Chapter 3591: It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality
Nan Yan looked at him and asked in confusion, "What is the emperor worried about?"
“…”
Zhu Feng didn't answer her, but frowned even more. Seeing Zhu Feng's expression, Nan Yan didn't ask any more questions. She just sat quietly and thought for a while, then put down the small bowl and spoon in her hands, walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, looked into Zhu Feng's eyes and said, "I understand what the emperor means."
Zhu Feng looked up at her and said with a half-smile, "What do you understand now?"
Nan Yan said, "The Emperor didn't usually celebrate his birthdays in the past, and this one isn't a tenth-anniversary celebration. But when the Emperor heard that the Southeast Asian and Western countries were going to send special envoys to pay their respects, he relented. So, in reality, the Emperor's purpose isn't to celebrate his birthday, but to receive their congratulations."
“…”
Zhu Feng didn't say anything, but his eyes flickered.
Nan Yan continued, "However, since the envoys from various countries are coming to pay their respects, the occasion must not be shabby. The emperor is stingy, so he has been hesitating, right?"
Zhu Feng reached out and twisted her mouth hard: "Do you want me to tear your mouth apart?"
Nan Yan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please tell me if my guess was correct!"
“…”
Zhu Feng was silent for a while before he sighed and said, "You, nothing can be hidden from you."
Nan Yan smiled and said, "If that's the case, then it seems to me that it's impossible to have the best of both worlds. Your Majesty must decide."
Zhu Feng said, "I am worried."
“…”
"In order to feed the Kingdom of Yue a few years ago, we did spend a lot on buying raw silk. Trade has only been normal for a few months now, and we still have to make up for the shortfall in grain shipped from Sichuan and Shaanxi. Although we've made some money from business with the Western Regions, but..."
The more he spoke, the tighter his brow furrowed.
Only those who are in charge of the household know how expensive firewood, rice, oil and salt are. Outsiders only see the dignity of the emperor and the imperial concubine, but they don’t know that being a big boss has its own difficulties. If they are troubled, that will be the biggest difficulty in the world.
Nan Yan said softly, "I understand the emperor's difficulties."
Zhu Feng continued: "And then there is——"
He paused mid-sentence. Nan Yan looked up and saw an awkward expression on his face, as if he had difficulty speaking the next words. Nan Yan thought for a moment, a faint smile playing on her face. She whispered, "Is the Emperor worried that the courtiers will say you're too ambitious?"
When Zhu Feng heard the words "ambitious", his face froze.
He looked at Nan Yan and said, "Do you think so too?"
Nan Yan tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said, "I think it's not unreasonable."
“…”
"The four barbarians come to pay homage, and all nations come to congratulate. This is a blessing that many diligent emperors can only dream of. Your Majesty now has such an opportunity, and I feel that you should not refuse it lightly."
Zhu Feng was silent for a moment before he said, "Do you think I don't want to?"
However, the issue of money and the label of "ambition" made him hesitant on this issue.
Nan Yan smiled and said, "Originally, I shouldn't have said anything about such a major matter. I'll just share my thoughts: Your Majesty has done such a great thing, but he doesn't uphold such a great banner. Will Heaven think that Your Majesty is unworthy of such a blessing? Will Heaven take it away from you? What will we do then?"
These words made Zhu Feng, who was originally worried, laugh.
However, her meaning was very clear.
Do what needs to be done.
Wherever the sun and the moon shine, the four seas are at peace. This is something worth promoting. Only by promoting it more, the prestige and culture of the Great Yan Dynasty will spread far and wide overseas, and this can be called the style of a great country.
He nodded and said, "Okay, then I will pass on the order tomorrow."
After saying this, he thought for a moment and turned to look at Nan Yan, saying, "Since we're going to do this, we have to be financially conscious and increase revenue while reducing expenditure. Increased revenue naturally has nothing to do with you, but as for reducing expenditure..."
Nan Yan immediately understood and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. I, the concubine in the harem, will find a solution."
Zhu Feng smiled and said, "Okay, you go ahead and do the offending thing, and I'll make it up to you later."
Nan Yan snorted.
The two of them were chatting until it was already late. After months of running around and not getting a good rest today, they were already tired. Nan Yan yawned, asked someone to clear away the dishes in the house, and then went to bed with Zhu Feng.
I slept in a drowsy state until dawn the next day.
Nan Yan opened her eyes drowsily and saw the morning light coming in from the window. She yawned and subconsciously turned her head to look at Zhu Feng beside her. She thought he should still be sleeping, but she didn't expect Zhu Feng to be leaning against the head of the bed with a serious expression on his face, as if he was thinking about something.
Nan Yan frowned in confusion: "Your Majesty?"
Zhu Feng heard the voice and looked down at her: "You're awake."
Nan Yan heard his voice, which was hoarse as if it had been burned by fire. She felt something was wrong and quickly stood up to take a look. She found that Zhu Feng's eyes were dark and bloodshot, obviously the result of not sleeping all night. She immediately asked, "Did the emperor not sleep all night?"
“…”
Zhu Feng glanced at her, and then remained silent for a moment before saying, "I can't sleep."
Nan Yan suddenly became angry and sat beside him and said, "Your Majesty, what's wrong? You haven't had a good rest these past few months on the road. You finally returned to the capital and should have a good rest. How can you stay up late again?"
Zhu Feng said impatiently: "Didn't I tell you that I couldn't sleep?"
“…”
"How can I not want to sleep if I can sleep?"
“…”
Nan Yan looked at him for a while and saw that he looked very worried and did not look like he could sleep well. She thought about it and got out of bed to pour him a cup of tea. The tea had gone cold after a night, but Zhu Feng had been sitting at the head of the bed all night and his internal heat was still raging. She took the tea and drank it in one gulp, feeling a little better.
Nan Yan took the empty cup and sat down on the bedside, saying softly, "What is the emperor worried about? Is it still because of the birthday incident?"
Zhu Feng glanced at her.
There's no denial, that's it.
Nan Yan was even more confused and frowned, saying, "Didn't I discuss this with the Emperor yesterday? He also agreed. Why are you still worried about this?"
“…”
"Could it be that the Emperor is still worried about money?"
“…”
"I dare not speak for other concubines, but in the harem, I can at least save some money for the emperor. If it really doesn't work, I have saved some money over the years, so -"
Zhu Feng said angrily, "Who told you this? No matter how poor we are, we are not so poor that we have to ask the imperial concubine to sell things. You better give up this idea right now!"
Nan Yan asked, "Then what is worrying about the emperor that he hasn't slept all night?"
“…”
Zhu Feng was silent for a long time before he sighed and said, "I've been thinking about something all night."
"What?"
“It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but it is difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.”
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