Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable-Chapter 896 - 807: Unwilling to Be a Slave — 27th Extra - for Ji Moxue’s Ten Thousand Reward
Not speaking while eating or talking while sleeping, the meal was eaten in complete silence. After the meal, the Empress dabbed her lips with a handkerchief and looked at the Emperor with a light smile, "I’ve noticed that since Your Majesty came to the palace, you seem not in good spirits. Is it because you’re troubled by the previous dynasty’s disaster relief matters?"
The Emperor’s heart skipped a beat; he sighed inwardly knowing it was coming. Although the Empress hadn’t resorted to donating all her jewelry for disaster relief over these years, 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
the jewelry from the concubines in the harem was always sent to him by the Empress. Thinking about seeing the concubines with only one or two hairpins in their hair tomorrow, looking utterly shabby, the Emperor already felt a headache coming on.
However, he had to maintain a calm facade and smiled, "Empress, you are already burdened with managing the harem. Don’t trouble yourself with these affairs of the previous dynasty, I will resolve them myself."
The Empress looked at the Emperor for a while, making him puzzled, thinking there might be something improper about himself. Unconsciously, he lowered his eyes to check, but everything seemed normal, clothes all neat.
Could it be that some rice grains stuck on his face just now during the meal? While the Emperor was contemplating whether to find an opportunity to turn around and wipe his face, he saw the Empress suddenly burst into laughter, leaving him utterly confused.
After laughing for quite some time, the Empress blushed and said, "Your Majesty, forgive me for not being able to hold back. Seeing you worry like that, I really couldn’t help it, haha..."
The Emperor, still at a loss, watched the Empress laugh. After quite a while, the Empress finally ceased laughing and instructed the palace maid beside her, "Nuoxiang, have them bring the boxes in."
Nuoxiang curtsied, responded, and lifted the bead curtain near the door, calling out to the yard, "Bring them all in."
Following Nuoxiang’s words, a row of little eunuchs carried a stream of small boxes into the room, lined them up in the middle of the room, then stood beside the boxes after saluting.
The Empress led the Emperor to the first box, and the little eunuch immediately opened it, revealing half a box of gold and half a box of silver. The Emperor immediately recognized it as what the Empress always prepared whenever there was a need for disaster relief.
The Emperor casually praised the Empress, "The Empress is kind and generous, always promptly donating whenever there are victims of disasters; it greatly comforts my heart."
The Empress chuckled lightly, "Your Majesty, it’s not too late to praise me after you see the other boxes." Saying this, the Empress looked at the little eunuchs, "Open the lids of all the boxes."
With the Empress’s command, all the boxes in the room were opened, and the Emperor was surprised to find that the boxes contained gold and silver but none of the headache-inducing jewelry from the concubines.
Smiling, the Empress led the Emperor over and pointed at the boxes for introduction, "Your Majesty, this box is donated by Lady Shufei, this is from Lady Xuan, this one from Noble Consort Gao, this from Lianpin, this from Bai Ronghua, this from Ruan Zhaoyi..."
The Empress made a round of introductions, including all the concubines in the harem. After seeing this, if the Emperor still didn’t know why the Empress laughed earlier, he would be foolish. Unable to help himself, he wrapped his arm around the Empress’s waist and feigned anger, "Good, Empress, you deliberately watched me make a fool of myself. Tell me, when did you know about my worries?"
The Empress also laughed, "Your Majesty, it’s all my fault for not realizing that the jewelry of the concubines should not circulate among the common people, unintentionally burdening you greatly."
"This is not the Empress’s fault; it’s those concubines who are mindless, but the Empress never uses jewelry as disaster relief donations." The Emperor remarked disdainfully.
"Your Majesty, you’ve misjudged those concubines and overestimated me. I never took out jewelry because, as the mother of a nation, I must have adornments; otherwise, it would be improper.
As for those concubines, although they sometimes go overboard, they’re merely wanting you to know how much they care about you; it’s to win your favor. Moreover, those concubines didn’t know their jewelry couldn’t be circulated and thought it could be bought by the wives of officials."
The Empress’s gentle explanation slightly reduced the Emperor’s displeasure toward the concubines. Holding the Empress’s hand, he sat down, "Ah, they are truly empty-headed and never consider how, as a ruler of a nation, I could sell my concubines’ adornments to the wives of my ministers.
These concubines are simply ridiculous, whereas the Empress, being meticulous, discovered my unspoken concerns and helped me resolve this issue. I must reward you."
"Your Majesty, I dare not take credit for this matter. In fact, it was Noble Consort Gao who came to my palace to remind me of this, allowing me to alleviate your worries. If you wish to reward, Noble Consort Gao should be the one to receive it."
"Haha, reward them all. Noble Consort Gao first brought up the matter to you rather than currying favor with me, understanding the respect and hierarchy toward the Empress, thus deserving a reward. However, the Empress did not conceal Noble Consort Gao’s credit, promptly addressing the issue, and spoke kindly in the concubines’ favor, which would earn more rewards!"
The Emperor, in a delighted mood, distributed rewards generously, although both the National Treasury and the private storeroom lacked silver and gold; it did not lack a variety of luxury items such as famous paintings and decorations.
If the Emperor were not so concerned with face and willing to sell a small portion of the treasures accumulated in the National Treasury and personal storeroom, both would instantly become abundant.
Unfortunately, the Emperor maintained his pride, refusing to do what common ruined households would do; treasures in the National Treasury could only be accumulated or distributed as rewards, but never sold for money. Too shameful!
After staying a night in Fengchen Palace and leaving with a row of boxes filled with gold and silver, the Emperor departed contentedly. The Empress’s personal maidservants, Nuoxiang and Xia’er, came in to attend to the Empress’s clothes and washing.
While styling the Empress’s hair, Nuoxiang smiled and said, "I observed that the Emperor was exceptionally delighted when leaving today. Usually, I didn’t see Noble Consort Gao being so close to our Fengchen Palace, yet this time she was so sensible, knowing that everything should first be reported to Your Majesty, the Empress, who oversees the harem."
The Empress played with a Nine Phoenix Hairpin and laughed lightly, "What do you know, Nuoxiang? Noble Consort Gao’s approach was the smart one. If she were to directly report this to the Emperor, she might have offended me.
Besides, the Emperor, who highly values decorum, would not appreciate such overstepping, and even the concubines in the harem would not hesitate to resent her for meddling, considering her stepping over them, hence scheming against her in the future.
However, after reporting to me, things completely changed. She knew that I wouldn’t secretly take credit for her merit, and since I manage the harem, ensuring that the concubines cannot use jewelry as disaster relief is reasonable and within the boundaries of rules and decorum."
