The Bureau of Palace Affairs was not short of people, but the Emperor's treasury was short of silver.
Every year, the two Guangs needed silver to repair roads and dig canals. If they didn't get the silver, they would join with local officials to petition the throne, tarnishing the Xuanwu Emperor's reputation and making the people think the court was withholding funds.
But who else demanded silver from the court for repairs year after year like they did?
Even if the Emperor's treasury wasn't empty, no emperor would think they had too much money.
Jiang Xinyue glanced at the Xuanwu Emperor. His brows were furrowed, his eyes flickered with an obscure light, and his lips were pressed into a tight line, appearing displeased.
But she noticed that his right hand was turning the jade ring on his left thumb, and the frequency of the turning was not heavy, but rather light and quick.
He wanted the Qin family's assets, but he didn't want people to think he was a greedy emperor.
Although his desire for these things was for the betterment of the Great Yan Dynasty, it still wouldn't sound good if spoken aloud.
Once she understood his attitude, Jiang Xinyue knew what to do.
She stepped forward and, under Qin Ruofang's anxious gaze, helped her up from the ground and smiled gently at her: "Miss Qin, for the sake of your parents and sister, you dared to block the imperial procession. Your courage is truly admirable. Not only do the ladies present feel for you, but I too find it hard to bear."
The beautiful Imperial Noble Consort looked at the Emperor and said coquettishly: "Your Majesty, why don't you grant Miss Qin's request? Let her enter the Bureau of Palace Affairs, even if it's just to make some beautiful hairpins for me! I've heard of the Qin Family Jewelry Pavilion even in the palace! Won't you indulge me just this once?"
All the men present felt their hearts soften.
If such a beauty were to coo and plead with them like this, even walls of copper and iron would open a gap for her.
Who could resist that?
The Xuanwu Emperor indicated that he too couldn't resist. Those eyes that were filled with frost a moment ago now revealed a tenderness rarely shown when looking at Jiang Xinyue: "Since it's Yue'er's request, how could I refuse?"
He turned to look at Tang Shiliang: "We will leave one ship here. You accompany Miss Qin to handle her family affairs, then come together to the temporary palace. At that time, We will arrange for a female official from the Bureau of Palace Affairs to replace you."
"This slave obeys the imperial decree."
Qin Ruofang showed gratitude on her face, thanking the Emperor while also bowing to Jiang Xinyue.
After this little episode, everyone understood more clearly that the Imperial Noble Consort held an unshakeable position in the Emperor's heart.
"Ugh... ugh..."
The luxurious ships crowded together on the water's surface, heading towards Qin Province. From the cabin of the main ship came the sound of violent dry heaving.
"It's too awful, really too awful... wah..."
Xi Que fanned her nose and quietly opened the cabin window to let in fresh air. Wet Nurse Lu, who had vomited until she was pale, rushed over and leaned out the window to breathe the fresh air.
But then wave after wave came, her stomach churned, and her head spun terribly: "I... I feel like I'm about to die."
"Tut tut tut..."
Xi Que brewed her some tangerine peel water while saying: "What nonsense are you talking? We'll be there in half a day, just bear with it a little longer."
"Xi Que..."
Shuang Jiang knocked on the door: "How is Wet Nurse Lu? Can Her Highness come in?"
Xi Que quickly jumped up, fanned all the odors out the window, and only after making sure there were no unpleasant smells left did she run over to open the door: "Your Highness, Shuang Jiang, you've finally come. Wet Nurse Lu is almost vomited to death."
Jiang Xinyue stepped aside: "Yan the Imperial Physician, you go in and check on her first."
After Yan the Imperial Physician entered, Jiang Xinyue followed. She was startled when she saw Wet Nurse Lu's sickly complexion.
She had thought the Princess, who got motion sickness in carriages, would certainly get seasick, so she had prepared countless motion sickness medicines and various sour, spicy, sweet and sour snacks and foods for the Princess.
Before departure, Xiao Xiangzi had done a preliminary investigation and found that no one in Hexi Palace got motion sickness or seasickness. They had all overlooked the fact that Wet Nurse Lu had lived in a village before and had never even left that small village, let alone ridden in a sedan chair or taken a boat on a long journey.
After Yan the Imperial Physician took her pulse, he wrote a prescription and was about to go with Xiao Xiangzi to get the medicine, but Wet Nurse Lu waved her hand: "I won't take medicine. I still have to... I still have to nurse the Sixth Prince. I can't take medicine."
She feared that if the drugs entered her body and the Sixth Prince drank her milk, it might be poisonous.
Hearing this, Jiang Xinyue's heart softened even more: "Don't worry, the medicine Yan the Imperial Physician prescribes will certainly have no effect on the Sixth Prince."
Wet Nurse Lu shook her head: "How could it have no effect? All medicine is somewhat toxic. Your Highness doesn't understand. This slave won't take it. This slave... ugh... can endure."
Jiang Xinyue thought for a moment: "Then, Yan the Imperial Physician, prescribe her some tangerine peel water. Xi Que will brew it for Wet Nurse Lu to drink later."
Hearing it was tangerine peel water, Wet Nurse Lu didn't object. That stuff could prevent babies from getting gas, so drinking it wouldn't hurt.
She was simple-minded and couldn't read the eye signals exchanged between the Imperial Noble Consort, Yan the Imperial Physician, and Xi Que.
In the end, what reached her hands was still a bowl of motion sickness medicine prepared by Yan the Imperial Physician that would have no effect on the Sixth Prince.
After drinking it, Wet Nurse Lu felt much better and even remarked to Nanny Xiang: "No wonder the palace's tangerine peel water is so much more effective than what we have in the countryside. My head isn't even dizzy anymore."
Nanny Xiang glanced at the smiling Jiang Xinyue and put the Sixth Prince in Wet Nurse Lu's arms: "The Sixth Prince is hungry. Hurry and feed him!"
If this simpleton kept talking, Her Highness might reward her with eight or ten catties of tangerine peel.
The Emperor had dealt with such a major case of corrupt officials today, and there were still many matters to arrange, so he went to the front to discuss with his ministers.
The magistrate of Guiyang County and the governor of Qin Province were both dismissed. The intricacies involved in this couldn't be settled in just a few words.
Qin Province was located in a remote area, cool year-round but not lacking in ample sunlight. Many Chinese scholar trees were planted along the riverbanks in Qin Province.
The yellow and green leaves mixed together on the full branches, creating a rich and colorful picture.
Most stunning and beautiful were its pale green flowers, though it was hard to tell if they were flowers or fruits. Like little lanterns strung together, they spun as they fell through the air.
A shower of these flowers could make painters lose themselves in its beautiful splendor.
With such beautiful scenery along the way, Jiang Xinyue didn't feel bored. The concubines in the back palace were now banding together, ostracizing her, the Imperial Noble Consort who solely held the Emperor's favor.
But what did it matter?
Jiang Xinyue had no interest in such fake sisterhood.
Believing there could be true friendship between women in the back palace would be the biggest joke of all.
The beautiful scenery made the day pass quickly.
By the time all the ships docked, night had fallen.
Officials who had been waiting since morning lined the shore. In the bright lantern light, Jiang Xinyue finally felt steady on her feet as she stepped onto land.
Wet Nurse Lu seemed to come back to life as well, looking here and there, finding everything novel and interesting.
However, she carefully remembered Nanny Xiang's instructions: don't make eye contact with anyone, don't step out of the protective circle, and follow Xi Que and the others step by step.
