Chapter 316: Tang Xiao Yu enters the Imperial Palace

"You must personally keep an eye on the grain and fodder allocation for Western Liang." Si Gui looked at Lu Wenchang, "This is a major matter and a lucrative errand; many people are watching it, don't mess it up."

"Rest assured! I have a plan in mind!" Lu Wenchang was very confident, "I will ensure that every grain is 'used to its fullest potential'."

Si Gui nodded, said no more, and walked straight toward the Zhengshi Tang.

The harem, Yu Chen Gong! This was the sleeping palace of the newly appointed Imperial Consort, Su Wan Er.

Wei Xi Yuan was leaning sideways on a chaise longue covered with soft brocade, his eyes blurred.

He had just finished the morning court session and hadn't even changed his court robes before heading straight here.

Although the dissolute and incompetent appearance was something he deliberately put on, he had to admit that this little demon, Su Wan Er, truly fascinated him deeply.

Su Wan Er was wearing only a gauze garment, snuggled in his arms, and on her slender legs, those "silk stockings" that Wei Xi Yuan couldn't put down were already slightly snagged.

"Your Majesty finished the morning court so early today." Su Wan Er's fingers were drawing circles on Wei Xi Yuan's chest.

"Those old things chatter endlessly; I find it annoying to listen to." Wei Xi Yuan caught her hand and kissed it on his lips, but his gaze was stuck on her legs, "It's still better here with my beloved consort, fragrant and soft."

Su Wan Er giggled: "Your Majesty only knows how to coax me into being happy."

She twisted her body gently, her tone charming: "It's just... these 'socks' are beautiful, but they are too easy to break. Look, they are snagged here."

She lifted her leg, pointing to a tiny tear at the toe of the sock, her tone filled with regret.

Wei Xi Yuan looked closely, and sure enough, there was a small hole in the otherwise perfectly smooth sock.

He immediately became anxious: "What should we do?"

"I wear them every day, and Your Majesty is always..." Su Wan Er's face flushed red, and she stopped mid-sentence, "Although this material is good, it is ultimately a bit delicate. I heard that these 'silk stockings' are extremely difficult to make, and the materials are even rarer, I'm afraid..."

Wei Xi Yuan was tickled by her words, and hearing that this thing might be gone, he became even more anxious: "Beloved consort, do not worry, I will have people look for them! I will have the Imperial Household Department buy them, buy a box! No, buy ten boxes!"

A flash of joy crossed Su Wan Er's eyes, but she feigned worry: "Your Majesty, such rare items are probably hard to find on the market. I heard that the merchant caravan is elusive, and it was only by chance that we got these few pairs last time..."

"Then what should we do?"

Wei Xi Yuan sat up straight, his brows tightly furrowed.

Now that he was without these silk stockings, he found all the other concubines in the harem dull.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Su Wan Er suddenly said: "Your Majesty, I do have an idea. Before I entered the palace, when I was at home in Jiangnan, I knew a sister whose family does overseas business and has a wide range of connections. Why not...

Let me write a letter and entrust her family to help keep an eye out? It's better than those clumsy servants in the Imperial Household Department looking for a needle in a haystack."

Wei Xi Yuan heard this and thought it made sense: "Since my beloved consort has connections, then write the letter quickly! Whatever you need, just tell me!"

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Su Wan Er smiled, then frowned again.

"It's just... the palace is strictly guarded, and I'm afraid my letters won't be easy to send out. If the remonstrating officials find out, they will say I am interfering in politics again..."

Wei Xi Yuan waved his hand: "What's difficult about that! I grant you permission to summon your family to the palace once a month! Hmm... just say it's because I sympathize with your homesickness! Who dares to talk too much?"

"Your Majesty..." Su Wan Er's eyes turned red with emotion, and she threw herself into Wei Xi Yuan's arms, "Your Majesty is truly good to me."

"If I'm not good to you, who would I be good to?" Wei Xi Yuan hugged the warm, fragrant jade, having long thrown the annoying matters of the court to the back of his mind, "Quick, beloved consort, write the letter now! I will have my trusted eunuch send it for you, guaranteed to be fast and steady!"

"Your Majesty... you are truly good to me!" Su Wan Er's voice became softer, filled with excitement.

The matter Tang Girl arranged should be completed, and she could also receive a 'reward' to continue pleasing the Emperor's heart; in the future, she might even be able to get her hands on the position of Empress!!

Two days later, under the personal operation of Su Wan Er and Wei Xi Yuan, Tang Xiao Yu entered the Imperial Palace.

Su Wan Er had found the time in advance, and there was no one else present during the meeting.

Seeing Tang Xiao Yu's figure, Su Wan Er was overjoyed.

The last pair of silk stockings had finally succumbed to the burden and was completely broken! Even things like "scented soap" and "body wash" were running low.

After losing those things, Wei Xi Yuan hadn't even come to her sleeping palace last night, so only Su Wan Er knew how happy she was when she saw Tang Xiao Yu.

"Sister Tang, I've missed you to death!"

Tang Xiao Yu responded with a fake smile: "Younger sister, this sister has also missed you very much!"

Su Wan Er said to the palace maid: "Guard the door well, I want to have a chat with my sister, don't disturb me unless there's something important!"

"Yes!" The palace maid lowered her head and bowed in response.

The two walked hand in hand into the inner chamber, looking like they had a very good relationship at first glance.

Before Tang Xiao Yu could sit down, Su Wan Er went straight to the point, "The 'stock' in the palace is running low, especially the silk stockings and perfume. The Emperor can't live without these now, I have to replenish them as soon as possible."

Tang Xiao Yu, however, was not in a hurry, responding slowly: "Your efficiency is not bad! You managed to arrange for me to enter the palace so quickly!"

"The Emperor allows me to see my family once a month, it's not like I can come and go whenever I want!" Su Wan Er was a bit anxious, fearing Tang Xiao Yu would give her another difficult task.

Seeing Su Wan Er anxious, Tang Xiao Yu explained: "The Imperial Palace is strictly guarded, those things can't be brought in; there will be a body search before entering the palace. If the person guarding the door is someone from another concubine, these things will fall into someone else's hands."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Su Wan Er nodded like a chicken pecking at rice; her only advantage was these things, and if others got them, she would have no future in this harem.

Tang Xiao Yu continued: "I came in to tell you that there are my people among the newly entered palace maids. Find a way to have her stay by your side, so it will be more convenient for me to send you things in the future."

"The Imperial Palace is strictly guarded, your people might not be able to bring things in either, right?" Su Wan Er hesitated; she didn't really want to do this favor for Tang Xiao Yu, but she couldn't live without the help of these things.

More importantly, Su Wan Er knew this person was here to monitor her; although she only wanted to climb up, offending Tang Xiao Yu would do her no good.

But knowing there was such an eye-liner by her side was always uncomfortable.

"You don't need to worry about how to send things to you!" Tang Xiao Yu held a high posture; only in this way could she hold Su Wan Er in check.

This person couldn't be considered smart, her head was full of wanting to climb up to be Empress, but her methods of seducing men were mature, so Tang Xiao Yu believed she wouldn't refuse her.

And by controlling her firmly step by step afterward, she could use her to learn many secrets in the palace!

"Alright!"

Su Wan Er thought about it and agreed; anyway, there was no loss for her, as long as her goal was achieved. ===== CHAPTER 317 =====