Harem Daily Life

Late at night, Eunuch Zhang poured another cup of tea for the emperor and advised, "Your Majesty, there is no end to the memorials you need to review. You might as well take a rest early!"

"Well, I'll go to sleep after I finish reviewing this book." Just as he finished speaking, he received a signal from the secret guard. He Linzhang asked Eunuch Zhang to go down and then called out the secret guard.

"What's the matter? You have to report it so late?" Without even raising his eyelids, his face was serious, and he could faintly see the pressure of an emperor.

Shadow Guard informed the news.

He Linzhang frowned: "Did Eunuch Qin place someone next to Concubine Li?" But he soon figured it out. It must be the Queen Mother's intention.

He was too lazy to care about the fight between the Queen Mother and Concubine Li. The Queen Mother would not let Concubine Li die anyway. Keeping her alive and accompanying her for the rest of her life with the Buddha was the Queen Mother's way of torture.

"Marquis Ningyuan's purse was missing, so he ran to Jingci Temple to ask if Concubine Li's people had found it?" He Linzhang tapped the imperial desk: "What is their relationship?"

The shadow guard couldn't answer. If he said there was an ambiguity, he would have to produce evidence. But there was definitely no evidence for the time being.

"I followed from a distance. I only know that Ning Yuanhou is going to the Hot Spring Palace tonight, and Eunuch Qin's people are also going to the Hot Spring Palace."

When He Linzhang heard the words "Hot Spring Palace", he was slightly moved. He hadn't seen the little beauty for more than a month and missed her very much.

But when he looked at the mountain of memorials, and thought that he would have to get up for the morning court in a few hours, he could only take a deep breath and suppress the impulse in his heart with difficulty.

"Keep paying attention. You don't need to come back for now. See if you can find out the relationship between Concubine Li and Ningyuan Marquis." After giving the order, he asked, "What about the assassination? Is it related to Jingci Temple?"

The shadow guard shook his head and said, "We have not found any evidence that Jingci Temple has revealed your Majesty's whereabouts, nor have we found anything wrong with Jingci Temple. However... the virtuous concubine sent one thousand taels of silver to Jingci Temple the day before yesterday."

The shadow guard thought it was normal for Concubine Xian to give money to Concubine Li, so he did not report it specifically.

He Linzhang also thought it was normal, but he was just surprised that his concubines seemed to be quite rich. He had just donated several thousand taels of silver, and he actually received another thousand taels to subsidize Concubine Li.

You have to know that Concubine Xian had previously collected money to pay off the debts of her father who was corrupt in the Ministry of Works, which was also a considerable expense. The Lu family was not a noble family and did not have such a wealthy foundation, otherwise Lord Lu would not have been corrupt.

Thinking of this, He Linzhang felt that there seemed to be something strange about it.

Concubine Xian has only been in the palace for three years. Could it be that she has accumulated so much wealth?

You can’t save that much just from your salary!

It seems that we have to send someone to investigate Concubine Xian.

After the shadow guard left, He Linzhang no longer had the heart to read the memorials. He called Eunuch Zhang to help him wash up, and then he rested in the Qinzheng Hall.

Lord Gu rushed to the garrison camp near the Hot Spring Palace, but was unexpectedly turned away.

After introducing himself, the guard went in to report, but Gu Yi refused to see him, saying that the military camp was an important place and did not accept visitors or any outsiders to stay overnight.

Lord Gu and his entourage were in disarray in the wind.

"This rebellious son is going to piss me off to death! In the middle of the night, he watched me freezing in the mountains!" Lord Gu couldn't help but curse.

Zhang Quan and his companions were almost freezing to death. It was cold at night. What would they do if they couldn't find a place to stay?

But the prince seemed determined not to let them in and would not let them in no matter how many nice words he said.

"My lord, this place is closer to the hot spring palace. Why don't you try your luck there? We can't sleep outdoors in the mountains. It's cold and dangerous. We can't stand it." Zhang Quan advised.

"But it is the royal palace after all." Lord Gu hesitated and said, "Besides, the Queen Mother also lives there, and I am afraid of offending her."

Everyone waited for a while, and seeing that the prince refused to give in, they had no choice but to try their luck in the hot spring palace.

When Eunuch Gui saw that it was Marquis Gu, he immediately took the few people into a side courtyard.

"Master Gu, please don't despise me. Commander Gu used to stay in this courtyard when he was recovering from his injuries. It's independent and avoids suspicion. Just stay here for one night!"

"Recuperate? What kind of injury did he suffer? When did it happen?" Lord Gu couldn't help but ask.

Although he has no close relationship with this eldest son, he is his biological son after all. Now he holds the position of a fourth-rank commander. The future of the Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion will depend entirely on this son, so naturally he still has to take care of him.

Eunuch Gui had long heard about the Gu family and knew that the father and son of the Gu family were not on good terms, so he downplayed it and said, "The second prince wanted to eat rabbits, and Commander Gu went into the mountains to hunt and was unfortunately bitten by a snake. He was rescued and kept in the palace for a few days."

Lord Gu was relieved. It seemed that this son was not only good at military affairs, but also had a close relationship with the newly recognized Second Prince.

He had heard that the Queen Mother wanted to adopt the Second Prince, and that he was being raised by the favored Concubine Tao, so Gu Yi had found a secure backer.

Eunuch Gui did not stay long. He arranged for someone to take care of him and then went to rest.

After confirming that the purse belonged to Marquis Gu, the Queen Mother and Eunuch Qin felt at ease to play the long game. The next day, the Queen Mother even made a special trip to invite Marquis Gu to have lunch.

When Tao Yanyan brought Xiao Jinan over, they saw a man who looked somewhat like Commander Gu talking to the Queen Mother.

Based on his age, Tao Yanyan guessed that it might be Marquis Ningyuan.

As expected, when the Queen Mother saw her come in, she first waved and called little Jin'an to her side and hugged her, then introduced: "This is Ningyuan Hou, the father of Commander Gu."

Lord Gu stood up and said, "Greetings to Lady Tao."

Tao Yanyan said lightly: "Marquis Ningyuan is too polite." After that, he sat down aside.

"I heard that Marquis Gu came all the way to see Master Gu? Did he see him?" The Queen Mother asked knowingly.

Lord Gu's face was slightly cold: "To be honest with the Queen Mother, he said that the military camp is a restricted area and no one is allowed to enter. I didn't see him, so I came to the palace to disturb him."

As soon as he finished speaking, Eunuch Gui came to report that Commander Gu wanted to see him.

Tao Yanyan was a little surprised to see Commander Gu, who hadn't visited for many days, coming at this time, so he looked towards the door.

Gu Yi received the message and hurried in. He first glanced at Lady Tao before paying his respects to the Queen Mother: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Queen Mother."

The Queen Mother said kindly, "You came at the right time. Marquis Gu is here too. You and your son should stay for lunch."

Gu Yi did not refuse, but he did not greet Lord Gu either. He looked very cold and indifferent. Even at the dinner table, there was no communication between the two of them.

On the contrary, Marquis Gu and the Queen Mother had a pleasant conversation. Tao Yanyan occasionally spoke to Gu Yi, and the atmosphere was quite good.

After dinner, Tao Yanyan took Xiao Jinan for a walk in the yard to help digest the food. Gu Yi came over at some point.

"I'm not an unfilial person." Gu Yi said suddenly. Tao Yanyan raised his eyes and looked at him suspiciously.

Gu Yi explained, "I am not close to him, nor can I be close to him. Although he is my biological father, I have never felt the love between father and son in these twenty-one years. Last night, I didn't take him in. Ten years ago, it was freezing cold and I was kicked out of the house by my stepmother. I begged him to let me in, but he didn't help me. I slept in the corner outside the door all night and almost died."

Tao Yanyan looked at his clear eyes and anxious expression, thought for a moment, and said, "Don't try to persuade others to be kind without experiencing their suffering. You have your reasons for treating him this way."

Gu Yi's anxious expression eased instantly, and he breathed a sigh of relief. The reason why he rushed here so anxiously today was that he didn't want her to think of him as a person who was disrespectful to his biological father and unfilial.

Fortunately, she did not misunderstand.