Too high to reach

Chapter 191 was not idle.
Moy sat in the bright and warm room.

Wearing a green embroidered silk cotton dress and soft satin embroidered shoes, she drank tea and ate snacks.

He carefully examined the list in his hand.

Her monthly allowance is two hundred taels of silver!

Her hand trembled slightly, and she burst out laughing.

The entire Mo family, even living a life of luxury for a month, wouldn't spend fifty taels! This is truly… she shook her head and clicked her tongue. They've struck it rich…

Next, look at the clothing and jewelry for each season, the meal standards, travel arrangements, and the provisions and monthly stipends for the servants in the courtyard.

Quite meticulous...

For New Year's gifts... her maternal family's birthday gifts for her grandparents and parents are paid through the government. But for everyone else, she has to pay out of her own pocket...

"I see... Then I'll have to pay for my nephew's first birthday gift myself. That makes sense..."

For external social engagements related to the government, official accounts should be used.

For personal interactions and entertainment expenses, you have to cover half the cost, and you also need to explain and get approval in advance... Who approves it? Consort Feng? Isn't this a bit awkward?
Does the princess's affairs require the concubine's approval? And she has to explain the reason?

What if she doesn't approve it?
I am a princess, don't I have any dignity?
Wait a minute, I'm a princess, this is my home, right?
Why should the concubine approve what needs to be done?
When I bought medicine for Granny Zhao, what were my plans for paying for it?

...It seems I haven't thought about it.

He just didn't have that much silver on him. He'd have Hongyan bring the silver notes to get it later, and he'd have to pay for the rest himself. He'd roughly calculated that the medicine would cost at least a hundred taels, which he could afford.

But according to this list, given Zhao Mama's status... is this a personal social event for me, or should it be paid for official business?
Also, what about the silver notes that the Zhao family patriarch gave me?
If I invite the Zhao sisters to visit my residence, will I have to pay half the expenses?

What about Mo Yuan? That guy is definitely coming... Is she like the Zhao sisters?

Headache, headache...

I'll list these problems out and ask Granny Zhao for advice later.

Oh dear! I forgot, I didn't even check how many silver notes were in the box.

She took out a small box she had casually placed under the dressing table. She opened it and counted the coins: one sheet worth five thousand taels… one, two, three, four…

Twenty sheets, ten thousand taels!
Good heavens, Mo Yi's hands are shaking... Is the old lady really that generous?

Ten thousand taels of silver, am I just going to leave it like this?
She packed it into a box, holding it tightly, then remembered there were still several boxes of things left. "My beloved, what about the things Old Madam Zhao gave me?"

Hongyan found her expression amusing: "Your Majesty, they're all in the west wing. That's your storeroom. The chests are locked, and so is the door. The key is hanging by your bedside..."

"Oh……"

"Your Majesty, there is a large empty cabinet here that you can put your treasures in."

"Let me see..." It was a dark cabinet, taller than a person, with two layers and two large locks.

Open it, and it's empty.

"Your clothes, shoes, socks, and everyday jewelry are partly in these cabinets over there and partly in the cabinets in your bedroom. All your chores are done in the study. The west wing is your storeroom. When you have time, the servants will organize and record everything, and you can watch from the side. Then you'll know what's in everything."

Mo Yi nodded: "Okay. There are too many things to do, I'm at a loss for what to do..."

"How about we leave the things in the west wing for now? You don't need them right now. Let's take care of the important things first!"

“Yes, you’re right. Don’t rush to pack things up. I need to get things sorted out at the shop first. It’s almost Chinese New Year, and a lot of people are counting on me for their livelihood… Hongyan, I’m going out after breakfast tomorrow, so I probably won’t be eating lunch at home.”

"Yes, then this servant will go and tell Consort Feng first."

"Okay." Then, Mo Yi wondered, how do I calculate the money saved when I don't eat at home?
Consort Feng was also busy, having already received two or three groups of people. They were all related to the Prince's residence, either female relatives of the Prince's friends or subordinates.

On ordinary days, she would have her mother handle these relationships, but this time, she met with them in person.

This time, it was Zhou Dong's wife, Madam Tu. She sent two gifts, one for the Prince's residence and one specifically for Consort Feng.

Thank you for taking care of me all this time.

Indeed, Consort Feng treated Lady Tu very well. She frequently sent people to visit her, and recently even sent a cartload of New Year's goods.

Of course, everything is done through the public accounts... she doesn't need anyone's approval! As long as the accounts are in order, that's all that matters!

"We are truly grateful for your continued care. Every time Lord Zhou writes, he reminds us not to cause Your Majesty any trouble..."

"How could you be so busy that you can't even handle this little thing? I just ask, and the people below take care of everything. Don't feel pressured. Zhou Dong, we grew up together, like siblings. If you keep being so polite, it makes things difficult for me." Madam Tu smiled apologetically. "Lord Zhou said he'll be back in a few months. When that happens, if you need anything from outside, just let him take care of it!"

That's right...

Consort Feng smiled and said, "At that time, I'm afraid we'll really have to trouble him a lot. When my son Shao starts his education, he'll need a few playmates. Our relationship, generation after generation, needs to continue!"

Madam Tu was overjoyed, "Thank you so much for your kindness, Your Majesty!" She had a son...

"Your Majesty, Hongyan has something to ask of you."

Madam Tu quickly stood up. "I won't disturb Your Highness's work any longer, so I'll take my leave now."

Consort Feng nodded in agreement and watched her leave with a smile.

When Consort Feng entered, she told her that the Empress was going out the next day. Consort Feng smiled and said that she would arrange everything.

After a while, a well-dressed young woman walked in.

"Your Majesty." This is Consort Feng's cousin.

After settling into her residence, Consort Feng recruited several people for herself. One was Mama Song, and the woman before her was another…

Now, all the purchasing in the manor, except for the items that can't be moved, is handled by this couple. They simply operate under the name of a trading company, taking a cut in the middle. As long as there are purchases, they make a profit.

Guaranteed harvest despite drought and flood.

Last year, Consort Feng even set aside a separate spot for her cousin-in-law.

Originally, there were more ideas. There was even a plan to let the cousin-in-law gradually get in touch with Empress Zhao's private property, and to let him spend time at Qizhenlou first.

As a result, Granny Zhao refused to let go, and the plan failed.

This incident made Consort Feng more cautious in her actions, only daring to reach for the safest parts.

However, she's been getting a bit restless lately and wants to stir up trouble again...

The cousin took out a brocade box, which Consort Feng accepted. Inside were silver notes. She counted the amount, and it was about what she had expected! She smiled and put it away.

I must say, my cousin and her husband are quite capable; they've done a lot of things for her.

This includes the design of Wan Daoping.

"Any news?" Consort Feng asked about Wan Daoping.

"The word has spread that everything has been arranged for her, and she will leave after the New Year. But they didn't say where she's going... They just gave her some money to buy her daily necessities. After the New Year, she will be three months pregnant, and the pregnancy will be stable."

Consort Feng frowned. "That's all? Nothing else?"

“Oh, Your Majesty, you don’t know, that Wan Daoping is a very shrewd man! When he first took this woman into his service, although he went there discreetly, he wasn’t too careful. But later… perhaps he really took her seriously, because he drove away all the servants who used to serve her and replaced them with a new batch of people. News can’t get in or out.”

Consort Feng smiled upon hearing this, realizing that the more he acted this way, the bigger his scheme seemed.

"Hmph, just you wait and see. Zhao Yongle will either die on the way or arrive not long after. If he wants to stay with that woman for long, he'll have to create an opening."

"Your Majesty is right... Wan Daoping is no ordinary man. He was very busy recently, but I don't know what he was busy with. I dare not get close to him."

"The busier he is, the better... Ha, Zhao Hui is smart all her life, but she made a foolish mistake. She's such a sickly person, yet she still dares to abandon him. Actually, she has a son and a daughter. It would be so much better if her son-in-law went to pursue his career while her daughter stayed in the capital to enjoy a comfortable life."

"Your Majesty, didn't you realize that this was instigated by Wan Daoping? If Zhao Changle were to live to a ripe old age while suffering from illness, would he have to spend his whole life with this wife? It's a case of the superior getting rich while the wife dies!"

Consort Feng chuckled, "Of course he's my wife! If he didn't act like this, how could I vent my anger?"

"Your Highness, how is that commoner princess?"

"Hmph..." Consort Feng's face darkened. "Annoying! These past few days, I've been so restless. I've had Mama Song try to persuade me several times, but I just can't control my temper. The Prince has been very accommodating to her..."

"Oh, this is a little different from what I originally thought... So what's your idea?"

"This is just the beginning, what ideas could I possibly have? Let's take it one step at a time!"

"If you ask me, there are plenty of opportunities! Just don't be too short-sighted, make thorough preparations, and stay calm... Think about it, you manage the household, and she'll be the one having children in the future... right!"

The woman raised her eyebrows mysteriously...

(End of this chapter)