novelSusiti Chapter 70 Conferring Madam Feng's Entry into the Palace
Chapter 70 Conferring Madam Feng's Entry into the Palace
The invitation from the palace arrived so suddenly. Feng Niaoniao had no choice but to postpone her planned inspection of the reclamation of wasteland outside the city and begin preparing the gifts to be presented.
There are responsibilities and obligations between the monarch and his subjects. When the empress, as the monarch, summons the women of the court, the women naturally cannot go empty-handed. Presenting gifts is essential, and in other eras, one would certainly go to great lengths to collect rare and precious treasures.
Nowadays, both the government and the public value simplicity and reject extravagance, so there's no need for anything too valuable.
But precisely because valuable gifts are not required, how to give a gift in a respectable and original way to win the queen's favor has become a new challenge. You can't say that just because you advocate simplicity, you can treat things carelessly. Whether the gift is valuable or not is one thing, but the sentiment and attitude are another.
Watching Ying'er carefully wrap the ceramic four-horse carriage model in velvet and gently place it into the gift box, Feng Niaoniao nodded to herself. This gift should be perfect. Ying'er finished tidying up the gift box and handed it to one of her godson to hold, then helped Feng Niaoniao to her feet. Another goddaughter carefully helped her godmother move forward.
Feng Niaoniao smiled and said, "It's only been a little over three months, it's not that inconvenient yet. Why are you so scared? In the countryside, many pregnant women still work in the fields during their tenth month of pregnancy. Several women have given birth in the fields, and I've even helped deliver babies there."
The adopted daughter chuckled and said, "As a daughter, I'll always be the one worrying about my mother. How can I let my guard down just because she's in good health?"
Feng Niaoniao smiled and accepted her adopted daughter's kindness. Surrounded by her adopted sons and daughters, she arrived at the door. The carriage sent by the Empress was already waiting.
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The carriage was of ordinary design and unadorned; it was not the Empress's personal vehicle, but rather a dowry item she brought from Weibo Town. The Empress used these dowry carriages when she needed to leave the palace, firstly for convenience in concealing her identity, and secondly to avoid disturbing too many people and disrupting the lives of the citizens of Bianjing.
Considering that using the Empress's imperial carriage to fetch Feng Niaoniao would be too extravagant, the Empress instead dispatched an ordinary dowry carriage to the Li family to pick her up. Although Lady Fu was only twenty-one years old, three years younger than Feng Niaoniao, she was already a very sensible Empress.
The carriage driver was highly skilled, and Feng Niaoniao barely felt any bumps. From her home in Tianshui Lane, she traveled north, passed through the Imperial Street, avoided entering the main hall of the Imperial City, and continued north to the Gongchen Gate on the north side of the Imperial City to enter the palace.
After a long and winding journey, the carriage passed through Linhua Gate and Yingyang Gate and arrived at Kunning Palace, where the Empress resided.
Ying'er could only escort him to the gate of Kunning Palace. She handed the gift box to the eunuch who came to greet her, and couldn't help but take another curious glance. This was the first time she had ever seen a eunuch.
The eunuch bowed and accepted the gift. A female official, accompanied by two matrons, came forward and said, "Is this Madam Feng? Her Majesty the Empress has ordered that, considering Madam Feng's pregnancy, you be transported directly to the palace in a sedan chair, so that you need not have to travel."
Feng Niaoniao couldn't help but be moved by Empress Fu's thoughtfulness. Guo Rong was so shrewd and capable, and Empress Fu was so compassionate. It was no wonder that this couple could run their business so successfully.
Feng Niaoniao bowed to the Kunning Palace and said, "This humble woman thanks Your Majesty the Empress for your grace."
After the gifts were presented, two matrons helped Feng Niaoniao into the sedan chair. Two skilled eunuch sedan chair bearers rose and, under Ying'er's worried gaze, slowly carried the sedan chair into Kunning Palace.
Outside the Kunning Palace, a female official reminded them, "Madam Feng, we are already outside the palace; we cannot proceed any further."
Feng Niaoniao calmly replied, "I understand, I will come down now."
The lady-in-waiting told the maids, "Take good care of them."
The maids stepped forward without a word, gently lifted the sedan curtain, and quietly helped Feng Niaoniao climb out of the sedan.
The Kunning Palace was quiet, with no sound of conversation except for the rhythmic creaking of machinery. With the help of the maids, Feng Niaoniao quietly entered the palace, pondering the sound as she walked; it seemed somewhat familiar.
Turning past the wall and entering the rear hall, a large loom came into view. A young woman was loading yarn onto the machine; perhaps the noise of the machine was a cover, as she didn't notice anyone entering. The loom was placed in the rear hall, only a little over ten feet away from the bed. On the bed, a little boy was fast asleep.
An old woman is watching over the little boy. He is even watched over while he sleeps, which shows how high the level of care he receives.
When the nanny who was looking after the little boy saw someone enter, she immediately stood up and stood at attention.
Empress Fu, who was threading yarn, noticed the nanny's unusual movement, turned around to look at the door, and smiled, "This must be Madam Feng. It is truly impolite of me not to greet you properly on our first meeting and to receive a guest in this state. Please forgive me."
Feng Niaoniao understood the political significance of the Empress's spinning and weaving, and quickly replied, "Men till the fields and women weave; this is the natural order of things, the harmony of Yin and Yang, subdued by Heaven and Earth. Your Majesty's personal spinning and weaving is precisely the way of the Empress, embodying the virtues of a mother to the world. By showing this virtue to your humble servant, I feel only reverence; how could it be considered impolite?"
Empress Fu couldn't help but call for the nanny to come forward and untie her robes, saying with a smile, "Please, Madam Feng, take a seat. Add two cushions. Madam Feng, you truly live up to your scholarly family background; you speak with such eloquence. I've been receiving guests for quite some time now, and this is the first time someone has spoken with such wisdom. I only wanted to pass the time, alleviate some loneliness, and respond to the Emperor's call for frugality. But after Madam Feng's words, it sounds as if I'm doing something extraordinary."
Feng Niaoniao replied, "Etiquette aligns with the Way of Heaven and the ethics of humanity. It originates from the sincere and virtuous hearts of our ancestors. Your Majesty the Empress follows the Emperor with unwavering devotion, and your words and actions unconsciously conform to the rites and principles of the sages. Though we may not know the words, we have grasped the essence. I offer my congratulations to the world."
The Empress waved her hand and said, "Excellent, excellent. Oh dear, I should have summoned you to the palace long ago. After just a few words, my position as Empress finally feels somewhat meaningful. Someone, bring tea, and go check on the banquet preparations."
After giving these instructions, the Empress made no attempt to maintain her composure and sat down next to Feng Niaoniao, saying, "Madam Feng, it must be nerve-wracking to enter the palace for the first time. Speaking of which, I was just as nervous the first time I entered the palace. Today, I've specially dismissed most of the servants, leaving only a few experienced old nannies to attend to you. This is to prevent you from becoming anxious and affecting your unborn child. Otherwise, I would be the one to blame."
Feng Niaoniao said with emotion, "Your Majesty, in the midst of your busy schedule, you are still so considerate of your humble wife. There are few empresses like you in history. Your humble wife is now at peace."
The Empress chuckled and said, "Speak plainly. Your fancy language is making things difficult for me. It's hard to understand, and I imagine it must be tiring for you to be so particular about your words."
Feng Niaoniao also smiled and said, "Your Majesty is so beautiful and majestic that I unconsciously became solemn."
The Empress couldn't help but giggle, covering her face with her handkerchief. "I'm just the daughter of a military general. I only learned a smattering of etiquette after entering the palace. Being able to read and write is already a sign of my family's favor. What talk of poise and dignity? Alright, alright, I heard you're a talented woman from Jiangnan. Do you spend your days spinning and weaving at home like me?"
Feng Niaoniao replied, "Your Majesty is wise. My husband's parents-in-law passed away early, and he is an only child. When I married into the Li family, there were only a few men in the household, and no women. In a family without women, the men couldn't even dress properly or eat properly."
My wife is already exhausted from cutting clothes, making shoes and socks for them every day, and managing the Li family's property. She has no time for other needlework. She only did spinning and weaving when she was at her parents' home, and now she's not very skilled anymore.
The Empress asked curiously, "I heard that your husband is also from a powerful family in Guangling, and his reputation is known throughout Huaidong. Why are you working so hard? Can't you afford to hire a maid?"
Feng Niaoniao smiled bitterly:
"They call him a local tycoon, but he's just a vendor selling rural produce. He has to bribe officials at every level. His men also need to eat. Although his annual income is considerable, his expenses are even greater. In addition, my husband has taken in some retainers and has been very charitable. Whenever he encounters a poor and helpless child while on his business trip, he takes them home and raises them. By 'adopt,' I mean he takes them in, and I raise them. He, a grown man, has earned a good reputation, and I, as his wife, have had an even harder time."
Empress Fu laughed heartily:
"Yes, yes, all men are like that. My father was like that, and so were the officials. They act generous and charitable in public, but they always leave the mess for us women to worry about. Fortunately, now that I'm an official, it's not convenient for me to take in adopted sons. Otherwise, I wouldn't have time to operate these looms, and I would have to be the king of the children every day, just like you."
Feng Niaoniao said with empathy:
"Yes, he just took advantage of my soft heart and thought I was easy to bully. The children he brought back were all from broken homes, looking as pitiful as kittens. Even though I was exhausted, I couldn't help but accept them all."
That was, after all, a human life; how could I bear to turn them away? I provided them with food and clothing, worried about their well-being, taught them to read and write, and guided them in learning how to be good people and how to conduct themselves. I was incredibly busy every day.
Gradually, I began to enjoy it; after all, there are feelings involved in human relationships. As these children grew a little older, they were able to share many of my burdens. Now, the older children are taking care of the younger ones, so I don't have to worry about much. If I weren't pregnant, I don't know how happy I would be right now.
Empress Fu exclaimed, "Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. I heard that you gave birth to two sons after entering the family, and are now pregnant again. The Li family's business has also flourished since you joined. This is because you have done many good deeds and accumulated merit; Heaven is protecting your family."
Feng Niaoniao humbly said, "What we can do are just small acts of merit. The Emperor and Empress's great merit lies in governing the country and harmonizing Yin and Yang, which will bring them great blessings."
Empress Fu sighed, "Good fortune? Alas, three generations of generals, how can one speak of good fortune? Perhaps, Heaven has finally shown mercy and sent a child to my family."
The world today is so chaotic and tragic that people struggling within it often can't help but believe in reincarnation, merit, and blessings. Military generals, having committed countless evils and killed numerous people, often lament their fate when their lineage is weak or they suffer other setbacks: "Three generations of generals, and now there are no descendants."
Guo Rong originally had a wife and children, all of whom perished tragically in the chaos of war. Empress Fu had been married into the family for several years before giving birth to a son, and the couple cherished him with utmost care, fearing for his safety. Guo Rong's elaborate edicts prohibiting massacres and burning houses were undoubtedly motivated by a desire to increase his own blessings and protect his descendants.
Feng Niaoniao comforted her, saying, "If there's one, there will be a second and a third. Children are a blessing from heaven to a couple. Fate is wondrous. Your Majesty should be more at ease. Perhaps after this victory, when the Emperor is rewarded with honors, heaven will bestow a few more children upon him. Even fortune tellers can't predict such things, so why should we worry about it?"
Empress Fu composed herself and thanked Feng Niaoniao, saying, "Madam Feng is right. We, as husband and wife, have a long future ahead of us, and the opportunity to have children will not be lacking. By the way, you've been in Bianliang for less than a year. I imagine you've encountered many inconveniences while living here. Are you adjusting well? Are your neighbors easy to get along with?"
Feng Niaoniao replied, "Your Majesty, life in Bianliang is generally peaceful. Apart from the fact that my husband is always away on campaigns, which makes me uneasy, Bianliang is a bustling and vibrant city. The neighbors are also easy to talk to, and although we are from the south, we adapted very quickly."
Empress Fu feigned self-reproach, saying, "Yes, it's all because His Majesty is too impatient, always sending his generals on campaigns, causing you and your husband to be separated so little. I apologize to you here."
Feng Niaoniao quickly declined, saying, "The affairs of the state are of utmost importance, and we must act swiftly. Our family has traveled a long way to Bianliang to assist the wise ruler and achieve great deeds. It's good for men to be busy, very good. Although His Majesty frequently sends us on missions, the rewards are generous. To be honest, Your Majesty, my husband brought back quite a few rewards after his meritorious service in Hebei last time. We have already bought some wasteland outside Bianjing, and we have been preparing the land and building houses in preparation for next year's spring planting."
Empress Fu was delighted to hear Feng Niaoniao say that the Li family had begun establishing businesses near Bianjing. Land assets cannot be taken with one's family; who would invest in real estate near Bianjing without confidence?
Empress Fu asked with concern, "Wasteland? Reclaiming wasteland is no easy task; it takes many years of nurturing before it becomes fertile land. The court has repeatedly ordered all civil and military officials to reclaim wasteland, but very few families are able to do it, as they simply cannot endure the hardship. You are not managing your family's property; you are clearly sharing the burden of the country."
Feng Niaoniao comforted her, saying, "It's probably because Bianliang has a strong martial spirit, and the officials are well-versed in national affairs, but not familiar with these household matters. Managing farmland is difficult at first, but things will gradually improve after the first two years."
Bianliang is a renowned city with well-developed waterways, and its future population is sure to be enormous, with unlimited demand. Countless goods will be painstakingly transported from thousands of miles away to satisfy the needs of Bianliang's inhabitants. If one owns extensive farmland outside the city, carefully cultivates and manages it, selecting valuable crops to grow locally, the profits will be immense, and hardship will be irrelevant.
"Today we are clearing land here, which will become an inexhaustible source of wealth, enough to support generations to come. My husband and I are overjoyed. As soon as he returned, he went to the county government office and threw a tantrum, just to bargain for more barren land."
Upon hearing that it could make money, Empress Fu immediately became interested. She took Feng Niaoniao's hand and said, "They say Southerners are clever and good at business. It seems the rumors are true. Quickly teach me how to manage a manor. Don't worry, I won't take your money for nothing. The palace also has some land outside; how about I give you one of the estates?"
Feng Niaoniao wouldn't dare to push her luck and ask for the royal estate.
She laughed and said, "It's not that we Southerners are particularly good at business. As long as the world is at peace and there is no more worry about war, the people of Bianliang are not stupid. Soon, many business experts will emerge. Right now, there are large tracts of barren land outside the city, but it's just that the people are still wary after the chaos of war and dare not invest heavily. Once the Great Zhou unifies the North and South, those barren lands will be valuable assets that people will fight tooth and nail to get."
Empress Fu laughed and said, "I believe that the people of Bianliang are intelligent and good at business. My current predicament is that I am not good at business. Madam Feng, please stop praising the people of Bianliang and quickly enlighten this stupid brain of mine."
Seeing Empress Fu's sincere attitude, Feng Niaoniao had no choice but to "enlighten" her by saying:
"The plots of land my family has our eye on total 1,700 mu of dry land and 2,400 mu of mountain forest. They are all inaccessible by water and are not valued by the locals. I think that Bianliang, as the capital, relies on the supply of goods from all over the country, but fresh produce cannot be transported from thousands of miles away. There are clear springs in the mountains and water sources near the dry land."
With proper management and dredging of the waterways, one can simply graze livestock and poultry in the mountains and plant fruit trees. This will provide both excellent meat and fresh fruit to sell in Bianliang. Even the less desirable fruits can be made into candied fruit, preserves, or fruit wine, which will still be profitable. There will be a harvest every year, a one-time solution that lasts a lifetime.
As for dry land, there is even more room for development. Grains, beans, bamboo forests, seasonal fruits and vegetables, peonies, peonies and other flowers can be grown.
Grains can be used to brew wine, beans can be made into various delicacies, bamboo forests can be cut down and burned into bamboo charcoal, and fresh fruits and vegetables are needed in large quantities in the city every day. As for fresh flowers, people often wear flowers in their hair, and flower petals can also be used to make food and to make rice noodles.
By choosing different products each year based on varying market prices, the profits are immeasurable. Your Majesty, with so many advantages, what harm is there in a few years of hard work for us, the pioneers who built this business?
Empress Fu was overjoyed, her eyes shining. Coming from a military family, she knew nothing of market management. In the early days of the Zhou Dynasty, the previous emperor hadn't had the energy to consolidate the empire, and Guo Rong had only been on the throne for a little over a year. Most of the palace's wealth was used to reward officials and generals. Empress Fu managed the palace's finances, and every day she was overwhelmed by the financial pressure.
It turned out that it wasn't that there were no ways to make money, but rather that they hadn't encountered talented people to manage them. Empress Fu suddenly felt like a beggar sitting on a mountain of gold. She hurriedly asked, "With so many benefits and so many things to do, I don't know where to begin, and how long will it take to see results?"
Feng Niaoniao asked knowingly, "What does the Empress mean by turning this wasteland into a development area?"
Empress Fu nodded happily: "That's right. Some of what you just said I know, and some I don't. But I understand one thing: these things require skilled craftsmen and talented people to manage them. These are the problems I face while I'm in the deep palace."
Feng Niaoniao offered a suggestion: "The Empress might as well select talented individuals from within the palace. There are so many palace maids and eunuchs in the palace, with diverse backgrounds; perhaps some of them will have some knowledge. Then, she should summon the prime ministers for a consultation. It would be inappropriate to ask the prime ministers to manage the estates, but they will surely be able to provide solutions on how to find talent and how to manage the imperial property."
Even if all else fails, I think the Empress's family could find someone skilled in managing the imperial estates, or they could directly hire business owners, regardless of age or gender, as long as they are talented. After all, the palace is not the previous dynasty, and the rules don't need to be so strict.
For example, the empress could designate a piece of wasteland, inquire about their management strategies, and if the empress deemed it acceptable, she could contract it out to each of them. Those who performed well would be promoted and rewarded, while those who performed poorly would be dismissed. In this way, within a few years, the royal assets would surely improve significantly.
Empress Fu said happily, "Excellent, excellent! You are indeed a virtuous wife who can bring prosperity to the Li family. After hearing your words, I wish I could appoint you as my prime minister. Since your family is clearing wasteland, will you be going out to inspect it during this time?"
Feng Niaoniao paused for a moment, then replied, "That's right, it was originally scheduled for today. However, His Majesty's summons is more important, so it has been postponed to the day after tomorrow."
Empress Fu clapped her hands and said, "So this is quite an unfortunate coincidence. Talk in the palace is always just empty talk. I was thinking of going out of the city with you the day after tomorrow to see how Madam Feng reclaims wasteland and builds an estate. I wonder if it would be convenient for Madam Feng?"
Feng Niaoniao said, both amused and exasperated, "Your Majesty is of such high esteem."
Empress Fu said dismissively, "Nobility can't put food on the table. Confucius said, 'When you see someone virtuous, think of emulating them.' A woman of exceptional talent like Lady Feng is right before my eyes. How can I ignore her for the sake of so-called nobility? Learning from the virtuous is not shameful. Don't be afraid. Even if we go to the imperial court to argue, I will still be in the right."
Faced with the Empress's enthusiasm, Feng Niaoniao had no choice but to agree: "Very well, this humble woman will wait for Your Majesty at home the day after tomorrow."
Just then, the little prince on the bed woke up, opening his eyes and calling out "Mother, Mother!" repeatedly. Feng Niaoniao wanted to take her leave, but Empress Fu invited her to a side hall, saying that she would host a banquet after she had comforted the little prince.
When Guo Rong hosted a banquet for Li Xuan and Li Ji, it consisted of only a few simple dishes, without any wine.
The Empress's banquet, too, was not elaborate, but practical. It wasn't even as grand as the top restaurants in the capital; it was merely the level of a normal official's family banquet. Empress Fu even expressed her apologies, explaining that the court was currently facing difficulties, and the palace was also poor, so she could only be generous despite her limited resources.
An hour later, Feng Niaoniao emerged from the palace, followed by a dozen eunuchs carrying several boxes of money and silk bestowed upon her by the palace. This was a return gift from Empress Fu to Feng Niaoniao for the "gift presented," jokingly referring to it as tuition for her to learn skills the day after tomorrow. She insisted that Madam Feng accept it, lest Madam Feng hold back some knowledge when teaching her.
Feng Niaoniao, feeling both amused and exasperated, sat in the sedan chair, then in the simple horse-drawn carriage, and returned home with a pile of gifts.
The Empress watched Feng Niaoniao depart from the high platform outside the palace, holding the model of the four-horse chariot that Feng Niaoniao had presented in her hand. She smiled and said, "What a clever idea! The emperor rides six horses, while the feudal lords ride four. Does she want to claim the honor of a feudal lord? The minds of scholars are truly interesting. They are indeed different from our family of generals."
At this moment, the Empress was surprisingly knowledgeable about such obscure details as court etiquette, quite unlike her humble self who was described as a boorish woman from a military family.