Don't be a salted fish, the daily life of the concubine in the palace

Accompanying the pregnant Lu Xuan was naturally an excuse.

Lu Yun wanted to stay in the palace and take the opportunity to get close to the emperor and gain his favor - to be made a concubine or a concubine, or even to be named the new queen.

"Sister." Lu Yun continued to plead, "The queen is ill, and the Tantai family sent new people to the palace to compete for her favor. Sister, I also want to help you and share your worries."

Lu Xuan thought her sister was just being childish. She poked Lu Yun's forehead with a smile and said lovingly, "Children are just talking nonsense. The palace is not as easy as you think."

The women in the harem seemed to have unlimited glory, but which one of them did not shoulder the future of the family? Which one of them did not rack their brains to win favor?

Lu Xuan brushed aside the black hair that fell from Lu Yun's temples and said gently, "It's getting late. I'll ask Xiaoqin to take you out of the palace. Go home early and don't let father worry."

Lu Xuan should shoulder the responsibility of the family's future alone.

She didn't want her innocent sister to be involved in the disputes in the harem or the games between the noble families.

The annoyance in Lu Yun's eyes flashed away.

My sister is so petty!

Lu Yun suppressed her dissatisfaction and pretended to be reluctant to leave: "Then...then I will leave the palace first. Sister, you have to take good care of yourself."

The palace maids and eunuchs led the way and escorted Lu Yun out of the palace.

The moonlight was like water, and the palace road was long. Lu Xuan stood under the bright lights of Changxin Palace, watching her sister's slender back as she left, with unconcealed envy in her eyes.

Lu Xuan envied her sister, who did not have to enter the palace and could walk freely between heaven and earth. After Lu Xuan entered the palace, she was like a bird in a cage, racking her brains to win favor, always cautious and not daring to be careless.

Sometimes, Lu Xuan would get up early and look in the mirror, and she would feel dazed at her still charming face. She was only 21 years old this year. She was as pretty as a flower and lively before entering the palace. In less than three years, her eyes had lost their luster and became dull, like a withered old man.

The night wind suddenly blew, making Lu Xuan's clothes rustle. She watched Lu Yun leave and murmured to herself: "Little sister, I hope you stay away from trouble and live a peaceful life."

The maid beside her whispered, "My Lord, the wind is blowing. Come inside and rest. Don't catch a cold."

Lu Xuan walked into the cold Changxin Palace.

The old maid in the palace led the eunuchs to pack up the gifts given by the empress dowager in an orderly manner. Lu Xuan drank the bitter pregnancy-preserving medicine and asked her personal maid Xiaoqin: "I kept my pregnancy a secret, how did the concubine know about it?"

Xiaoqin frowned, "The people in our palace are very careful in their work, so you can rest assured. As for how the news of your pregnancy was leaked... maybe someone in the Imperial Hospital let it slip."

Lu Xuan sighed and held her brows together: "Forget it, everything leaves traces, maybe some of the traces were seen by Chen Fei's people."

It is useless to investigate the cause of the leak now.

Just be more careful next time.

After this incident, Lu Xuan no longer dared to underestimate Shen Wei's methods.

Lu Xuan stroked her still flat belly, her red lips curled up slowly: "This child in your belly has caused me to temporarily lose the power to assist in managing the harem... I hope he is a lively and healthy prince."

Only by giving birth to a prince can you gain more benefits.

The maid Xiaoqin said with a smile: "The emperor knows that the master is pregnant, and he will definitely come to visit the master tonight."

Lu Xuan naturally looked forward to the emperor's arrival. Since Shen Wei returned to the palace, the emperor came to Changxin Palace less and less frequently, and Lu Xuan gradually experienced the feeling of being "out of favor".

Now that we have a child, Changxin Palace will definitely be lively again.

Xiaoqin lowered her voice again and said, "Master, the Tantai family has sent a new bride to the palace. I see that the bride is extremely beautiful - how about we take the initiative?"

The newcomer, who is both beautiful and talented, is a potential threat.

Lu Xuan shook her head calmly: "No need. Tan Tai Yin Xue will live in Huayang Palace, and Concubine Lan will not let her have an easy life."

Concubine Lan Xie Fanglan is jealous, and she will be the first one to deal with Tan Tai Yinxue.

Even if Tan Tai Yin Xue was lucky enough to win over Lan Bin, there was still the Queen in Kunning Palace. If the Queen knew that the family had sent a new person in, she would definitely collapse and go crazy.

The night wind blew outside the window, and the flowers and plants in the yard rustled. Lu Xuan put down the medicine bowl and looked through the wooden window lattice to see the roses in the yard. Lu Xuan told Xiaoqin: "The emperor doesn't like roses recently. Let the palace servants shovel all the roses tomorrow."

Xiaoqin asked: "Master, you like red plum and osmanthus, would you like to plant them?"

Lu Xuan's beautiful eyes dimmed, remembering that when she was still married, the courtyard of the Duke's Mansion was full of her favorite flowers and plants. Now that she has entered the palace, if she wants to get the emperor's attention, she must hide her hobbies.

She shook her head: "The emperor doesn't like plum blossoms and osmanthus...transplant a few crabapple trees. The emperor likes crabapple very much recently."

Xiaoqin kept it in mind.

...

...

In Cining Palace, Shen Wei personally escorted the Queen Mother back to the palace to rest. It was late at night, and the children of Leyou were all asleep.

Shen Wei helped the Queen Mother into the bedroom, with a sly look on her face: "Tonight's birthday banquet, thank you for your help, Mother."

With the help of the Queen Mother, Shen Wei successfully took control of the harem.

The Queen Mother asked, "Is Ye Qiushuang yours?"

Shen Wei replied, "He is not my man. I am familiar with Shopkeeper Ye. Shopkeeper Ye is quite good at business and generous. He is a useful talent. Mother, you know that several aristocratic families also make money, but they pay the least taxes to the court."

"I have discussed with Shopkeeper Ye that if the royal family supports the Ye family's industry and the Ye family's business territory is expanded, the Ye family is willing to increase the taxes paid to the court by 10%. The national treasury will also receive more silver."

The aristocratic families who do business pay the lowest tax rate.

The merchants supported by Shen Wei paid the highest tax rate to enrich the national treasury.

Li Yuanjing was a wise king. He suppressed the aristocratic families in two general directions: reducing their power and reducing their money.

To reduce power means to gradually reduce the important hereditary positions of aristocratic families and replace old officials with new ones;

Cut money and reduce the size of the businesses that the aristocratic families use to make money.

Therefore, Li Yuanjing would definitely support the royal merchant group that was loyal to the emperor.

"You are quite clear about this." The Queen Mother could not hide her admiration.

Shen Wei held the Queen Mother's arm affectionately: "I can earn a little money for myself, and also pay a large amount of tax to the national treasury, killing two birds with one stone."

Shen Wei helped the Queen Mother into the inner hall.

She had sharp eyes and saw the unfinished sugar cakes wrapped in oil paper in the storage cabinet.

Shen Wei said earnestly, "Mother, you need to eat less sugar. Eating too much sugar will damage your teeth and cause osteoporosis."

The Queen Mother was nearly sixty years old and had a fondness for sweets.

If I don't eat a few pieces of sugar water, candy, cakes and biscuits every day, I will feel uncomfortable all over.

The Queen Mother coughed slightly, with a guilty look on her face: "I only ate two pieces of candy today."

Shen Wei raised her eyebrows: "I will ask Madam Qian later. She won't lie."

Queen Mother: ...

Over there, the palace servants had already prepared the bathing water.

The Queen Mother wanted to take a bath, so Shen Wei could not stay. Before leaving, Shen Wei reminded again: "I am thinking about your health. Don't eat too much sweets, otherwise it will affect your life. When Leyou gets married in the future, you will have to see her off in person."

The Queen Mother thought of that scene and could only sigh: "Okay, okay, I will eat less sugar and live to see Leyou get married."

Shen Wei's eyes curved, "That's not enough. Queen Mother must live until your great-granddaughter gets married. She must live a long life."

The Queen Mother was all smiles.

Shen Wei left the Cining Palace.

The late spring night was cool and Shen Wei was feeling sleepy and was ready to go back to the palace to sleep. Tonight, Lu Xuan's pregnancy was announced, and Li Yuanjing would definitely go to Changxin Palace to rest.

Rarely free.

Shen Wei decided to have a good sleep!

As soon as she returned to Yongning Palace and entered the courtyard, she saw Zhang Miaoyu's chubby face. Zhang Miaoyu ran over and grabbed Shen Wei's hand: "Sister Shen Wei, please don't hurt me! Today I pretended to have abdominal pain to reveal to you that Concubine Shu was pregnant. The Queen Mother actually asked me to manage the harem with you. I don't want to work!"