Harem Daily Life

After being reminded by Eunuch Zhang, Tao Yanyan also began to pay attention to Li Jing. She asked Chang Tai to keep an eye on her and instructed the eunuch she knew well in the Qinzheng Palace to keep an eye on her.

In July, thanks to Yunuo's unremitting efforts in teaching, Yu Cheng finally unlocked the skill of turning over. Every time he turned over, his short legs would kick up into the air, and he was extremely excited.

After learning to roll over, Yu Cheng gained a different perspective and gradually stopped crying. If he needed anything, he would just shout "Ahhh" a few times and ask the people around him to serve him.

In order to supplement calcium for the two children, Tao Yanyan still insisted that Mingyue and others go outdoors to bask in the sun. They could lie on their stomachs, sides, or even lie down. Anyway, their faces were covered, but their bodies were exposed to the sun everywhere.

Recently, the time for concubines to pay their respects has been shortened. Tao Yanyan mainly listens to their difficulties and helps coordinate and resolve them. The other things he does are to convey the opinions of the empress dowager or the emperor, celebrate the birthdays of some individuals, and reward them with gifts.

When everyone gathered that day, Concubine Xian mentioned something: "Your Majesty, you previously asked me to assist with matters concerning the clan. A new princess has been added to the Yong Palace. The list of gifts to be sent has been prepared. Please review it, Your Majesty."

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "Little princess? Is she born to Princess Yong?" It seems that I have never heard that Princess Yong is pregnant.

Concubine Xian shook her head and said, "She is not the princess, but the daughter of Princess Qinghe, who is the co-wife."

Tao Yan understood. No wonder, otherwise, if she wasn't born to the princess, how could she be a princess? Princess Qinghe was a princess married to the Kingdom of Yan. Her status in the Yong Palace was comparable to that of the princess. Her child could be considered a princess.

Concubine Liang sighed, "The Princess of Yong has been married into the Yong Palace for seven or eight years now, and she's been childless. Now that the concubine has given birth, she must be even more anxious."

Tao Yanyan coughed lightly and said, "Don't talk about the princess."

Princess Liang immediately covered her mouth, realizing she had spoken out of turn, and quickly apologized.

Tao Yanyan looked over the gift list, which was all in accordance with regulations. After a moment's thought, he said, "There's nothing wrong with this list. However, Prince Yong is of high status and has a close relationship with Your Majesty, and the young princess's mother is a Princess of Yan. So, let's add a pair of jade ruyi and send them to the palace."

The virtuous concubine agreed and took back the list and put it away.

Xu Zhaoyi stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the Ghost Festival is approaching. Every year, we strictly prohibit offering sacrifices in the palace. However, every year, some people still ignore the palace rules and burn offerings in secluded places. This poses many hidden dangers. I have thought of organizing the palace servants into teams and increasing patrols at night this month. Anyone caught using fire in the palace will be sent to the Ministry of Punishment."

Tao Yanyan thought of the fire at Fengyi Palace and nodded. "Your suggestion is good. Let's do as you say. How about this: the patrol formation will receive an extra month's salary. This will help them stay active."

Xu Zhaoyi responded, "Yes, I understand."

After everyone had nothing more to say, she asked everyone to leave and summoned Li, the chief steward, to inquire about the progress of the Fengyi Palace renovation.

Chief Steward Li arrived quite quickly, because he happened to be at the scene of the fire in Fengyi Palace, directing the palace servants to repair it. Fengyi Palace was very close to Changle Palace, and it didn't take him many hours to jog over.

"Manager Li, please have a cup of fruit tea first. It's hot, don't get too hot."

After Tao Yanyan finished speaking, Mingyue brought him fruit tea, which was made from a variety of fruit juices and contained ice cubes to relieve the heat. After drinking a cup, he felt refreshed all over.

Steward Li hurriedly thanked her, took the drink, and then replied, "Your Majesty, the east and west side halls of Fengyi Palace have all been burned down. Only the main hall remains, which is relatively good. However, it has been smoked, and I'm afraid it has a strong smell. It's not suitable for living there anymore."

Tao Yanyan felt it was a pity: "Fengyi Palace was the largest and most luxurious palace besides Qinzheng Palace and Changchun Palace. It's a shame that it burned down. Is it possible to restore it to its original state?"

Chief Steward Li replied, "First, the cost of silver is enormous, probably fifty or sixty thousand taels. Second, the smell in the main hall cannot be removed. If we must restore it to its original state, the work will probably take more than a year."

Although Tao Yanyan felt that money was not a problem, was it necessary to repair it?

Seeing the Empress's embarrassment, Chief Steward Li said, "Your Majesty, you don't live in Fengyi Palace right now. It's close to the Imperial Gardens, so if you build it directly into a garden, it would save time, effort, and money. The border is unstable right now, so building a palace on a large scale wouldn't be advisable."

What Chief Steward Li said made some sense. He Linzhang no longer held selections, so there wouldn't be so many people in the palace. Was it really necessary to rebuild Fengyi Palace?

"I will discuss this matter with His Majesty. If His Majesty wishes to preserve it as a keepsake, then we will repair it no matter how much money or time it takes. If His Majesty feels it is unnecessary, then we will save the money and use it wisely."

Manager Li nodded in agreement.

"Oh, Your Majesty, there's something I've remembered and need to report to you." After saying this, Chief Steward Li glanced around. Seeing that everyone was trusted by the Empress, he added, "Over at the Qinzheng Palace, Aunt Li has been acting a little out of character lately. My disciple went there to deliver something and saw her twice. Once, she allegedly held onto Your Majesty's changed nightgown for a long time, and another time, she dismissed everyone else from the bedroom to serve Her Majesty during her afternoon nap."

Steward Li quickly glanced at the Queen and said, "But Aunt Li probably never slept on the Dragon Bed. She just knelt on the ground and fanned His Majesty."

Tao Yanyan had heard Eunuch Zhang remind him to be careful about Li Jing before. Now even the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department came to remind him, it seemed that he should go and check on Aunt Li.

After accompanying the two little ones for a nap, Tao Yanyan asked Caiyun to make some mung bean cakes and stew some white fungus soup and brought them to the Qinzheng Hall.

The afternoon in midsummer was very hot, and most people stayed indoors to cool off. Eunuch Zhang was not in the emperor's bedroom, so he probably went to rest.

As soon as Tao Yanyan arrived, a young eunuch hurriedly came up to stop him and said, "Your servant greets the Queen. Your Majesty is taking a nap. Please stay. I will notify you when Your Majesty wakes up."

Tao Yanyan gave Shuang'er a look. Shuang'er stepped forward and slapped the eunuch. The eunuch staggered and fell to the side.

Shuang'er said coldly, "When would His Majesty refuse to see the Empress? Besides, it's past nap time now, His Majesty should have gotten up long ago."

The young eunuch hesitated, Tao Yanyan glanced at him and continued walking into the bedroom.

Shuang'er walked beside her and pushed the door open. She saw Li Jing tidying up her clothes and hurried out to greet her.

"Your servant greets the Empress. His Majesty has not yet stood up. Please go out and wait for a moment." Li Jing said as she buttoned her collar.