Harem Daily Life

It was the first time that Concubine Wang had encountered such a stingy and eloquent pilgrim. She couldn't help but yell, "I was once the queen, after all. Don't you believe what I say and refute every word I say? Humph, if you don't want to see it, then get out of here and don't waste my time here."

Tao Yanyan narrowed her eyes. "You were indeed the empress before, but now you've been demoted to a commoner and are practicing in Jingci Temple. I heard that the title of Talented Person was retained because His Majesty showed mercy and granted you a favor. But in truth, you're just a practitioner."

Seeing that Concubine Wang's face was gradually getting worse, Tao Yanyan gave her another way out and took the initiative to say, "I also heard people outside that you are very effective, so I came in with the mentality of giving it a try. Since you are so effective, why don't you just tell me about my past life. As for this life, if you really want me to tell it myself, then I will tell you."

Wang Cairen was exhausted, but for the sake of his own reputation, he still endured his anger and showed it to her.

Wang Cairen looked at Tao Yanyan and felt that the person in front of her seemed somewhat familiar, but she could not remember where she had seen this person.

"You must have committed many sins in your past life, which is why you were born with this birthmark. You must have suffered a lot because of this birthmark, right? You must have been the target of criticism wherever you went."

As Lady Wang spoke, she observed. Seeing that the person opposite her didn't refute her, she continued, "Fortunately, my family has some money and a good background. I was able to find a good husband, so I can live a good life."

Tao Yanyan raised his eyebrows and nodded slightly.

Lady Wang continued, "But the good times didn't last. Your husband must have several concubines, and his business is gradually declining, so he came to Jingci Temple to seek peace of mind."

Tao Yanyan continued to nod. He Linzhang had quite a lot of concubines, and she herself was also a concubine who rose to power.

Lady Wang took a sip of tea and said, "If you want peace at home and business to flourish again, you must sell off all your concubines. Only by clearing away these obstacles can you turn your fortune around."

Tao Yanyan said in embarrassment, "But they haven't done anything wrong and are respectful to me. How can I just sell them off? Besides, my master wouldn't agree to it."

Lady Wang said coldly, "Concubines are all lowly creatures. If you don't deal with them, just wait for them to step on you and bully you!"

Seeing that Tao Yanyan was still hesitant, Wang Cairen was furious. "Don't you see? I'm a living example. In the past, I was lenient and kind to your majesty's concubines, but now, I've been harmed by Empress Tao and have fallen to this point. Empress Tao was born into a noble family and climbed up from the lowest rank of seventh-rank concubine. You have no idea how dirty her methods are."

The disguised palace maid could no longer bear to hear this and quickly stopped him, saying, "Don't talk nonsense about the current queen. Be careful with your words and actions."

Wang Cairen sneered, "She's done all those dirty things, and she's still afraid of what others say?"

Tao Yanyan raised his hand to stop the palace maid: "I also have two familiar relatives serving in the court. How come the news I heard is not what the noble said?"

Wang Cairen's eyes flickered, unwilling to dwell on this topic with her any further. "Anyway, I've said what I need to say. I've pointed out a path for you. If you believe it, follow it. If not, just pay the money and leave quickly."

Tao Yanyan gave the palace maid a look, and the palace maid took out fifty taels from her bosom and placed them on the table.

Wang Cairen was dissatisfied: "You are sending away beggars? The lowest rank is one hundred taels. Come, close the door, and don't let them out unless they hand over the silver!"

Tao Yanyan wanted to close the door and expose her true face, so she didn't panic. Seeing the nuns of Jingci Temple obey Wang Cairen's orders, she sat there coldly, watching everything.

After all the doors were closed, Concubine Wang took off her veil and said, "This is the first time I've met someone as ignorant of current affairs as you. Since you won't pay, then you must pay the price. Come, give me a good slap in the face until I'm satisfied!"

Several strong nuns came forward and tried to hold Tao Yanyan back, but were kicked down one by one by Shuang'er who was behind Tao Yanyan.

When Concubine Wang saw her resistance, she became furious.

"How dare you, a mere common woman, act so presumptuously in front of me!"

Tao Yanyan stopped pretending, took out a handkerchief, soaked it with some tea, applied it to his face, and wiped off the large red birthmark.

The moment her bright and beautiful face was revealed, Concubine Wang's face turned pale as paper. The nuns in Jingci Temple were so frightened that they knelt down and begged for mercy: "Queen, please spare me, Queen, please spare me!"

The host stepped forward and begged for mercy, "Empress, we were all following Concubine Wang's orders and had no choice but to disrespect you. I hope you will look past our mistakes and forgive us!"

Tao Yanyan gave her a cold look and said, "As the abbot, and a monk at that, you have no judgment at all and allowed Concubine Wang to do whatever she wants in the nunnery. You don't need to be the abbot anymore. Come, take her away and give her ten slaps with the board, and drive her out of the nunnery."

Two servants came forward and started beating the man with a stick right in the yard. After that, they dragged him out.

Manager Li heard the news in the backyard and rushed over, only to see the half-dead female host being dragged out.

He bowed and stepped forward to greet her. "Your Majesty, if you have any instructions, please let me know. I have brought quite a few people here today, and they all obey your orders."

Wang Cairen sneered from the side, "Manager Li's ability to flatter superiors seems to be welded to his body. He acts like a bootlicker wherever he goes."

Steward Li said politely, "Serving the master is a servant's duty. What Lady Wang said makes sense."

Seeing that Manager Li did not refute and was so humble, Concubine Wang no longer had the courage to argue with him.

Tao Yanyan glanced at the kneeling nuns. "You have aided the tyrant and shown no compassion. You watched Concubine Wang harm others without trying to stop her. Each of you will receive five strokes of the cane and be punished by copying a scripture ten times as a warning to others."

Not taking their lives was already a favor, and not driving them out at least gave them a place to go, so the nuns were very grateful and bowed to thank the queen for her great kindness.

Tao Yanyan looked at Concubine Wang again and said, "You are here in Jingci Temple to cultivate your character, but you are talking nonsense, disregarding human life, defrauding money, and talking nonsense. I cannot sit idly by and watch."

Wang Cairen sneered, "I've fallen to this point now, what else can I not lose? You think I'll be afraid if you punish me? Hahahaha, tell me, how can you punish me?"

Concubine Wang had made up her mind and felt that Tao Yanyan could not do anything to her.

Tao Yanyan glanced at her and said, "Wang, you will be demoted to Liangyi and will no longer be allowed to receive outsiders for any reason. If I discover your misconduct again, you will no longer be a member of the royal family. All your status will be stripped away and you will be taken back to the Wang family."

Concubine Wang stared at her in disbelief. "You...you...I am the former queen, and you are the successor. What qualifications do you have to demote me? I want to see His Majesty! You've bullied me to death!"

Tao Yanyan gave her a cold look and said, "What position do you think you still hold in His Majesty's heart? You still dare to dare to see His Majesty, but His Majesty will not see you!"