Harem Daily Life

After seven days, Tao Yanyan met the emperor again, feeling a little awkward. She bowed and sat aside without saying a word.

She had read Manager Li's list in advance and had no objections. She came here today just to express her opinion in front of Concubine De.

He Linzhang glanced at her a few times and was relieved to see that her complexion was rosy and there was nothing wrong with her.

"Today, I invited the Imperial Concubine to come here mainly to discuss the monthly salary of the whole palace at the end of the year and the New Year's Day reward. In addition, the New Year's Day is next month, and I don't know how to celebrate it, so I have to discuss it with the Imperial Concubine. Your Majesty said that he came here today when he was free. If Your Majesty has any instructions, I am all ears."

Tao Yanyan glanced at the expressionless He Linzhang and said, "The monthly allowance and bonus are calculated according to the rules of previous years, but this year I asked for a little extra New Year's goods, which can be regarded as a reward for the hard work of the people below for a year."

Concubine De nodded: "It's a good idea to add New Year's goods, but I calculated that it would cost 10,000 taels of silver to prepare so many New Year's goods. Isn't it too much, Your Majesty?"

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "The total amount looks high, but not much is distributed to each person. It's just a festival, so we can have fun and have more hope next year."

Concubine De said calmly: "Your Highness is very generous. Since you are willing to give, I will not say much. However, I think that some concubines who have made contributions should be rewarded more. For example, those who have given birth to princes and princesses, and those who are pregnant, should prepare more generous gifts this year, and even their status should be raised."

Tao Yanyan thought that Shufei had reached her limit of promotion. The former Queen Consort Wang of Jingci Temple would not give her any reward, so the only one left was the pregnant Concubine Lu.

As expected, Concubine De said, "Your Majesty, I think that Lady Lu is very lucky because she had an heir as soon as she entered the palace. It would be better if she could be promoted to a beauty. Her sister Lady Li has done a great job in taking care of her, so how about she also be promoted to a beauty?"

Tao Yanyan pinched the hem of her sleeves, her face had turned ugly. No wonder Chang Tai found out that the Li Cairen sisters had been trying to curry favor with Concubine De since the Queen was demoted, and it seemed that they had succeeded.

He Linzhang frowned and asked for some unknown reason: "What do you think, Your Majesty?" This was the first time He Linzhang had spoken to her in many days.

Tao Yanyan was so angry that she almost laughed, and asked her what she thought. Of course not!

"When Lu Cairen was pregnant, she was promoted from Liangyi to Cairen. She should wait until she gives birth to the baby safely before she can be promoted to Beauty."

Concubine De was a little unhappy and said, "After all, the Imperial Concubine has never been pregnant, so she doesn't understand the thoughts of a pregnant woman. If the pregnant woman is happy, it will also be good for the fetus. It's just a position, so it's fine if you give it to her. Your Majesty is not a stingy person. Your Majesty, you should make the decision, and I will listen to your Majesty."

Tao Yanyan bit her lip, feeling unhappy, and looked up at He Linzhang.

Seeing her little thoughts, He Linzhang thought for a moment: "What the imperial concubine said makes sense. There is no need to promote her."

Tao Yanyan was visibly happy and looked at him with bright eyes.

He Linzhang looked away: "Just give Mingcui Pavilion some more New Year's goods. Well, I'm busy with my work, so I'll leave first."

After saying that, he stood up and walked out without looking around.

Tao Yanyan immediately said, "Princess De, you can handle the rest. I'm leaving first."

Wanting to catch up with the emperor quickly, Tao Yanyan strode out of Yongxing Palace without waiting for Concubine De to reply.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, wait for me!" Tao Yanyan trotted along to catch up. He Linzhang paused slightly, without turning around, and got on the sedan chair by himself.

Tao Yanyan didn't care and just sat in.

He Linzhang threw his sleeves and said expressionlessly: "I have something to do in the imperial study."

Tao Yanyan turned sideways and put her hands into his cloak to keep warm: "I have nothing to do. I will accompany your majesty to work. Your majesty, please warm my hands. They are so cold!"

He Linzhang was helpless and took a deep breath: "Tao Yanyan, I am still angry!"

When Tao Yanyan heard him calling her by her full name, she looked at him eagerly: "Your hands are cold, do you want to cover them?"

She didn't have any reserve like a royal concubine and just snuggled into He Linzhang's arms.

Looking at the person in front of him with her graceful starry eyes, charming and coquettish voice, He Linzhang's Adam's apple moved, and his big hand unconsciously held her small hand.

"Move up the sedan!" Eunuch Zhang was very perceptive and gave the order immediately.

The windproof curtain of the imperial chariot was lowered, isolating the outside world. One could only see the couple hugging each other through the curtain blown by the wind.

"Your Majesty, have you been sleeping well recently? Do you miss me?" Tao Yanyan whispered in He Linzhang's ear.

He Linzhang said unhappily: "Of course, I eat well and sleep well, I won't disturb the Imperial Concubine's sweet dreams, the Imperial Concubine has a bed all to herself, she must be sleeping well too!"

Tao Yanyan sighed, aggrieved: "Who said that? Without your majesty by my side, I feel cold at night and no one covers my feet. I can't fall asleep when I wake up in the middle of the night and can only wait until dawn with my eyes open. This cold and bleak life has lasted for seven days. Your majesty turned around and left that day without listening to my explanation. These days, I have been busy with accounting and collecting money, and I am afraid that your majesty is still angry and doesn't want to see me, so I dare not go to your majesty to explain clearly."

"Oh!" He Linzhang turned his head away: "If you really wanted to come to see me, why would you wait until today? I thought that if I hadn't come to Yongxing Palace today, you would have forgotten that there is a person named me in this palace."

Tao Yanyan choked and scratched his palm with her little hand, causing a tingling sensation that made He Linzhang almost unable to maintain his composure.

"Your Majesty is so scary when he's angry. That night, Your Majesty pushed me down, and I was terrified. I was sick that day, and Your Majesty pushed me down again. I was sad for a long time!"

After saying this, his eyes were red with tears, and he looked like a lovable little poor thing.

He Linzhang's heart suddenly softened, and he sighed: "I... was a little impulsive that day, but wasn't it because of you that I was angry?"

No one wants to have a child with me, who wouldn’t be angry?

Tao Yanyan fell into his arms: "Your Majesty is angry with Yanyan without asking anything. Yanyan feels really wronged." Tao Yanyan whispered softly, her voice filled with tears.

He Linzhang couldn't help but ask, "Then tell me, what is your unspeakable secret that made you take contraceptive pills for two years and refuse to have my child?"

Tao Yanyan bit her lip and said, "Your Majesty, I am only eighteen years old and I am so scared." After saying that, she shed a tear and looked up at He Linzhang.

"When Lady Fan got pregnant and had a miscarriage, I was terrified. It's easy for a young woman to lose the baby and it may even hurt her body. I'm a coward and I'm scared."

He Linzhang looked at her with complicated eyes, and hesitated for a long time before saying, "Is it just because you are afraid? Don't you want to have a child with me?"