"Madam Zhao, why do you have to keep people at a distance? Empress Shuyi really wants to cooperate with you."
Gu Jiu placed the teacup in front of Zhou Miao and asked casually, "Empress Shuyi is Li Zhaoyi's person. I'm very curious about how she plans to cooperate with me."
Zhou Miao lowered his voice and said, "Empress Shuyi will tell Madam everything about the little prince."
Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow and asked calmly, "What does Jiang Shuyi want to exchange for the news about the little prince? What is there in this lady's possession that is worth her attention?"
Zhou Miao stretched out his hand and gestured.
Gu Jiu sneered, "Just for money? Eunuch Zhou, don't be ridiculous. Empress Shuyi is relying on Li Zhaoyi, so is she still worried about not having money?
As far as I know, Jiang's father has been awarded a seventh-rank official position, and Jiang Dalang has been awarded an eighth-rank official position. Both father and son are serving in the Ministry of Finance.
With the help of her father and brother, Jiang Shuyi will soon have more money than she can spend.
Eunuch Zhou, please don't use such ridiculous excuses to deceive me in the future. I am not a three-year-old child."
Even after his nonsense was exposed, Zhou Miao remained calm and didn't feel guilty at all.
"Madam has already said that Madam Shuyi will have enough money to spend in the future, but that is in the future after all. Now, she is short of money, so I hope Madam can be generous and provide some financial support."
Gu Jiu lowered her head and smiled. "From my perspective, what reason do I have to support Madam Shuyi? Eunuch Zhou, don't speak half-heartedly. You might as well be frank. At least it can save both of us time."
Zhou Miao knocked on the table again and again.
Gu Jiu understood what he meant, waved his hand, and asked Qingmei and the others to leave.
When there were only two people left in the study, Gu Jiu asked, "Can you speak now, Eunuch Zhou?"
Zhou Miao laughed, "Madam, you really won't suffer even the slightest loss."
"Is Eunuch Zhou willing to suffer a loss?" Gu Jiu looked at him with a smile.
Zhou Miao laughed heartily. "Madam is right. I refuse to suffer any loss. Even if I have to suffer a loss now, I will make up for it elsewhere in the future."
Gu Jiu smiled but said nothing. She wanted to see when Zhou Miao would get to the point.
Zhou Miao asked, "Madam's business is booming, right?"
"Just trying to make a living."
"This meal of yours, Madam, is worth a lot of money."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Eunuch Zhou, do you need some money? This lady can help you out a little."
Zhou Miao raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Madam is willing to support our family, but not Empress Shuyi. Madam, don't forget, I belong to Empress Shuyi."
Gu Jiu shook his head and smiled, "You said you were Jiang Shuyi's man, do you believe that?"
Zhou Miao laughed heartily. "Madam, you're so interesting. I won't keep you in suspense. Empress Shuyi wants to seek your help. If the situation gets out of hand one day, she hopes you can keep her safe. In return, she will give you news about Concubine Li and the little prince."
Gu Jiu sneered and quickly regained his composure. "She betrayed the information about Concubine Li and the little prince. Has she ever thought about the consequences if she is discovered?"
Zhou Miao laughed and said, "Even if Empress Shuyi refuses to betray the news, someone else will. The palace is like a sieve; there can't be any real secrets."
Gu Jiu's eyebrows moved slightly, "Is the little prince healthy?"
Zhou Miao smiled but said nothing.
Gu Jiu knew it well, and placed ten silver notes with a face value of 100 taels in front of Zhou Miao, "This is the tea fee that this lady gives to your father-in-law."
Zhou Miao calmly accepted the 1,000 taels of silver and said, "The little prince is very healthy. The little prince's wet nurse was personally found by the Li family from their ancestral home. She is guaranteed to have a clean background and no ties to any forces in the capital."
Gu Jiu took out another 1,000 taels of silver and placed it on the table. "I can get the news from the palace through any means, why do I have to take the risk of cooperating with Jiang Shuyi?"
Zhou Miao stretched out his hand, wanting to take the 1,000 taels of silver. Gu Jiu didn't let go, staring at him sharply.
Zhou Miao said solemnly: "Because among all those who betrayed the information, only Empress Shuyi has the highest status and is able to get close to Li Zhaoyi, so she can get information that others cannot get.
The news coming out of the palace is all things that anyone can find out. But no one knows more about Li Zhaoyi's private affairs and the little prince's health problems than Empress Shuyi. "Madam, do you still think this money is not worth spending?"
Gu Jiu let go, and Zhou Miao quickly put away the banknotes.
"Madam, you are generous. I like working with you."
Gu Jiu laughed sarcastically, "Eunuch Zhou wants to cooperate with me for the money in my hand, right?"
"Same, same. The silver belongs to Madam. To cooperate with the silver is to cooperate with Madam."
Gu Jiu took out another three thousand taels of silver notes and said, "Please give these three thousand taels to Jiang Shuyi for me. Tell her that in addition to the little prince's condition, I would like to know more about His Majesty's health, diet, and daily life."
Zhou Miao had already reached out his hand when he saw the banknote, but after hearing Gu Jiu's request, he suddenly felt that the money was too hot to handle.
"Madam's request is really unreasonable."
"My request is very simple for Empress Shuyi. Empress Shuyi serves His Majesty and should know His Majesty's diet and daily life better than anyone else. She only needs to teach you a few words and you'll be done with it."
After a pause, Gu Jiu continued, "Tell Jiang Shuyi that it was Li Zhaoyi who gave birth to the son, not her. It's too early to tell who's the winner now. She's right to cooperate with me. But I have to see her sincerity, otherwise there's no cooperation."
Zhou Miao frowned, thinking over and over, seeming unable to make a decision.
He gritted his teeth and said, "I can help Madam persuade Lady Shuyi to reveal His Majesty's situation, but I ask Madam to promise me one thing."
"you say."
"Not yet. When the time comes, I will come and make my request in person."
"Your request cannot be too much."
"My request is just a small favor to you, Madam."
"Deal." Gu Jiu said decisively.
Zhou Miao quickly snatched the banknote from her hand and put it in his arms.
"It's getting late. I'll take my leave now. I'll come visit you next time."
"Take care, Eunuch Zhou."
Gu Jiu gave Xiao Sui a wink, and Xiao Cui understood and sent Zhou Miao out.
Nanny Fang walked into the study from outside. "This Zhou Miao, his appetite is getting bigger and bigger. I've seen too many people like him in the palace, and most of them don't end well."
Gu Jiu said, "Don't worry about his future. It's enough that he is useful to me now."
Qingmei said, "Madam, you spent five thousand taels today. This amount of money is really not worth spending. The people in the palace are too greedy. It would take several thousand taels of silver to satisfy them. Fortunately, the Concubine Shu is not short of money. Otherwise, the palace would have to support the Concubine Shu and would be even more outgoing."
Some words cannot be spoken.
The childhood sweetheart became a crow's mouth.
Within two days, someone came from the palace and asked Pei for money.
When Qingmei learned about this, she slapped herself on the mouth and said, "I told you not to talk nonsense, I told you not to talk nonsense."
This really became a jinx.
Concubine Xiao Shufei sent Ms. Mei to the palace to ask for silver, and she asked for 20,000 taels at the first request.
Pei was overwhelmed.
"This matter cannot be decided by me alone. Ms. Mei will return to the palace first. After I have discussed it with the prince, I will send the silver to the palace."
Ms. Mei nodded in agreement. "Please give me three to five thousand taels first, so I can report back. I've finally left the palace, and I can't go back empty-handed. Please understand."
Pei gritted her teeth and ordered her maid Yingtao to take her pair of cards to the accounting office to withdraw three thousand taels of silver notes, which she then gave to Ms. Mei to take back.
Ms. Mei took the money and stood up to say goodbye.
Pei was feeling irritated and paced back and forth in the room.
I asked several times, "Is the prince back?"
"Your Majesty, the prince has not returned home yet."
"When the prince returns, please report to this princess immediately."
"As you command."
Prince Ning did not return home until evening.
When Pei got the news, she hurried to Bixi Pavilion.
"Your Highness, Mother sent someone to ask for silver, and she asked for twenty thousand taels right away. What's going on? Has something happened in the palace again?"
Prince Ning paused mid-air, holding the teacup. "Twenty thousand taels?"
"Exactly! Your Highness, what's going on? For so many years, Mother has never sent anyone to ask for money. Why did she suddenly send someone this time? And what about the Xiao family? Why didn't Mother ask them for money?"
Prince Ning said with a stern face, "Nonsense! How could my mother ask the Xiao family for money when she has a son like me? Take out my mother's dowry and see how much silver she has saved over the years."
Pei stamped her feet anxiously, "How could there be any money saved? The palace was in deficit a few years ago, and the proceeds from mother's dowry were embezzled long ago."
Prince Ning was furious. "Then check the account books and see how much silver has been embezzled over the years."
Pei immediately ordered someone to go to the accounting office to move the account books.
"Your Highness, you haven't told me why Mother suddenly sent someone to ask for silver, and why she asked for 20,000 taels right away."
Prince Ning sat on the Luohan couch with a tired look on his face. "It's all because Li Zhaoyi gave birth to the little prince, and the harem is in chaos. Mother also needs to cheer up and win over the people. People are fickle, and without money, everything is meaningless.
The Li family's father and brothers were getting more and more crazy with their silver, and most of it went into Li Zhaoyi's pocket. Li Zhaoyi threw handfuls of silver everywhere, and even if she smashed it, it only made a small splash. Now my mother and Concubine Xue were under a lot of pressure. At such an old age, they had to compete with a young concubine. It was really frustrating.
Speaking of feeling aggrieved, King Ning slammed his fist on the table.
Since the birth of the little prince, these adult princes have been reprimanded by the emperor one after another.
The emperor clearly did not treat them as his sons, and his disgust was evident.
I thought the situation would change drastically with the death of Crown Prince Renxuan.
The situation did change dramatically, but it didn't get better. Instead, it got worse. It was even worse than when Crown Prince Renxuan was alive.
At least at that time, Crown Prince Renxuan served as the target and bore most of the emperor's wrath, so the lives of other adult princes were much easier.
Now that Crown Prince Renxuan is dead, there is no target, and every adult prince is suffering.
Pei asked, "Do you want to give money to Mother?"
Prince Ning nodded, "Of course I will."
"Twenty thousand taels is not a small amount. The money in the account office needs to be used."
Pei reminded Prince Ning in a low voice.
Prince Ning frowned, "Don't try to harm me. You've taken all my private silver. I don't have any money left now."
Pei said, "At the end of the year, the shops below paid their bills, and the prince withheld 50,000 taels. It's only February, so he shouldn't have spent it all. Please, prince, donate generously to help mother relieve her worries."
Prince Ning pointed at Pei, unable to believe it. The idea of stealing his money was absurd.
Pei added, "The money in the accounting office must be kept for expenses. If it is used, the palace will be in deficit before we can send people to Jiangnan. I ask Your Highness to take the initiative to shoulder the burden of helping Mother."
Prince Ning snorted twice, "Alright, I'll pay 10,000 taels, and the rest will be paid from the account book."
Since Prince Ning was willing to pay 10,000 taels, Pei's goal was basically achieved.
She didn't dare to push him too hard. Having ten thousand taels was much better than having no money at all.
After collecting 20,000 taels, on the third day, Pei went to the palace in person and delivered the silver to Concubine Xiao Shufei.
When she entered the palace, she brought Gu Jiu and Ouyang Fu with her. When others saw her, they thought she was bringing her daughter-in-law to pay her respects.
"Mother, this is twenty thousand taels. Please accept it."
Pei took out a wooden box containing silver bills.
The palace maid stepped forward, took the wooden box, and placed it in front of Concubine Xiao Shufei for her to examine.
Concubine Xiao Shu glanced at the banknotes in the wooden box and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you. It must be difficult for you to take out so much money all of a sudden."
Pei said, "There are indeed many difficulties. But since it is Mother's need, your daughter-in-law will gather enough money and send it to you no matter what."
"You're thoughtful."
Concubine Xiao Shu closed the lid of the wooden box and asked the palace maid to put it away.
She leaned against the Luohan couch and said softly, "The palace is in a difficult situation right now. The prince has told you the specific situation."
Pei nodded. "I've heard about it. I'm honored to be able to share your worries."
Concubine Xiao Shu laughed at herself, "I am a dignified Concubine Shu, but I can't compare to the Concubine Zhaoyi next door. Giving birth to a little prince is like icing on the cake for her. Wealth and glory are within her reach."
The world has changed. Even a little prince has become so precious. When I gave birth to the prince, His Majesty didn't even glance at him. He only sent a eunuch to deliver some gold, silver, and jade. Even the prince's name was not given until a hundred days later. "Comparison is the thief of envy," they say, "and it's true."
"Mother, take care of yourself." Pei was a little frightened.
Ouyang Fu was a little nervous.
Gu Jiu frowned slightly. Is it true that even the dignified Consort Xiao Shufei has such a hard time? Consort Li Zhaoyi is still in confinement after her childbirth. Is she so impatient that she wants to declare war?
I'm afraid that someone is flattering the powerful and bullying the weak, speaking up for Li Zhaoyi, which makes Concubine Xiao Shufei very angry.
Concubine Xiao Shu waved her hand. "I have nothing to say. I was just complaining casually. What happens in this palace is unpredictable until the end. Even Empress Cui Ruizhen probably didn't expect the situation to be like this. You should be more cautious in your actions in the future and don't give others any handles. I will not invite you to dinner today. Please leave the palace early and return to the prince's residence."
"Take care, mother. Your daughter-in-law will take her leave first."
Concubine Xiao Shu waved her hands, not caring about Gu Jiu and Ouyang Fu, let alone their bellies.
In the past, Concubine Xiao Shu would have definitely asked why there was still no movement in her stomach.
Ouyang Fu felt very uneasy and sensed that a storm was about to come.
By the time Li Zhaoyi finishes her confinement, who knows what kind of fighting will happen in the palace.
She finally made up her mind and went to see Pei with the second young master. The couple planned to move out of the house and live in a separate courtyard for a month to recuperate and prepare for pregnancy.
Pei was a little unhappy. "Isn't it possible to take care of your health while living in the palace?"
The second son, Liu Ping, bowed and said, "My son has been married for several years, but has no sons or daughters. I beg your majesty to grant me your blessing."
Concubine Shen also chimed in, her words implicitly criticizing Pei.
"Your Majesty, please understand. Since the Second Madam married into the palace, she has been helping the Princess manage the internal affairs of the palace. She did not even dare to slack off when she had a fever or caught a cold.
Even after two years of recuperation, her health still hadn't improved. I could tell she was just tired.
While there is less to do in the palace now, I ask the princess to be kind and allow the couple to rest in the other courtyard for a while so that they can recover. Only when they are well can they bring more children to the palace."
Pei was furious and retorted to Concubine Shen, "You mean to say that the Second Wife's inability to conceive is entirely my fault? Is it me who made her tired? Ridiculous! The Fourth Wife also helps me with my worries and takes care of the household affairs, so how could she get pregnant so easily? In my opinion, it's the Second Wife herself who has the problem."
Ouyang Fu felt so wronged that she almost cried.
Second Young Master Liu Ping spoke before Concubine Shen, saying, "Your Majesty is right. It's mainly because Madam is not in good health that she has been quiet. This time, I plan to go to the other courtyard to take advantage of this time to recuperate and rest before trying again. Please grant me your blessing, Your Majesty."
Pei snorted, "If I don't agree, someone will cry and make a fuss, and I will be the culprit for your childlessness. Well, why should I be the bad guy? If you want to live in the other courtyard, I won't stop you. I hope there is good news."
After she finished speaking, she glared at Concubine Shen.
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