Harem Daily Life

Shang Yuanzhou looked very bad when he was dragged back by Princess Kangning. After returning to the banquet, he just drank alone and didn't want to pay any attention to the princess at all.

"Hmph, don't think that I don't know what you are thinking. Did you see her again and start thinking about her again?" The eldest princess asked in a low voice.

Shang Yuanzhou clenched his fists and said coaxingly, "Princess, please don't always question my friendship with you. We haven't been together for thirty years. What is there for me to miss her? Besides, I am a Xia citizen now, so our positions are different. Princess, please don't worry. I only have you in my heart."

This wasn't a place for private conversation, so Corning suppressed his emotions and stopped staring at him.

Shang Yuanzhou thought about what he had just said to the Queen Mother, that she wanted to sign a long-term contract with the pharmaceutical workshop. The Queen Mother made excuses, which was actually a rejection. He had a headache. He didn't expect that even playing the emotional card still couldn't move the Queen Mother at all.

He went around buying up various medicinal herbs, hoping to establish a monopoly on the market. For this business, no matter how difficult it was, he wanted to talk to Empress Tao again. It was inevitable that people would get sick if they ate grains, and when they got sick, they needed medicine. Once he became the world's largest medicinal herb dealer, he would be able to influence even more things with his business.

The Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet came to a successful conclusion. Tao Yanyan gave the concubines a holiday and allowed them not to pay their respects for three days, especially Concubine Xian and Concubine Xu, so that they could have a good rest.

Tao Yanyan himself was also happy to have some free time. Every day when he had nothing to do, he would lie on the bed with the two chubby little babies, one big and two small, together.

Yucheng and Yunuo are both over five months old, at the age where even a fart earns them praise and affection. They constantly explore new skills daily. Sometimes they'll spend hours drooling while lying down, or digging their fingers into the sheets while turning over, or even fighting over a stuffed toy. Everyone is happy to take care of them, making Tao Yanyan worry-free.

After lunch, the mother and her two children were drowsy when Chang Tai came in to report, "Your Majesty, the Ningyuan Marquis has sent word that Mr. Shang from the Xia Kingdom delegation has asked him to deliver two bottles of Bingji Yufu Pills to Your Majesty. The Ningyuan Marquis says the pills have been tested by the Imperial Hospital and are non-toxic. Taking them will preserve your youth forever."

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "Mingyue, then you can share the pills with everyone. I don't need any."

There was no pollution in ancient times, and the cosmetics used were all extracted from natural sources. Tao Yanyan felt that as long as she ate and drank normally, paid attention to sun protection, maintained good work and rest habits, and insisted on exercising, she would not age too quickly and did not need to take any additional pills.

However, since Shang Yuanzhou gave this pill as a gift, the cost of making it must have been quite high. So she didn't want to waste it, so she gave it directly to a few young palace maids. After all, it was harmless to the body and was a tonic.

Mingyue and the others were naturally grateful. As maids, being able to enjoy the master's good things was a reward from the master.

Chang Tai continued, "Marquis Ningyuan said that recently the Second Prince of Xia and Mr. Shang have both approached him separately, both intending to sideline the eldest princess and reach an agreement as soon as possible. Mr. Shang also requested an audience with the Empress, saying he had something to discuss."

Tao Yanyan frowned. Shang Yuanzhou only wanted to discuss the pharmaceutical workshop, but there was no room for discussion. She said calmly, "I'm leaving the palace tomorrow. Let's meet at the Baichuan Teahouse."

The next day, Tao Yanyan traveled light and went to Baichuan Teahouse accompanied by Manager Li.

When Eunuch Qi saw Steward Li coming, he looked at the woman beside him, and hurriedly lowered his head and respectfully led the person to the best private room on the second floor. He had someone serve the best tea and snacks in the teahouse, and went to guard the outer room himself.

After Shang Yuanzhou arrived, he was taken directly to the second floor by the waiter.

"I, Shang, pay my respects to Your Majesty. I am late in arriving, and I hope Your Majesty will forgive me." Shang Yuanzhou said very politely.

"It's okay. I just arrived not long ago. Please sit down, Mr. Shang." Tao Yanyan gave Butler Li a look. Butler Li poured a cup of tea for Shang Yuanzhou and got up to leave.

Only Shuang'er was left in the room. Shang Yuanzhou knew that this maid was the queen's confidant, so he directly began to explain the purpose of his request to see the queen.

As Tao Yanyan expected, Shang Yuanzhou wanted to sign a contract with the pharmaceutical workshop and buy all the medicines it produced every year.

Tao Yanyan took a sip of tea and said calmly, "I understand Mr. Shang's point, but the annual production of medicinal herbs is limited, and there isn't enough medicine. I don't have any extra to sell, so I can't cooperate with you."

Shang Yuanzhou felt a little disappointed when he was rejected, but he didn't show it on his face. He said, "Then can you plant more herbs so that I can buy herbs for next year?"

Tao Yanyan was genuinely curious about what he was going to do with all that medicine, so he asked, "Is Mr. Shang's medicinal herb business that big? I heard you've been buying medicinal herbs along the way since you came to Da Zhou. Medicinal herbs aren't easy to preserve, so can you really sell all that?"

Shang Yuanzhou smiled and said, "If this place can't be sold, it can be sold somewhere else. I'm just doing a resale business."

Tao Yanyan pondered for a moment. "I don't care how you acquire other things. If you're willing to pay a high price and they're willing to sell, that's your business. But as for this pharmaceutical workshop, Mr. Shang, there's no need to say more. I built this workshop with long-term considerations in mind, and it's for internal use only, not external use."

Shang Yuanzhou hadn't expected the Empress to be so composed. He put down his teacup and said, "I may not be very talented, but I can keep the Princess steady. If I can get the Princess to sign and seal the peace agreement as soon as possible, I wonder if the Empress will consider cooperating?"

Tao Yanyan already despised the idea of using national territory to negotiate cooperation for personal gain. She forced a smile and said, "Negotiations are just a matter of time; they can't change the course of events. Even if we don't sign this agreement for a year or two, it won't be a big loss for the Great Zhou, but that's not necessarily the case for the Xia Kingdom."

Shang Yuanzhou was shocked and looked at the girl in her early twenties opposite him. He didn't expect that she could say these words so calmly.

"The Great Zhou has deployed hundreds of thousands of troops near the capital of Ning, Xia State. This is a stark threat to Xia State. I don't believe Xia State can withstand this kind of psychological pressure. Over time, the people will panic and their lives will be in turmoil, which will affect the country's destiny. Moreover, it is unknown whether the neighboring Yan State will turn its spearhead against Xia State. Therefore, Mr. Shang, there is no need to go to all this trouble to discuss cooperation with me. Instead, persuade the Princess as soon as possible."

Shang Yuanzhou was really unable to refute what she said. He originally thought that he could use it as a bargaining chip, but he didn't expect that there was no bargaining chip at all. This feeling of helplessness was something he had not experienced in many years.

Tao Yanyan concealed the expression in his eyes, thinking about going to Ningyuan Marquis Mansion later to urge his uncle and then urge Kang Mowan. Instead of putting all his hopes on Shang Yuanzhou, it would be better to put them on Kang Mowan. Choosing a long-term partner is much safer than choosing the profit-seeking businessman across the street.