Harem Daily Life

Although she vented her anger to Concubine Li, Tao Yanyan was still unhappy. When she thought about the eldest princess losing her mother at such a young age, she felt that human power was very small and she could do nothing but watch a person's life fade away like a fallen leaf.

On the way back to the palace, He Xuan was in a very low mood. She leaned in Tao Yanyan's arms with red eyes.

"Mother Concubine Tao, can we come to visit my mother next time?" He Xuan wanted to cry, and her voice was filled with the sound of someone trying hard to hold back the tears.

"I'll bring you here in ten days." Tao Yanyan touched the child's head and said, "Xuan'er, your mother's condition... is a bit serious, but I have already told Doctor Liu that he will come over to take care of her from time to time during this period."

He Xuan suddenly wanted to cry, tears falling down her cheeks: "I...I want to...I want to live with my mother. Why can't I take her back? She's so sick, and she has no relatives around her."

She sobbed and spoke vaguely, but Tao Yanyan understood. But Wen Shi was deposed because she hurt the queen. The power of the Duke's Mansion was there, and the queen was the mother of the country. No one could save Wen Shi. Unless, the emperor, for the sake of their past friendship, could let her live in the last stage of her life.

But this idea was just Tao Yanyan's own, and she was not sure that He Linzhang would show leniency.

Looking at the eldest princess crying pitifully, Tao Yanyan sighed, took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears: "Stop crying, I'll think of a solution after we return to the palace." If it really doesn't work, then in the few days left, he can only take the eldest princess to see more often.

It was already late when the two returned to Changle Palace. Caiyun prepared some light dinner for them. Chang Tai saw that Concubine Tao had almost finished eating, so he reported: "Your Majesty, the Queen went to Fuyan Temple to pray for blessings today. After she came back, she invited Your Majesty to come over. Eunuch Zhang sent someone to say that Your Majesty would not come today."

Tao Yanyan originally wanted to talk to the emperor about the Wen family's affairs, but since no one is coming, he can only find another opportunity tomorrow.

Tao Yanyan thought she would see the emperor soon, but she didn't see him for three days. On the fourth day, she couldn't wait any longer, so she sent Chang Tai to the Qinzheng Palace to invite him, but he was stopped by Eunuch Zhang. This had never happened before, so Tao Yanyan found it very strange.

"Did Eunuch Zhang tell me why His Majesty didn't see me?" Tao Yanyan thought, could it be because of the matter with Concubine Li? But He Linzhang should know the conflict between him and Concubine Li, and he would not blame himself.

Chang Tai shook his head: "Your Majesty, Eunuch Zhang didn't tell you the reason, he just said that His Majesty was busy and had no time to see you."

Tao Yanyan would never believe such nonsense. He used to be busy until late at night and would always think about coming to her place. How could he not have time to see her?

Mingyue said worriedly, "Your Majesty has been staying in our palace for a while. The Queen invited Your Majesty over after she went to Fuyan Temple that day. Your Majesty has been going to Fengyi Palace for the past three days. Could it be... related to the Queen?"

Tao Yanyan was a little annoyed. He disappeared when she was anxious to find him. It was so annoying!

"Let's go, I'll go there myself. I want to see how busy they are that they don't even see me!" Tao Yanyan dressed up and went with Qingfeng and Changtai to block the man.

Eunuch Zhang watched from afar as Concubine Tao came over in a menacing manner, and hurried forward to greet her: "Your Majesty, His Majesty is busy, I'm afraid he has no time to see you, why don't you go back first?"

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "But I have an urgent matter to see Your Majesty today. Are there any ministers discussing matters inside? I can wait in the side hall."

Eunuch Zhang looked embarrassed. Tao Yanyan narrowed his eyes, feeling something was strange.

"Eunuch Zhang, just tell me the truth, why doesn't His Majesty see me?" Tao Yanyan suppressed his anger, thinking that if he couldn't see him today, then he might as well never see him again.

Eunuch Zhang sighed, looked around, and whispered, "Your Highness, His Majesty has been acting strangely these past few days. I'm worried that you might get angry with His Majesty, so I stopped you from entering."

The more Eunuch Zhang said this, the more Tao Yanyan felt strange: "Why is it so strange?"

Eunuch Zhang sighed and said, "I don't know what's going on. His Majesty is very irritable now. He loses his temper at the slightest provocation. Many ministers are so angry that they dare not breathe. Moreover, only the Empress can persuade him. And... and I mentioned the Empress in front of His Majesty, but His Majesty... He didn't seem to remember her."

Tao Yanyan looked at Eunuch Zhang in surprise: "What do you mean you can't remember me?"

Can one person suddenly forget another person? Tao Yanyan instantly felt something was wrong: "Have you ever asked for a doctor?"

Eunuch Zhang shook his head. "Your Majesty gets angry all the time, and I dare not ask for the imperial physician without permission. Whenever His Majesty cannot be appeased, I have to ask the Empress. Strangely enough, as soon as the Empress appears, His Majesty's anger disappears immediately. Oh, Empress, what should I do? I have served His Majesty for so many years, and this is the first time I feel scared."

Tao Yanyan glanced in the direction of the imperial study and asked: "Does the Queen Mother know about this?"

Eunuch Zhang shook his head and said, "After the Third Prince was in danger that day, the Queen Mother was shocked and has been paying attention to Yongning Palace these days. I haven't reported it yet. Your Majesty, you should go back first. I will mention it to His Majesty. If there is a turnaround, I will send someone to invite you."

Tao Yanyan pondered for a moment. She was unwilling not to go in and take a look. She didn't believe that a person would suddenly change his temperament, nor would he suddenly forget herself. If it was true as Eunuch Zhang said, His Majesty had indeed changed, then there were only two possibilities, he was either possessed by another soul or controlled by drugs!

Drugs that can control people's minds... Tao Yanyan narrowed his eyes and thought of the old Taoist priest he met on Penglai Island before...

"I'll go in and take a look." Tao Yanyan decided to go in, but Eunuch Zhang hurriedly stopped her and said, "Your Majesty, please think twice. If you quarrel with His Majesty, it will be bad for you at this moment!" Eunuch Zhang was very worried.

"The Queen Mother is in the palace. No matter what happens, we can rely on her. Come on, go and pass the message." Now that he was here, how could Tao Yanyan just go back without taking a look at the actual situation?

Eunuch Zhang had no choice but to go in and report.

"You said Concubine Tao is here?" He Linzhang frowned, with some vague impressions in his mind, but not very deep. In fact, he should say that he suddenly found that his impressions of many concubines in the harem had become blurred recently. He could not remember his own concubines, but only remembered the queen.

He also suspected that he might be sick or had been given some mind-destroying drugs. Because of these suspicions, he didn't trust anything around him, even the words of the personal eunuch, and his temper became worse. In order to avoid making a wrong judgment, he had not visited any of the concubines' palaces recently, only the Fengyi Palace.