Demoted from wife to concubine? Reborn, the mistress of a noble family plots another high-status mar

Chapter 67

"I feel it's unnecessary. Why should Miss Zhou, an unmarried young lady, bother to argue with me?"

Zhou Zhilan looked embarrassed. "It has nothing to do with this! Today is the Empress Dowager's birthday. I just wanted her to enjoy herself."

"If Madam Shen is afraid of losing, then so be it."

Yun Xiyue laughed and said, "I just find it boring to compare music, chess, calligraphy and painting. I am a businesswoman and I am not good at these things."

If she insists on comparing herself to herself, then that's an unfair victory.

Having understood the implication, Zhou Zhilan's face turned completely red. "Then let's compete in accounting. Butler accounting is something you excel at, isn't it!"

“Well, if Miss Zhou insists on a competition, then let’s compete in accounting. The Minister of Revenue will set the questions.” Yun Xiyue nodded.

With the Emperor and Empress Dowager's permission, the Vice Minister of Revenue stepped forward and posed the question: "Nine hundred and ninety-nine coins are needed to buy one thousand seasonal pears. Nine pears cost eleven coins each, and seven fruits cost four coins each. How much are the pears and fruits worth?"

Yunxi Yue didn't even use an abacus: "The total price of the pears is 803 coins, enough to buy 197."

Zhou Zhilan was a beat slow to figure it out.

Everyone was surprised, but secretly admired him. The Vice Minister of Revenue then posed a question: "Chickens and rabbits are in the same cage, their numbers unknown. There are thirty-six heads in the cage. If you count all fifty pairs of legs, how many chickens and rabbits are there?"

Yunxi Yue: "22 chickens and 12 rabbits."

Zhou Zhilan was still a beat slow in calculating the result.

Yun Xiyue answered the questions first in a row. She had memorized these questions by heart when her father showed her books such as "Zhoubi Suanjing", "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art", "Sea Island Mathematical Art", "Xiahou Yang Suanjing", "Five Classics Mathematical Art", "Collected Ancient Mathematical Art", and "Zhuishu" when she was a child.

The Ministry of Revenue assessed the arithmetic skills of its subordinates based on these books, as ordinary people would not have access to such books.

A young lady from a prominent family like Zhou Zhilan, whose goal is to become empress, would never be interested in such things. From a young age, she learned music, chess, calligraphy, painting, palace etiquette, and how to please men.

On the contrary, Yun Xiyue did not learn these things, she only played around with them occasionally. She focused more on learning how to do business, arithmetic, and learning how to make incense and medicine from the divine doctor, Ghost Hand.

Yun Xiyue nodded and said, "Miss Zhou, you flatter me. I am just a merchant and this is all I know. What Miss Zhou knows, I am not good at."

There's no need to care too much about winning or losing; that's what she meant.

But Zhou Zhilan was determined to compete, saying, "Let's compete again next time."

The Empress Dowager looked displeased and glanced at Yun Xiyue indifferently. "Madam Shen is right. Merchants and noble families are not comparable. Zhilan, you don't need to compare yourself with Madam Shen."

Zhou Zhilan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled slightly. "The Empress Dowager's teachings are excellent. I was just confused for a moment. Madam Shen's arithmetic skills are indeed exceptional. I concede defeat."

As the empress, she didn't need to show her face in public to do business. Even if she was in charge of the imperial seal, she had a group of palace servants to help with the accounting and calculate the results for her to review.

Yun Xiyue was just a merchant and a married woman. Even if she was beautiful, she could not be an empress, could not compare with him, and could not be a threat to him.

The Emperor's hug was simply a sign of his kindness.

"Thank you for your kind words." Yun Xiyue was speechless, not understanding why she suddenly yelled at her, was she intentionally targeting her?

Most people in the capital are still like the Shen family, looking down on others! People like Princess Qin are extremely rare.

There was no need to get too close to this kind of person. Yun Xiyue silently crossed out Zhou Zhilan's name in her friend list.

After the little incident, the Empress Dowager made an excuse to leave the banquet, and the Emperor followed her. The atmosphere instantly became much more relaxed, and everyone could finally relax and have a bite to eat.

The Empress Dowager sought out the Emperor regarding Eunuch Liu's matter. After the Emperor explained, the Empress Dowager didn't say much more, but instead pressed on, "What do you think about the selection of an Empress? The eldest daughter of the Zhou family is the direct granddaughter of Grand Tutor Zhou. She is outstanding in every aspect and is the only suitable candidate for Empress."

Murong Yu raised his hand to help her up, "Mother, I feel that Zhou Zhilan is not suitable for the position of Empress. She is competitive and ambitious. If such a person enters the palace, she will easily become jealous of the other concubines. If that happens, the harem will not be peaceful. How can I concentrate on handling affairs of the court?"

The Empress Dowager was secretly annoyed, thinking that Zhou Zhilan was also wrong. Why did she have to compete with a married woman at this time? It was not worth it.