Harem Daily Life

Gu Yi didn't know why he cared. After hearing from the patrolling guards in the morning that Lord Gu and his entourage were staying in the palace, he rushed here in a hurry, fearing that she would misunderstand his character.

Now that he had explained it clearly, he suddenly felt a little lost, because he had said everything he wanted to say and he could only leave.

At this time, Eunuch Gui came over with a smile, bowed and said, "Lady Tao, the palace has sent rewards. There are five baskets of mandarin oranges and pomeloes from the south, a cart of golden charcoal, and a letter from His Majesty to you."

Tao Yanyan took the emperor's handwritten letter from Eunuch Gui, but she was not in a hurry to read it. However, Xiao Jinan urged her, "Mother, mother, please read the emperor's letter quickly to see if he mentioned me."

Tao Yanyan glanced at Gu Yi embarrassedly and said, "Commander Gu is a guest in our house. You can only read private letters after the guest leaves."

But Xiao Jinan couldn't wait any longer: "Then I'll play with Commander Gu for a while. Mother, you go over there and watch. Later, mother will come over to talk to Commander Gu and tell me if my father misses me."

Gu Yi wanted to say goodbye, but was stopped by Xiao Jin'an: "Commander Gu, let's play!" Without saying anything, the three-head-tall Xiao Jin'an tilted his neck and pulled the tall man away.

Tao Yanyan asked Qingfeng and the others to stay there, and he walked to the pavilion alone and opened the letter.

Although Gu Yiren was playing with the child, his eyes involuntarily looked at the people in the pavilion.

The letter was several pages long, and she read every page carefully. Sometimes she smiled with her eyes curved, and sometimes she couldn't help but chuckle with her hands covering her lips. She was so happy and joyful.

Gu Yi forced himself to look away, a feeling called "heartache" spreading in his heart.

Tao Yanyan finished reading it quickly, put the letter away, and considerately took out the one written to Xiao Jinan, preparing to let him read it himself.

When Little Jin'an saw Tao Yanyan coming over with a piece of paper, he stopped playing the game, rushed over to hug Tao Yanyan's thigh, and asked with bright eyes, "Is the thing in mother's hand the one written by father to Jin'an?"

Tao Yanyan nodded: "Yes, this one is written to Jinan, can Jinan read it himself?"

Of course Xiao Jinan was happy to do so. He had already learned many words and reading the letter was no problem for him.

"My son Jin'an, don't be greedy. The weather is getting colder. Remember to put on more clothes in the morning and evening."

Little Jin'an read out the contents of the letter in a baby voice. Gu Yi had never expected that a king would treat his youngest son with such love and care, and that the child was even adopted. He instantly thought of how his biological father treated him, and his heart was broken. People really cannot be compared.

"You can't study...what, what, you must listen to your mother and study hard. Next year, your father will send you to the Imperial Academy to study as a teacher."

Tao Yanyan pointed at the two words: "Slack. It means not being proactive and being lazy in doing things."

Xiao Jinan nodded: "Well, I don't slack off, I work the hardest!"

Xiao Jinan finished reading the letter, folded it carefully and handed it to Tao Yanyan: "Please keep it well, mother."

Tao Yanyan accepted it and put it together with the other letters.

Gu Yi had previously thought that Concubine Tao and the Second Prince might be out of favor because they lived in the temporary palace. But now it seems that he was wrong. The emperor, who was busy with all kinds of affairs, was thinking about the mother and son, and even wrote a letter with deep affection.

After that day, Gu Yi hadn't been to the palace for a long time, but he would lead the patrol himself every day, and when passing by the palace, he would stay for a while and stare blankly.

In November, the cold wind blew, the sky gradually became gloomy, and everyone put on thick winter clothes.

The Empress Dowager's birthday is on November 11th. When Tao Yanyan heard this date, he was stunned for a moment. The impression of adding things to the shopping cart, getting discounts, and shopping all night long on Double Eleven came to his mind clearly.

"How are you planning to celebrate the Queen Mother's birthday?" Tao Yanyan asked.

"Last year, the Emperor, Empress and Shu Fei came over to get together and celebrated my birthday before going back. This year Shu Fei is pregnant, so maybe the Emperor and Empress will come over, and we'll just prepare a table and have a meal. Alas, it's the same every year, and there's actually nothing new." The Queen Mother said indifferently.

Tao Yanyan thought for a moment and said, "Then I will study more about the dishes and try to make a few more good dishes."

The Queen Mother glanced at Eunuch Qin and said with self-pity, "I have been married into the royal family since I was sixteen, and I haven't enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the market for more than thirty years."

Eunuch Qin's heart was in his throat. When the Queen Mother said this, he had a bad feeling.

"Well, it would be nice if I could go shopping with my best friends like I did when I was young, buy some gifts I like, and then have a good meal at a nice restaurant. As for boat trips and music, I don't dare to hope for that."

Eunuch Qin and Tao Yanyan looked at each other. Eunuch Qin shook his head and knelt down directly: "You must not do that, Queen Mother! If something happens in the streets, how can you explain it to His Majesty and the civil and military officials in the court? I hope the Queen Mother will think twice!"

"Then I..." The Queen Mother glanced at Tao Yanyan and said helplessly, "Let's celebrate like in previous years. You can decide on the dishes, Lady Tao."

"Ah, life, I don't know how many years are left, every year is one less, every year is just a day."

Tao Yanyan felt inexplicably sad.

Eunuch Qin was also feeling bad. The empress dowager entered the Eastern Palace as the crown princess at a young age, and he was just a little eunuch beside the empress dowager at that time. Later, he watched her become the empress step by step, raise the princes, deal with the harem, and become the empress dowager. Now, the late emperor has passed away for six years, and he was almost the only one who accompanied her through those lonely days.

The Queen Mother is now the most honorable woman in the Great Zhou, but she can't even go out for a day of fun. How can one not be sad!

"Grandmother, don't be sad, you can go. I have lived in the streets since I was a baby, and you can too! Don't worry, I am familiar with the streets!" Little Jin'an patted his chest, making a popping sound.

Queen Mother: "..."

Tao Yanyan: “…”

Eunuch Qin: “…”

Seeing several people staring at him in amazement, Xiao Jinan frowned: "Why, you don't believe it?"

Tao Yanyan hugged little Jin'an into his arms and choked up, "Believe me, believe me, Jin'an is the best. He can turn danger into safety no matter where he is and grow up tenaciously!"

She glanced at the Queen Mother again and said, "If the Queen Mother really wants to have a day trip among the common people, then go ahead. Bring all the guards with you and go early and come back early."

The Queen Mother glanced at Eunuch Qin again, and Eunuch Qin said helplessly: "Then listen to Lady Tao, go!"

The Queen Mother raised her eyebrows. "Alright, then listen to Lady Tao and Little Jin'an. Eunuch Qin, you arrange for the protection. It would be best if the garrison also sends some people over, and let Commander Gu lead the protection himself. But I have to say this in advance. If the Emperor finds out, I will not be responsible. The Emperor and I will quarrel over anything, so Lady Tao, you have to take the blame!"

Tao Yanyan: “…”

Is it too late to take back what I said before? The pressure is huge!