Crossing the famine, I am a poor fish, and my descendants have to work hard

Lan Ying also stayed in the shop yesterday.

To dress up Zhao Yuanzhen this morning.

She had her hair combed into an elegant peony-shaped bun and wore the gold and jade headdress that Zhao Yuanlan had given her during the Chinese New Year.

On the top of her hair was a large gold-inlaid blue jade peony flower, and slightly lower, it was symmetrically decorated with petals from the same series.

On the left and right sides are two tassel-edged hairpins, further down is a pair of double-sided hairpins, next to the temples are a pair of short tassel hairpins, slightly behind the ears are a pair of small flower hairpins, at the two back temples are two small tassel hairpins, and directly behind is a peony tassel hairpin.

The earrings are gold inlaid with sapphires.

The necklace is a large necklace made of oysters, sapphires and pearls interlaced with each other.

The bracelets were replaced with a pair worth nine digits.

The headpiece was gorgeous in color, and the clothes she chose were a crescent-shaped white folded skirt, a light orange short shirt, a thin cotton lingerie and pants inside, a light blue short jacket outside, and finally a black cloak.

Zhao Yuanzhen takes good care of herself and her skin has become a lot whiter recently.

It's rare to see her dressed up with so many jewels. She looks dignified and majestic, with a sense of wealth and majesty that makes people dare not look directly at her.

"Madam, you look so beautiful like this. I dare not look at you anymore."

"I think it looks good too. When I'm not busy, let's go shopping."

"Okay, ma'am."

Zhang Xinbai was worried, so he personally sent her to the fifth gate, but she went in alone.

Zhao Yuanlan was already waiting there. When he saw her coming, he led her in.

"Brother, you've been waiting for a long time."

"No, I'm on errand today, so I'm waiting for you here."

"Brother, will you be guarding the palace from now on?"

"No, it's just temporary. Once things stabilize for a while, I won't have to watch over it anymore."

"Okay, big brother, is the house not renovated yet?"

"It's almost done. There are mainly some things I can't do, like digging a pond, tidying up the garden and planting flowers."

"I'm afraid we can only wait two or three months for these."

"Yes, it is."

"Little sister, we're here. Let's wait here for a while. Someone will announce us and I'll go in with you."

"it is good."

I didn't wait long before I heard the eunuch's voice coming from the main hall.

Pass them over one by one.

"Summon Zhao Yuanlan and Zhao Yuanzhen to the audience."

"Let's go, don't be nervous."

"Okay, big brother."

Zhao Yuanlan led her into the Golden Palace, knelt down and saluted.

"This humble general, Zhao Yuanlan, pays respect to Your Majesty. Long live the emperor. Long live the emperor. Long, long live the emperor."

"This common woman, Zhao Yuanzhen, pays respect to Your Majesty. Long live the emperor. Long live the emperor. Long, long live the emperor."

"Be flat."

"General Zhao Yuanlan, you have made meritorious contributions in protecting the emperor many times, and have promptly searched the family of the guilty concubine. You have worked diligently for many years and should be a role model for generals. I will promote you to the first-rank general of Anguo, and grant you 500 acres of fertile land and 10 taels of silver."

"Thank you Lord for your grace."

Zhao Yuanlan quickly knelt down to express his gratitude.

Wow! My brother is now a first-rank general, and he is also the General of the Peaceful Country. This is an absolutely glorious title.

This will give me more security in the future.

"Zhao Yuanzhen, Zhao Zhang, is virtuous and intelligent. When fighting against the rebels in Taiyuan Prefecture, she was brave and resourceful, and helped our army gain the upper hand. She also provided many good prescriptions for the benefit of the country and the people, and brought benefits to the people of the world. She was specially named a third-rank Zhenshu person, and was given a manor in the suburbs of Beijing, 500 acres of good land, 10 taels of silver, and a box of gold leaves."

"Thank you Lord for your grace."

"Get up, my dear ministers, if you have something to say, please report it. If not, please leave the court."

The ministers quickly bowed and left the court.

They knew that General Zhao would be promoted, but they didn't expect that he would be promoted to the first-rank General Anguo. What this meant was self-evident.

The emperor even conferred the title of third-rank lady on General Zhao's sister, which makes people think deeply.

I have to go and find out about the background of this Mrs. Zhang.

The emperor brought Zhao Yuanzhen and Zhao Yuanlan to the Southern Study and gave them the two imperial edicts and the imperial edict that Zhao Yuanzhen had exchanged for the jade seal.

Zhao Yuanzhen opened it and looked at the imperial edict that he had received in exchange.

[The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: Zhao Yuanzhen, the Zhang family of Zhao has contributed many good prescriptions to the people of the world. As long as they do not violate laws and disciplines, do not participate in party disputes, do not marry into the royal family, and are content to be pure businessmen and pure ministers, future emperors must ensure the safety of the descendants of the Zhang family for generations. Hereby grant a gold medal of immunity from death, which can exempt any death penalty three times. Please use it with care. This is my decree.]

It's written quite carefully.

Then the young eunuch handed the gold medal to Zhao Yuanzhen.

There are three small golden locks on the side of the gold medal. Each time it is used, the royal family will take back a small golden lock and the key will remain with the royal family.

That’s fine, so I don’t have to lose the little gold lock.

Zhao Yuanzhen happily put the gold medal into her arms.

Not wanting to see his money-grubbing look, she asked the eunuch to take her to the Queen's bedroom, as the Queen wanted to see her.

After following the eunuch for a long time, they finally arrived at the Queen's palace.

"May the Queen live a thousand years and a thousand thousand years."

"Get up. Come and sit down. Bring me some tea."

Zhao Yuanzhen had just sat down and heard her talk about having tea when she suddenly remembered her karma.

"My Lady, have you ever cleaned the well in this palace?"

"Not yet, what's wrong?"

"The last time I entered the palace, I saw someone kill a palace maid and dump her body in a well."

"Ugh, you...why didn't you say so earlier?"

The queen felt sick.

Xiyun came over quickly.

"Your Majesty, don't be afraid. We haven't been drinking any water from the palace recently. We've been drinking water brought from the palace. General Zhao has instructed us to do so. He's worried that the palace may be unsafe recently and someone may have poisoned it. So all the food and drink is brought from the palace."

"Ugh... That's good. But it's still a bit disgusting. Go tell His Majesty to search all the wells in the palace and fill up any problematic ones. For drinking water, ask General Zhao to bring it in from outside. Be careful to be concealed and don't give anyone a chance to take advantage of you."

"I understand, I will go now."

The queen drank some tea to calm herself down.

"Why don't we dig a few new wells and have someone keep a closer eye on them?"

Zhao Yuanzhen was afraid that something like this would happen again in the future.

"That's right, otherwise I would always feel disgusted. There are so many troubles in the harem."

I've only moved in a few days ago and I've already found out about a lot of dirty things.

Your Majesty also said that there cannot be too many women in the harem, otherwise there will be endless karma.

Zhao Yuanzhen suddenly remembered that they had all entered the palace, so what should happen to Butler Xiao?

You won't come here to be a eunuch.

"Where's Butler Xiao? Did he follow into the palace?"

"Your Majesty left him outside to take care of his previous business. After all, it is inconvenient to go in and out of the palace, so he was left outside."

That’s good. I can always find Butler Xiao if I have any problems.

"This is indeed convenient. Madam, I brought you some storybooks this time. There are six new ones published this month."

He rummaged in his sleeves and pulled out six books and handed them to the Queen.

"Yes, luckily you didn't forget. I didn't feel this when I was busy in the harem, but I feel very bored these two days when I'm free. I can't go out or go shopping. I wanted to go to the beauty salon, but I didn't make it."

"Thank you for your concern, the beauty parlor has been doing very good business these past two days. Please just sit back and wait for your share of the profits."

"Then you should work hard. I am counting on you to make more money. After becoming the queen, you must be clear about rewards and punishments and manage the harem. I have given out a lot of money recently."

Zhao Yuanzhen said that she could understand that when she first arrived, she had to establish her own personality and not be too stingy. Although there were only a few concubines in the harem, there were only three of them, including the current emperor and his concubines. But there were also the queen mother and the former concubines, and they all had to be taken care of. There were also servants, after all, who had just arrived, and they still had to win over a group of people, so this money would definitely cost a lot.

“Yes, I will work hard to make money.”

"I miss your masseur. I'm very tired lately."

"Then would your Majesty the Queen like to go out and take a look?"

"This... let's forget about mobilizing so many troops."

The Queen wanted to go very much, but when she thought about the guard of honor that would have to consist of a hundred people, she didn't want to go anymore.

"We can go out secretly. Tell His Majesty and go secretly later. Usually there are not many customers after the evening hour. How about I book the whole place for you?"

"Is this okay?"

The queen was really moved. She was not a person who could sit idle, and as a descendant of a military family, she always had a curious heart.

"Don't worry, I'll keep you safe."

"Okay, I'll trust you this time. I'll leave the palace incognito at night."

The Queen believed in her abilities, and since she could move freely in the palace, she was given a [Imperial Seal from Heaven].

"Okay, at night, I'll prepare the carriage and wait for you at the palace gate. You can change into plain clothes and disguise yourself as a maid to sneak out."

"Okay, then it's decided."

"Ok."

She chatted with the Queen for a while, and the Queen rewarded her with a lot of silk and cloth.

She now holds an official rank and can wear silk and satin.

When Zhao Yuanzhen came out of the Queen's bedroom, Zhao Yuanlan was already waiting for her in the front palace.

She told Zhao Yuanlan that the queen was going to leave the palace and asked her to protect her secretly.

Zhao Yuanlan marveled at the two women's boldness, but he had to think of a detailed protection plan.

The things His Majesty had rewarded were also delivered to Zhao Yuanzhen's carriage, including half a carriage of cloth, a set of imperial robes for a third-rank lady, and a jade plaque. Zhao Yuanlan had already asked for the size and made them.

A land deed and a house deed belong to the farm, which occupies more than 150 acres.

This farm and 500 acres of land are located to the east of Zhao Yuanzhen's village. Zhao Yuanlan said that they were the property of the mother's families of those ladies, and their property was confiscated, so Zhao Yuanlan deliberately chose one that was close to her.

There were 1000 acres of fertile land, which was given to Zhao Yuanzhen and Zhao Yuanlan, half each.

The emperor sent soldiers to escort the remaining 10 taels of silver back. Zhao Yuanzhen took the box of gold leaves away by himself, put it in the carriage, and then stored it in the space.

There are more than 100 gold leaves in this box. I am happy. Your Majesty is generous.

"Little sister, you take care of the fields and plant them. I'm too busy to take care of them."

I didn't have time to take care of it, so I just left it to Zhao Yuanzhen.

"Okay, I'll pay the rent for you then."

"No need, just grow the crops. It doesn't matter whether it's rent or not."

Zhao Yuanlan was very unhappy when he heard her being so distant.

"Got it, big brother."

Zhao Yuanzhen thought, brothers should settle accounts, the 100,000 taels are still in her hands, she should find a chance to return it. When he gets married, she should give him a wife.