A few days later, Rong Qi assigned some relatively simple tasks to Rong Li. Since he was just starting out, Rong Qi wouldn't give him anything too difficult. What if he couldn't handle it and gave up?
These past few days, besides teaching Rong Li, Rong Qi would visit Jiao Jiao at the Feng Prince's residence whenever he had time. He knew that Jiao Jiao's coming-of-age ceremony was coming up soon, and he needed to start preparing the betrothal gifts.
Regardless of whether the Prince and Princess Feng wanted to marry off their daughter, he had to send the betrothal gifts first, and they had to be sent at Jiao Jiao's coming-of-age banquet so that everyone would know that Jiao Jiao belonged to them. That way, even if the Prince Feng didn't want to accept them, he wouldn't be able to.
It has to be said that on the day of Feng Qinghuang's coming-of-age ceremony, Rong Qi took a strong medicine, which made Feng Qingcang so angry at his daughter's coming-of-age banquet that he almost fainted.
If there hadn't been so many people that day, Feng Qingcang might have picked up his broadsword and slashed at Rong Qi.
After Rong Qi figured it out, he instructed Rong Yi and Rong Xin to move all the treasures out of the Underworld Pavilion's treasury and prepare them so that they could be moved there on Jiao Jiao's coming-of-age day.
Rong Qi prepared a total of 128 loads of betrothal gifts, which in the Azure Dragon Kingdom was equivalent to the betrothal gifts of a legitimate princess, but Rong Qi did not care about these.
Everything about him is delicate and pampered.
Upon learning that Rong Qi was preparing betrothal gifts, Rong Yuan decided to add some more for him. It wasn't about quantity, but rather a token of his goodwill.
Originally, Rong Yuan had told Rong Qi to choose whatever he wanted from his national treasury. He figured that the usual betrothal gifts were only sixty-eight, eighty-eight, or at most one hundred and eight loads. So, even with the Rong Prince's Mansion and Rong Qi's own gifts, his national treasury wouldn't be able to provide more than a few dozen loads. But when he found out the number of loads of Rong Qi's betrothal gifts, he was completely stunned.
Rong Qi prepared 128 loads himself and took 88 loads from his national treasury. What was left in his national treasury?
Rong Yuan put down the memorial in his hand and led Eunuch Hong to the national treasury. Upon opening the treasury door, Rong Yuan froze. Rong Qi had already selected the items and then neatly arranged the ones he didn't want.
His treasury was now empty on the left, while the right side was neatly filled with all sorts of rare and precious treasures. Rong Yuan was seething with hatred at the sight. Eunuch Hong, however, was quite relieved; thankfully, the Crown Prince Rong had left some for His Majesty.
Rong Yuan glared at Hong Fu and roared, "Go and call that little brat back to me! He's trying to empty my national treasury!"
Hong Fu quickly reassured him, "Your Majesty, didn't Prince Rong leave you half of his things? He didn't take everything."
Rong Yuan glared at him angrily: "What do you know? These are all the leftovers or items he replaced. Besides, there's so little left in the national treasury. In a few days, Xi'er will be sending betrothal gifts to Youlan Kingdom. Tell me, after Xi'er sends his betrothal gifts, what will be left in my national treasury?"
Hong Fu choked, chuckling. He seemed to think no answer would be right. Besides, Your Majesty, why are you so angry now? Didn't you send the Crown Prince to move it? Now you're complaining that they moved too much? Where were you before?
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince Rong has already moved out. Is it appropriate for you to go and ask him to take it back? Also, think about whose betrothal gifts the Crown Prince gave. And if the Crown Prince's betrothal gifts weren't enough, would the Prince Feng's Mansion agree to this marriage? If they don't agree, what if the Crown Prince Rong ignores you? Besides, there's also the Ninth Imperial Uncle. Won't he also be dissatisfied and unhappy?"
Rong Yuan's head was about to explode after hearing Hong Fu's words. So, even his ancestor couldn't be offended.
"Then what about my national treasury? Without treasures, I feel uneasy. Here's what I'll do, Hongfu, go and announce that I'm going to celebrate my fiftieth birthday early, and ask them to replenish my national treasury."
Hong Fu nearly choked on his words upon hearing Rong Yuan's reply. "Your Majesty, are you celebrating your fiftieth birthday? You're still several years away from fifty! Is this really the right thing to do? Have you been angered by the Crown Prince? You must be calm!"
In reality, Rong Yuan was truly angered by Rong Qi. He couldn't bear to hit him or scold him, so he could only secretly take advantage of him behind his back.
Seeing the empty treasury, he couldn't contain his anger. Although the treasury was originally prepared for the Crown Prince and Rong Qi, after twenty years of preparation, it had been emptied in one fell swoop. He felt a void in his heart, as if something had been taken away from him.
"So be it, let them move out. As long as the child is doing well, it's my way of doing what I can for my elder sister."
Hong Fu felt relieved: "Your Majesty is benevolent and wise."
"Hmph, you're always good at saying nice things."
Hong Fu looked at Rong Yuan with a forced smile: "Your Majesty, for dinner tonight, will you be in the Imperial Study or...?"
Rong Yuan sighed, "Let's go to Kunning Palace. It's been several days since I've been there. Let's go see the Empress."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Hong Fu waved his hand, signaling the young eunuch to go and deliver the message, while he followed closely behind Rong Yuan.
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