Although all the ministers who attended court that day had seen the theft at Xiangyun Palace and witnessed the crime scene, the Emperor issued a decree that all subjects, concubines, and servants must be tight-lipped and absolutely forbidden from publicizing the palace theft. Otherwise, their entire families would be exterminated.
This was a matter concerning the royal family's dignity, and everyone understood its seriousness. Moreover, fearing the extermination of their kin, they only gossiped amongst themselves on a small scale and did not dare to spread it further.
In addition, the Emperor ordered the strengthening of the imperial palace's guard. Any guard found dozing off on night duty would be immediately executed.
Simultaneously, the entire city was placed under curfew at Hai Shi. The Imperial Guards increased their night patrol numbers. Anyone found outside after curfew, except for the watchmen and night soil collectors, would be arrested and thrown into prison.
In fact, after such a startling and bizarre theft, everyone in the palace was filled with anxiety, fearing their belongings would be stolen. Everyone quietly hid their personal savings and protected them layer by layer, yet still felt uneasy. They vowed to dig an eighteen-level hell-like pit under their beds before they could feel safe.
The Emperor also ordered his private treasuries to be inventoried one by one and invited the most skilled craftsmen to help him build the most robust anti-theft devices.
Furthermore, although the national treasury had always been empty, it wasn't entirely bare. Every little bit counted. The Emperor and the Ministry of Revenue racked their brains to hide that meager amount of "fly legs."
The concubines, on the other hand, unanimously wore simple dresses. They dared not wear precious jewelry on their heads, necks, wrists, or ankles, fearing that showing off their wealth would attract the thieves.
While dressing beautifully and seducing the Emperor was important, their personal savings were even more crucial. After all, young beauties from outside the palace were constantly being sent in, and the Emperor could grow tired of them at any moment. However, as long as they protected their jewelry and gold, it would never abandon them.
Moreover, they were all confident that even without wearing lavish jewelry, they were still outstanding and stood out from the crowd. Perhaps they could even give the Emperor a refreshing feeling, like a lotus emerging from clear water.
Coincidentally, the Emperor did indeed have such a feeling. Normally, when the concubines wore gold and silver, and were adorned with pearls and jade, the sunlight would make him dizzy, and he couldn't look directly at them.
Sometimes, he even suspected that it wasn't their beauty that attracted him, but the dazzling brilliance of their gold and pearls.
What annoyed him the most was the rampant spirit of comparison among the concubines.
It was one thing to compare themselves, but the content of their comparison was not about how many good things the Emperor had bestowed upon them. Instead, it was about how wealthy and luxurious their maternal families were. The common gold and silver items they listed far surpassed his own gifts, making him, the majestic Emperor, feel quite poor and utterly humiliated.
But could he be blamed for this?
The national treasury had been empty for a long time. He had to govern a nation. Were the state and its people not more important than women?
However, the Emperor truly did not expect that this time, the theft at Xiangyun Palace and the Eastern Palace would unexpectedly lead the imperial harem concubines to cultivate a simple and low-key lifestyle. The spirit of comparison had "disappeared overnight."
Besides the Emperor and the concubines, even the palace maids, eunuchs, and wet nurses hid their meager retirement savings here and there. They checked them multiple times a day, making them somewhat absent-minded while working.
It was like this in the palace, and even more so outside the city.
All the ministers who knew about the theft at the Empress's and Crown Prince's palaces immediately had their household accountants inventory their family's assets upon returning home.
Then, outside the treasury, they added three layers of thick doors, followed by another three layers. The roof was also reinforced with three layers upon three layers, making the innermost roof almost touch their scalps.
Every time they entered the treasury, just opening the locks and pushing the doors could tire their wrists by a full circle.
After hiding their valuables, the ministers convened an emergency family meeting with all family members.
The ministers naturally did not mention the palace theft. Instead, they claimed that a group of extremely skilled thieves had infiltrated the capital recently, specializing in robbing wealthy households with formidable professional skills and incredibly mysterious modus operandi.
Therefore, from today onwards, all members of the household must dress simply, wear minimal or no jewelry, and maintain a low profile when going out. They must not flaunt their wealth to avoid attracting the attention of these thieves.
These thieves were not just stealing money; they didn't even spare plants and trees. It was said that even the Empress's smelly shoes were stolen, and all the excrement from the commodes was pilfered.
This was truly shameless! To be a thief to this extent, completely devoid of integrity, was a disgrace to all gentlemen of the night!
The imperial palace was in chaos, and the ministers in the capital were in a state of panic. Meanwhile, the instigators of all this returned to Hongshu Village with cheerful hearts ten days later.
As soon as their carriage was seen from afar, not only the servants at home but almost all the men and women, old and young, of the entire village rushed out to greet them. Villagers, packed tightly on both sides of the partially repaired road, stood with excited expressions.
Although everyone was excited, they did not touch the saplings that had already grown to be taller than a person.
All of them cheered loudly, enthusiastically calling out, "Grandpa! Grandma!"
Bai Sheng and his entourage lifted the curtains and carriage doors, looking at the familiar faces with great happiness.
Bai Sheng glanced at Lu Huo. Lu Huo then carried two large packages, jumped off the carriage, walked to an open space, and shouted, "My dear villagers, since our Village Chief Lu and his wife are visiting the capital for the first time after the village was founded, they have specially brought back gifts from the capital to celebrate the founding of Hongshu Village. Everyone, please come and collect them."
Bai Sheng looked at Lu Ye and said with a smile, "Huo Yatou is becoming more eloquent."
Lu Ye gently stroked Bai Sheng's head and curved his lips, saying, "It's all because my good treasure has trained her well."
Lu Yin also alighted from the carriage, holding a ledger, and stood beside Lu Huo, marking names to avoid duplicate gifts.
She and Lu Huo had been learning to read and write from Lu Hua, Ga Mei, and others for several months and had learned many characters.
The two of them were surrounded by the high and low, smiling faces of the entire village, almost suffocating.
Lu Huo shouted loudly, "Everyone, uncles and aunts, please line up properly! All villagers of Hongshu Village will receive gifts! No one will be shortchanged, so don't push, don't panic!"
"Huo Yatou, my daughter-in-law gave birth to a healthy grandson a few days ago. Will my eldest grandson receive a gift?" an old woman with missing teeth asked with a chuckle.
Actually, she didn't really want a gift for her newborn grandson. She just wanted to tease this plump girl and, incidentally, show off that her Qian family now had a descendant, and she had the face to meet her ancestors in the afterlife!
Lu Huo smiled and replied, "Yes, all newly added babies will receive one!"
This was something their masters had thought of long ago. Before going to the capital, several pregnant women in the village had visibly large bellies, so naturally, extra gifts had to be prepared.
Upon hearing Lu Huo's words, two other women whose families had welcomed new members immediately brought their babies forward.
The gifts bought by Village Chief Lu's wife were all imbued with good fortune. They couldn't miss out on this opportunity and had to soak in some of that luck, no matter what.