Shen Meizhuang and Jingbi couldn't come up with any good ideas for a while.
It is said that the Tian family is rich, but at the end of the year, the emperor's family has no food left. The proper pomp must not be neglected at all, otherwise it will bring disgrace to the emperor.
Concubine Hua said impatiently, "Are you all mute?"
"Don't you usually think that I am monopolizing power, clinging to it and refusing to give it to you?"
"Now that I've given you a chance, but you can't come up with a solution, how can I trust you to manage the affairs of the palace!"
Concubine Hua's words were both unpleasant and threatening, but they left Concubine Jing and Shen Meizhuang unable to argue.
But it also gave them a chance, as long as they could think of a way to resolve this matter satisfactorily. Concubine Hua would no longer have any excuse to let them just look at those old accounts.
Shen Meizhuang said, "Please forgive me, Concubine Hua, but I have an idea. Is it feasible?"
Concubine Hua perked up, "Oh, Mr. Shen came up with your idea so quickly?"
"Then tell me and listen. If you take it seriously, it's a good idea and it's a credit to you."
Concubine Jing said, "The money given to the ministers for ancestor worship must not be less, and the royal dishes given on New Year's Eve and the rewards from various governments must not be frugal. In this case, we can only think of ways to come up with palace banquets."
"The Wanshou Festival has not long passed, and some of the silks, satins and decorations left over from before can still be used. Why not ask the Ministry of Internal Affairs to take out all the things? This should save some money."
"There are also flowers used at the palace banquet. In previous years, flowers grown in the Xiaotangshan Hot Spring Palace were used. They are valuable."
"Winter is when the plum blossoms are in full bloom in Japan, so why not let people just cut the flower branches and decorate them."
Concubine Hua said, "I have already asked the servants in the flower room that the palace will be decorated with red plums."
"But even if we use all the things left over from the Wanshou Festival that can be used, we can save another 20,000 taels of silver at most, leaving a gap of 30,000 taels."
Shen Meizhuang said hesitantly, "Since the sharp rise in rice prices has caused such a big gap, why not think of ways to provide porridge?"
Concubine Hua frowned. Every time there was a happy occasion in the palace, she must give porridge to the people to show the royal kindness.
The large iron pot used for soup porridge has a fixed amount of water and rice.
Don't do it too much. People in the whole capital come to drink porridge, and even three hundred thousand taels of silver can't stop it.
It can't be too thin. If it's too thin and clear, there aren't even a few grains of rice left. People will just sigh that the emperor is stingy.
Concubine Hua felt that Shen Meizhuang looked very stable, but the suggestion she made was not as good as what Concubine Jing just said.
Not only will it not solve the problem, it will cause trouble.
"Giving porridge is to show the emperor's kindness to the people of the world. Trying to think of ways to make porridge saves money but hurts the people's hearts and makes the world laugh at you."
"Shen Guiren, the emperor values you and asks you to learn from me how to handle official affairs, but you have come up with such a bad idea."
Concubine Hua has always been known to be impatient, but this was a little too impatient. She didn't even wait for her to finish her words before she made such a long speech.
Shen Meizhuang felt that Concubine Hua just didn't like her, so whenever she got the chance, she would humiliate her with words.
Concubine Jing had to say something for Shen Meizhuang, "Concubine Hua, please forgive me, but Shen Guiren also has her reasons for saying this."
"My Majesty, why don't you let Shen Guiren explain it clearly? If this is a bad idea, it won't be too late for your Majesty to reprimand you."
Concubine Hua sat on the kang with a touch of disdain on her face. She wanted to see if she could name a flower.
"Okay, in that case, I am all ears."
"Thank you, Concubine Hua."
Shen Meizhuang said, "I have read the accounts. The rice used in the porridge is all new rice of that year, and the price is already 20% more expensive than last year's old rice."
"Although old rice is not as delicious as new rice, there is no difference between using it to fill your stomach and using fine polished rice."
"There are also sweet potatoes, which are cheaper than rice and taste better than white porridge."
"When we make porridge together, the people will only be more grateful for the emperor's grace. We can also just close the gap of 30,000 taels of silver, so that everyone can be happy."
After hearing this, Concubine Hua's frown finally relaxed, and Concubine Jing also beamed with joy and said happily,
"Shen Guiren, this is a good idea. If it is really feasible, you can do this for porridge in the future. Over time, it will be a huge sum of money."
Concubine Hua said, "In this case, after I report to the Emperor Mingming, and get His Majesty's approval, I will let people start organizing."
"This matter is settled for the time being. You all should go back first. I will go to see the emperor right now."
*
Shen Meizhuang and Concubine Jing came out of Yikun Palace, holding the heater in their hands, and walked slowly to Xianfu Palace.
Along the way, the maids and eunuchs were busy decorating the harem to welcome the arrival of New Year's Eve.
Concubine Jing said, "Fifty thousand taels of silver is not a small amount. You are smart enough to come up with a way to make porridge with old rice mixed with sweet potatoes. Otherwise, I don't know how to make up for the money."
Shen Meizhuang said, "I also thought that my mother had always done this when I was at home, so I told her to give it a try."
"I originally thought that Concubine Hua wouldn't listen, but I didn't expect that she actually agreed."
Concubine Jing smiled and said, "The Queen Mother doesn't care about anything. The Queen is ill again. She is the one in charge of the palace."
"Your Majesty will not care about the increase in food prices caused by heavy snowfall. If it is done well, it may not necessarily be a reward. A busy job is mostly just a verbal compliment."
"But if there is no other way, Concubine Hua will bear the brunt, and the emperor will feel that she is not doing things well. She can treat people wrongly on some small things."
"But when it comes to these big things, Concubine Hua is not stupid. It doesn't matter who brought it up, as long as it can solve the problem, she has no reason to disagree."
Shen Meizhuang said, "It's my sister who understands Concubine Hua."
"But after looking through the accounts from previous years these days, as well as the account books I just looked at, my sister must have discovered it too, right?"
"The expenses in this palace are really shocking. No wonder the concubine gets a lot of chicken and duck every month. If she wants to eat more chicken wings, she has to spend extra money."
Concubine Jing said, "Sister, be careful what you say!"
"The Emperor may not be clear about this matter. Since he didn't mention it, he either acquiesces or it's not time yet. Let's just pretend we haven't seen it and don't take it to heart."
Concubine Jing understands what Shen Meizhuang means. Although they are women, now they have entered the palace again, and there is a wall between them and the outside. They are two different worlds.
Just because they don't give birth doesn't mean they are stupid...
It costs several thousand taels of silver to repair a door. The door is not made of gold. Even if it were made of gold, it would not cost that much.
Everyone knows what's going on here, but everyone is pretending to be confused. Even if the Queen and Concubine Hua don't ask about this matter, they don't even have the ability.
It's just that the hard work and frugality have benefited those slaves in the end.
