Chapter 91
Early one morning, Xiao Chuchu was cradled in the arms of Xiao Yunzhou.
Xiao Yunzhou was perusing the 'note' handed to him by Concubine Liu the previous night - a preliminary proposal for a charity sale.
In the study room sat not only Jiang Li from the Ministry of Revenue, but also the chief minister Lord Fucha.
Lord Fucha's eyes darted between the Emperor holding the Third Princess in his arms, and Concubine Liu as the Emperor rose from his seat.
The fifty-year-old man's face, typically composed, was now creased with wrinkles.
How could there be such a vast disparity?
His own daughter, the former Imperial Noble Fu Cha, had once held a far more prestigious rank than Concubine Liu.
Even today, Concubine Liu's position was lower than his daughter's, and Liu Wenchang's official post was beneath his own.
But - how could the contrast be so stark?
The daughter of the Liu family, a mere concubine in the harem, could sit in the Emperor's study and participate in discussions with the ministers!
His own daughter, meanwhile, remained embroiled in petty squabbles within the harem, doing nothing but weeping...
Alas.
Lord Fucha's eyes twitched.
"Today is a special occasion, as the charity sale involves the harem, the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the ladies. I must also heed the opinions of the harem," said Emperor Xiao Yunzhou, addressing Lord Fucha and Jiang Li from the Ministry of Revenue.
"Therefore, I have summoned Concubine Liu to participate in the discussion regarding this New Year's charity sale initiative."
Jiang Li from the Ministry of Revenue dared not voice any objection. "Your Majesty is wise. This was Concubine Liu's idea in the first place. It is only natural that we listen to her thoughts on how to proceed."
Lord Fucha remained silent, clearly unable to protest a concubine's involvement in governing matters on this occasion.
After all, the charity sale was her idea, and she had even drafted a proposal detailing her plans.
[Ding, congratulations host.]
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Cradled in Xiao Yunzhou's arms, Xiao Chuchu heard the system prompt and beamed at her mother, grinning from ear to ear.
This system prompt was inaudible to everyone except Xiao Chuchu.
Seeing her daughter's smile, Concubine Liu assumed it was a gesture of encouragement. She turned her gaze towards Emperor Xiao Yunzhou after a moment's reflection.
"What does Your Majesty think of my preliminary charity sale plan?"
"I propose having a palace maid provide a brief introduction before displaying each item for sale."
"An introduction?" Jiang Li from the Ministry of Revenue leaned forward, furrowing his brow. "Does Concubine Liu mean to provide background information on the items?"
In the Emperor's presence, he dared not speak too harshly about the concubines.
Yet his expression betrayed his disapproval.
"That would be inappropriate," Lord Fucha disagreed. "As we discussed last night, the items to be sold are all second-hand."
How could one introduce second-hand goods?
Should we say, "This is the golden hairpin formerly used by the Empress, now discarded, so we're selling it"?
Or perhaps, "This is a once-fashionable hairpin style from a decade ago"?
The value of a golden hairpin can be easily determined by its weight, which merchants understand well.
Moreover, these are items that have been used for years and subsequently abandoned as outdated...
The more detailed the introduction, the more apparent it becomes that these second-hand items hold little value.
"If we wish for merchants to offer high prices, it is best to say nothing," the Ministry of Revenue official added his objection to Concubine Liu's proposal for pre-sale introductions.
Xiao Yunzhou raised an eyebrow, sensing that something was amiss.
As he furrowed his brow in deep thought, he heard a soft voice from the bundle in his arms.
[Ah, that's not it!]
Xiao Chuchu's eyes widened as she prepared to address the Ministry of Revenue official.
[These naive people...]
[Throughout history, the high prices of luxury goods have always been underpinned by the ancient lineage and societal status of the sellers - their legendary stories.]
[People aren't buying the items themselves, but the histories and tales behind them, symbols of their own social standing!]
Xiao Yunzhou was struck by a realization, as if a grand door had swung open before him.
He had never heard such an assertion before!
Yet his daughter's words perfectly articulated the vague notion that had been simmering in his mind moments ago.
Xiao Yunzhou set down his tea cup with a clatter and looked approvingly at Concubine Liu. "Concubine Liu, explain to me why you came up with the idea of having palace maids provide introductions before the sale."
Having pondered this for two nights, Concubine Liu spoke eloquently. "I was reminded of my childhood."
"In those days, there were street vendors selling candied hawthorn berries. I wanted some, but my father intended to use the money meant for my New Year's gift to buy his favorite loquat pastries instead."
"..."
Xiao Yunzhou, Jiang Li, and Lord Fucha were all dumbfounded.
They never expected Liu Wenchang to be such a man!
How shameless!
To take the money meant for his daughter's candied hawthorn berries and spend it on his own favorite treats?!
"Naturally, I burst into tears right there on the street," Concubine Liu continued.
Well, of course she would cry!
Xiao Yunzhou's lips twitched. He felt he had assigned Liu Wenchang to the wrong position. If the man was so miserly as to deprive even his own daughter for personal gain, he should have been assigned to the Ministry of Revenue!
"Ahem, Concubine Liu, I understand your difficult circumstances, but how does this childhood story relate to my question?" Xiao Yunzhou interrupted her.
After all, Liu Wenchang was now an important official, representing the face of the imperial court.
Xiao Yunzhou glanced protectively at Jiang Li from the Ministry of Revenue and Lord Fucha, preventing Concubine Liu from further exposing her family's embarrassments.
But Concubine Liu merely smiled and continued, "I haven't finished my story."
"Later, to placate my unrelenting tears and tantrums, my father told me the story of the Queen Mother's Peach Banquet."
"He told me that even the celestial deities craved the peaches, but the Queen Mother would only bestow them upon the most accomplished immortals."
Xiao Yunzhou was suddenly struck by realization.
Jiang Li from the Ministry of Revenue and Lord Fucha, both intelligent men, instantly understood!
Concubine Liu modestly smiled. "That childhood tale came to mind yesterday, and I wondered if I could apply it to the charity sale."
"I do not wish to deceive those who come to purchase second-hand items, as my father did."
"I merely wish to share the stories behind these palace heirlooms with them."
"For instance, the jade bowl the Empress Dowager used in her youth that remained unbroken even when a dragon shifted the earth - she would only reward the princes with one if they excelled in their studies."
Oh my!
Jiang Li from the Ministry of Revenue suddenly looked up!
What a marvelous story!
It instantly imbued the bowl with immense value and prestige!
Yet he knew full well, having worked at the Ministry of Revenue when those jade bowls were procured, that the entire batch cost less than five taels of silver - not even as valuable as the ginseng Consort Li once consumed...
"Your suggestion is indeed insightful, Your Ladyship!" Jiang Li was utterly impressed by this concubine.
Incredible! This woman from the harem!
"Well said, Concubine Liu! You truly live up to your reputation as the inventor of the silk-weaving technique!" Xiao Yunzhou was positively rubbing his hands together, wishing the charity sale could commence immediately.
"Very well, all the bamboozling about the harem - ahem, I mean, the old wares and their descriptions from the harem shall be entirely your responsibility!" said Xiao Yunzhou, looking at Concubine Liu with admiration.
"If only you were a man, Our Ministry of Revenue would never be short of funds."
Jiang Li from the Ministry of Revenue: "..."
He felt he had been subtly mocked!
How did the Emperor manage to drag him into this?
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Xiao Chuchu's eyes lit up.
That very afternoon, Concubine Liu received an imperial decree and went to visit the Empress Dowager.
With just one sentence, she nearly had the Empress Dowager move out half her storeroom of old items.
"Your Majesty, if we put all these old items up for sale at the New Year charity auction, I shall have Cheng Qian write articles and poems describing them, and recite them aloud for the merchants and commoners at the auction."
"!"
The Empress Dowager immediately sat up from her couch!
So there would be someone writing stories about her, the Empress Dowager?
One must know that in traditional operas, the stories mainly revolved around loyal officials and enlightened rulers!
In the afternoon, Consort Li received the news and instigated the Empress and a group of consorts to protest to the Empress Dowager.
"Empress Dowager, Concubine Liu has gone mad with greed. Many of your old items were bestowed by the late Emperor. You cherish them as mementos of him; how could you sell them—"
Before she could finish, she saw the Empress Dowager's stern face.
"What do you mean? You think I, as the Empress Dowager, am only fit to reminisce about the late Emperor and had better die soon to be buried with him?"
"No, no, that's not what I meant..."
"If the late Emperor were still alive, he would come and rebuke you in the middle of the night!"
"!?!"
"If it can benefit the people, so what if I have no jade bowls to eat from!?"
"And all of you, each bring out three small items. If you have no money, bring old unworn clothes! The Emperor is still alive, so you need not cherish mementos of him, do you?"
"...!"
Everyone looked at Consort Li with grievance.
Consort Li's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Why was Concubine Liu favored while she was not?
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