Harem Daily Life

"Your servant pays homage to the Empress Dowager." Tao Yanyan didn't know why the Empress Dowager summoned her. After paying her respects, she waited for the Empress Dowager's instructions.

The Queen Mother beckoned her closer and asked her to come closer. She said mysteriously, "I heard that you were stopped by the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery when you were leaving the palace yesterday."

Tao Yanyan nodded, then heard the empress dowager say, "The emperor has already told me everything. I had almost forgotten about that man, but I never expected that over thirty years later, the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery would dig him up and use him as a threat. How despicable!"

Tao Yanyan couldn't ask directly, so she could only console him: "A lie is a lie, it can't be turned into the truth. Your Majesty, don't worry too much. I believe that not all the soldiers at the border will believe rumors."

The Queen Mother smiled and said, "When two armies are at war, the most important thing is to win the hearts and minds of the people. If they want to wage a war of public opinion, we won't be able to defend against it. Let the soldiers handle the border affairs. Now, we have to deal with the matter at hand."

Just as Tao Yan was expressing his doubts, the Queen Mother whispered, "The Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery has shown signs of rebellion. He cannot be kept here."

Tao Yan agreed, and then he heard the Queen Mother say, "That old fox, the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, doesn't want to resort to war, and he's also concerned about the reputation of his Rong family, so he hasn't acted rashly. He's calculated that His Majesty won't act rashly either, so he came to you, using threats as leverage to test the Emperor. What we need to do is make him act first, so that the Emperor can have a legitimate reason to annihilate the Rong family."

Tao Yanyan thought about it and realized that the Queen Mother wouldn't say this to him for no reason, so he tried to ask, "Then according to the Queen Mother's opinion, what should we do?"

The Queen Mother looked at her admiringly, waiting for her to ask this question.

"The Emperor came and discussed this with me. I felt that I had to make the Loyal and Brave Marquis so angry that he would have to rebel."

To be honest, Tao Yanyan is actually a novice in palace fighting. She was able to rise to the top mostly by taking advantage of her rivals and taking advantage of opportunities.

After hearing what the Queen Mother said, she racked her brains but couldn't think of a way to make the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery so angry.

She said with some shame: "Your Majesty, I am inexperienced. Please explain clearly to me, Your Majesty."

The Queen Mother raised an eyebrow. "Isn't he most concerned about the eldest prince? If he knew that the eldest prince was threatened by you, do you think he would be furious?"

Tao Yanyan suddenly understood: "The Queen Mother wants me to threaten the eldest prince with his life?"

The Queen Mother nodded and said, "Ye'er is my grandson. It's not appropriate for me to step in, and neither is the Emperor. After much thought, you are the most suitable. You have two princes, and they regard the eldest prince as a thorn in their side. It makes sense, and he will believe it."

Tao Yanyan finally knew what kind of character she should create next - a vicious stepmother.

"Consort Shu suddenly fell ill, and I thought, given the scorching weather, I'd take her out of the palace to a temporary residence for a while, so she can recuperate and I can escape the heat. The eldest prince is going to elementary school, and I can't bring him with me, so I'm leaving him in your care. It's up to you to figure out how to use him to provoke the Loyal and Brave Marquis."

So, that day, the eldest prince's clothes and belongings were all moved to Changle Palace. Because it was a temporary placement, the eldest prince's room was not as good as those of the other princes and princesses, and the furnishings were simple. When he returned from school, he felt as if the sky had fallen.

The eldest prince took a few deep breaths, looked at the simple furnishings, and frowned. "Mother, why do you treat me like this? Is it because my mother died young and I have no one to protect me? What about the Queen Mother? Why don't you let me continue to live in Changchun Palace?"

The eldest prince asked questions one after another and almost went berserk.

Tao Yanyan did not give him a good look and played the role of the vicious stepmother to the end.

"You're living under someone else's roof now, and you still expect to be fed and pampered? Ha, why? I'm the Queen, and I can treat anyone well or badly as I please. If you're not satisfied, tell your grandfather and see if he can save you from this misery."

After Tao Yanyan finished speaking, he turned aimlessly and walked to the door, ordering, "He can only have two vegetarian dishes for dinner today. Humph, I don't support idlers in my Changle Palace."

Qingfeng agreed, but didn't show any good looks. He said to the people serving the eldest prince, "Your rooms are also in the northwest corner. Go and wait. Only two people can serve the eldest prince. This is the rule of Changle Palace."

The servants did not dare to disobey, so only Haitang and a palace maid were left behind, and the others left one after another.

"Why? I'm the eldest prince, why do I only have two servants around me?" The eldest prince's voice sounded behind Tao Yanyan, and it was obvious that he was just throwing a tantrum.

Tao Yanyan didn't even turn around, but said coldly, "You eat and live at my expense, yet you still have so many demands? Who gives you the confidence? Your grandfather? Oh, if you have the guts, contact him and ask him to seek justice for you."

After Tao Yanyan finished speaking, he strode away, leaving only the eldest prince and Haitang helpless and furious.

"Ah - I'm so angry, so angry!" The eldest prince was so furious that he picked up the stool next to him and smashed it again and again until it was smashed to pieces. Only then was Haitang persuaded him to stop.

"My lord, the Queen Mother has gone out to the summer palace, and we have no one to rely on now. How about I contact the Marquis and ask him to think of a solution?" Haitang suggested.

The eldest prince nodded, wiping his tears while continuing to look for something to smash: "Contact us quickly, I don't want to live like this for even a single day!"

After returning to the bedroom, Tao Yanyan instructed Chang Tai to keep a close eye on the eldest prince, and if any letters or messages were sent out, he should let Chang Tai report to him.

Next, she just had to wait for the action from the Loyal and Brave Marquis.

Haitang was sent by the Rong family to Rong Cairen, so she naturally had a way to contact the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery. Upon learning that his own grandson was being mistreated by the Empress, the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery was furious: "How can this be? I was the one threatening her, but how did she become the one threatening me by trapping the Crown Prince? How despicable!"

Madam Rong complained, "I told the master a long time ago not to take any risks. Ye'er alone in the palace is already powerless, and you want the Queen to push him up at this time. How is that possible? The Queen also has a prince. Even if she is not powerful, she has the final say in the harem!"

Madam Rong cried, "What should we do now? Master's thoughts are known, and Ye'er is also kept by her side. We can't do anything!"

The loyal and brave marquis narrowed his eyes, a murderous look in his eyes: "I originally thought that the Queen Mother would protect Ye'er no matter what, and would also take her reputation into consideration. Now it seems that the Queen Mother has also thrown it all away. Humph, then we will see!"

After saying this, he called his subordinates and sent the message to his eldest son at full speed.

What he didn't know was that since knowing his thoughts, He Linzhang sent a military order to General Duan stationed at the border of Yan State overnight, asking him to lead 50,000 troops to support Gu Yi first and make sure to take back the military power from the Rong family first.