My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Chapter 301 The Ming Dynasty's national bonds are printed; it's time to go find Emperor Chongzhen for his signature!
It has to be said that Qiqige's words were quite blunt. If it were any other sensitive woman, she probably would have turned on her right then and there.

However, Zheng Xiaomei knew Qiqige's character well and knew that she did not intend to insult her.

After all, Qiqige lost her parents at a young age, and even her country was destroyed. Moreover, she grew up on the grasslands, so it's normal that she doesn't understand the complex etiquette and customs of the Han people.

Therefore, Zheng Xiaomei simply nodded slightly, which was taken as tacit agreement.

At this moment, Qiqige turned to look at Zhu Cilang and asked with a puzzled expression:

"So, you're going to marry your first wife?"

It has to be said that Zhu Cilang was speechless at this moment. From the very beginning, Qiqige had been chattering away like a sparrow.

Moreover, the phrase "first wife and second wife" is incredibly hurtful. Although Qiqige meant no harm, Zheng Xiaomei would probably feel uncomfortable for quite a while after hearing it.

Thinking of this, Zhu Cilang said irritably:

"Qiqige, if you can't speak properly, then shut up, okay? What do you mean by 'first wife' and 'second wife'? Don't say that again."

Zheng Xiaomei, who was standing nearby, noticed that Zhu Cilang was a little angry, and quickly tried to smooth things over with a smile:

"Your Highness, please don't be angry. I'm not angry at all. It's already an honor for me to be able to serve Your Highness. I'm already very satisfied."

When she said this, Zheng Xiaomei's face was full of sincerity.

To be honest, if Zheng Xiaomei's father, Zheng Zhilong, had not been a pirate but a proper official, with the Zheng family's influence and Zheng Xiaomei's own talent and beauty, she might have actually become the Crown Princess.

Unfortunately, her father was Zheng Zhilong, a notorious pirate, who was considered a taboo subject by the imperial court, thus preventing her from becoming the Crown Princess.

Zheng Xiaomei had actually prepared herself mentally for this, so she wasn't angry about the outcome. Instead, she felt content to be able to stay by Zhu Cilang's side.

At the same time, Qiqige finally realized that she seemed to have said something wrong.

She scratched her head somewhat awkwardly, then looked at Zheng Xiaomei apologetically and said:

"I'm sorry, little sister, I didn't mean it. I really didn't know about these customs of you Han people. Please don't take it to heart."

Zheng Xiaomei patted Qiqige's hand and comforted her with a smile:
"Don't worry, I won't blame you. I know you said that because you don't understand. We don't need to be so polite between us."

Just then, Zhu Cilang couldn't help but speak up:

"Alright, alright, Qiqige, if there's nothing else, you can go and rest now. I have something to discuss with my little sister."

It was obvious that Zhu Cilang was trying to get rid of them, after all, Qiqige's mouth was too sharp.

Hearing this, Qiqige didn't know what to say, so she could only pout and leave reluctantly.

He looked like a wronged child, which made people both angry and amused.

After Qiqige left, Zhu Cilang stepped forward and grabbed Zheng Xiaomei's hand.

Zheng Xiaomei's hands were soft and boneless, with an excellent feel, like a piece of warm and beautiful jade, which stirred a ripple in Zhu Cilang's heart.

Then he looked deeply into Zheng Xiaomei's eyes and said:

"Don't worry, little sister. I won't neglect you just because I have the Crown Princess. No one can replace you in my heart."

This is indeed the truth, and not only was Zheng Xiaomei irreplaceable in Zhu Cilang's heart, but so were his brother-in-law Zheng Chenggong and his father-in-law Zheng Zhilong.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiaomei burst into laughter, her smile as radiant and captivating as a flower blooming in spring.

Then she blinked and asked mischievously:

"Does Your Highness think I would be jealous?"

Zhu Cilang scratched his head somewhat awkwardly and said:

"I suppose so, but what I'm saying is the truth. I promise you, no matter how many women you have in the future, I will never neglect you."

To be honest, I still have a lot of affection for Zheng Xiaomei and Zhu Cilang.

After all, Zheng Xiaomei was his first woman in this world, and men always have special feelings for the first woman they have, and Zhu Cilang was no exception.

That first flutter of the heart, that first emotional connection, made him feel a special attachment to Zheng Xiaomei.

Although Zheng Xiaomei didn't know what Zhu Cilang was thinking, she was still quite moved at this moment.

Her eyes were slightly red, and tears of emotion glistened in them.

Just then, Zhu Cilang suddenly thought of something and said with a smile:

"By the way, when you go to see your mother tomorrow, she will probably discuss this matter with you. You can handle this matter together with your mother. When choosing the Crown Princess, you can also watch from the side and choose one that you like."

"After all, we'll all be living under the same roof in the future. If you can choose someone who suits your taste, you'll get along better in the future."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiaomei couldn't help but chuckle and say:

"Your Highness, please don't joke around. What kind of logic is there in this world where the Crown Prince's concubines choose the Crown Prince's wife? If this gets out, people will laugh their heads off."

Zhu Cilang, however, said with a serious expression:

"I'm not joking with you. I trust your judgment. Remember to choose someone with a good personality. I don't want the harem to be filled with jealousy and infighting every day. Life would be unbearable otherwise."

"Of course, don't be too ugly either. I don't want someone who's too ugly. After all, we'll be seeing each other all the time, and seeing her like that will affect my mood."

The last sentence was a joke, which made Zheng Xiaomei burst out laughing, and her little emotions were instantly thrown to the back of her mind.

In fact, Zhu Cilang didn't have any special requirements or ideas about the Crown Princess. As long as she wasn't too ugly or had a bad temper, he could accept her.

what?
You're saying this lacks love? Lacks affection? Doesn't count as true love?

Please
I'm already the crown prince, and I'll be the emperor in a few years. Why would I care if a woman truly loves me?

What I love is the vast land of the Ming Dynasty!

As for women
They would probably fall in love with a future emperor like me, wouldn't they?

If you don't love them, then find someone else!
I'll keep searching until I find true love!

Meanwhile, after returning to her room, Qiqige was still upset about what had just happened.

She sat on the edge of the bed, her hands supporting her chin, muttering to herself:

"How could I be so stupid? I said the wrong thing. My little sister must be feeling bad."

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that her words and actions had gone too far, and she decided to find another opportunity to apologize to Zheng Xiaomei properly later.

After all, they were good friends, and she didn't want to hurt that friendship with her unintentional words.

It must be said that the Baochao Bureau was quite efficient. As night slowly fell and the last rays of the setting sun gradually disappeared, the officials of the Baochao Bureau hurriedly arrived at the East Palace with carefully prepared drafts of the Ming Dynasty national bonds.

Zhu Cilang gently took the drafts and carefully scanned each one. The exquisite designs of each draft were simply breathtaking.

Moreover, they come in various styles, some simple and elegant, others ornate and elaborate, clearly demonstrating the great effort put into their design and production.

Zhu Cilang carefully selected each one, finding them irresistible.

Ultimately, he made a decision to use all the submitted drafts.

The two most exquisitely designed bonds were designated as the highest denomination Ming Dynasty bonds, namely five thousand taels of silver and ten thousand taels of silver, to highlight their prestige and extraordinary nature.

Other, simpler options are set as small-denomination Ming Dynasty bonds to meet the needs of different groups.

After confirming the matter, Zhu Cilang did not hesitate at all and immediately ordered the officials of the Treasury to print a large batch of Ming Dynasty bonds overnight, which were to be used the next day.

The officials of the Treasury were startled when they heard this.

They thought the matter was over and they could finally breathe a sigh of relief, but they didn't expect the Crown Prince to be in such a hurry.

However, since it was His Highness the Crown Prince's order, they couldn't refuse, could they?

Therefore, the officials had no choice but to agree:

"Your Highness, please rest assured, we will certainly not fail in our mission!"

Upon returning to the Treasury, the officials summoned craftsmen overnight to begin creating templates in preparation for the production of Ming Dynasty bonds.

The craftsmen, who were called back in the middle of the night, dared not be careless in the slightest, after all, this was something His Highness the Crown Prince had instructed them to do.

And so, in the quiet of the late night, when the entire capital was immersed in dreams, the artisans of the Baochao Bureau were still busy in their brightly lit workshops.

Although their faces showed fatigue, their eyes shone with determination.

Finally, at the first light of dawn, the Ming Dynasty bonds that Zhu Cilang had requested were finally produced.

Those brand-new Ming Dynasty bonds, exuding a faint scent of ink, lay quietly in the corner of the workshop, waiting to be delivered to the Crown Prince.

At this point, some people may ask, what if the officials in charge of producing the Ming Dynasty bonds have inappropriate thoughts and produce more Ming Dynasty bonds?
After all, this stuff is real money these days!
If we print more, wouldn't we be able to line our own pockets?
If you really think that way, you're being too naive, because this matter is not that easy at all!

First of all, the manufacturing process of paper and ink is extremely confidential, known only to a handful of people who have worked in the Treasury their entire lives, some even through generations. They would never do such a thing.

Secondly, the Ming Dynasty maintained extremely strict control over the paper and ink used for its paper money.

Each time a set number of Ming Dynasty banknotes were produced, a corresponding amount of paper and ink was allocated, and every step of the process was strictly monitored.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard monitors the usage at all times; even a little too much or too little could be fatal.

It's no exaggeration to say that if even one piece of paper didn't match, the Imperial Guards would immediately arrive and arrest the person.

Therefore, no one dared to have any designs on this, since it was a matter that could cost them their heads.

So, the next morning, when the first rays of sunlight shone into Zhu Cilang's bedroom, he woke up early.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he heard Ma Bao say that the Treasury had delivered the Ming Dynasty bonds, which were currently in his study!

After quickly tidying himself up, Zhu Cilang rushed to his study without even having time to eat. There, he saw the Ming Dynasty bonds neatly stacked in two exquisite wooden boxes, looking both solemn and impressive.

Zhu Cilang casually picked up a Ming Dynasty national bond, and saw that the newly printed Ming Dynasty national bond was indeed exceptionally exquisite.

The paper used was made of the same material as the Ming Dynasty's paper money; it felt delicate and smooth to the touch, with an excellent texture.

Moreover, it is more than twice the size of the Ming Dynasty Treasure Note, making it look more eye-catching and grand.

As per Zhu Cilang's request, these Ming Dynasty bonds had only two denominations: one for five thousand taels and the other for ten thousand taels.

Zhu Cilang actually wanted to print some 100,000 taels of Ming Dynasty bonds, since that would be more convenient.

However, he felt that such a large amount was too much, and that ordinary merchants and nobles might not be able to afford it.

It would be embarrassing if we couldn't sell them.

So after thinking it over, he still felt that a maximum of ten thousand taels of silver would be more appropriate.

Because it was printed in an expedited manner, the number of these Ming Dynasty bonds was not large, only one thousand.

Of these, five thousand taels and ten thousand taels each accounted for half, totaling seven million five hundred thousand taels of silver.

Of course, this thing cannot be used yet; it must be signed by Emperor Chongzhen.

After all, Zhu Cilang had previously stated that all national bonds exceeding five thousand taels of silver must bear Chongzhen's signature to appear more formal and solemn.

However, it seems that Chongzhen is going to be quite busy, as writing his own name a thousand times is no easy task.

Thinking of this, Zhu Cilang couldn't help but reveal a gloating smile.

Immediately after a quick breakfast, Zhu Cilang had someone take the thousand Ming Dynasty bonds and, together with Zheng Xiaomei and Qiqige, went to the palace to pay their respects to Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Zhou.

After all, some things delayed Zheng Xiaomei and Qiqige's visit to Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Zhou yesterday, so they couldn't delay it again today.

After the three entered the palace and met Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Zhou, Zhu Cilang immediately bowed and said:
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty and Your Majesty."

Qiqige and Zheng Xiaomei knelt on the ground and kowtowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty and Mother, I pay my respects."

"Your subject pays respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming and His Majesty the Empress of the Great Ming."

Because of their different identities, Qiqige and Zheng Xiaomei address each other differently.

Qiqige is a Mongolian princess. Although she may have some kind of relationship with Zhu Cilang in the future, it is still far from certain, so she can only refer to herself as a subject.

Zheng Xiaomei was Zhu Cilang's concubine, so the way they addressed each other was naturally more intimate.

Empress Zhou already had a smile on her face when she saw Zheng Xiaomei and Qiqi arrive, so she naturally hurriedly said:

"Get up, get up, stop kneeling."

Her voice was gentle and kind, like that of a loving mother.

Then Zheng Xiaomei and Qiqige stood up.

It must be said that Empress Zhou really liked Zheng Xiaomei and Qiqige.

At this moment, her eyes were filled with love and tenderness as she looked at them, as if they were her daughters-in-law.

(End of this chapter)