Harem Daily Life

After resolving the matter in his mind, He Linzhang went to Changle Palace as soon as he adjourned the court.

"Where is your master? Hasn't she gotten up yet?" He Linzhang entered the hall and didn't see anyone. He thought the little concubine was still asleep, so he asked in confusion.

Mingyue said hurriedly, "Her Majesty ate some lunch and went to the backyard to bask in the sun. I didn't expect His Majesty to come at noon, so I will go and invite Her Majesty now."

"No need, go and arrange lunch, I'll go see her." He Linzhang said as he walked through the corridor and went to the backyard. From a distance, he saw a slender figure in a pink dress under the pavilion.

Hearing someone coming over, Tao Yanyan closed the account book in his hand and was about to turn around when he was surrounded by someone. He was kissed on the side of his face, and Tao Yanyan's cheeks immediately turned pink: "Your Majesty, why are you here at noon? Have you not had lunch yet?"

He Linzhang sat down next to her and half-hugged her in his arms: "Are you sober? Does your head still hurt?"

When Tao Yanyan thought about how she had made a fool of herself last night, she shook her head and pouted: "Your Majesty, I...are you angry?" After all, she had teased him in front of so many people, and Tao Yanyan felt a little guilty.

Seeing the young concubine's shy look, He Linzhang wanted to tease her and pretended, "Well, I'm not angry, but I've lost face. Look, what have you done to me? Many ministers in the court laughed at me today." After saying that, he moved closer to Tao Yanyan and let her see the wound on his lips: "Yanyan, shouldn't you make up for it?"

Tao Yanyan saw a handsome face approaching her, and glanced at the small wound on his lip. She felt a little embarrassed: "Your Majesty, can't you avoid it? I am drunk, but Your Majesty is not."

He Linzhang stared at her calmly: "How to hide? Throw you away on the spot? Then when you sober up, won't you get angry with me and I won't be able to comfort you for days and nights?"

Tao Yanyan choked and said unhappily, "You are talking as if I am unreasonable. Your Majesty praised me for being well-behaved before, but now you despise me for being naughty. Humph, men's words are really deceiving."

He Linzhang smiled and took her up: "Alright, alright, you're getting angry while talking. How can I bear to throw you away? Even if you want to hug me and call me little lord, I will listen obediently." He Linzhang squeezed her hand: "But next time, don't tease me in front of so many people. Change places and let you do whatever you want."

Tao Yanyan's face flushed, "You big head ghost, I can take whatever I want from you!" She swore that she would never drink again, drinking is harmful!

Tao Yanyan accompanied He Linzhang to have lunch. She only ate a few bites of the food symbolically and then lost her appetite. She just watched the emperor eat.

"I would like to mention your father's official position. It just so happens that the Minister of Works wants to retire and return home, and I want to arrange for your father to take over." He Linzhang raised his eyes, as if asking Tao Yanyan's opinion.

Tao Yan said, "Your Majesty's appointment of people is not my place of business. But my father has just been in the Ministry of Revenue for a short time. I wonder if his promotion so quickly will cause criticism."

Seeing the concubine's worry, He Linzhang comforted her: "I have always appointed capable people. The Ministry of Works has a lot of things to deal with. Your father is young and strong, and it is a good time to promote him. He has accumulated a lot of experience as an official in the local area and has done a lot of practical things for the people. I believe he will be able to make achievements. Don't worry, if it is not appropriate at that time, I will transfer him back to the Ministry of Revenue."

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "Then I would like to thank Your Majesty for the promotion on behalf of my father! My father will be promoted to the rank of Second Rank Minister in just one year. I believe he will cherish the opportunity and make great contributions."

He Linzhang added another bowl of rice and continued, "There is one more thing today that I need to tell you about. Some soldiers were sacrificed in this expedition to Yan State. The Ministry of War calculated that more than 46,000 taels of silver are needed for compensation. The Ministry of Revenue does not have much silver in its account. I want to transfer it from the imperial property account first and have the Ministry of Revenue write an IOU and return it when there is enough silver."

Tao Yanyan nodded: "Let General Li handle it directly, this matter cannot be delayed." For those who died in the war, the pension should be paid out as soon as possible. The soldiers should not be allowed to shed blood and tears.

He Linzhang knew that she would definitely support him, as the little concubine always stood firm on major issues.

"Yan Yan, I am so lucky to have you. I heard that this year's winter clothes are already being made, all thanks to you. You manage the imperial property for me and take care of three children, which is really hard work. I want to make you a first-class concubine. After the Shufei promotion ceremony, I will choose a good day to hold a proper ceremony for you."

Tao Yanyan was stunned. She had no biological children and was so young. Was she going to be promoted to the position of a first-rank concubine so soon?

"Your Majesty, I don't really care about what position I hold. You make the decision." Anyway, the monthly salary would increase if I got promoted, and the income of everyone in Changle Palace would also increase. Tao Yanyan did not refuse and listened to him in everything.

"Okay, then I'll think about the title." He Linzhang said.

Tao Yanyan smiled and said: "It doesn't matter what the title is. I am happy with any title bestowed by Your Majesty." The title is just a name. The real money is what matters.

After lunch, He Linzhang rested for a while in Changle Palace and then rushed back to the imperial study. It was autumn recently, and all places were busy with autumn harvest. He Linzhang also had a lot of things to do.

In Fengyi Palace, the Queen asked about the arrangements for the ceremony of making Concubine Shu a consort, and then asked about Changle Palace: "Your Majesty, have you been staying in Changle Palace recently?"

The queen had been pregnant and had given birth before, so she couldn't serve the emperor in the emperor's bedchamber, and therefore she didn't pay attention to these things. But if the one in Changle Palace was the only favorite, she would have to take action, and couldn't just watch her family become powerful.

Nanny Fang said, "Yes, it was only during the last time when the Lu sisters came that His Majesty stayed in Baozhi Pavilion. On other days, he either did not enter the harem or stayed in Changle Palace."

The queen's eyes darkened: "Are all the others dead? Are they just watching her being favored alone?"

Nanny Fang said, "How about you, Madam, go and mention it? There are so many people in the harem, how come His Majesty can't see them?"

The Queen tapped the table and said unhappily, "Perhaps the others have been in the palace for a few years, and Your Majesty is tired of them? Concubine Tao is the fastest promoted among the newcomers to the palace. This momentum is too strong, which is not a good thing. Also, can you arrange someone to do the contraceptive medicine thing we talked about last time?"

Although Tao Yanyan was diagnosed by the imperial physician as having difficulty conceiving, in order to be absolutely sure, they still had to take action to make sure she would never be able to give birth, so that they could truly rest assured.

Nanny Fang said in embarrassment: "Ever since the Second Princess moved to Changle Palace, the people around her have also turned away from us. I went to Nanny Jiang several times, but she rejected me. Others are also unreliable. In order to avoid alerting the enemy, I dare not make any more arrangements."

The queen had a headache. She always felt that nothing had gone well for her recently. First, the prince she was supposed to have was born as a princess. Then, her daughter was naughty and went to Changle Palace and refused to come back. Yesterday, the Princess of Yan was eyeing her position as queen. Everything was going wrong and it was very upsetting.