Chapter 494 Asking for Money
The aftereffect of the emperor’s excessive interest was that Shen Chuliu delayed paying respects to the queen.
However, she has been doing a good job of "punching in" for many years, and the Queen doesn't mind if she misses it occasionally.
In the middle of the morning, someone came to the Taiji Palace to invite Concubine Jing to have dinner there.
Shen Chuliu looked at the bright sun outside and thought that the prince must be too lazy to walk and that was why he asked her to go.
She didn't refuse, so she changed her clothes and went out.
There were actually people in Taiji Palace, they were Concubine Zhuang and Concubine Lin. These two were newcomers.
She is not as outstanding as Li Zhaoyi, but she is not as favored as the ones below her.
It is considered a new favorite.
When they saw Shen Chuliu, they all stood up and greeted her: "Hello, Queen Jing."
Concubine Zhuang is gentle and graceful, while Lin is dignified, and they are both in their prime years.
Shen Chuliu called out, "Long live the emperor."
"Come, play a game of chess with me." Qi Yixiu waved his hand.
"Why don't you go down with your two sisters?" Shen Chuliu asked.
"I know you are good at chess. Come on." Qi Yixiu said with a smile, "Go and get Concubine Jing the watermelon soaked in the well water for her to cut."
"Oh." Chusi responded.
The two concubines couldn't help but feel envious, because the emperor didn't care so much when they came.
I even prepared some chilled watermelon specially for Concubine Jing.
It was still early for lunch, so Shen Chuliu simply played chess with the emperor patiently.
Eating cold watermelon is quite interesting.
Shen Chuliu's chess skills were not outstanding, but they were not bad either, and he could defeat the emperor for more than an hour.
Qi Yixiu was indeed satisfied. Although he won in the end, he still felt that Shen Chuliu was a relatively good chess player.
It's great that a woman has such a broad vision and overall view.
"My beloved concubine is lazy all the time." Qi Yixiu said.
Shen Chuliu smiled and didn't try to figure out what this meant.
After eating the watermelon, she went to wash her hands first, and when she came back, lunch had already arrived.
Shen Chuliu naturally sat in front of the emperor without any hesitation. They were using a round table, so there was no distinction between high and low.
The two concubines did not dare to sit down, but the emperor waved his hand and said, "Please sit down, my beloved concubines, please don't be polite."
The two of them thanked him before sitting down.
The meals were naturally mainly for the Emperor, but since Concubine Jing was here, the imperial kitchen would also take Concubine Jing's taste into consideration, so Shen Chuliu also enjoyed the meal very much.
However, although the two concubines are new favorites, they are of low status after all, so they will naturally not be considered at this time.
Especially when dining with the emperor, they could not relax and had to be very cautious.
After this comparison, Concubine Jing was very calm.
After lunch, the two concubines felt a little uncomfortable. In the summer, they didn't know whether the emperor would take a nap. What should they do? If there was only one person, they could serve the emperor while he took a nap, but this...
Concubine Zhuang looked at Shen Chuliu carefully, thinking that Concubine Jing might want to stay...
As expected, the emperor said, "You two should go back first. I will come to see you when I have time."
The two concubines no longer felt reluctant to leave and felt it was awkward to stay, so they hurriedly took their leave.
Shen Chuliu was amused. What was the purpose of this trip? Was the emperor trying to show his respect for them? But wouldn't it be too hot for these two to go back in such hot weather?
"Are you tired, my beloved? Take a nap and I will take care of your writing in the afternoon." Qi Yixiu said.
Shen Chuliu raised an eyebrow: "Okay."
It has been a long time since I last touched pen and ink.
Come to think of it, the emperor doesn't seem to ask other concubines to serve him with writing materials now? After waking up from her nap, Shen Chuliu woke up much later than the emperor, and the emperor didn't call her when he got up.
Regardless of whether he loved her or not, they had been together for many years after all, and Shen Chuliu loved to sleep. The emperor didn't necessarily not give her this benefit.
Shen Chuliu got up and drank some cold tea before going to serve the emperor's pen and ink.
Not long after entering, the emperor frowned and threw the letter in his hand on the table.
Shen Chuliu saw it without even looking. It was the letter from the Marquis of Jinchang, also known as General Li, who was urging for food and money from the southwest.
Shen Chuliu thought to himself, if he remembered correctly, the emperor had sent food and money to the southwest twice since the decision to suppress the bandits was made.
How many troops are there in the southwest? 170,000. Every time they send food and money, it is sufficient. The Great Yi Dynasty is not short of food and silver.
But a few years ago, when we almost went to war with the Chao Kingdom, the Northern Frontier never asked for food and money like this.
The military strength in the northern border is more than three times that of the southwestern border.
It is expensive to suppress bandits, but it shouldn't be so expensive, right?
Moreover, there is no result so far, but they keep asking for money? Tsk, no wonder the emperor didn't approve this memorial.
I guess this is also something that the cabinet cannot decide on, right?
Shen Chuliu continued to grind ink with an unchanged expression. When the inkstone was full, she sat aside and ate some fruit.
He watched the emperor review memorials and read documents and secret letters calmly, and in the end, the memorial was indeed not touched.
It seems that they are suppressing it. I just don't know how long it will last.
That night, Shen Chuliu naturally stayed here.
I went to Fengzao Palace early the next morning, earlier than everyone else.
People arrived one after another, and most of them had to pay their respects to Shen Chuliu.
Concubine Yi, who had completed her confinement period, also arrived. She looked in good spirits, and her complexion sounded rosy, which seemed to indicate that she had a good confinement period.
Xue Cairen is in good spirits and looks plump, and the fetus seems to be very stable.
She is now almost six months pregnant, and the pregnancy is stable.
Everyone sat down and started gossiping. After all, not many people dared to speak directly to Shen Chuliu.
But yesterday, those two concubines could be laughed at, and everyone spared no effort.
Fortunately, Concubine Lin and Concubine Zhuang were able to sit still.
Shen Chuliu suddenly realized that among the people who entered the palace this time, none of them was given a title?
Shen Chuliu raised her eyebrows and glanced at Li Zhaoyi.
Li Zhaoyi happened to look over there, and was startled when she saw Shen Chuliu looking at her. She quickly smiled and turned away.
Everyone wanted to laugh when they saw this. She was frightened after only a few days in the palace? Shen Chuliu raised her eyebrows slightly. Isn't she too easily frightened? It seems she is pretending? But no matter what, according to the way her father is asking for things now...
Well, maybe she can make a contribution in the end? After the queen came out, everyone paid their respects.
The Queen had just said a few words when Concubine Li suddenly covered her mouth, stood up and went out.
Everyone was shocked, and the queen frowned: "What happened?"
No one could answer. After a while, Concubine Li came in holding the hand of a maid. She frowned as soon as she came in: "Li Zhaoyi, what's that smell? What's that fragrance?"
She looked unhappy, and it didn't seem like she was pretending: "Please forgive me, Queen, I just smelled the fragrance of Li Zhaoyi and felt nauseous."
Li Zhaoyi was very aggrieved: "It's just the incense given by the emperor, and I didn't use it much."
Concubine Li frowned and said nothing.
The queen said, "Since you feel uncomfortable, go back and ask the imperial physician to take a look."
"Yes, Your Majesty, please forgive me. I lost my composure for a moment." Concubine Li was also the concubine with a better attitude when checking in, so the Queen was more tolerant.
"It's okay, there's nothing to worry about, let's just go." She said as she held Emei's hand and stood up.
Everyone had no choice but to leave.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
