Golden branches and jade leaves

Chapter 46 Adding Oil to the Fire ([-])

After hearing her words, the concubines couldn't help showing jealous expressions on their faces. The Juhe Palace was originally one of the most exquisite palaces in the palace. The scenery is beautiful, and it is close to Qi Long's Qianqing Palace. It is a rare geomantic treasure in the harem.

Shi Rou'er received such an honor just after entering the palace, how could the concubines not be jealous.

"The imperial concubine is just joking," Shi Rou'er said with a quick smile, "Rou'er is poor in aptitude, how can she be as noble as your elder sisters in appearance, as for Shuyu Palace, how can I have such a blessing, it is the emperor who is sympathetic to this recent The beautiful girl who entered the palace, let Rou'er stay with all the sisters, the emperor and the ladies take care of the newcomer, wouldn't the servants understand? It's not for the sake of Rou'er alone."

Concubine Ni Gui smiled lightly and did not speak.

The queen said from the side: "I don't know how the talented Qiyan in my sister's palace is doing recently? Now she is pregnant with a dragon descendant, and my sister is taking care of her. Why didn't you see her come out today to enjoy the flowers and relax?"

"Liu Cairen's fetal image has been stable recently, and Imperial Physician Chen also said that there is no serious problem, but the mother is young and weak, and needs to be rested." Ni Guifei smiled and said: "She has been dozing off for the past few days and is afraid of being tired. Today, she is afraid of disturbing the fetus, so Didn't come out."

Concubine Wen smiled and said: "That's not the case. When I had Emperor Ji for six months, I wished I could stay in bed every day, but I couldn't stop the nausea and vomiting. I couldn't even lie down comfortably. I don't know. Is Liu Cairen's symptoms of nausea severe now? I need to go and have a look after a while."

"A few days ago I was vomiting and nauseating non-stop, but these days it's getting better, it's just the spring sleepiness." Ni Guifei laughed.

"It's also good for the child to sleep more," the Queen said with a smile, "Let's not bother. It's just that I heard people say that the severity of this sickness has something to do with the mood. I heard that a few days ago Liu Cairen's mother came to the palace to visit her, so she must be in a better mood, and her symptoms have also eased."

"I heard that Liu Quan donated a Tuzhou Tong, which is considered a serious sixth-rank official position anyway." said Concubine Zhu.

"I heard what my sister said." Concubine Ni Gui glanced at her lightly, and said with a smile, "When will we buy officials and sell nobles in Daqi? It's just that the emperor understands that although Liu Quan is from Shu, in the past few years, Living peacefully and abiding by the law in the capital of Qi can be set as an example, and my daughter has made great contributions to the dragon veins, so I specially rewarded officials and nobles to show the grace of heaven."

The concubines were stunned. Because of the huge military expenditures in recent years, Daqi has gradually acquiesced that the wealthy families among the common people can use a certain amount of gold and silver in exchange for official titles. , nor does it do any harm to daily government affairs.There is a clear distinction between Daqi scholars and commoners, and people from a poor family are extremely despised, so even such an illusory title has attracted many wealthy people from a poor family.In this way, on the one hand, Daqi filled the national treasury, and on the other hand, these businessmen also got rid of their shabby backgrounds, and their waists straightened a lot, which can be regarded as a good thing for both parties.But after all, this will hurt the face of the Daqi court and the famous nobles, so of course he will not admit to his business of buying officials and selling nobles, and all talk about "granting officials and giving nobles".

Usually noble concubines would laugh at these humble businessmen when they talked about it, and they had no scruples. Today, Concubine Ni Gui went uncharacteristically and pursued such details.

Concubine Zhu Gui didn't dare to refute, and stopped talking embarrassingly.

Seeing this, Concubine Wen smiled and said, "I heard that Mrs. Liu went to visit the empress after entering the palace. I wonder how these country women behave?" According to etiquette, women who order to visit their families in the palace must first visit the queen.

"It's just that we met through the curtain, and I didn't even see her face clearly." The queen's eyes flickered and said with a smile: "I heard that she even paid a special visit to the younger sister of the imperial concubine after hearing that, and talked about it for a long time. I don't know what to do?"

"The empress was joking, my sister was ordered to take care of Liu Cairen's fetus, what's wrong with Mrs. Liu's visit?" Concubine Ni said flatly.

"Speaking of which, I have heard rumors that Liu Cairen's father, Liu Quan, the richest man in the capital, recently donated 10 taels of silver to Ni Shangshu's army." Reflecting the colorful brilliance: "His official this time, Ni Shangshu, is still trying his best to recommend him."

"10 taels?" The concubines couldn't help being amazed, the income of Daqi's treasury was only about seven or eight million taels a year.

"Where is such a sensational thing?" Concubine Ni Gui couldn't sit still for a while, her face turned pale, and she forced a smile: "It's just a rumor made up by the market, and Liu Quan donated to the public in order to donate an official." It's true that all the rich and noble relatives of Qi gave gifts, didn't the Wang family receive offerings from Liu Quan?"

The queen's words faltered, Liu Quan's business in the capital was rich and complicated, and naturally he wanted to curry favor with the famous families during the holidays, on the one hand to broaden his business scope, and on the other hand to build a good relationship.As the most prestigious family in Daqi, the Wang family certainly cannot do without his generous gift.

"As for the words of donating military expenses, it is purely fallacious. He is a businessman, how dare he speak so rebelliously about military expenses? As my father is an official of the court, he is naturally supported by the military expenses of the court. Is it true that General Wang She usually relies on his disciples? Did the old one donate to fight the war?" Concubine Ni asked disdainfully.

Da Qi established the country by virtue of martial arts. All the nobles who have made meritorious service have fief ownership. Naturally, they have a certain number of private soldiers and horses in their private fiefdoms. These soldiers and horses are not kept by the imperial court. Naturally, everyone wants to The idea is that the royal family's territory is in the Laizhou area in the northwest, and it is also one of the most prosperous places in Daqi. The taxation of entry and exit, the offerings of merchants, the annual income is rich, and there are more than [-] private troops stationed there.

At this time, listening to Concubine Ni's selflessness, these originally default rules among nobles seem to have become outrageous.

The Ni family is located in Yongzhou, one of the nine states in the world, and the wealth of Yongzhou is famous all over the world.Although Ni Yuan acted in a very low-key manner, there are at least [-] to [-] soldiers of the Ni family stationed in Yongzhou, right?Are these people drinking northwest wind?

The queen felt suffocated for a while, and was about to refute.

Su Mi smiled and said: "Nowadays is a beautiful day, why are the empresses and concubines talking about things that the concubines can't understand? These military and state affairs are not something we can discuss, so I have let you down." scenery."

The concubines also said yes again and again, and soon the topic turned to jewelry, clothing, and flower gardens.

"The flowers blooming in this courtyard are not as good as the recent beauties in our palace. I heard that among the concubines selected this time, the younger sister of the Empress Dowager is also among them. In a few days, she will definitely become a concubine." Luo Zhaoyi respectfully Said loudly.Although Daqi's palace rules did not have explicit regulations, the highest for a newcomer to enter the palace is generally to be named a fifth-rank concubine. Shi Rouer's honor of not only conferring a concubine, but also conferring a title is the ultimate.The queen's cousin was born in the royal family, so it is common sense for such a prominent family to be a concubine.

(End of this chapter)