"Your subject must go. How can you know the true suffering of the people if you don't go? Your subject does not want to just study the classics without hearing about the sorrows outside the window." Yongji's voice was pleading.
It is only because of Fu Pei's teaching that he has such a upright worldview. If it were Hongli who taught him, his worldview would be completely skewed.
"Alright, Mother agrees!" Qingyu knew that Yongji's mind was made up, and there was no point in saying anything more.
Moreover, Henan is not far from the capital, and with Fu Pei's protection, there shouldn't be any major problems. However, she was afraid that he was too young and couldn't withstand such hardship.
But money can't buy a child's happiness, and this is a good thing, so I had no choice but to agree.
"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace!" Yongji kowtowed respectfully, then quickly left, presumably to inform Fupei.
After watching Yongji leave, Rongyun came in and started to do Qingyu's hair and makeup.
Before they could even feel at ease, they heard a palace maid announce that Hongli and Wei Yanqing had arrived together.
Upon hearing that these two had arrived, Qingyu instantly became annoyed and even lost her appetite for the breakfast in front of her.
"You didn't stop playing until midnight yesterday, how can you have the energy to come over today?" Rong Yun grumbled unhappily, then looked at Qing Yu's unhappy face and said, "How about I tell them that Your Highness is suffering from a rheumatic illness and it's not appropriate for you to go out to meet the Emperor?"
Qingyu waved her hand, "Forget it, the Emperor almost never takes the initiative to contact me. If he does, it must be because he has something to say. Even if I refuse him today with the excuse of a cold, he will come again tomorrow. It's better to resolve it today and save myself the trouble of finding another excuse tomorrow."
After speaking, she gently wiped the corner of her lips and then led Rong Yun to the main hall.
When she arrived, Hongli was already seated in the main seat, while Wei Yanqing was massaging him like a palace maid.
Perhaps because the massage felt so good, Hongli closed his eyes and began to enjoy it.
Although she disliked the person in front of her, she still had to observe proper etiquette. After bowing, she sat down a little distance away from Hongli.
"What brings Your Majesty here today?" she asked first.
Hongli opened his eyes. "I came here today to ask you if you would like to travel to Jiangnan with me." He didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point.
Another trip to the south! Qingyu was speechless. The floods in Henan hadn't even been dealt with yet, and he was already making arrangements to go out and find beauties again.
If she hadn't been able to control herself, she would have thrown the scalding hot tea next to her at him on the spot.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "I haven't been feeling well lately, and I often feel dizzy. I'm afraid I can't go."
She phrased it tactfully, but who wouldn't understand that she was rejecting him?
Hongli narrowed his eyes, feeling a little strange. In the past, when he brought up this matter, Qingyu would insist on going even if she was really unwell.
"If you are unwell, why don't you ask the imperial physician to take a look?" Hongli asked.
Qingyu lowered her eyes and replied, "Your Majesty, I request permission, but this illness is difficult to cure and cannot be cured in a short time."
Hongli nodded thoughtfully, "In that case, you should rest and recuperate in the palace."
Anyway, he didn't like Qingyu going with him. The previous times, it was because of her that he ended up leaving in a huff.
If she weren't the Empress, Hongli wouldn't have come back to tell her about this. Now that she has refused, isn't that exactly what he wanted?
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty," Qingyu replied calmly.
She originally intended to let the matter rest, but when she looked up, she saw Wei Yanqing's provocative gaze and couldn't help but want to trip her up.
Before she could speak, Wei Yanqing said, "It's such a pity that Her Majesty will not be able to see the snow scene in Jiangnan. I hope Her Majesty can take good care of herself and try to go together next year."
After she finished speaking, she covered her mouth and chuckled, her awkward and coy manner making everyone want to vomit.
Hongli naturally ignored Wei Yanqing's mockery of Qingyu, and immediately stood up and said, "The chairs in your palace are too hard. I am not comfortable sitting on them. I should go back to Qianqing Palace to rest."
After saying that, he was about to leave with Wei Yanqing.
"etc!"
Seeing them turn to leave, Qingyu quickly called out.
The two stopped at the same time and looked at her together.
Hongli was not the one who became impatient, but Wei Yanqing was the first to become impatient.
"Is Your Majesty about to change your mind again?" Wei Yanqing asked, raising an eyebrow.
Qingyu wasn't annoyed. Instead, she ignored Wei Yanqing and asked Hongli, "How much silver has Your Majesty prepared for this trip to Jiangnan?"
Upon hearing this, a hint of doubt flashed across Hongli's eyes. "Why are you suddenly asking this?"
Qingyu smiled and explained, "Today I heard that His Majesty has allocated a lot of money to Henan for disaster relief, so the national treasury must be quite tight."
Hongli nodded. "You're right, that's why I only prepared 20,000 taels this time."
What do you mean by only preparing 20,000 taels? Does he think that's not enough? That amount of money could at least ensure that thousands of people would have enough to eat and wear for a lifetime.
In some wealthy places, tens of thousands of taels of tax are collected every year to fill the national treasury. The money is taken from the people but not used on them. Thinking of this, Qingyu couldn't help but clench the handkerchief in her hand.
"I think this money doesn't need to be taken from the national treasury." She lowered her head, and no one could see that she was gritting her teeth.
"Oh!" Hongli's interest was piqued. "You have a solution?"
"Of course!" Qingyu raised her eyes, her gaze clear and her tone firm.
Hongli looked at her with great interest. "Tell me quickly, what is your brilliant plan?"
Qingyu smiled and said, “His Majesty has always doted on the sisters in the palace. Over the years, he must have given each of his sisters a lot of things. Now is the time to repay him.”
"You mean..." Hongli was cold-blooded, but not stupid, and he guessed it as soon as he heard it.
“Yes!” Qingyu nodded. “The salaries of Changzai and Daying are low, so each of them can receive one hundred taels. Guiren will receive two hundred taels, Pin will receive five hundred taels, and Fei will receive one thousand taels.”
"Not bad, it seems like accumulating 20,000 taels this way shouldn't be too difficult." Hongli nodded approvingly.
“But… that’s not enough, we’re still short four thousand taels.” Wei Yanqing stretched out her fingers and counted, but no matter how she calculated it, it didn’t make sense.
At this moment, Qingyu burst out laughing, "Sister Wei, you are a Noble Consort, how can you give me a thousand taels? With your rank, you should at least give me five thousand taels."
"What? Five thousand taels?" Wei Yanqing's eyes widened in disbelief.
Qingyu's smile deepened; seeing Wei Yanqing's expression made her feel delighted.
Hongli frowned as he looked at Wei Yanqing. "Don't you want to?"
Wei Yanqing shook her head. How could she dare to say she was unwilling? She simply said softly, "What about Her Majesty the Empress? Don't you need to give her anything?"
Qingyu glanced at Hongli, "Your Majesty, I have never received any reward from you. Do you think I should give it to you?"
This question immediately embarrassed Hongli, as he had never given Qingyu anything in all these years of marriage.
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