Harem Daily Life

The late emperor's Concubine Rong was dying, and Concubine Xian sent someone to report to Empress Tao. Tao Yanyan was just about to go and pay her a visit when she heard someone outside the door report that Chief Steward Li had arrived.

Tao Yanyan didn't have time to see Manager Li, so he went out on his own and met Manager Li at the door.

Seeing that the Queen had something to do, Manager Li hesitated for a moment, then accompanied the Queen while briefly reporting her purpose.

After hearing this, Tao Yanyan said, "Wang Yin's crime is unforgivable. He must be put to death. No matter who comes to plead for him, it will be useless. So, why bother causing trouble to Your Majesty?"

Steward Li was at a loss: "Then...what if the father and daughter still kneel outside the palace gate? If word of this reaches His Majesty..."

There was no one to report it, and he was worried that the emperor would blame him later. But he happened to be the one who knew about it, so he was in a difficult situation.

Tao Yanyan rubbed his brows and said, "So, you see, are they trying to make things difficult for me?"

Steward Li was almost crying. He hated himself for having to return to the palace at that time today. Even if he had returned earlier or later, he would not have met the embarrassing pair of plague gods.

Seeing his gloomy face, Tao Yanyan softened a little. "Well, since you promised to give me a reply, send someone to tell them that His Majesty has gone to the concubines and that Concubine Rong is seriously ill, so you can't see His Majesty. Say that you saw me and report it to me. I will make the decision on His Majesty's behalf and not see them."

Steward Li asked suspiciously, "Isn't that dragging the Empress into this again? If His Majesty blames you in the future, it will be detrimental to the Empress."

Tao Yanyan glared at him. "What could His Majesty blame me for? I've taken the blame for him, and he can't even thank me enough! And you're going to report this, putting the blame entirely on me. Go quickly, try to persuade him to go back, or else you'll die kneeling outside the palace gates and no one will pity you."

Tao Yanyan's sedan chair sped up and headed towards the Dowager's Palace, leaving Li Zongguan disheveled in the wind.

"Master, is this really what we are going to do? We are not going to report to His Majesty?" his apprentice Little Lizi asked doubtfully.

Steward Li gritted his teeth and said, "We can't let the Empress bear the blame. Let's go to the Qinzheng Palace."

Such a good queen was impeached by the censor some time ago. She cannot cause discussion among the court officials again!

Steward Li rushed to the Qinzheng Palace and told Eunuch Zhang everything, including what the Queen said.

Eunuch Zhang glanced at the Imperial Study and pulled Steward Li aside. "Why are you so foolish? No one's paying any attention to the people coming and going at the palace gate, so why are you so kind as to pay attention to them?"

After saying this, he shook his head and said, "Well, I'll pretend I haven't seen you today. Go and do your job. The Empress has taken charge of everything, so why are you interfering? Go and do what the Empress has said. Whatever happens in the future will have nothing to do with you."

Eunuch Zhang is the person who knows His Majesty best. Even Eunuch Zhang said so, so Steward Li had no choice but to do as he was told.

After everyone left, Eunuch Zhang went into the imperial study and reported the matter to the emperor.

He Linzhang paused while reviewing the memorial, then said after a long pause, "The Queen is very smart and considerate of me. I am a blessed man. Get ready, I'm going to the Dowager Concubine Palace to visit Dowager Concubine Rong."

At this moment, He Linzhang wished he could grow wings and fly to Tao Yanyan. He wanted to stick to her all the time because she was such a smart and courageous wife who was willing to take all the blame for him.

On Tao Yanyan's side, Shuang'er was puzzled the whole way and asked, "Your Majesty, why are you interfering in the matter between the Wang family father and daughter? They are looking for His Majesty, can't you just pretend you don't know anything? What if His Majesty blames Your Majesty for interfering without permission in the future?"

In Shuang'er's opinion, one should do less troublesome things, and it is better not to do thankless things.

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "The problem is that I know about this, and I can't pretend not to know. They came to plead for mercy and save their lives, but that person's life should be taken. This is the only way to get justice for the victim. I'm not sure what His Majesty will do. Will he show some leniency because of his long-standing relationship with the former queen? It would be better for me to directly stop the Wang family from thinking about this. As for how His Majesty will view me when he finds out, we'll talk about it later."

Although Tao Yanyan respects life, what Wang Yin did was a beastly act. She personally sent people to capture this kind of person, and it was impossible for him to take advantage of the loophole and escape.

Since she couldn't influence He Linzhang's thoughts, she would decide to cut off the Wang family's way of pleading and send him to hell.

As for the Wang family father and daughter, seeing that Manager Li had indeed sent his apprentice to reply, they thought they saw a ray of hope.

But Leo's words directly extinguished their hope.

"I'm sorry, Concubine Rong is seriously ill, and Steward Li can't see His Majesty at all. He can only see the Empress. The Empress said that the verdict has been made and the country has its own laws, so you can go back."

Wang Zongnian cried, "Please, eunuch, go and plead again. Please get the news to His Majesty. How can Empress Tao make decisions for His Majesty? This matter is urgent. Please, eunuch!"

After saying that, he pulled Wang Jiao's sleeve and said, "Give me the money quickly!"

Wang Jiao had no choice but to take out the silver. Little Li Zi hurriedly said, "No need, no need. I really can't help you. I'll leave first. You guys should go back quickly. Go back quickly."

Little Li didn't dare to take the money and ran away in a hurry. No matter how Wang Zongnian shouted at him, he didn't turn back.

"I'm so angry, so angry!" Wang Zongnan had nowhere to turn for help and was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan outside the palace gate.

"Why aren't you worried at all? He's your own brother!" Wang Zongnan said to Wang Jiao angrily.

Wang Jiao's heart was broken. She scoffed, "What's the point of worrying? What else can I do? You've experienced it yourself. Without status or position, and wanting to cause trouble, no one can help!"

After Wang Jiao finished speaking, she turned around and returned to the carriage. She really wanted to cry her heart out, cry for her incompetence, cry for her ignorance, cry for her regret.

Wang Zongnan stood outside the palace gate like a sculpture, his back looking desolate.

In the Dowager's Palace, Dowager Rong looked extremely thin. The imperial doctors gathered around her to treat her. She could no longer take any medicine. The Empress Dowager and several dowagers sat in the outer room, counting the beads of their Buddhist prayer beads one by one.

Tao Yanyan retreated from the house and stood guard beside the Empress Dowager and the others together with Concubine Xian.

"As for this person, a lifetime is neither long nor short. We old sisters have been together for decades, which is longer than the time that brothers and sisters at home have spent together. It would be a lie to say that there is no affection." The Queen Mother said this, causing several concubines beside her to shed tears.

Concubine Hui had heard the news at noon that day and hurried into the palace. Wiping away tears, she said, "Sister Rong was the most non-confrontational person. She adopted the fifth princess, but she died when she was only a few years old. Sigh, she must have endured decades in the deep palace. It must have been hard for her."

The virtuous concubine listened from the side and thought that she, like Concubine Rong, had adopted a princess to live with. She felt the same and couldn't help but shed tears.

Tao Yanyan didn't cry, but he felt a little sad in his heart.

When He Linzhang arrived, he saw everyone in the room wiping their tears. His little queen was busy trying to persuade this and that, like a spinning top.

He Linzhang went in to visit Concubine Rong, and after coming out, he took Tao Yanyan to the yard to talk alone.

"You are pregnant, so you shouldn't be sad. If you can't handle it, go back early. The Queen Mother and the Consort are here, so you don't have to worry about them."

Tao Yanyan shook her head. "It's all right. I haven't been feeling unwell lately, so your majesty can rest assured. By the way, your majesty, I just heard the Queen Mother mention that Concubine Rong's family is of high status. If she passes away, a general amnesty will be granted. Does that mean that all those who have committed crimes can be pardoned?"

He Linzhang shook his head. "Only those whose crimes were not originally punishable by death can be pardoned at our discretion. Those with minor crimes can be treated as innocent. If they were originally punishable by death, some can be pardoned, but some cannot."

Tao Yan understood what he meant and felt relieved.

Looking at her expression, He Linzhang knew that she must be thinking about the royal seal.

"I know what happened today with the Wang family father and daughter. You blocked them for me. I want to thank you very much."

Tao Yanyan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Alas, it is my duty to share your majesty's worries. Why should I thank you? Your Majesty does not blame me for being ruthless and acting on my own initiative. I am grateful to God."

When Consort Xian came out, she saw His Majesty holding Empress Tao's hand and talking. She hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to interrupt and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Rong said she has a few words to say to Your Majesty. Please come in."