Harem Daily Life

"Empress, this servant has been dealt with. What should be done with Concubine Xian?" Han Zhaoyi reminded Concubine Xian, looking at her pale face.

Tao Yanyan took a bite of the candied fruit and said calmly, "Han Zhaoyi, did you ever attend any family's flower-viewing banquets before entering the palace?"

Han Zhaoyi didn't know why the Empress brought this up, so she nodded. "Noble ladies in the capital, upon turning thirteen, would accompany their mothers or mistresses to attend flower-viewing banquets held by their respective families. Naturally, I have attended one before."

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "Did any lady of any family take special notice of you at the flower viewing banquet, or did any young man of any family take a few extra glances at you?"

Han Zhaoyi was stunned, and said awkwardly, "Of course there is, but I didn't participate for two years. Later I learned that there would be a selection to enter the palace."

Tao Yanyan said calmly, "Who hasn't had some girlish worries? The person you met in your youth who amazed you might not be the man you'll spend your life with. Once you marry and obey your husband, everything in the past vanishes into thin air. As long as you don't cross the line again, who can say anything? Han Zhaoyi, do you understand this?"

Han Zhaoyi nodded quickly: "Yes, I was confused for a moment and misunderstood the virtuous concubine."

Han Zhaoyi could never have imagined that Queen Tao did not use this matter to drag Concubine Xian down, and even supported Concubine Xian in her words and deeds.

She glanced at Concubine Xian in panic and said, "It was my fault. I hope Your Majesty will not take it to heart. I know I was wrong."

Xian Fei looked at Empress Tao in surprise, then lowered her head and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trust in me."

Tao Yanyan asked Qingfeng to help Concubine Xian to her feet. "You seem quite capable in the Imperial Palace, but how come you're so helpless when faced with a scoundrel like Eunuch Zhao? You must always understand that a person with an upright character fears no accusation. You haven't done anything to offend His Majesty, so don't be afraid of others accusing you of a crime they don't even know about."

Xianfei accepted the advice and thanked the Empress again: "I never thought that something that happened so many years ago would be remembered by others and would only come to light many years later. I usually trust the people around me very much, and I really didn't expect them to turn against me and frame me. Fortunately, Your Majesty, you have helped me wake up from the chaos. Thank you!"

Han Zhaoyi stood aside, her feet feeling like they were bitten by mosquitoes, and she felt very uncomfortable standing. She wanted to leave here as soon as possible, the atmosphere was really too awkward.

Seeing her embarrassed expression, Tao Yanyan said, "Sisters in the palace are all His Majesty's people. In a broader sense, we are all family. I don't believe that fighting is the way for concubines in the harem to get along. Forgiving others when you can is a kind of merit. Han Zhaoyi, I don't know what your purpose is for doing this time, but I hope you won't do it again in the future. Can you do that?"

Han Zhaoyi nodded hurriedly: "Yes, I will take note of it. Thank you for your advice, Your Majesty."

"Alright, then you can go down first. The palace banquet was carefully arranged by Concubine Xian. Don't let her painstaking efforts go to waste."

Han Zhaoyi hurriedly took her leave, her attitude extremely respectful.

After she walked out of the side hall, she patted her chest hard. She was really scared just now. Who would have thought that the seemingly soft and gentle Queen Tao could be so oppressive when she was serious!

Perhaps it is because I am favored by His Majesty so much that I have a bit of His Majesty's shadow on me, making it difficult to resist.

The virtuous concubine was kept by Tao Yanyan. She was nervous and didn't know what the queen would say next.

"You need to reflect on this matter. How could you let someone get hold of you so easily? Clean up the people around you. This time, you've got two evil spirits around you, two of whom have served you closely for years. You better be more careful!"

After being scolded by Empress Tao, Concubine Xian felt relieved. She said sincerely, "Yes, I will listen to your Majesty and clean up the people in Yongtai Palace. In the future, I will help you manage the palace affairs and I will also keep my eyes open and judge people well."

Tao Yanyan nodded. "Then go ahead. The palace banquet has many delicious dishes. I'm suffering from morning sickness and won't be able to enjoy them. You should eat more to replenish your appetite. You don't need to worry about this matter. As for the friend Eunuch Zhao mentioned, if any rumors spread in the future, we can find out who spread them and deal with them accordingly."

The virtuous concubine expressed her gratitude and kowtowed to the queen before returning to the palace banquet.

He was nervous when he left, but felt relieved when he came back, and his respect for Queen Tao deepened.

After Concubine Xian left, Tao Yanyan leaned aside and lazily leaned on the cushions: "When Lord Tang comes to the palace someday, find a chance for me to meet him. I'm quite curious about what kind of person he is."

Mingyue was speechless. The Empress's curiosity about gossip was clearly written on her face. However, she nodded and said, "Yes, I will ask Eunuch Li from the Qinzheng Palace to report this."

What else can be done? If the Empress wants to read gossip, then she should be allowed to do so. Whoever is the Empress, the one who is the Empress, will be favored. That's how unprincipled it is.

After Tao Yanyan had rested well and the palace banquet was mostly over, Qingfeng and Mingyue helped her back and met Yingyi on the way.

Ying Yi did not hide today. He just stood on the side of the road, as if waiting for someone.

Seeing the Queen and her entourage approaching, Ying Yi immediately stepped forward to pay his respects: "Your subordinate greets Her Majesty the Queen."

Tao Yanyan was confused and asked curiously, "Yingyi, it's so cold, why are you standing here instead of going in?"

Ying Yi glanced at Mingyue, scratched his head, and said embarrassedly, "I...I want to go outside to see the snow. And...I also bought a few hairpins. Today is the New Year's Day, and I want to give them to the ladies in Changle Palace. Thank you for your...for taking care of me."

"Huh?" Tao Yanyan was even more puzzled. She glanced at the maids around her and asked, "Do you usually take good care of Yingyi? How do you do that?" Why did she smell gossip...

Qingfeng was confused: "I didn't do anything. Did I give you the extra chicken legs that Caiyun made every time?"

Tao Yanyan: “…”

Shuang'er's face was cold, and her words were even colder: "I didn't do anything. I just fought with him twice and easily defeated him."

Tao Yanyan: “…”

Mingyue's ears were already red. After a long pause, she finally said, "Before, Your Majesty fell off a cliff. Brother Yingyi took care of Your Majesty. To express my gratitude, I...made a pair of shoes for Brother Yingyi. I didn't do anything else."

Tao Yanyan: “…”

Qingfeng: "..."

Shuang'er: "..."

The three of them turned to look at Mingyue, their eyes gleaming with gossip.