After finishing her postpartum confinement, Shi Zhenxiang also went to take a look at the newly opened shops.
The shops she had bought for the five princesses were mostly in the categories of clothing, food, housing, and transportation.
After all, food is the paramount necessity of the people. Besides, she and the children all loved to eat and were more willing to experiment with new varieties of food.
Sure enough, her "Food is the People's Heaven" inn had been open for less than two days and business was booming.
Because she had innovative dishes and the room layout was good, the guests who came were either rich or noble, and business was booming.
Meanwhile, the pastry shop on another commoners' street was also doing very well.
For example, women liked to bring gifts such as osmanthus cakes, mung bean cakes, or fried dough twists when visiting relatives, and these were very popular.
She went to each shop to buy these snacks, and they tasted exactly the same as her improved versions. It showed that the cooks her eldest sister-in-law had found were all highly skilled.
Finally, she also went to the braised snack shop to buy some braised snacks, intending to give them to Sheng Jinyan to eat.
After all, regarding the matter of her opening shops, she still needed to inform Sheng Jinyan to make it officially known.
So in the evening, the braised snacks and cold dishes were delivered to Sheng Jinyan's table.
Smelling the aromatic braised duck feet, pig head meat, pea and mixed sauce noodles with cucumber, and small cold noodles, Sheng Jinyan was rarely tempted by his cravings.
He asked Old Zhengzi, "Is this a new product from the Imperial Kitchen?"
Old Zhengzi smiled fawningly. "No, Your Majesty, this was sent on the orders of Noble Consort Shi."
"She said she also followed the trend and opened a few food shops on the streets, all registered under the little princesses' names, saying they would be used as the princesses' dowries in the future to save you some money."
Sure enough, upon hearing this last part, Sheng Jinyan's dragon countenance greatly pleased, and the corners of his mouth rose.
"This woman is still so considerate of me."
When all the women in the harem learned that they could open shops, they one after another returned to their maternal families to ask for money to open shops.
Yet not a single one opened their shop for his sake.
Only Noble Consort Shi wanted to save him money. After all, the dowries for five princesses would be a considerable amount. Her being so thoughtful for him really moved him a little.
So he waved his hand grandly. "Go, send a few imperially bestowed plaques to Noble Consort's shops, saying that the food made in her shops is delicious."
Old Zhengzi's eyes curved, thinking to himself that His Majesty had finally become a bit enlightened.
Finally, he was starting to learn to dote on Noble Consort Shi.
It seemed His Majesty did have a tiny bit of a emotional root after all.
Shi Zhenxiang was overjoyed upon receiving the calligraphy plaques bestowed by Sheng Jinyan.
Good heavens, really good heavens. That machine-like emperor had rarely shown such humanity. He actually knew to send her imperially bestowed plaques.
This was more valuable than any golden advertisement.
This imperially bestowed plaque could not only advertise her shops but also serve as a protective talisman.
After all, it was a taste recognized by the emperor; who would dare to slander it?
The common people, wanting to taste the good things even the emperor praised, would certainly come to buy incessantly.
Sure enough, the next day, Shi Zhenxiang's few food shops became incredibly busy.
All the pastries, snacks, and braised goods were sold out by early morning.
Upon tasting, everyone said, "Oh, the taste really isn't bad. No wonder the emperor likes it."
Although a thousand people have a thousand tastes, Shi Zhenxiang's shops had many flavors. Sweet, salty, numbing, spicy, crispy, soft—every flavor was available.
So the customers bought their preferred flavors, and naturally there were many positive reviews.
Although the shopkeepers selling food on the same street were jealous, they dared not cause trouble.
After all, the emperor had already bestowed calligraphy. If they stirred up trouble, wouldn't that be opposing the emperor?
So the business of Shi Zhenxiang's food shops was truly good.
She was so happy looking at the daily income that she couldn't close her mouth from grinning.
But coincidentally, as soon as her postpartum confinement ended, the Empress Dowager ordered her to return to the palace.
Helpless, she had no choice but to take the children and go back.
As soon as she returned to the palace, she first went to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager saw her rosy complexion and was very satisfied.
"Has your body fully recovered?"
Her words almost directly urged her to attend the emperor's bedchamber immediately.
Shi Zhenxiang was embarrassed, but she obediently accepted, "Thanks to the tonics Your Majesty the Empress Dowager sent, your subject's complexion has been nourished so well."
Although the Empress Dowager had only bestowed bird's nest soup a few times, she still felt her contribution was significant, so she acknowledged it. "Nourish yourself more, so that you may soon give birth to a prince for His Majesty."
"By the way, have you drunk those child-bearing talismans?"
Previously, fearing a lack of guarantee, the Empress Dowager had continuously sent her a huge stack of child-bearing talismans, ordering her to burn the talismans every night at midnight.
Shi Zhenxiang thought to herself that those talismans had all burned to ashes, but on the surface she still had to look grateful. "Your subject has consumed them all."
The Empress Dowager was very satisfied. "Then go attend the bedchamber tonight."
It happened that the Empress had gone to the temple to pray for blessings, and the other imperial concubines had injured their bodies last time and were recuperating, so they conveniently gave their bedchamber duty slot to Shi Zhenxiang.
But Shi Zhenxiang was troubled. "But Your Majesty only engages in marital relations with your subject on specific days according to the calendar. According to the schedule, your subject cannot attend the bedchamber for another year."
The Empress Dowager, however, was impatient with the emperor's rigid rules. She waved her hand. "Go, call the emperor here."
By this time, the morning court session was already over.
Sheng Jinyan arrived quickly.
When Shi Zhenxiang saw him, she bowed respectfully, keeping her head down without even glancing at him.
But in Sheng Jinyan's eyes, this woman was strictly following his rules and taking his words to heart.
He knew that every time he came to the harem, those women's eyes practically wanted to stick to him.
Only Shi Zhenxiang always remembered his rules, showing how much she took his words to heart.
Old Zhengzi...
Always felt that His Majesty was thinking something wrong again.
That expression on his face was clearly off.
The Empress Dowager was annoyed by his boring temperament and told him, "Noble Consort Shi's health is restored. Tonight at midnight, you will have marital relations with her, and strive to conceive a dragon prince by next month."
Sheng Jinyan frowned and directly opposed, "No."
He had marital relations with Shi Zhenxiang only once a year, and that was how they successfully produced five daughters.
If they suddenly advanced the schedule, what if she couldn't conceive?
The Empress Dowager was so angry her chest hurt. "I have already calculated it for you. Tonight at midnight is the auspicious time to conceive a dragon prince."
"If you miss it, and in the future you have no prince, don't come crying to me."
Sheng Jinyan didn't believe it. "If it were really that easy to conceive, the harem would already be overcrowded with children."
Seeing that he was still so impervious to reason, the Empress Dowager threw a mung bean cake at him. "You won't even listen to my words now?"
This stinky brat, since childhood he always had his own ideas and never listened to her at all.
After growing up, he even contradicted her more. If he weren't her biological child, the Empress Dowager would want to beat him to death.
The mung bean cake hit Sheng Jinyan's face. He didn't get angry, but picked it up, patted it, and put it in his mouth. "Mother Empress, wasting grain is shameful. If you throw away grain recklessly again next time, your son will be angry."
The Empress Dowager...
This stinky brat.
"Just tell me, are you going to have marital relations with Noble Consort Shi tonight or not?"
Shi Zhenxiang was embarrassed.
She thought to herself, the ancients were not at all feudal.
This kind of intimate affair being discussed so openly in public was really awkward.
Fortunately, she had thick skin. She just pretended not to hear, silently watching the argument between mother and son.
When Sheng Jinyan saw her raise her head to look at him, his mouth, which was about to say harsh words, paused for a moment.
He felt that this woman must have felt sorry for him because the Empress Dowager was scolding him, so she raised her head to look at him.
Look, her eyes were even moist.
Could it be that she was crying out of concern?
Sigh, this woman was truly considerate of him in every way.
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