However, after the Fifth Prince was born and raised by her side, he could no longer stay in the mansion. Every year, He Zhuo would choose a princess to stay in the mansion because no one else wanted to.
So He Zhuo said that if he stayed in the manor, he would receive double the monthly allowance, plus ice.
You should know that the princess didn't have ice, but even if she did, it wasn't comfortable. When it got hot, the ice she had saved was simply not enough.
As an encouragement, each year when they returned to the mansion, the princesses who stayed behind would receive an additional 30 catties of charcoal. It should be noted that the princesses' charcoal allowance was 5 catties in summer and 10 catties in winter.
This is equivalent to the amount of charcoal used over three months of winter.
However, this role of staying behind is rotated annually, except for those who volunteer.
In the 37th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, after the birth of the Fifth Prince, the concubine requested a small kitchen. Yinzhi and Hezhuo agreed, and thereafter the concubine's allowance was directly sent to the small kitchen in Guiyuan.
Since He Zhuo was the head of the main courtyard, he naturally had a small kitchen, and his daily meals were delivered directly to him.
The front kitchen was separate from the back kitchen, so the large kitchen in the back kitchen was responsible for the meals of the princesses, concubines, and servants.
Because "Zhilan Courtyard" also has a small kitchen that is responsible for the princesses' meals.
"Madam, the estate also sent some red dates, dried longan, and some fresh white fungus. They also sent a slaughtered pig, which was delivered directly to the main kitchen."
While fanning her little bun, He Zhuo asked, "Is there a lot of white fungus? If so, have Granny Shao stew it and send a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup to each master. Didn't we pick a lot of lotus seeds yesterday?"
"Yes." Bai Xia calculated that there was roughly one bowl for each master, with a little left over.
The "master" that He Zhuo referred to did not include the concubines and maids in the inner courtyard; it only included Yin Zhi, He Zhuo, his secondary consort, and all of Yin Zhi's children.
He Zhuo took a look and found that the red dates were of good quality and the dried longan was also thick and sweet.
"How much are these dried red dates and dried longan?"
He Zhuo looked up and asked Bai Xia.
"There are 80 jin of red dates and 20 jin of dried longan."
"These longan pulps are good for replenishing qi and blood, and can calm the mind and stabilize the spirit. These red dates have always been known for their ability to nourish yin and yang and replenish blood. Both of these are good things, and the quality of the ones sent this time is quite good. How about this, each prince will be given one pound of red dates and half a pound of dried longan, and the princesses of Zhilan Courtyard will also receive the same amount."
"Sixth Princess is still young, hmm~" He Zhuo lowered his head and thought for a moment. "Never mind, let's send them together. Send Sixth Princess's portion to the Consort, since she's supporting Sixth Princess now."
"Bai Xia, can you help me calculate how many red dates and longans are left?"
"Reporting to Madam, our household has a total of 8 princes and 6 princesses. In total, we used 14 catties of red dates and 7 catties of dried longan. We have 66 catties of red dates and 13 catties of dried longan left." Bai Xia curtsied.
"Okay, I understand. Also, send half a catty of red dates and two ounces of dried longan to each of the concubines in the back courtyard. Concubine Chao and Concubine Qian have both given birth, so send half a catty of red dates to each of them."
"Also, send the same amount of dried longan and dried red dates to the concubine's family according to the amount given to the young prince and princess. Keep one pound of dried longan and one pound of dried red dates for the prince. How much is left?"
Bai Xia's brain raced: "There are still 61 jin of red dates left, and 10.8 jin of dried longan left."
"There's still so much? Hmm, here's what we'll do: take 3 jin of red dates and 2 jin of dried longan to the main kitchen for cooking. Do the same in the small kitchen in the main courtyard, and also in the small kitchen in Zhilan Courtyard. Put the remaining 2 jin of red dates and the rest of the dried longan here in the main courtyard."
"Also, send a pound of red dates to the head maid in the front yard, saying it's a reward for her. And send two ounces to each of the four head maids in the front yard."
“In our courtyard, Granny Shao, Granny Shi, Bai Xia, Su Mei, Su Lan, and Chun Fen, each of you should pack half a jin of red dates. The rest of the red dates can be put into storage.”
"Let me calculate that we still have 57.7 jin of red dates. We'll give the other 7 liang to the second-class maids in the courtyard. As for the remaining 57 jin, we'll keep 17 jin in the main courtyard storeroom and take the other 40 jin to the head maid in the front courtyard to put into storage."
"Bai Xia, have two eunuchs weigh these and put them in the storeroom. After weighing, Su Mei should deliver them to the concubines and maids in the back courtyard, Zhou Fugui should deliver them to the princes, and Su Lan should deliver them to the concubines in Zhi Lan Courtyard."
"Zhou Fugui, Xiao Qianzi, go ahead and get busy. I'm leaving now, so don't embezzle any money. Later, have Granny Shao cook a big pot of mung bean and lily soup with some ice; everyone should have some."
"Oh, right, Lady Li in the manor, don't forget to pick some fruit and send it over with these red dates. I'll send the Sixth Prince from the palace over in a bit. Oh, and pack 5 catties of red dates for Consort Hui and send them over with her too."
He Zhuo waved his fan, made the arrangements, and left.
As the primary consort of Prince Zhi, He Zhuo was never shortchanged in the household during the four seasons and eight festivals, but high-end tonics such as bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin were not available.
He Zhuo had many children, and most of the food was given to the children, with very little leftover. Even if there was leftover, it would never be given to the princesses in the backyard.
The tonics included in Yinzhi's allowance would also be sent to Hezhuo. Hezhuo would also usually let Yinzhi eat a few bowls of bird's nest every month, as bird's nest is suitable for both men and women.
Consort Nalan's allowance of bird's nest was just enough for her own consumption. Although Consort Hui would occasionally give her niece some bird's nest, it was always white bird's nest. Moreover, because Nalan had not given birth for many years, Consort Hui was always somewhat dissatisfied.
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