Chapter 89

Chapter 89

"What benefits can I get from consuming bird's nest made with blood?"

Consort Li was puzzled.

Lately, Concubine Liu gained favor, and the Empress's father returned home to farm, both their prestige was at its peak. So, is she, a dignified consort, being overlooked?!

She is the imperial consort who has raised a prince! If she does not even qualify for the ginseng bird's nest, who in the world does?

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue and the Internal Affairs Department do not regard me or the fourth prince as important!" Late at night, Consort Li hastily brought her palace maid to the Chonghua Palace, where the emperor was resting, and indignantly presented herself!

She cannot be wronged, otherwise, the fourth prince will also be belittled.NewW novels updates at novelhall.com

Moreover, her dignity is being trampled on, how can she govern the two concubines who live with her?

"Your Majesty, you must uphold justice for me!"

It was almost midnight, Xiao Yunzhou was still reviewing the memorials sent by the Ministry of Revenue, discussing with Jiang Li how to use the people's savings.

Suddenly, he was interrupted by Consort Li's clamor.

Xiao Yunzhou was speechless, "What happened?"

The Minister of Revenue, Jiang Li, yawned awkwardly.

As soon as Consort Li entered the study of the Chonghua Palace, she gave him a stern look of reprimand.

"Is Minister Jiang also here?"

"Do I need to greet Minister Jiang as well? Do I need to kneel to Minister Jiang?"

Jiang Li, from the Ministry of Revenue, awkwardly looked at the emperor.

Xiao Yunzhou waved his hand at him, "You go sit on the side and rest for a while."

Consort Li glared.

Only then did Xiao Yunzhou turn to her, "What's the matter, why aren't you asleep at this late hour?"

Consort Li took a deep breath and respectfully bowed to the emperor, "Your Majesty, don't I always feel cold, with icy hands and feet? The Imperial Hospital has always said that I should nourish my health in winter."

"Today the north wind is howling, so I asked the kitchen to prepare some bird's nest porridge with ginseng, thinking of nourishing my body for a few days."

"Who would have thought," Consort Li gave Jiang Li a big white eye, "The people from the Internal Affairs Department said the Ministry of Revenue did not agree and asked me to fill out some kind of profit expectation table for using bird's nest."

"Your Majesty," Consort Li stamped her foot, looking coquettishly at the emperor, "Aren't these servants looking down on me?"

"What profits can there be from a nourishing food? Is it not a profit if I am healthy?"

"Do they think I am not worthy?"

Consort Li fiercely criticized the Ministry of Revenue and the Internal Affairs Department, but just as she was sobbing and complaining halfway, she heard Emperor Xiao Yunzhou actually grunt in agreement.

He nodded at her very affirmatively, "Indeed, Consort Li, you eating bird's nest does not bring any benefits, so stop eating it, okay?"

Consort Li: "???"

She almost doubted if she heard it wrong.

"Your Majesty, what... did you say..."

In the past, the emperor loved Taoism and was not particularly interested in coming to the harem, at most he was fickle.

Now, the emperor must have cultivated the Way of Indifference!

"Do you think my health is not important, Your Majesty?" Consort Li was born gorgeous and charming in her youth, and now with proper maintenance, she is still an unparalleled beauty, not losing to her past self.

At this moment, her eyes were filled with tears, looking pitifully at Xiao Yunzhou.

Her voice could even melt half the bones of a regular man!

But Xiao Yunzhou, after hearing her for a while, almost directly nodded in agreement.

Fortunately, he held back. He was not that heartless yet.

"If you are sick, take the medicine, see the Imperial Physician if you must, why eat bird's nest?"

"???" Consort Li looked up in disbelief.

"Concubine Liu you mentioned has improved silk reeling technology in the past three months, increasing the efficiency of silk weaving in the capital. I roughly calculated, the entire capital's female silk workers have recently increased their income by three hundred taels."

"!" Consort Li was shocked.

"Additionally, the winter clothes that Concubine Liu sewed for the refugees have a value increase of over fifty taels."

"And, Concubine Liu is still continuing her research on silk weaving."

Jiang Li from the Ministry of Revenue spread his hands towards Consort Li.

"If Concubine Liu needs to consume ginseng for her health, we should consider whether the cost-benefit ratio is balanced."

"..."

Consort Li felt faint.

However, upon hearing this, Xiao Yunzhou interrupted Jiang Li, "I won't be so harsh."

"If a woman in the harem falls ill, she should seek a prescription from the royal physician."

"If ginseng is truly needed to save a life, then life outweighs everything, and I will approve it."

Jiang Li nodded, "Alright, I will add this clause when I return."

"Good, Consort Li, you may leave. I am still busy."

Consort Li's face was filled with dejection. She failed in her mission today, not gaining anything and even got scolded, both openly and covertly!

How infuriating.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

But just as she was about to turn and leave, she was stopped again.

Close to midnight, the sky was pitch black, with only the palace lanterns shining brightly.

As Consort Li reached the threshold, her magnificent gold-threaded gown, illuminated by the palace lanterns, radiated brilliant light, almost blinding Xiao Yunzhou.

Xiao Yunzhou paused, suddenly remembering, "Consort Li, how much does this palace attire cost?"

Consort Li: "???"

As she looked back in confusion, she heard Xiao Yunzhou musing.

"The common people can't even afford silver thread and have to borrow money from me. How then can I and my harem wear gold thread?"

"Take it off, Consort Li."

"Put away these extravagant clothes and wear something simpler from tomorrow."

Consort Li: "!"

She felt like crying, but no tears came.

Tonight, it was like she'd lost both her dignity and her troops!

Meanwhile, in Donghua Palace, Xiao Chuchu, who was observing this from a distance, came to a sudden realization.

"This is just a form of cost-cutting and expenditure saving! My emperor father has made progress~"

"I'm so relieved."

Hearing her daughter praising her father's progress, Concubine Liu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Her daughter seemed to treat the emperor like an ancestor.

But the next moment, Concubine Liu couldn't hold back her laughter anymore.

Because she heard her daughter make a suggestion that sounded like divine music to her ears, ——

"Ah, my emperor father reminded me, we can hold a charity sale in the palace for the New Year!"

"The emperor and the consorts can take out some overly luxurious clothes and jewelry, or those that are out of style, no longer liked, or rarely worn, and hold a charity sale to sell them to wealthy merchants ——"

"Wouldn't Jing Country then have an additional source of income!?"

Concubine Liu sat up abruptly.