July of the second year of Yuanyou (25).

In Chongzheng Hall, the civil and military ministers of Xihe led by Zhao En, led by the ritual officials, followed in two groups of civil and military, and entered one after another.

"I would like to ask the Emperor and His Majesty for all blessings, and wish the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager a long life..."

Dozens of civil and military ministers of Han bowed down and bowed their heads, and under the slanting eyes of the ministers, they bowed to Zhao Xu in the hall and the two palaces in the curtain.

This is a ceremony for paying homage to the monarch.

Zhao Xu sat upright on the imperial throne, overlooking the civil and military ministers in the hall.

These ministers who have gradually formed a bond of interests.

The corners of his mouth slightly raised: "I'm safe!"

The two palaces behind the curtain also said: "I (I) have peace!"

"You are exempted from gifts!"

The ministers rose up again.

Zhao Qingzheng stepped forward and said, "I heard from His Majesty the Emperor, the two palaces are merciful and sages. I have now entered the court with kindness. It coincides with the Holy Day of the Empress Dowager. I am frightened. I have combined the gold from the six states of Xihe to forge a consecration weapon. I wish to present it to the imperial court and beg the Empress Dowager to appreciate it!"

On the story, the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress Dowager's Holy Day, all prefectures and counties in the world need tribute to congratulate you.

The prime minister and the six ministers need to donate gold, silver and wine to congratulate you!

This is actually the royal family is asking for bribes from their ministers.

It sounds a bit ridiculous.

But in the Middle Ages, it was a tradition!

Before the Xining reform, the new Jinshi had to give the emperor a silver thank you when he was preaching the list!

In order to collect the thank-you bank, many poor scholars had to borrow money from the Bianjing City's qualifying warehouse - naturally, they were all usury.

Many honest and honest scholars borrowed the thank-you silver when they were re-elected as Jinshi all their lives.

At the same time, whether it was an external Zhongshu Sheren or an internal Hanlin Bachelor, who wrote the same text as the officials, he was required to ask for the money to pay for the money.

Not given?

Then wait and get a verb full of derogatory words!

This is the file that will follow the officials' lives!

Therefore, the quality deposits of those years also did the business of lending money to officials.

The monks made a lot of money with these two businesses.

I don’t know how much interest is per year!

After Xining's reform, although the thank-you silver and the pen fee were abolished.

However, no one dared to move the system of offering tribute on the Holy Day of the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress Dowager.

Even Zhao Xu issued an edict not long ago to abolish the tribute of the world.

However, in the edict, there was also a tail to be left - to send out the money for the treasury, and to collect the land and objects of the county every year to offer.

This is not just a need for grand unification.

At the same time, we must feed the empress dowager, the empress dowager, the concubines and the ministers in the palace.

Otherwise, they might gossip or even make trouble for you.

Receiving gifts is something rooted in a woman's genes.

really!

Hearing Zhao En's words, the Empress Dowager in the curtain immediately showed joy: "You are intent!"

When Zhao Xu saw this, he said, "Your Majesty, please present the ritual vessels to the hall!"

"promise!"

Zhao bowed and bowed again.

Then, there were guards who moved all the gold and silver utensils made by the states, soldiers, and supervisors of Xihe River to the hall.

There are dozens of pieces, and the Chongzheng Hall was full of dazzling silver and golden gold!

These utensils are well-made, with various materials and shapes, including wine utensils, incense burners, tea sets, incense stoves and various jewelry.

Some are engraved with dragon and phoenix patterns, some are carved with turtles and cranes to offer their longevity, or are scenes of blessings by immortals...

The Empress Dowager behind the curtain was glittering with her eyes and was very happy!

Zhao Eun took the opportunity to present a booklet called "The Book of Famous rituals of the Empress Dowager Kunchengjie" by the Lanhui Lu.

The booklet states in detail which state/army/inmate under Xihe was presented by these ritual vessels.

The Empress Dowager took the booklet and looked at the clearly marked ritual vessels, and she felt extremely happy.

Especially, when she saw her good nephew Gao Gongji and Xiang Zonghui, who represented the Xihelanhui Roadside Defense Finance and Administration Department, the detailed description on the set of ritual vessels presented to her, her joy reached its peak!

Because, according to the instructions in the book.

Xihe Lanhui Roadside Defense Finance and Administration Department created four wine vessels for her.

These four wine vessels are engraved with a passage from the Book of Songs "Siqi".

What's even better is that there is a small inscription at the bottom of each wine utensil.

Together, it is four words [Yao and Shun, a girl].

This completely scratched her itch.

Of course, I'm still humble.

"You are so careful!" The Empress Dowager in the curtain suppressed his joy and said as calmly as possible: "But, the old man in the palace eats every day, the fruits and vegetables planted by the Empress Dowager, and the daily wears them, are nothing but simple food, and those used are nothing but porcelain and ceramic utensils!"

"Gold and silver are luxurious things!"

"Today, the world is not determined, and the government has not yet taken charge of the government... How can I use such extravagant things?"

"Your and others should send these objects to the Ministry of Revenue and subscribe them to Zuozang, and think they are for use in the country!"

That being said, Empress Dowager Xiang in the curtain could tell at a glance - the birthday gift this Empress gave to Xihelu was so fond of!

He advised: "Empress, bless the emperor and support the emperor. The country will be in the holy day. Today, Xihe offers gifts. Empress should accept it!"

"After all, it is all the filial piety of Xihe subjects!"

Zhao Xu also said: "What my mother said is very true!"

"What's more, the Queen Mother has repeatedly recommended the scholars and people of Enxihe. Now, on the Holy Day of the Queen Mother, the scholars and people of Xihe offer gifts to congratulate him, which is a good story!"

The priests in the hall also started persuading them.

Zhao Cheng and Xiang Zong returned, and Gao Gongji even performed in the palace.

They all shed tears and begged Ci Sheng to accept these birthday gifts that represent the admiration of the people of Xihe for the contemporary Tairen, Yao and Shun, and the Empress Dowager of the Song Dynasty.

Listening to the words of Empress Dowager Xiang and Zhao Xu, and then listening to the repeated requests from the ministers.

The Empress Dowager in the curtain then said in a stern manner: "I am ashamed of you!"

"But, thinking about your sincerity and the country, I reluctantly accepted it!"

"But, this is only once, so I won't be an example!"

Well, last year, she also told the civil and military officials who came to offer gifts at that time.

This is only once, so I won’t be an example!

Zhao Xu listened and looked at the ritual instruments in the hall, unable to help swallowing.

The Empress Dowagers of the Song Dynasty, the Empress Dowagers.

I can receive more than this gift every year!

Every year, they can receive gifts from their ministers.

In addition, according to the system, the income from many directly under the court's office, including store and housekeeping, also belongs to them.

Of course, they earn a lot, but they also have a lot of expenses.

The priest and elders and relatives of the royal family members are rewarded for their birthdays.

In addition, these families also sent envoys to congratulate and gave them various imperial objects to give them.

Especially when the princess of the recent royal family gets married, at least half of the dowry is paid by the royal family - you don't want this official family, your cousin/uncle can only marry his daughter to a merchant because he doesn't have a dowry, right?

Don't laugh!

The Zhao Guan family's close branches can really do such a thing!

In addition, the concubines and concubines in the palace also rely on the rewards of the empress dowager and the distribution of income from the minister.

But in general, income is much greater than expenses.

Therefore, Zhao Xu speculated that the Qingshou Palace had at least a few million yuan in its own money, which was not an exaggeration.
To be continued...