Jingtai Fenghua

Chapter 10 A banquet for the noble family members
As soon as Wang Meilin arrived at Qianqing Palace, the eunuch waiting at the door saw it and quickly went in to inform Zhu Qiyu, who was discussing government affairs with Yu Qian and others. When Zhu Qiyu heard this, he also said to Yu Qian and others: "The queen rarely comes to the front hall, I guess. It's an emergency, please wait a moment."

After saying that, he stood up, and Yu Qian and others also stood up quickly to see Zhu Qiyu off.

Zhu Qiyu went directly to the study room of Qianqing Palace and asked the eunuch to bring Wang Meilin to the study room.

"I've met your Majesty!" Wang Meilin arrived at the study and saluted Zhu Qiyu.

"Queen, excuse me, get up!" Zhu Qiyu went over and helped her up quickly. In the past few days, Zhu Qiyu stayed overnight in Kunning Palace, and the relationship between the couple has also improved a lot.

"Your Majesty, I came here today to discuss with Your Majesty the date for the banquet for the distinguished family members. Now, I have raised 5000 taels of silver!" Wang Meilin stood up and looked at Zhu Qiyu with a smile. His face was much better than before. .

When Zhu Qiyu heard this, he was also very happy. He was looking forward to doing this. In addition, he also knew what Wang Meilin had done in the harem these two days. Wang Meilin had laid off almost a thousand palace maids and eunuchs. These people were all from before. The one who served the Supreme Emperor said with his forehead: "Okay, then in three days, I will personally write an invitation to them and entertain the noble family members who died in Tumu Fort. I have to thank the Queen for this!"

Wang Meilin quickly saluted and said: "Your Majesty said so, you are separated from my concubine!"

Zhu Qiyu supported Wang Meilin and said emotionally: "No, it's not that we are separated, it's that I sincerely thank the queen. I didn't know Lin'er's painstaking efforts before, and I almost failed Lin'er!"

"It's okay!" Wang Meilin said quickly with a smile.

"Yeah!" Zhu Qiyu nodded, and then asked worriedly: "You laid off more than a thousand people, is there any reaction from the Queen Mother?"

After hearing this, Wang Meilin's eyes couldn't help but dim.

"What did the Queen Mother do to you?" Zhu Qiyu asked with concern while holding Wang Meilin in his hand.

Wang Meilin smiled bitterly and said: "I went to pay my respects these past two days. The Queen Mother treated me with a sullen face. She didn't even talk to me. She just chatted with the Supreme Empress. I heard that the Queen Mother was very dissatisfied with me for reducing the number of people in the harem. , I estimate that after some time, the Queen Mother will attack me, but no matter how she attacks me, I will cut more than half of the staff!"

"Cut it in half?" Upon hearing this, Zhu Qiyu looked at Wang Meilin in shock.

"Yes, and I plan to replace all the servants in the palace in the next two years. Whether they are maids or eunuchs, as long as they are not loyal to His Majesty, they will be replaced!" Wang Meilin said decisively.

Zhu Qiyu stood there and pondered for a while, then looked at Wang Meilin worriedly and said: "Lin'er, if you do this, the Queen Mother will definitely attack you. If so, I'm afraid there will be trouble!"

Wang Meilin also sighed and looked at Zhu Qiyu. The couple looked at each other with helpless smiles. Zhu Qiyu held Wang Meilin's hand and sighed: "Take your time, don't do these things in a hurry, find the reason, and change it slowly!"

"But!" Wang Meilin looked at Zhu Qiyu anxiously. She also knew that now there are ministers asking to take back the Supreme Emperor. When the Supreme Emperor comes back, it will be even more difficult to do these things.

"Well, think of a way, don't do it forcefully!" Zhu Qiyu still advised Wang Meilin.

"Yes, I obey!" Wang Meilin saluted.

"Okay, let's have a banquet in three days. I and the ministers still have things to discuss. Do you have other matters?" Zhu Qiyu stared at Wang Meilin and asked.

"No, that's it. I came here specifically to inform Your Majesty! I'll leave first!" Wang Meilin said and saluted Zhu Qiyu. Zhu Qiyu nodded, and then pulled Wang Meilin out of the study. When he arrived at the door of the study, Wang Meilin gave Zhu Qiyu another He saluted and walked out the door.

Three days later in the morning, all the distinguished family members received the invitation and went to the Qianqing Palace for the banquet.

And Wang Meilin needed to go to Shoukang Palace to pay his respects to the Queen Mother Sun. The Queen Mother Sun had already learned the news. The emperor and the queen were going to entertain the family members of the nobles who died in the Tumu Fort.

Queen Mother Sun felt that this matter was not good, but she had no reason to object.

Just when Wang Meilin came to say hello, Queen Mother Sun just watched Wang Meilin kneeling on the ground to say hello to her.

Empress Dowager Sun had no intention of asking Wang Meilin to get up immediately, but asked lightly: "I heard that there will be a banquet for your family members today? The queen is going too?"

Wang Meilin knelt there and said quickly: "Go back to the Holy Queen Mother, this is what your Majesty informed me!"

Empress Dowager Sun is now named the Supreme Empress Dowager, and Queen Qian of Zhu Qizhen is now also named the Supreme Empress.

"Hmm!" Queen Mother Sun didn't know how to ask next. She couldn't say she couldn't invite her.

Wang Meilin was still kneeling there, and the Queen Mother sitting beside her did not remind Queen Mother Sun.

After a while, Queen Mother Sun asked: "I heard that you laid off more than a thousand palace maids and eunuchs. Is this true?"

"Back to the Holy Empress Dowager, the inner treasury has run out of money and cannot afford to support so many servants. I am incompetent and have no choice but to cut costs and reduce the number of employees!" Wang Meilin knelt there and replied.

"These people have been in the palace for most of their lives. Now that they are being laid off, how can they survive? Shouldn't the queen have some compassion? These people are loyal to our royal family. Isn't it chilling to act like this?" Queen Mother Sun continued. He asked while staring at Wang Meilin.

Wang Meilin looked at the ground with a wry smile.

Queen Mother Sun saw that Wang Meilin did not reply and asked: "Why didn't you reply?" "I am incompetent and have no money in the internal treasury. I cannot afford to support so many servants!" Wang Meilin lowered his head and replied.

When Empress Dowager Sun heard about it, she was very angry, but she couldn't say anything. She couldn't say that it was against the rules to hand over the affairs of the harem to Empress Qian again or to take over it herself again. It was estimated that such an operation on her part would affect the previous dynasty. It's time for those ministers to submit impeachment memorials.

"Get up and don't cut people off in the future. This year will be a little more difficult. I believe those servants can still work together with the royal family!" Empress Dowager Sun said to Empress Qian.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Queen Mother, but if we don't continue to reduce the number of employees this year, I'm afraid your Majesty will be sad this year, and by the time of the New Year, there will be no money to hold many sacrifices!" Wang Meilin stood up and answered with cupped hands.

Sacrifice is the most important to the emperor and the royal family, and many sacrifices require the emperor to participate in person.

Queen Mother Sun stared at Wang Meilin.

Wang Meilin still stared at the ground.

"Then find a way to get through it. Cutting off employees is not the answer!" Empress Dowager Sun said displeased.

"I have been thinking of a way. If the Holy Empress Dowager has a better way, please teach me!" Wang Meilin continued to lower his head and said.

Empress Dowager Sun was very unhappy. She also knew that many of the royal business was still in the hands of herself and the Supreme Empress, and had not been handed over to Wang Meilin. But they were unwilling to hand it over to them. They were still waiting for their son and husband, the Supreme Emperor Zhu Qi. Come back from town.

Zhu Qizhen is back, and this money can help him.

Although Empress Dowager Sun was not happy, she had no choice but to wave her hands and said: "I don't care about the affairs of the harem, and I can't do anything about it for the moment. I have also thought about it in the past few days. Please step back first. You have to attend a banquet at noon, and you still need to Dress up and show up!”

"Yes, I am resigning!" Wang Meilin raised his hands to the Empress Dowager Sun, then turned slightly sideways and said to the Supreme Empress Qian: "Supreme Empress, I am resigning!"

"Okay!" Queen Qian also nodded slightly.

Wang Meilin left Shoukang Palace with a smile on his face. When he walked out of the gate of Shoukang Palace, Wang Meilin's face immediately darkened. Qian was the biological daughter-in-law of Queen Mother Sun, and Queen Mother Sun must be looking towards Qian. She knew that, but she didn't expect that. Empress Dowager Sun warned herself today not to make any further cuts.

If I don't cut down the number of employees from now on, I guess Queen Mother Sun won't say anything else. If I do, I'm afraid something will happen. Who knows what methods Queen Mother Sun will use?
Thinking of this, Wang Meilin felt extremely irritable and couldn't think of a way to break the situation.

At noon, when Zhu Qiyu and Wang Meilin served wine to the nobles to apologize for their brothers, the family members of the nobles were extremely moved. Some old people even cried and knelt down to express their thanks to Zhu Qiyu and Wang Meilin.

The defeat of Tumubao was also a great sadness for the noble families. Such a thing should not have happened. It was Zhu Qizhen who insisted on marching in person and was tossing back and forth outside the border, which made the soldiers very tired. This Just after the defeat, the noble family members dared to be angry but dare not speak out.

Therefore, when Zhu Qiyu and Wang Meilin toasted and apologized to them, the nobles were extremely excited. The royal family had given them an explanation.

Empress Dowager Sun who was in Shoukang Palace soon learned of the news. She was so angry that she swept all the teacups and teapots on the table to the ground and shouted angrily: "How dare they? Ah? How dare they? How dare they?" Why do they want to apologize instead? Who do they think they are? Do you still want the royal family’s face? Do you want the emperor’s face anymore?”

The maids and eunuchs all knelt on the ground, keeping silent and not daring to breathe loudly.

Queen Qian also stood there with a sad face.

"How dare they do this? Why should I apologize for my brother?" Queen Mother Sun still shouted angrily. No one dared to answer her question.

"Go, go to Qianqing Palace and ask the two of them to come to see me. Come to see me immediately!" Empress Dowager Sun ordered, accusing the Supreme Empress Qian.

"Holy Queen Mother, I'm afraid something is wrong!" Queen Mother Qian quickly advised.

"What's wrong? What's wrong? They've ruined Zhen'er's reputation!" Queen Mother Sun asked repeatedly.

When Mrs. Qian saw him being so angry, she didn't know how to persuade him, so she just went over to support Empress Dowager Sun.

"Go immediately!" Queen Mother Sun stared at Qian and ordered again.

"The Holy Empress Dowager, if they are asked about this matter, then they will tell you what they did wrong? Shouldn't they express condolences to the family members of those who sacrificed their lives?" Qian thought about it and asked.

Queen Mother Sun quickly said sternly: "I'm not saying that you shouldn't offer condolences, but that you shouldn't apologize!"

"But if this news gets out, how will people outside view the Holy Empress Dowager and the Supreme Emperor?" Qian asked again.

When Queen Mother Sun heard this, she was also stunned.

After a while, he sighed and sat down. Qian immediately called the eunuchs and maids to clean up the debris on the ground.

"How cruel!" Queen Mother Sun said through gritted teeth.

(End of this chapter)