Harem Daily Life

Tao Yanyan was pinched by him and felt pain. She looked at him angrily and slapped his hand away: "Your Majesty dislikes my bad temper and likes Li Cairen, who is delicate and pitiful. Just go to her and never set foot in my Changle Palace again."

After saying this, she covered her face with the script and said, "Perhaps Your Majesty dislikes me so much that you might as well not look at me again. Out of sight, out of mind."

Seeing that she was getting more and more excited, He Linzhang took her hand away and threw the script aside: "You are the one I love to look at the most, how could I dislike you? Even if you are jealous, you can't confuse right and wrong."

Tao Yanyan stared at him with her round grape-like eyes and said angrily, "Your Majesty, are you blaming me for being unreasonable again?"

He Linzhang was defeated and immediately hugged the person into his arms: "I didn't say that. I wanted to accompany you back, but you left me behind and left angrily. I also want to save face!"

After saying that, he lowered his head and kissed her forehead: "But no matter how you treat me, I can't help but want to see you. Yan Yan, don't get angry with me anymore, okay?"

He Linzhang patted her back and whispered in her ear: "You are still pregnant, and getting angry is harmful to your health. If you really can't vent your anger, you can pinch me or bite me, but don't ignore me, okay?"

As expected, Tao Yanyan started pinching his arm, but her slender fingers had limited strength and she didn't cause any injury at all.

After a while, Tao Yanyan felt bored and moved her body to find a comfortable position again: "Your Majesty, are you not going to work? Are you going to stay here with me all the time?"

He Linzhang nodded: "It's the beginning of the new year, and there's nothing to do. I'll take a break today and accompany you and the children."

As soon as he finished speaking, Eunuch Zhang came in and reported that General Qi wanted to see him for an important matter and was waiting in the imperial study.

He Linzhang had no choice but to return to the Qinzheng Hall, and Qi Yizheng indeed brought him big news.

"You mean, Mu Chenfeng has a good relationship with Marquis Zhongyong?" He Linzhang asked with a frown.

Qi Yizheng nodded: "I have been keeping close watch in secret and found that Mu Chenfeng and the Yan State envoys have met with the Loyal and Brave Marquis several times. As for what they discussed, it is unknown. But their whereabouts are secretive, and the meeting places are very hidden, and they are all in disguise. If they are not discussing something shameful, why would they go to this extent?"

He Linzhang pondered for a long time: "The people who secretly monitored Prince Yong's mansion did not find any signs that Prince Yong was too close to the people of Yan. Could it be that they sent the princess to marry in public, but secretly contacted the Rong family?"

Qi Yizheng was also a little confused. The Rong family was Concubine De's maiden family, and Concubine De had given birth to the eldest prince. No matter what, the Rong family should not get too close to the State of Yan. Would they bring in a foreign tribe to compete with their grandson for the world?

"It seems that we can only monitor the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery like we did the Prince of Yong's Palace." He Linzhang lowered his eyes: "The Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery settled in the capital, under my nose, it is not difficult to monitor him, but there are 100,000 soldiers at the border, if there is any unusual movement, the consequences will be difficult to control."

Qi Yizheng also agreed: "Your Majesty, the Rong family has a high prestige in the border areas. They have been in the army for many years and have a solid foundation that is not easy to shake. Their military force is also the strongest in the Great Zhou. If the Rong family really has ill intentions and is colluding with the State of Yan... it is better to send someone over to monitor them first."

Qi Yizheng's worries were not groundless. He Linzhang immediately nodded and asked him to select someone to send over.

I thought the harem would be quiet for a few days, but I didn't expect that Li Cairen was just such a troublemaker.

Even before he had fully recovered, he would bring his sister, Lu Cairen, to Liang Zhaoyi's palace every few days. They said they were there to pay their respects and visit their children, but in reality they were just jumping around in front of Liang Zhaoyi and making her angry.

Originally, the Fourth Princess was being raised well by Concubine Liang, but the two sisters from the Lu family were so annoying that Concubine Liang had already thought about returning the child.

On this day, Liang Zhaoyi could not bear the harassment and came to Changle Palace to find Concubine Tao.

"Your Majesty, originally, I should have solved this matter myself and should not have troubled you. But I couldn't make a decision at the moment, so I came here to listen to your opinion." So, Liang Zhaoyi told Tao Yanyan about her idea of returning the child.

"I've thought about it. I'm not the only concubine without children in the palace. The two sisters of the Lu family are really difficult to deal with. Last time, they upset my mother and she was angry for a long time after returning home. This time, they come to my place every day to report, and every time they say they miss their children and want to see them. When the fourth princess cries, they say in a weird way that I didn't take good care of her, and say things like adoptive mothers are not as good as biological mothers. I'm fed up with them. I might as well give the fourth princess to them directly, just to have some peace and quiet."

Liang Zhaoyi wiped away her tears as she spoke.

Tao Yanyan sighed: "I understand you. Whoever gets involved with those two sisters will be unlucky. Well, give it to them. If you miss the child, you can go visit him later."

Liang Zhaoyi sat for a while before saying goodbye. Not long after she returned, she ordered people to pack up all of the Fourth Princess's belongings and send them all to Mingcui Pavilion.

The Lu sisters achieved their goal and were naturally delighted.

It was a pity that neither of them had much patience in taking care of children, and the fourth princess was so young that it was so tiring when she was fussing about sleeping. Before long, Lu Cairen could no longer bear it.

"Why is this child so difficult to take care of? She cries all day long, and it's annoying!" Lu Cairen asked someone to take the child away: "Are you all dead? You let her cry in front of me all the time, and why don't you take her away?"

The fourth princess's wet nurse was chosen by Liang Zhaoyi. She was never scolded when she was with Liang Zhaoyi. But since she followed the fourth princess to Lu Cairen's side, not only was her food deducted, but she was also often scolded. She felt very upset.

When the time came for the fourth princess to recognize her mother, she cried in grievance when she couldn't see Liang Zhaoyi, and even drank less milk.

The wet nurse didn’t know what to do. If this continued, neither she nor the fourth princess would be able to live peacefully!

"Is there still no news from my sister? Has His Majesty gone to invite her? Why hasn't His Majesty come to see the Fourth Princess for several days?" Lu Cairen originally thought that with the child in hand, she would be able to see the emperor, but for many days, she didn't even see him, and she became more and more anxious.

The maidservant beside her stepped forward and advised: "Talented lady, please wait for two more days. Li Cairen has also been to the Qinzheng Palace several times, but it is said that she did not see His Majesty and was sent back by Eunuch Zhang. Talented lady, do you think His Majesty really has no feelings for Li Cairen anymore?"

Lu Cairen frowned: "No more? Then why should we bring her back to the palace?" Lu Cairen really couldn't understand.

The one who couldn't figure it out was also her good sister.

Li Cairen dressed up like a fairy every day and went to the Qinzheng Palace to seek an audience. She tried all kinds of ways to send gifts to He Linzhang, but was stopped outside the door by Eunuch Zhang every time.

She went again today, with a spirit of becoming more courageous as she faced more setbacks.

"You should go back, talented person. His Majesty said that you should stay in Baozhi Pavilion to recuperate after you are taken back to the palace. If you really don't want to stay here, then when you are well, we will send you back to Jingci Temple."

Li Cairen took several deep breaths, and finally suppressed her anger. She said delicately, "Eunuch Zhang, we have been together for several years. For the sake of our past friendship, please help me pass the message again. I just want to see His Majesty and say a few words to him. I will leave after I finish speaking, and I promise not to delay you any longer."

Eunuch Zhang sighed and said helplessly, "Alright, I will pass the message again. However, Li Cairen, you should put yourself in the right place. No matter how favored you were in the past, that is all in the past. Now that His Majesty has forgiven you and taken you back to the palace to enjoy a peaceful life, you don't have to suffer the coldness beside the green lamp and ancient Buddha. You should cherish it, but don't challenge His Majesty's patience again!"

After saying this, Eunuch Zhang went in and came out soon to invite Concubine Li in.

Li Cairen's eyes darkened and she walked into the imperial study carrying a food box.