newbobooks Chapter 344 The Silver Donation Craze
Chapter 344 The Silver Donation Craze
Jun Shuyan clearly hadn't expected Chu Sangning to do this. Feeling a warmth in his heart, he instructed Eunuch Cui, "Send the crimson agate that the foreign tribes previously presented as tribute to the Empress."
That agate was exceptionally well-formed and rare in the world; various palaces had openly and secretly requested it from him.
Qin Wanyue was the most persistent, mentioning it to him twice yesterday.
Just as Eunuch Cui was about to leave, Jun Shuyan thought for a moment and stopped him, saying, "Never mind, it would be more sincere of me to deliver it myself."
He put down the memorial in his hand and walked out first, followed by a group of people.
Inside the Jiaolan Palace, Chu Sangning was having people take stock of her dowry. When she entered the palace, Chu Ci hadn't left her any land deeds, gold, silver, or jewelry.
Where did the hundred taels of gold come from today?
She frowned, then suddenly stood up as if remembering something.
Could her father have sold the mansion?!
Chu Sangning lifted her foot to leave, but remembering that she needed Jun Shuyan's permission to leave the palace, she pulled her foot back.
Never mind, she'll find out soon enough by sending someone to inquire.
After the dowry was tallied, she took out half of the jewelry and ornaments and had them converted into cash.
As the palace servants carried several large boxes out, they happened to run into Jun Shuyan, who had come to deliver agate.
The palace servants put down the boxes and bowed. Jun Shuyan pointed to the boxes on the ground and asked, "What's inside? What's this for?"
"Your Majesty, these are some jewels and ornaments that Her Majesty the Empress brought out, which she instructed us to convert into cash."
A young eunuch bowed as he answered, inwardly admiring Shen Sangning's actions.
It's no secret that the national treasury is in deficit. I heard that even after putting pressure on him several times today, he couldn't squeeze much money out of those key ministers.
Look at their master, his first donation was five hundred taels of gold. If these boxes were filled with silver, it would definitely be more than what those ministers donated.
Jun Shuyan nodded, suddenly regretting that he had argued with Chu Sangning in Jiaolan Palace that day because of Chun'er.
Upon hearing that Jun Shuyan had arrived, Chu Sangning came out to greet him.
"Your Majesty need not be so polite," Jun Shuyan helped her up and gestured for Eunuch Cui to present the agate.
"This is red agate that was presented as tribute by a foreign land last time; it's just sitting in the warehouse anyway."
"I will now bestow it upon the Empress, so that the other concubines will not covet it."
Chu Sangning was slightly surprised and gently touched the agate.
A cool, silky touch makes you reluctant to remove your hand from it.
It just so happens that Chu Ci's birthday is approaching, so she can have someone process this agate.
But now she wants to go out even more...
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your generous gift. However, if you truly accept it, I fear the threshold of Jiaolan Palace will be worn down by visitors."
Everyone in the palace knows that Jun Shuyan really loves this red agate. Even when the national treasury is empty, he still takes it out, which shows how much he likes it.
Which of the concubines in the harem wouldn't want that? Qin Wanyue has never given up on it even after all this time.
"If Your Majesty is grateful for the money I gave you, perhaps you could allow me to return home and visit my father?"
Every time she said something, Jun Shuyan had to negotiate with her. He thought today would be the same, but to his surprise, he agreed immediately: "The Empress can return if she wants to. The Prime Minister must be missing you too."
"But since this treasure has already been given away, there's no reason to take it back. Your Majesty, please accept it."
Upon hearing that she could leave the palace and return to the Prime Minister's residence, Chu Sangning smiled in front of him, a rare occurrence. Jun Shuyan assumed she was happy about the reward that everyone was vying for, and thought to himself that this gift was finally the right one.
Chu Sangning was in a great mood and did not ignore him as usual.
When Jun Shuyan returned, he couldn't suppress the smile on his face.
The Empress just made their little princess call him Father Emperor!
He had never been so happy, so much so that when the guards reported that Helian Yue had not yet been found, he unusually did not lose his temper.
Qin Wanyue was already furious. The thought that the red agate had fallen into Chu Sangning's hands drove her almost mad.
"Why?! That should be mine! Has the Emperor lost his mind?!"
In a fit of anger, she smashed the painting she was working on in front of her to pieces. The painting depicted her and Jun Shuyan strolling in the Imperial Garden.
Granny Yang stepped forward and said sternly, "Your Highness, please be careful what you say!"
"If this brings trouble upon us, the Prime Minister will undoubtedly be punished!"
Qin Wanyue snorted coldly when Qin Qiao was mentioned.
Her father only donated 10,000 taels today, tsk tsk.
Back when Qin Yu was still in the manor, he would give more than ten thousand taels of silver each time he went out to fool around with those young masters.
That old woman's father donated a hundred taels of gold; her father is truly incompetent! He can't even compare to others when it comes to something as trivial as giving away a little money.
No wonder the Left Prime Minister has a better reputation than the Right Prime Minister!
It is likely that Jun Shuyan bestowed the red agate upon Chu Sangning for this very reason.
Thinking of this, Qin Wanyue was so angry that her nails almost dug into her flesh.
"Instead of lecturing me, you should tell your master to donate two more taels of silver!"
"So as not to embarrass me!"
She vented her anger on Granny Yang in a sarcastic tone.
Qin Wanyue now wants to chop off the heads of the governesses sent by Qin Qiao whenever she sees them.
She was a Noble Consort personally appointed by the Emperor, and was their mistress!
These lackeys would often lecture her and use Qin Qiao to pressure her, which was incredibly annoying.
It hasn't been long since the court session ended. She's already heard the news three times already, mocking Qin Qiao for donating too little.
Isn't this a disgrace to her? She still has to hold her head high and be a respectable person!
Granny Yang's face turned ashen. How could servants like them discuss matters concerning the Prime Minister?
She retreated silently, and after looking at Qin Wanyue's appearance, she decided not to reveal that Chu Sangning had donated her dowry.
Having spent so much time with this ancestor, she knows him all too well; if she told him, he'd definitely smash something again.
The current emperor is troubled and doesn't have the time to appease her; in the end, it's us servants who will suffer.
As soon as Jun Shuyan left, Chu Sangning couldn't wait to pack her things and leave the palace.
She had only seen Chu Ci once since he returned to the capital, in the palace, and the father and daughter barely exchanged a few words.
"Yaoyao, you'll be seeing Grandpa soon! Aren't you excited?"
Yaoyao was so happy in her arms that she kicked her little legs. Chun Ge'er was also happy to see this.
Chu Sangning, both amused and exasperated, said to the nanny beside her, "Send Chun-ge'er to Consort Wan's palace first."
"Granny, you don't need to accompany me back to the manor today. Just look after Chun-ge'er."
She feared that if she wasn't in the palace, some fool might take advantage of the situation to harm the child, so she felt more at ease keeping her own personal nanny around.
When Cheng Yan'er saw Chun Ge'er, she quickly took him from the nanny's arms.
Chun'er saw her giggling and couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You little rascal, did you upset your mother and get sent back?"
The old woman bowed slightly and said, "Her Majesty the Empress has left the palace on business and has asked this old servant to bring the young prince here to you."
Cheng Yan'er nodded knowingly, and the nanny watched as she had people carry the two boxes out.
"Your Highness, Consort Wan, what's wrong...?"
The old woman saw a corner of a box peeking out, inside which were some calligraphy, paintings, and ornaments.
"These things are just decorations in my palace, and those jewels are useless. It would be more practical to exchange them for silver and add it to the national treasury."
The old woman was taken aback, then bowed to her, saying, "Your Highness, Consort Wan, is truly righteous."
Cheng Yan'er weighed her son, who had become noticeably heavier, and laughed, "What's this? Her Majesty the Empress is the one with true righteousness."