TPITWOHEF

Chapter 7

[Woo-woo, Lower Concubine Liu's breakfast is so bountiful—beef rolls, sliced mutton, longan steamed buns, salted eggs...]

Xiao Chuchu was in her swaddling clothes, watching Lower Concubine Liu and Consort Min dine together, her mouth almost watering.

Unfortunately, she hadn't grown teeth yet.

[These steamed buns, one bite at a time, with the juice still oozing from inside, is this the legendary filling of 80% lean and 20% fat meat? I can smell the savory aroma even from my cradle.]

Lower Concubine Liu was picking up a longan steamed bun, hearing her daughter's craving thoughts, her eyes brimming with laughter.

Her daughter will definitely grow up to be a foodie.

For her daughter, she must strive to rise in status.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many of her daughter's favorite dishes on the breakfast table.

Lower Concubine Liu thought to herself, accompanying her daughter's thoughts, she ended up eating more than usual.

Even Consort Min was stuffed.

Having company, being entertained by the little one, and being able to eat meat, Consort Min unknowingly ate twice her usual amount this morning.

Not long after, an eunuch from the Empress' Kunning Palace came to deliver a message.

"The maid who committed the offense has been handed over to the Ministry of Justice for severe punishment, and further investigations will continue to determine if anyone instigated her!"

"Consort Min is to select a reliable wet nurse to take care of Lower Concubine Liu and the little Princess from today onwards."

Consort Min immediately acknowledged the order.

"Lower Concubine Liu was distressed last night, the Empress excuses her from morning court and allows her a month's rest, rewarding her with a jade ruyi scepter and three bolts of Sichuan satin."

"Lower Concubine Liu's maid Qiuli, who protected her mistress, is rewarded twenty taels of silver and three bolts of Hangzhou silk."

Lower Concubine Liu also knelt to express her gratitude.

[The Empress is so good at winning hearts, eh? Well, she's competing with the Noble Consort, so she has to rally the consorts and concubines in the harem!]

[But she and the Noble Consort are both vicious hypocrites.]

Xiao Chuchu harrumphed and blew raspberries, eyeing the kind-looking eunuch sent by the Empress with skepticism.

[My birth mother is of humble origins, so the Empress is only too happy to keep her in the palm of her hand, offering her little favors and securing my brother's allegiance as a Prince.]

[But once my birth mother and brother start to shine and threaten the Empress and her Crown Prince's favor, they'll be the first she eliminates.]

[Concubine Rong who once enjoyed the Emperor's affection, and her unnamed infant son who died prematurely, were victims of the Empress.]

Lower Concubine Liu felt her heart gripped for a moment.

Wasn't Concubine Rong the Empress' cousin?

When Concubine Rong was alive, the Empress often rewarded her and even granted her a seat in Kunning Palace.

Before Concubine Rong gave birth, the Empress inquired after her well-being and sent two imperial physicians to attend to her.

The entire harem knew that offending Concubine Rong was tantamount to offending the Empress.