Harem Daily Life

He Linzhang patted He Yucheng's arm: "You and I are father and son. Whatever you do, your father will support you. Be bold in your reforms and don't have any worries. Place your own people in the positions as soon as possible so that you can ascend the throne smoothly in the future."

He Yucheng hurriedly knelt down: "Father is in his prime, and his skills are still sharp. Your son dares not overstep his bounds."

Seeing his son's cautious expression, He Linzhang sighed: "Alright, alright, look how frightened you are. You can think about it yourself. I won't interfere any further."

He Yucheng then stood up. It wasn't that he feared his emperor father, but rather that the relationship between ruler and subject, father and son, always placed the ruler and subject before the father and son, and not a trace of greed could be allowed.

Moreover, rather than securing his throne and holding supreme imperial power, he hoped that his father would live a long and healthy life, and that the whole family could be together in harmony and happiness.

When father and son are of one mind, their strength can break metal. Three months later, a timely rain fell, irrigating the parched and cracked earth, which seemed to come alive instantly. The people stood outdoors cheering, soaked to the bone, but their smiles were happier than ever before.

He Chaoge was over three months old. On her 100th day, Tao Yanyan personally presided over a joyous 100-day celebration at the Fifth Princess's residence. All the ladies of the family attended, and countless gifts were presented.

He Yinuo had a wonderful postpartum period, and was so well cared for that she looked radiant and full of energy. Watching her daughter, who was the center of attention, kicking her little legs and sucking her little hands in her mother's arms, she sat to the side chewing her own food.

He Nuannuan, with her three-headed figure, ran up to her, tilted her head and looked up at her with her round little face: "Auntie, eating spicy food will affect your breast milk."

He Yinuo picked up a piece of spicy duck neck, thought for a moment, and said, "It's okay to have a bite once in a while, it's none of your business!"

He Nuannuan frowned and put her hands on her hips: "If I can't eat it, I can't eat it. I'll keep an eye on my aunt and make sure my sister's food is safe."

He Yinuo: "..."

That tiny little thing, who doesn't even reach her knee when she jumps, dares to stare at her and not give her food? That's outrageous!

He Ruanruan shuffled over on her short legs, looked at her younger sister, and then at her aunt: "Why are you two glaring at each other? Is it a contest to see who blinks first and loses?"

"Shut up!" the big and little ones shouted in unison.

He Ruanruan: "..."

Her lips trembled, and He Ruanruan's large, grape-like eyes instantly filled with tears. Her voice softened, "You yell at me? I'm going to find my father."

He Nuannuan's mouth formed an "o" shape as she watched He Ruanruan walk away with her short legs. She put her hands on her hips and glared at He Yinuo: "I'm going to take care of some important business first, I'll come back to keep an eye on things later."

He Yinuo: "..."

Why should such a little kid have to worry about everything? Who did he get all that from?

As I chewed, images of being controlled and dominated by my second brother when I was a child suddenly popped into my mind. When they were little, their mother and father were always very busy, and it seemed that the person who controlled them the most was their second brother...

No one knows how He Jin'an resolved the lawsuit between the twins. After a long time, He Ruanruan and He Nuannuan came in with several strings of candied hawthorns. They first distributed them to their older brothers and sisters, and then He Nuannuan handed the last string to He Yinuo.

He Yinuo was flattered and took the candied hawthorn, pinching He Nuannuan's chubby little face.

"It's not that I wanted to give it to her, it's that Father said Auntie can eat it." He Nuannuan proudly tilted her head back.

She spent all her savings, sob sob sob, she really lost out today. She did a good deed but was still extorted by her crybaby sister He Ruanruan. She has to do more for her mother to earn the money back, sob sob sob.

Since Consort Liang was sent to the Western Hills Palace, apart from the occasional visit and gifts sent by Consort Xian on holidays, no one in the palace has remembered her.

Being alone in the temporary palace was even lonelier than living in the palace itself. She spent her days counting ants, and over time, loneliness made her ill. Her mood grew increasingly depressed, and her letters to the Fourth Princess, He Qian, were filled with accusations against the Empress for confining her to the temporary palace.

In September of that year, He Qian returned to the capital with Jing Mubai. Upon seeing He Linzhang, she knelt down and pleaded, "Father, please have mercy and bring Mother back to the palace! I lost my birth mother and aunt when I was young. It was Mother who raised me. I beg you to remember her years of kindness in raising me and let her not spend her old age alone and helpless in that palace!"

He Linzhang knew the whole story about Consort Liang being sent away by Tao Yanyan. It was just that Consort Liang was too outspoken and tried to sow discord between the Crown Princess and Consort Su in front of the Empress, which angered Tao Yanyan.

"You've been married for so many years, and it's not easy for you to return to the capital. Don't interfere in some things. If you want to see Consort Liang, just stay at the Western Hills Palace for a while."

The implication was that bringing Consort Liang back to the palace was absolutely impossible.

He Qian felt as if her heart was being torn apart. She knew that neither she nor her mother were favored by the emperor, but she never expected that they would be so unfavored.

Tao Yanyan didn't take He Qian's plea for Consort Liang to heart at all; in her view, Consort Liang had only herself to blame.

Years ago, out of kindness, she allowed the childless Consort Liang to raise the newborn He Qian, giving her an heir and support. Later, due to the promotion of concubines, she elevated Consort Liang to the rank of Imperial Concubine. But how did this Imperial Concubine Liang repay her?

She was sarcastic and instigated He Qian to steal He Yanran's marriage and sow discord between the Crown Princess and Consort Su. Her heart was filled with resentment, and she couldn't remember Tao Yanyan's kindness in giving her a child and promoting her.

Both had children and both were promoted, but Consort Xian was more diligent and attentive than Consort Liang, always following her lead and managing the affairs of the inner palace in an orderly manner, so that Consort Liang had no worries.

Therefore, Tao Yanyan knew perfectly well who the ingrates were and who was on his side.

Xianglan handed Tao Yanyan a cup of tea: "I heard that the Fourth Princess was unable to persuade His Majesty, so she visited Consort Liang's family. I'm afraid she wants to join forces with the Liang family to plead for Consort Liang."

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "If the Liang family wanted to interfere, they would have done so long ago. I want to see whether the Fourth Princess's reputation and connections will actually work in the Liang family."

Xianglan said softly, "Actually, Consort Liang was also confused. If she had been on good terms with Her Majesty like Consort Xian earlier and hadn't made such a mistake, she wouldn't have ended up like this."

Tao Yanyan said calmly, "If everyone could understand this, there would be no conflicts between people in this world."

He Qian visited the Liang family for several days in a row, but apart from receiving her well, they made no further moves. Liang Fei's sister-in-law, who was now in charge of the household, even advised her not to interfere in the grudges of the previous generation and to live a good life with Prince Consort Jing.

Seeing the Liang family sit idly by, He Qian's heart sank to the bottom.

Seeing her displeased expression, and knowing that she had been turned away for days, Jing Mubai felt bad too: "Why don't you just go and beg the Empress? I think she's a kind-hearted person. If you beg her sincerely, she'll agree."

Before she could finish speaking, He Qian smashed a teacup at Jing Mubai's feet: "She's kind-hearted? I've told you long ago that you're blind and heartless, and you still say she's kind-hearted?"

Jing Mubai jumped back a step, frowning as he looked at his foot that had almost been hit by the teacup.

He was indeed blind and heartless. Back then, he rejected the gentle and reasonable He Yanran and married this seemingly weak but actually deep-thinking He Qian...

Jing Mubai said nothing more, turned and left, too lazy to stay and watch He Qian go crazy any longer.