Chapter 1289 - 977: Military Grain Supplier_2
"This can be considered a remarkable achievement."
Upon hearing the Emperor mention her husband’s name, Hu Shu’Er, who had been cautious and anxious since entering the palace, immediately became extremely alert.
Indeed, as her elder sister-in-law and the others had said, today she would certainly receive a reward!
The husband she chose blindly turned out to be a treasure!
Thinking this in her heart, Hu Shu’Er heard the Empress Dowager ask the Emperor,
"Does Your Majesty have any rewards you wish to bestow?"
The Emperor, upon hearing this, smiled wryly at Empress Dowager Xiao.
"Mother, your question truly embarrasses your son.
In this world, if it were other families, I would reward them with gold and silver treasures, and they would be overjoyed, but look here, was the eighth family’s former princess of the nation ever lacking in fine things?
This sixth lady, I’ve heard her family is the foremost rich family; I suspect the silver in her family’s warehouse might even outmeasure the shadow of my National Treasury!"
When the Emperor said this, Hu Shu’Er couldn’t help but become more humble and fearful.
But this was the Emperor; she dared not interrupt recklessly, nor dare to respond lightly!
As a result, fine beads of cold sweat began to form on her forehead.
"Your Majesty! Please don’t frighten Sixth Sister-in-law like this; see how you’ve almost scared her silly!
The reason your National Treasury is empty is because the silver was used to prepare supplies for the frontline battles.
The reason Sixth Sister-in-law’s family is the foremost rich family is due to the legitimate business income earned by her and her mother."
Upon hearing Xie Pan’Er’s words, the Emperor nodded and said, "The Empress speaks reasonably, but you needn’t explain so deliberately; those who know might say you’re explaining my lack of silver in the National Treasury, while those who don’t could assume you’re implying I covet the eighth family’s warehouse silver!"
Xie Pan’Er opened her mouth, her eyes turned a few times, wondering if the Emperor really didn’t mean that?
As far as she knew, the recent matter of the empty National Treasury had been troubling the Emperor immensely!
She gathered from the Emperor’s attitude that he wanted to consider other family’s warehouses, so her seventh brother had been busy these days!
The Emperor sighed, "I am really something, discussing such matters needlessly. Well, you probably lack nothing in terms of gold and silver treasures, so I’ll have someone draft an edict; all five ladies of the Ji Family will be conferred as First Grade Official Ladies. What do you think?"
As soon as the Emperor said this, Xiao Zhenzhu immediately knelt down, and Hu Shu’Er quickly followed suit.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, may you live ten thousand years!"
With the matter settled, it was lunchtime.
The Emperor ordered them to have lunch together at the Empress Dowager’s Cining Palace.
Little Xiaosuisui got sleepy right after lunch, so Empress Dowager Xiao had Nanny Xiao take her to the Side Palace to rest, then continued chatting with Xiao Zhenzhu and Hu Shu’Er for a while.
The Emperor and Xie Pan’Er went to the Imperial Garden with rightful reason, affectionately causing envy among the ladies who sneaked out of Chuxiu Palace.
The Empress Dowager took Xiao Zhenzhu and Hu Shu’Er to see the Great Phoenix in the Cining Palace’s back garden.
The Great Phoenix was curling up its noble phoenix head to sleep.
Upon seeing the Empress Dowager bring Xiao Zhenzhu and Hu Shu’Er to see it particularly, it slowly extended its head and glanced at Xiao Zhenzhu and the others.
The moment it saw Xiao Zhenzhu, the Great Phoenix’s head wouldn’t move.
Its gaze was fixed on Xiao Zhenzhu.
"This is the Divine Bird Phoenix, it’s so beautiful!"
Hu Shu’Er saw the Great Phoenix’s radiant feathers, its proudly lifted head, and its bright eyes.
She couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
She spontaneously reached out her hand to stroke the head of the Great Phoenix.
Yet, the Great Phoenix didn’t respond to her; its gaze remained fixed upon Xiao Zhenzhu.
When Xiao Zhenzhu extended her hand towards it, the Great Phoenix not only extended its head but also couldn’t help but nuzzle her palm!
Xiao Zhenzhu was taken aback.
Why did she feel an indescribable sensation in her heart?
"Oh! The Great Phoenix seems to like you a lot!"
Empress Dowager Xiao was very surprised.
Nanny Xiao followed with a comment.
"In this palace, apart from Chang Rongshun and Princess, only the Empress can make the Great Phoenix feel close.
Unexpectedly today, the Great Phoenix willingly approached the Eighth Lady, indicating she too is blessed."
Upon these words, Xiao Zhenzhu responded, "I always feel the Great Phoenix gives me a very familiar feeling, indescribable, a kind of heartache, yet a sense of joy!"