Chapter 368: Chapter 363: Imperial Concubine
"As the year draws close, the Emperor wishes to dispel the misfortunes of past years through grand celebrations this year. I wonder if my sisters have any suggestions?"
Everyone looked around, and finally it was Lady, who held the highest rank, who spoke, "Everything should be decided by Her Grace."
Ye Qiu glanced at everyone apathetically, "Since no one has any ideas, then each palace should present a unique gift to the Emperor, Fang Pin, Lady."
"Yes."
"You are the mothers of the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince. Although the princes are not yet of age to enter academy, teach them to say a few auspicious words, but don’t tire the children."
"Thank you for Her Grace’s concern."
"Anything else? If not, you may leave."
The new concubines were somewhat stunned. Wasn’t the Imperial Concubine supposed to see them as thorns in her eyes? Why didn’t she make things difficult for them?
Ye Qiu indicated that her ambitions were not in the intrigues of the harem. If not for the rules, she would not even want to accept the bi-monthly salutations. Her concerns were now more focused on the disasters across various regions, and after contemplation, she decided to visit Ji Fei.
"Report, Your Majesty, urgent news from Southern Province." At this time, in Yangxin Hall, Ji Fei was in a very bad mood. The disaster situation in Henan and Lianghu had barely begun to ease, and now a snow disaster had erupted in Hebei, and both the Liao People and the Western Regions people were growing restless.
"What now?" Ji Fei said annoyed.
"It’s the remnants of the Eldest Prince. They have already occupied two county towns in Southern Province."
"Send troops to fight them. Do you even need to ask me about such trivial matters?"
The person’s face hesitated, "Your Majesty, they occupy the mountainous areas, filled with poisonous insects and miasmas. We are exposed while they are hidden, and we have already suffered heavy casualties."
"Are you treating my words as nonsense? I said to fight."
Ji Fei said angrily, truly his ’good’ elder brother, not even providing peace in death.
"Why must Your Majesty be so angry?" Ye Qiu walked in from outside, her crisp and pleasant voice slightly soothing Ji Fei’s temper.
"Why are you here?" Ji Fei said, frowning.
Ye Qiu didn’t directly answer his question but seriously suggested, "The Eldest Prince is dead, what’s left are just some hidden remnants. Why must Your Majesty send innocent soldiers to their death?"
"Then what do you suggest? Should we let them roam free, disregarding me, the Emperor?" Ji Fei raised his eyebrows, his aura becoming the lowest.
"Your servant didn’t mean that. It’s just that Your Majesty shouldn’t bother over such remnants. They hide deep in the mountains, so what? According to this soldier’s report, the deep mountains in Southern Province are full of miasmas and poisonous insects. They aren’t locals; hiding there is only suffering. Why not let the governor station troops at the mountain’s base? There will come a day when they will surrender."
"What if they don’t come down?" Ji Fei’s gaze flickered.
Ye Qiu smiled lightly, "It’s better if they don’t come down. If they don’t leave the mountains, they’re just a group of mountain bandits without household registration. Unable to receive education or become officials, they can’t pose any threat to you."
Ji Fei looked at Ye Qiu with new respect: "You are right." He then wrote instructions to the governor of Southern Province, finally feeling as though a great weight had been lifted from him. However, he was still somewhat upset, how could a woman he looked down upon outshine him?
Ye Qiu noticed his thoughts, scoffing internally but maintaining a perfect smile on her face. Taking a pastry from a palace maid’s hands, she placed it on his table: "These were merely the humble opinions of your servant. The Emperor was just being anxious for the world and its people, otherwise he would certainly have thought more thoroughly than your servant."
The voice was crisp and pleasing to the ear, and the words spoken aligned with his own thoughts, Ji Fei nodded at Ye Qiu in satisfaction.
The soldiers still kneeling in the hall bowed their heads in trepidation. They never imagined they would one day hear the Imperial Concubine discuss solutions to political issues from the previous dynasty, and that the Emperor would simply agree.
However, he was grateful to the Imperial Concubine, being from the Southern Province himself. The people attacking the remnants of the Eldest Prince were his brothers. Avoiding war and casualties was the best outcome.
After handling this matter, Ji Fei asked Ye Qiu about her sudden appearance here: "My beloved princess, you haven’t explained why you suddenly came to Yangxin Hall?"
Ye Qiu furrowed her brows and spoke with a hint of concern: "I came because I suddenly heard that the Liao People were looting and killing on the border, and I was worried about my family, so I wanted to ask the Emperor about the situation."
"Noble Consort doesn’t know?" Ji Fei squinted his eyes slightly, looking somewhat suspicious.
Ye Qiu wore a baffled expression: "If I knew, would I have come to ask Your Majesty?"
Somehow, seeing Ye Qiu’s innocent expression, Ji Fei’s heart softened and his tone eased: "It’s nothing serious, don’t you know your family’s capabilities?"
Ye Qiu smiled in relief: "Then I am reassured. Actually, I have another matter to report to Your Majesty."
"What is it?"
"Since it’s almost Chinese New Year, and last year we didn’t celebrate grandly because of the late Emperor’s demise, this year, with Your Majesty ascending the throne, why not hold a grand celebration for everyone?"
"But nowadays, the National Treasury..." Ji Fei was a bit troubled. This was the first year of his reign, and he did want to celebrate grandly, but there were natural calamities across the regions this year, and the treasury was already not plentiful. Thinking of this, he could not help but blame the late Emperor for leaving him such a mess.
"Has Your Majesty ever thought that using the treasury to support the regions is merely a drop in the bucket? Should the court resolve every regional disaster with silver? Even if the court were wealthy, it would be drained empty!"
"Does the Noble Consort have a better idea?"
"Merchants are rich, why not let them contribute silver?"
Ji Fei frowned: "No matter how much money merchants have, the court cannot forcibly levy it, otherwise, it would cause instability."
"I didn’t say to forcibly levy, just find a way to make them willingly contribute."
Looking at Ye Qiu’s confident and cunning expression, Ji Fei felt unexpectedly reassured: "Then what good solution does the Imperial Concubine have?"
Listening from the side, An Fu trembled with fear. It was a rule passed down by ancestors that the harem mustn’t interfere in politics, yet why was the Emperor discussing major court matters with the Imperial Concubine so casually?
Ye Qiu was not concerned with a eunuch’s thoughts. To obtain more political news from Ji Fei, she naturally presented her idea: "Merchants value profits but also their reputation. Why doesn’t Your Majesty grant the privilege that anyone who contributes a certain amount to road construction or disaster relief could receive eligibility for the imperial examination or have their names recorded on the Merit Stele for the public to admire?"
Ye Qiu watched Ji Fei deep in thought and chuckled lightly: "Of course, these are just my humble opinions. The specifics of how to proceed and implement still depend on Your Majesty’s decision."
"No, what you said makes much sense." Ji Fei gazed intensely at Ye Qiu, "However, the specifics of how to implement this will depend on the discussions between myself and the Ministers."
"Forgive me for making Your Majesty laugh, but being able to alleviate Your Majesty’s worries is also part of my duty."