The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 391

Knowing that the national treasury was empty, the Empress Dowager and the Empress took the lead in reducing the expenses of the inner palace and also released two hundred palace maids and eunuchs out of the palace.

The newly arrived beauties were not lavishly rewarded; they were simply given an item by the Empress after meeting her.

"The Empress comes from a humble family after all. Even a simple bracelet is something she can afford. I'm not kidding, the ones I give to the maids in my household are better than this."

Consort Zhong held the bracelet, pouted, and said nonchalantly, "Just wait, my good days in the harem are about to begin."

"Yes, Miss..."

"Ok?"

"Yes, my lord."

“You silly girl, remember this: I am the young mistress now, and sooner or later, I will become the master of this palace.”

"Miss Chen is a Consort..."

"Who does she think she is? She's just someone the Emperor wants to use to fight the Xiongnu. If they win, all's fine, but if they lose, well..."

Hearing this, Eunuch Fu broke out in a cold sweat. Women in the harem really do die from talking too much.

She glanced at the Emperor furtively, who snorted coldly and turned to leave.

"Take down her green nameplate and never use it again."

"Yes, master."

Eunuch Fu breathed a sigh of relief; he was really afraid that the Emperor would immediately send her to the Cold Palace as soon as he arrived.

In truth, which woman in the harem wasn't someone the emperor was trying to win over?

They were able to enter because of the outbreak of the war against the Xiongnu, and the emperor needed people.

They all know perfectly well what's going on, yet they still do stupid things.

These are words that, even if kept tightly buried in one's heart, cannot be spoken aloud.

Does she really not understand the concept of "walls have ears"?
How could the Zhong family be so stupid as to send her to the palace?
Aren't you afraid of implicating three generations and nine clans?
The Imperial Household Department brought over the green plaque.

"Eunuch Xia, His Majesty is busy today and there is no need for this."

"Ah, oh, okay!"

Eunuch Xia was puzzled. Eight beauties had entered the harem, and today Eunuch Fu personally came to order the removal of Consort Zhong's green plaque. Now that it was being brought out, no one was being chosen.

It might not necessarily be the Empress's place.
But the Empress is pregnant!

Even Eunuch Xia was very curious: What's wrong with the Emperor?
Is the Emperor unwell?

Realizing he might have touched on a divine secret, he was terrified, his back drenched in cold sweat.

No, he can't let his mind wander.

Back in the Imperial Household Department, the master asked about it.

"Eunuch Fu said that the battle at the front is busy and His Majesty is tired, so he will be excused from today's meeting."

"That's true. With the war raging at the front, it's really disgraceful for the Emperor to be indulging in pleasure with his concubines in the harem, with singing and dancing. It will discourage the soldiers on the front lines."

Eunuch Xia... So that's how it is!
I'm glad I was overthinking it.

I thought something had happened to the Emperor.

He's in his prime; what problems could possibly arise?

The family members of the concubines in the harem soon learned of what Eunuch Xia was worried about.

"Did he not favor any of them, or did he only not favor our family members?"

"Your Majesty, there are none, not a single one. Every time the green plaques from the Imperial Household Department were sent up, Eunuch Fu dismissed them. He didn't even go in to ask the Emperor for permission."

"What about Kunning Palace?"

"The Emperor does go to Kunning Palace every day, but he has never asked for water."

"His Majesty is only twenty-three years old this year, isn't he?"

"Who says it's not?"

Therefore, it's abnormal, very abnormal.

However, the next day at court, after the emperor inquired about the progress of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War in raising military funds, these court officials probably understood why the emperor was not in the mood to favor his concubines. In truth, being an emperor is not an easy task.

"There is still a shortfall of 200,000 taels of silver. What do you all think?"

how to think?
I can't come up with a solution even when I try to think about it.

The people who used to be noisy and argumentative are now as quiet as quails.

So what's the point of the imperial court using salaries to support so many people?

The emperor was very disappointed and announced the end of the court session.

Back in the Imperial Study, feeling somewhat agitated, I decided to visit my mother at the Cining Palace.

Unexpectedly, I saw Xiao Chunnuan there.

"Your Majesty, I greet you. Long live the Emperor!"

"Mr. Xiao, please don't stand on ceremony. Please have a seat."

Chunnuan was chatting with the Empress Dowager when the Emperor, unaware that he had inadvertently stumbled upon her: "Did I disturb the Empress Dowager and Mr. Xiao's enjoyment?"

“My son, you’ve come at the right time. Mr. Xiao is very righteous. Take a look.”

The Empress Dowager picked up a booklet, and immediately a maidservant stepped forward and handed it to the Emperor.

"This is?"

The emperor was shocked, never expecting that this donation from the students of Chunshan Women's Medical College totaled 30,826 taels of silver.

"Your Majesty, the students of Chunshan Women's Medical College are grateful for Your Majesty's boundless grace, which has given them the opportunity to learn knowledge and medical skills, enabling them to alleviate the suffering of patients while also gaining the ability to survive independently. Knowing that the soldiers on the front lines are protecting our Great Zhou with their blood and lives, we, as women, cannot go to the front lines. So we wanted to do what we could. We sold some jewelry and took out some of our private savings to express our determination and donated it to the soldiers on the border."

"Mr. Xiao is very righteous."

Xiao Chunnuan alone donated 10,000 taels of silver.

Moreover, the emperor was well aware that this was not a matter of 30,000 taels of silver, but a way to raise 200,000 taels of silver to cover the shortfall in military pay.

"Yes, Mr. Xiao and the female doctors at the Women's Medical College are all excellent." The Empress Dowager said with emotion, "Since Mr. Xiao has taken the lead, I will also donate 20,000 taels of silver. By the way, Nanny, go to Kunning Palace and tell the Empress."

It's time to set an example.

The Empress had been feeling unwell for the past two days, and upon hearing the news from the Empress Dowager, she immediately took out a box of her dowry jewelry.

"Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, the Empress said that this is the best box of jewelry that came with her dowry, and she will sell it for whatever amount she can as a token of her affection."

The Empress Dowager smiled when she saw the box of jewelry.

“My son, the Empress is an honest child.”

This box of jewelry must be worth at least 30,000 to 50,000 yuan; she had heard rumors among the concubines in the harem before.

Who said she was from a poor family and was stingy?

This is the kind of person who has been trained by noble families; she is the best candidate for Empress.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I have come up with a solution."

"any solution?"

After listening to Xiao Chunnuan's suggestion, the Emperor and Empress Dowager were both very impressed.

"In that case, the jewelry I brought out and the box of jewelry the Empress brought out can play their greatest role."

“Exactly,” Chunnuan said. “Moreover, this makes them willingly part with their money, and they’ll definitely be very happy doing so.”

"Are the chrysanthemums in the palace blooming now?" the Empress Dowager asked the nanny.

"Indeed, Your Majesty, the chrysanthemums in the Imperial Garden are vying for attention with their fragrance and beauty."

"Alright, convey my imperial decree, inviting all ladies of the seventh rank and above to the palace to appreciate the chrysanthemums."

Xiao Chunnuan... Very well, the Empress Dowager intends to capture them all in one fell swoop.

However, she had another good idea, which the Empress Dowager immediately approved.

"If Mr. Xiao were a man, he would have the talent to be ennobled and appointed as prime minister."

The emperor praised it lavishly.
Who says women are inferior to men? This Xiao Chunnuan surpasses hundreds of civil and military officials in the front hall!