PEASANT WOMAN'S DECREED LIFE AS A WIFE

Chapter 1219: Chapter 1216: The Struggle Between Monarch and Ministers

Being emperor for another decade or so was not a problem; why then would he place all his hopes on a child just born.

After all, those so-called naturally auspicious children recorded in history often turned out to be mere mediocrities.

While Ye Muyu pondered what was going on,

she received some news from the Elder Princess during a visit.

“What gift do you plan to give as your congratulations?” the Elder Princess, dignified as ever, asked a question that took Ye Muyu by surprise.

“I have prepared a safety charm,” she answered.

“It’s not enough,” the Elder Princess shook her head.

Ye Muyu was baffled, “Not… enough?”

She almost thought she had misheard. Even for the Longevity Festival, the gifts sent by the ministers were chosen for their rarity to avoid being vulgar, for many gifts were given and those that did not please the Emperor were a waste of silver.

They gradually became more ingenious, such as a unique book, famous paintings, and so on.

“I will go back and prepare a Hundred-Fortune Screen.” It was too late to make one of normal size, but if she made a smaller one and had the household embroiderers help out, it should not be a problem, she thought to herself.

The Elder Princess was used to Ye Muyu’s earnest manner. Being a whole cycle older than Ye Muyu, and due to the matter of the Young Prince, her attitude towards Ye Muyu was noticeably softer.

She said with a light laugh, “Since it is the ministers who are urging the Emperor to let the Sixth Prince’s fortune bless the people,”

“The ministers naturally should make a grand gesture. The more valuable the gift, the better. Then convert it into money and provisions and send it to the army barracks; with this, the war may be able to end sooner as wished.”

Ye Muyu looked at the pride on the Elder Princess’s face.

Thinking back on her words, she had a sudden realization. No wonder the Emperor had agreed to hold a full moon celebration for the Sixth Prince—it was an opportunity for the court ministers to give money to support the war effort.

She could even imagine how irritated people like Duke Zheng would be once they realized the Emperor’s intention.

When Ye Muyu left the Princess’ Mansion,

she found that the news had already spread among the people of the capital.

The court ministers were harnessing the Sixth Prince’s fortune to bless the soldiers on the border, and for this purpose, they offered up their treasures.

Emperor Xuanming was overjoyed. He used the Sixth Prince’s gift money for the support of the soldiers in the border region, letting the soldiers share in the blessing.

This rumor had spread in less than an hour.

The ministers, slow to catch on, realized they had been duped; by the day of the banquet, none dared to present anything frivolous.

The gifts had to be both auspicious and valuable.

For a while, ornaments made of gold and silver became the favored choice among the ministers.

In the study of Duke Zheng,

“My lord, no wonder the Emperor finally agreed. It seems it was not because we pushed him into a corner, but rather he was playing this game all along,” the strategist said with a sober look, standing in front of the desk.

Duke Zheng clenched his fist, then released it, and narrowed his eyes, “No matter. We have also probed and found out that the Emperor does not currently wish to appoint a Crown Prince, but the Sixth Prince has indeed acquired a reputation for being born with auspicious signs. Even though we only gave silver and gold, the Sixth Prince has gained some reputation, which is preparation for his future.”

It’s just that the harvest season is quite long; at least, he never planned to sacrifice anything to build up the Sixth Prince’s reputation.

After all, he thought the auspicious signs were already enough.

The full moon celebration for the Sixth Prince.

After Ye Muyu entered the palace, she handed over a solid silver lock necklace to the eunuch, worth two hundred taels.

But watching afterwards as treasures like coral trees made of gold, solid gold Buddha statues, and pearls were announced by the eunuch, she truly had her eyes opened.

These court ministers were indeed rich!

Her solid silver lock necklace was just too underwhelming by comparison. Had she known, she would have made it hollow in the middle to at least make it look bigger.

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