Harem Daily Life

Before Tao Yanyan could rest enough, Chang Tai came in to report that Li Zongguan had arrived. Tao Yanyan happened to be looking for him for something, so he had someone summon him in.

Steward Li brought this month's account book and presented it with both hands. "The accounts have been sorted out. Please review them, Your Majesty. Compared to last month, this month's increase is 30,000 taels of silver. The grain harvest is almost over. Some of it will be transported to the granary for storage, and some of the new rice will be sold on the market. It can fetch a good price."

"What about the old rice? Was it handled according to regulations?" Tao Yanyan asked.

Steward Li nodded. "Once the new rice arrives at the warehouse, the three-year-old rice will be taken out and disposed of. Some of it had already been used as military rations, so there wasn't much to dispose of. Some was sold at a fair price, and some, as the Empress had originally instructed, was sent to the poor areas of North City. All of it has been distributed."

Tao Yanyan nodded. Thinking of the existence of such a poor area in the prosperous capital, she asked, "Why hasn't the situation in the slums improved in all these years?"

Manager Li said, "The people who live there have all been poor their whole lives. They do menial jobs, like selling nightclub incense, beating the night watch, doing hard labor at the docks, sweeping the streets. These jobs don't earn much money on their own. Plus, there's a slave market over there, where servants and maids are sold, and those who can't make ends meet also sell their children there. Plus, there are prostitutes..."

After saying this, he slapped himself and said, "Hey, look at my mouth. I am polluting your ears by saying this."

Tao Yanyan thought for a moment. "Those jobs you just mentioned don't pay much, but someone has to do them. No matter what dynasty or era, there's always room for cleaning up the city. As for the slave trade... I don't have the power to change anything right now. It's just the limitations of the times. But as for prostitutes... it's best they don't exist. Firstly, they're a huge insult to women, and secondly, they're prone to contracting diseases."

Steward Li nodded and said, "Who says it's not true? I heard that some young men from wealthy families went there for the thrill of it, and later contracted syphilis."

After saying this, Li Zongguan slapped himself again and said, "This slave deserves death. He always says dirty things in front of the queen."

Manager Li was also puzzled. He was such a cautious person, so how could he let his guard down and speak without restraint in front of the Queen?

However, the Queen Mother was reasonable and easy to get close to. Li Zongguan thought that he must be too close to the Queen Mother, so he said whatever he wanted.

Tao Yanyan didn't care. She actually hoped that her subordinates would tell her everything and not hide anything. Only by speaking out could the problem be solved.

"Let's put it this way. Although there's not much I can do, a little effort could be a chance to change someone else's fate. If your farm needs labor in the future, go to the slums in North City and recruit them. I think they need work more and are more willing to work hard."

Steward Li nodded in agreement, looking at Queen Tao with admiration.

"By the way, Princess Xinlan wants to visit the Imperial Manor tomorrow. Please arrange for Tao Xiang to accompany them. They have acquired a hundred hectares of land this time and are worried about what to do with it."

Chief Steward Li immediately said, "Yes, I will make sure it's all arranged. Your Majesty, please rest assured."

The Gu family is very popular nowadays, so Manager Li will of course do his best to help the Gu family. What's more, he is working for the princess, which can also be a good reputation to Prince Changping.

Steward Li cheerfully accepted the assignment and was about to leave when he saw the Third Princess running by. He suddenly remembered the news from Jingci Temple and after a moment's thought, he said, "Your Majesty, there's been something unusual going on with the late Empress, Consort Wang. It seems she's been performing rituals frequently, making Jingci Temple a mess. I've been busy with the autumn harvest and haven't had time to check it out. How about I go and investigate and report back later?"

"Perform a ritual?" Tao Yanyan never believed in ghosts and gods, so he knew nothing about these things.

"Take some time to go and take a look. If there's nothing wrong, let her make a fuss. She'll have nothing to do if she's locked up there and can't make any noise."

Anyway, as long as it's not something harmful, Tao Yanyan never wants to bother with it or waste his time.

Only then did Li Zongguan leave. Before leaving, Qingfeng gave him some freshly cooked osmanthus lotus root to take back as a snack. Li Zongguan thanked him quickly and left with a smile on his face.

"Your Majesty, two boxes of tangerines have been sent from the Qinzheng Palace. They are said to be produced in Xia Country and are the earliest batch shipped to Beijing. They are sent here for Your Majesty to taste." Chang Tai asked someone to carry two baskets of tangerines in and placed them in front of Tao Yanyan.

After Xia State and Da Zhou signed a peace agreement, border trade was opened. Xia State was rich in fruits, which were sold to Da Zhou in a steady stream, while Da Zhou's tea, silk, cloth, grain, pottery, etc. were all sold to Xia State. Half of the trade was controlled by Xia State's second prince.

Tao Yanyan picked up an orange, peeled it and ate a slice. It was indeed juicy and sweet.

"You can take some and share them. Oh, and when you go out shopping, buy a few more boxes and distribute them to the various palaces so everyone can have a taste."

Chang Tai quickly agreed and handed the matter over.

Two days later, Li Zongguan returned to Changle Palace to report. He first told about accompanying Princess Xinlan on her inspection of the imperial estate, and then about Concubine Wang's affairs at Jingci Temple.

"I don't know where this Concubine Wang learned this, but she claims to have learned a new formation that can reveal a person's past and present lives. The nuns at Jingci Temple had nothing better to do, so they asked her to take a look. It became so popular that everyone actually believed her. So they've been setting up formations every day. Although not many people visit Jingci Temple on weekdays, the outer courtyard still receives pilgrims. Some pilgrims come here because of her reputation and pay a large sum of money to ask Concubine Wang to take a look."

After Li Zongguan finished speaking, he glanced at the Queen and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Concubine Wang always wears a mask when she is seen by others, so there is nothing unusual. The guests she receives are all ladies and daughters from various families, no outsiders."

Although she was a demoted concubine and was not favored by the emperor, she was still the emperor's person and could not do anything to disgrace the royal family no matter where she was.

Tao Yanyan frowned and thought for a moment: "To be honest, I don't want to get involved. Do you think she will cause any trouble by doing this?"

Tao Yanyan was afraid of trouble, so he thought it would be best to nip the trouble in the bud as soon as it arose to save himself the trouble later.

Manager Li hesitated for a moment and said, "I'm afraid the news will spread. If she says anything, everyone will think it's true. That would be troublesome. This person's influence is so great that sometimes it can be troublesome."

Li Zongguan's words suddenly enlightened Tao Yanyan. She had been feeling that something had been overlooked, and this was it!

"You're right. We really have to be on guard. How about this: tomorrow, I'll disguise myself and go meet her to see what she can see."

Steward Li hurriedly said, "Then I will arrange for two new faces to accompany Her Majesty. I will also go and cooperate with Her Majesty."

Tao Yanyan nodded. After Manager Li left, she thought about it and decided that she should inform He Linzhang first, so as to avoid giving people the impression that she, the current queen, was disrespectful to the late queen and that she was going to deal with the late queen.