The imperial concubine's jade-like hands were twirling flowers to make fresh flower dew. She said softly, "Your Majesty has been tired for days. It's rare for me to come here.
I have prepared essence and hot water for you to relieve your tiredness. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty. "
The emperor was not interested. "You are considerate."
The imperial concubine was young and sharp.
Hearing this, she frowned. "Is there something troubling Your Majesty?" She stretched out her hand and gently massaged the emperor's temples.
She said softly, "Although I am stupid and can't share your worries,
I can also be a listener for you. "
The delicate fragrance of her body came in bursts.
Her fingers were flexible and flexible.
Perhaps she was greedy for this moment of warmth.
Perhaps she was greedy for this youthful body.
Perhaps the imperial concubine had always been sensible.
It was also possible.
It was just that the emperor was old. His aged face showed a comfortable expression. He actually once again talked to the young imperial concubine about the troubles of the imperial court.
The emperor had just left in the imperial carriage.
Eunuch Wang was summoned.
"Imperial concubine,
You are not feeling well. Why don't you rest for a while? "
She propped up her tired body.
The imperial concubine closed her eyes. "I'm fine. Quickly go to Duke Rongguo's Mansion.
Summon my mother to the palace. Remember, take the side door and come in quietly. Don't attract attention. "
When Madam Wang received the news from her daughter, she couldn't care about anything else. She reported to the old madam and hurried to the palace.
As soon as she saw her daughter, her tears fell. She held the imperial concubine's hand and rubbed it repeatedly. "You've lost weight again … You've lost weight again …"
Imperial concubine Jia withdrew her hand and said tiredly, "Okay, mother. Since you sent me to such a place, don't think about it. "
As she spoke, she forced herself to stay awake and said solemnly, "You must listen carefully to what I'm going to say next. Go back and tell grandmother word for word. I know that my brothers, uncles, and children are all absurd and difficult to inherit. I'm afraid this is the only way for my family to survive. "
Madam Wang hurriedly said, "Daughter, tell me."
Imperial concubine Jia told her mother about the discussion in the imperial court today and the conversation with the emperor.
Madam Wang was still in a daze as she listened, "What does the southern industry and commerce have to do with my family's livelihood? Moreover, your uncle's family and your aunt's family are not doing well recently. I'm afraid … Don't think too much about it. Why don't you just serve His Majesty well … "
The imperial concubine reminded her, "Mother! Although my family is the founding minister of the country, my descendants are unworthy, and it is difficult for us to continue our glory. Right now, although my family has declined, it is still a centipede. Even if it dies, it will not fall down. It still has some foundation in the south. Why don't we take this opportunity to fight with our backs to the river? If we succeed, we will naturally escape this calamity, and our family will enjoy another sixty years of riches and honor. Otherwise … "
As she spoke, tears began to fall from her eyes. "Otherwise, with just a daughter alone in the depths of the palace, without anyone to help her, what can she accomplish? Mother, the poor family that was raided a few days ago is a good example for my family! "
Seeing her thinner daughter crying, Madam Wang was distressed. She was frightened by the last sentence and no longer hesitated. She hurriedly said, "I know, I know!"
Seeing this, the imperial concubine's tears turned into a smile. She ignored Madam Wang's reluctance and gave a few more instructions before ordering the palace servants to send the imperial concubine's mother out of the palace.
After Madam Wang left, she first paid her respects to Old Madam. After listening to the imperial concubine's words, Madam Jia cried, "My poor Yuan Chun 'er. She is so worried about this bunch of good-for-nothings in the family."
Although the old lady was ill, she was still swift and decisive. She immediately called for Madam Wang to summon Aunt Xue, Sister Feng, and a few other elders of the Jia family. Those who could be called were all called over.
Madam Jia's wrinkles grew deeper and her back became more and more bent. Looking at her descendants below, she leaned on her crutches and sat up with difficulty.
"From today onwards, those who can move are to go back to their hometown in Jiangnan! Or think of a way to make use of the connections in the South, to see if there are any unscrupulous merchants who bring disaster to the villages, who defy the laws of the country, or who do something unethical. "
The descendants below looked at each other.
A few men who were traveling outside also looked confused. "Old Madam, what are you doing?"
Madam Jia said, "These days, the army is in a state of emergency, the treasury is empty, and His Majesty has been throwing tantrums. Why, don't you know?"
Jia Zheng had an official position, so of course, he knew about this. "I know. But as officials, we have no choice but to respect the Saint's words, cultivate ourselves, and be thrifty. "
"Cough — cough," the old lady's silver hair shook. With the help of Yuanyang, she sat up straight and said meaningfully, "You are all men, but why are you all so muddle-headed? What's the use of 'thrifty housekeeping'? A few days ago, the Zhang family in the east lane was raided. Have you forgotten? "
When the cold wind blew, everyone present shivered.
The old lady waved her hand again and called Sister Feng over. "Feng Lazi, you say something. If you have a relative from the older generation who usually eats your family's food and borrows your family's money, causing trouble, and relying on the kindness of your ancestors, time and time again, asking you to be lenient. When you lack money, you are anxious every day, but this relative still indulges in wine and women. Tell me, in your eyes, do you want them to 'repay the debt', or what? "
When Sister Feng heard this, she laughed and said, "With such a relative, if I don't peel off a few layers of skin, wouldn't my name Feng Lazi be in vain?"
The Lady Jia then shouted to the people below, "The national treasury is empty, yet you all spend your days drinking wine with prostitutes, playing with girls' heads, fighting cocks and dogs, and causing people to die. All you have is the two stone lions at the door, you're even worse than the Zhang family! I don't have long to live. If Yuan Chun doesn't have the support of her family and is empty in her boudoir, how long can she support and protect my family? When the time comes, how much of the kindness of our ancestors can be worth? "
The group of people below were so frightened that they sobered up and became spirited. They finally came back to their senses.
Only then did Madame Jia explain Yuan Chun's intentions in detail. She warned, "If you have any friends from all walks of life or have any connections with the merchants in the south, you better keep your mouths shut and choose your path well! Is the imperial court in charge of our family's wealth and life, or are those merchants in charge? If anyone says half a wrong word, no matter who they are, they will be beaten to death and fed to the dogs! "
With this, the people of the Jia family were dismissed. Only Jia Zheng, Madam Wang, Jia Lian, Wang Xifeng, Aunt Xue, and the others were left.
Madam Jia warned, "Our Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue families are of the same breath and branch, entering and exiting together. We all started out in the south. As for our relatives, you all have to take the trouble to talk to them and also go to the south to investigate. "
She then pulled Aunt Xue's hand and instructed, "Xue Pan, that child, is not young anymore. Family Xue is also an imperial merchant. Since she has the word 'imperial' in her name, she is bound to the imperial court's boat. Just because you are also a 'merchant', you must not feel pity for those merchants in the south. "
Aunt Xue said with tears in her eyes, "Many thanks for the old lady's concern. I can save it. Although my son is muddle-headed, he still understands this. Even if he doesn't, Bao Chai and I, as well as his uncles and cousins, will risk our lives to not let him go astray. "
After the instructions were given, the masters of the entire Jia family, as long as they were in charge, were all busy.
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