Chapter 236 Leveraging Resources
Shangguan Jin had long had an idea about where the children from the charity would go.
If it were carried out under the name of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, that would also work.
If she just goes to the palace and talks to the Empress, and then Empress Xu talks to Emperor Xiao Jing, the matter will most likely be resolved.
But now Shangguan Jin feels it is necessary to give the Seventh Prince more leverage.
This also allowed the Seventh Prince to make his presence felt more in front of Emperor Xiao Jing.
So, Shangguan Jin whispered a few words in the Seventh Prince's ear.
That evening, the Seventh Prince returned to the palace with his personal eunuch, Hu Zhouquan.
The Seventh Prince's return was quite coincidental; Emperor Xiao Jing had just finished dealing with the affairs of the Diligent Governance Hall.
"You're back just in time. If you hadn't come back, I would have had someone summon you back!"
"The Marquis of Changsheng sent me a batch of the finest furs from the north. Go and choose some, and have the Imperial Household Department make you two well-fitting cloaks," Emperor Xiao Jing said with a smile.
The Seventh Prince smiled and, as before, moved closer to Emperor Xiao Jing.
Then she clung to Emperor Xiao Jing's arm and started to act coquettishly.
"My Prince Yan, you are already fourteen, almost fifteen. Show some manners." Emperor Xiao Jing tapped the seventh prince's forehead.
The Seventh Prince chuckled, but still wouldn't let go.
"Father, I have a request to make of you."
"What is it? Speak! If it's about taking something from my private treasury, then don't say anything."
In just this past month, you've been there three times. I've looked at the list, and you've practically emptied it all.
"How about you give me some time to replenish my private treasury?" Emperor Xiao Jing said with a smile.
The seventh prince actually nodded seriously.
"Well, this time I won't take anything from Father's private treasury, but could Father write a warrant for me?"
"A warrant? What warrant? What I wrote is called an imperial edict!"
Upon hearing Emperor Xiao Jing's words, the Seventh Prince quickly recounted the story of the children in the charity hall.
Finally, she added, "My aunt said, 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.' Those children's fathers died on the battlefield for the Great Yu."
We should treat them well.
However, they all wanted to go to the battlefield and go to the north.
My aunt thought they should be allowed to do appropriate things.
"Father, Aunt is right, isn't she?" The Seventh Prince looked at Emperor Xiao Jing with expectant eyes.
Emperor Xiao Jing knew about the charity hall in the suburbs belonging to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion; it housed orphans.
"So your aunt wants to send those children to learn something? To the Ministry of Works?" Emperor Xiao Jing asked.
The seventh prince nodded.
"Not only the Ministry of Works, but also the Medical Bureau, and a few others in good health who can go to the North."
My aunt said that no one in the household holds a position in the court right now, and my cousin is too young to make decisions.
Let me ask you, is it possible for you to...?
Emperor Xiao Jing understood. It was just a matter of settling those children in. This was no small matter.
I don't even need to do this myself; I can just tell Wu Youde to handle it...
only......
Emperor Xiao Jing quickly came up with a better solution.
"Little Seven, I will take you to your mother's place for dinner later. Tell her about this."
If you ask her for help, she'll definitely be more than willing to.
The seventh prince was taken aback.
Why did Father say the same thing as Aunt?
My aunt guessed that my father would definitely send me to find my mother...
"Then... is it possible? Mother is so busy every day, does she have time to deal with such trivial matters?" the Seventh Prince asked deliberately.
Emperor Xiao Jing patted him on the shoulder.
"Come on! If your mother is busy, your father will take care of this for you."
After saying this, Emperor Xiao Jing took the Seventh Prince's hand and left the Hall of Diligent Governance.
Wu Youde followed carefully behind.
Looking at the seventh prince, who had already reached Emperor Xiao Jing's shoulder, Wu Youde sighed.
The Seventh Prince has grown up! He's gotten so tall...
When Emperor Xiao Jing arrived at Empress Xu's palace with the seventh prince, dinner had just been served.
When Empress Xu saw the Seventh Prince, she was taken aback and quickly asked the palace maid to add another set of bowls and chopsticks.
After Emperor Xiao Jing pulled the Seventh Prince to sit down, he smiled and spoke to Empress Xu.
"Xiao Qi wanted to ask you for a favor, but he was afraid you were too busy, so he dragged me here to plead for him."
Upon hearing this, Empress Xu quickly looked at the Seventh Prince.
"Is Xiao Qi estranged from Mother? Is there something you can't say? Is it because you don't have enough gold ingots to reward people?"
"It's alright, Your Majesty will have the Imperial Household Department send it to you tomorrow."
"Mother, no! It's not that I'm being distant from you."
"There are so many things to do in the palace, and you're busy until very late every day. I don't want you to be too tired..."
The seventh prince quickly offered an explanation.
Empress Xu smiled and personally served the Seventh Prince a bowl of soup before asking, "It's nothing. Your mother is just directing others to do things; it doesn't bother you at all."
"Speak, what is it? Anything your mother can do, I will have it done for you."
The seventh prince then recounted the story of the children at the charity hall.
Empress Xu listened and nodded.
She knew about this charity, and she had even considered donating to it.
But Shangguan Jin didn't say anything at the time; it was always the Duke of Dingguo's mansion that provided the money to raise those children.
Empress Xu's control over the harem wasn't entirely smooth at that time, and she worried that others would use this incident to criticize her for trying to win people over...
I never imagined that raising it would last for so many years.
And Shangguan Jin only came to him for help at this point...
Empress Xu quickly realized what this matter could bring to herself and the Crown Prince.
"This is not a big deal. I can speak to the medical department."
However, the Ministry of Works had a different perspective.
The empress dowager was not allowed to interfere in politics, and since the Ministry of Works was involved in matters of the court, the empress dowager could not place anyone in the Ministry of Works.
This is such a trivial matter, not worth your father's intervention.
"Is it alright for Mother to entrust this matter to your elder brother, the Crown Prince?" Empress Xu asked.
"Yes, the Crown Prince has also been busy with matters related to the Ministry of Works lately."
"But wouldn't this be too much trouble for my Crown Prince? He's very busy." The Seventh Prince asked, blinking his big eyes.
Empress Xu quickly shook her head.
"How could that be? You are his imperial brother, he would definitely be willing to help you with your matter."
Don't worry! Your mother will definitely arrange everything perfectly for you. Please have your meal first.
As she spoke, Empress Xu continued to serve food to the Seventh Prince.
The Seventh Prince smiled, glanced at Emperor Xiao Jing who was silently eating to the side, and then buried his head in his food.
Empress Xu was in a good mood.
While serving Emperor Xiao Jing his meal, she also had to serve food to the Seventh Prince, and she always had a smile on her face.
After dinner, Emperor Xiao Jing returned to the Hall of Diligent Governance to review memorials, and the Seventh Prince also returned to his own palace to rest.
Empress Xu then summoned her head palace maid.
"Jinxiu, have the Crown Prince come over immediately after court tomorrow. Tell him I have something to discuss with him."
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