“Didn’t Marquis Heping lose several thousand taels of silver at the gambling den the other day? He has silver to lose but no silver to donate to the national treasury?” Marquis Pingjin spoke, watching the commotion with relish. “You enjoy the honor Great Jin bestows upon your family. Now that Great Jin needs you, you must step forward.”
Marquis Heping: “…”
He had already lost money and was being scolded daily by his wife. Making him hand over more money—wasn’t that demanding his life?
Marquis Pingjin’s gaze shifted: “Minister Cao married off his daughter the other day and prepared so much dowry. How is it that when the court needs money, he pretends to be poor?”
Minister Cao: “…”
His daughter had only that small amount of dowry—it couldn’t even compare before the nobles. He was already poor to begin with!
“And there’s Minister Qiu…”
Everyone truly feared him now, wishing they could cover his blasted mouth.
Marquis Pingjin’s gaze settled on Prince Regent Chu Rui.
Although he didn’t concern himself with anything and held no real position, he was still a member of the court and could sense some of the political situation.
Currently in court, one faction belonged to the Empress Dowager, the other to the Prince Regent.
The Empress Dowager had bestowed upon him tremendous favor, so he now belonged to the Empress Dowager’s side.
Thinking of this, Marquis Pingjin spoke: “I’ve heard the Prince Regent plans to renovate his princely manor entirely. It seems the Prince Regent shouldn’t be lacking silver, right?”
As soon as his words fell, he felt a cold light shooting toward him.
When he looked carefully, he found Chu Rui’s face full of geniality, as if what he’d just sensed was merely an illusion.
“Marquis Pingjin speaks truly.” A warm smile appeared on Chu Rui’s face. “Then the princely manor won’t be renovated. I’ll donate thirty thousand taels of silver to contribute my humble effort.”
“Hiss—”
Marquis Pingjin drew in a sharp breath. Thirty thousand taels, donated just like that—truly magnanimous indeed.
Chief Minister Li stepped forward: “This official is willing to donate three thousand taels of silver.”
As a civil official with clean sleeves, producing three thousand taels of silver was truly not easy for him.
With the Prince Regent and the Chief Minister leading, everyone naturally didn’t dare treat these two with the same attitude they had toward Marquis Pingjin. They stepped forward one after another to donate silver.
“This official is willing to donate five hundred taels.”
“This official donates four hundred taels.”
“This official donates one thousand taels.”
Generally, only nobles donated thousands of taels or more. The other ministers donated several hundred taels. Those with lower official positions donating several dozen taels was already quite difficult.
However, Yun Chu saw Nie Zhou step forward, expressing his wish to donate one thousand taels.
She knew the Nie family was currently not at peace. Nie Zhou’s birth mother was ill and needed silver for medical treatment. The family already needed money—how could they produce another thousand taels? Wouldn’t this create conflict between Nie Zhou and his wife?
With the court officials’ generous contributions, the matter of silver was resolved.
After court was dismissed, Yun Chu asked Nie Zhou to remain. She smiled and said: “Minister Nie has worked hard for the court during this time. This is a reward from His Majesty for Minister Nie.”
Nie Zhou glanced at it—bright white silver. He quickly stepped back and bowed: “Since the court currently lacks silver, this official won’t accept any reward. Please, Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, rescind this order.”
“Minister Nie, please accept it.” Yun Chu spoke. “The Nie family has served as officials for three generations, always upright. How much savings could there be? With one thousand taels donated, I fear Old Madam Nie will have to stop her medication.”
As her words fell, Tingshuang behind her came forward carrying a long box. Opening it revealed a ginseng root inside.
“This is something this Empress Dowager bestows upon Old Madam Nie. You need not decline.”
Nie Zhou was deeply moved in his heart.
The Empress Dowager had taken out all her dowry to purchase provisions for the court—she probably had very little silver left.
Yet she still found a way to send life-saving ginseng for his elderly mother.
“This official will accept the ginseng but not the silver.” Nie Zhou also had a stubborn temperament. When he said no, he meant no. He took the ginseng and left.
When he reached the palace gates, he saw Chu Rui standing by the palace wall talking with someone.
He bowed in respect: “Greetings to the Prince Regent.”
Chu Rui’s lips carried a smile: “Minister Nie is coming from the Empress Dowager’s place?”
Nie Zhou avoided the topic: “This official must return to care for his mother’s illness. I take my leave first.”
“Minister Nie, why don’t we chat?” Chu Rui matched his pace. “The Nie family has served as officials for three generations. After all these years, the Nie family still lives in that small courtyard from decades ago with only three courtyards. A second-rank minister living in such a place is truly improper. How about this prince finds Minister Nie…”
“No need, Your Highness.” Nie Zhou said flatly. “This humble official believes that what is one’s own is one’s own. What isn’t one’s own, it’s best not to covet.”
Having said this, he turned and left.
Chu Rui’s eyes darkened completely.
Nie Zhou’s words were clearly pointing at him, telling him not to covet the imperial throne.
Since winning him over had failed, then…
In mid-December, one hundred thousand soldiers set out to campaign against Dongling Kingdom. The Empress Dowager and the young Emperor, accompanied by civil and military officials, stood on the city wall to see them off.
As the soldiers marched east, the Ministry of Works was summoning all craftsmen in the capital to forge the divine war weapon, to be completed and sent to the battlefield before year’s end…
At the same time, the palace welcomed a grand feast—the new Emperor’s first birthday since ascending the throne, which also fell on Little New Year’s Day.
The imperial palace was decorated anew, with red lanterns hanging everywhere. Palace servants bustled about enthusiastically preparing for the little Emperor’s birthday. The gloom from before the Late Emperor’s death had long been swept away.
Because it was a birthday, morning court was specially cancelled.
But Chu Hongyu had to rise early daily to practice martial arts. Once daylight came, he couldn’t sleep anymore and simply ran to Kangning Palace.
Yun Chu, Chu Changsheng, and Chu Hongjue all lived in Kangning Palace. Early in the morning, children were noisy and palace maids were busy—it was quite lively.
Chu Hongyu pouted: “Yangxin Hall is so cold and lonely. I truly don’t want to live there even one more day. When will Father return? He can be Emperor—I only want to be Crown Prince.”
“Father will surely return soon.” Chu Changsheng suppressed her emotions of missing their father and smiled. “Elder Brother, happy birthday.”
“Changsheng, happy birthday to you too.” Chu Hongyu pulled something from his sleeve and handed it over. “I rummaged through the private treasury for ages before finding this hairpin. It’s the most beautiful hairpin in there—I’m giving it to you as a birthday gift.”
Yun Chu glanced at it.
It was a phoenix hairpin.
A symbol of the future Empress’s identity.
She felt somewhat troubled: “Yu-geer, this hairpin has a phoenix on it. Do you think it’s appropriate?”
“This hairpin suits Mother.” Chu Changsheng raised her hand and inserted the hairpin into Yun Chu’s hair. “When Father returns and Father ascends the throne, Mother will be Empress. This is Mother’s hairpin.”
“Mother looks so beautiful wearing it.” Chu Hongyu circled around Yun Chu, praising her for quite a while before looking at Chu Changsheng. “Ah, then what should I give you? Oh right, I’ll take you to the private treasury. You can take whatever you like. Let’s go, let’s go now.”
Chu Changsheng, being a young girl, truly didn’t care for heavy accessories like phoenix hairpins. Fearing her brother would give her something similar again, she was naturally willing to go herself.
The two siblings left, leaving only Yun Chu and Jue-geer.
She raised her hand to remove the phoenix hairpin from her head, staring at it somewhat dazedly for a while.
Chu Yi, where are you now?
They all say you’re dead. Are you truly dead?
If you haven’t died, why haven’t you returned…
Do you know how much the children and I miss you?