Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 388 Account Book

Tao Xingjian politely saw Dai Quan off.

Cao Yu quietly pulled Chu Qian out through another door and asked him, "For such important news, the princess only said these two sentences?"

Chu Qian thought for a moment and said, "The princess is very calm, even a little indifferent."

After a pause, he praised, "After going through the chaos in Jiangnan, the princess can remain calm even when the situation is facing a catastrophe."

Cao Yu raised his eyebrows: "Oh? Where did you get this from?"

Chu Qian then told the story about someone sneaking around in the camellia forest at Taiji Palace.

Cao Yu frowned, "Are you going to investigate this matter on your own? What if it's a spy who sneaked into the palace?"

"Of course not." Chu Qian returned to his expressionless face, "I don't have the manpower."

If Gong Zhengsi's own useful subordinates were also transferred here, it would be hard to say whether to report it or not.

Cao Yu looked around and saw no one around, so he whispered to him, "Go back and tell the princess that His Majesty has sent the monk Zhitong to the Jia Mansion tomorrow."

Chu Qian said "oh" and walked away with big strides.

Yanjia Palace.

As soon as the emperor left, Daiyu went to the Empress Dowager, hugged her and acted coquettishly for a while, and then insisted on accompanying the old lady for a nap.

The Queen Mother understood that there was something he wanted to tell her in private, and she agreed with a smile.

After the old man and the child had their hair combed and their coats taken off, they snuggled into the warm bed.

Daiyu then whispered to the Queen Mother what had just happened to them, and then said:

“At that time, the two concubines were in Yanjia Palace, and I think their subordinates were also waiting for news and would not act rashly.

"Even if His Majesty sends people to patrol the palace, firstly, they can't easily patrol the camellia forest, and secondly, they will be open and aboveboard, so there's no need to hide from us."

Although the Queen Mother didn't care much at first, she couldn't help but worry when she saw Daiyu being so serious: "Are you saying that there are other people in this palace who want to stir up trouble?"

"We must be on guard." Daiyu whispered, "Your Majesty's decree before the New Year was directed at the old nobles.

"Now, although the Northern King is dead and the Eastern King has been poisoned, the Western King is also involved. It looks like an internal conflict.

“But in fact, all these actions are a desperate struggle.

"But the party they regard as an enemy is not Prince Zhongshun or Prince Yu, but Your Majesty..."

The Queen Mother was startled and sat up suddenly!

Daiyu also stood up, gently took the Queen Mother's arm, and said softly:

"Your Majesty is smart and capable. The guards of Daming Palace are under the control of the Feng family and are now like an iron barrel.

"The position of the governor of the Beijing camp was also taken away from the Wang family a long time ago.

"So, Your Majesty, please rest assured."

The Queen Mother's tense mouth finally relaxed.

"But here at Taiji Palace..."

Daiyu almost leaned against her ear and whispered softly, "Do you remember?

"As soon as His Majesty and you left the palace, Concubine Lai got the details of the Lai family.

"Now the Xiao family and Concubine Xiao can pass on information so quickly and smoothly...

"The restrictions of Taiji Palace are not very reliable now..."

The Queen Mother was startled and cried out, "Your Majesty!"

"It could also be the Yanjia Palace." Daiyu reminded her in a low voice, "You forgot that last year, there was news that you were not His Majesty's biological mother and that His Majesty hated you..."

"The Supreme Lord has abdicated for several years, but he has never given up power. He even specially appointed Prince Yu as the regent. Many people secretly murmured that they are not getting along!"

The Queen Mother narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth, "So no matter which of us makes a mistake, the outside world can pin the blame on the Emperor!"

After smearing Emperor Zhaoming's reputation, it would be much easier if Prince Yu, as the emperor's uncle and assistant, publicly criticized him and brought up a morally perfect person to force the emperor to abdicate...

"What a good plan!" The Queen Mother figured it out and sneered.

Daiyu quickly held her down, pushed her to lie down again, and whispered, “Let’s not make any noise.

"In the evening, think of some new dishes and ask the Lord to come over.

"You should discuss this with the Supreme in private. He has been through so many conspiracies and storms, so he might have a plan in mind.

"Besides, what if I'm overthinking?"

The Queen Mother knew she was right.

I was too excited at that moment, and the people behind the scenes immediately concluded that something went wrong in the camellia forest.

It would be fine if we alerted the enemy, but what if the enemy becomes desperate and Ganlu Palace and Yanjia Palace are not adequately prepared and are caught off guard?

I had no choice but to lie down again and close my eyes.

“I have been in the palace for more than 30 years, and I have seen quite a few major events.

"But it has never happened before that we know there is a tiger in the mountain but we still have to act as if nothing has happened.

“Thinking about it this way, I have to admire Lai.

"She has been very careful these years, but I'm afraid she has never had a good night's sleep. She can't even show it on her face."

The Queen Mother muttered with her eyes closed.

Daiyu opened her eyes wide, looked at the bed curtains, and responded in a low voice: "So she was seriously ill and dying years ago, but she was cured by a piece of news.

“Now that you know that the Lai family’s crimes are unforgivable, you still stubbornly plead for them.

"Isn't this another kind of crazy karma..."

The whispers inside the bed curtains gradually faded away and everything became quiet.

Cheng Qian was sitting in the outer room checking the account books of the concubines in the Taiji Palace last year. From time to time, she looked up at the thick autumn-colored curtains embroidered with golden phoenixes that covered the room tightly.

After hearing no more noise, he knew that the old man and the child were both soundly asleep, so he focused on looking at the account book with relief.

After an incense stick of time, Cheng Qian whispered to Aunt Meng to come in and keep watch, while she took the account book and went out, asking someone to invite Dai Quan over.

There are now four general managers in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

He held three concurrent positions: Prince Yu, one of the six ministers in charge of the Imperial Guard, and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

They all have heavy workloads, so how could they have the time to take care of the Imperial Household Department?

Especially when it comes to the harem.

Prince Yu is the younger brother of the Emperor, so he can still have a say.

The two of them pretended to be deaf and dumb and usually stayed away.

Only when there were major events such as repairing palaces and temples, holding sacrifices, or the emperor's travels would they sit down and discuss things carefully.

As for ordinary matters, they were naturally handed over to Dai Quan, the fourth chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, to handle them with full authority.

——Dai Quan’s title of “Inner Prime Minister” came from this.

Now that Cheng Qian has discovered some doubts in the account books, she naturally has to discuss it with Dai Quan.

After waiting for a long time, Dai Quan finally came.

Cheng Qian stepped forward and bowed to apologize, “I should have gone to Ganlu Palace to pay my respects to the inner minister, but this matter only involves one or two palaces, so it shouldn’t be a big deal.

"If I go there specially and alarm the Queen Mother, I'm afraid someone will think too much and cause trouble. I have no choice but to trouble you to come here."

Dai Quan smiled and said, "It's okay. I'm a little full from lunch, so I'm taking a walk to digest it."

Cheng Qian asked someone to make some tangerine peel tea, then pushed the account book in front of Dai Quan and pointed to two items.

“The most people live in Linhu Palace, two imperial concubines and four imperial noble ladies.

“With the palace maids and eunuchs, it’s full.

“So the expenses here have remained the same for several years and have never changed much.

"Why are there so many of them suddenly in the past two months?

"Add more people?"