"Did the concubine mother misunderstand? Or did someone slander the concubine mother and slander the daughter-in-law?"
Gu Jiu's gaze swept over everyone's face one by one, as if he wanted to determine who was slandering the princess.
Under her gaze, many people subconsciously avoided.
There were also people who didn't care, and responded to her gaze generously.
Snapped!
Mrs. Pei patted the table, pointed at Gu Jiu, and said angrily: "Don't tease irrelevant people. You moved away the things in the Bixi Pavilion, that's a fact. So many people have seen it, do you still want to deny it?"
Gu Jiu shook her head and said, "Daughter-in-law didn't intend to deny it. It is true that daughter-in-law asked someone to remove the items in the Bixi Pavilion, but daughter-in-law did what she was ordered to do.
Without the father's permission, the daughter-in-law would never dare to touch the items in the Bixi Pavilion.
The concubine mother thought about it carefully, how many guards there are in Bixi Pavilion, how many Huangmen, how many strong servants.
With so many stares, without the permission of the father and the king, the daughter-in-law would not dare to remove the things in the Bixi Pavilion with a lot of courage.
Those guards are not incompetent people who can knock down their daughter-in-law with a single strike. If the mother and concubine don't believe it, they can send someone to the Bixi Pavilion to ask the father, and they will know that what the daughter-in-law said is not a single lie. "
Pei frowned, these words made some sense.
The guards in Bixi Pavilion are not decorations, how could they watch Gu Jiu move things away, but remain indifferent.
But Xiao Qin'er jumped out and said: "Sister-in-law is very eloquent, who knows if sister-in-law has used some tricks to play tricks on father, so that father agrees to remove the things in Bixi Pavilion."
Gu Jiu turned around, stared at Xiao Qin'er, and questioned: "Are the four younger siblings questioning the judgment of the father? The father is young and powerful, and his resourcefulness is unparalleled. What is the intention of the fourth younger siblings to slander the father for being old and foolish, and will be punished by me?" influences
How can I, how can I influence my father's judgment. Fourth brother and sister, I really didn't expect that you are respectful and filial on the surface, but in private, you hope that your father will grow old soon and be an old fool. "
"I didn't, don't slander me." Xiao Qin'er was anxious, her eyes were red.
"Mother concubine, sister-in-law slandered me, misinterpreted my words, and punished every word. With her sharp mouth, she can say that the dead are alive, and she dares to accuse me of bad intentions. She is clearly the one who beat me up. Please also Mother and concubine make the decision for me."
Xiao Qin'er knelt in front of Mrs. Pei, weeping and crying, as if she had been greatly wronged.
Mrs. Pei squinted her eyes and looked left and right, "Come here, go to Bixi Pavilion and ask the lord, whether the eldest lady has his permission to move things from Bixi Pavilion."
The servants took orders and left.
Pei continued: "My princess will investigate this matter thoroughly, and I will never wrong anyone. But, daughter-in-law, you are really good at telling stories. This princess almost believed you."
Gu Jiu was neither humble nor overbearing, and said: "My daughter-in-law dare not tell the truth. If you really want to pursue it, please ask the mother and concubine to ask the fourth sibling what is her intention? Could it be that the fourth sibling thinks that my son is in prison, and the fourth son can replace him?"
Xiao Qin'er knelt on the ground, while Gu Jiu stood still.
The two of them were one tall and the other short, and they seemed to be a bit behind Gu Jiu in terms of momentum.
So she jumped up from the ground, pointed at Gu Jiu, and said angrily, "I've never thought about it that way before. Sister-in-law, please don't make wild guesses, you've wronged a good person."
Gu Jiu looked at her with a half-smile, "This is exactly what I want to say to my fourth sibling. Please, my fourth sibling, be kind and don't recklessly wrong anyone."
"Mother Concubine!" Xiao Qin'er cried again.
She whimpered, very pitifully.
Pei was indifferent.
In her life, she has seen too many people cry.
The palace came and went, so many women, few of them had ever cried in front of her.
It is delusional to expect that crying will soften her heart.
Xiao Qin'er cried for a long time, but Princess Pei did not respond.
She was embarrassed at the time.
She covered her face, lowered her head, and her eyes moved wildly. Should she continue crying, or should she take the opportunity to stop crying.
It's so hard to choose.
Xiao Qin'er gritted her teeth, it was all Gu Jiu's fault.
Gu Jiu is a villain.
The servant who went to the Tourmaline Pavilion to inquire about the news has returned.
"I want to report to the concubine, the prince said that the eldest lady is following orders. It happens that the prince wants to change the decorations in the side hall, so let the eldest lady handle it for her."
Pei frowned, "Your Highness really said that?"
The servant nodded, "The servant dare not lie to the empress."
"Back off."
"As ordered."
Pei Shi looked at Gu Jiu, "Since you acted according to orders, this princess will not hold you accountable for this matter. But next time, you'd better report to this princess in advance."
"My daughter-in-law obeys."
Then Mrs. Pei said: "You are sisters-in-law. This princess hopes that you can get along in harmony. Don't create things out of nothing, and don't provoke right and wrong. If anyone is not willing to settle down, this princess will not be polite."
Xiao Qin'er trembled, and took the opportunity to stop crying, "My daughter-in-law respectfully obeys my mother and concubine's instruction."
Mrs. Pei was about to send everyone away, but at this moment, a servant reported that the Huyang princess had come.
Princess Huyang still lives in the palace and has not returned to the palace.
What she meant was that she didn't want to go back to the princess mansion. I'm afraid that when I go back, I will think of the tragic death of Prince Chen.
Now that the princess of Huyang is here, everyone sits still. They all want to see the Huyang Princess come over, why.
After a while, Princess Huyang was invited to the hall.
Princess Huyang's eyes were red and swollen, obviously she had just cried.
She had a miserable face, "Sister-in-law, I dreamed about the son-in-law, he is so miserable, he will die with regret."
Pei frowned, although she didn't want to see Princess Huyang, she couldn't make trouble.
She comforted: "Don't think about it. As the saying goes, you think about it every day and dream about it at night. You have to find something to do to distract your attention."
Princess Huyang shook his head again and again, "No. The son-in-law told me in a dream that he was so miserable, his bones were incomplete, and Lord Yan wanted to put him in a frying pan. Sister-in-law, what do you think I should do?"
Concubine Shen suggested: "If you don't come to the temple, do a ritual ceremony for Prince Chen."
The princess of Huyang looked at Pei eagerly.
Mrs. Pei frowned, "It's about Chen Concubine, it's up to you, Huyang, to make up your own mind."
Princess Huyang said: "I'm planning to go to the temple to do a ritual for the son-in-law, and add a few thousand taels of sesame oil money, so that the son-in-law will have a good pregnancy in the next life. However, I am short of money, and I was fined by the emperor for three years. , I also ask my sister-in-law to donate generously to support one or two."
Mrs. Pei was so angry that she fell back, she dared to say that Princess Huyang came to ask for money.
She said with displeasure on her face: "Don't you know the situation in the mansion? The household department cleared up the outstanding debts, and the prince emptied out all the family assets, and only collected tens of thousands of taels, and they were all taken to the household department. Except for the food expenses this month, there is no money at all."
But the owner of Huyang County said: "But I heard that Brother Wang used the Southwest silver to buy Guanping silver, so there should be 40,000 to 50,000 taels of Guanping silver left in the palace.
Since she is rich, why does my sister-in-law call her poor in front of me? No matter how poor the palace is, can I still be as poor as me? Or, sister-in-law doesn't want to lend me money? "
Pei was annoyed, "You also said that the Ministry of Accounts is clearing up the outstanding debts, you don't want to raise money to pay back to the Ministry of Accounts, but you only want to add a few thousand taels of sesame oil money to do things for Chen Consort. You are very generous.
It costs thousands of taels of silver, and you don't even think about it. Whose money is it? When the matter spread to the palace, His Majesty asked you if you have money to add sesame oil, but if you have no money to pay back the debt, how would you answer? Have you thought about it? "
Princess Huyang's eyes turned red, and tears rolled down her cheeks, "I don't know what my sister-in-law said. But the son-in-law really died so badly! Can't my sister-in-law show kindness? Could it be that my sister-in-law really has the heart to watch?" Do you want to die with your son-in-law in peace?"
Pei said angrily: "Don't talk about Chen Consort. You have killed Chen Concubine until today. Now, you still don't want to repent. Do you want to kill the palace?"
The owner of Huyang County suddenly turned up the volume and cried loudly, "Sister-in-law is poking my heart. Since the accident, I have never left the palace for half a step, and I keep myself safe every day. But my sister-in-law is yelling at me. You also blame me for implicating the palace. Since that's the case, why don't I go to the palace to meet the concubine mother now."
Mrs. Pei sneered, "Go into the palace if you have the guts. I'm afraid that you will fail. I'm afraid that as soon as you enter the palace, His Majesty will get news and ask you to go and ask questions.
I would like to know how you will deal with His Majesty's questioning. But don't put yourself in it in the end, and you will be fined for another three years. "
This is also the reason why Hu Yang dare not enter the palace.
She was afraid that the emperor would question her, and she was afraid of facing the emperor.
The emperor sent a decree to sentence Consort Chen to abandon the city, which really frightened Huyang.
She really doesn't have the guts to enter the palace now.
But bluff, she still will.
She jumped up from the chair, "Okay, since my sister-in-law wants me to die, I will enter the palace now. The emperor really wants to punish me. If I have no money, I can't live. I just sell the palace of the princess." , exchanged for money for the three of us, mother and son, to live."
She gestured to walk outside.
Concubine Shen hastily persuaded: "Princess, don't be arrogant. You should do things for Chen Consort. This is what you should do.
It's just a few thousand taels of sesame oil at a time, and it's really too eye-catching at this juncture. Please think twice, the princess.
It's better to reduce the sesame oil money a little bit. It is indeed very difficult for the palace now, and there is no money for it.
Let's collect money from Tao's private house, let's pool together a sum of sesame oil money for you, don't you think it's good? "
Hu Yang cried: "Sister-in-law Shen still loves me."
Pei was half-dead in anger, "Who are you calling sister-in-law?"
Huyang should be beaten for calling concubine Shen side sister-in-law.
Hu Yang wiped his tears, "Shen Fangfei also has the Jade Butterfly Gold Book, and she also bears children for Brother Wang, shouldn't she be called sister-in-law?"
"Don't, don't call me sister-in-law. The princess is too flattering on me." Concubine Shen was terrified on the face, but she was very happy in her heart.
Seeing Pei's face turning blue with anger is really satisfying.
Pei pointed at Princess Huyang, "Based on your attitude, you still want to take money from my concubine. Let me tell you, there is no way. Go back to the guest house and be honest for my concubine, and you are not allowed to leave the palace." "
Hu Yang snorted, "This is Brother Wang's mansion, you have no right to interfere with me. If you don't pay me, I'll go find Brother Wang."
Huyang Princess ran out angrily.
Mrs. Pei touched her forehead, "I'm so mad at my concubine. It's really bad luck for eight lifetimes to have such a sister-in-law."
"Wang Concubine, please be careful. I have been here for so many years, why bother with Huyang." Concubine Shen persuaded her sincerely.
Mrs. Pei stared at Concubine Shen, "Shut up for my princess. You and Huyang princess are singing together, do you really think this princess can't see it?"
Concubine Shen yelled: "I am wronged! The princess is angry with Huyang, why bother to turn my anger on my concubine."
Pei's expression was impatient, "Get out, get out of here for my princess."
She thought, in this life, she would really die at the hands of Huyang.
Huyang is definitely here to overcome her.
No, she can't just watch Huyang move the money from the palace outside.
"Come here, let me keep an eye on the Tourmaline Pavilion for my princess. If there is any disturbance, report it immediately."
The servants took orders and left.
Everyone has already left Chunhe Hall.
Concubine Luo asked Concubine Shen in a low voice, "Is there really 40,000 to 50,000 taels of silver in the cashier?"
"Who knows." Concubine Shen said indifferently.
Concubine Luo muttered softly, "My lord used the Southwest silver to exchange Baoguan Pingyin. If this is true, then there must be a sum of money in the palace. Since there is money, why did the princess say that there is no money and let me wait for the cutting. "
Concubine Shen chuckled, "It's all an excuse."
Concubine Luo thought for a while and caught up with Gu Jiu.
"Madam, please stay."
Gu Jiu turned her head back, "The concubine Luo called me to stop, but she has something to order."
Concubine Luo said politely, "I don't dare to obey the order. There is just one thing that I want to verify."
Gu Jiu understood it in her heart, but still asked, "What's the matter?"
Concubine Luo asked in a low voice: "The prince used 45,000 taels of Southwest silver to subsidize Guanping silver. Is this true?"
Gu Jiu nodded, agreeing.
Concubine Luo hurriedly said: "So, Hu Yang didn't lie, the palace does have a deposit of 45,000 taels of silver."
Gu Jiu smiled, "I don't know about this. Concubine Luo might as well ask the prince."
Concubine Luo shook her head again and again, how could she have the courage to ask King Ning.
"Thank you, Ma'am, for telling the truth."
After finishing speaking, Concubine Luo caught up with Concubine Shen and left in a hurry.
Nanny Fang whispered to Gu Jiu, "The concubine wanted to cut the expenses of the various courts under the pretext that the house has no money to pay off the debts. Now it seems that Concubine Shen and Concubine Luo are definitely not willing to be cut expenses."
Gu Jiu said softly: "It's easy to go from being frugal to being extravagant, but it's difficult to go from being extravagant to being frugal. I'm used to living a life of wealth and honor, so of course no one is willing to be cut and spent. This move by the princess might stab a hornet's nest."
Ouyang Fu sighed, with a distressed look on her face, "Mother and concubine want to cut the expenses of the various courtyards, first of all, they will definitely use the concubine sons. Our courtyard will soon be miserable."
Gu Jiu looked at her and comforted her: "The princess is just talking about it, she doesn't really need to cut it, so the second siblings don't need to worry too much."
Ouyang Fu shook her head, "Sister-in-law, I don't know. In fact, last year, the concubine mother mentioned cutting expenses, but she didn't find an opportunity. This time the household department will clear up the outstanding debts, and the concubine mother will definitely not miss this opportunity."
Oh
It turns out that Mrs. Pei had this idea a long time ago, and it was not a temporary idea.
In this case, it is very likely that Mrs. Pei will come to really, really cut the cost of each courtyard.
Gu Jiu asked: "Does the second younger sibling know what aspects the princess plans to cut expenses from?"
If you want to save money, you must either lay off employees or cut wages, usually these two ways.
Speaking of it, the expenses of the palace are really scary, and the monthly expenses are in tens of thousands.
In a palace with nearly a thousand people, the monthly bill of silver alone costs tens of thousands of taels a month.
In addition to eating, drinking, having fun, and dealing with people, there is no three to forty thousand taels of expenses a month, which is not enough.
It would be even more terrible if it happened to be three festivals and two lives, and I am afraid that the one hundred thousand taels would be spent.
And King Ning wants to support people, so naturally he can't be stingy.
After calculating this amount, it is no wonder that the Wangfu has to go to the Ministry of Households every year to fight the autumn breeze, and after a few years, it owes more than three hundred thousand taels.
It's only natural that Mrs. Pei wants to cut the cost.
If the expenses are too high, if you don't control yourself, the royal family will have to live without food, just like the princess of Huyang, worrying about money every day.
Ouyang Fu said: "The manpower may be cut down, and the monthly salary of the servant may also be reduced."
Gu Jiu said: "Just reducing the monthly bills of servants, you can't save much money in a month. To solve the problem of money, we still need to open source."
The court system is here, and the area of the palace is so large. Such a big mansion needs so many people to manage it.
Just sweeping and sweeping such a large area is not done with various vacuum cleaners and automated tools in the previous life. These days, it is all cleaned and wiped inch by inch by manpower. Thinking about the workload, how many people have to be arranged to be busy.
If you suddenly cut off the monthly salary of the servant, you can get it with your toes, the servant must be full of resentment, and all kinds of passive sabotage.
If you can't cut monthly bills, you can only cut people.
However, if people are laid off, such as sweeping, there are not enough people to do it. If the cleaning is not in place, dust will inevitably accumulate on the ground.
That's not decent enough.