Harem Daily Life

Concubine De was thoughtful: "No wonder Concubine Tao is favored. Your Majesty didn't go to the Queen's Palace on his birthday, but went to her place!"

The imperial concubine snorted and said, "This Lady Tao is also strange. She even knows the blueprint of the kang. How can ordinary noble ladies know this? She is also an excellent cook. She has the empress dowager all over her. Yesterday, the two siblings had dinner in Changchun Palace. I heard that the younger one is also very much liked by the empress dowager."

Concubine De said disdainfully, "These are just some tricks to fool people. A gentleman stays away from the kitchen. Being able to cook a few dishes is not something that can be presented to the public. As for the kang, it is something that officials and officials don't use. Maybe she saw it in the countryside. It's just a coincidence."

The Imperial Concubine looked at the De Concubine and said, "Why don't we take the children to accompany the Queen Mother some other day to strengthen the relationship between the grandparents and grandchildren, so that the Queen Mother won't have to experience the joy of family life with an outsider."

De Fei naturally agreed. She gave birth to a prince, so he would definitely be favored more than a princess. "Then wait a few days. It's just right for me to take a break from school."

Suddenly he said, "It seems that the day of rest is September 23rd. Lady Tao is going to cook for the Queen Mother. Let's go on that day. We can chat with the Queen Mother and watch her cook in the kitchen. Isn't it interesting?"

The two smiled knowingly, reached the fork in the road, and returned to the palace.

At Yingyue Pavilion, Chang Tai went out to get information at noon. In the evening, he came back to report: "I can't find out anything from Shu Fei, and the same is true for Xian Fei. Gui Fei asked people to prepare 5,000 taels of silver notes, De Fei 4,500 taels of silver notes and 500 taels of cash. I don't know about the Queen's side for now, but the Queen should be higher than Gui Fei, at most 10,000 taels. The rest of the Zhaoyi and Jieyu mostly range from 2,000 to 3,000 taels. For those of lower status, unless their families give them money, otherwise, they don't have much reward on weekdays, and it's hard to take out 1,000 taels."

Tao Yanyan walked around the room several times, but still felt reluctant to part with the money. What's more, the money was all for the virtuous concubine to save face, to make wedding clothes for her and to gain reputation. It was not worth it just to think about it.

"My monthly salary is 20 taels. It hurts me to donate 2,000 taels at once!" Although he has 4,000 taels in his account now, he cannot spend half of his fortune to gain fame. Tao Yanyan was filled with worry.

Qingfeng and Mingyue were not in a position to say anything. The account book was to be presented to His Majesty. If the beauty donated too little, His Majesty might not be happy. But if she donated too much, the beauty would be heartbroken. The two had no choice but to shut up and dared not say more.

However, even though Tao Yanyan had something on his mind, he slept as well as usual.

He Linzhang didn't come today, so Tao Yanyan went to bed early and slept until dawn. When he got up, he was no longer troubled by yesterday and seemed to have figured everything out.

Mingyue wanted to prepare some silver, so she asked, "How much does the beauty want to donate? I'll go get it."

Tao Yanyan said: "Reputation is important, but living a good life is more important. You can take 400 taels of silver. If you have silver notes, take them. It will be easier to carry."

The virtuous concubine arrived early again today, bringing with her palace servants and maids from Changxin Palace, who were responsible for counting the silver and keeping accounts.

"Empress, eight thousand taels of silver in notes and two thousand taels of silver in cash."

"Your Highness, five thousand taels of silver in notes and five hundred taels of silver in cash."

"My Lady, five thousand taels of silver in notes and one thousand taels of silver in cash."

"Mrs. Defei, four thousand five hundred taels of silver notes and five hundred taels of silver in cash."

"Madam Shufei, four thousand eight hundred taels of silver notes and two hundred taels of silver in cash."

"Qin Zhaoyi... Wang Jieyu... Lady Li has eight hundred taels of silver, Lady Tao has four hundred taels of silver, Lady Zhao has six hundred taels of silver, Lady Xu has six hundred taels of silver, and Fan Liangyi has two hundred taels of silver..."

Tao Yanyan couldn't help but smack his lips when he heard the donation figures of high-ranking concubines. People with high positions are indeed rich, just like the top executives of a company. They donate a little at any time. They are the ones that small social animals like them look up to. No wonder they are all trying their best to climb up. Position means money!

The eunuch in charge of registration presented the account book to Concubine Xian, who then reviewed it and presented it to the Queen.

Xian Fei was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling: "The Queen is really generous. She donated a full 10,000 taels of silver. She is really a model for us. This time, the generous donations from all the palaces totaled 53,000 taels of silver. I will personally deliver it to the Qinzheng Palace and report the account book and the silver to Your Majesty."

Everyone looked at Concubine Xian with different expressions, and the look in their eyes was ambiguous.

I definitely felt uncomfortable with donating so much money this time, but I couldn't show it. I had to pretend to be happy about doing a good deed. I couldn't donate too little, lest it would be embarrassing. So after returning home yesterday, the concubines went around collecting money and asking for news from the palaces. I felt really aggrieved.

It was Consort Xian who was the last one to meet His Majesty, which made people very angry.

The Queen said calmly, "There is no need for Concubine Xian to go there in person. I have already informed His Majesty that His Majesty will come today. I believe he will be here soon!"

The virtuous concubine narrowed her eyes. She didn't expect that the Queen would resort to this trick and stop her from meeting His Majesty alone.

But she smiled and said, "Yes, then wait a little longer. When His Majesty comes, he will definitely praise all the palaces for their unity and sharing of worries for the emperor." But she sneered in her heart. So what if it was not a separate report? The idea was my idea, and no one can take the credit from me!

The emperor arrived very quickly. He Linzhang was very pleased to hear that the harem donated money for disaster relief, and he hurried to Fengyi Palace after the morning court session.

Everyone greeted the emperor, and the emperor and empress sat together on the main seat. Concubine Xian stood up and handed the account book to the emperor: "Your Majesty, this is the account book of the silver donated by each palace, please take a look."

He Linzhang took it, looked at Concubine Xian, and praised: "Concubine Xian has made such a suggestion, you are thoughtful."

Xian Fei smiled and said, "I am glad to be able to share your Majesty's worries."

Seeing her sensible appearance, He Linzhang nodded in appreciation, and then said to everyone: "I am very pleased that you are living in the harem, caring about the people and making generous donations. Queen, you are in charge of the harem, and the whole harem is united, which is an invaluable contribution."

The queen smiled and said, "It's all because of the dedicated efforts of the concubines in each palace. I didn't do anything." The queen has always been generous and upright. She would not claim credit for anything that was not her own. She praised everyone to make them feel more comfortable donating money.

"Your Majesty, please take a look at the account book. The Queen donated 10,000 taels. She is truly a model for the harem." said Concubine Xian.

He Linzhang really looked through the account book carefully. There was nothing in the front. When he saw Lady Tao, he paused. He raised his head and glanced in the direction of Tao Yanyan, who was bored and dazed, looking soft and cute.

Thinking of the little beauty's money-grubbing look, she must have been frowning and struggling for a long time when she took out the four hundred taels of silver.

Shu Fei had been paying attention to the emperor, so his glance was naturally noticed. Shu Fei said calmly: "I heard that Concubine Tao received a lot of rewards from the Empress Dowager and His Majesty after entering the palace. How much did she donate this time? I seemed to have heard just now that it was only four hundred taels?"

Tao Yanyan was called out and instantly came to his senses. He said expressionlessly, "Does Concubine Shu think that I donated too little? But Concubine Xian didn't seem to set a donation amount."