Zhao Ming quickly sat on the chair in the centre and looked up at Wen Xu innocently.

  " Hmm? Mother, I just wanted to hurry up and start the meeting. Moreover, doesn't this seat belong to the one who leads this meeting. Since I am leading this meeting today, shouldn't I sit here? At least, that's what's written in the harem rule book." Zhao Ming said innocently while giving the reference of the rule book.

  She was glad that she read that rule book. While reading the books, she found out that there is a harem rule book as well.

  These rule books serve as a basis on how people should behave and how harem should be managed.

  Since the rule book has been made carefully and was legalized by the previous late Emperor, no one can dare to breach it, even though that person belongs to the royal family.

  There are different types of rule books. One for the palace regulations, trade and harem. There are other more rule books as well but she couldn't bother to remember all of them.

  However, she tried to remember all the rules which will work in her favor. She needs to show Wen Xu that even though she is the Empress Dowager, she cannot go against the law.

  Only the Emperor can make changes to the law and make new rules in the palace. Though Wen Xu won't get any punishment for breaking these menial rules but her image will definitely be tainted for breaking the palace rules.

  Just as she expected, Wen Xu's expressions turned two shades darker. She gritted her teeth and glared at Zhao Ming.

  She wanted to slap this bitch at this moment but Xiao Li tugged on her sleeve.

  " Sister Zhao Ming, what are you saying? Are you saying that Mother is breaking the rules by sitting in that chair? It will be considered as breaking the rule if she has forced you to give this seat to her. "

  "But shouldn't you offer this seat to her as the head of the family? You shouldn't disrespect your mother like this. " Xiao Li shook her head like she was deeply hurt.

  Zhao Ming raised her brows in amusement at how Xiao Li was defending Wen Xu's actions and was talking about respect and consideration.

  " Xiao Li, don't say anything to her. There is no way that she will understand your words. After all, she does not have a similar upbringing like you."

  " We can't expect the same morals from her as well. After all, even after becoming the Empress, she can't possibly forgo her crude and uncultured behaviour. " Wen Xu patted on Xiao Li's arms while glaring at Zhao Ming in disdain.

  Wen Xu was feeling annoyed whenever she saw the smile on Zhao Ming's face.

  Zhao Ming smiled when she saw Wen Xu and Xiao Li's behaviour.

  " Empress Dowager, please take a seat there. It's already so late. We should hurry and start the meeting now." Zhao Ming probed Wen Xu to sit on the other side as she started opening the document in which she has talent from Lu Shi.

  Zhao Ming ignored Wen Xu's words and gestured to her to sit on the seat on her left.

  Wen Xu's expressions turned darker. She really wanted to kill this bitch at this moment. However, she remembered Ji Cheng's words that he had said yesterday.

  She took a deep breath to calm her nerves as she doesn't want to get into another fight with Ji Cheng.

  " Humph" Wen Xu reluctantly took a seat next to Zhao Ming who was sitting in the centre position.

  Xiao Li has no option left but to sit beside Wen Xu.

  …


  Zhao Ming didn't bother herself with Wen Xu and Xiao Li anymore and looked at the paper in front of her on which she had prepared the objectives and actions for this meeting.

  " Okay, since everyone has finally arrived, now I will officially commence the monthly harem meeting." Zhao Ming announced with a professional smile on her face.

  Everyone was stunned because she looked extremely serious for this meeting. It looked like she wasn't doing the harem meeting but running the country.

  " The main objective of this meeting is to make the budget for the next month and divide it among all the consorts. In the past, there were many people who got most of the budget while others got only fractions of it. But from now on, I will manage the account book and I will see which Consort should receive how much"

  Zhao Ming said as she glanced at Xiao Li and Wen Xu. She was hinting at them when she said that some got most of the budget in the past.

  " Also, this distribution of the budget will not be based on your position in the harem.? But it will be based on your needs. I am also planning to implement the reward function. According to this policy, any two people will receive the reward based on their character and productivity of the previous month."

  " Let me make it clear for you." Zhao among said as she glanced at everyone's puzzled expressions

  " You can get extra money when you are required? only after submitting a reasonable reason in writing. The money for this function will be given from the emergency fund."

  " The character rewards is the reward which will be given to any one person every month. It will be the monetary reward which will consist of 5% of your respective budget. The character reward will be based on your attitude of that counting month.? "

  " The things which will be counted for the character award will be your attitude towards your servant, other consorts. To get the reward you should follow the rules of the harem properly. I will keep a check on every consort and will announce the candidate for the reward in next month's end meeting."

  Everyone was shocked when they heard that the award will be 5% of their budget. That was the large amount for a reward.

  Everyone's expressions lit up when they heard this.

  " Another reward is based on productivity.? As everyone knows that? many people in the harem don't do anything and waste their time doing nothing. So from now on every consort should start indulging themselves in different activities. Be it music, art, gardening, dancing or anything. I will give the reward to the one who would have spent their time in productive activities.

  " This is a very simple agenda to promote the growth and development of the women in harem. Injust want you to find some hobbies for yourself. You don't need to waste your time in your chamber the whole day. You should do things that you like and in which you're good at it."

  Zhao Ming smiled as she explained about the rewards .

  Everyone was stunned when they heard Zhao Ming's words. Her words were like pure nonsense to them.

  Why does she want everyone to do things like music and painting? What does it have to do with the harem?

  Everyone was in the state of confusion because they could not understand wha t Zhao Ming was trying to do.

  The main work of hers is to distribute the budget and look at the solutions to their problems. That's it.

  Why does she want to introduce rewards for good character and their productivity?

  ##

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