Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 895: Chapter 806: Unwilling to Be a Slave 26

Not only did Noble Consort Gao laugh continuously, but Lan Ying beside her was also amused by Nangong Shuangshuang’s words, covering her mouth with a handkerchief and shaking with laughter.

Nangong Shuangshuang watched the two laughing without words, wondering why their laughter threshold was so low. After a while, when the laughter subsided, Noble Consort Gao said to Nangong Shuangshuang, ”Alright, you can continue. What should be done to make the Emperor happy when donating money to him?”

Nangong Shuangshuang smiled faintly, ”Your Majesty, you are jesting with a humble servant. A wise person like you, after listening to my analysis, surely knows how to proceed.”

Noble Consort Gao chuckled lightly and said to Lan Ying, ”Go and take out all the silver I’ve saved over these years. I will need it later.”

In the Imperial Study Room, after reviewing today’s memorials, the Emperor sighed uninterestedly and sat on the dragon throne for a long time without moving. Song Lin attended silently, not daring to breathe heavily. He knew what troubled the Emperor.

The disaster-stricken areas are larger than expected, and the National Treasury needs to allocate more disaster relief funds than anticipated. The treasury is depleted, and this year’s taxes barely balance the budget. Yet, with this relief effort, it’s really tight.

At such times, the Emperor is reluctant to enter the harem, as there are always concubines wanting to ease his burdens, but instead, they only cause trouble. With good intentions and public opinion from the previous dynasty, the Emperor cannot tell the harem to stop doing such things.

If it weren’t clear that the concubines truly wanted to please the Emperor, no one would foolishly offend him. Song Lin would suspect that the concubines had joined forces to make the Emperor unhappy.

However, the Emperor cannot speak of the concubines not donating anymore when ministers also need to contribute each time disaster relief occurs. The Emperor cannot mention it, and as a servant, he also cannot remind these concubines. They could only hope these concubines would realize for themselves someday.

Regrettably, over the years, no concubine has realized the Emperor’s true thoughts. Seeing the Emperor’s reluctance to enter the harem for so long, Song Lin feels distressed for him.

Today is the first day of the month; no matter how reluctant to enter the harem, the Emperor still must visit the Empress’s palace. This is the honor the Empress deserves as the nation’s mother. The Emperor values the Empress and naturally would not let her lose face in the harem.

Thus, after sitting on the throne for a while, the Emperor clapped the armrest of the dragon throne, stood up, and walked out of the Imperial Study Room. Outside, the Imperial Carriage and retinue were already prepared. The Emperor boarded the carriage and directly ordered, ”Proceed to Fengchen Palace.”

Fengchen Palace is located at the center of the Imperial Palace, right behind the Emperor’s usual workplace, the Imperial Study Room. You could say Fengchen Palace is the closest location to the Emperor, and so he reached the doorsteps after just a few steps on the carriage.

The Empress is a very gentle woman, her beauty exudes a soft and inclusive aura. Her temperament is as gentle and inclusive as her appearance, and she is lenient and strict with the harem.

But if one thinks the Empress is easy to bully, that they can climb over her, they are mistaken. Though gentle, the Empress is not without ability to enforce her will sternly.

Once, there was a favored concubine whom the Emperor was extremely fond of. She was truly beloved, enjoying unmatched favor for three years upon entering the palace. Although she never bore a child, she was promptly promoted from the lowest rank to a Junior Second Rank concubine, with intentions of being promoted to Second-Rank Princess Consort by the Emperor the next year.

She managed herself well at first, but over three years of un waning favor, she grew arrogant, initially disregarding other concubines and occasionally belittling and mocking them, and later even began to belittle the Empress.

During the Empress’s birthday banquet, because a palace maid soiled her clothes, she directly ordered an eunuch to strangle the Empress’s personal maid.

To kill someone at the Empress’s birthday banquet, no less the Empress’s personal maid, was more than just killing a servant; it was like delivering a dozen heavy slaps across the Empress’s face!

The Empress, in outrage, demoted the favored concubine to abandoned concubine on the spot and sent her to a Daoist Temple outside the palace to pray. The concubine believed the Emperor would certainly stand by her and cried and shouted to see the Emperor. However, upon learning of the incident, he did not even meet her, and immediately ordered her tongue cut off as punishment for her disrespectful words to the Empress and had her expelled from the palace and sent to the Daoist Temple.

After this incident, the Empress’s position in the harem became unshakable. Regardless of which concubine gained favor, none dared to challenge the Empress’s authority again.

The Empress’s bold handling of the Emperor’s favored concubine was not so much due to her feeling assured of the Emperor’s profound love, but rather her understanding of the Emperor, knowing he valued tradition and stability much more than women, despite his fondness for them.

The Empress dared to act as she did partly because her grandfather held a First Rank position, providing the Emperor with much support, coupled with a strong background. Additionally, the concubine, aside from being favored by the Emperor, had a humble origin and a powerless family, so even if she was dealt with, no one from the previous dynasty would speak for her.

Moreover, the Emperor’s emphasis on protocol and his cold nature towards women also played a part. Therefore, it’s evident she was a sufficiently clever woman who never pinned her hopes on the Emperor’s affection. Otherwise, being involved, she would not have seen the Emperor’s cold nature so clearly.

The Empress’s intelligence is also reflected in her relationship with the Emperor. As the nation’s mother, she is naturally well-educated, yet she never aspires to become the Emperor’s 解读 flower or to interfere in his administration.

The way the Empress interacts with the Emperor is through silent gentleness and omnipresent tolerance, offering him the greatest peace. Thus, although the Empress has poor health and no children, she remains continuously favored, and her status is unbreakable.

As of this moment, the Emperor, though troubled, felt his mood lighten upon seeing the Empress warmly dressed and coming to greet him at the door. He descended from the carriage, hastening a few steps to the Empress’s side, helping her up, ”Did I not tell you not to always come to the door to greet me? The Empress is always so formal.”

The Empress smiled gently and allowed the Emperor to hold her hand, speaking softly, ”Your Majesty, though you are kind, etiquette cannot be abolished. As the Empress, if I lead by failing to uphold palace rules, wouldn’t it set a bad example for the concubines and servants below?”

The Emperor chuckled and shook his head, holding the Empress’s hand as they slowly walked towards the main hall, ”The Empress is always so thoughtful. Having such a virtuous wife as the Empress is my fortune.”

”Your Majesty, I only perform my duties. I am unworthy of your high praise.” The Empress walked with the Emperor, her smile charmingly bright.

Inside, the meal had already been prepared. Whenever the Emperor visited the Empress, he always accompanied her for a meal, so on the first and fifteenth of the month, the Empress would prepare the meal in advance, waiting to dine with the Emperor.