But you should know that only having a share of the profits is itself a sign of a poor life.

In the past, she never had to worry about lacking anything.

But this year it got cold early, and she immediately felt the inconvenience here.

She wouldn't even get a share of the best charcoal.

That's not part of her share of the profits.

Even with second-grade charcoal, she didn't get much. That's because the rules dictate how much there is; you have to be careful to use it until spring.

There are second-best options, but those are not good; they produce a lot of smoke.

She couldn't bear this injustice, so she immediately led her people to the courtyard in the mansion that handled these matters, determined to demand it personally.

The charcoal was stored in a secluded warehouse in the front yard, which contained not only charcoal but also other supplies.

Since charcoal is not exactly clean, it wasn't mixed with the backyard storeroom.

However, the badges were all issued by the internal affairs office in the backyard.

Because the agency that managed the royal family's internal affairs was called the Imperial Household Department, the place where the Crown Prince's residence was initially built was also called the Imperial Household Department, which was later called the Imperial Household Office.

Now we've gotten used to it, and that's what we call the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince's residence.

Xiao Liangyuan went to the Inner Affairs Office and immediately asked for red snail charcoal.

Steward Wu smiled apologetically: "Oh dear, it's gotten cold early this year, and our household's supply of red snail charcoal is already limited. It's not enough to begin with, and if this continues, we'll have to buy some from outside. As you know, this stuff is hard to come by."

"Don't try to fool me! You sent so much to Jiyue Pavilion yesterday. What? She's a concubine, but I'm not? She can have it, but I can't?" Concubine Xiao said angrily.

Steward Wu hurriedly said, "What are you saying? Who am I? How could I dare? Consort Yan's health isn't very good; she's most afraid of the cold. Last year, His Highness instructed that when the weather gets cold, there must be enough charcoal in Jiyue Pavilion. We must provide plenty. How could we disobey His Highness's orders?"

His words directly shifted the blame to the Crown Prince.

Xiao Liangyuan didn't dare to disobey, so she angrily said, "Your Highness is Your Highness. Since she is afraid of the cold, so am I. You'd better send it to me as soon as possible."

"Oh dear, Consort Xiao, you're putting me in a difficult position. There's really nothing left... Oh? Where are you going? It's filthy inside, what are you going there for..."

As they were talking, Xiao Liangyuan rushed in, opened the door and said, "Well, what is this? Didn't you say there wasn't anything? Are you trying to fool me?"

“Oh dear, Consort Xiao, there really isn’t any. That’s all. Some of it is from the main courtyard, but we didn’t take it because there was no place to store it. We’ll send it over every day as needed. The rest is from Jiangyun Garden. Consort Murong is due to give birth in December, which is a crucial time. We have to prepare according to the Crown Princess’s orders.”

"Some of this is for Consort Luo, Consort Jin, and Consort Xia. They all have children, so they can't use other charcoal casually." Eunuch Wu was almost in tears: "If there really was some, how could I dare not give it to you?"

Xiao Liangyuan was at a loss for words: "Everyone else is important, but I'm not, right?"

"Oh dear, how could I dare! If you really don't have enough, how about I bring you some fruitwood charcoal? That will work well too, and it won't produce much smoke." Eunuch Wu said with a bitter face.

"Don't try to fool me! I want red snail charcoal today. If you don't deliver it to me, I'll beat you to death!" Consort Xiao was annoyed by the obsequious eunuch.

Manager Wu's eyes darted around, and he knelt down and actually started crying.

“If Consort Xiao insists on having it, this servant dares not give it to her. Even if you beat this servant to death, this servant would not dare disobey her master’s orders.”

"How dare you! Am I not your master?" Xiao Liangyuan kicked him hard.

“Consort Xiao is naturally the mistress, but since His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Crown Princess haven’t spoken, this servant dares not.” He lay on the ground, clutching his chest.

Seeing that he was unyielding, Xiao Liangyuan was so angry that she was about to kick him again, but was stopped by her maid.

This girl's name is Miya, and she was also frightened by Menglazhu's previous tragic state.

He was afraid that if his beloved wife got angry, she would cause a major incident.

In the end, Xiao Liangyuan left with a belly full of anger.

Soon, news of Xiao Liangyuan's disturbance in the inner quarters spread far and wide.

In the main courtyard, Su Jin laughed and said, "He's gone mad. He went to ask for red snail charcoal, and when Steward Wu refused, he attacked him."

"I originally thought he was some kind of person, but now it seems he's not worth worrying about." The Crown Princess wouldn't get angry.

It would be great if people didn't have brains.

When the news spread, people just laughed it off.

Ye Liangdi, who had been ill for the past few days, was also moved by what she heard.

To be honest, ever since Consort Xiao entered the mansion, Consort Ye saw her past self in her.

She was surprised to discover that this was how she used to be?

While a person's character cannot be changed, once they begin to reflect on themselves, there will always be changes.

She wondered with immense fear if this was how her cousin had always viewed her.

Foolish and ignorant?

Fortunately, she came from a good family and never caused trouble because of these things. But considering how much she wanted to replace the Crown Princess in the past, wasn't that...?

Isn't this also a case of coveting something that doesn't belong to you?

As Ye Liangdi pondered these thoughts, she felt as if her heart had skipped a beat.

Yes, she now knows that she can no longer replace the Ning family.

I closed my eyes, swallowed back a sigh, and just took a deep breath.

The next day, when paying her respects, Consort Xiao brought up the matter again.

"It's not that I'm greedy. Sister Murong is about to have a child, and Consort Luo is already pregnant. Consort Jin and Consort Xia shouldn't have been able to have children, but they did because of the children. I didn't say anything. But they're all consorts. Consort Yan's Jiyue Pavilion has one, so why can't I? Does Consort Yan also have a child? Your Highness has been gone for so long." Consort Xiao gave Yan Nangui a malicious look.

Yan Nangui didn't even lift an eyelid, and said indifferently, "You'd better watch out when you try to pin this on me. Even if I'm going to die, I'll take you with me."

"Alright. You've caused such a commotion throughout the entire household over such a trivial matter. Xiao, you really have some skills!" The Crown Princess frowned, annoyed.

"Is it because you didn't burn enough? Are you blaming me for not distributing it evenly? Why don't you divide it up?"

"I dare not, but I am simply unconvinced." Consort Xiao glanced at Yan Nangui: "Consort Yan is different from others in every way. Even in this residence, the other consorts all live in courtyards, but she is different. Why is that?"

"Different living conditions? I eat differently too. Do you want to come and check on me every meal? You're so nosy. Who decided that a concubine has to live in a certain place? Don't even mention concubines, there's no rule for even junior concubines. According to rank, the two junior concubines should live better than me. A concubine below that level, in an ordinary household, wouldn't even be considered a concubine, just a servant. I don't even dare to presume on my status, yet you're showing off?"