The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 468: Cutting Costs
Li Guiren got some wild ginseng and wanted to ask someone to stew it for nourishment, but Cuiguo said so.

"My lady, it is hot now, and this wild ginseng is hot in nature.

I'm afraid it's not good to use now? You are in good health, so why not save it for winter to nourish your body."

Concubine Li rolled her eyes and felt that what Cuiguo said made sense.

“Well, it’s not like I haven’t seen good things when I was at home.

But now that I have been in the palace for so long, I am just a small noble.
Such good wild ginseng is rare. You said Xin Changzai is quite generous.

Wan Guiren gave her some things, and she immediately distributed them to me and Cao Changzai.

Oh, I didn’t realize this before, Xin Changzai is really good.”

Cuiguo echoed.

"Yes, I also think Xin Chang is generous. It's just that I am too suspicious.
I always feel that this matter is strange. Wan Guiren and Xin Changzai have no contact with each other.
How could you give all these good things to Xin Changzai today?"

Concubine Li waved her hand and said indifferently.

"Oh, what's so confusing? Lady Wan must be seeing how hard Concubine Xin is working because of her pregnancy.

We are all women, so we should have some empathy.

Even though we didn't have any contact before, I sent this box of ginseng to you.
Won't we have contact in the future? Lady Wan is more favored by the emperor,
Probably because I don't take these things seriously.

They are not as pitiful as us, living a tight life relying on the monthly salary.

Even if I wanted to give something to Xin Changzai, I couldn’t think of anything suitable right away.”

Cuiguo nodded and said nothing more, but she knew in her heart that with Concubine Li's nature of only taking and not giving, even if she had something handy to give as a gift, she would not give it away easily.

Take the golden and jade-leaf osmanthus hairpin for example. One of the petals was damaged at some point, and Li Guiren sighed for a long time out of pain.

If she were asked to give someone something like that, she would probably not be able to sleep all night.

Recently, Concubine Duan has been assisting in the management of the six palaces, and Noble Lady Shen has been following Concubine Duan around.

It was heard that Concubine Shen was capable and had proposed to the Emperor to cut expenses and reduce the number of regular dishes by half. The Emperor, thinking of the hard work of the soldiers on the frontier, also agreed to Concubine Shen's proposal.

The daily rations for the ladies below the rank of concubine were not much to begin with, and any leftovers from their meals were given as rewards to the palace servants serving them.

Palace maids like Cuiguo could only rely on these little things to satisfy their hunger, but their wealth was reduced by half overnight.

Concubine Shen also suggested that the bowl of mung bean soup that people eat every day to cool down be converted into silver and given to everyone.

But how could the palace maids and eunuchs have the chance to touch such good things as silver and money?
It's even worse when you have to deal with a stingy lady like Li Guiren.

So Cuiguo has been feeling uncomfortable and angry these days.

Ulanara soaked her hands in water dripped with rose essential oil and jasmine petals, and Jianqiu was beside her, preparing some hand-moistening ointment, waiting to moisturize Ulanara's hands.

"Your Majesty has taken good care of her these days, and her hands have become more delicate and smooth.

I saw that day that the Emperor's eyes followed the Empress's hand for several circles."

Jianqiu smiled and complimented Ulanara.

Ulanara did not look up, concentrating on soaking her hands. She smiled casually after listening to Jianqiu's words.

"You know how to make me happy. The emperor won't stare at me anymore.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, there will be fresh flowers to see. I am old and ugly.
How could I attract the emperor's attention? Even on the first and fifteenth day of every month,

The Emperor only comes to sit with me as usual, but never stays overnight."

Jianqiu saw Ulanara raising her hand and hurriedly offered the silk handkerchief in her hand for her to wipe her hands.

"Why are you talking about these things, Queen? It's like you're talking about other people's affairs."

Ulanara wiped her hands, returned the handkerchief to Jianqiu, and said with a smile.

“I know that I cannot gain the Emperor’s favor, so I can only take these things lightly.

Otherwise, what else can I do? I am the queen~" Jian Qiu said.

"Yes. By the way, Madam, I heard that Concubine Shen wanted to reduce the number of dishes.

This caused complaints from the whole palace, and I heard it all.
Several ladies have already said that the food is not good nowadays.

I am worried that if this gets out, people will laugh at me.”

Ulanara said.

"Outside? A joke? It's just that there are those who talk too much, or the ministers who are staring at the harem.
What's so funny about this? If it gets out, people will only sigh at the emperor's frugality.

As for the complaints in the harem, it was Concubine Shen who raised the idea in front of the emperor.

Even if everyone wants to hate someone, they should hate Concubine Shen."

Jianqiu nodded in agreement and said.

"That's right! She used to follow Concubine Hua and was very proud for quite a while.

Now that he is following Concubine Duan, he is even more arrogant and wanting to stand out.

The Empress only mentioned that sentence that day, and she immediately came up with this idea.

I see, it is too obvious that she wants to stand out."

Ulanara admired the jade ruyi in her hand and smiled happily.

"If she is willing to step forward, I will lend her a helping hand.

She has a good family background, and is beautiful and talented.

I am really afraid that with her personality, she will become the second Concubine Hua.

Rather than watching her climb up step by step, it is better to help her grow.
I want her to come forward right away. Besides, I have even cut the expenses of my own palace.

You say, it's not good for Concubine Hua to continue to be so extravagant, right?
If she continues to live in such an extravagant manner, I am afraid that before I can put the account book in front of the emperor,

Those old ministers of the previous dynasty also have to come forward and say a few words.

All the money spent in the harem comes from the national treasury."

Jianqiu Road.

"Your Majesty is wise. Let's just wait and see the show."

But Ulanara waited and waited, but Concubine Hua, who had her allowance cut, did not come to make trouble.

In her previous life, Nian Shilan would have regarded Concubine Shen as a thorn in her side. However, in this life, she found the pickled cucumbers and cold-mixed golden needles and other vegetarian dishes in front of her appetizing.

She had no appetite during pregnancy, so these vegetarian dishes actually suited her taste.

Songzhi said beside.

"The Queen has issued an order to reduce the expenses of each palace. I heard that it was Concubine Shen who proposed this in front of the Emperor.

The crab roe cakes that the queen always tried to eat were also sold out. The imperial kitchen said that crab roe was very expensive.
Nowadays, the Queen does not allow these expensive snacks. I was originally worried that you would lose your appetite even more.

I didn't expect you to not be disgusted at all. I was worrying too much."

Concubine Hua stopped using her jade chopsticks, wiped her mouth gracefully, and spoke.

"I have no appetite during pregnancy and cannot eat meat, so these vegetarian dishes are just right for me.

It’s just difficult for you to follow me and eat vegetarian food.

However, you have been vigilant in your duties, and I will not treat you unfairly.

Go get some banknotes later and use them to improve the living conditions of the servants in our Qingliang Palace.

Just tell them to shut up when they get out and not to cause any trouble."