The capital
A heavy rain had washed the bluestone-paved path clean. Drips from the eaves fell from time to time, splashing into tiny ripples on the stone.
Lu Nianfu stepped out of the door, and the carriage was ready.
Today, the Crown Princess was hosting a banquet at the Eastern Palace. All officials of any renown in the capital had received an invitation. As the Princess of Rui, she naturally could not be an exception.
With the Southern Barbarians and Northern Frontier declaring war simultaneously, the Japanese pirates, sensing an opportunity, launched a full-scale assault.
Before the troops moved, provisions had to come first. The supply lines were stretched so long that the memorials from the Ministry of Revenue crying poverty had nearly buried Emperor Changwu’s imperial desk. The Crown Prince stepped forward and, a few days prior, hosted a banquet for the princes and ministers, unexpectedly securing a sum of funds.
However, the amount reportedly fell short of expectations, much to the Crown Prince's disappointment.
The virtuous Crown Princess, eager to share her husband's burdens, subsequently hosted this banquet, the purpose of which was self-evident.
The carriage began to move slowly. Lu Nianfu looked at Qingya, dressed in an apricot-colored embroidered jacket, with a sigh. "Qingya, didn't we agree that Hongshao would accompany me to the palace?"
"The palace is a place with many people and complex affairs. Who knows if some ignorant person might try to harm you? Hongshao hasn't experienced anything yet. How can I be at ease?"
"If you don't give her opportunities, even after ten or eight years, she won't gain experience. You are already a shopkeeper's wife. Instead of following me around every day, why not learn from Shoucheng how to manage the shops? Your young lady has no shortage of attendants, but she lacks capable managers to help her earn money."
Qingya thought of how she had buried herself in ledgers since leaving confinement and felt a pang of sympathy. "Then, when your husband returns, I'll ask him to assign you a maid who knows martial arts. I, ah, I won't follow you anymore. Once I've learned accounting, I'll solely help you manage the books."
"Don't you dislike dealing with abacuses?"
"That was before. I'm not a little girl anymore. I can't be as unreliable as before, going shopping and listening to stories every day, can I?"
"Actually, that wouldn't be entirely out of the question. Your dowry is enough for you to be unproductive for a lifetime."
"Then you wouldn't need me even more, would you?"
Lu Nianfu: ...
It was early summer, and the flowers in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom. Lu Nianfu walked through the long palace path and turned past several palaces before she saw the plaque of the Eastern Palace.
Many guests had arrived, with a gathering of ladies of all sorts, as well as many young girls. The Crown Princess Fu Yingxiao was dressed particularly solemnly today, her face etched with worry for the nation. Lu Nianfu clicked her tongue, a rare sight. Today, she wasn't saving the best for last.
There was a distinction between ruler and subject, and the Crown Prince was also a ruler. Lu Nianfu dutifully paid her respects to the Crown Princess.
However, Fu Yingxiao's words were not very pleasant: "Seventh Brother's wife, you're finally here. Everyone has been waiting for a long time."
"Wasn't it said to be a luncheon? It's still more than half an hour until the banquet begins?"
"The border is in constant conflict, and the national treasury is strained. As the Crown Princess, how could I be extravagant at such a time? I invited everyone here today primarily for the border soldiers. Since Seventh Brother's wife has arrived, I will speak frankly."
Fu Yingxiao stood up from the main seat and delivered an impassioned speech.
She spoke of men fighting on the front lines and women who should not stand idly by. Some contribute their strength, others their money. In essence, it was a plea for everyone to raise funds for the border soldiers—donations, in short. She then led by example, donating three thousand taels of silver.
The female guests who were invited had been instructed by their families before coming. Although they murmured amongst themselves, they began discussing the amounts to donate. After the Crown Princess, the Princess of San Wang followed, filling in two thousand five hundred taels below, matching Fu Yingxiao's sum.
The Princess of Yong Wang filled in the same amount as her.
Prince Ning was not married to a principal wife, so his two concubines could not participate. Princess Liu Wang, ever since Situ Lang began guarding the imperial mausoleum, had become reckless. She had come, but from the moment the Crown Princess mentioned donations, she had worn a displeased expression. In the end, she waved her brush and wrote down a hundred taels.
Fearing that she would start complaining about poverty again and ruin the atmosphere, the Crown Princess quickly handed the donation sheet to Lu Nianfu.
Lu Nianfu naturally followed the amount of the Princess of San Wang.
The paper went around, filling six sheets of Xuan paper. Lu Nianfu did not know the total amount, but judging by the Crown Princess's expression, she knew she was not entirely satisfied. However, her satisfaction or dissatisfaction had nothing to do with her. Lu Nianfu paid little attention, eating and drinking as usual after the banquet began. If any female guests came to pay their respects, she greeted them politely.
This continued until the Princess of San Wang, Fu Yingyu, pulled her aside.
"Seventh Brother's wife, the funds raised this time are likely insufficient. Be careful, the Crown Princess might still have designs on you."
Lu Nianfu blinked in surprise. "It wouldn't go that far, would it?"
Fu Yingyu said, "Prince Rui is not in the capital now, and your wineries and Xiang Dai Ge are known for their excellent business. Is there anyone richer and softer than you?"
"What I mean is, the Ministry of Revenue shouldn't be so poor, should it? Shanxi has considerable income, and they received a large quantity of copper. Even with the heavy snow disaster at the end of last year, it shouldn't be so dire that they're struggling before the war has even begun."
"It shouldn't be. But if the money is insufficient, doesn't it make the Crown Princess look ineffective at managing affairs!"