"Five million taels..."
Although she had received professional training from Consort Hua, she had become accustomed to all sorts of fine things over the past few months.
But upon suddenly hearing such a large number, Yun Changzai's eyes widened in shock.
I couldn't help but sigh inwardly, Consort Cheng is truly wealthy. If she had this much private wealth, she wouldn't want the emperor, or even a god.
Anyway, even if someone like her were to encounter a celestial destiny, she would still be destined to be an immortal maid.
It would be better to enjoy wealth and luxury as we are now.
Furthermore, the Emperor is truly shameless, actually asking the Imperial Concubine for money. This is even worse than those outside who use their wives' dowries to support a house full of concubines.
The Emperor is using his concubine's dowry to support his principal wife and other concubines!
Yun Changzai couldn't help but say, "Did the Noble Consort really give it to me? When I served the Emperor, Eunuch Su never mentioned that such a thing would happen."
[Yun's reactions here are like those of a young wife who has been tricked into marriage; the word "wronged" is written all over her face from beginning to end.]
[Such a beautiful face, how come it had to be seen by that chubby orange cat?]
This wasn't the first time Yun Changzai had heard these things; she had been terrified before, thinking she had seen a ghost.
However, she has adapted well now, and no matter what she hears, Yun Changzai is able to face it with a calm mind.
However, the term "marriage fraud" seems more fitting to describe her situation. After all, aside from her face, everything else is fake...
An Lingrong said, "It seems that His Majesty is really short of money, otherwise he wouldn't have asked my sister for this."
"The country is so big, and money is needed everywhere. I heard that the Emperor asked Consort Hua and Consort Jing to think about how to reduce the expenses of the harem."
Sun Miaoqing said, "How can we simplify things? These are all just treating the symptoms, not the root cause, and we're unwilling to address the root cause."
"Demoting all the concubines in the palace to the rank of 'daimyo' wouldn't save much money."
Emperor Daoguang was so stingy that he went to great lengths to demote his concubines. Even on the Empress's birthday, she only received a bowl of noodles, and the palace was filled with low-ranking concubines.
And so, the annual expenses of the harem continued to flow like water, with little to be saved.
Consort Yun said, "Your Highness has been wronged. It breaks my heart to see you like this. Your Majesty really doesn't know how to be kind to people."
Zhen Huan said, "Consort Yun is really good with words; her mouth is as sweet as honey."
"People say we look alike, but they're wrong."
Yun Changzai smiled shyly, "Princess Wan, please don't tease me. In front of the Emperor, of course, whatever the Emperor likes is what matters."
"As for being with my sisters, I'll just do whatever I want."
She had been careful not to arouse suspicion in private, but these past two or three months hadn't been wasted. Which of the concubines in the harem didn't have two faces, one in public and one in private?
Before the emperor, everyone was virtuous and gentle, serving him with tenderness and deference. Behind the emperor's back, however, their personalities were varied and their hobbies numerous.
If that's the case, why is she still pretending? Isn't she tired?
Furthermore, Aunt Zhilan said that once you become one of the emperor's concubines, you shouldn't expect to be like Yang Guifei, ruling above the entire harem.
Even Yang Guifei, when it came to the emperor's interests, would be easily discarded.
She's not stupid. Knowing she can't possibly beat them, why does she still insist on going against them? What's the point?
The more unrestrained one is in the present, the less peaceful one will find in the future, even with a solitary lamp and a Buddhist temple.
Besides, the other concubines enjoy their wealth and honor, which won't hinder her riches. As long as they don't oppose her, everyone in the palace will be her good sister.
Zhen Huan said, "Sister Yun is truly straightforward, which makes me quite envious."
Yun Changzai smiled and said, "The elder sisters treat me like their own sisters, and I am happy to be able to get along with them."
Sun Miaoqing said, "Life in the palace is long. When there's nothing to do, we play mahjong and chat to pass the time."
"If you feel comfortable, feel free to come over and sit for a while when you have some free time."
Consort Yun happily replied, "Yes, Your Highness, thank you very much."
"I hope that my older sisters will never complain about my clumsy hands and feet in the future."
An Lingrong said, "Sister Yun is skillful and clever, how could she be a clumsy person?"
*
Jiuzhou Qingyan
Big Fat Orange ate a chive pancake, then picked up a bowl of chilled goji berry soup and drank it all in a few gulps.
With a single glance from Su Peisheng, Xiazi took the bowls and plates off the desk.
“Your Majesty, the weather is getting hot now, and you have been eating leeks and goji berries for several days in a row. This servant is worried that you will get too much internal heat and feel unwell.”
The chubby orange cat said nonchalantly, "No need to worry, I had ice added. I also drank a bowl of lily and mung bean soup every day after noon, how could I be getting a sore throat?"
"Imperial Physician Lu told me that food therapy is worse than medicine. Too much of a highly nourishing substance like deer antler glue can be harmful to the body."
"These ordinary foods are still the most nourishing."
Upon hearing this, Su Peisheng swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
He was a eunuch, and he didn't understand men's obsessions. Losing those two ounces of flesh always made him feel inferior, but it also saved him a lot of trouble.
Big Fat Orange felt he should be more restrained, but Consort Yun was too similar to Chun Yuan, and Huan Huan had been neglected recently, so he had to show her more favor.
Shilan had served him for many years, and the Nian family was now extremely well-behaved. He still felt some guilt towards Shilan, which made him even more determined not to neglect her.
And then there's Consort Yu's gentle embrace; every time I go there, my bones melt, and I can't resist.
What troubled him most was that vixen; none of the other concubines were as persistent as her.
Sigh, he really has his heart broken by worrying about the imperial court and the harem!
"What is Consort Cheng doing right now?"
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