Chapter 568 The Old Princess Is Exhausted
Yesterday, the Ministry of Rites sent someone to deliver him thousands of books. All of them were new books and historical records produced with new printing presses and printed in new horizontal editions. They filled the bookshelves in his study to the brim.
The emperor was delighted and opened the books one by one. There were exquisite illustrations inside. The "Biography of Yue Fei" was written by Zhang Xiangyang in vernacular Chinese.
The senator of the Ministry of Rites also sent him a dozen large and small brushes, a pile of various stone tablets and calligraphy, and a large pile of Luoyang paper, Zhenba paper, and new paper from Muchuan.
The emperor was in high spirits and buried his head in practicing calligraphy.
Seeing that the emperor did not answer, the queen smiled and said to the imperial concubine: "Sister and husband still have to clean up this study room personally, so I will just treat it as fitness. I have been idle these days, and I feel carefree. I have gained some weight on my waist. It's a good time to do something to lose it."
The imperial concubine was unhappy. Aren't these two people just cleaning people up? She was doing all the dirty and tiring work, and she even called it losing weight and fitness. It was really like standing and talking without back pain. It was so tiring.
The imperial concubine was angry but she dared not show it on her face.
However, she was not without a solution. As the saying goes, if you beat the oxen for years, the oxen will beat the ridges of the fields. You have to lighten your burden. The imperial concubine thought about it and divided the types of work and responsibilities. She would tire the old maids and old attendants to death and see what Old Lady Xie would do.
When Old Lady Xie heard her maid report that there was too much work and it was too tiring, and that the imperial concubine and the queen did nothing but enjoy themselves, she became angry.
I am doing this for the sake of the Song Dynasty. If the emperor can really return power, the empress and imperial concubines will benefit from it.
The old maid then told her that the emperor took the empress and the imperial concubine out to eat beggar's chicken without spending a penny, and that the Lotus Pond Beggar's Chicken turned out to be the property of the Third Young Master, the Zhao family. The shopkeeper called the emperor grandpa and the imperial concubine grandma, and they were very happy to do so.
Old Mrs. Xie became jealous after hearing this. After all, she was the emperor's mother and the most senior person. When she went to Hetang to spend money, she would be served whatever she wanted.
She saw the two old maids with envy on their faces and felt her throat watering. Then she thought that ever since she entered Yulin Village, she had always seen the beauty of the beggar's chicken and smelled its fragrance but had never eaten it.
Today I will take these maids and attendants to eat beggar's chicken.
Old Lady Xie immediately asked her maid to tell the emperor that they should go out for dinner together and eat Lotus Pond Beggar's Chicken.
Unexpectedly, the emperor got angry and refused to accept her suggestion. He used the excuse that he had a cold and stomach discomfort and wanted to practice calligraphy and eat porridge in the house.
The Queen Mother knew that her literary and artistic girl was angry, so she called Xie Wuhui and went to the lotus pond.
However, the busy farming season has passed recently, and rice seedlings have been planted in all the fields. After the rice seedlings turned green, the emerald green seedlings formed a beautiful landscape. Looking around, the surroundings are all green, attracting diners from the city to come again.
The waiter told Deputy Envoy Xie helplessly that there was no good place to sit in the store, only a small table next to the ditch was empty.
Old Mrs. Xie was unhappy. She was the empress dowager, whose rank was higher than that of the emperor. Why was she treated so neglectfully?
The Queen Mother displeasedly asked the waiter to call the shopkeeper to question him, because she was the shopkeeper's great-grandmother.
The waiter was stunned for a moment and said that the shopkeeper was busy and had not told him about the grandmother, so he could only do things according to the rules.
Xie Wuhui knew that the waiter was playing dumb.
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor had lived in Huaxi Village for some time, and the people here had long known about it through word of mouth. Even the common people who worked the land were bragging about the Empress Dowager and the Emperor of the previous dynasty having moved into their Huaxi Village. How could the waiter not know about this?
The waiter insisted on playing dumb and treating her as an ordinary customer, which made it clear that he did not acknowledge Old Lady Xie's identity. It was obviously the shopkeeper's instruction.
She smiled and said it was okay, she was treating everyone today, so she went to sit by the ditch and asked her mother-in-law to taste beggar's chicken and Korean kimchi.
Old Mrs. Xie was extremely depressed. Due to her status as the empress dowager, how could she just turn around and leave in such anger? She had agreed to treat her maids and attendants to beggar's chicken.
She couldn't move when she smelled the tempting aroma of the dishes. She said to the old maid, "Come in. I'm treating you all today and I have the money to pay the bill. How can I let Deputy Envoy Xie spend the money?"
The old nanny raised the purse in her hand and said: Yes, yes, thank you for coming in, Deputy Envoy.
After viewing the beautiful scenery of the lotus pond, the group sat down at the table. Various dishes and delicacies were quickly served. The two old maids ate without hesitation. The two attendants were appetized by the Korean kimchi and ate three bowls of rice like the emperor. They only put down their chopsticks when their stomachs were full.
When the waiter did the math, the empress dowager was dumbfounded. My God, this meal cost thirty-eight strings of cash. The old nanny tightly grasped her purse and stared at the empress dowager, unwilling to give her any money.
Xie Wuhui immediately stood up and said: She would pay the bill.
The Queen Mother then woke up and shouted for the man to pay the bill and leave.
The old lady immediately jumped up and rushed to the front to pay the bill. When she came out of the store, it was already dusk and the lights were just coming on.
The Queen Mother kept complaining as she walked along. A chicken costs dozens of coins, and a plate of pickled vegetables is also very expensive. Seeing the faint signposts along the way, she said it was a waste. Why are there so many lanterns lit in the countryside?
Xie Wuhui said with a smile that there were many diners. The third young master said that he wanted to earn the money of the rich to serve the poor. This street lamp not only illuminates the way for the tourists, but also provides convenience for the villagers, killing two birds with one stone.
The Queen Mother asked her: Are the street lights in Huaxi Village also paid for by the beggar chicken shop?
Xie Wuhui nodded and said: Of course, the cleaning along the way and the daily maintenance of ditches are all settled together. The beggar's chicken shop, firewood chicken shop and all business operations must pay land rent to the village, not a penny less.
The Queen Mother remained silent, thinking that the land was occupied by the imperial court without spending a penny, but she didn't expect it to be like this.
Like her two attendants, she ate a few more bites because of the good wine and fragrant food, and could not help burping. The two attendants ate even more, and when they heard the empress dowager burping, they could no longer hold it back, and burped several times in succession, which actually woke up the frogs around them, and the croaking sounds of "cluck, cluck, cluck" came one after another.
Everyone shut up immediately.
Xie Wuhui felt embarrassed and chanted softly, "Seven or eight stars in the sky, two or three drops of rain in front of the mountain. The old thatched cottage was beside the community forest, and it suddenly appeared at the turn of the road to the stream."
This scene, coupled with the poetic feeling, reminded the Queen Mother of her childhood hometown, and she could not stop praising the countryside. She never thought that she would actually live in the countryside when she got old.
Everyone followed your words and echoed you.
In the beggar's chicken shop, Zhu Fugui asked Wu Jing with a doubtful look on his face: "Isn't this a bad idea? It's just a few dozen strings of cash. Our grandmother will definitely remember it."
Zhao Guangchen said disdainfully: What are you afraid of? Who told Grandma to talk nonsense and make Grandpa Cao so angry that he vomited blood? This princess doesn't even want her to enter the door.
Wu Jing glared at Fugui and said: Guangchen is right, it is enough for us to treat them as diners. We will charge the same amount next time they come, not a penny less, remember that.
When Fugui saw Wu Jing’s fierce look, he immediately nodded and went about his business.
When Guangchen saw Zhu Fugui leaving in a hurry, he said with a smile: Brother Fugui is so afraid of my sister. When he is free, he stays by my sister's side like a follower. I know I have taken advantage of you.
Wu Jing's pretty face turned red, and she rushed over and pretended to hit Guang Chen, muttering: What are you talking about, girl? We have nothing.
Guangchen suddenly flashed away and ran away laughing.
In the city, Zhao Yulin and Zhao Feiyan were drinking tea and chatting at Huayue Mansion.
Hua Yue was flattered to see Zhao Yulin and Zhao Feiyan's sudden visit, because Zhao Yulin had not had tea with him alone for several years, let alone come to his house in person.
The boy immediately asked the maid to take out his precious West Lake Longjing tea and brew it for him.
After tasting the tea, Zhao Yulin said with a smile: It seems that our Lord Hua has a special liking for West Lake Longjing. Many officials in the Central Court are from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. We can send an official letter to the Hangzhou Prefecture, asking them to send more next year for everyone to taste. This is also to support the development and growth of the Longjing tea garden in Hangzhou Prefecture.
Zhao Feiyan was sipping tea and nodding her head.
Hua Yue waved his hands repeatedly and asked how to do it.
We can't blame him for breaking the rules.
Zhao Yulin smiled and said it was no big deal. Our country is getting stronger and stronger, and it is normal to eat and spend a little. Hangzhou Prefecture will also make Longjing tea more famous among the people because of the tribute of West Lake Longjing. The sales of tea will definitely increase greatly, and the people will earn money.
Feiyan nodded immediately and said proudly: This is what Commander Zhao said, that the government should take the lead in stimulating consumption, right? The court personally selected West Lake Longjing tea for the imperial use, and the people must believe that Longjing tea is good and will be proud that Longjing tea is a tribute tea.
He said: Yibin has produced a new type of four-wheeled carriage, which is ingeniously designed and beautifully made. The Central Court can order a large batch to replace the officials' old carriages. If we take the lead in using them, those wealthy merchants will surely follow suit and buy them, and the sales of the new carriages will increase.
The extensive use of vehicles by the general public can also drive the continuous advancement of vehicle manufacturing technology and the introduction of new products.
Zhao Feiyan nodded again and again.
Hua Yue didn't know what the couple was going to say, but it sounded like extravagance was ruining the country. It's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it's hard to go from luxury to frugality.
No matter how rich a country is, even a mountain of gold will be destroyed.
Zhao Yulin put down his tea bowl and told Hua Yue: Mr. Fan and Mr. Du want to resign, and I have already contacted them.
Hua Yue asked with some doubt: Are you two adults also afraid of the empress dowager and the emperor of the previous dynasty?
Zhao Feiyan shook her head and said: Yes, but not entirely.
Mr. Fan was old and Mr. Du was in poor health, and they were indeed a little exhausted. Commander Zhao repeatedly persuaded them to stay, and they reluctantly agreed to continue to stay in the Central Court. Mr. Fan simply handed over the Ministry of Personnel to Deputy Director Yang Jin to take charge.
Zhao Yulin continued: "If Lord Fan and Lord Du resign again, our Central Council will be led by the younger generation. Lord Hua made an indelible contribution to the founding of the New Song Dynasty. In the future, we need to give more advice and support the ruler of Feiyan."
Hua Yue asked him in panic not to say that, saying that it was his duty to support the King of Feiyan in doing state affairs, and Commander Zhao was being too polite.
