The maidservant is too charming. I want to help her become the queen.

After Concubine Zhuang returned to her palace, she was furious.

She wanted to take this opportunity to flatter the Queen, but she was intercepted by Concubine Xian, who even ridiculed her. It was all because Concubine Xian was more skilled and caught her off guard.

Ever since Concubine Zhuang and Concubine Xian parted in Fengyi Palace, the Queen ordered Concubine Zhuang to cooperate with Concubine Xian in preparing for the Wanshou Festival.

But after that, whenever Concubine Xian wanted to invite Concubine Zhuang to discuss the details of the Wanshou Festival, Concubine Zhuang would always excuse herself on the grounds of illness. After this happened so many times, Concubine Xian was too lazy to invite Concubine Zhuang to discuss things anymore, and she made all the decisions on big and small matters on her own.

As expected, the Emperor greatly appreciated Concubine Xian's idea.

The preparation funds for the Wanshou Festival were raised by those attending the banquet, and the court officials and concubines divided the funds according to their official positions.

However, in addition to this, the emperor also gave one more instruction: if the court officials and concubines wanted to contribute more than the stipulated amount, they could do so, and the excess amount would be recorded in a separate book and finally used together for the expenses of the Wanshou Festival.

The virtuous concubine was very pleased with the emperor's instructions and was busy with the preparations all day long.

The emperor has been busy with state affairs these days and has no time to enter the harem. The queen is pregnant and does not move around much. Concubine Shu is still under house arrest, and Concubines Xian and Zhuang are competing with each other.

Without the disturbance of these people, Lu Qingqing had a rare period of quiet time.

When the news of funding for the Wanshou Festival reached Yinglan Pavilion, Lu Qingqing was leisurely lying on the chaise longue reading a storybook.

The afternoon sun shines through the red screen window, seeping into the house in patches.

Lu Qingqing was lying on the chaise longue, wearing only a smoky pink gauze robe, through which the snow-white skin on her neck and arms was vaguely visible.

The refracted light and shadow fell on her body, sparkling and golden, and she seemed like a fairy who had fallen into the human world.

Erxi stood beside him serving him, holding an exquisite round fan in his hand, fanning the cool air out of the ice jar with gentle movements.

Both the master and the servant were intoxicated by the quiet beauty.

At this time, Sanpang walked into the hall and reported quietly.

"My lady, I just got the news that the expenses for this year's Longevity Festival will not be paid by the national treasury, but by the ministers and concubines who will attend the banquet."

After hearing this, Lu Qingqing initially thought that Emperor Li Xuansheng was too stingy.

The birthday party of the head of a country has to rely on crowdfunding to hold it. How shabby!

However, when she heard Sanpang say that this was Concubine Xian's idea, she suddenly felt that this matter might have a deeper meaning.

Lu Qingqing has already experienced the ability of Concubine Xian.

Ever since she was able to invite the Emperor to Concubine Shu's palace to rescue her from the predicament, she had a vague feeling that Concubine Xian was no simple person.

Now that Concubine Xian has proposed crowdfunding for the Wanshou Festival, she is more certain of what she has in mind.

To put it simply, holding the Wanshou Festival is just a birthday party for the husbands of the women in the harem.

However, this man was the emperor, and his birthday party was probably not just a gathering for fun, but also represented a stronger political tone.

In her heart, she began to secretly admire Concubine Xian, who had such a strong political sensitivity and whose actions were able to accurately meet the emperor's needs.

However, he had been accompanying the emperor for quite some time, and he had not even figured out Li Xuansheng's sensitive areas, let alone political sensitivity. Every time, he tortured him until he begged for mercy.

Thinking of this, Lu Qing's smooth and creamy face couldn't help but blush.

She quickly calmed herself down.

"Sanpang, do you know how much I need to pay for this birthday celebration?"

Sanpang shook his head.

"The list of funds raised this time must be with Concubine Xian. When I came back from outside just now, Aunt Yuzhu from Concubine Xian's palace was informing the various palaces. It is estimated that she will arrive at our palace soon."

As soon as Sanpang finished speaking, a report came from outside the palace that Yuzhu from Yanqing Palace came to ask for a meeting.

Yuzhu's style is the same as her master's.

The clothes are calm but not frivolous, and the smile that makes people unable to tell whether it is real or fake.

Lu Qingqing silently divided the concubines in the harem into three categories in her mind.

One type relies on beauty to gain favor, such as myself and Concubine Shu.

One type is those who gain favor by virtue, such as the queen and the virtuous concubine.

There is another type of people who have no talent or beauty, so it doesn't matter if they are favored.

Concubine Xian was an expert at being virtuous, and even her own palace maids were trained to be of the same character as her.

Yuzhu entered the hall and bowed to Lu Qingqing in a proper manner.

"Mr. Lu, the Emperor has ordered that the expenses for this Longevity Festival be paid for by those attending the banquet. According to your position, you need to pay ten taels."

Ten taels.

Lu Qingqing quickly calculated in her mind that her benefactor's share was one hundred taels per year, and ten taels was almost her monthly share, not more or less, which was reasonable.

She told Erxi to take ten taels of silver and give them to Yuzhu.

She paid the money and signed the register as required.

Lu Qingqing's rank was not high, so when it was her turn, a lot of names had already signed on the front of the booklet.

The Queen gets fifty taels.

The concubine Shu received fifty taels.

Thirty taels for the virtuous concubine.

Concubine Zhuang gave thirty taels.

……

When she finished signing and was about to hand the list over to Yuzhu, she found that Yuzhu was holding another list in her hand.

"Miss Yuzhu, do I need to sign the other list as well?"

Yuzhu smiled slightly and explained slowly and calmly.

"Mr. Lu, this other book records the contributions made by the concubines in addition to their share. If you still want to make an investment, you can also register it in this book."

It turned out that Sanpang had only found out half of the information. After hearing what Yuzhu said, Lu Qingqing immediately understood.

The amounts in the first booklet were simply calculated based on the shares of each concubine.

This second booklet, which is not included in the list, is the real purpose of this fundraising!

Lu Qingqing then asked, "Miss Yuzhu, I would like to contribute part of the money, but I don't know how much is appropriate. Can you please help me see how much money other ladies have contributed?"

Yuzhu hesitated a little, but finally did not refuse and handed over the second booklet.

There were not many high-ranking concubines in the palace, and a few names written at the front of the booklet were particularly eye-catching.

Queen, an additional contribution of three times the amount.

Concubine Shu, make an additional investment of three times the amount.

Concubine Xian, make an additional investment of twice the amount.

Concubine Zhuang contributed an additional double amount.

In addition, there were several concubines who contributed double the amount. The other noble ladies left the additional contribution column blank.

It was a tacit understanding among the palace maids that everyone contributed according to their rank, and they were not allowed to contribute more than the concubines in higher rank who were ahead of them.

However, the amount contributed by Concubine Shu was comparable to that of the Empress, which made her particularly eye-catching in the list.

Lu Qingqing doesn't want to be the one who stands out. The first bird to stand out will be punished with a stick. Going with the crowd is always the safest way.

She smiled, closed the booklet, and returned it to Yuzhu. "I am overestimating my ability to make the extra donation. I hope Miss Yuzhu doesn't mind."