It's still hot.
After distributing the health kits, Gong Yun returned to the palace.
Huan Yue lay in Jixian Pavilion, watching the osmanthus blossoms so intensely that even the children were overwhelmed by the stench.
Princess Changqing sat there and joked with her: "Everyone's tending to the peach blossoms, shouldn't we move to a cooler place now? Where can we find coolness here? We can't even handle the physical strain on people, let alone the flowers?"
Huan Yue ate the fruit that had been presented as tribute.
Di Xuan, the little girl, didn't eat. She and Xie Fufu were the same age and sat together reading.
The two weren't particularly close, but they got along well.
Di Xuan is very fortunate. She is the only legitimate daughter of the Di family after Di Baose. Although there may be more in the future, she is the eldest daughter.
Xie Fufu is not pitiful either. She was granted the title of county princess from a young age and always had the best food and supplies.
So the two of them were quite quiet.
The magistrate of Changqing County told a joke: "Someone else wants to get those health packs. Calculate the cost, it's about two qian of silver, and it can last for about a year."
Use it once a month. After use, wash it clean, scald it with boiling water, and then dry it in the sun. It should be replaced after ten or eight uses.
Princess Changqing said, "The number of women who use it each year is just one example. For instance, in Sheng'an Prefecture, with a million people, at least half of them would buy it, which would amount to a business worth 100,000 taels of silver. There are also people calculating the cost of brown sugar and wooden basins. Although a person might only have one wooden basin in their lifetime, some of them can break, so buying a few more wouldn't be a bad idea."
Huan Yue listened quietly.
The magistrate of Changqing County said, "It's roughly estimated that the business involves over a million taels of silver a year."
The female official said, "Where would a woman in the countryside get two coins? She can just scrape together some old clothes and rags."
Just like how people in the countryside deal with defecating.
The county magistrate of Changqing nodded: "Some people say that only when ordinary people become rich can businesses thrive."
Huan Yue said, "Those who have money can be given away for free or sold cheaply, so that everyone gets used to using it. If they don't use it in the future, they will feel uncomfortable and may even get sick."
The palace maid nodded, confirming that such a situation did exist.
Just like how you get used to wearing nice clothes every day and develop delicate skin, suddenly switching to coarse linen clothes would definitely make you uncomfortable.
If someone eats well every day, they probably wouldn't be able to stand eating coarse food all of a sudden.
Some people can get through it by just enduring it. But there's another point about people: it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.
It's a bit like gambling. Anyway, people who are slightly better off will probably grit their teeth and buy it, right?
After all, two taels of silver a year is not a particularly large sum.
The Princess of Changqing asked, "Who would be willing to send such a large sum of money?"
Huan Yue said, "It's still a matter of perspective. The money comes from the people. Aren't we just giving away a lot today to earn more tomorrow? Besides, we can gain a good reputation when we give it away. And we can give it to certain people for life."
The magistrate of Changqing County was delighted.
The maid smiled and said, "Two taels of silver is fine, one tael of silver is fine too. You won't have to worry about it when it comes time to pay."
Huan Yue said, "It's okay to be cheaper. I still hope everyone will have a better life."
The county magistrate of Changqing nodded.
Think about it, put yourself in their shoes. This situation is quite awkward.
You can dress poorly, but what really matters is your appearance.
Han Oumo also made a fuss, but that's all she was capable of.
Huan Yue should just focus on his own comfort and consider others when he has the time and energy.
The county magistrate of Changqing County comforted her, saying, "Many people must be affected."
A palace attendant came to report: "Miss Zeng requests an audience. The Zeng family, for some unknown reason, are having a family of five or six weeping and wailing outside, like they are at a funeral."
The Princess of Changqing roared, "Then take them back to mourn!"
What does it mean that Zeng Bing's granddaughter ran to Xuande Gate and cried after his death? Did she feel wronged?
The palace maid was also displeased: "So eager to get married?"
The eunuch said, "Zeng Rongde is nineteen years old. If he delays any longer, he will be too old."
Huan Yue angrily said, "Want to get married and still cry? Didn't Zeng Bing teach them anything else? There are plenty of unmarried women in this world. Do they think they have no way to survive in the Zeng family?"
Princess Changqing wanted to laugh and suggested to the Empress, "Send someone to ask if the Zeng family can't afford to support her. If they really can't, the palace can support her; she certainly won't lack a bowl of rice to eat."
Huan Yue was unhappy: "I have always been streamlining my staff."
Princess Changqing laughed and said, "Wouldn't using her save us from having to hire someone else? She's also helping people in their time of need, and it will prevent other girls from entering the palace."
Huan Yue reluctantly agreed, "Then I'll go ask."
We definitely need to ask His Highness.
Princess Changqing laughed and said, "We've just appeased Zeng Bing, and now we're helping his granddaughter? What a wonderful thing!"
The palace maid said, "He thought he was going to heaven!"
Huan Yue said, "If they really come, find a place far away."
Princess Changqing laughed and said, "The furthest I could go is to serve in the Yeting Palace. That's not bad either."
The maid was speechless.
How did Zeng Bing treat the Empress?
Do you think the Empress is kind-hearted?
The eunuch returned after running around: "His Majesty sent someone to inquire at the Zeng family's residence."
Alas, Huan Yue, I'm sorry to trouble the Sage with such a small matter.
Princess Changqing thought she was right. They'd only just given the Zeng family a little face, and now they didn't want it anymore.
A palace maid ran over and reported, "Zeng Rongde has designs on Prince Zheng!"
Huan Yue asked, "How did she hit her?"
The palace maid was unclear: "It seems that Zeng Bing and Prince Zheng are related as grandfather and grandson? Zeng Bing was one of the students that the Cui family arranged for Prince Zheng to study under.
Huan Yue was completely bewildered. Was it really that complicated?
"Now that Prince Zheng has a grandfather, doesn't that mean Zeng Rongde has become his fellow disciple?"
Princess Changqing was laughing uncontrollably!
"Senior brother~~~"
The county magistrate of Changqing County got goosebumps all over.
Huan Yue touched his belly and said, "Never mind, don't corrupt my son."
Princess Changqing said, "Whether Zeng Rongde can become a concubine for the Prince of Zheng depends on whether he is willing or not."
Did they think Zeng Bingzhen was an extraordinary Confucian scholar?
They had problems back then and had to back down in a sorry state.
Now they're shamelessly stepping forward to confront the Qing'e Palace? And they even dare to make demands?
Huan Yue ignored it.
Another palace maid ran in to report: "Consort Xing fell down, and it was most likely Qing who did it."
Huan Yue hurriedly asked, "How is he?"
The palace maid reported, "Consort Xing is quite careful; she should be fine."
This means Your Majesty should be careful, as some of them are not human, but madmen.
Huan Yue took out his Phoenix Mace, intending to smash someone's head.
The palace maid ran away. Anyway, it's best to be careful.
The Yang family and others also stayed by the Empress's side all day long, as not just anyone could sneak into the Qing'e Palace.
Huan Yue placed the phoenix mace on his stomach.
Princess Changqing laughed uncontrollably.
As Mrs. Yang watched, the children swung their arms in different places.
Princess Changqing asked, "Can the baby really be turned around freely?"
After all, a newborn baby cannot move.
Huan Yue said, "It seems possible. However, as the pregnancy progresses, he will have less room to move around."
Princess Changqing found it amazing and thought she would have several babies in the future!
Chaoyun prepared some things and had someone deliver them to Xing Meiren.
Soon, the palace maid returned: "Consort Xing is fine. Three people were arrested in total."
Princess Changqing could only sigh, saying that some of these hatreds weren't that deep; it was just a matter of self-interest and impulse.
The palace maid whispered back, "That palace servant still insists that Consort Xing killed Consort Ge."
Princess Changqing roared, "Nonsense! What good is it for Consort Xing to harm Consort Ge!"
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