Harem Daily Life

He Linzhang thought the little queen was just acting coquettishly, so he hugged her happily and stayed with her for a while.

Tao Yanyan still had to go and read the memorials, so she struggled to get up, washed up, combed her hair into a simple bun, and went to the study.

When she went out, she instructed the palace servants and maids, as well as the imperial physician Wang who was standing by, that no one should reveal any flaws when they saw His Majesty, and not let His Majesty realize that they were aging.

Everyone naturally knew their limits. If the emperor got angry, he would kill people, so it was most important for everyone to save their lives.

Prince Yong and his entourage came to the Imperial Study in the afternoon to discuss some important matters that required quick decisions.

It was the first time that Prince Jing participated in state affairs so seriously, and he was a little nervous. Tao Yanyan comforted him with a few words.

"Don't worry, Prince Jing. Just tell me what you think. I don't really understand these things. You and I are both beginners, so let's listen together."

Prince Jing clasped his fists and said, "Thank you for your tolerance, Your Majesty. I will do my best to be loyal to you."

Just like that, the two newbies in government affairs and the four veteran officials discussed things with each other, and finally they actually made some decisions.

When Tao Yanyan sent everyone away, he realized that it was dark outside.

She touched her deflated belly and sighed. Being an emperor was not a human being. It was brain-burning and stressful, with a lot of work to do and it was tiring. The flowery memorials were annoying to read, and sometimes she really wanted to tear them up.

Eunuch Zhang gave her a new cup of tea and said, "Your Majesty, the remaining matters are not urgent. You should rest early, have some dinner, and review them tomorrow."

Tao Yanyan closed the memorial, stood up and said, "Let's not eat yet. Let's go and see His Majesty."

When the two arrived at the bedroom, they found that the atmosphere was a little strange. All the palace maids avoided the queen's gaze and lowered their heads.

Tao Yanyan touched his face and asked Eunuch Zhang, "Am I scary? Or is there something on my face that makes everyone seem so afraid of me?"

Eunuch Zhang took a look and shook his head: "Everything is normal. The queen is very kind and not scary at all."

Tao Yanyan frowned, grabbed a young eunuch and asked, "Why are you avoiding my sight? What happened?"

The young eunuch's legs were trembling, and he was speechless for a moment. Eunuch Zhang stamped his feet and said, "Why don't you say something? The Queen is asking you!"

Eunuch Zhang was extremely angry. These were the soldiers he led. How could they be in such a miserable state and make a fool of themselves in front of the Empress?

The eunuch then replied, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the eldest prince came this afternoon. He...he forced his way in. After he entered, he found...found...that Your Majesty's face was haggard and his hair was gray. They were both shocked..."

Tao Yanyan clenched her fists. "Then, Your Majesty... How did Your Majesty do later? Why didn't you come and report to me?"

The eunuch said, "His Majesty has issued an order that no one is allowed to report to the Empress, nor is anyone allowed to enter the bedroom. He has been secluded in there for several hours."

Tao Yanyan took several deep breaths. The thing he least wanted to happen finally happened.

She closed her eyes and said, "Pass on my order. From now on, the eldest prince must be informed before he can see His Majesty. Anyone who lets him in without permission will be sent to the Ministry of Punishment and will never come back!"

Eunuch Zhang immediately agreed, glared at the young eunuch, and hurriedly accompanied Queen Tao to His Majesty's bedroom.

Doctor Wang stood outside the bedroom, dejected, holding a bowl of freshly boiled medicine in his hand.

Seeing Empress Tao coming over, he immediately said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty refuses to take the medicine, and I cannot persuade him."

Tao Yanyan took the medicine bowl and asked Doctor Wang to go down and rest first. She dismissed everyone and went to knock on the door alone.

"Dong dong dong..."

"Your Majesty, it's me. I'm coming in." After Tao Yanyan said this, she pushed the door but didn't close it.

Eunuch Zhang helped push it, shook his head, and whispered, "It's locked from the inside."

Tao Yanyan had no choice but to carry the medicine bowl to the window. Fortunately, the window was not locked. She thought for a moment, handed the medicine bowl to Eunuch Zhang, then rolled up her skirt and climbed out the window.

After finally climbing onto the windowsill, with one foot inside and the other outside, a tall figure suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Go away, I don't want to see you."

Tao Yanyan sat on the windowsill and stretched out her hand to him: "Your Majesty, please help me up. I can't get down."

He Linzhang: “…”

He turned away, not looking at Tao Yanyan: "I told you to go back first. I don't want to see you now."

Tao Yanyan looked at the lonely figure and said the words of expulsion, lowering her brows: "But I miss you so much, Your Majesty, that my heart aches."

He Linzhang's figure swayed, but he didn't turn around.

There was no light in the room, it was pitch black, only the moonlight filtered in, leaving a faint glow on the ground.

Tao Yanyan said softly, "I haven't had dinner yet. I've been busy until now and haven't even had a sip of water."

"Those memorials are obscure and difficult to understand. I only partially understand what the gentlemen said, and I don't know if the comments on the memorials are correct. I would like to talk to Your Majesty about it."

"This is the first time I have climbed through the window to see you, my dear. You are so cruel that you want to chase me away."

"Where shall I sleep tonight? On this windowsill?"

He Linzhang listened to every word, and every word pierced his heart. He wanted to let her in at all costs, but, in his current state, could he really see her?

She once said that what she loves most is her own skin.

Now, even his skin has aged, his hair has turned white, and his face has become haggard. Will she still like him?

"You go back first. I...I'm not ready yet."

He Linzhang's tone was no longer so serious and became a little calmer.

Tao Yanyan didn't want to leave, because she knew that once she left, He Linzhang would think even more that she disliked his aging appearance.

She stepped forward with her other leg and said, "Your Majesty, it's dark and I can't see anything. Please carry me down first and let me drink the medicine before leaving. Okay?"

He Linzhang struggled for a moment, then heard the person behind him say softly, "Well, if Your Majesty doesn't want to carry me down, I'll jump. If I fall or become lame, I'll have to limp to court, and I'm afraid the court officials will laugh at me to death."

"Let's see who dares?" He Linzhang turned around, walked to the window helplessly, and carried Tao Yanyan down.

After landing safely on the ground, Tao Yanyan breathed a sigh of relief and reached out to the window to take the bowl of medicine handed to him by Eunuch Zhang. Eunuch Zhang consciously closed the window and quickly dodged.

Tao Yanyan handed the medicine to He Linzhang in the dark. "Your Majesty, drink it quickly. This medicine will delay the onset of the poison. The real antidote has been found. It won't be long before the poison in your Majesty is cured."

He Linzhang had already asked Doctor Wang in detail in the afternoon, so he naturally knew that he had been poisoned. He picked up the bowl and drank it in one gulp.

"Okay, go back first and leave me alone."

With the cover of darkness, He Linzhang's emotions became more stable.

Tao Yanyan took a step forward, groped his waist, and gently leaned into his arms: "Your Majesty, don't think of sending me away. I will sleep here tonight and will not go anywhere."

"Tao Yanyan, you know very well that I... my current appearance is not what you like. I later found out that the reason you were stunned when you woke up was because you discovered that I had white hair. I... will slowly age after being poisoned. You are so young and beautiful, but I am declining early..."

Tao Yanyan kissed his chin, stopping him from saying anything else.

"Your Majesty, you will get better, and I like you no matter what you become." You were poisoned to save us mother and son, you fool, how could I dislike you?

Tao Yanyan stood on tiptoe, put her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

That night, Tao Yanyan was extremely proactive and used her actions to let He Linzhang know that she loved him.

He Linzhang was a little reluctant at first, but later he was delighted and overwhelmed, and could only indulge in the little queen's enthusiasm.