Getting Rich from Legend of Zhen Huan

How sharp was Cao Qinmo? She had already noticed the interested look in the Fourth Prince's eyes, but Fu Jin had taught her that a confused first encounter was more pleasing to the Prince than a deliberate calculation, so she still pretended to know nothing.

After finishing his stay at Xiliyuan in the first month of the lunar year, the Fourth Prince couldn't wait to ask Su Peisheng to pass on a message to Cao Qinmo.

Cao Qinmo suppressed the ecstasy in her heart and sent Su Peisheng away with Tong Yinxiu. Now she finally had hope of making a breakthrough. Even though Cao Qinmo was good at endurance, she couldn't help but burst into tears.

Yinxiu's eyes were also red, and she said happily, "I will go and boil some water to help the master wash and prepare!"

Cao Qinmo clenched her handkerchief, her cheeks flushed with shame, and said expectantly, "Go quickly! Go quickly!"

Huang Guiquan had naturally heard the news as well, and couldn't help but sigh to Bei Xiuwen, "Master was optimistic about Cao Gege, but there was no news for the whole year last year. Now he has finally gotten his wish!"

As he said this, Huang Guiquan also started thinking about how to build a relationship with Cao Qinmo. Cao Gege's favorite dish is white jade pig's trotters, so he has to keep it on hand in the kitchen!

Before he could finish his calculations, the eunuch who often went to Lanyun Villa to deliver meals came back to the kitchen in a mess. He walked up to Huang Guiquan and said, "Master, Concubine Nian got so angry today that she even knocked over the crab meat cakes I sent!"

Huang Guiquan then remembered that Nian Shilan disliked the other concubines in the backyard the most. Now that Cao Qinmo is serving the prince in bed, she is also joining the camp to compete for the prince. How can Nian Shilan not be angry?

"Oh, how should we prepare dinner when Concubine Nian is in such a state?" Huang Guiquan said with a frown.

Bei Xiuwen held the heater in his hand and reminded, "We must not neglect Concubine Nian, and we must also make careful preparations for Cao Gege. It's not easy to grasp the right balance!"

After hearing this, Huang Guiquan felt that even the tip of his tongue was bitter. He couldn't offend either side. It was so difficult!

However, Huang Guiquan is no longer the newcomer who does not understand the unspoken rules. When the fight between Concubine Nian and Ling Gege occurred, it often spread to the kitchen. Huang Guiquan was able to escape unscathed every time, and it was not entirely because of good luck.

Huang Guiquan pondered for a while and said, "Please make a few more dishes that Concubine Nian likes to eat. No matter how much effort it takes, you have to bring them to Concubine Nian!

"Gege Cao will be sleeping with you today, so we will send you some easy-to-digest, light but tasty dishes for dinner, so that you can see our cooking skills! And remember, the food you send to Gege Cao tomorrow morning must be rich! Gege Cao will serve tea to Fu Jin tomorrow, so she must eat well!"

The young eunuch took the order and started to do it. The kitchen was in a mess, but they were only busy with Nian Shilan and Cao Qinmo. Yixiu, Li Jingyan and Lu Yingfeng could not be offended, so naturally the meals for others had to be simple.

Licorice forced a smile and walked into the house carrying the meal he had brought back.

After entering winter, Lin Zhuoyin developed a cough. She never stopped taking medicine, but her condition did not improve. She could only lie in bed all day. However, this time, Lin Zhuoyin did not have the resentment she had the last time she lost favor. She just took her time to recover from the illness. When she woke up in the morning, she looked at the bed curtains without any interest, and did not move. She just spent the day like this.

Licorice asked softly, "Master, do you want to eat?"

Lin Zhuoyin just lay down every day and didn't feel hungry, but when the time came, he casually said, "Let's serve the meal."

Gancao helped Lin Zhuoyin up and put on a warm rabbit fur cloak, which was made by the Fourth Prince using the rabbits he hunted in the autumn.

Lin Zhuoyin sat weakly at the dining table. The maid had already put out the dishes. She glanced at the dishes on the table. Even though she had prepared them, Lin Zhuoyin couldn't help but frown. "Why are the dishes so sloppy today? But the money is not enough?"

Gan Cao was serving food to Lin Zhuoyin. When she heard Lin Zhuoyin's question, she paused and said aggrievedly, "Today, the prince is staying at Cao Gege's place. The kitchen is very busy, so I naturally didn't put as much effort into the food I cook for others."

Lin Zhuoyin ate without changing her expression. Now she no longer felt that only beef and mutton could be eaten. She could eat any kind of food with relish. However, Lin Zhuoyin's good attitude did not mean that she was willing to allow others to bully her. She said sarcastically, "Busy? Could it be that Xiliyuan and Lanyun Villa also served such dishes?"

Gan Cao was equally indignant. "Concubine Nian was very angry because of Cao Gege. The dishes sent to Lanyun Villa today are even more sumptuous. It shows that the kitchen only knows how to bully the weak and fear the strong!"

Lin Zhuoyin didn't have much of an appetite to begin with. The poorly prepared meal and the bad things happening outside made it even harder for her to eat. She put down her chopsticks and said, "I don't want to eat anymore. Share the food!"

Gan Cao said worriedly, "Master, why don't you eat a few more bites? You are weak now and need more food tonic!"

Lin Zhuoyin said with a vague meaning, "If Concubine Nian can't eat, Eunuch Huang in the kitchen will probably be as sad as if he had lost his parents, right?" But after saying this, Lin Zhuoyin herself felt bored, so she changed the subject, "Do we have enough money on hand?"

Gan Cao thought about it and said with embarrassment, "The master can't stand the cold now, so he uses a lot of charcoal and naturally spends a lot of money. Fortunately, spring is coming soon, and we can save a lot when it gets warmer."

This means it is not enough. Lin Zhuoyin bit her lip and said, "No need to hide it. How many days do we have left?"

Licorice whispered, "If we are frugal, it will be enough for April or May."

If you save money, it can last for four or five months, but if you keep it under normal circumstances, it will only last for three months. Now Lin Zhuoyin cannot stop taking medicine, and the charcoal basin needs to be used for a longer time than others. Without the favor of the Fourth Prince, she needs to take care of everything. It is easy to think that there is no place to save money. The frugality that Gancao mentioned is probably to reduce the expenses of the subordinates. If this continues, who will be willing to work for Lin Zhuoyin?

It was because Lin Zhuoyin's foundation was too shallow. She was only in favor for three months. Even if the Fourth Prince gave her more rewards, it would be impossible for her to support Youyangju's expenses for a year.

Lin Zhuoyin forced herself to sit in front of the dressing table. She had been ill for so long that her face was a little sallow. She was indeed not as beautiful as when she first entered the mansion. Lin Zhuoyin gently stroked her cheek and murmured, "How long have we been in the mansion?"

Gan Cao replied in confusion, "The master entered the palace in June of the fifty-eighth year, and now it is February of the fifty-ninth year, more than eight months have passed."

Lin Zhuoyin said in a daze, "Only eight months? I thought more than eight years had passed."

Gancao didn't understand Lin Zhuoyin's vicissitudes of life, and just silently combed her hair.

Lin Zhuoyin watched Gancao's movements through the mirror and suddenly said, "I haven't painted distant mountains in a long time. Gancao, please use the Luozidai given by Fu Jin to paint for me once!"