Shipin Dalizheng

No one can guarantee that this will happen. Concubine Rong is already in her thirties. Although she is still in good health, it is hard to say whether she can get pregnant. After all, Emperor Xuanning himself is also middle-aged and has no choice but to cook wolfberries in the health pot.

Zhao Ling was not in a position to comment on the matter, and as the sun was setting, he returned to the palace.

She did not return to her own Zi Luo Xuan, nor did she go to her mother's Qi Feng Palace, but went straight to the Qin Zheng Palace.

Emperor Xuanning was still reviewing memorials, and Li Dequan was fanning himself. Miraculously, Concubine Rong was accompanying him, scooping a small cup of bright red drink and placing it on the emperor's left hand.

"Oh, mother, this is my favorite wolfberry rice wine. I didn't expect that father would also be willing to try it."

Emperor Xuanning took a sip and nodded frequently, "Not bad, the imperial physician also said that this thing is nourishing and nourishing, much better than those strong liquors. Zhao Ling, how did your affairs outside the palace go?"

Zhao Ling smiled mysteriously, "Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission."

Concubine Rong was still a little confused and looked around, but Emperor Xuanning seemed to have a secret with his daughter that he was hiding from her. He felt a special sense of accomplishment and laughed out loud.

Zhao Ling also laughed for a moment, then became melancholy, "Father, the Eighth Princess wants to switch residences with me. This son is very distressed."

Emperor Xuanning was puzzled and asked, "Zhaoyue's Jingyang Palace is large and magnificent. It was once the eldest princess's bedroom. What is she dissatisfied with?"

Concubine Rong glared at Zhao Ling and said, "Eighth Princess likes her, so you're going to trade with her? She's the legitimate princess, you should give way to her."

Zhao Ling twisted her body and pouted in frustration, "Okay, I'll change."

At this time, an official asked to see her, probably to discuss some important state affairs, so Rong Fei and Zhao Ling went away.

The issue is still about the mess in the Ministry of Revenue's accounts and the disappearance of large sums of treasury silver. Now more and more officials are submitting memorials requesting a thorough investigation.

The existence of corruption in the Ministry of Revenue was a persistent problem throughout the dynasties. Emperor Xuanning would not believe a single punctuation mark in the claim that the Ministry of Revenue was clean. Although he knew someone was trying to take over the Ministry of Revenue, he wanted to see how big a rat could be dug out without affecting the stability of the court.

In the evening, he urgently summoned the left and right prime ministers and the Minister of Revenue to the palace for discussion. Prime Minister Zheng strongly advocated killing one to warn the rest and severely punishing Minister Xiao's family. He beheaded the entire family in the vegetable market and exiled all his relatives to the northwest to guard the border.

Prime Minister Wang thought it was inappropriate. Although there was actual evidence proving that Minister Xiao had indeed embezzled money, the property seized from his home obviously did not match the amount. The difference was huge. The specific amount and where the accounts were false were still a mess. Even if Minister Xiao's entire family was killed, there would be no answer.

Emperor Xuanning was furious after hearing this. "Is there not a single person in the entire Ministry of Revenue who can check the accounts? The best math professionals in all of Dai Viet are employed in the Ministry of Revenue. I don't believe there isn't a single person who can check the accounts."

Prime Minister Zheng said, "Your Majesty, it's not impossible that they won't investigate, but this time they're investigating the Ministry of Revenue. If everyone from top to bottom is in collusion, how could the officials in the Ministry of Revenue be willing to investigate themselves?"

At this moment, the Minister of Revenue broke out in a cold sweat. "Your Majesty, I have been wronged. To prove my innocence, I am willing to post a notice and invite experts from the public to check the accounts."

Prime Minister Zheng thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, why not post an imperial decree and recruit any civilian mathematicians who are capable of checking the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue as special appointments?"

Prime Minister Wang agreed, and the Minister of Revenue did not dare to object, so the matter was settled.

As soon as the minister left, Emperor Xuanning stretched and said, "Go and inform the Qifeng Palace to welcome you."

He Daban flicked his whisk and let his godson go. He was about to help Emperor Xuanning to his feet. Emperor Xuanning casually asked, "Why did Zhaoyue want to switch residences with Zhaoling?"

He Daban smiled and said, "It's not a big deal. The Seventh Princess also has a fan installed at her place, just like Concubine Rong's. It's said to have been overhauled several times, and now it works well and keeps her cool at night. The Eighth Princess also doesn't like people watching her sleep, so she chose the Seventh Princess's Ziluoxuan."

Emperor Xuanning took two steps silently. Although it didn't seem like a big deal, Zhao Yue was bullying Zhao Ling.

"Go to my private vault and look for any goodies. Send them to Zhao Ling. As for Concubine Rong... forget it, it's too late today. Let's do it tomorrow."

He Daban agreed and helped Emperor Xuanning to Qifeng Palace. However, halfway through, they were stopped by Concubine Xie.

"Your Majesty, you haven't been to my Lanyue Palace for a long time. I miss you so much."

Concubine Xie glanced at him with a gentle and delicate look that was filled with anger and resentment. Even the old eunuch He Daban shuddered, not to mention Emperor Xuanning, who immediately felt a surge of anger rising from his dantian.

Concubine Xie was truly the most irresistible concubine in the palace for Emperor Xuanning. Not just one, but the only one. She looked celestial, yet in a certain way, she was alluring. While Emperor Xuanning infinitely enjoyed the ecstasy that Concubine Xie brought him, he was also deeply troubled by the fear of being drained of his body every time, sometimes even fearing that he would bite her belly.

Even so, he couldn't stop, and Emperor Xuanning was led to Lanyue Palace by some unknown means.

After a struggle, Emperor Xuan Ning fell into extreme emptiness again. He didn't know if it was an illusion, but he felt his head buzzing and his eyes were sore.

It was almost midnight when Emperor Xuanning stood up to leave. Concubine Xie clung to him tightly and said in a delicate voice, "Your Majesty, will you stay? It's not hot here either. You've been staying at Sister Rong's for many nights."

There are plenty of ice basins in Concubine Xie’s palace, so it’s never too hot in summer.

Emperor Xuan Ning didn't feel hot, he felt cold, a kind of empty, zombie-like cold. He couldn't stay here anymore, he wanted to live.

"I've already notified Concubine Rong to come and receive you. I can't break the appointment."

Concubine Xie refused to give in. "Can't I satisfy Your Majesty by myself? I am not convinced, and I can still serve Your Majesty."

Emperor Xuanning shuddered. Did he want someone to sleep with him? He wanted a safe place to sleep. He wanted to live.

He ignored Concubine Xie's octopus-like entanglement, pulled her away, and fled from the Lanyue Palace, making Concubine Xie so angry that she threw a pillow at him.

He Daban seemed to know that His Majesty had suffered a great loss, and he supported him all the way, asking as they walked, "Your Majesty, are you still going to Qifeng Palace?"

This was not the first time that Concubine Xie had intercepted someone's affairs, and the news should have spread throughout the harem by now. Probably, no one would laugh at Concubine Rong for this, and she might have already gone to bed.

Emperor Xuan Ning's mind was buzzing, and he sighed, "Let's go take a look. If the door is locked, we can just go back to Zichen Palace and spend the night there."

The emperor also has to have some dignity. He has been drained dry elsewhere, so he has to have a very thick skin to hope that people are still waiting for him.

Who knew that the lights in Qifeng Palace were still on? Concubine Rong stood at the door, eagerly waiting. When she saw Emperor Xuanning, she hurried forward to greet him, "Your Majesty, you're late. Are you very busy with government affairs?"

Emperor Xuanning was not sure whether she really didn't know or was just giving him face, and he was actually a little worried that Concubine Rong would ask him to work overtime to plow the land.

In the end, Concubine Rong only presented him with a stewed tonic soup and urged him to rest, "Your Majesty has neurasthenia and cannot stay up all night. Go to sleep quickly."

Emperor Xuanning felt relieved upon hearing this. Unlike other concubines, Rong Fei didn't take that matter too seriously. When she was younger, no matter which palace she entered, she treated him like a common carrot, never allowing him a day off. But with Rong Fei, she knew her life wasn't easy and never made requests.

The night before, he had rested for many days and felt full of energy. He had their first intimate moment in ten years. She was gentle and considerate, and she didn't have the urge to drain him dry, which made him feel comfortable and at ease.

In the middle of the night, Emperor Xuanning woke up but did not move. He felt a slight breeze blowing from the side. He opened his eyes a little and saw Concubine Rong fanning him with her eyelids held open.