The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Chapter 986: Chapter 986: Emperor Chu Cries Poverty

The bright moon hangs in the sky, the scent of golden osmanthus fills the air, Shangjing City is bustling and vibrant, the streets are adorned with various lanterns, featuring Chang’e flying to the moon, the moon rabbit holding a lamp, lotus lamps, and so on, all exquisite and lifelike.

Groups of people gather, either guessing lantern riddles, composing poems to the moon, or enjoying the sight of the moon and chatting merrily, and the laughter and cheerful voices bring smiles to the faces of passersby.

This is the prosperity and bustle only seen in times of peace.

On the walls of Zhuxing Tower, Emperor Chu, with hands behind his back, observed the bustling scene, feeling a surge of grandeur, and looked at the person beside him.

”Is the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival in Xuzhou as bustling? How have you spent it in the past?”

Prince Min bowed with a salute and smiled, ”Thanks to the Emperor’s great fortune, every festival in the capital of Xuzhou is extraordinarily lively. On a Mid-Autumn Festival, lantern festivals as such are also held, and if it’s a year of great harvest, there will be dragon lantern dances, bustling until midnight when the curfew starts.”

Emperor Chu said, ”Over the years, under your governance, Xuzhou has become increasingly prosperous, often experiencing years of great harvest, with warehouses plentiful, and many commoners at home worshipping the longevity tablet of Prince Min, which proves the people’s recognition and admiration of you.”

Prince Min’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged. He said, ”Even though it’s regarded as my governance, it’s truly an over-praise from the Emperor. The entire land under the heavens belongs to the King. It’s all due to the Emperor’s governance that all places flourish.”

Emperor Chu smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

After a long while, he sighed, ”When Father was on the throne, he desired to expand the territory of Great Qing, but at that time, the land had just been conquered, and everything was in the rebuilding stage, lacking silver everywhere. Now, even though a strong army has been raised, military expenses are hefty. However, if everywhere were as plentiful as Xuzhou, with a well-supplied National Treasury, expanding the territory of Great Qing would be a matter of time.”

Prince Min secretly complained in his heart, the old fox is here to cry poor.

Emperor Chu added, ”Don’t worry about it, my Royal Brother, I’m not asking you to increase the taxes. After all, Father had already spoken before. I’m just expressing my feelings. If we, as brothers, can work together to expand the territory of Great Qing, we could report this to Father’s soul in heaven.”

Having said this, could Prince Min still pretend to not understand?

He bowed and said, ”Your Majesty’s ambition is admirable, as for going to the battlefield, I’m not up to it, I can only do a little. Since Xuzhou is my fief, the military pay for the stationed soldiers should indeed be funded by me. Starting next year, why not let Prince Min Mansion allocate the funds?”

”How can I make this difficult for my Royal Brother? You have a family and responsibilities, with considerable expenses. Let’s forget about touching the private treasury. Increasing the tribute tax from Xuzhou by twenty percent will be sufficient.”

Kidding, if Prince Min Mansion funds the military pay, in the long run, the soldiers stationed in Xuzhou might become unclear whether they belong to Great Qing or Prince Min.

Before Prince Min could agree, Emperor Chu clasped his hands towards him, saying, ”On behalf of the vast soldiers of Great Qing, I thank my Royal Brother for his generosity; Great Qing has been blessed.”

Prince Min dared not accept this courtesy, quickly avoided it, and with a fake smile said, ”Your Majesty is overpraising me; as descendants of the Royal Family of Great Qing, it is our duty to contribute.”

Emperor Chu, with a smile, encouraged him a bit more, then said, ”You are no longer young, and Princess Consort Ji has long been hoping for you to have heirs. How come, after such a long marriage, there is still no good news?”

Prince Min was embarrassed and hadn’t spoken yet when Emperor Chu continued, ”Let your sister-in-law later pick two concubines of good fertility for your mansion. Our Royal Family of Great Qing cannot escape the common desire for many children and much happiness.”

Prince Min: ”...”

”Let’s settle it then.” Emperor Chu patted his shoulder, pointed to the eunuch beside him, and instructed, ”Go to Song Mansion and invite Prime Minister Song to join us in admiring the moon.”

Fake. Prince Min thought internally, wanting to say, damn Emperor, damn dogs!