In the meeting hall, Gu Jiu, Xiao Qin'er, and Ouyang Fu each occupied a table, busy with their own tasks.
Ouyang Fu's eyes rolled, and she said, "I'm going to send someone to visit the Chen residence. Sister-in-law, Fourth Sister-in-law, what do you think?"
Xiao Qin'er said, "Second sister-in-law, go ahead if you want to. Don't worry about me."
Gu Jiu asked, "When does my second sister-in-law plan to go? Chen Lu has moved into the Chen Mansion for several days. Can he get used to it? I heard that the mansion is just a bare house, without even a chair."
"Who said it wasn't? Just two days ago, my father sent over some rice, flour, grain, oil, and bedding. I thought Chen Lu must still be short of something, so why don't we chip in and help him get some extra things."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Second brother and sister-in-law are thoughtful. Your idea is good. Count me in."
Ouyang Fu looked at Xiao Qin'er.
Xiao Qin'er rolled her eyes left and right, "How much do I have to pay? Has Second Sister-in-law calculated it?"
Ouyang Fu smiled softly and said, "I calculated that it would take several hundred taels to buy everything. How about we each contribute one hundred taels, so that we can make a total of three hundred taels."
"First, send someone to see what he needs, and then buy everything according to the list. If there is any money left at the end, give it all to Chen Lu, and have him provide for the servants."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "I'll leave it to my second sister-in-law. Qingmei, go get a hundred taels of silver. And prepare some loose change for shopping."
"As you command."
Xiao Qin'er smiled and said, "Sister-in-law is really positive."
Gu Jiu said, "Chen Lu is the only male left in the Chen family. He's still a teenager, and it's not easy for him to support the family alone. Since he's a relative, it wouldn't be a big deal to lend a hand."
Xiao Qin'er said, "Sister-in-law has said so much. If I don't give you this hundred taels, wouldn't it seem stingy? Go, get this hundred taels from the room."
Xiao Qin'er instructed the maid, then brought up another matter, "How can we leave out Third Sister-in-law for this kind of thing? Even if Third Sister-in-law isn't here, she should be counted as part of the contribution. Wouldn't it be even better if the four of us could pool together four hundred taels?"
Ouyang Fu coughed lightly, "Third brother's wife and Third Young Master need to rest and recuperate. Let's not disturb them. Sister-in-law, what do you think?"
"You should send someone to let them know whether or not to contribute. It's up to Third Sister-in-law to decide. Don't force it."
Xiao Qin'er laughed, "Sister-in-law is still sensible. Someone, tell the Third Madam that we are collecting contributions. Ask her if she wants to contribute."
The maidservant left as ordered.
Ouyang Fu frowned, "This is not good."
Xiao Qin'er scoffed, "What's wrong with that? Third sister-in-law has sold a lot of things in the mansion over the past few years. A rough calculation shows that she has made at least tens of thousands of taels. She is not short of money."
"She gave all her money to her brother." Ouyang Fu defended the third wife, Mrs. Cai.
Xiao Qin'er, however, refused to accept the suggestion. "She's such a good daughter of the Cai family, using her husband's family's belongings to support her brothers from her mother's family. Fortunately, she doesn't have a housekeeper, otherwise the palace would have been emptied out by her."
Ouyang Fu was a little dissatisfied. "Fourth sister-in-law, please be more polite. Third sister-in-law has had a hard time these past few years and has been in poor health. Not only do you not show any sympathy or concern, but you also speak of her in a sarcastic way. It's a bit mean."
"I'm mean?" Xiao Qin'er was furious. "It seems that people who sell their belongings have something to be sympathized with, and all their mistakes can be forgiven.
And I was criticized as mean just because I was healthy and just spoke two truths.
I'm beginning to suspect you. You're in charge of all the gardens, and there are people who are corrupt. Do you let them off just because they feel sorry for you, and continue to condone their corruption?"
Ouyang Fu frowned, clearly furious. "Don't make random accusations. Let's keep things to ourselves."
Xiao Qin'er sneered, "Based on what you just said, I have reason to doubt whether you can manage the household."
Ouyang Fu put down her abacus. "Fourth sister-in-law, do you want to check my accounts? My accounts are clear and there is no problem at all. You can check them as you like."
"I dare not check your accounts. You are the most capable and praised second lady in the mansion." Xiao Qin'er said half teasingly and half sarcasticly.
Ouyang Fu's expression changed. "Even Father didn't pursue the matter of Third Sister-in-law. Why is Fourth Sister-in-law still holding on to it?"
Xiao Qin'er was very proud. "I didn't pursue the matter with Third Sister-in-law. I just expressed my own thoughts. When was it not allowed to speak? Sister-in-law, please judge for yourself. Am I wrong, or was Second Sister-in-law wrong?"
Gu Jiu shook his head. "You two should solve your own problems. It's hard for an incorruptible official to judge family affairs, not to mention that I'm not an incorruptible official."
Xiao Qin'er slapped her lips lightly. "I'm just a mouthy person. I should have learned from my elder sister-in-law. I will never ask about things that have nothing to do with me again. Second sister-in-law, you continue to be a capable person."
Ouyang Fu was furious. "Fourth brother's wife was sarcastically saying you were mean, and she was absolutely right."
Xiao Qin'er gritted her teeth and was about to slam the table and turn hostile the next moment, but just at this moment, the maid who went to see the third wife, Cai, came back.
"Your Highness, Madam Four, Madam Three said she has limited financial resources and will not contribute. She asked me to bring a quilt over as a token of appreciation for Young Master Chen Lu."
The maid carried the bedding into the room.
Xiao Qin'er looked disgusted, "Take it away quickly, take it away. This is the bedding used by the couple. I don't know if it will kill the disease, but Third Sister-in-law dares to give it away. She is becoming more and more unrefined."
Gu Jiu also said, "Hurry up and take the bedding back to the Third Madam. Tell her that we will pay for her share. Tell her not to worry."
The maid hesitated.
Xiao Qin'er scolded, "What are you still standing there for? Be careful not to pass the disease on to me. Take it away quickly."
The maid was also a little scared when she heard this, fearing that she might be infected with the disease. She reluctantly picked up the quilt and left.
Xiao Qin'er was full of anger. She sat on the chair and breathed loudly through her nostrils.
She said dissatisfiedly: "Why did the third sister-in-law ask the maid to bring a quilt? Is she deliberately disgusting? I've had enough of her."
Ouyang Fu defended Cai, saying, "She probably meant well. She thought Chen Lu had returned to the Chen Mansion empty-handed, without anything, and with so many people around him who needed food and sleep, there definitely wouldn't be enough bedding. Giving him a quilt was a kind gesture."
Xiao Qin'er snorted, her nostrils flaring. "Don't accept this kind offer. If I pass on my illness to Chen Lu, who will be responsible? Who can stand Princess Huyang making a fuss?"
Ouyang Fu said, "Speaking of Princess Huyang, I wonder what her current situation is. I hope she's okay."
Xiao Qin'er looked around and said, "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, do you really hope that Princess Huyang is okay? If she is okay, she will continue to live in the palace."
After Gu Jiu finished flipping through the account book, he heard Xiao Qin'er's question and smiled, "My mother is not worried, so why should my fourth sister-in-law be worried?"
Princess Huyang lives in the palace. If we were to say who suffers the most, it would be none other than Pei.
Pei is not in a hurry, so why should they be in a hurry?
Ouyang Fu followed Gu Jiu's words and said, "Father and Mother haven't said anything, so why should we worry? Fourth sister-in-law, you worry too much."
Xiao Qin'er sneered and muttered, "Hypocrisy!" They are all a bunch of hypocritical people.
…
By evening, Prince Ning and Pei finally returned from the palace.
Both of them looked exhausted.
Gu Jiu rushed to Chunhe Hall to pay his respects. Everyone else had already arrived.
"Your Majesty, how is the situation?" Concubine Shen asked first.
Pei rubbed her brows and said, "Princess Huyang can't come back for the time being. His Majesty has punished her by making her copy the Classic of Filial Piety a thousand times. When she finishes, she can leave the palace."
oh!
Copying the Book of Filial Piety was not a very severe punishment.
Then, Pei said, "His Majesty has issued an edict, ordering the Minister of the Interior to find another mansion for Princess Huyang to serve as her residence. This mansion will be half the size of the current one. The current mansion will be converted into a house and taken back by the Minister of the Interior. The money will be paid to the Ministry of Revenue as payment for Princess Huyang's debt to the Ministry of Revenue."
ah?
Everyone looked at each other.
Princess Huyang had been clamoring to move to a new Princess Mansion, and the emperor did indeed move her residence. However, he ended up losing more than he gained, and ended up shooting himself in the foot.
This wasn't the end yet. Madam Pei continued, "Your Majesty has fined Huyang an additional three years of title and salary. Adding this to the previous punishment, it makes a total of six years. For the next six years, Princess Huyang will have no title and salary, and will have to rely on the income from her properties to survive."
The emperor used one move after another and knocked Hu Yang down.
The emperor knew that Huyang loved money the most, so he specifically targeted Huyang's money.
Now, Huyang should behave himself.
Concubine Luo asked cautiously, "Has there been any conclusion to the matter between Princess Huyang and Han Wulang?"
Pei said meaningfully, "The Daihou Mansion, mindful of the court's difficulties and your Majesty's suffering, has offered you a hundred thousand taels of silver for your use. Your Majesty has already issued a decree forbidding anyone from mentioning the matter of Princess Huyang and Han Wulang again."
Wow!
Everyone exclaimed.
The Daihou Mansion spent a hundred thousand taels of silver at once, quite a generous sum. That Han Wulang was indeed the most favored child.
Gu Jiu held her forehead. She hadn't expected that the Daihou Mansion could bribe the emperor, and it actually worked. She also didn't know if the Daihou Mansion's plan was related to what she had said yesterday about paying money to ward off disaster.
However, the Daihou Mansion's ability to take action is really strong.
So quickly they collected 100,000 taels of silver and presented it to the emperor.
The emperor actually accepted the money and ordered that no one be allowed to mention the matter between Princess Huyang and Han Wulang again.
The emperor's words were golden, saying that it was not allowed to be mentioned, so the marriage between Princess Huyang and Han Wulang was naturally called off.
Concubine Shen sighed, "There must be a master behind the Daihou Mansion. They even thought of offering money to His Majesty to ward off disasters."
Concubine Luo said, "That Han Wulang is truly a gold nugget. The Daihou Mansion was willing to spend 100,000 taels of silver to protect him. I even want to see what Han Wulang looks like. He's actually so valuable."
"I heard she has red lips and white teeth, and is extremely beautiful."
"Wife Dalang, I remember you have a sister from the same clan who married into the Han family of Daihou Mansion. Have you ever met that Han Wulang?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "I've seen him once, and he does have a good appearance."
"No wonder. I heard that Han Wulang is extremely favored by the old lady of the Daihou Mansion and is as precious as the apple of her eye. The Daihou Mansion was able to raise 100,000 taels of silver to 'redeem' him in such a short time. It is obvious that the old lady of the Daihou Mansion put in a lot of effort."
"Princess, did Princess Huyang get angry when she learned about this?" Concubine Shen asked curiously.
Princess Huyang has been showing off how great Han Wulang is these days, and Concubine Shen is almost getting calluses on her ears from listening to her all the time.
She just wanted to know how Princess Huyang felt after paying the silver and losing Han Wulang.
Pei said, "Huyang dare not act recklessly in the palace. Even if she is angry, she has to hold it in."
Concubine Shen covered her lips and smiled, "When Hu Yang comes out of the palace, I'm afraid he will go to Dai Hou Mansion to settle the score with Han Wulang."
Concubine Luo asked, "Your Majesty has spoken, does Huyang dare?"
Concubine Shen raised her eyebrows and said with the look of an experienced person, "Why not? Your Majesty has fined Huyang for three years and confiscated her mansion. These punishments are enough.
Hu Yang could act a little out of control outside the palace, but as long as she didn't oppress the common people and didn't cause a lawsuit, His Majesty would mostly turn a blind eye to her absurd behavior.
After all, Huyang is still the princess. She was wronged, but she is not allowed to vent her anger. Your Majesty, am I right?"
Pei rubbed his brows and felt a headache.
"Hu Yang wants to leave the palace, and it will take at least ten days or half a month. Once she leaves the palace, I can't control what she wants to do."
"Your Majesty, don't you care?"
Pei snorted, "How can I manage it? Do you think the prince has nothing to do every day, just staring at Hu Yang and cleaning up Hu Yang's mess?"
The words may be rough, but the truth is there.
Living in the same palace, it is impossible for Prince Ning to always pay attention to what is happening in Huyang.
Prince Ning seemed to be very idle, listening to music all day, but he was actually very busy. He was so busy that he might not have time to step into the inner courtyard for ten days or half a month.
Even for the most favored Chen Liangyuan, Prince Ning had not spent the night in her courtyard for a long time.
Concubine Luo was embarrassed. She just asked casually, but she didn't expect Pei to scold her.
She felt a little aggrieved and stopped talking.
Pei snorted, "You all should keep quiet lately and do everything according to the rules. Don't contact anyone outside. This time when I came to the palace, His Majesty was very pleased with our palace's approach to reducing expenses, which is a rare thing. Therefore, reducing expenses is not a short-term thing. We have to persist for a long time, one year, two years, three years, five years. Everyone should be mentally prepared."
For a moment, everyone was complaining.
"Cutting 30% of the budget is truly not enough to cover our expenses." Xiao Qin'er was the first to complain. "My husband's expenses alone have taken up most of it. I beg Mother to show some mercy."
Pei glared at Xiao Qin'er. As her daughter-in-law, she was the first one to sabotage her. Could she read the mood?
It’s not that Xiao Qin’er doesn’t know how to read people’s expressions, but she really is short of money.
Gu Jiu made it impossible for her to lend money at high interest rates, and she suddenly lost a lot of income.
Liu Yi is about to go to Jiangnan, which is another expense.
She now wishes she could just sleep with Yin Zi in her arms.
She was hoping that Pei would give in and at least give her a little more money so that she could have more money.
Pei said sternly, "The prince has ordered a 30% reduction in expenses. Even he is not exempt from this. Are you more noble than him? Do not mention this matter again. I am tired. Please withdraw."
Xiao Qin'er was so embarrassed that she couldn't face anyone, so she was the first to leave.
Ouyang Fu muttered softly, "Fourth sister-in-law is just too anxious. She's completely obsessed with money."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "She is very similar to Princess Huyang."
Ouyang Fu laughed, "Fourth brother's wife and Princess Huyang are cousins, no wonder they both love money so much."
The concubine Shu's surname was Xiao. Before Xiao Qin'er married Liu Yi, she had to call the concubine Shu her great-aunt and Princess Huyang her cousin.
Ever since Xiao Qin'er married Liu Yi, their relationship has been based on the royal family.
Xiao Qin'er returned to her room and went to Liu Yi to complain as usual.
"Mother is becoming increasingly dissatisfied with me and has embarrassed me several times. Please talk to her and ask her to at least give me some face in front of others."
Liu Yi was a little impatient, "Did you say something wrong again and anger Mother?"
Xiao Qin'er pouted, "What do you mean I said the wrong thing? I was just telling the truth. Cut 30% of our expenses. What have we been eating and using these days? Your expenses alone have used up all the money given by the public treasury, and you're not allowed to say a word? I just hope that mother will relent. Don't cut 30%, at least cut 20%."
Liu Yi was very unhappy. "I told you a long time ago, don't worry about this matter, don't worry, wait three to five months, and the expenses will naturally be raised without you having to ask.
Besides, I'm going to Jiangnan soon, and we'll have money soon. You can't help yourself in such a short time, what can I say about you?
What's more, you said this in front of everyone. Aren't you ruining the show? It's a wonder that the Concubine Mother is satisfied with you.
You, you, can't you just look at the direction of the wind and the expression of the eyes? Do you think this is the Xiao family, and you are the eldest daughter of the Xiao family, and you can say whatever you want? "
"Good you Liu Yi, you are disgusted with me, aren't you?"
"Can you please stop being so unreasonable? If I dislike you, can I marry you?"
"You married me because of my family background."
"If you think so, I have nothing to say. I'll sleep in the study tonight, don't worry about me."
Liu Yi left with a flick of his sleeves. Xiao Qin'er burst into tears in anger.
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