Under the Empress Dowager, all members will be King

"There was hail at the beginning of the year, and there was a lack of rain after the summer. Judging from various celestial phenomena, the harvest this autumn may not be very optimistic. I intend to implement reforms. I am here to ask the Queen Mother and the two concubines for advice."

Before Zhu Beifeng came to the Palace of Compassion, he had discussions with the four ministers of household affairs, but none of them made any substantive suggestions. dare not mention it.

Zhu Beifeng thought hard, but still couldn't come up with a complete solution, so he came to the Palace of Compassion and Ning to ask the Empress Dowager Hengle for advice.

The atmosphere in the Palace of Compassion and Ning was serious, Concubine Xian listened attentively, Concubine Zhen was thoughtful.

The Empress Dowager Heng Le held an account book in her hand, and kept flipping through it.

"Success comes from frugality and failure comes from extravagance. The extravagance of the harem has been around for a long time. It may not be easy to eradicate it."

Where Gu Yinwei was worried, Zhu Beifeng was also worried.

"The queen mother is right. I had dinner with Jiang Zhaoyi for a few days, and a fresh sea bass was served in the imperial dining room. I was not hungry at the time, and neither did Jiang Zhaoyi. As soon as I left the table, I heard Jiang Zhaoyi order the maid Take the fish out and throw it away, after hearing that, I feel really chilled."

"I don't know how many people outside the palace are hungry. I am supported by all people, and I should be considerate of all people. I want to reform, but I have no good plan."

"The emperor is willing to carry out the new policy, and the Ai family will spare no effort to help the emperor. Concubine Xian and Concubine Zhen, you two have a good plan."

Concubine Zhen got up and said: "The reason why the emperor is in trouble is because the national treasury is currently in a relatively large deficit. After all, there are two ways to fill the national treasury. The first method is to increase revenue, and the second method is to reduce expenditure."

Zhu Beifeng became interested, "Please trouble Concubine Zhen to explain in detail."

Concubine Zhen decided to break it apart, crush it, and talk to Zhu Beifeng carefully.

Zhu Beifeng is open-minded and eager to learn, as long as he is willing to put down his body and ask for advice on any knowledge that is useful to him.

No matter where knowledge is obtained, there is no shame.

"Currently, the national treasury is still in a big deficit, and there is no way to increase income and reduce expenditure."

"The Ai family has money, first use the Ai family's money to make up for the shortfall."

Gu Yinwei's words were full of pride, Zhu Beifeng looked at her half-worn clothes, and remembered that every time he came to pay his respects, the Empress Dowager's meals were dried radishes and pickles.

Can't help but ask: "Mother, where did you get the money?"

"Naturally..." It was taken from the silver mine left by the late emperor to Ai's family.

Before Gu Yinwei could finish speaking, Fugui hurriedly replied, "Of course the Queen Mother made her money by selling peppers."

Fugui answered very eagerly, for fear that Gu Yinwei would slip up.

When the late emperor was still alive, he had ordered not to reveal the location of the silver mine lightly, for fear that Gu Yinwei would suffer a disadvantage. In fact, Gu Yinwei didn’t care whether the location of the silver mine would be exposed. Even if Zhu Beifeng knew the location of the silver mine, he would not be able to enter the mine. There are many formations set up under her, and no one can get in without her instruction.

Concubine Zhen proposed the idea of ​​increasing income and reducing expenditure, and it was the turn of Concubine Xian to speak next.

"I feel that there may be new business opportunities in doing business with Beimo."

"The ancient roads of the Western Regions that were abandoned in the past can also provide income if they are restarted."

"Of course, these things can't be rushed, and haste makes waste."

After listening to Zhu Beifeng, he felt that he was very educated and left contentedly.

The next day, Shuangxi came to Gu Yinwei to collect the money with the bill settled by the Minister of the Ministry of Accounts.

Gu Yinwei did not break his promise, opened the private treasury and let the eunuchs move the boxes out.

The box was full of silver, and it took a whole morning to move it. Concubine Zhen's expression could no longer be described as shocked.

Gu Yinwei sat at the dining table and had a meal, a small bowl of porridge, and Xiaodie pickles, which were dried radishes made from radishes grown in the backyard.

"Guarding a mountain of silver, you only eat porridge for lunch?"

Gu Yinwei fetched a pair of clean chopsticks and handed them to Concubine Zhen: "Try it."

Concubine Zhen picked up her chopsticks and picked up some pickled vegetables to eat. At this time, Tian Tao brought a plate of vinegared cabbage, and Chu Chu brought a pot of radish and ribs soup.

The more Concubine Zhen eats, the more she can't stop. It's because of her taste problem, or because the vegetables grown in Gu Yinwei's backyard are too heavenly. She thinks that the radishes and vegetables made in Gu Yinwei's tiny kitchen are better than the big fish and meat in the Imperial Study Room. Much better.

Xiaoyu looked at the scene in disbelief, her concubine was a person who didn't eat meat for a meal and suffered for three days, and she ate vegetarian dishes so happily today, it was as if she had been robbed.

Strange, really strange, she must firmly remember this situation.

Concubine Zhen finished her meal from the Palace of Compassion and Ning, and returned to the side hall to rest. In the past, after lunch, Concubine Zhen was used to taking a nap, but today she was full of energy and not sleepy at all.

Concubine Zhen combed her hair in front of the mirror with a comb. With one comb, three white hairs fell out. As soon as the white hairs fell off, new hairs grew on the scalp. The new hairs were black and thick. The more Concubine Zhen combed, the more she became addicted. .

"Little fish, bring hot water quickly, the powder on Bengong's face seems to have fallen off."

Concubine Zhen washed her face, and the spots on her skin were all gone. Concubine Zhen's face was tense, she was a little scared, and she came to Gu Yinwei to ask the reason.

Running halfway, she turned back suddenly, Gu Yinwei and Gu Yinxia had never had gray hair, maybe it was because of the food, she decided to go to the main hall for every meal in the future.

The vegetable plot in the backyard is full of aura, and the vegetables and fruits grown have the effect of washing tendons and cutting marrow. Ordinary people eat it to prolong life, have hearing and eyesight, and delay aging.

Concubine Zhen is a patient with night blindness. At night, her eyesight is similar to that of a blind person. When Xiaoyu made her bed that night, she accidentally dropped a handkerchief.

Xiaoyu lay on the ground looking for it, Concubine Zhen said: "Put three feet in front of the left."

Xiaoyu followed the instructions and found the handkerchief, "Master, when did your night blindness get cured?"

Concubine Zhen said: "The night is too dark, and the handkerchief is shining."

Xiaoyu opened the handkerchief and saw a red carp embroidered with gold thread on it, and a full moon embroidered with silver thread above the carp.

The layout of the side hall is in line with Concubine Zhen's activity flow. Entering the door is a living room, then a study room, then a tea room, and walking inside is her bedroom.

Concubine Zhen likes to read, so there are many books in the bedroom. She is in a good mood tonight, so she ordered Xiao Yuzhang to put a few more books on the bedside.

Concubine Zhen reads a lot of books. She likes to read travel notes, essays, ancient poems, and picture books.

There was the sound of falling leaves outside the window, the cricket was hiding in the grass and playing the zither, the candle was burning silently, and the little fish was sitting on the slump, holding his cheeks and listening to Concubine Zhen telling her the story in the book.

"A long time ago, there was a woman who went far away to meet her sweetheart. She changed her face and disguised herself as a man to enter Beijing to take the exam. Along the way, she passed by bandits' dens and went through many trials..."

"and after?"

"Later she won the first prize."

"and then?"

"Then the emperor will reward her."

"Master, what's the name of this nice story?"

"The name of the story is the female consort."

"Of the many stories my master tells, I like the consort and Hua Mulan the most."

"why?"

"Because they are so brave, they are female generals, and they are female champions."