Harem Daily Life

When Manager Li heard this, he thought it was a great idea, but he still had no idea what to do with the other shop.

Tao Yanyan seemed to have known his anxiety, and before he could open his mouth, he said: "I remember there is a coal mine in the suburbs of Beijing, right? I want to sell charcoal in another shop."

Manager Li hurriedly shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely not allowed. This is the imperial coal mine, we cannot sell it privately."

Tao Yanyan smiled and said: "Don't worry, I only sell the unused coal slag. Instead of throwing it away, it's better to process it and make it into charcoal."

Manager Li was dumbfounded. Unused coal slag could be processed again? He had never heard of that!

Tao Yanyan then asked Qingfeng to bring paper and pen, drew a picture of honeycomb briquettes, and then wrote down the general production and usage methods and handed them to Manager Li.

Manager Li was more and more surprised as he looked at it: "Madam, if this kind of honeycomb coal can be made, wouldn't it be possible to make a lot of money?"

Tao Yanyan nodded: "But we may need to make a mold first, otherwise it will not be convenient to make. Who is the Minister of Industry now? Can we ask someone from the Ministry of Industry to help us make it?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Chief Steward Li slapped his thigh and said, "Hasn't your Majesty received the news yet? Your father, Lord Tao, will soon be promoted to Minister of Works!"

Tao Yanyan had indeed never heard His Majesty say that, and was stunned.

"I estimate that the decree will be issued in one or two days. I would like to congratulate Her Majesty first. Her Majesty has just been promoted, and her family has also been promoted. It's a double happiness!" General Manager Li congratulated.

"Okay, I understand. I'll go talk to His Majesty directly. I think it won't be difficult to make a mold. You go and take care of the jewelry store first. You must finish it in the next few days. If you don't have anyone capable around you, Dong Fang can borrow one for use."

Manager Li was more than happy to have Dong Fang as he was Concubine Tao's man, so he could entrust the reporting matter to him from now on, saving him the trouble of running back and forth.

"Yes, thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty. Then please trouble Eunuch Dongfang to go with me on this errand." Manager Li gladly accepted the offer and prepared to go to the nearest city that night.

Dong Fang simply packed his luggage and set off with Manager Li.

Tao Yanyan was not idle either. She asked Caiyun to stew a bowl of Tremella and Snow Pear Soup and send it to His Majesty.

In the imperial study, He Linzhang had just finished reviewing memorials and had been working at his desk for a long time, feeling pain all over his body. When he heard that the imperial concubine had arrived, he immediately called for her.

Tao Yanyan had dressed up today because she was going to meet Princess Yan. When He Linzhang saw her, she looked like a blooming peony, luxurious and graceful, with a young and delicate face that looked extremely innocent.

She was sweet, beautiful, rich and shy, which made He Linzhang almost want to go on strike. Now he took her to the garden to have fun.

"Your Majesty, I brought you some Tremella and Snow Pear Soup. Have a bowl to moisten your body." Tao Yanyan handed him the bowl. He Linzhang gently pulled him over and held him on his lap: "Feed me."

Tao Yanyan glared at him and had no choice but to feed him one spoonful at a time.

After he finished eating, Tao Yanyan put down the bowl and dishes, then put her arms around his neck and complained: "Your Majesty, I was really pissed off by the Princess of Yan today. Not only did she refuse to give me the money, she also said that if she gets into trouble in the future, her brother Zhang would definitely take care of her, saying that I am a frog in the well and don't understand anything about the world. I am so angry, I need Your Majesty to coax me!" After that, she leaned in He Linzhang's arms and acted coquettishly, looking like a punching bag.

He Linzhang hugged the concubine and coaxed her: "Since she has taken control of the State of Yan, she has become a little arrogant. Don't worry, I will not bother to care about the affairs of the State of Yan in the future. I just need to ensure the stability of the border of my Great Zhou. As for the silver...if you don't want to give it, then don't give it. I will increase the tariff by 10% on trade with the State of Yan next year, and it will be back."

Tao Yanyan frowned: "But that will have an impact on trade, right? Merchants' interests will be damaged, and business will be difficult to do. Forget it. I have thought of a way. Although it is a bit mean, it will not affect others, but only the Princess of Yan's family."

He Linzhang raised his eyebrows and looked over. Tao Yanyan smiled slyly: "I want to open a similar shop next to the two shops in the Zhennan Palace to steal their business. I can make a lot of money in one winter. I estimate that in less than half a year, I can earn back 80,000 taels."

He Linzhang pinched her face and said, "Is there anything else Yan Yan can't think of? If I were the Princess of Yan, I would be furious after knowing the truth."

Tao Yanyan pouted her lips: "Your Majesty, please don't allow it to be her. She is ungrateful and is thinking about a married man. Does Your Majesty want to follow her example?"

He Linzhang was speechless and quickly stopped talking: "Okay, okay, I don't even want to think about the hypothesis, okay?"

Tao Yanyan was satisfied, and then he talked about asking the Ministry of Industry to help him make honeycomb briquettes molds.

"How difficult is that? I will issue an edict tomorrow to appoint your father as the Minister of Works. You just hand the drawings over to him and it will be done in a few days." He Linzhang kissed her cheek.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Tao Yanyan prepared to leave, but unexpectedly He Linzhang refused to let her go and insisted that she stay with him.

As the two were whispering to each other, they heard a quarrel outside. He Linzhang was displeased and called Eunuch Zhang in. Tao Yanyan took the opportunity to get out of his arms and straightened her clothes.

"Who's making noise outside?" He Linzhang frowned. He thought it was annoying to ruin his good deeds.

Eunuch Zhang glanced at Concubine Tao and said, "Your Majesty, it is...it is Concubine Li. She said she came to report to Your Majesty that...she is pregnant!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the imperial study became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

He Linzhang glanced at Tao Yanyan in panic: "Nonsense! I haven't touched her for a long time, how could she be pregnant?"

Eunuch Zhang doesn't know either! His Majesty hasn't stayed at Baozhi Pavilion in the past few months, so why is this talented lady so happy?

Tao Yanyan is very annoyed now. If he didn't want to find out the truth of the matter, he would have left in a huff.

"Ask her to come in and explain it clearly!" He Linzhang gritted his teeth.

Eunuch Zhang hurried out to call for help. When Lady Li came in and saw Imperial Concubine Tao, her face turned cold: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you, and to the Imperial Concubine."

Tao Yanyan snorted coldly and ignored her.

He Linzhang said coldly: "Speak clearly, how could you be pregnant?"

Li Cairen glanced at Tao Yanyan with pride, not noticing the cold tone of the emperor's voice, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, it is Lu Liangyi who is pregnant. The imperial physician has just checked and the fetus is stable. I was so happy that I came to tell Your Majesty the good news first! But the servants outside insisted on stopping me, so I had a few words with them."

Upon hearing that Lu Lianyi was pregnant, Tao Yanyan glared at He Linzhang fiercely, stood up angrily and said: "Congratulations to your majesty on having another prince. I will not disturb your majesty and Li Cairen's celebration. I will take my leave now."

After saying that, he turned around angrily and left quickly.

Looking at the little concubine's angry back, He Linzhang held his forehead helplessly.