Chapter 1025: Donation

"Monthly stipend halved, food supply halved, and an additional donation of five thousand taels of silver and five hundred sets of clothing to the disaster victims in Jiangnan!"

"Whether you choose to donate or not depends on your own will."

"But from today onwards, for a year, no extravagance or waste is allowed in the harem!"

"If anyone feels this is unfair, they are welcome to seek a judgment from the Emperor!"

Her words were spoken with decisive firmness and grandeur, leaving no room for any doubt.

The crowd below looked at each other before getting up and expressing themselves in unison.

"We will dutifully follow the Empress’s teachings!"

Even Consort Shih Pin, who usually harbored some dissatisfaction and secretly criticized, now respectfully bowed her head without any reluctance.

Xia Ruqing, satisfied, waved her hand.

"Good! Everyone may sit down!"

The group thanked her and took their seats.

Consort Hui suddenly spoke.

"Empress, since you have set an example, I am willing to follow your lead!"

"All my shares will be halved, and I will additionally donate one thousand taels of silver and two hundred sets of clothing to the victims!"

After speaking, she smiled sheepishly.

"Don’t laugh, Your Majesty, though the silver isn’t much, it’s all I’ve saved!"

"I originally intended to save for Yi An’s dowry!"

"But after gathering what little I could, it was still not enough, so it’s better not to save at all!"

"Since the victims are in need, I’ll send it all over, which is at least a humble effort to help the people!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing was quite shocked.

"Dowry?"

She quickly stopped her.

"Let’s skip this part, if you have spare silver, donate some, if not, it’s okay - no need to force yourself!"

Unexpectedly, Consort Hui remained insistent.

In the end, Xia Ruqing could only comply with her wishes.

With Consort Hui making a donation, Consort Cheng couldn’t sit still either.

She rose with a bright smile.

"Empress, since Sister Hui is donating, I will follow her lead too!"

"I don’t have daughters, and no rush to gather dowries!"

Playfully, she looked at Consort Hui.

Consort Hui also laughed.

"You don’t need to save dowries, but you need to save for the engagement gifts for the Second Prince’s future wife. That’s even more challenging!"

Consort Cheng laughed gracefully.

"That’s not necessary either!"

"The Empress is so kind and generous, there’s no need for us to worry about it!"

Their banter made everyone laugh.

Xia Ruqing looked at the two of them and also chuckled.

"Alright, I know your intentions!"

"But one thing, while your shares are halved, the provisions for the Second Princess and the Second Prince should remain as usual, as they are growing and cannot be deprived of necessities!"

"Yes!"

Both of them replied in unison.

Xia Ruqing smiled as she looked at the others.

Thinking that perhaps no one else would donate, she was about to conclude.

Suddenly, she saw both Consort Zheng Pin and Consort Yun Pin stand up.

"Empress, we also wish to donate!"

Xia Ruqing’s eyes lit up, and she smiled.

"Oh?"

"You two..."

Consort Yun Pin quickly said.

"Empress, my shares are already small, so I won’t halve them. I’ll donate five hundred taels of silver to make a humble effort for the victims!"

Consort Zheng Pin nodded in agreement.

"Empress, mine is the same as Sister Yun Pin’s, also five hundred taels of silver!"

Xia Ruqing smiled as she looked at them, praising them.

"Good!"

"With such dedication from you, the Emperor will surely be very pleased!"

Consort Zheng Pin and Consort Yun Pin quickly responded.

’We are also part of the Great Chu Dynasty; it’s our duty!’

’Helping others without expecting anything in return, only hoping to ease the Empress and Emperor’s burdens!’

’We pray that the victims can rebuild their homes soon, and that the Emperor can set his mind at peace’ and so on.

The rhetoric was elaborate and pleasing to the ear.

Xia Ruqing listened with a bright smile.

Even though it was a bunch of nonsense, it was indeed pleasant to hear!

However, Consort Shih Pin, on the other hand, wore a very unpleasant expression and sneered sideways.

"Hmph!"

"Are you really trying to ease the Emperor’s burden or simply trying to ingratiate yourselves with the Empress?"

"Helping the people? When did you two become the merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva?"

The smiles of Consort Zheng Pin and Consort Yun Pin faded instantly, their faces slowly turning purple with embarrassment.

Xia Ruqing glanced at Consort Shih Pin and then said lightly.

"They may not be the merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva, but their intentions are good!"

"I’m not sure if Consort Shih Pin’s sharp words imply that you want to donate more?"

After that, everyone’s gaze in the harem shifted towards Consort Shih Pin.

The Empress is right.

No matter what the motivation, they are donating money.

Having been in the palace for so many years, their monthly allowances are limited, especially for those not favored, who rarely receive rewards.

Five hundred taels of silver is no small amount.

Donating that much is really not easy.

On the other hand, Consort Shih Pin.

Having been a Noble Consort for so many years and once very favored.

Her wealth may not be overwhelmingly abundant, but certainly more than Consort Yun Pin and Consort Zheng Pin.

And she is raising the Third Princess.

During festivals, rewards and allowances are twice that of others.

Now...

She donates not a single penny, yet mocks others, which is really hard to overlook.

Indeed.

Under everyone’s gaze, Consort Shih Pin couldn’t hold back her dignity.

Suppressing her anger, she reluctantly softened her stance.

"I know I’ve been wrong!"

"I’ll donate five hundred taels like Consort Yun Pin and Consort Zheng Pin!"

"I hope the Empress does not disdain me!"

Xia Ruqing instantly laughed.

"No disdain at all, I’m not forcing anyone, it’s all about intention!"

"Please, have a seat!"

Consort Shih Pin gritted her teeth and said.

"Thank you, Empress!"

After taking a seat.

Some of the Honored Ladies behind also stood up.

"Empress, though I’m not affluent, I’ll donate one hundred taels!"

"Empress, I’ll donate one hundred and fifty taels!"

"Two hundred taels!"

And so on, everyone chimed in, eager to step forward.

Xia Ruqing praised each one of them, smiling.

"You’re all wonderful!"

"As long as we all unite and work together with the Emperor, our Great Chu Dynasty doesn’t fear anything!"

She herself felt a bit moved by her words.

The people below were even more enthusiastic, and the scene was exceptionally lively.

Xia Ruqing felt somewhat incredulous inside.

’Here she was joking and laughing with a group of her husband-emperor’s concubines, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious!’

’The most amazing thing is, she didn’t feel uncomfortable at all!’

With this thought, she suddenly admired herself.

’Her adaptability is astonishingly strong!’

’To maintain such an abnormal relationship, she really is half a person of the ancient times!’

If it was in modern times.

If a man dared to have so many mistresses.

This group of women, instead of bashing each other’s heads, would bash the scumbag’s head in.

Bloodshed would be inevitable.

But in ancient society.

The vibe was harmonious, and Zhao Junyao wasn’t a scumbag.

Xia Ruqing suddenly sighed.

’Environment truly changes destiny!’

Who would have expected such a thing!

...

The fragrant tea had cooled, and it was getting late.

The concubines got up one after another to take their leave.

Xia Ruqing didn’t hold them longer.

Not long after seeing the people off, Zhao Junyao returned from court.