These past two days, Noble Consort Chen has been summoning Song Zhao to her palace every day.
She claims that she wants to teach her the rules of managing the six palaces.
But most of the time, she's just finding ways to make things difficult for Song Zhao.
For example, today, Noble Consort Chen asked Song Zhao to arrange the seating and menu for the New Year's Eve banquet next month.
However, according to the usual procedure, these matters should have been planned by the Palace Affairs Department and the Imperial Food Management Bureau and then submitted to the master of the Six Palaces for review. Any inappropriate aspects could be modified accordingly.
Now, Song Zhao is solely responsible for everything. It's not too difficult to arrange the seating, but when it comes to deciding the menu for the banquet, it involves the preferences of the concubines in each palace.
How can Song Zhao possibly know who likes what and who has dietary restrictions?
Seeing that she hesitated with the pen for a long time without writing a single word, Noble Consort Chen impatiently said,
"Be more careful this time. Don't repeat what happened last time in the Plum Garden when you couldn't even get someone to clean the floor properly."
Just then, Kang Yubin entered with a smiling face to report,
"Reporting to Your Highness, Grand Eunuch Jiang from the Imperial Court came by earlier and delivered a message. The Emperor has arranged for the Grand General and his wife to visit the palace tomorrow to meet with you, Your Highness!"
"Is that so?" Noble Consort Chen's joy was written all over her face. She couldn't help but look at Song Zhao with pride. "The Emperor truly cares about me. I simply mentioned that I wanted to see my family, and he immediately made the arrangements."
Kang Yubin flattered, "Indeed, Your Highness holds a special place in the Emperor's heart. When it comes to favor and affection in this palace, who can compare to Your Highness?"
These words reached Song Zhao's ears, and normally, they wouldn't have caused any ripples in her heart.
But she knew that Noble Consort Chen wanted to see her jealous and envious, so she deliberately made a sudden stroke with the brush, leaving a conspicuous ink blot on the pale yellow paper.
Noble Consort Chen burst into laughter upon seeing this and continued to speak to herself,
"Come to think of it, the last time I met my parents was two years ago when my father achieved great merit, and the Emperor personally arranged a family banquet. It's been so long, and I miss them dearly. Liu Yue, instruct the small kitchen to prepare more seafood tomorrow. Mother has a particular fondness for it."
Liu Yue acknowledged the order and withdrew. Kang Yubin then asked,
"Your Highness, with the New Year approaching, should we prepare the customary congratulatory gift for the Emperor on New Year's Eve as usual?"
"Naturally." Noble Consort Chen didn't hesitate for a moment and said almost instinctively, "The gift for the Emperor must be something exceptional, without any room for negligence."
Indeed, every year Noble Consort Chen would give Xiao Jingheng a New Year's gift that required spending a fortune.
Take, for example, the dragon-patterned jade bi she gave Xiao Jingheng last year, which was over ten feet tall. Just the pure white jade alone was worth a fortune, not to mention the natural dragon pattern on top of it.
At this moment, Noble Consort Chen wore a satisfied expression, but Kang Yubin's face showed a hint of worry. He whispered,
"But... Your Highness, when you were pregnant and received your promotion, you generously rewarded the six palaces. It has already depleted a significant amount of our treasury. Currently, we are facing some financial difficulties in the palace."
Noble Consort Chen frowned disapprovingly, saying, "If you need to prepare, then go ahead and prepare. After all, Father will be entering the palace tomorrow. It's a matter that pleases the Emperor, and no matter how much money is spent, Father won't find it excessive."
Most likely, Noble Consort Chen was putting on a show for Song Zhao. She wanted to indirectly convey to Song Zhao that she had a powerful maternal family that could support her at any time, unlike Song Zhao, who had no one behind her.
But the more Song Zhao listened, the more she found Noble Consort Chen's foolishness somewhat endearing...
Throughout the years, whether it was Xiao Jingheng's birthday or New Year's gifts, the gifts sent by Noble Consort Chen from the palace always had to be the most extravagant and ostentatious.
But has she ever considered...
Even though she only receives a monthly allowance of a thousand taels of silver as a consort,
And although her father and brothers were important officials in the previous dynasty, their salaries amounted to only fifteen hundred taels.
While the figures may sound wealthy, they still can't sustain Noble Consort Chen's extravagant lifestyle.
Hasn't she ever doubted where her father's seemingly endless wealth comes from?
After Kang Yubin left, Noble Consort Chen asked Song Zhao to put down her pen and asked her,
"Help me think about what gift I should give to the Emperor for the New Year's Eve celebration that would please him."
She couldn't help but taunt Song Zhao, "Rest assured, I know you live a frugal life. If your suggestion is good, I will naturally help you prepare a small gift so that you won't embarrass yourself too much during the New Year's Eve banquet."
Resting her chin on her hand, Song Zhao pondered for a moment and then said,
"Last year, I was under house arrest and did not attend the New Year's Eve banquet. But later, I heard from Consort Yao that the Emperor greatly admired the jade seal with a dragon pattern that the Empress Consort gave him. He also praised the gift that Consort Yin presented."
"Consort Yin?" Noble Consort Chen sneered, "Hmph. Wasn't it because her maternal family supplied ten thousand soldiers to the court? The Ada Tribe was short on gold and silver, so they could only send some worthless livestock and people."
Song Zhao replied, "When the Emperor, who rules over the world, desires any rare treasure, is there anything he can't obtain? On the contrary, those seemingly worthless things in the Empress Consort's eyes are actual military power and authority. They are valuable things that no amount of money can buy for the Emperor."
Although Song Zhao's words sounded somewhat harsh, upon careful consideration, they made sense.
Noble Consort Chen said, "You make it sound so easy. The Ada Tribe has autonomy, so of course, they can send soldiers to the Emperor. But where can I go to recruit soldiers and buy horses for the Emperor?"
"No need for you to recruit soldiers and buy horses, Your Highness." Song Zhao met Noble Consort Chen's gaze and whispered, "Isn't General Ning commanding an army of two hundred thousand?"
Upon hearing this, Noble Consort Chen almost rolled her eyes to the heavens.
"Song Zhao, have you lost your mind after giving birth to a child? The soldiers and horses under Father's command belong to the Qi Dynasty. They originally belong to the Emperor. Are you suggesting that I take what belongs to the Emperor and give it back to him? Are you suggesting that I make a fool of the Emperor?"
Song Zhao smiled lightly and calmly said,
"Ning Grand General is brave and skilled in warfare. In recent years, he has pacified all the hostile foreign countries and territories that were against the Qi Dynasty. Since the defeat of Zhu Yin, the world has been unified, and all countries have submitted to the mighty Qi Dynasty. Now, the Qi Dynasty enjoys peace and prosperity, and there will be no more wars. At this moment, Ning Grand General returns his military power to the Emperor. Can there be a better gift for the Emperor?"
Noble Consort Chen always considers things from Xiao Jingheng's perspective.
Song Zhao's words also awakened her.
Now that the world is at peace, if her father still holds a significant military force, it may invite criticism from the old courtiers of the previous dynasty who cling to outdated practices.
But the Ning family has always been a family of military commanders, not ordinary frontline generals, but governors.
For a military commander without military power, what is the meaning of being a governor?
"You want my father to give up his military power? Then my father and brothers from the previous dynasty will be left with only a hollow title?"
"Noble Consort, you worry too much. Ning Grand General is an expert in military strategy and undefeated in battle. The Emperor values his strategic acumen and his ability to lead troops. Whether he has military power or not, as long as he is present, the Qi Dynasty will never lose a war. The Emperor will continue to treat Ning Grand General favorably, and no one from the previous dynasty will dare to disrespect him. Most importantly, this gift, when presented, will please the Emperor more than any amount of gold, silver, or jade that Noble Consort can offer."
Noble Consort Chen carefully pondered Song Zhao's words for a long time before nodding slowly.
"My father has carried the scars of years of campaigns and battles. If he still holds military power, he will inevitably have to lead troops and train them regularly, leaving him no time to heal his wounds. It would be better to transfer the military power to someone else, and then my father will have time to recover his strength."
As she said this, she glanced at Song Zhao and her tone softened.
"Your idea is not bad. After my father enters the palace tomorrow, I will discuss this matter with him in detail. You have been here with me for half a day today. You can go back to the palace and rest."
