladies from the palace came out to greet them.
"Greetings to my mother and three sisters-in-law."
"No need to be polite!"
Princess Pei first glanced towards the main hall of Changchun Palace, then asked, "How is your Highness these days? Have you been naughty?"
"My dear mother, I dare not be naughty. But there is one thing that has been bothering me, grandmother."
The one who spoke was Liu Huan, who was also the eldest of the three sisters.
Pei first said, "What is troubling you, Madam Shufei?"
Liu Huan looked around and whispered, "Who should host tonight's family dinner? And who should be the head of the family during tomorrow's worship?"
When Pei heard this, her heart began to beat fast.
Ever since Empress Cui Ruizhen passed away, there have been calls in the court to establish a new queen, but the emperor turned a deaf ear to all of them.
The fact that the emperor turned a deaf ear did not mean that the concubines in the harem could be indifferent and not care about the position of queen.
Once she is crowned as queen, her son will become the legitimate son.
The attraction of the word "legitimate son" to the concubines is like the attraction of a magnet to an iron nail, which is incomparable.
Pei suppressed her panic and told Liu Huan, "Don't make this public. Just pretend you know nothing."
"My daughter listens to her mother."
Pei cheered herself up and took her daughter and daughter-in-law to the main hall to pay a visit to Concubine Shu.
Gu Jiu and Ouyang Fu exchanged glances.
The emperor has not yet decided who will be the honored guest at tonight's family dinner. I'm afraid the dinner will not be peaceful.
Don’t be fooled by the kind faces of the concubines in the palace. When they fight in private, they are more cruel than men.
There are flashes of swords and sabers, and if there is a disagreement, blood will be shed and people will die.
Entering the bedroom, Concubine Shu leaned lazily on the couch.
"Greetings to my mother, may she live a long and healthy life."
Concubine Shu glanced at Pei and said, "You're here! Sit down and talk."
Afterwards, Gu Jiu, as the eldest grandson's wife, led her two sisters-in-law to pay their respects.
Concubine Shu hummed and said lazily, "Let's all sit down and talk."
Pei asked with concern, "How is mother?"
Concubine Shu changed to a more relaxed posture. "Same old, neither good nor bad. When I get old, I don't want to move all day."
Pei immediately apologized, "I am an unfilial daughter-in-law and cannot serve my mother."
Concubine Shu smiled and said, "Alright, stop talking about this nonsense. How is the palace? I heard that Huyang asked her brother for money a few days ago?"
Pei nodded, "A few days ago, Hu Yang did come to the palace and talked a lot with the prince."
Concubine Shu asked, "Why didn't the prince come?"
"He is currently leading the children to pay their respects to the Emperor at Xingqing Palace."
Concubine Shu said "oh" and was obviously not in the mood to talk.
Pei asked cautiously, "Is mother worried about the family dinner tonight?"
Concubine Shu remained silent.
Pei murmured quietly, loud enough for Concubine Shu to hear, "I wonder what's going on with the Imperial Concubine."
Concubine Shu sneered, "She's been making a lot of noise. Everyone in the palace knows that the Imperial Concubine wants to take the throne. The Xue family's lackeys are cheering her on. Look at how cocky she is. She really thinks the throne of Empress belongs to her."
When Concubine Shu talked about Concubine Xue, she was full of resentment.
The two began to fight since they entered the palace, and the fight lasted for decades, with neither of them willing to submit to the other.
Now they have to continue fighting, for the position of queen, and also for the throne.
Pei said hurriedly, "Mother, calm down. The Imperial Concubine is being too assertive. Father will surely be displeased. She won't succeed."
Concubine Shu frowned. She was not as optimistic as Pei.
Recently, the Xiao family has also been working hard for her.
As a prince, Prince Ning could not come forward directly, so he could only arrange for his subordinates to speak for him.
With the emperor's authority, if he decided who would be the empress, no one could change his decision. Therefore, it was necessary to act before the emperor made up his mind and influence his decision as much as possible.
But does the emperor really have such a good influence?
Empress Ruizhen Cui spent 10 to 20 years trying to dispel the emperor's prejudice against the crown prince, but she was unable to do so.
It can be seen that the emperor is a man of strong will, domineering behavior, and will not be easily influenced by others.
It is extremely difficult to influence the emperor's decision.
Gu Jiu's heart skipped a beat as the harem started fighting again for the position of queen.
Any movement in the harem will inevitably affect the court.
Once the court was in turmoil, the princes and kings could no longer sit still.
Since it concerns one's own interests, one must naturally try one's best.
At this time, the palace maid reported that Princess Huyang had arrived.
Concubine Shu finally smiled, "Please invite Huyang in."
After a while, Princess Huyang was invited into the bedroom.
Princess Huyang looks like Concubine Shu, and her eyebrows and eyes appear a little sharp when she looks at people.
Princess Huyang was beaming with joy. She was in her early thirties, had already given birth to two children, and yet she still maintained a remarkably good figure. From behind, she looked like a young lady.
Of course, her face is no longer young and has shown signs of aging.
Her smile is arrogant and proud.
She had the right to be proud. She was a princess, a daughter of heaven. Few women in the world could be more noble than her.
She felt like she was at home in Changchun Palace.
As soon as he entered the bedroom, he walked straight towards Concubine Shu and sat down next to her.
"Mother, I miss you so much."
She took Concubine Shu's hand and acted like a cute little girl, acting coquettishly.
Concubine Shu rarely showed a kind smile, "But are you being naughty again? I heard that you went to see your brother a few days ago. Your brother must be annoyed with you."
When talking about this matter, Princess Huyang was filled with anger.
That bastard Liu Zhao was so cruel that the prince consort had to lie in bed for several days without being able to get out of bed.
Today, the prince consort had to drag his still-wounded body to the palace for a family dinner. When the dinner was over, the prince consort didn't know how miserable he was.
Princess Huyang looked at me with resentment. "Mother, you have to speak to my brother later. I just asked him to do a small favor, but he sent Liu Zhao to beat the prince consort. The prince consort is in such a bad state. He was unable to get out of bed for the past two days, and today he has to go to the palace for a banquet. I am worried that his injuries will worsen after today."
Concubine Shu was not confused about major issues. Although she doted on Huyang, she did not dote on him blindly and without principles.
She said, "Your brother must have had his reasons for beating the prince consort. Did you and the prince consort do something wrong again and anger your brother?"
Princess Huyang stamped her feet anxiously, "Mother, your husband has suffered so much injustice, and you still speak for your brother."
Concubine Shu's face instantly turned cold. "You and your brother are my children. As for the prince consort, even if he dies, at worst I can choose another one for you."
Princess Huyang was stunned, her heart sank, "Mother, my daughter..."
"Alright, I don't want to hear you talk about my husband being my son-in-law."
Princess Huyang lowered her head in grievance, "Even if mother doesn't care about the prince consort, she should at least consider your two grandsons."
Princess Huyang's two children were still standing in the hall.
A son and a daughter. The older one is a son named Chen Lu, and the younger one is a daughter named Chen Min. Both are still childish.
The two siblings said in unison: "Grandson (daughter) greets grandma and wishes her a long and healthy life."
Concubine Shu laughed again, "Good children, sit down and talk."
The two siblings sat at the lower position very consciously.
Princess Huyang tugged at Consort Shu's sleeve and pleaded, "Mother!"
Concubine Shu snorted and did not comment.
Pei coughed twice and prepared to speak.
She couldn't bear to watch it any longer. Hu Yang was so shameless.
Pei said, "Sister Huyang, why haven't I seen this set of head ornaments before? Is it new?"
Princess Huyang smiled and said nonchalantly, "Let my sister-in-law know that this set of head ornaments took the craftsmen months to make and cost over a thousand taels. The jewels alone are priceless."
Pei looked at her with a half-smile. "Sister Huyang is truly generous. But why would she go to the palace during such a busy time? Why is that?"
In front of Concubine Shu, Pei still gave Princess Huyang some face and did not expose the fact that Princess Huyang came to ask for money.
But even if Pei didn't say it, Concubine Shu knew it clearly.
Huyang goes to the palace to beg for money every year. How could she not know?
She was just trying to save her daughter's face.
Gu Jiu and the others lowered their heads and smiled.
Pei and Princess Huyang, the two sisters-in-law, are at loggerheads with each other, and it's in front of Concubine Shu that it's going to be a good show to watch.
In fact, everyone in the palace was unhappy that Princess Huyang came to ask for money every year.
You said that you would just ask for a few hundred taels each time, but Hu Yang didn't think so. Every time she came to your house, you would never send her away without three to five thousand taels, or even tens of thousands of taels.
Xiao Qin'er was very dissatisfied, because all the money belonged to the palace, and she would also have a share when the palace was divided in the future.
Princess Huyang came to ask for money, which meant dividing her and Liu Yi's property. How could she be happy?
Ouyang Fu looked down on Princess Huyang's character. She showed off her wealth in front of others but asked for money behind their backs. She was so shameless.
Gu Jiu's lips curled up slightly. No matter what era it is, shameless people live more comfortably.
Since they took other people's money, it was natural for them to live a luxurious and extravagant life.
As for other people's feelings, they never care.
You save money by living frugally, and finally save some money, but in the end it is borrowed by others for various reasons.
The person who borrowed the money carried a bag worth tens of thousands of yuan, wore expensive shoes, used the most expensive cosmetics, went out every few days and traveled once every one or two months, living a luxurious and extravagant life.
When you ask her to pay you back, she will confidently say: "I just lent you some money, why do you ask me every day? Aren't you annoying?" Then she will finally say: "I don't have any money."
I don’t have money to pay back the debt, but I have money to travel and buy the latest bags.
If you see this, you will be so angry that you will die.
Princess Huyang is exactly the same as some people in later generations in some aspects.
The difference is that Princess Huyang is of noble birth, has the capital to show off, and has someone to cover for her.
So Hu Yang courts death year after year, yet never dies. A thirty-year-old man still acts like a mentally retarded, spoiled child.
Princess Huyang confidently said to Pei: "I came to talk to my brother, and I, your sister-in-law, have to intervene?"
Pei snorted inwardly. If Consort Shu hadn't been there, she would have wanted to slap Princess Huyang. Shameless, shameless, and infuriating.
Shu Fei knew that Pei was resentful, so she stepped in to appease her, saying, "Speak less. Huyang, don't be rude to your sister-in-law. Speak respectfully."
Princess Huyang bowed her head and admitted her fault. "Mother is teaching me that I was wrong. Sister-in-law, please don't be so mean to me."
Pei coughed lightly, "How dare I argue with you?"
Princess Huyang covered her lips and smiled, "I knew my sister-in-law would be the most generous."
Pei was furious and didn't care about being magnanimous at all.
She doesn't want to be generous.
When he was young, he had enough of being bullied by his concubines. Now that he was older, he still had to endure the bullying of Huyang.
How can this be possible?
Concubine Shu rubbed her eyebrows and said, since ancient times, sisters-in-law have been natural enemies.
She simply said, "Qin'er, come here. I want to ask you, have you been naughty in the palace?"
Xiao Qin'er was overjoyed that Concubine Shu finally noticed her.
She glanced at Gu Jiu and said, "Hmph, don't even think about defeating me."
Gu Jiu looked up at the sky speechlessly. Xiao Qin'er was too imaginative.
Before she even made a move, Xiao Qin'er looked like she wanted to compete with her.
When she really takes action, Xiao Qin'er will tear her apart.
Xiao Qin'er has a pretty appearance and a voice as clear as an oriole.
She replied respectfully, saying only good things and not bad things. Occasionally, Pei would add a few words.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law cooperate very well.
Xiao Qin'er was overjoyed, thinking that the princess was so kind to her today, could it be that she had calmed down?
When she returned to the palace, she showed her filial piety to the princess and consolidated her position.
As they were speaking, a palace maid reported that Prince Ning was coming with his grandchildren.
Immediately afterwards, Prince Ning walked in with quick steps, wearing a dark brown robe.
"How is mother?"
Prince Ning's voice was loud and full of energy.
It can be seen that although Prince Ning was absurd, he paid great attention to taking care of his body.
He looks a bit old just because he has a beard. If he shaves it off, he might be a handsome middle-aged man again.
"I don't need you to worry about me. How is your father?"
Prince Ning sat down directly in the first seat on the left. "You know the old man's temper. He's never in a good mood. Today, he scolded all of us brothers. I almost got hit by the inkstone. Luckily, I dodged it quickly."
Concubine Shu exclaimed, "Why is your father so angry? But you have caused trouble again."
Prince Ning shook his head, "How could that be possible? The Ministry of Revenue has no money and needs subsidies from the Ministry of Finance every year. The old man is furious.
It has been said for a long time that the arrears of the Ministry of Revenue will be cleared, and it seems that this time they are serious about it.
There are several of us brothers, and each of us owes the Ministry of Revenue a considerable amount of money, which adds up to a large sum.
The Minister of Revenue submitted a report, pointing the finger at us princes, and threatening that as long as we pay off the debts owed to the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Revenue will have no worries and there will be no worries about the war.
That old man from the Ministry of Revenue always looks for trouble and is really going too far.
The old man actually believed what the old man said and forced us to pay back the money. How could I afford to pay it back?
Prince Yan and I argued for a few minutes, and then the old man went crazy, wanting to kill us."
Listening to Prince Ning's complaints, Concubine Shu's heart almost jumped out of her chest.
"You, you, can't you be serious when talking to your father? You have to make a fuss and anger your father."
Pei also looked nervous.
Princess Huyang was in a panic.
The Princess's Mansion also borrowed a lot of money from the Ministry of Revenue. She didn't know the exact amount, but it was definitely a lot.
Princess Huyang asked nervously, "Brother, does the Emperor really want to clear the Ministry of Revenue's arrears?"
Prince Ning laughed heartily, "Of course it's true. After the Lantern Festival, an imperial decree will be issued."
Hu Yang had a sad face and said, "I don't have any money."
Prince Ning showed no sympathy. "If you don't have money, find a way yourself. I don't have money either. Boss, how did you do with the task I asked you to do last time?"
Liu Zhao frowned and looked at Prince Ning. Did they really have to discuss these things here?
Prince Ning said sternly, "Just say what I tell you to say."
Liu Zhao said in a deep voice: "There is no progress."
Prince Ning was dissatisfied, "Why is there no progress after so long?"
Liu Zhao said calmly, "First, the expenses in the mansion are high. Second, my son doesn't take care of the accounts. Third, my son is in the military camp for a long time and has no time to take care of this matter."
As soon as Gu Jiu heard this, he knew that Liu Zhao and King Ning were talking about money.
Money is a person's courage.
Even if you are a prince, you can't move forward without money.
Prince Ning had long anticipated that the emperor was determined to clear the Ministry of Revenue's arrears, and that this was inevitable. Therefore, before heading to the imperial mausoleum, he instructed Liu Zhao to gather money and make early preparations.
Liu Zhao did collect some money, but the amount was limited, and he added it all to Gu Jiu's betrothal gift.
Originally, Princess Pei only prepared a betrothal gift of 10,000 taels.
Liu Zhao thought it was too little, so he secretly added 15,000 taels.
Later, he was always busy. In addition, he was not in charge of the accounts and stayed in the military camp for a long time, so naturally he could collect very little money.
In fact, the most crucial reason is that Liu Zhao didn't take it seriously.
He wanted to teach Prince Ning a lesson by clearing the Ministry of Revenue's arrears.
It will also let King Ning know that money does not fall from the sky.
The palace may seem to be resplendent with flowers and luxurious, but in fact it is already showing signs of decay.
If this continues, perhaps one day the royal palace will become like those poor relatives, begging for money from other families every other day.
The Ministry of Revenue’s arrears gave Liu Zhao an opportunity.
Liu Zhao wanted to let Prince Ning know that he should not ask his son to do the hard work every time there was a problem.
As a father, you should set an example, take the lead and shoulder the financial difficulties.
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