Harem Daily Life

"The operations line focuses on solving operational problems. We need to increase the number of shop patrol staff to identify operational problems and provide training to enable them to better sell products. The external expansion line requires a willingness to endure hardships and the ability to independently plan and prepare. Establishing workshops, recruiting personnel, and producing in other locations are all practical tasks, requiring diligent and pragmatic people. Furthermore, we need to add a personnel assessment department, somewhat like the Ministry of Personnel, to assess management, promoting the capable and demoting the weak, to eliminate idleness."

Xianfei listened from the side, her eyes sparkling. "Your Majesty, you have thought so carefully. I am truly ashamed of myself. With this approach, I'm afraid that within two years, the income of the imperial estate will reach a new level."

"Since you agree, I will implement it. For some of the newly created management positions, I will initially assign them to a few of my senior maids. If you find anyone useful later, you can also arrange for them. I believe that some of the women in the palace are just as capable as men in both their work and their interpersonal skills. If we provide them with a platform, they may be able to give back even more."

The two discussed some details, and then Concubine Xian returned to Yongtai Palace in high spirits.

"Why is Your Majesty so energetic today, as if she has endless energy?" Yufen, the senior palace maid beside Concubine Xian, asked curiously.

Xian Fei glanced at her and said, "Nothing much. I just think it's quite interesting to work with Empress Tao."

Seeing Yufen's confusion, Concubine Xian smiled and said, "My mother always taught me that as long as I learned the skills of managing the household, I would be invincible in the harem. Before, I only wanted to manage the affairs of the harem for the Empress, and that would make me valuable. But after listening to the Empress's words today, I realized that a person's stage is not just within these palace walls. As long as you have a broad vision, you can also create a world outside."

Yufen still didn't quite understand, but she felt that her mother seemed particularly happy today.

"Yufen, work hard. When you are ready to leave the palace in two years, I will find you a place to live, just like the Queen did. You will have your own career, earn money for the rest of your life, and be able to support yourself with your monthly allowance without being controlled by your husband's family."

Yufen's eyes lit up, and then she became shy again: "I don't want to leave the palace, so I will stay with the queen and serve the third princess."

The virtuous concubine smiled and said, "Why, you want to be an aunt and continue to stay in this palace to serve others? Then what about your lifelong affairs? Don't you want to marry and have children?"

When talking about her lifelong affairs, Yufen's face turned even redder: "This servant... This servant doesn't want to go out and get married and have children. This servant... Forget it, since this servant doesn't want to leave the palace anyway, Your Majesty, please don't think of driving me away."

Concubine Xian raised her eyebrows, feeling that Yufen was a little strange today, as if she had something on her mind, which she wanted to say but was hiding. However, she did not think much about it, as the most important thing was to get the list of promotions out first.

At Changchun Palace, no matter how reluctant Mu Yu was, he had no choice but to leave. His disguise couldn't last that long, and if he didn't leave, he would be exposed.

"Queen Mother, take care of yourself, I..." Promises cannot be made casually, so Mu Yu did not continue.

"Go ahead. Don't use this method again. If you're discovered and mistaken for an assassin, no one will be able to save you."

Mu Yu touched his nose. He had to resort to this desperate measure, right?

"So, I'm really leaving?"

The Queen Mother waved her hand and said, "Go, go! You haven't been back for a day and a night. I'm afraid Old Qin has thought of hundreds of ways to die."

Mu Yu sighed and had to leave, looking back every few steps with a sad look in his eyes.

After the people had left for a long time, the Queen Mother sighed and said, "I am left alone again."

The little parrot was originally taking a walk, but when he heard this, he became unhappy and walked over to the Queen Mother and said, "I'm still here, I'm still here. I won't leave you alone."

The Queen Mother was stunned and touched its head: "Why do you say all these words? When did you learn them?" It was completely self-taught and could answer questions fluently.

Mu Yu successfully left the palace with the matching card. The guards at the palace gate let him in without even checking. When he returned to the royal residence in the east of the city, Eunuch Qin had indeed died several times. He was now tied with ropes and fixed to a chair, crying the whole time.

"What are you doing? How could you tie up Eunuch Qin? Untie him quickly!" Mu Yu heard from the housekeeper as soon as he entered the door that Eunuch Qin wanted to jump into the lake last night, hit his head against the wall today, and wanted to hang himself. Fortunately, he was rescued all the time. In order to prevent him from committing suicide, the housekeeper had to tie him up.

Seeing Eunuch Qin's face full of bitterness and hatred after he was untied, Mu Yu touched his nose and said guiltily, "Didn't I tell you to stay here and not worry? Look, I came back intact, and nothing happened!"

Mu Yu turned around twice to show that he was intact.

Eunuch Qin rolled his eyes at him, quickly changed into his own clothes, and angrily said, "How could nothing have happened? The Queen Mother has a sharp eye, she must have seen through it! Humph, Island Master Mu is truly cunning, he's tricked me into a complete mess! He's even made up his mind how to apologize to the late Emperor in the underworld!"

Mu Yu patted Eunuch Qin on the shoulder and said, "Old Qin, please understand me. I have no choice but to do this. Don't worry, I will compensate you, a big compensation!" After that, Mu Yu's men brought a water tank with a turtle smaller than a palm lying in it.

Eunuch Qin choked: "How do you know I like to raise turtles?"

Mu Yu smiled and said, "I moved into the palace and stayed in your room, so of course I saw it. Let me tell you, your two are not as good as this one. I worked hard to find this one. It originally grew in the wishing pond of Fuyan Temple outside the city. It's amazing. Not only does it have a good appetite and is easy to feed, it also listens to you and responds. If you don't believe me, just ask it to try."

Eunuch Qin was half-believing and half-doubting, and just as he was about to call out, he realized that he didn't know the turtle's name at all.

Mu Yu said kindly, "It's called Fugui."

Eunuch Qin: “…”

"Such a vulgar name is not suitable for the little turtle. Why not change its name to...Ruyuan?" Eunuch Qin was very disgusted and wanted to name it himself. Since it came from the wishing pond, calling it Ruyuan was very appropriate.

But he called out "As I wish, as I wish" several times, but the little turtle didn't even raise its head, as if it were dead.

Mu Yu couldn't bear it and cleared his throat: "Fugui." The little turtle raised its head and shook it in the direction of the voice.

"Look, it wants to be called Fugui."

Eunuch Qin was speechless and had to accept the vulgar turtle, along with an extra huge compensation of one hundred taels of silver.

When Eunuch Qin returned to Changchun Palace that night and trembled with fear as he went to serve the empress dowager, she saw him frowning and saying, "Didn't you say you'd bring me cakes and pastries today? You forgot yesterday, and you forgot today too. Old Qin, are you so forgetful now?"

Eunuch Qin choked: "Mother... Queen Mother... I..." Island Master Mu, you are tricking me. Why didn't you tell me that you didn't bring any cakes from Xiangmanyuan? Oh, I forgot to tell you too! Wuuuuuuu, wouldn't that be a revelation?