The most beautiful lady in the harem

Chapter 111 Pretending

The weather in June is too hot for some plump people.

Several palace ladies from the Palace Bureau came in, wiping the sweat beads on their heads as they walked.

"Empress Xianfei, in this weather, the palace needs more cooling supplies. There is still enough ice in the warehouse. But are we going to the villa to escape the summer heat this year? I wonder if the emperor has any plans?" The palace lady asked as soon as she arrived.

Concubine Li Xian smiled and said, "It's really hot. You came here so early in the morning. Please sit down quickly. I'll ask the people in the kitchen to make you some lotus leaf water. It was sent to the palace by the Empress Dowager yesterday."

This series of witty remarks is so refreshing to listen to.

Qin Liuse sat next to Concubine Li Xianfei. Although she was also in charge, she was actually just an assistant, so she usually didn't speak much. She just watched and thought silently, just like a decoration.

If there is anything good, she can learn it. For example, the way Concubine Li treats people is much more capable than she was before.

Now that he is in power, instead of being arrogant and looking down on others, he is so approachable. How can this not be impressive?

As soon as a few palace ladies came over, Concubine Li asked them to sit down and gave them sweet water to drink. Although these palace ladies were the most powerful in their respective palaces, had a lot of say and were supported by many people.

But after all, she was being pampered by a servant and treated as a respectable one like Concubine Li Xian. This was treatment that she would never get from any other master.

Therefore, the faces of several palace ladies had expressions of surprise that were difficult to conceal.

Qin Liuse gave Concubine Li a thumbs up in her heart.

As they were talking, the people from the small kitchen brought up the lotus leaf water. Concubine Li did not treat her differently just because she was a palace lady. The bowls and plates containing the lotus leaf water were all used by the masters in Yuxiu Palace.

The maid was also polite to the palace ladies. She brought out the lotus leaf water and then left.

After several palace ladies had drunk the lotus leaf water, they officially began to report their work.

The Shanggong Bureau discussed the affairs of the summer harem with Concubine Li Xianfei. The Shangjin Bureau said that they had to replace the gauze curtains for the nobles, and the incense also had to be replaced to avoid attracting mosquitoes. Moreover, a year had passed and new styles had come out. The nobles in the palace disliked out-of-fashion items the most.

The palace lady was still asking Emperor Yongjia whether he would go to the villa to escape the summer heat this year. Last year, the new emperor just took office and was busy with government affairs, so he did not go, but the previous emperor would go there every year.

Concubine Li Xian smiled and said, "Right now, I haven't heard that the emperor is going. I will ask him later and tell you when I get the answer. But the emperor is busy with state affairs, and the summer is not too hot this year, so he probably won't go. I will ask him later."

Concubine Li was always gentle and kind until she arrived at the Shangshi Bureau.

Discussing the food for the harem with Zhu Shanggong, "In summer, no one likes to eat too much meat and fish. They prefer to eat some light and refreshing food. But those meat and fish still need to be prepared, which is another expense."

It can't be that when the noble lady wants to eat meat, there is no meat in the harem.

Concubine Li ordered Zhu Shanggong to do something, but Zhu Shanggong's face showed some unspeakable hidden meaning.

Concubine Li paused, and suddenly her eyes flickered, and she understood something.

But he still put on a smile, gritted his teeth, and said to her, "Since we have almost discussed it, you can go over there and ask Concubine Xin Shu if she has any opinions. If not, get her permission and do it."

Zhu Shanggong breathed a sigh of relief, for she was afraid that Concubine Li would hold it against her. Now, the power of the Imperial Food Bureau was handed over to Concubine Xin Shu by Empress Dowager Dong, so her job as a Shanggong was not very good.

It is only natural for the empress dowager to suppress a concubine, and she does not need to feel embarrassed. But now it is Shufei and Xianfei, both of whom are first-rank concubines, and Zhu Shanggong is not sure whether these two can become empresses. She dare not offend either of them and cannot tell who is more important.

This makes life even more difficult.

For example, in the morning, several palace ladies would come over to talk to Concubine Li.

To be honest, the Shanggong Bureau was not under her jurisdiction, so Shanggong Zhu could have not come.

But if he doesn't come, he's afraid of offending Concubine Li.

But if I come here, I'm afraid Concubine Xin Shufei will not mind it.

Now hearing that Concubine Li had no intention of blaming her, Zhu Shanggong breathed a sigh of relief and felt only gratitude in her heart.

Everyone in the Shanggong Bureau has their own duties, and their daily tasks are similar. There will only be some differences from time to time when there are solar terms or festivals.

So they just came here every day to have a routine talk and didn't stay for long. After they were done talking, they quickly returned to their respective palaces to take care of their business.

But after these people left, Concubine Li started to complain to Qin Liuse. She spoke with her mouth hanging down, and it was obvious that she was not as calm as she had just been with Concubine Zhu.

"That person over there is really good at pretending. He said that he is not in good health and can't take charge of things, so he handed over the power of the harem to us."

Having said that, Concubine Li snorted coldly.

"Look, how can she be willing to let it go! She's just pretending. She's been in the Northwest for so long that she really thinks she's the mistress of the house." Concubine Li was full of disdain.

Concubine Li was scolding Concubine Xin Shu. She said that she couldn't take care of things and that she was in poor health and had no ability. She seemed to be handing things over to them, but in fact, she was still holding tightly to the power given to her by the Empress Dowager Dong.