The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 96 Grange Accounts
Nian Shilan's lunch was according to the highest standard of the portion size, with fat chickens and ducks, all delicious and tasty. She put down her chopsticks after taking a few bites, saying that she wanted to eat before, but now she has no appetite.

At her instruction, Xiao Linzi took a fan and gently fanned the delicious food on the table.

The fat chickens and ducks were not roasted as usual. Instead, the kitchen chopped them into pieces according to the concubine's instructions, and cooked them using the braised and stewed methods. They also set up an exquisite table stove and roasted the dishes on the stove, giving off an enticing aroma.

An San swallowed silently on the beam, fortunately, he was able to hold it back.

When it was time for dinner, Nian Shilan ordered the kitchen to prepare roasted lamb legs. The small stove was still burning, and the lamb legs were roasted on the fire until they were sizzling and oily.

The kitchen staff wondered why Concubine suddenly ate such greasy meals, and carefully followed the instructions.

Xiao Linzi was very skillful in serving Nian Shilan. He took a delicate knife and carefully cut off a few pieces of lamb leg meat and placed them on the plate in front of Nian Shilan.

Nian Shilan still ate a few bites and then stopped.

"Xiao Linzi, I'm full. Let's share these dishes."

Nian Shilan wiped the corners of her mouth elegantly with a handkerchief. An San rested on the beam and touched the dry food in his arms with resentment.

Nian Shilan seemed to be talking to herself again.

"It seems like I can never get tired of eating chicken, duck, fish and meat. I really don't know how those who only eat dry food survive. Fortunately, the palace is rich, and as long as you follow me, there is nothing you can't eat."

Finally, Nian Shilan looked at Songzhi, blinked, and asked her.

"Did you say so, Songzhi?"

Songzhi immediately knew what Nian Shilan meant.

"Who says it's not true, Master? If I were to ask you, what's the point of living if you can't eat good food or drink good wine all your life? Master, do you think those mountain kings who have killed people in the martial arts world are happy?"

Nian Shilan touched Songzhi's forehead with her finger painted with kohlrabi.

"You, use your brain to think about it. How can they be happy when they are worried every day?"

An San sat on the beam, speechless and choking.

He was a secret guard, but he was also a young boy of only sixteen years old. In the secret guard camp, only those excellent secret guards who had achieved good results had the right to eat and drink as much as they wanted.

A third-rate secret guard like him can only make a living day by day.

In the past, the concubine didn't know he was on the beam, and he would occasionally sneak into the kitchen in the mansion or the small kitchen in Cheng'en Garden in the middle of the night to pick up some of his favorite cooked meat to satisfy his hunger.

It had only been one day since he was discovered by the concubine, but he was already becoming very greedy.

The ten taels of silver in his arms had never been spent since he was assigned by Prince Yong to protect the concubine.

He also heard with his own ears the concubine instructing the kitchen and the small kitchen in the mansion to be careful of rats stealing meat. Presumably, the kitchen had strengthened its inventory and protection.

An San felt bitter, but he could still hold on.

At night, when everyone was silent, the light was still on in Yinzhen's study.

He listened to the information that An Yi had gathered for him.

"Your Highness, I have been hiding in the Nian Mansion for the past few days, and I have not seen Lord Nian Gengyao interacting with any of the princes. He only attends the morning court during the day, and then goes to the military camp to train. At night, he concentrates on studying the art of war in the study, and does not want to be disturbed by anyone. He even often forgets to drink the nourishing soup that was sent to him. Madam Nian is very resentful. The couple had a quarrel because Lord Nian Gengyao did not rest in her room recently. Lord Nian simply stayed in the study these two days. I sneaked into his study while Lord Nian was attending the morning court. On the surface, there were only books on the art of war, but secretly, I did not find anything."

Yinzhen placed his right hand on the table with his index finger lightly tapping it.

"I see. It seems that I am too suspicious. He has repeatedly disagreed with me in the court, and I originally thought that he wanted to support a certain prince. I thought that since he could not be used by my second brother, he must have been used by someone else. Now it seems that I am too suspicious. Withdraw the spies from the Nian Mansion and ignore him for now. Keep an eye on those who are ready to make a move for me, and pay more attention to my second brother to prevent anyone from harming him. Please protect my second brother."

An Yi lowered his head and responded "yes".

Yinzhen knew very well that the emperor's doubts would not be so easily dispelled.

Nian Shilan had just gotten up early and was still dressing when several servants kneeled in the courtyard of Cheng'en Garden.

When Nian Shilan had packed up and left the house, she stood in the corridor, and a servant's voice spoke clearly. "My Lady, the farm reported the harvest today, and I have to personally count the furnishings that the Lady brought into the mansion, so I really don't have the energy to look at the farm's account books, so I hope you can sort out the farm's accounts."

Nian Shilan felt annoyed when listening to the report from his subordinates.

She sneered in her heart. Ulanara wanted to use the methods of her previous life again. She allowed the managers of several manors to report confusing accounts and made Nian Shilan, who had no interest in housekeeping affairs since childhood, panic.

In the end, she was forced to use her dowry from her private treasury to fill the gap. However, Ulanara proposed to recheck the accounts, which branded Nian Shilan as "not good at managing affairs" in front of Yinzhen. For quite a long time, Guo took away her right to assist.

Later, it was Yinzhen who suggested that she assist in managing the trivial matters of the palace, and only then did Ulanara have nothing to say.

Nian Shilan had thought about it carefully in this life. When Yinzhen proposed to give her the power of assistant again, she just thought that Yinzhen had deep feelings for her.

In fact, it was just because Nian Gengyao had won several battles in a row at that time, and Yinzhen wanted to let Nian Gengyao know that his sister was living well in the palace in order to win him over.

Now, Nian Shilan no longer wants to try to be strong and do things she is not good at like she did in her previous life.

"Well, I would like to thank Madam Fu for her trust. I will go to pay my respects to Madam Fu and discuss this matter with her in person. If you have anything to say, please wait until Madam Fu and I have discussed it before reporting. You can go down first."

The servant who spoke was very obedient. He lowered his head and responded, then left Cheng'en Garden with several other servants who wanted to report.

Nian Shilan thought silently in her heart, in this life, the power of assistant manager came suddenly, and even the trap of the Ulanara family came so smoothly, so she had to deal with it carefully.

At the gate of Xingfu Courtyard, Nian Shilan met Hu Gege with Yucui. When Hu Gege saw Nian Shilan, she bowed her head and saluted politely, then stood aside, waiting for Nian Shilan to enter the courtyard first, and then she would go in.

"I pay my respects to Madam Fu Jin, and wish you good luck."

Nian Shilan, contrary to his usual casual demeanor, seriously bowed and greeted Ulanara.

Ulanara was all smiles.

"Get up and sit down."

Seeing Nian Shilan sitting down, Ulanara spoke again.

"Congratulations first, sister Nian. Sister is really blessed. Yesterday, the master sent people to each courtyard to tell her that she should help with the trivial matters in the mansion. Sister has been in the mansion for less than a year, and she has such power. It is really impressive."

Nian Shilan was out of character again. She stood up, bowed earnestly to Ulanara, and spoke slowly.

"I thank my master and my wife. I am so terrified. When I was at home, my mother often taught me some housekeeping matters, but I was lazy and didn't learn much. Now I am suddenly asked to help manage the affairs of the mansion. I am afraid I can't do it well~"

Everyone listened to Nian Shilan's serious voice and thought that she really didn't have the ability to be a director at all.

Hu Gege covered her mouth with her handkerchief and chuckled, but did not say anything.

Shu Gege brought the tea and took a sip in silence.

Feng didn't make any movement and didn't look at anyone, just treating him as a decoration.

Duan was still under house arrest and was only allowed to come out on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month to pay her respects to Lady Fu Jin. Only then could anyone see her.

Ulanara said with a tolerant smile.

"Sister Nian is too modest. The master has given you the power of assistant manager, which is a blessing for you, so you should accept it. I heard that a servant went to Cheng'en Garden to report to you earlier, but you rejected him. I have already arranged that from now on, the accounts of the farm, which are checked every three months, will be handed over to you. I hope you will not refuse again."

Nian Shilan sighed helplessly.

"What Madam Fu Jin said really frightens me. Money accounts are not trivial matters. If I am right or wrong, or if I miss something, can Madam Fu Jin guarantee that I will not be punished? I heard that the furniture and furnishings for Madam Qi's arrival in the mansion have not been properly arranged. Why don't you show me mercy and let me do this?"

Nian Shilan was also testing. This time, no matter what Ulanara said, she had a plan to deal with it.

　Please give me a small ticket, thank you for your support

　　
　
(End of this chapter)