Chapter Thirty-One: Settling the Monthly Allowance

After Wei Yanqiao accepted the imperial edict, officials from the Imperial Household Department hurried to Yixin Palace, each carrying thick stacks of documents and files. After offering their salutations, they began presenting her with the complex records detailing the management of the inner palace. Even the various affairs previously overseen by the Empress were now transferred entirely to her.

Almost at the same moment, several chests of gleaming silver were carefully set down before her. Wei Yanqiao furrowed her delicate brows and asked, "What is the meaning of this silver?"

Yang Lianxuan, the stern-faced Grand Steward of the Empress’s palace, bowed respectfully and replied in a low voice, "Replying to Noble Consort Sheng, today happens to be the day for the monthly distribution of stipends. According to custom, these chests must be personally verified by you to ensure the amount is accurate before the Imperial Household Department can distribute them to the masters and servants of each palace."

Wei Yanqiao stared at the enticing silver. She had just taken over the management of the inner palace, and before she could even begin her work, she was presented with these chests for verification. Under normal circumstances, this silver should have been verified by the Empress long ago. How could it be that it was only brought for verification on the very day of distribution?

Could it be that the Empress was intentionally making things difficult for her? Or perhaps Xiao Ceyun had orchestrated this to test whether she would embezzle funds or secretly funnel money to her father?

Her father’s household was now destitute. In the past, she would have felt pity and sent money to him, but she could not do that now.

Wei Yanqiao turned her gaze to Bi Zufu and said slowly, "Steward Bi, please convey a message on my behalf to all the palaces: the monthly stipends will be delayed by two days. Since this delay is due to my own oversight, I will take a portion from my personal savings to compensate each palace."

Wei Yanqiao did not dare to be negligent. She buried herself in the mountain of ledgers, meticulously verifying every entry. In this vast palace, from high-ranking concubines to the lowliest servants, the relationships were complex and the numbers vast. Completing such a heavy task in half a day was impossible.

The date for the distribution was fixed; if she caused a delay, there would surely be resentment. By using her own money as compensation, she was both pacifying the staff and punishing herself for the delay, leaving no room for criticism.

Upon hearing this, both Bi Zufu and Yang Lianxuan were stunned. Wei Yanqiao had always been arrogant and willful; they expected her to treat the delay as a matter of course. They never imagined she would voluntarily suggest a delay and use her own private wealth to compensate everyone. She had once been extravagant and wasteful—how could she be willing to subsidize the others?

Bi Zufu quickly bowed and said, "Noble Consort Sheng, it is only natural that you could not verify the accounts immediately as you have only just taken over. There is no need to blame yourself, let alone use your own savings."

In the past, Wei Yanqiao had been the most favored, accumulating vast wealth. Even if the compensation was only a few taels per person, across all the palaces, it was a significant sum. Could it be that she had truly become indifferent to worldly desires?

Wei Yanqiao remained calm, not stopping her work on the ledgers, and replied softly, "It is fine. Let it be decided this way. I trouble you to make this trip, Steward Bi. Consider it a small reward from me upon taking charge of the inner palace."

"As you command," Bi Zufu replied respectfully before departing. He hurried to the various palaces to convey the news, including informing Xiao Ceyun.

"Truly?" Xiao Ceyun’s face showed surprise, his vermilion brush pausing in its work of reviewing memorials.

He frowned slightly. When Wei Yanqiao was at Nanan Temple, people said her temperament had changed. He had been skeptical, but it seemed true.

The woman who had once clung to him and obsessed over power and wealth seemed like a different person. She no longer pestered him and showed no interest in power or money. Was she truly planning to devote herself to Buddhism, spending her life with old scriptures and flickering lamps?

"Yes, Your Majesty. I heard it with my own ears. She is currently verifying the accounts."

Xiao Ceyun frowned deeply. What had happened to the Wei family? Why did they all seem to have changed? Wei Changlong, once greedy and corrupt, was now destitute and serving the people; Wei Hongbo, once arrogant and reckless, had returned to the capital humble and observant of court etiquette; and now, Wei Yanqiao had become someone else entirely.

"Let her be for now. I want to see how long she can keep up this act." He did not believe that someone of her status could truly endure the monotony of copying useless scriptures forever.

Meanwhile, Shui Yao watched Wei Yanqiao, who had been working without pause, and said with concern, "Your Ladyship, please rest for a moment. You will exhaust yourself."

Wei Yanqiao did not look up, focused on her work. "No need. I am almost finished. You go and rest."

The monthly stipends, while seemingly trivial, were a lethal handle if manipulated by those with ill intent. With no one she could fully trust, doing it herself was the only safe path.

After two days and two nights without sleep, Wei Yanqiao finished verifying the accounts.

The amount of silver matched the chests exactly. This proved the Empress had verified them beforehand, intending to trap her with the delay. After verifying the sum, she did not rest, instead immediately organizing her staff to distribute the compensation alongside the stipends to the various palaces.

Although there was a delay, because everyone received their promised compensation, there was no resentment. Instead, everyone praised her highly. To receive extra silver for only two days of waiting was a happy event for everyone.