With Consort Hua's fiery temper, would anyone really think she was a fool?
She always used only the best things, and even if they weren't the best, she would never swallow her pride and eat what the eunuchs had left over.
Shen Meizhuang said, "The ones sent to Yikun Palace are of course the best batch. It is said that a local official is more powerful than a distant one. How could the Imperial Household Department dare to slack off with the people who directly control the palace?"
"If it weren't for this, why is the food in Yikun Palace inferior to that in other palaces?"
An Lingrong said, "The Imperial Household Department has always been managed by those bondservant families, and the palace maids are almost all from the Eight Banners."
"After hearing about this, I carefully investigated the matter and discovered that the number of powerful bondservant families in the imperial court and harem was increasing."
"Among them were many high-ranking officials of the first or second rank, such as Xitalalaibao, who, although a bondservant, was still a proper second-rank official."
"Because of this, I haven't dared to order those palace maids around lately. I'm afraid that if I make them busy, they'll find out that their fathers and brothers are important ministers."
[An Xiaoniao's worries were entirely correct. In a few more years, these bondservant officials would be able to push both Manchu and Han officials aside.]
An Lingrong knew that Sun Miaoqing had her own plans, so she put her worries aside.
Sister Sun is ambitious, knowledgeable in economics, and shrewd. She would never allow anyone to treat her like an ATM.
She needs to make more preparations so that when Sister Sun starts using those wrappers as a starting point, she can strike immediately and hit the mark.
*
Yikun Palace
Consort Hua took a sip of tea and continued working on the account book in her hands. Seeing Zhou Ninghai return with the gifts, she immediately asked, "Did Consort Yu accept all the gifts?"
Zhou Ninghai replied, "How could Consort Yu dare to refuse Her Majesty's reward? Besides, she comes from a humble background and probably hadn't seen anything good before entering the palace."
"Having received the Empress's favor, I should be moved to tears of gratitude."
Consort Hua said, "Such a humble origin, yet she has risen to the rank of concubine in such a short time."
"The Emperor now wishes he could stay in Yanxi Palace every day. Even Consort Wan's favor has been diminished. How could such a person be short-sighted?"
"Even if it was true before, after spending so much time with Consort Cheng, would you lack good things?"
Zhou Ninghai said, "Not only that, this servant heard that Consort Yu of Hengzhi Residence also has some."
"Even before it opened, noblewomen flocked to it. Merchants from all over the country also came to the capital wanting a piece of the pie, making it even more profitable than Honey Sugar Shop."
"Consort Cheng's cosmetics business is probably even more profitable than salt permits."
"You and Consort Cheng have always been close, but Consort Cheng always helps others get rich while forgetting about our Yikun Palace."
"The Fuca and Niohuru clans are powerful, but our Nian family is not inferior. Your Majesty, you are not angry, but this servant feels sorry for you!"
Consort Hua said, "These silver coins are not so easy to take. My Nian family is already feared, so we cannot touch them."
"Actually, I asked you before, but I had many concerns."
"Fortunately, the sea ban is about to be lifted, and Consort Cheng has given me twenty of her fifty ships."
"With the thirty-five ships I obtained from the Emperor, will we ever lack funds again?"
Zhou Ninghai said, "It was this servant's short-sightedness that led him to only focus on such trivial matters. Please forgive him, Your Majesty."
Consort Hua said, "I don't blame you. I just thought it was time for some people to take the stage."
Zhou Ninghai tightened his grip on the whisk slightly. "Does Your Highness mean the one in the flower room?"
"Rest assured, everything is arranged perfectly. The location and the people are all in place; we're just waiting for the right time!"
They carefully selected someone who resembled Empress Chun Yuan, and then had her aunt, who had served Empress Chun Yuan, teach her carefully.
Originally placed in Yimei Garden, it was planned that the emperor would happen to encounter it during a stroll, and everything that followed would then fall into place naturally.
No matter how much they planned, they hadn't anticipated an epidemic. After the epidemic ended, they tried to lure the emperor there, but they ran into An Lingrong's growing favor.
Consort Hua worried that if she went too far, people would find out that this matter was related to Yikun Palace, so she ultimately failed to succeed.
So they put the person in the flower room so that it would be easier for them to move around in the inner palace. It would be best if they could meet the emperor, but it wouldn't matter if they didn't.
Because of her resemblance to Consort Wan, many people would see her, and the news would naturally reach the emperor's ears. It was slow, but it was safer.
Consort Hua said, "We've waited this long, a few more days won't hurt. The last thing I lack right now is patience."
Inside Yikun Palace, the mistress and servant were plotting for the future. In the Imperial Garden, a dozen or so palace maids and eunuchs, each carrying a pot of fresh flowers, were heading towards Chuxiu Palace.
Yao Han, carrying a pot of peonies, was among them when she happened to meet the emperor, who was taking a stroll in the garden.
The chubby orange cat, who had been ignoring everyone, suddenly stopped in its tracks when it smelled a cool, refreshing plum fragrance.
"It smells like plum blossoms. Why would there be plum blossoms at this time of year?"
The emperor's deep voice rang out two steps away from Yao Han. Knowing her chance had come, she took a deep breath and replied,
"Your Majesty, it is the plum blossom sachet that I was wearing."
Su Peisheng was shocked, a look of recollection flashing in his eyes. This voice was just like that of Empress Chun Yuan back then!
The chubby orange-haired man's expression was grave, and his voice was somewhat urgent, "Raise your head!"
Yao Han slightly raised her head, looking down, not daring to look directly at the emperor. But she knew without looking how surprised the emperor would be.
She resembled the late Empress Chun Yuan more than Consort Wan, who enjoyed the Emperor's favor at Suiyu Pavilion. If Consort Wan could gain the Emperor's favor with her ambiguous face, why couldn't she?
Anyway, she didn't want to be a palace maid anymore, didn't want to only eat until she was 70% full, and didn't want to work from morning till night without a moment's rest.
I don't want to be forced to squeeze onto a crowded dormitory bed sideways, unable to even turn over...
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