Elderly Prince: My Spirit Increases by 1 Point Daily

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Old Bastard Sure Goes Easy on the Ladies

A few days later, in Wenhua Hall, the morning dew had not yet dried.

Dozens of white-haired Palace Maids knelt in neat rows at the foot of the dais. Each held a heavy package in her hands, inside of which were a full three hundred silver taels. In addition, they would receive an annual pension of several dozen silver taels.

Furthermore, people had already been sent to purchase and build houses for them according to their needs. Many of the old Palace Maids decided to live in the Capital City, and a good number planned to live together, intending to support each other in their old age.

Upon learning of Xia Wuyang’s arrangements for them and seeing the packages full of silver, the eyes of many of the old Palace Maids immediately welled with tears.

”Your Highness, this... we cannot accept this! Your health is poor right now, and you are in need of nourishing elixirs. You should keep these silver taels for yourself.” Lv Ping’s tears fell like rain. It was one thing to build houses for them and provide an annual pension, but now to give them so much money on top of that—how could they not be moved?

Although the Crown Prince’s temper had grown more and more volatile over the decades, his anger was rarely directed at them, and he had never beaten or cursed them for it.

And now, he was providing them with such a generous retirement. This was far, far better than what many women with their own sons and daughters received.

Remembering the passionate, romantic days of their youth with the Crown Prince, and then looking at the now decrepit and aging man before them, the old Palace Maids felt a pang in their hearts.

To think that the once high-spirited Crown Prince had fallen to such a wretched state—mocked by the Princes and Princesses, scorned by the Nobility and Ministers, and bullied by the eunuchs and Palace Maids... Yet even so, he still thought of them.

The other old Palace Maids couldn’t help but shed tears as well, their sobs merging into one. The property deeded in their own names, the three hundred silver taels, the annual pension of several dozen silver taels... One by one, these provisions completely eliminated their worries for the future, ensuring they could live out their retirement in comfort.

Looking at the old Palace Maids kneeling all over the floor, Xia Wuyang also felt a pain in his heart. After all, when they were young, all of them had been his bedfellows.

Now that they were old and their youth had faded, they were disdained by others and could only leave the Eastern Palace.

Even if this was the rule of the palace, in the end, it was because he wasn’t strong enough. If he were the Emperor now, the palace rules would be whatever he said they were.

Compared to the young and beautiful Palace Maids in the prime of their youth, these older women might no longer have the chance to serve Xia Wuyang, but the affection from all those years ago remained. Compared to the younger maids, they were far more loyal.

”All of you, rise.” Xia Wuyang stood up, walked down from the high platform, and embraced them one by one. ”All these years... it’s been hard on you. Thank you for your care.”

It was a simple sentence, yet it was filled with emotion, making these women, who had seen the full spectrum of human warmth and coldness, feel a deep sense of reluctance to part.

”Your Highness.” The old Palace Maids couldn’t help but start crying again. They opened their arms one after another to embrace Xia Wuyang.

They knew that this elder Crown Prince, mocked by all and wished dead by some, was actually more sentimental and loyal to old ties than anyone.

Many of their sisters who had left before had also received substantial severance payments. Even when Xia Wuyang himself had little money, he still took out large sums of silver coins to send them off.

Although a good portion was skimmed off by people like Wei Xianren and Liu Jun, what remained was still enough for them to live on for a long time. One could only imagine how much severance Xia Wuyang had originally given.

Seeing this, the eyes of the many Qiuci Dancers, young women of the Fox Race, and young Palace Maids who currently served Xia Wuyang also flickered, shaken by the scene.

They were all perfectly clear on Xia Wuyang’s current situation. It was no exaggeration to say he was beset by troubles both internal and external. Some of them were even secret spies and informants for other powers.

The Eastern Palace was riddled with holes, and its treasury was swept clean. Even so, Xia Wuyang had still produced so much severance pay, giving these old Palace Maids such generous treatment, even going so far as to sell the Dragon and Tiger Elixirs he had worked so hard to obtain.

They knew in their hearts that the only reason Xia Wuyang had been able to maintain his vigor these days was primarily due to the Dragon and Tiger Elixirs. In a sense, those elixirs were his very life.

But Xia Wuyang had still taken them out to be exchanged for silver taels for these old Palace Maids. ’If we, too, become old and decrepit one day, will we also receive such treatment?’

But then they thought of the elder Crown Prince’s current age, and many couldn’t help but sigh internally. ’What a pity the elder Crown Prince doesn’t have much time left. Otherwise, we would risk our lives to take good care of him.’

This batch of old Palace Maids was truly lucky to be dismissed from the palace before the elder Crown Prince passed away. If it had been any later, who knew what would have happened.

The eunuchs and Nannies also sighed in their hearts. ’The elder Crown Prince is a good man, but his luck is terrible. If his Foundation hadn’t been destroyed in his youth, he probably wouldn’t be in this state now.’

After sending off the old Palace Maids, Xia Wuyang was in no mood to dally with the Qiuci Dancers and the beauties of the Fox Race. He returned to his study to read through ancient texts, ordering that he not be disturbed.

While this action was slightly abrupt, given his usual way of doing things, it wasn’t considered presumptuous.

Everyone knew the elder Crown Prince took good care of his bedfellows. Although the package he gave the old Palace Maids this time was a bit generous, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

At most, he would be sneered at a little, but what did that matter compared to these old Palace Maids who had accompanied him for so many years?

Under a covered walkway not far from Wenhua Hall, Yun Liyue watched this scene quietly, remaining silent for a long time.

In her bright eyes, a ripple of emotion now appeared.

”Your Highness, the Crown Prince’s rewards are far too generous,” her personal Palace Maid whispered. ”And... and I fear Steward Wei and Nanny Liu won’t just let these old Palace Maids leave with such a rich pension.”

A cold glint flashed through Yun Liyue’s eyes. ”Then go tell Wei Xianren and Liu Jun to behave themselves. They’ve already swallowed so many of the Crown Prince’s Dragon and Tiger Elixirs and Celestial Water Essences. If they dare to covet even this little bit of severance pay, then they shouldn’t blame me for being merciless.”

”Yes, Your Highness.” The personal Palace Maid quickly replied and sent a eunuch to warn Wei Xianren and Liu Jun.

What they didn’t know was that Xia Wuyang had already dealt with both Wei Xianren and Liu Jun. How would they dare try to snatch the severance pay from these poor Palace Maids?

A similar scene took place in the palace of Consort Yan Jiuge. After learning of the matter, Yan Jiuge, while cursing, ”That old fool, always fawning over women! He’s on his last legs himself but still has to take care of these old maids,” had someone send one hundred silver taels to each of the old Palace Maids.

She didn’t dare send too much, fearing that a larger sum would attract unwanted attention.

In addition, she also had someone send some Dragon and Tiger Elixirs to Wenhua Hall to replenish Xia Wuyang’s supply.

Besides these two, dozens of other concubines in the Eastern Palace also made a gesture after learning about the incident.

Before long, the news had spread throughout the entire Imperial Palace.