The ministers made a lot of hard work, they talked about seniority, seniority, grade, and more than family property...... All cunning and cunning:

"Lord Liu, you entered the dynasty during the Taichang period, the elder of the three dynasties, please. Bayi Chinese Network ?."

Lord Wu smiled! You are in charge of the household, and you are stepping on the gold and silver sea, you please! ”

"Lord Song, just in the Qianmen Building, there are three Song Clan Silver Numbers! How about dialing out a little? ”

"That's not in the next generation, it just happens to have the same surname as the boss, and the younger generation is small and the grade is low! How dare you be presumptuous! Please please ......"

The ministers argued bitterly, and all sorts of absurd reasons popped up

Wang Chengen looked at him coldly, and his hands became tighter and tighter

At this time, a minister suddenly came to his senses and said, "Hey, where is the old prince?" ”

The ministers looked left and right, and Zhou Kui was quietly slipping into the path. The ministers immediately shouted: "Old Guozhang, don't go!" You're gone, what are you going to do if you leave us behind......"

Immediately, a minister stepped forward and pulled Zhou Kui back stiffly. Now, all the ministers have something to rely on, and they all say: "Old Guozhang, you are an old-timer, a relative of the emperor, and a selfless minister!" Please......"

Zhou Kui saw that he couldn't get away, so he was really helpless, and said almost painfully: "Although the old man is a royal prince, he is indeed surrounded by four walls. In this way, the emperor's will is to 'donate money to help the army's salary', that is, to donate money to help the army's salary. The old man will donate half a year's money, right? ”

When the ministers heard this, they suddenly realized and exclaimed: "Okay! ”

Zhou Kui stepped forward to take the pen and muttered as he wrote: "The old man's monthly salary is one hundred and twenty taels, and the total number of six months is seven, seven, seven hundred and twenty ta......els."

As soon as Zhou Kui, the old national abbot, put down his pen, a minister immediately stepped forward and rushed to fill in: "I will also donate half a year's salary, a total of six hundred and forty taels!" ”

Another minister stepped forward to fill in: "I don't dare to compare with my predecessors, I should be a head shorter, and donate five months' worth of money in the next!" "Then every minister used this example: five hundred taels, four hundred taels...... Even one hundred and six taels!

Wang Chengen looked at it coldly on the side, but he was so angry in his heart, Wang Chengen said no, and waited for all the ministers to fill in the report, Wang Chengen sneered: "Everyone understands people, just a drop in the bucket of your monthly income!" The old man remembered that just now in the court, Emperor Zhou cried bitterly and said, 'The emperor's move shocked the world and cried ghosts and gods'. The old man forwarded it to everyone, called 'This move of a hundred officials, shocking the world and crying ghosts and gods, unheard of~~~' admire! ”

Wang Chengen picked up the white silk and looked at it, immediately calculated the total amount, and said: "All the donations add up, a total of more than 12,000 taels." It's less than a fraction of the emperor's donation! Thank you for your loyalty and sincerity to the country! ”

Wang Chengen gave a salute, and then held a corner with the little eunuch Wang Xiaozhi, held the white silk high, and floated away in the wind - like holding a righteous flag high.

The ministers looked at each other, and they were worried about each other

On the jade steps of the Qianqing Palace, the white silk has been framed and pasted and displayed under the jade steps. The little eunuch Wang Xiaozhi was waiting. Zhou Hou paced, looked at the donation form, and was furious: "Why, my father only donated seven hundred and twenty taels? The little eunuch Wang Xiaozhi respectfully: "The queen's mother, the old countryman wrote it by himself, and donated half a year's money." ”

Zhou Hou's face was full of shame, and he turned around and left without saying a word.

In Kunning Palace, Empress Zhou stood in the living room in full makeup, wearing many jewels and hairpins on her head. A palace maid entered the newspaper: "Bingniangniang, Concubine Yuan, Concubine Tian, and Concubine Ning are all here." ”

Zhou Hou said: "Please~! ”

The palace maid stepped back, and the three beautiful concubines walked in and respectfully saluted Empress Zhou: "The concubine asks for the mother." ”

Zhou Hou smiled: "Sisters, sit down." ”

The concubines took their seats. Zhou Hou said cordially: "Sisters, the emperor is for Zhongxing Daming, and personally donates money with his ministers. Our harem concubines should share the emperor's worries and contribute to the country. What do you say? ”

The concubines looked at each other and said in unison: "What Niangniang said is true." ”

Zhou Hou said: "I want to discuss with my sisters, from tomorrow, all palaces will begin to reduce their spending, reduce expenses, save money, and pay the imperial court. ”

"Okay, okay! …… Obey the will of the mother! Concubine Yuan and Concubine Tian said

Zhou Hou said happily: "Thank you sisters first...... Zhou Hou said and took the lead in removing the beaded jade hairpin, and put it on the plate beside him in the same way, saying, "I don't need this string of eastern pearls, take it to silver to help you pay." I don't need this double phoenix golden hairpin......"

When the concubines saw this, they all looked at each other in surprise. After a while, they understood, and one after another, helplessly, they took a number of gold and jade hairpins from their heads and necks, and put them on plates. Reluctantly smiled: "These hairpin ornaments were originally rewarded by the emperor, donate them to the imperial court......

Zhou Hou said happily: "The emperor must be happy with the thoughts of my sisters!" ”

The concubine smiled: "It's all right, besides, no matter how much we donate, we can't compare with Niangniang." ”

Zhou Hou looked at the plate, and only Concubine Yuan and Concubine Tian put in the most ornaments

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

In the warm pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, Chongzhen was discussing government affairs with Zhang Guowei and Chen Yan. Wang Chengen hurriedly walked in and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, the queen mother led the harem concubines to open a wasteland in the garden and are planting vegetables!" ”

Chongzhen was overjoyed and said repeatedly: "Good, good!" ”

Wang Chengen said again: "The queen and the concubines also donated a lot of ornaments, and they want to turn them into silver to help them!" ”

Chongzhen was full of feelings: "This is worrying about me!" …… The cabinet was instructed to draw up a decree, and the queen and her concubines put the general interests of the country first, were diligent and thrifty, and were austere in spending, which could be a model for the people of the world. The princes and nobles inside and outside the capital are all mirrored. ”

Chongzhen faced Zhang Guowei and Chen Yan again and said: "If the princes can do this, why worry about not being able to collect taxes? Zhang Guowei and Chen Yan just laughed together.

In the afternoon, the old abbot Zhou Kui shook his cane step by step into the imperial garden, looking left and right. The maid of the palace knelt down and greeted: "The slave maid greets the abbot." ”

The old national abbot Zhou Kui asked: "Where is the queen?" ”

The palace maid gestured to the vegetable field not far away, and the old abbot Zhou Kui squinted his eyes and was surprised: "What's the matter, this is ......?"

Zhou Kui, the national abbot, hurried to the edge of the vegetable field, did not speak, but tapped a basin of water with a wooden stick

The bell rang twice

Zhou Hou heard it, got up, and smiled: "Father, are you here?" ”

Guozhang Zhou Kui asked urgently: "What's wrong?" Are you deposed?! ”

Zhou Hou said angrily: "What did my father say! The daughter is leading the harem concubines to grow vegetables and help them with food! ”

Guozhang Zhou Kui looked at her clothes and sighed: "You are a lady of the main palace, how can you be like a village woman......"

Zhou Hou was displeased and said: "There are so many difficulties in the court, the emperor is going to die of sorrow." As a mother of the main palace, her daughter has to think of sharing worries for the emperor! ”

The old national abbot Zhou Kui whispered: "You come, come." I have something to tell you. The old national abbot Zhou Kui pulled Zhou Hou and left.

The old abbot Zhou Kui sat on the big chair of Kunning Palace, and served tea in person after Zhou.

Zhou Hou said: "Father, if you have anything to say, say it quickly." The old national abbot Zhou Kui looked left and right, and confidentially: "The foolish father has a strategy that can make the court avoid danger and ensure safety." ”

Queen Zhou was overjoyed: "Father, say it quickly." ”

Guozhang Zhou Kui said: "Daughter, the big war is imminent! Last night, many ministers of the imperial court, as well as many wealthy gentry in the capital, came to my mansion and begged me on their knees! ”

"Please, what?" Zhou Kui, the old national abbot, said proudly: "Please let me speak!" For the sake of the emperor's safety, they hoped that the imperial court would move the capital to Nanjing to avoid war and reinvigorate the ......"

Zhou Hou interrupted him angrily: "Move the capital?!" They don't dare to say it to the emperor themselves - they are afraid of cutting off their heads, but they encourage you to come and tell me, and let me talk to the emperor again, don't they? ”

Guozhang Zhou Kui couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed when he saw Zhou Houhu. Zhou later said: "Father, you are so confused, you are simply an old fool!" The emperor even hated peace to the bone, let alone moving the capital? Father, you're being taken advantage of! They use you as a gunman, for their own safety! ”

Zhou Hou said patiently, "Father, you are not only confused, but also too stingy! I heard that you donated the day before yesterday and only took out 700 taels of silver, which is really a shame for your daughter! ”

Zhou Kui said with a bitter face: "Daughter, how can a foolish father have silver, and a foolish father can't sell his house......"

Zhou Hou interrupted him: "Don't talk about it, how much property does our family have, can my daughter not count it in her heart!" Father, daughter, please take out more silver and donate it to the court, so as to be a model for the emperor's relatives and relatives. It's not okay to do it only this time, the emperor treats you well! ”

Guozhang Zhou Kui suddenly burst into tears, shook his head and sighed: "Daughter, you don't know, just because I am the national abbot, I never dare to accept bribes." All year round, I live on those few fortunes and the emperor's rewards. I've already donated half a year. From now on, I'll have to spend two days every day! ”

Zhou Hou sighed: "My daughter knew you would say that...... You wait! ”

Zhou Hou walked away, went to the corner of the wall to open a cupboard, rummaged through it, and turned out a silver ticket. She took the silver ticket and returned to the old national abbot Zhou Kui, quietly stuffed it to him, and advised: "Father, this is 10,000 taels of silver, I originally wanted to send it to my hometown." Alas...... Forget it, if you donate it to the court tomorrow, you will say that it is your own family property. ”

Zhou Kui hurriedly pushed: "How can this work!" ……”

Empress Zhou sighed and said, "Don't say anything, this is not only for the emperor's worries, but also for our Zhou's family!" In the end, Zhou Kuiyu hesitated to take it.

Early the next morning, the donated white silk was still high on the palace road of the upper court, and most of the bottom was empty. The ministers were like the stars holding the moon, hugging the old abbot Zhou Kui. Zhou Kui, the old national abbot, said heroically as he walked: "The old man is seventy years old this year, and he has few days to live!" Originally, I planned to buy a cemetery and build a set of coffins in my hometown, and after a hundred years, I would have a place to live. I thought about it all night last night - no! ”

The courtier next to him asked, "Why can't it be?" ”

Zhou Kui, the old national abbot, said: "If Daming doesn't have it, is there still a place for me to bury my bones?" Therefore, I put all the money I needed to buy a cemetery and a coffin, five thousand taels! All donated to the imperial court as military salaries! ”

The ministers were surprised, and their expressions were all disbelieving.

The old abbot Zhou Kui took out the silver ticket from his sleeve and showed it to the ministers: "Look, look at the ......" The old abbot Zhou Kui walked to the donation form, put the silver ticket in a conspicuous place, and grabbed the pen to fill it in.

All the ministers were stunned, and then praised in unison: "Good! …… Old Guozhang~~ Amazing! ”

A minister said generally: "The old man is so generous, I can't be stingy, I also donate three thousand taels!" ”

Another minister also said: "I will also donate 3,000 taels!" ”

For a while, all the ministers stepped forward to fill in. stunned Wang Xiaozhi on the side!

Zhou Hou stood alone in the dark of the palace road, watching her father Zhou Kui's performance from a distance, she was shocked and angry, and gritted her teeth. After a while, Zhou Hou suddenly heard the laughter of a palace maid nearby. She hurriedly hid behind the pillar and secretly wiped away her tears...... Zhou Hou hung his head and walked heavily towards Kunning Palace.

As he was ascending the stairs, there was a sound of footsteps behind him. She turned around slightly to see that Wang Chengen was coming. Wang Chengen took a deep look at the queen of the week, and said happily, "Bingniangniang, happy event!" Just now, the old emperor of Zhou donated 5,000 taels of silver, and when the emperor learned about it, he was very happy and praised him in the court. also let the old slave come and pass the decree, so that the mother also knows. ”

Zhou Hou restrained the anger and shame in her heart and said, "Got it! …… If everyone donates like this, I'm afraid that the more they donate, the fatter they get! ”