Harem Daily Life

He Linzhang and Tao Yanyan spent the night together, and the next day they both woke up late. He Linzhang hurried to attend court, and Tao Yanyan, wearily, simply washed up and went to meet the concubines who came to pay their respects.

The virtuous concubine was the first to report the matters that needed to be resolved in the harem. By the end of the year, warm clothes, charcoal fires, and fire prevention measures were very important everywhere, and money had to be spent everywhere.

Tao Yanyan looked at the budget list and nodded. "Xianfei, your budget is very detailed. Let's approve it for now. I'll give me a list of the actual silver used when the settlement is made."

After she finished speaking, she looked at everyone, thinking that many of them were in their twenties, and His Majesty didn't accompany them. Living in the deep and cold courtyard of the palace, it was not easy to pass the time, so she said: "We have entered the palace, and life is not easy. You must live your life well. If there is anything you want to do, as long as it does not violate the palace rules, you can do it. If you can't make up your mind, you can come and talk to me. I will support you in everything I can do."

Xu Zhaoyi stood up and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for giving me the opportunity to help with palace affairs. When I was in my boudoir, I was restless. My mother taught me how to manage the household, and I loved it. After entering the palace, I was not favored. If Your Majesty had not appointed me, I would probably have spent my days in vain. Now, I am busy every day, and I feel that my life is particularly fulfilling."

After hearing Xu Zhaoyi's personal experience, everyone laughed.

The virtuous concubine nodded and said, "That's right. If you have anything you want to do, you can tell Her Majesty everything. Her Majesty is the most open-minded queen."

Concubine Zhao stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I have been learning embroidery from my mother since I was a child. I feel that I can improve even more. I would like to go to the Shangyi Bureau to learn from the embroiderers. Is that possible?"

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "Why not? Go ahead and make your own arrangements. But be careful with your eyes. Look into the distance more often while you embroider, and don't damage your eyes."

Fang Zhaoyi stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I like to sing when I have nothing to do. I wonder if I could set up a small stage in the palace and sing a little?"

Tao Yanyan agreed: "That's great. You rehearse the play, and when the time comes, let's go and listen to it."

"Then I'll dance with you. I'm a pretty good dancer."

"I can play the piano, so I can join in."

For a moment, everyone's emotions were lifted, and everyone seemed to have found hope in life.

After talking for a while, Tao Yanyan told everyone to disperse. She had to go back to sleep. She had been too tired last night and didn't get enough rest.

She did not get up to eat lunch and slept until the afternoon. Only when the twins, a boy and a girl, cried and called for her did Tao Yanyan get up.

Not long after I got up, Manager Li came to see me.

"Your Majesty, Jingci Nunnery has undergone rectification according to your instructions. Wang Liangyi... has been on a hunger strike recently, saying that if Your Majesty doesn't make a decision for her, then... Hehe, I have tried to persuade her twice, but she..."

Steward Li didn't say anything else. When Tao Yanyan thought about Wang Liangyi's expression, he knew that he must be stubborn and would use this method to force the emperor to submit.

But what she didn't know was that a man who was determined not to care about her would never soften his temper just because she hurt him.

As for He Linzhang, he will unconditionally pamper and indulge the people he likes and cares about. Concubine Li is an example of this.

But he will not be lenient at all towards people he doesn't care about.

Tao Yanyan sighed and said, "Then go and report to His Majesty. If you have time, please come and take a look."

After all, she is He Yue and He Min's biological mother, and Tao Yanyan doesn't want her to starve to death.

When He Linzhang heard that the Empress was aware of the matter and had sent General Manager Li to report it, he shook his head and said, "After being Empress for so many years, she has become even more unreasonable and unreasonable."

Although he didn't want to see it, he really couldn't let her die. The next day, He Linzhang took Tao Yanyan to Jingci Temple.

"Your Majesty, why did you bring me along when you went to visit the former queen?" Tao Yanyan was very unhappy that she had to make another trip.

He Linzhang squeezed her hand and said, "I told you last time that I wanted to take you out for a walk, but unfortunately I was busy and couldn't accompany you. Let's go see her first this time, and then I'll take you for a walk in the back mountains. The maple leaves on the mountain are red right now, and the scenery is quite nice."

Tao Yanyan pouted and said, "Your Majesty, do you still remember that time when you accompanied me on an outing and I was captured by Brother Xingchuan?"

How could He Linzhang forget? If she hadn't been captured, he wouldn't have known how deeply he loved her and would give up state affairs to chase after her.

"I dare not forget, and I don't want to forget." He Linzhang hugged her in his arms: "When you were captured, I couldn't rest every day. My injuries hadn't healed yet, but I took people to chase you. Yan Yan, I was really afraid of losing you!"

Looking at his sincere eyes, Tao Yanyan felt a warm feeling in her heart.

"Oh, I'm fine here now. Your Majesty, don't worry. I will accompany you." After calming him down, Tao Yanyan leaned obediently in his arms.

Wang Liangyi had really starved himself for a few days, causing his complexion to look very bad and he lay weakly on the couch.

When He Linzhang came in, she just took a look at him and her eyes filled with tears.

"Your Majesty has finally come to see me."

Wang Liangyi spoke, full of resentment.

Tao Yanyan did not go into the house, but waited outside, leaving space for the two of them.

He Linzhang walked forward and sat down: "Why are you doing this? You're only starving yourself."

Wang Liangyi wiped her tears and said, "I am deeply troubled. Your Majesty and I have known each other since we were sixteen years old, and we are married. Yet Your Majesty has abandoned me in Jingci Temple and ignored me. I have been going through a difficult time, and Your Majesty has no idea."

He Linzhang's face was stern. "I cannot forgive the mistakes you made. Not implicating your family is already the greatest favor I can do."

She poisoned him, causing him to lose his memory, and even used her two biological daughters to compete for his favor, even drugging them. Any one of these actions could bring about the destruction of their Wang family.

Wang Liangyi shuddered, her eyes flickering as she spoke, "I love Your Majesty too much. I was so desperate to gain Your Majesty's favor that I acted foolishly. But I've suffered so much over the years. Can't Your Majesty forgive me?"

He Linzhang took a look at her. Her original graceful and elegant appearance was gone. She was accompanied by green lamps and ancient Buddhas. She looked much thinner and several years older.

"Just rest assured and worship the Buddha here. I won't embarrass you, and you shouldn't embarrass me either."

Wang Liangyi was furious and said aggrievedly, "I didn't mean to disturb Your Majesty, but the Empress Dowager Tao is really too much. I am the former Empress, it is not her turn to humiliate me."