nashuaworldcup Chapter 247 Dilemma
Chapter 247 Dilemma
On the second day, the concubines gathered at Louyue Kaiyun Pavilion to pay their respects.
"Everyone, get up!" The Queen sat at the head of the table, her lips curled up slightly, and she was in a very good mood. After Zhen Huan left the palace, it was like a thorn was pulled out of her eye. Without that annoying figure anymore, her life seemed to be a little easier.
But when her eyes wandered and landed on Feng Ruozhao's belly, her brows unconsciously furrowed. Concubine Jing had been in the palace for many years, and now she was pregnant. This made her feel very uncomfortable. She was so old and could still be pregnant. Did she have some secret recipe for pregnancy?
"Concubine Jing has been in the palace for many years, and now she is pregnant. It is really surprising and joyful. Even I feel that you have hope for the future. You must take good care of yourself!" The queen's words seemed caring, but her eyes did not have much warmth.
Feng Ruozhao supported the maid's hand and slowly stood up, bowing slightly: "Thank you, Queen, for your concern."
After the Queen had finished demonstrating her virtuous character, Shen Meizhuang stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report!"
"you say!"
Shen Meizhuang turned around and looked straight at Concubine Qi: "Concubine Qi."
Concubine Qi's heart tightened, and her expression changed slightly, but she quickly stood up and replied, "I'm here!"
"Last month, the expenses in your palace were four or five times your allotment. How do you explain that?" Shen Meizhuang spoke in a steady voice, her eyes sharp.
Hearing this, Gua Liu let out a long sigh, revealing a smug smile. He raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, please come to my palace more often. I took some extra things to please your Majesty."
Shen Meizhuang's voice was cold and solemn, without a trace of emotion. "Serving the Emperor is the duty of the concubines. No matter how much money is spent to please the Emperor, it's worth it. However, I heard that the Emperor has been busy with state affairs recently and has rarely visited the harem. Most of the fresh fish and meat you brought in have rotted and gone to waste. Is this true?"
Gua Liu was still quibbling, but her eyes were a little flustered. "Even though the emperor hasn't come, I still have to make good preparations. If I am delayed in serving the emperor, I can't bear it."
"If the Emperor were to visit your palace, a servant would have reported it, and you would have had time to go to the Imperial Household Department to get something. If this delays your attendance on the Emperor, it would be a dereliction of duty on the part of the Imperial Household Department servants, and I would have punished them. If everyone in the palace were to be as wasteful as you, wouldn't that betray the Emperor's reputation for thriftiness?"
Gua Liu was speechless, her face turning pale and blue. She cursed Shen Meizhuang in her heart for meddling in her affairs, but she didn't dare to get angry. She could only swallow her anger and said, "I know I'm wrong."
Shen Meizhuang ignored her expression and continued, "Noble Lady Qi, although we are in the harem and enjoy the best of the world, we should also be grateful for the hard work of the people. We should also understand the principle of 'every meal should be cherished, every piece of cloth should be cherished'. If we can't increase income, we can at least save a little. If the reputation of extravagance spreads to others, they will think that you are squandering money even when you are at home, which will also affect your Guaerjia clan!"
Concubine Qi bit her lip and said, "Thank you for your teachings, Concubine Hui. I will keep them in mind."
"Considering this is your first offense, I will give you a small punishment and a big warning. The waste will be converted into silver and deducted from your allowance. Then you will return to the palace and copy the 'Nu Jie' ten times!"
Gua Liu cast his gaze towards the Queen, who was sitting above him. Seeing that she had no intention of speaking, he could only say, "Yes!"
After Shen Meizhuang finished speaking, the Queen smiled and said, "What Concubine Hui said is true. You must listen to Concubine Hui and be frugal in the future. Don't be extravagant."
This is a bit sarcastic!
Shen Meizhuang reacted quickly, bowed, and said, "The Empress is the mother of the nation. We, the concubines, will follow her example."
Without rehearsal, everyone stood up and said, "We will follow the Empress' example."
After the greetings were over, the concubines dispersed and the Queen asked Concubine Jing to talk alone. An Lingrong thought for a moment and pointed in the direction of Concubine Jing. Shen Meizhuang, who was standing beside her, nodded in understanding and then took Caiyue's hand and walked out of Louyue Kaiyun Pavilion.
An Lingrong stood at the gate, and soon she saw Concubine Qi coming out of the gate holding the hand of a maid.
When she saw An Lingrong, she just glanced at her and turned around without hesitation, walking in the completely opposite direction of An Lingrong.
An Lingrong had been standing there for a long time, and couldn't help but feel a little bored. Her bright eyes rolled around, and she suddenly had an idea. So she shouted, "Stop!"
Hearing the shout, Concubine Qi stopped and paused for a moment before slowly turning around. "What are you doing?"
An Lingrong raised the corner of her mouth, revealing a half-smile as she said, "Noble Lady Qi, why didn't you greet me when you saw me? Is this the way you, the Guarjia clan, are brought up?"
Concubine Qi was speechless, her face suddenly turned ugly, and she could only bow reluctantly: "I pay my respects to Concubine Wen."
"Your movements are not standard, try again!"
Concubine Qi shook her handkerchief and bowed again.
"It's still wrong, try again!"
"Your Majesty, are you trying to make things difficult for me?" Concubine Qi also saw the teasing in her eyes.
"I am above you in rank, and today I am here to remind you of the rules of the palace. Why don't you know how to appreciate my kindness?"
Concubine Qi was furious, her chest heaving violently, and she said directly: "Give me a warning? Do you think I can't see that you are clearly jealous of my favor from the Emperor and want to suppress me."
An Lingrong showed a look of contempt. "You are just a humble noble. My position is far superior to yours. Are you jealous of me? You think too highly of yourself, don't you? If you didn't have a mirror in your palace, I would be so kind as to give you one."
"You...you don't think that you can decide everything in this palace just by your position, do you?"
"What else? Rely on your face?"
"I am of noble birth and favored by the Emperor. If you want to make things difficult for me, I am not someone you can easily bully!"
An Lingrong said smugly, "How hard can you be to bully? Last time, you went to the Emperor, and I was fine. You take yourself too seriously!"
"You..." Gualiu was speechless, and pointed at the person opposite with trembling fingers.
Seeing her shaking with anger, An Lingrong added fuel to the fire: "What am I doing? You still want to hit me!"
Hearing this, Concubine Qi became furious. She took two quick steps forward and raised her hands high.
I've been waiting for this move from you.