Professional Ethics of a Concubine

Prince Jing thought that his father was looking for him because of the follow-up of the Fuzhou case, but he didn't expect that the first question he was asked was,

"I heard that your farm has intercropped crops, and the yield per mu has increased by 50%. Do you know about this?"

“Your Majesty, I just heard about this matter from the princess yesterday.

At first, Ye had just read two pages of an agricultural book and found this intercropping method interesting, so she wanted to give it a try, and the princess allowed her to try it.

I didn’t expect the yield per mu to increase so much. I was also very surprised and realized that this is a major event that benefits the country and the people.”

King Jing immediately smiled and said,

"I had planned to learn more about the situation in two days and then write a detailed memorial to your father, but I didn't expect that you already knew about it."

"Well, Ye is smart and well-behaved. Princess Jing is also good. She manages the household well and is tolerant to the servants."

The emperor smiled and praised him, "It is very important to keep the harem safe so that you won't be stabbed in the back. You did a great job."

The emperor has never seen a harem as stable as that of Prince Jing's mansion in any wealthy family with many wives and concubines.

"Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. I dare not take credit for this. The trivial matters in the harem and the management of the servants are all the credit of the princess and Ye. I really didn't spend too much time on it."

Prince Jing's attitude became more humble, but the smile on his face was very comfortable.

The wives and concubines lived in harmony and worked together. There were no endless jealousies or disputes or secrets in the harem, so Prince Jing was naturally satisfied.

"I heard that many of the rules of your palace were designed by the Ye family. You, the concubine, are indeed quite something. You are a remarkable woman."

The emperor praised him again.

"She is indeed a little clever, but she is too lazy and just wants to be idle. Asking her to take care of more chores would be like asking her to die."

Prince Jing's words seemed full of disdain, but the look on his face could not be overstated as doting.

He looked as if he had no way to do anything to her and could only let her go.

The emperor shook his head secretly when he saw his expression, thinking that no wonder his brother and Prince Jing had such a close relationship, it turned out that these two people had something in common.

Haha, when talking about the woman at the top of your heart, you always look flirty.

The key point is that it happened to a mother and daughter, and they became a father-in-law and son-in-law relationship.

When the emperor thought of this relationship, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. It would be strange if they were not close.

Suddenly I felt a little depressed.

Is this big child his or his younger brother's?

After talking about the farmland for a while, the emperor turned to the matter of the crown prince, and asked Prince Jing a sharp question.

"Whether it's selling official positions or selling private salt, you can collect a lot of money. What do you think the prince needs so much money for?"

Anyone with a brain would think about this question, and the emperor hit the nail on the head.

“The East Palace has many subordinates, and many people are loyal to the Crown Prince. If you want the horse to run, you have to feed it, and you can’t do that without silver.

Maybe the prince is secretly building some kind of palace or something like that, thinking of going there for fun, which would also cost a lot of money.

King Jing deliberately made his statement vague, not to mention raising private soldiers, and then he exposed himself,

"I also feel that after becoming Queen Jing, the expenses of managing subordinates will be much higher. Fortunately, the business of the royal palace is doing well, and some merchants have taken the initiative to pay tribute, so the money is still there."

The emperor snorted, and did not say whether he believed it or not. He asked,

"What are your plans for the salt smuggling case?"

"Smuggling salt is profitable, so it continues despite repeated bans. We should arrest all those involved in the smuggling of salt."

Prince Jing spoke lightly, without mentioning what price the prince would have to pay in this.

The emperor doesn't want to depose the prince yet. The Chen family hasn't fallen yet, and the time is not right. Therefore, Prince Jing will not take the initiative to stab the prince.

The emperor was not very satisfied with Prince Jing's answer, but was very satisfied with his insight. He looked at him with appreciation and did not talk to him any more, and let him go back.

After Prince Jing left, the Emperor thought about it and decided not to go through the Queen's hands. He directly rewarded Princess Jing and Ye Qingzhi with a bunch of good things and sent a dozen eunuchs to deliver them.

When the queen found out, she was so angry that her teeth were itching and she lost her temper.

Since when did disciplining and rewarding the princess and concubines become the emperor's business? !

The emperor didn't tell her anything, and he treated her as the queen less and less. She had been to the palace less than twice in the past month.

And the crown prince has been becoming more and more perfunctory towards his mother, the queen, lately.

Otherwise, he wouldn't come to pay his respects for two or three days, and when he did, he would just say a few words and then leave.

He would just answer any questions perfunctorily and no longer take the initiative to discuss with her what he had done.

In the Fuzhou case, she learned from her eldest brother that the prince was also involved. Upon hearing this, she almost fainted from anger.

How dare the prince?!

Moreover, he had never told her anything before doing this. Even when she asked him about it afterwards, he still didn't say anything.

Let’s take a look at Prince Jing. Prince Jing’s outstanding abilities and everything he does are in line with the emperor’s wishes, which has earned him increasing recognition from his ministers.

Nowadays, even his wives and concubines have done something great that benefits the country and the people. Everything is going well for him, and he wishes that everyone would carry the sedan chair for Prince Jing.

As one gains, the other loses. If this continues, how can the crown prince keep his position as heir to the throne?

"Go and get the prince!" The queen took a deep breath and spoke while suppressing her anger.

The eunuch took the order and left, but within a moment, he returned and reported to the queen,

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince has just been summoned to the Imperial Study by the Emperor. I don't know when he will be able to come out."

"Go and wait outside the imperial study. Once the prince comes out, please come to me immediately," said the queen.

The queen waited for more than half an hour.

What the queen didn't expect was that the prince who showed up was a prince with a bruised face and red eyes.

"What happened? Did the emperor hit you?" The queen felt distressed when she saw the prince in such a miserable state, and asked angrily with a frown.

"It was I who made the mistake, and father gave me a lecture." The prince suppressed his anger and said with a depressed look.

"You are the crown prince! Even if you are wrong, the emperor can just give you a few words of admonition. Why did he resort to violence? He is humiliating you like this, not caring about your status as the crown prince at all. The emperor is really going too far!"

The queen was so angry that her face turned grim and she vented her anger hysterically.

But looking at the prince again, he seemed very calm, as if nothing had happened.

When the queen saw him like this, she felt that he was a coward and immediately became furious. She started to scold the prince again.

"Do you know that your position as crown prince is in jeopardy? You are still indifferent. What on earth do you want to do? Do you have any backup plan?"

"What backup plan can my son have?" The prince sneered, "Everything about my son was arranged by my mother. Now that the position of the crown prince is unstable, shouldn't my mother think of a solution? Why are you asking me?"

"You said you listened to me, but I arranged for you to sell the official position?! If you want money, I can give it to you. How could you do such a stupid thing that the emperor cannot tolerate!"

The queen became angrier and angrier as she spoke, and she even felt like beating the prince up.

The heartache turned into anger.

The prince listened to the queen venting her anger in silence, without making any excuses.

Seeing the prince's stubborn attitude, the queen was tired of scolding him and didn't want to scold him anymore. She was angry and warned him,

"You should behave yourself from now on and stop doing anything inappropriate. I don't seek credit, but I hope to avoid mistakes."

"Got it. If you have nothing else to say, mother, I'll leave first." The prince responded impatiently and turned to leave.

"Stop right there!" The queen took a deep breath and said, suppressing her anger.

“I have received news that relevant witnesses have been found in Gulan Country, proving that King Jing is not a dragon.

In more than a month, they will be able to come here.

As long as this matter is made public, Prince Jing's identity will be questioned. I don't believe that the emperor will not feel uncomfortable. "

"You're really capable, mother, in removing the firewood from under the cauldron!" The prince praised perfunctorily.

Prince Jing was indeed a threat to him, but the one standing in front of him now was not Prince Jing, but his father.

What does it matter if Prince Jing is eliminated? He is still a crown prince, has no power, is suppressed everywhere, and lives a depressed and miserable life.

The prince touched the wound at the corner of his mouth, and thinking of the furious look on his father's face when he hit him just now, he was no longer as afraid of his father as he was when he was a child.

He only felt anger and the urge to replace him.

"The position of Crown Prince is yours, and the throne will be yours in the future. Queen Mother will never harm you, so you must listen to her."

The Queen softened again and spoke gently to the Prince.

The prince curled his lips and agreed.

-

Prince Jing's Mansion.

Zhang Jingyi was naturally happy to be praised by the emperor for her good management of the harem and to receive a lot of rewards.

However, she looked at the pile of imperial gifts and said to Ye Qingzhi with a smile,

"Qingzhi, the farmland matter is all your credit. These rewards are all given to you. Let the servants move to your yard in a while."

Ye Qingzhi waved her hands repeatedly and said with a smile,

"I just talked a little. The princess is in charge of all the matters at the farm. How can she put all the credit on me?"

"Half each." Seeing that they were still arguing over this small reward, King Jing rubbed his forehead speechlessly and made the decision.

It's not a big deal, don't waste your time and breath.

Ye Qingzhi and Zhang Jingyi looked at each other, smiled, and let the matter go without any concern.

"Donate one-third of the grain collected to the national treasury, just like donating gifts for banquets, and donate in Mingyu's name. I hope the grain will be used for military pay. Anyone who asks about it should do so to accumulate merit for Mingyu and hope that he will be in good health."

King Jing spoke again.

A few days ago, Mingyu caught a cold and had a fever for three days. Although he doesn't have a fever now, he still has a cough and hasn't recovered yet.

Zhang Jingyi was worried about her son's health. When she heard that the prince wanted to donate food in Mingyu's name to pray for him, she agreed immediately and promised the prince.

"Don't worry, Your Highness. Even if we donate half of the grain, the profits from the various industries in the palace will be enough to support the expenses. I will also work hard to manage the household and the various industries and strive to increase profits."

Prince Jing nodded and looked at Ye Qingzhi again.

Ye Qingzhi could only follow suit and express her opinion, "I will do my best to help the princess deal with these matters."

King Jing then responded with satisfaction.

Such a smart head, but he just thinks about being lazy every day. What a waste. Put his money to good use.

-

As Prince Jing donated 3,000 shi of grain in the name of the Crown Prince, Prince Su followed suit and donated 10,000 shi of grain, saying that he wanted to accumulate virtue and pray for the twins.

The nobles of the capital,...

No, you either donate gifts or food. You must be addicted to donating!

Is it polite?

Do you have any martial ethics?

You all donated, and they can only watch. How can they not donate?

For a time, many nobles began to donate grain to varying degrees. After all, it was just the summer harvest, and no one would believe you if you said you had no grain.