Harem Daily Life

Tao Yanyan was not surprised to learn that Wang Shi wanted her property back. The next day, she summoned Wang Shi to the palace.

He Yue and He Min both followed Tao Yanyan and met Wang together.

He Yue still had some impression of her biological mother, Wang. He Min was taken away to be raised by Concubine Xian shortly after she was born, so she was very unfamiliar with Wang.

Looking at her two biological daughters, Wang felt uneasy for a moment.

"Yuer, Miner, go and pay your respects to Wang." Tao Yanyan said gently.

He Yue took the confused He Min and performed a standard bow towards Wang.

Wang's heart ached, and she held back her tears as she returned the gift to the two children.

She no longer had any prominent status, and was actually supposed to kneel down when she met the princess, but Tao Yanyan exempted her from the obligation, which saved her face.

"As you can see, I and Consort Xian have raised Yue'er and Min'er respectively, treating them as our own and not mistreating them. Okay, you two should go find Madam Dong first. I will speak to your biological mother."

He Yue nodded, pulled He Min and retreated.

"Yuer, Miner!" Wang took a step forward and wanted to hug the two children.

He Yue turned around and said calmly: "Sister Min'er is timid, don't scare her. Just live your life without worry, I will take care of Min'er." After saying that, she did not go forward to hug Wang, but resolutely pulled He Min to the backyard.

Seeing He Yue's coldness towards her, Wang couldn't help but shed tears.

"It's no use regretting it now. Your mother-daughter relationship with them is over. Yue'er is determined, and no one can shake her mind. Min'er doesn't have any impression of you, so relatively speaking, she has suffered the least harm. Her adoptive mother, Consort Xian, is now in a high position, assisting me in managing the affairs of the six palaces. She treats her very well, so you don't need to worry."

Tao Yanyan paused for a moment before continuing, "I heard from Chief Steward Li that you wanted to take back your belongings. Don't worry, when you left the palace to cultivate, all the valuables in Fengyi Palace were counted and sealed. Those that belonged to you were also registered. They were intended to be left as dowries for the two princesses, so no one would touch them."

Mingyue took a booklet and handed it to Wang with both hands.

"Take a look. Since it was the former Consort De who managed the harem, all of this happened under her hands. See if there's anything missing?"

Wang took the booklet and flipped through it. It looked pretty much the same, so she nodded and said, "Nothing is missing. I'm currently living with my parents and have no money, so I'm here to ask for it. I'm willing to keep half of the property as dowries for the two princesses. As for the rest... please allow me to take it away, Your Majesty."

Tao Yanyan took a sip of tea and wiped her lips with a handkerchief. "Many of the treasures up there are for the Empress' use only. You can't sell them off. Selling off palace property is a crime. Let me ask Chief Steward Li to find a professional to appraise your value, convert it into silver bills, and let you take it away."

Wang shook her head. "Why bother with so much trouble? I've looked at it. It's about 100,000 taels of silver. Your Majesty, just give me 50,000 taels of silver."

As a former empress, Wang Shi naturally knew the prices of these treasures well. Tao Yanyan only counted silver, and she had no idea how to value antiques and paintings. However, before Wang Shi arrived, she had already asked Li Zongguan for an estimate, and it was indeed around 100,000 taels.

Tao Yanyan nodded: "Okay. Mingyue, go get the banknotes."

Mingyue agreed and turned to go to the backyard.

When Wang saw that Tao Yanyan could easily redeem the 50,000 taels of silver note, she couldn't help but feel jealous.

"The Empress is truly favored by His Majesty. The financial power is firmly in her hands."

Tao Yanyan listened to her sour tone and said indifferently, "Ever since I started managing the imperial estate for Your Majesty, I have agreed with Your Majesty that I will receive a 10% commission on any amount exceeding 200,000 taels each year. Over the past few years, I have indeed accumulated a considerable fortune. If I didn't have so much money, how could I provide my children with such a good life?"

Tao Yanyan glanced at Wang and said, "I already have three daughters and two sons under my name. They will all start their own families and careers in the future, and each of them must prepare a substantial fortune. Parents who love their children plan for them in the long run. Ultimately, all my hard work is for the next generation."

Wang clenched her hands tightly, thinking that she had once been as noble as her, with great power and a comfortable life. Now the two of them were so different, and she felt very suffocated.

Seeing that Wang looked unhappy, Tao Yanyan stopped provoking her. After sitting for a while, her waist felt a little sore, so she winked at Qingfeng, who quickly put a waist cushion under her.

Seeing her lazy behavior, lacking any of the manners of a queen, Wang said coldly, "The concubines in the harem are role models for women. It's unbelievable that you've lost your manners. Your Majesty should learn more about court etiquette and pay more attention to your manners."

Tao Yanyan, who was already lying on his side, was stunned. He tilted his head and couldn't help but smile.

"I almost forgot that you were once the queen and you know how to be a queen. I am really sorry to have embarrassed you."

Qingfeng handed Tao Yanyan a hand warmer and covered her with a light, soft blanket, saying softly, "The Queen is pregnant. If you sit in one position for a long time, you will inevitably feel tired. It would be better to change your posture."

When Wang heard this, her face was filled with disbelief: "You...you are pregnant again?" After saying that, her eyes involuntarily looked at Tao Yanyan's lower abdomen.

There, there is your majesty's flesh and blood again!

Qingfeng coughed lightly and said, "His Majesty has favored the Empress for several years. Even when she was pregnant, His Majesty never went to other palaces. Every day, as long as he had time after court, he would stay by her side, reading to the unborn prince and doing prenatal education."

Wang lost her balance and almost fell down.

Seeing her defenseless look, Tao Yanyan smiled and glared at Qingfeng. Qingfeng quickly lowered his eyebrows and stepped aside.

Soon, Mingyue took out a thick stack of silver notes worth 50,000 taels and placed it thoughtfully in a box.

"Please count them." Mingyue handed the box over. Wang took a deep breath, took the box, concealed the anger in her heart, and started counting the items one by one.

No more, no less, it was indeed fifty thousand taels. Wang put the banknote away and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will take my leave."

If she continued to stay, she was afraid that she would not be able to maintain her calmness and would turn into a madman.

"Ye'er pays her respects to the Empress! Hey, is Queen Wang here too? What a coincidence, both queens are here."

He Ye's words, who had just entered the room, made Tao Yanyan and Wang Shi look unhappy.

Wang felt that the eldest prince was deliberately mocking her, while Tao Yanyan felt that the eldest prince had never come earlier or later, and he had never been to her Changle Palace before, so why did he come today?

How weird.

"Is Queen Wang leaving? You finally made it to the palace, but you're leaving without even staying a while?" After saying that, she glanced at Tao Yanyan and said, "Could it be that Queen Tao can't tolerate Queen Wang and wants to send you away?