However, Consort Jinlan did not like this Empress Dowager. She had disliked this woman for a long time and found her to be very scheming. She just didn't expect that such a person would give birth to such an outstanding son.
Since the other woman's son became emperor, Consort Jinlan has kept a low profile and kept a low profile. Even when the Empress Dowager bestowed the young lady of the West Mansion upon her son, she did not say anything. In fact, this Xi Yan was really annoying. Now, looking at the Empress, Consort Jinlan couldn't help but like her and looked at Hai Ling with admiration.
Hai Ling naturally didn't miss Consort Jinlan's gaze, so she nodded to the Consort, then looked towards the main hall and spoke with a smile.
Aren't you all happy for me?
After the Empress said this, everyone looked at the Empress Dowager. Although the Empress Dowager's expression was not good, she did not say anything. Since the Empress Dowager did not speak, what could the women of the court dare to say?
In an instant, everyone in the hall stood up, raised their cups, and looked at the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty the Empress and Princess Qinyang are our congratulations."
Hai Ling nodded, picked up the teacup from the bed, and Xi Liang, who was sitting below her, stood up and drank a cup with everyone.
Princess Consort Cang of the Cang Prince's Mansion finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although she was still a little worried that the coolness of the mat might cause a conflict between the Empress Dowager and the Empress, judging from the commotion at the head of the hall, the Empress Dowager seemed unwilling to have a conflict with the Empress, so she was temporarily at ease.
The most furious among the Crown Prince's guests were Princess Zhaoyang, Xiyan, and the people from the Marquis of Huguo's residence. They had thought that the Empress Dowager would seize this opportunity to teach the Empress a lesson, but the Empress Dowager remained silent. Thinking of this, they were filled with resentment. They glared at the Empress in secret and muttered to themselves.
In the main hall, after a round of toasts, everyone resumed their lively activities, until the excitement subsided.
Hai Ling remembered that she still had important matters to attend to, so she coughed lightly. As soon as she coughed, no one in the hall spoke. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at the Empress at the head of the table. The next matter was probably about fundraising.
"Even if I don't say it, everyone probably already knows that in the southern part of Beilu, because of the low-lying terrain, there is too much water accumulation, which has greatly reduced the harvest, which is less than one-third of that in other places. The people have paid their taxes and are about to starve in the second half of the year. Therefore, His Majesty has issued an edict that all prefectures and counties should donate money if they have money and grain if they have grain, to help the people in the south get through the winter. To put it bluntly, I have to shamelessly ask everyone for this."
As soon as the Empress spoke, several noblewomen below the Crown Prince stood up and respectfully spoke in response.
"Her Majesty the Empress is compassionate and cares for the people, which is a blessing for our Northern Lu. This fundraising is truly a very important matter."
These ladies-in-waiting were all close to the imperial family. Among them were people from the Ningnan Marquis's residence and the Cang Prince's residence, as well as the wives of the Minister of War and the Minister of Justice.
Hai Ling smiled and nodded, gesturing for the ladies to sit down, then glanced around.
Throughout the main hall, many people frowned and pondered how much silver they should donate. In fact, the officials of various families in the court had already donated silver, but they did not expect that the Empress would ask them to donate silver again. If this happened a few more times, they were afraid that they would all be out of money.
Many people were secretly complaining, but Princess Xiyan of Zhaoyang, who had been sitting still the whole time, couldn't help but stand up and speak loudly.
"Your Majesty, I should naturally support what Your Majesty does. However, our Zhaoyang Prince's Mansion is a penniless shell. You don't know how many masters we have, so our expenses are too high. Even if we wanted to donate money, we don't have the ability to do so."
Chapter 114 Disrupting the Wedding [Handwritten VIP]
Inside the main hall, all was silent, everyone staring at Princess Zhaoyang, west Yan. This Princess Zhaoyang actually claimed that the Zhaoyang Royal Palace had no money—wasn't that a joke? If the palace had no money, how could it support so many women? It was truly laughable. However, many families who were unwilling to donate were quite happy to see Princess Zhaoyang and the Empress causing trouble. If the Zhaoyang Royal Palace could refuse to donate, then they would have even more reason not to donate.
Hai Ling, sitting at the head of the table, narrowed her eyes, a cold glint in them, but a gentle smile played on her lips as she softly stroked her slender fingers and spoke slowly and deliberately.
"Princess Zhaoyang, you are truly joking. If I am not mistaken, the cloud-patterned dress you are wearing is still from Yunjinfang in the capital, and the gilded phoenix hairpin in your hair is still from Jinyumantang, worth at least five hundred taels. In addition, the old pit glass jade bracelet on your wrist is worth at least one thousand taels. Adding the others, if I am not mistaken, Princess Zhaoyang's entire collection is probably worth no less than three thousand taels of silver. Even I am ashamed of my own wealth. Now Princess Zhaoyang is saying that the Zhaoyang Prince's Mansion has no money. Are you trying to deceive me and imply that I am a fool?"
As Hailin finished speaking, her face suddenly darkened, becoming sinister and cold.
Inside the main hall, everyone was dumbfounded and speechless. Many people shrank back desperately, because many noblewomen who had entered the palace today had worn their finest clothes and jewelry to compete with each other. In the end, they were no less impressive than Princess Zhaoyang. Now, the Empress could see the value of these things at a glance, and even Princess Zhaoyang was reprimanded in court. How much more so would these women? Now, no one dared to speak, or even refuse to donate money.
Princess Zhaoyang, Xiyan, never expected that simply saying she had no money would draw the Empress's censure. What's more, the Empress's words left her speechless. It's true that she had worn the best clothes and jewelry she owned when she entered the palace today, so her entire attire was worth no less than three thousand taels of silver. However, this woman's eyes were too sharp; she had seen through it at a glance. Princess Zhaoyang looked up at the Empress at the head of the table, opened her mouth as if to speak, but didn't know where to begin.
She had already said that the Prince Zhaoyang's mansion was poor, but now the clothes and accessories she wore were worth no less than three thousand taels of silver. No matter what, she couldn't get away with it, and she couldn't help but feel angry and resentful. However, the Empress had already punished her, so the Princess Zhaoyang quickly looked at her aunt, the Empress Dowager, at the head of the table, hoping that the Empress Dowager would help her out of this predicament.
The Empress Dowager was initially angry with the Empress, but seeing her niece in trouble, she suppressed her anger and opened her mouth: "Your Majesty?"
However, before she could speak, Hailin spoke first.
"How dare the audacious Princess Zhaoyang deceive me! Guards!"
Inside the main hall, everyone's expression changed simultaneously. Princess west Yan of Zhaoyang also realized that the situation was somewhat serious. She quickly stepped out from behind the table, knelt in the center of the hall, and said somewhat fearfully, "I beg Your Majesty the Empress to forgive me this time. It was my fault for acting without thinking. The Zhaoyang Prince's Mansion does not have much money, but for Your Majesty's plan for the people, I will find a way no matter how difficult it is."
west Yan was filled with hatred, but she was also terrified. She was so foolish to have become the first to stick her neck out. Since ancient times, arrows have shot down the first birds. She was so stupid. She pleaded repeatedly.
Not only west Yan, but even the Empress Dowager behind Hai Ling's back turned pale. Xi Yan was her own niece. What did the Empress mean by this? Was she slapping her in the face?
Everyone in the hall is watching. Doesn't she know to give her some face?
The Empress Dowager was panting heavily, unable to utter a single word. The old woman, Ying, quickly patted her back to help. Sitting beside the Empress Dowager, Consort Jinlan glanced at her, then looked at the Empress. She didn't think the Empress had done anything wrong; the Empress was still the head of the harem, and today was a day for donations. Many people in the hall didn't want to donate. As the daughter-in-law of the Prince of Zhaoyang, she should naturally take the lead in donating. Unexpectedly, she had only caused trouble. This was clearly an attempt to make things difficult for the Empress. Would the Empress forgive her? This woman was courting death.
Consort Jinlan looked at her daughter-in-law with a face full of disappointment. She thought, "You're not as good as the Empress, but at least you should behave properly. If you're not going to help the Empress, you shouldn't be causing trouble. You deserve it." She didn't even glance at west Yan kneeling below.
Outside the hall, guards had already slipped in, stood in a row, and respectfully clasped their hands in a deep voice.
"What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
Hai Ling glanced coldly at Xi Yan. To be honest, she didn't want to make things difficult for Xi Yan, after all, she was the Empress Dowager's niece. If she made things difficult for Xi Yan, it would seem as if she was deliberately making things difficult for the Empress Dowager. However, Xi Yan was the first to step forward. If she didn't make an example of her, then she wouldn't be able to raise much money today. Next, many families would probably say, "The Prince Zhaoyang's mansion doesn't have any money left, so we families have even less money." Therefore, she had no choice but to do it.
Inside the main hall, everyone looked at Hai Ling, who calmly gave her command.
"Go to the Prince Zhaoyang's residence immediately and investigate whether it is so poor that it has no means of support. Is that why the Princess Zhaoyang is complaining about poverty in front of me? As a member of the royal family and a role model for the world, if she does not set an example, how can others follow her example?"
As soon as Hai Ling finished speaking, Princess west Yan of Zhaoyang in the main hall changed her expression drastically and burst into tears.
When the guard entered the Zhaoyang Prince's residence, Prince Zhaoyang Ye Ranyi was the first to not let him go. He was determined to divorce her and drive her out of the Zhaoyang Prince's residence. Besides, how could a dignified prince's residence be without money? Once the Empress investigated, she would be guilty of deceiving the Empress and would not be able to hide. Ji Hailing was really too ruthless.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't! The Prince Zhaoyang's residence has many concubines. If we let the guards in to investigate, wouldn't the whole world laugh at the Prince Zhaoyang's residence?"
Although west Yan was so angry and scared that she cried, the most important thing right now was to prevent the guards from entering the Zhaoyang Prince's Mansion, so she quickly spoke up. Before Hai Ling could speak, Princess Xi Yan of Zhaoyang interrupted, "I deserve to die before. I didn't realize that I am still the Princess of Zhaoyang. Even if the manor doesn't have much money left, I should set an example for the people. So I have decided to donate the dowry I brought to the Zhaoyang Prince's Mansion, which is about five thousand taels of silver."
As soon as west Yan finished speaking, her heart was bleeding. She hadn't wanted to donate, but now she was the first to rush to donate five thousand taels of silver. Five thousand taels of silver!
Unfortunately, although she said she would donate five thousand taels, Hai Ling, who was at the head of the table, was unmoved. She glanced coldly at west Yan at the foot of the table and said softly, "Are you sure it's five thousand taels? Five thousand taels?"
Anyone with eyes to see what this means. The Empress is dissatisfied with the amount of silver donated by Princess Zhaoyang. Many people who had initially planned to donate a thousand or two thousand taels are now sweating profusely. It seems that donating less is not an option. If the Empress then sends guards into their residences to investigate, wouldn't that be a death sentence for them? Now, they have no choice but to bleed. No one dares to take any chances anymore.
west Yan, kneeling in the center of the hall, knew exactly what Hai Ling meant. Now she had no way out, so she gritted her teeth and decided to go all out: "This concubine has decided to donate 10,000 taels."