Chapter 169 The Imperial Concubine Wastes Food

Before entering the palace, Ruizhu was just a maid in the inner house. After entering the palace, she was a palace maid who only knew how to be loyal. She did not understand the principles that Meng Yan said.

However, she knew in her heart that her queen would keep her word. Since her queen was determined to take on the responsibility, then as a servant, she should just do her best to be loyal.

After washing up, Meng Yan sat down beside the bed.

Behind him, Xiao Doukou was lying on the pillow, holding the cloth tiger given by Lu Haozhi, playing a little game she created herself.

Meng Yan patted the child's head and leaned over to Ruizhu, instructing, "Send someone to Zhonghe Hall and tell Rong'an to remember that after midnight, no matter how urgent the matter is, he must urge the emperor to go to bed early. If he goes to bed late, he will definitely be even more tired tomorrow."

Ruizhu quickly responded and Meng Yan lay down on the bed.

Ruizhu lowered the curtain, blew out the candles, and sat down outside.

Meng Yan tossed and turned on her pillow, mentally calculating all the necessary details and personnel matters. With all the food and fodder in the garden already burned, she would have to make large purchases. There was always the possibility of theft, corruption, cheating, and adultery, which would require additional personnel to be strictly controlled. In such a critical moment, people were in a state of panic, and rumors were bound to spread. Rumors had to be suppressed promptly to avoid unnecessary trouble.

As she thought about this, sleep lingered. After an unknown amount of time, Ruizhu's voice rang softly from outside the tent, "Your Majesty, it's already four o'clock. Just now, the Emperor sent Eunuch Rong'an to see if Your Majesty had rested. He also specifically instructed her that whenever something happened to her, she tended to overthink things and might have trouble falling asleep, so he urged her to go to bed early."

As Meng Yan listened, a sweet smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.

It was strange. Ruizhu turned around and thought about Lu Haozhi's words. She closed her eyes and fell asleep soon after.

The next day, all places in the garden had received the imperial concubine's order to search out all the rice, flour, fruits, vegetables and other foods that had been stored, pile them on the open space outside the Diecui Pavilion, and burn them.

Meng Yan was worried that someone would take advantage of this opportunity to fish in troubled waters, steal food and fodder, and sell them outside the garden or eat them at home, which would cause the epidemic to leak out. She strictly ordered the managers in all places to check the handed-in food and fodder against the account books, weigh them and verify the weight, and then destroy them.

As a result of this treatment, several palace servants who had embezzled money were caught.

Meng Yan sat upright on the armchair, wearing beautiful makeup and gorgeous clothes, with a sneer on her beautiful face.

The palace maids standing on both sides had solemn expressions on their faces.

The palace maids who were caught knelt on the ground, lowered their heads silently, their eyes rolling around in their sockets, each of them having their own ulterior motives, not knowing how Concubine Meng would deal with them.

Meng Yan picked up the tea bowl and took a sip before saying lightly, "Very good, you are all courageous and resolute. I announced yesterday that all the food and grass in the garden must be burned, and no one is allowed to hide them without permission. You dare to do this, it is obvious that you do not take me seriously, and my words have fallen on deaf ears." As she spoke, she raised her head slightly, the sunlight shining on her pretty face, her expression clear and proud.

One of them secretly looked up and met the imperial concubine's eyes, but saw that the imperial concubine's eyes were as cold and sharp as knives. He trembled involuntarily and lowered his head quickly.

Meng Yan put down the tea bowl and asked, "How should theft in the palace be dealt with according to the regulations?"

Ruizhu replied, "Your Majesty, according to palace rules, if a palace servant steals, he shall be punished with fifty strokes of the cane and a fine of two months' salary. If a servant steals while in custody, he shall be punished with eighty strokes of the cane and expelled from the palace."

Meng Yan's red lips curled slightly, and she nodded, "Very good, then let's do it."

Ruizhu obeyed the order and immediately shouted, "Did you hear what the Imperial Concubine said?! Hurry and drag these people away!"

Suddenly, there was a sound of ghosts howling on the field. One person fainted on the ground, another wet his pants, and another kept banging his head on the ground and shouting for mercy.

One person was a bit bolder and shouted, "Your Highness, I cannot accept your treatment!"

The scene suddenly became quiet, and everyone's eyes fell on the little palace maid.

The little palace girl had delicate features, a pale face, and her legs were shaking like sieves. She was obviously very scared.

Ruizhu glanced at Concubine Meng and said to the eunuchs standing on either side, "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and get started!"

Several eunuchs stepped forward, held down the young palace maid, and began to drag her away.

The palace maid didn't cry or make a fuss, but instead screamed, "Your Majesty, are you being unreasonable by not letting anyone speak like this?!"

Ruizhu's face turned pale and she kept scolding the eunuchs to drag her away as soon as possible.

Amidst the chaos, Meng Yan suddenly said, "Wait."

When the eunuchs heard this, they stopped immediately and retreated to the sides.

Meng Yan looked at the little palace maid and smiled slightly, "What's your name?"

The maid trembled all over, but still bravely replied, "Your Majesty, my humble name is Qiuyu."

Meng Yan said "oh", nodded and asked again, "Are you dissatisfied with my decision? Why are you dissatisfied?"

Qiu Yu cleared her throat and said, "Your Highness, I dare to ask why you want to burn all this food. Although I come from a humble background, I know the truth that 'every meal should be appreciated as it is not easy to come by'. Your Highness is of noble status and well-read, so you must know more than me. Isn't this a waste?" As she spoke, her eyes were fixed on Meng Yan.

Meng Yan smiled faintly. "You're quite brave, and you're speaking your mind. When I delivered the imperial decree yesterday, I clearly stated that there was an epidemic in the garden. The eunuch in charge of the kitchen's purchases had fallen ill and died. We were worried that the food in the garden would be contaminated, so we had to burn it all to prevent anyone from getting sick. What's wrong? Are you deaf or asleep? Didn't you hear anything?"

Qiuyu shouted, "Your Highness, I believe that the eunuch's responsibilities were limited, so the pollution might not have been that great. Burning all the food in the garden is an exaggeration and a waste. The national treasury is empty and the court is in trouble, but Your Highness is wasting food here. It's unreasonable!"

Her words made everyone present gasp.

How courageous he is to criticize Concubine Meng to her face!

Meng Yan glared at Qiuyu. "You're quite courageous, you girl." As she spoke, her eyes swept across the faces of everyone present. "I know many of you are unconvinced. If I can burn this grain, why can't I let you take it and sell it or eat it? I will tell you plainly today: the root cause of this epidemic is this unclean food. The eunuch who contracted the disease died of vomiting and diarrhea! His symptoms are clearly recorded in the Imperial Hospital. You all know the eunuch who witnessed his death that day. Feel free to ask around!"

As soon as the words fell, she ordered in a cold voice, "Bring it up!"

Then a palace maid with a veil on her face came up with a plate of snacks and placed it on the ground.

Everyone was surprised, but then Meng Yan said, "This is the pastry that the sick eunuch made in the imperial kitchen before he took leave. If any of you dare to eat this pastry, I will just think you are truly ignorant and will not pursue your crime of theft."