This palace comes back in this life, only to be Nian Shilan

Chapter 106 Luxurious Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Now Shen Meizhuang just wants to be beautiful alone, give birth to the child safely, raise the child well, and never care about the disputes in the harem again.

Even if the child was not a prince as the Imperial Observatory said, she was not afraid.

If that time really comes, there will be no need for Concubine Hua to take any action, because her father far away in Jeju will already have taken care of everything for her.

I received a letter from home a few days ago. In the letter, my mother said that some time ago, when she was confined by the emperor because of the purslane incident, my father asked someone to send the Wencai Double Mandarin Duck Ink to Jingren Palace.

That ink was intricately decorated with gold and colors. I had seen it several times at home. It was truly the best ink from Shandong.

But what does it matter? During the days when she was under house arrest, the queen showed no concern for her except instructing the guards at the door to do their duties.

Oh, and there’s also the luxurious flow of breakfast, lunch and dinner.

To this day, what I use every day is what the Empress specially ordered.

“Wealth comes from frugality. Even though it is just a bowl of mung bean soup, it would be a huge sum of money accumulated over the years.” The queen picked up the teacup and used the lid to skim off the foam on the bowl.

"What does Lady Shen think of this?"

Lady Shen: If you tell someone to take away my luxurious three meals a day, you will have everything.

"I am stupid and I don't know." Shen Meizhuang put down the account book and began to tidy up the time. She had stayed in Taohuawu for an hour today and it was time to go back for lunch. After lunch, she would take a nap and then start today's walking exercise.

Xianyue Pavilion is now very lively. Wen Yi has started to learn to talk, and Hua Fei has brought a bamboo walker from outside the palace. When she is taking a walk there, Wen Yi arches her head and tries hard to chase her in the walker.

A courtyard full of servants, palace maids and nannies watching, protecting, laughing and making noise is not as comfortable as this deserted Taohuawu.

"In this case, let Concubine Shen handle this expense. The emperor is frugal, and we in the harem should follow his example."

Lady Shen: When will it be my turn to decide on spending money? You are such a nice person.

"I obey your order. It's time for lunch. I won't disturb you any longer. I'll take my leave."

Zhusheng stepped forward and helped Shen Meizhuang, who was about to stand up to salute, but the Queen raised her hand to exempt Shen Meizhuang from the formality.

The Queen's eyes fell on Shen Meizhuang's slightly enlarged belly, and she smiled and nodded with satisfaction.

"Mrs. Shen is getting pregnant. Please be careful and pay attention to the child's safety when you go to Taohuawu."

Lady Shen: You know it’s inconvenient, but you still let me come here all the time.

"Thank you very much for your consideration, Your Majesty. I will take my leave." After saying this, Shen Meizhuang supported her waist with her left hand, held Zhusheng with her right hand, and walked out.

The clothes were thin this summer, so I wore a quilted bellyband under my pajamas, which made my belly look bigger. Fortunately, there was an ice jar in Taohuawu, otherwise I would have died of heat.

When I returned to Xianyue Pavilion, Concubine Duan happened to be playing with Wen Yi.

Wen Yi was babbling in the hall. When he saw Shen Meizhuang coming in, his eyes brightened up a lot. He waved his little hands at Shen Meizhuang, asking her to hug him.

"hug······"

When Concubine Jing and Concubine Duan heard Wen Yi's words, they followed Wen Yi's gaze and saw Concubine Shen walking in from the door.

This was not the first time Shen Meizhuang had met Concubine Duan. After moving to the Old Summer Palace, Concubine Duan would occasionally come to Xianyue Pavilion to see Wen Yi. After spending several times together, Shen Meizhuang also knew that Concubine Duan was a gentle person.

"How is Concubine Duan?" Shen Meizhuang walked towards Concubine Duan first. Concubine Duan stood up from the couch. The two held hands, squatted twice, and greeted each other by shaking hands.

"Have you just returned from Taohuawu?"

Concubine Duan immediately saw the account book in Caiyue's hand behind Shen Meizhuang.

Shen Meizhuang walked towards Concubine Jing, took Wen Yi from her hands and held her up.

"That's right. I just reported the bill to Her Majesty the Queen. When Her Majesty heard about the silver for the mung bean soup, she said that it cost too much and asked me to find a way to solve it."

When Concubine Jing heard this, her eyes flashed.

Not only did she not cut down on the delicacies of the day, she even became frugal with the servant's bowl of mung bean soup.

"This expenditure has been in the hands of the late emperor. If it is suddenly cut off, I am afraid that the people below will have complaints." Concubine Duan looked at the way Shen Meizhuang was amusing Wen Yi, and spoke up to remind her.

Concubine Jing and Concubine Hua entered the palace at about the same time, and they probably don't know as many of the palace rules as I do.

"That's how it is. If it weren't for Concubine Duan's reminder, I'm afraid I really wouldn't know the inside story." Although Shen Meizhuang grew up in luxury, she also knew that the rules that have existed for many years are not easy to break or deal with casually. "In this case, the task that the Queen has given me is a bit difficult to handle."

"It's just a bowl of mung bean soup, and the Queen is still so petty." Hua Fei's arrogant voice came from outside the door.

"Good luck to the Empress Hua."

When Concubine Jing and Concubine Duan heard Concubine Hua's voice at the door, they also stood up. Shen Meizhuang was holding Wen Yi, and her body was a little heavy. She was about to hand Wen Yi to the nanny, but Concubine Hua came in and held her down, "It's too late, don't toss back and forth, just sit still."

"But Lady Shen still has to find a way to deal with the expenses for the mung bean soup." Concubine Jing said a little worriedly. After all, she is the queen, and she still has to save her face.

Looking at Concubine Jing's sincere expression of serious worry, Concubine Hua couldn't help but roll her eyes at her speechlessly.

Hua Fei: If the working people were as honest as you, they would be exhausted to death.

"Mrs. Shen eats so many sea cucumbers and abalones every day. She should ask the imperial kitchen to save this money and use it to make up for the expenses of the mung bean soup. It can be regarded as Mrs. Shen accumulating blessings for the child in her belly and showing sympathy for the people below her. Isn't that fine?"

Concubine Duan: Only you can come up with such an unorthodox yet plausible excuse.

"Is this okay?" Concubine Jing remembered what Wei Lin had said before about a large fetus and difficult labor. Would it be detrimental to Concubine Shen if the matter of the tonic was revealed at this time?

"What's impossible? In the afternoon, Concubine Shen will go to the Qinzheng Palace and tell the emperor about the queen's careful care for you since you became pregnant. Now the palace has a lot of expenses. Concubine Shen is pregnant, and even wants to share the worries of the baby in her belly. The emperor will definitely be moved to hear this."

Concubine Hua rolled her eyes at Concubine Jing again. When an honest person gets stubborn, it's impossible to move even if you push her.

"Your idea is quite clever. Anyway, the quota of mung bean soup cannot be easily cut." Concubine Duan is feeling much better now, and her voice is not as weak as before.

After hearing what Concubine Duan said, Shen Meizhuang looked at her with wide eyes in confusion. On her way back, she had actually thought about converting the mung bean soup into cash and giving it as a subsidy to each palace servant, perhaps she could save some money.

After all, the process of purchasing and cooking mung bean soup is such that a lot of money can be embezzled by the subordinates in each step.

If it were converted into cash and given directly to the subordinates, they would also be considered to have received a favor.

When Concubine Hua saw Shen Meizhuang's innocent big eyes, she pursed her lips and couldn't help but roll her eyes at Shen Meizhuang.