Chapter 91 Cutting Expenses—Vegetarian Meals for All

Chapter 91: Cut Spending, National Vegetarianism

Ji Qingqing's eyes grew deep, a faint sneer tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Is sister hungry? The imperial chefs in the palace kitchen are the best in the Dongchen Kingdom. If you want to cook, they should be the ones doing it. Why does a princess like you have to do it yourself?"

"If word gets out, folks might think the Emperor and Empress have mistreated you, not letting you eat!"

As Ji Qingqing spoke, the Empress's face went dark instantly.

But Ji Qingqing kept going, oblivious, "What, in Prince Ye's Mansion, sis has to cook every day?"

"Isn't that the servants' job? As the mistress, you should keep them in line. They not listening to you?"

"Oh! I've said too much. Don't be mad, sis, and don't take it to heart." Ji Qingqing covered her mouth with exaggerated affectation, acting like she just realized.

Her snide remarks made Tao Zhi, behind Ji Yuntang, pale.

Second Miss Ji was clearly implying she was telling everyone their princess couldn't even handle the servants of Prince Ye's Mansion.

Basically, Ji Yuntang was worse off than a servant in Prince Ye's Mansion, having to follow their orders.

On a bigger scale, it meant Ji Yuntang wasn't fit to be the Household Mistress of Prince Ye's Mansion. She was dragging Ji Yuntang through the mud, calling her worthless.

Ji Huaiche opened his mouth; he'd had plenty of chances to stop her, but didn't.

Ji Qingqing was naturally headstrong; when faced with a tough opponent, she got even pushier.

After being humiliated by Ji Yuntang over and over, Ji Huaiche worried if she didn't blow off steam, she'd hurt herself.

Then their parents and two younger brothers would blame him for not looking after her at the banquet.

Since it was just talk, Ji Huaiche let her go on.

Ji Yuntang sneered, not one to coddle Ji Qingqing.

"Looks like you and your brother live it up in Marquis Yongning's Mansion. I'm so jealous. So when I cook later, you two better not touch it. I'd hate to dirty your noble, stinking mouths."

Ji Qingqing: "..."

Ji Huaiche: "..."

He hadn't expected to get dragged into this. Ji Yuntang dared to insult them publicly!?

Ji Huaiche's anger flared; he slammed the table and stood up. "Princess Ye, you've got some nerve!"

"The Emperor and Empress are right here, and you dare insult an Imperial Official! What do you plead to?"

He stopped scolding her as her big brother and played the Imperial Official card.

So the Emperor and Empress would definitely back him and Ji Qingqing!

Ji Huaiche thought he was smart. If he couldn't deal with Ji Yuntang, someone here could.

Emperor Jingyang initially wanted to ignore it, but with so many officials around, he had to save face. He said coldly, "Princess Ye, why insult Heir Ji and Second Miss Ji? Are you that arrogant?"

Ji Yuntang sneered inside but answered respectfully, "Your Majesty, I didn't insult them. They're overreacting."

"I grew up in the countryside, never living a life of ease. All I know is every grain on the plate comes from hard work. People die for money, birds die for food, and food is the people's top priority. I don't think cooking is a shameful skill."

"But Second Miss Ji keeps putting me down. I'm the princess Your Majesty personally married off to Prince Ye. Insulting me is insulting Prince Ye, and by extension, you and the Empress. How can I not be angry?"

Her words instantly flipped the script.

Ji Qingqing was furious, unable to come up with a comeback. She hadn't expected Ji Yuntang to be so smooth with words.

Emperor Jingyang was taken aback, not expecting such deep words from a woman.

In the Dongchen Kingdom, some regions had bad famines, with countless people starving every year.

Yet the palace threw lavish feasts, wasting food every day.

Ji Yuntang's words hit home with Emperor Jingyang, who looked at her with approval.

"Well said: every grain on the plate comes from hard work. Princess Ye's words speak to me."

He then made a big decision.

"Waste in the palace is out of hand. From today on, except for banquets and receptions, slash daily spending. The imperial kitchen's meals will go from eight dishes and one soup to three dishes and one soup, mostly light veggie dishes. At most one meat dish a day. No more pigging out."

"The same applies to officials' households outside. You can monitor each other. If anyone wastes food, report it. If verified, the wasteful official will be fined three thousand taels of silver, and the reporter can claim one thousand taels from the Internal Affairs Office."

"Additionally, if anyone in the palace wants more meat, they must buy ingredients with their own money and have the imperial chef cook it."

This decision shocked everyone present!

The Emperor was clearly determined to cut their spending.

Some rejoiced, others lamented, cursing Ji Yuntang a hundred times in their hearts.

Blame her for bringing this up. Those who once enjoyed luxurious lives would now have to eat vegetarian daily.

They weren't monks; how could they endure that?

Moreover, their household chefs' vegetarian dishes were often bland.

Luo Jingshen was one such person. Though stingy with others, he never skimped on his own meals, even eating better than the Emperor and Empress daily.

Luo Feizhou couldn't miss the chance to mock him, raising an eyebrow sarcastically.

"I've heard that the Crown Prince must have braised lion's head meatballs and four-joy meatballs every day, or he can't sleep."

"It seems you can't have those daily anymore, since they're made of meat. Father has spoken; if you waste again, it'll be hard to justify."

Luo Jingshen's face darkened. He glared coldly at the gloating Luo Feizhou, clenching and unclenching his fists.

"What I eat is none of your concern, Fifth Brother. Worry about yourself."

Luo Jingshen had no doubt that if Luo Feizhou caught him eating meat daily, he'd report him to their father.

He despised Luo Feizhou's smug attitude, always opposing him.

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