This isn't even food waste, it's whole ass meals that were cooked just to be thrown away. They weren't even trying to give the illusion of making it seem like people tried to eat it. Not only is it a waste, it's such a flagrant display that I'm surprised no one caught on in the last life
I think Dad's gonna need to give baaically everyone an apology. He never checks on anything having to do with his daughter at all which is why he doesn't know she has no budget or clean clothes of the few ahe owns. His people are in such a state of destitution that they have to kill someone for not eating their luxurious food, and not just anyone, one of the royal family, and if this is a monarchy which expects monogamy(and not one where he is allowed to have concubines/mistresses/multiple wives) then to his wife for cheating on her and likely leaving his lovechild in her care. If it is one where the king is known to legally be allowed to be polygamous and everyone who enters into a relationahip with him knows that beforehand then nix that last one.
The empress has too much power that the emperor doesn't check over her. I suspect, this is her doing too and not just a ploy to blame the FL. She's doing other shady things.