The cold wind is blowing, and the willow catkins are drifting.
Sun Miaoqing cried until her heart felt utterly cold...
Liuli's eyes immediately reddened with anxiety. "Your Majesty, the Emperor is the ruler of the country. How could he do such a thing!"
"With the Empress Dowager as our role model, we're probably next. Among the ladies in the palace, you're the richest."
Linglan said, "Perhaps we are overthinking it. The Emperor always has to save face."
"Perhaps the Empress Dowager felt sorry for the Emperor and gave it to him on her own initiative? After all, they are mother and son, and those things will belong to the Emperor sooner or later."
Liuli shook her head vigorously, clearly disagreeing with Linglan's opinion.
She had spent so many years in the palace, yet she had only seen the Empress Dowager a handful of times. But she had heard just as many rumors and gossip.
The Empress Dowager's heart and soul have always belonged to the Fourteenth Prince; she doesn't care that much about the Emperor.
If it were truly given voluntarily, then Aunts Zhu Xi and Zhu Yun would have packed it up and taken it to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. How could it be that Liang Chun led people to take it?
However, Liuli felt that the Empress was, after all, one of the Emperor's concubines. If she really wanted to do business, sharing some of the profits with the Emperor wouldn't be a bad thing.
This is a perfect opportunity to have the Emperor inscribe a plaque, so that whatever we do in the future will be smooth sailing and we'll have a constant stream of guests.
Liuli said, "Your Majesty, I think it wouldn't be a bad thing to let the Emperor share some of the profits. That way, the business can be run more steadily."
"Wealth can be a powerful motivator. All kinds of diseases exist in the world, the most common of which is conjunctivitis."
"Although you are favored by the Emperor, there are many powerful and influential people in the capital. Flies may not kill you, but they can be incredibly annoying. It's not worth it for a few coins."
Sun Miaoqing had long known that it would be easy for her to only dabble in small-scale operations, but if she wanted to grow bigger and stronger, she would need the support of Big Fat Orange.
No matter how unwilling she was, she had to admit it. Her status as Consort Cheng was merely that of an appendage of Big Fat Orange. Her fate was simply a matter of a single word from Big Fat Orange.
So Sun Miaoqing had already decided that when the time was right, she would eventually give Big Fat Orange a 30% stake.
She just hadn't expected this day to come so soon. She hadn't even had a chance to properly enjoy her silver notes.
Fine, let's just consider Big Fat Orange as an angel investor, raising funds for her.
Once we set up shop, everything will be smooth sailing, and we'll earn even more than we do now!
However, it's better to give as little as possible, otherwise, what was supposed to be her dowry will end up as Big Fat Orange's private property, and she won't be able to die in peace!
Sun Miaoqing said, "I know, but judging from the Emperor's current attitude, I'm afraid even a 30% share won't be enough to shut him up."
"I need to take the initiative and let the Emperor know when to stop. Otherwise, once the Emperor has figured everything out, he might ask me for it indirectly. All my hard work these past few days might be for nothing."
Linglan and Liuli said in unison, "Your Majesty is wise."
Sun Miaoqing was just thinking about going to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to express her loyalty when she suddenly remembered what had happened today. It was all so unexpected. It involved the power struggle between the chubby orange and the Empress Dowager; even the smallest thing became a big deal.
She only knows one side of the story and rushes in without knowing the other side; it's probably not a good thing. She should find out the details first.
Sun Miaoqing asked, "Liuli, did anything else happen in the palace today?"
Liuli thought for a moment and said, "It's like this every day in the palace, no different from usual."
"Apart from Consort Hua inviting Consort Shen and Consort Jing to Yikun Palace every now and then to learn palace affairs, everything else is quite ordinary."
Sun Miaoqing was helpless; the plot had already been drastically altered.
For example, after the empress fell seriously ill, she was no longer able to manage the harem, and even the greetings could be skipped, making her look like she had become a nun.
Gyeongin Palace is very quiet now, and it doesn't look like the palace of an empress at all.
This made Consort Hua's arrogance grow increasingly overbearing. All the favored concubines, except for Sun Miaoqing, had suffered at Consort Hua's hands.
Because of palace affairs, he frequently summoned Shen Meizhuang and Consort Jing to Yikun Palace. Ostensibly, it was to teach them about palace matters, but in reality, it was to find ways to make things difficult for them.
The other concubines were initially envious of Shen Meizhuang and Da Pangju for liking them so much.
Seeing the predicament the two had suffered, they couldn't help but feel relieved. Thankfully, Big Fatty Orange hadn't handed them this hot potato in the first place.
Otherwise, not just anyone could withstand Consort Hua's targeting.
Sun Miaoqing said, "It must have been hard on Consort Jing and Noble Lady Shen. Consort Hua has indeed gone too far in some things."
"Since nothing's happening in the harem, what about the imperial court?"
"There aren't many people who could make the Empress Dowager do this."
After thinking carefully for a moment, Liuli suddenly said, "Could it be because of the Fourteenth Prince?"
"News has come from the Imperial Mausoleum that the Fourteenth Prince is seriously ill. The Emperor has sent two imperial physicians there. Could it be because of this?"
Sun Miaoqing said, "It's most likely related to this, otherwise it would be strange if the Empress Dowager could swallow this insult."
"If she is unwilling, the emperor will not be able to go too far by pressing her with the principle of filial piety."
Linglan's eyes widened in shock. The blood ties within the royal family were so weak, even weaker than those of ordinary people like them.
Although she was born a servant and was only a daughter, she was loved and pampered by her parents and brothers from a young age.
Regardless of how outsiders perceive the Sun family, they have an excellent relationship and a harmonious family atmosphere.
Linglan said, "Everyone says that there are no fathers and sons in the imperial family, and I didn't believe it before. But now I've seen it for myself. Even mothers and sons, brothers from the same mother, can scheme against each other like this."
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