An Lingrong's Rebirth: The Lock of Qingqiu

Zhen Huan cried sadly, and An Lingrong was quite helpless. While comforting her, he saw Su Peisheng and seven or eight eunuchs, non-stop moving away the batch of crabapple trees that had fallen on the ground, and removing the remaining remains on the ground. The dead branches and leaves were all cleaned up, leaving Zhen Huan no thought at all.

Seeing this scene, Zhen Huan hardened her temper again. She put away her tears and said, "Just chop it down, drag it all away. I don't care about this crabapple tree. How can I give it to others and destroy it?" Reason to go back.”

An Lingrong smiled slightly and said, "That's right, it's okay that Sister Wan doesn't care about it."

The day after Zhen Huan said that she was not curious about it, the emperor inexplicably asked Su Peisheng to bring in several tall and large crabapple trees, and asked An Lingrong to send a message to Zhen Huan.

An Lingrong told Zhen Huan truthfully: "Sister Wan, the emperor said that the reason why he wanted to cut down the crabapple trees in Tangli Palace that were not growing well was to make room for planting these big and good varieties. Sister Wan, do you think this is an apology from the Emperor?"

Zhen Huan's face softened a lot, but she still said reluctantly: "Your Majesty, maybe he is mentally ill! I don't want to pay attention to him. If you want to chop, just chop. If you want to move new ones, just follow him."

Zhen Huan did not go out to take a look. A group of servants were busy in the yard. In a long time, all these crabapple trees were planted again, and the original traces were smoothed out, leaving the entire yard outside Tangli Palace Became more alive.

On the second day, An Lingrong took the initiative to go to Tangli Palace to wait for Zhen Huan, and went with Shen Meizhuang to meet the queen.

The queen looked worried and worried. She gently put the tea that Huichun had brewed on the table and said: "Yesterday, the emperor and the queen mother came to talk to me one after another, and I also called the manager of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Jiang Zhongmin talked, now that the national treasury is tight, I want to divide the money in the palace into two so that everyone can enjoy normal treatment, but it backfires. The money cannot be allocated, so only the concubines in the harem can save themselves. Avoid lavish purchases as much as possible, avoid extravagance and waste, and cultivate an atmosphere of simplicity and frugality.”

The Queen looked around and glanced at all the concubines present. Qi Guiren was the most luxuriously dressed, followed by Fucha Guiren, and others such as Qi Concubine, Jing Concubine, Li Concubine, Xiang Concubine, Guan Concubine, and Hui Concubine. , honest and noble people, all are remarkable.

The queen sighed slightly and said: "In order to relieve the tension on the treasury, the emperor requested that simplicity and frugality replace luxury in the harem. Not only should the decoration of gold, silver and gems be reduced, but the furnishings in the palace should also become relatively simple and plain. The concubines in the harem should The concubines must start to learn how to live a life of glory and wealth, and they should enjoy it. Many people in the palace can make their own clothes, such as Li Bi, who knows how to cut cloth, sew, and embroider, and she can dress well. Keep it simple. Try not to use new fabrics every month if you can. If you can re-wear your previous clothes, wear them more often. Speaking of which, if you wear these clothes many times, you will develop feelings for them and you will be reluctant to throw them away. , and from now on, the regular dishes in all palaces will be reduced by half, and the same is true here. What do you think? "

As soon as the Queen's words fell, a stone stirred up a thousand waves. Concubine Xiang and Concubine Qi looked at each other face to face, their dissatisfaction was written on their faces, and they began to discuss privately.

Concubine Xiang stood up, looked around, glanced at the concubines present, grinned slightly and said: "Empress, the food and clothing expenses for us concubines in the harem have been set according to the rules for many years. , This is a rule passed down from our ancestors, but now not only can we not wear new clothes, but we also suddenly have to cut off half of the regular dishes, doesn't it make us old concubines lose our dignity in front of everyone? "

Concubine Li also stood up and said: "Empress, I don't know the expenses of other concubines in the palace for the time being, but the expenses in my palace are not big. If even these regular dishes have to be cut, wouldn't it mean that the expenses of the other concubines in the palace are too high?" It’s a joke, if a big palace couldn’t afford to support these concubines?”

Concubine Qi stood beside Concubine Xiang. She sneered softly and said disdainfully: "Empress, the treasury is empty and it's not just today. Reducing the regular dishes is only treating the symptoms but not the root cause. If we really want to share the emperor's worries, why don't we do it?" Think of something else to do instead of attacking our concubines? "

Concubine Jing looked thoughtful. She spoke slowly: "Queen, frugality is a virtue, but it must be done in a certain way. If it is excessive and causes unrest in the harem, wouldn't it violate the original intention of frugality?"

The queen frowned slightly, showing a helpless look.

An Lingrong knew very well that the concubines in the harem had always been pampered. If they had to save clothing materials and cut off their regular dishes, it would definitely cause dissatisfaction. The concubines of the older generation all spoke out. , all opposed it, and almost none agreed to the reduction. The new batch of concubines, headed by Qi Guiren, did not say a word or make a sound.

However, silence is also opposition, it is silent protest!

The emperor took a deep breath and said: "Everyone, sit down and don't stand in front of me and point fingers. I am in charge of the harem. The Queen Mother agrees with the emperor's will. I have no choice. Please Please understand me. Today is different from the past. The national treasury is empty. We must unite to tide over the difficulties together. The reduction of food is only temporary. When the national treasury has money, everyone's share will naturally be restored. The palace will try to add some other benefits to make up for everyone’s losses.”

Concubine Xiang and Concubine Qi sat down dissatisfied, with unhappy expressions on their faces. Although the other concubines were dissatisfied, they did not say anything more.

The palace's regular dishes came down, and the portions were reduced by half. Most of the meat was reduced. The remaining half was four dishes, three of which were vegetarian and the other was a soup. There was very little meat in it.

The maids in Yining Palace don't have any objections. What they do have objections is the small stool and the small table, especially the small stool.

The small stool held the rice and handed it to An Lingrong's hand. Then he looked at the regular dishes in silence. He dipped his chopsticks into the soup a few times and said, "Little Master, there are usually eight dishes, but now there are only four. My little master, no wonder your bones are getting thinner and thinner. Will there be a gust of wind, and my little master will be blown up by the wind and float out of the wall? I will tie a stone to my waist in the future. Everyone said. Woolen cloth?"

Qiaoyu and Qin Sanyue looked at each other and lowered their heads, letting out giggles.

An Lingrong couldn't help laughing and said: "How is it possible? Little stool, who told you that vegetarians will have no strength? You must eat meat and fish to have strength? Strength has nothing to do with meat and vegetables, ask Qin San Yue, all the strength is gained through cultivation. Besides, the food in the palace has been reduced. Don’t we still have the goods in stock? We can make it ourselves. "

When Xiao Shizi heard this, his eyes lit up again.