Although they were Zhu Yunying's concubines, Lian Qiongqiong and Wang Shi were well aware that they were also "subjects." When facing Xu Miaoqing, they naturally had to know their place.
Xu Miaoqing, with her elegant demeanor, smiled and said, "Sisters, please don't stand on ceremony, we're all family."
Zhu Yunying sat down by himself and looked around. "Didn't Shuangquan come with us?"
This was clearly a joke, since Old Zhu treated Little Zhu like his lifeblood. Not only did he give Little Zhu the best of everything, but according to Little Zhu's gossip, the kid had even seen some of the hidden pieces in Old Zhu's hand.
This was something that even Zhu Yuanzhang was quite curious about and envious of, as the power Zhu Yuanzhang held wasn't particularly large. However, compared to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, they were more suited to doing dirty work that couldn't be seen in the light of day. Those people were what were known as 'death squads' in the truest sense.
Some jokes were perfectly acceptable to Zhu Yunying, and even little Zhu could be amused. Back then, Old Zhu wouldn't get angry; instead, he'd laugh along. But even his granddaughter-in-law, Xu Miaoqing, didn't receive such treatment. She knew that even though she seemed to hold a high position, she was truly nothing in Old Zhu's eyes.
Taking the tea, Zhu Yunying said with a smile, "The Empress is also pregnant now, and there are many affairs in the palace. I hope the Imperial Noble Consort will share some of the burden."
Lian Qiongqiong carefully glanced at Xu Miaoqing's expression, then said, "Your Majesty, I obey the decree."
This proves that she has a proper understanding of her place; Lian Qiongqiong, a lady from a prominent family, knows that there are some things she cannot interfere with. Even though the emperor specially created the title of 'Imperial Noble Consort'—a title that had never existed in the Ming Dynasty before—to elevate her status, it is ultimately just a concubine, only slightly better than Consort De and Consort Ning.
Xu Miaoqing smiled and said, "Your Highness, please don't overthink it. There are indeed many complicated matters in the palace, and we are currently exhausted. I'm sure Your Highness knows that His Majesty's birthday is approaching, and there are many things we can't manage."
At this point, Lady Wang could only sit obediently to the side; she had virtually no way to participate in these conversations. Besides her upbringing and personal qualities, it was also because since entering the palace, she had essentially had no opportunity to learn anything new.
The Empress's status goes without saying; she is the Emperor's rightful wife. The Imperial Noble Consort's background is also extraordinary; she is the eldest daughter of a trusted confidante from the Emperor's time as a prince. Furthermore, many people know that the Empress must come from a military family, while the Consort must be a civil official.
Different births naturally lead to different futures, which is quite normal. Zhu Yunying didn't think there was anything wrong with this; his position was basically determined at birth.
Xu Miaoqing looked at Zhu Yunying and said, "Today, Princess Wu and Princess Xu came to the palace. They said they had gathered some money from their household and brought out their dowry. They originally wanted to give it to their younger sisters, but the younger sisters did not accept it."
Zhu Yunying immediately laughed, very happy, "Xi'er and Yue'er are so sensible, how could they take their younger brother's and sister-in-law's dowry?"
This perfectly illustrates the difference between close and distant relatives. Although they all appear to be Zhu family wives now, in Zhu Yunying's eyes, those two younger siblings-in-law can only be considered half-family.
Zhu Yunying smiled and said, "Don't overthink it. They're just worrying all day long and believing everything they hear. The court has plenty of money, and they don't need to use their dowries to help with those little troubles outside."
Despite saying that, Zhu Yunying still felt gratified, which showed that his sisters-in-law regarded him as family.
As for Lady Sang, although she was a bit spoiled and got along well with Zhu Yunying, on matters of principle, the couple always acted with integrity and closely followed Zhu Yunying's lead.
As for Lady Ma, although her husband once wanted to compete with Zhu Yunying for the throne, Zhu Yunwen's current position is more upright, and Lady Ma, who comes from a mid-level official family, can be considered a 'lady of high birth'.
Xu Miaoqing continued, "My aunt also went to the palace. She said that the Lady of Dingyuan Marquis had found out some information. Some noble families have collected a lot of silver notes and are planning to exchange them when the bank opens."
Zhu Yunying smiled and then said, "Remember to give us a list. Our Ming Dynasty's treasury has plenty of silver; we don't need our family members to take out our savings to help. Those who want to empty the treasury, don't even think about it!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
