The wives of the concubines are empresses

Concubine Lu - Liu Haiming and Concubine Xuan - Song Xuanyi both forgot to refute the censor with Nian Shanghua, and looked at the right prime minister with shock on their faces.

After watching enough of the show, Shangguan Wanjun cleared her throat, and all the ministers hurriedly looked ahead and stood respectfully.

"I do not agree with what you said, Censor Wang."

The censor who had previously debated with the scholars was named Wang. At this moment, he looked shocked and then disappointed.

"Your Majesty, because the Jingzhao Yin and the Dali Temple are related to the emperor, you are being biased."

Everyone was shocked: This Censor Wang is too bold.

Shangguan Wanjun smiled slightly, then looked calmly at Censor Wang.

"I also disagree with what you said. It is true that Lord Liu and Lord Song of Jingzhao Yin are my husbands, and it is also true that the Dali Temple's Dali Siqing is a royal relative, but you say that I am biased because of this, I do not agree at all.

Why? The people suffered natural and man-made disasters that were beyond our control, yet no one seemed to be actively addressing the price gouging in Beijing and other regions caused by natural and man-made disasters in other regions.

You, the Censorate, are the emperor's close ministers, my close ministers. So far, I have never received any impeachment from any of you censors about the price.

As for why I haven't impeached him, is this matter not enough for you, my dear ministers, to impeach? People's livelihood is a major issue. Severe price gouging can cost lives. Not only you, the Censorate, but all the ministers have never seriously and carefully discussed this matter with me.

The ministers were so ashamed by what the empress said, including Censor Wang who had just debated with the scholars. At this moment, he hung his head.

"Censor Wang."

Being suddenly called, Censor Wang was shocked: "I am here."

"You are not afraid of powerful forces to impeach the royal family. I admire this aspect of yours as a royal relative. I hope you will keep your original intention as always."

Censor Wang was stunned to be praised for no reason.

The ministers were surprised at the empress's behavior of beating them and then giving them a sweet treat. As the empress, Shangguan Wanjun did not explain much. After all, she was the empress and did not need to explain so much to others. As ministers, they only needed to know that thunder, lightning, rain and dew were all the emperor's grace.

After the court session, Shangguan Wanjun asked General Xuanwei and Concubine De - Mu Wennian to stay. After all, they went out of the palace on duty every day, and they could see some things and opinions that she didn't know.

In the main hall of the Imperial Study, Shangguan Wanjun sat down gracefully and elegantly with the support of Minglan.

"Please take a seat, my dear ministers!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the seat."

Lily and others from the Tea Fragrance Garden brought three cups of Longjing tea. The three of them each picked up the tea lid, blew on it gently, and took two sips to quench their thirst.

"Have you two heard anything recently?"

General Xuanwei and Concubine De-Mu Wennian looked at each other in surprise: What does the emperor mean?

General Xuanwei asked directly, "Your Majesty, I wonder what specific aspect you are asking about?"

Shangguan Wanjun smiled faintly and said, "It doesn't matter what the topic is. As long as there are arguments and doubts, it's all welcome. Just think of it as a story I'm listening to in my spare time."

The two of them understood that the emperor might want to find out something from their words, but they really hadn't heard anything recently.

Defei - Mu Wennian frowned, and Shangguan Wanjun glanced at him indifferently.

"My beloved concubine?"

"Your Majesty, I only remember that some people were indeed complaining about some things."

"tell me the story."

"They say the government's inaction has allowed merchants to endlessly drive up prices, but that happened several days ago."

"continue."

"Some people thanked the meat vendors, saying they had successfully brought down prices."

After hearing this, Minglan looked at her master, and Shangguan Wanjun just smiled.

From what he said, General Xuanwei also came to share gossip.

"I have heard many things about this, but only from the mouths of the people in the mansion."

"My dear, please tell me."

"Before, the price of meat and other things was quite high. Some servants said that some people wanted to make a fortune by selling high-priced grain."

Concubine De Mu Wennian frowned and complained: "These people are really crazy about money."

Shangguan Wanjun smiled faintly and said, "Who would complain about having too much money, Minglan, would you?"

Minglan smiled and said, "I won't. After all, the cost of food, clothing, housing and transportation is quite high."

Shangguan Wanjun smiled again. "You're right. Even if this is already more than enough, I still wouldn't think it's too much. To be frank, even I wouldn't think it's too much. After all, the civil and military officials, the yamen runners, and the palace maids need salaries. The city walls, government offices, dams, and palaces all need repairs. And the court also needs to distribute disaster relief funds for natural disasters and man-made disasters."

General Xuanwei and Concubine De-Mu Wennian nodded in agreement. The court's annual expenses for officials across the country alone were enormous, not to mention the other expenses.

Shangguan Wanjun looked at General Xuanwei again: "Where is your Excellency?"

General Xuanwei smiled honestly and said, "Neither does this old minister. After all, everything requires money. They can't be given away for free."

Shangguan Wanjun lowered her head and smiled, "That's right. It's rare for us to discuss things together today, so please join me for lunch, enjoying sour radish duck soup and barbecue."

The two men bowed, "Yes, Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace was not surprised to learn that General Xuanwei and Concubine De, Mu Wennian, were left behind.

"The emperor has been the emperor for nearly seven years now. She knows what she should and shouldn't do. I still have great faith in my child in this regard."

When having barbecue, Concubine De Mu Wennian personally picked up the corn soup made with corn flour, and poured it onto the large circular baking tray with a medium to large spoon, forming roughly arc-shaped corn tortillas.

In the middle of the process, General Xuanwei flipped it over. After everyone flipped it several times, the tortillas were baked. Concubine De-Mu Wennian kindly picked up two for Shangguan Wanjun.

"This tastes very fragrant and soft, what do you think?"

General Xuanwei said with a smile, "Yes, it has the aroma of corn. It's so soft that I can still eat it even when I'm a few years older."

His words amused Concubine De-Mu Wennian, who thought General Xuanwei's words were quite interesting.

Shangguan Wanjun was also amused. Defei Mu Wennian served her sour radish and duck soup. Shangguan Wanjun smiled at him, then picked up the spoon and started drinking.

"The weather has been hot lately, so you could all have some sour radish soup, it's quite appetizing."

General Xuanwei followed her advice and served himself some soup. After taking a sip, he thought it was quite good, so he served another bowl of soup and drank it in one gulp.

“It’s really appetizing.”

"My beloved concubine can also try it."

Upon hearing this, Concubine De Mu Wennian smiled and nodded: "Okay."

Shangguan Wanjun sent the secret guard Li Shiwei to leave the capital to secretly search for the descendants of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery. After a long journey, he arrived at the place of exile.

There were three secret guards traveling with him, and the four of them came to the place where the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery was exiled.