Harem Daily Life

The eldest prince had barged in last time and was frightened to the point of screaming when he saw the emperor, whose hair had turned a little gray. This time, he was mentally prepared. He stepped forward and cried, "It's only been a few days since we last met. Has your father's condition worsened?"

After saying this, he glanced at Tao Yanyan with dissatisfaction: "I have long begged Your Majesty to allow me to attend to your sickness, but Your Majesty has always prevented me. Your Majesty is usually busy managing government affairs for Your Majesty and has no time to take care of Your Majesty. I really want to share your worries, and I hope Your Majesty and Your Majesty will fulfill my filial piety."

Tao Yanyan sat down next to He Linzhang with an expressionless face, took one of his hands, and said calmly, "The eldest prince has a heavy workload. I heard you've found a tutor and are busy preparing for your admission to the Imperial College. It's not appropriate to be distracted right now. Besides, His Majesty has plenty of servants around him, so I'm not letting you come for your own good."

Tao Yanyan explained the reason in a few words to prevent the eldest prince from throwing dirty water on her.

He Jinan also stepped forward, his eyes red as he said, "Father will definitely get better. Please don't worry, just focus on recuperating."

He Linzhang nodded: "You two have grown up. The Queen has been very busy these days. If you take care of your own affairs, that would be the greatest filial piety."

He Ye, realizing his father also sided with Empress Tao, gave up on the topic and instead stated the purpose of his visit to the palace today. "Father, I've been dreaming about my late mother recently. I think it's because her death anniversary is approaching, so she's been dreaming. I'd like to go to Fuyan Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings, so I've come to ask for your permission."

Speaking of Concubine De, He Linzhang sighed. Although the Rong family colluded with foreign enemies and deserved death, Concubine De had not participated in the rebellion, so he nodded and said, "Then go. Please ask your uncle, Prince Yong, to send guards to follow you and protect you."

He Ye agreed and then said, "Then please take care of yourself, father. I will take my leave."

He Linzhang hummed and instructed, "When you return, don't tell anyone about my condition. Understand?"

He Linzhang already knew that Censor Zhang had impeached the Queen, which happened after the eldest prince broke into the palace and saw his face that day. So after connecting the dots, he knew that the eldest prince and Censor Zhang were probably in the same camp.

He was most dissatisfied with the court officials and princes forming cliques for personal gain. Today, he reminded the eldest prince in person to wake him up.

He Ye naturally heard what was said, and he immediately said, "Please rest assured, Father. I understand. I will take my leave now."

He Ye bid farewell to the emperor and empress obediently, glanced at He Jinan, and then left the bedroom.

After he left, Tao Yanyan said, "They say being a stepmother is difficult. The rift between the eldest prince and me is growing wider and wider. Every time he comes, he always says something bad about me in front of Your Majesty. I really don't know how I have offended him to make him unhappy."

He Linzhang squeezed her hand, glanced at He Jinan, and said with a smile: "That's his problem. Don't Jinan, Xuan'er, and Yue'er all like you very much? You are very good."

He Jinan was caught off guard by being fed a mouthful of dog food. He felt a little full even though he hadn't had dinner yet.

Because he had not been in the palace for some time, He Jinan stayed to have dinner with his father and mother. After dinner, he took the initiative to accompany He Linzhang for a walk before taking his leave and returning to Huayang Palace.

At first, he was indeed heartbroken seeing his father's aging face, but when he later learned that there was an antidote and that they were already looking for it, he felt a little relieved. After returning to Huayang Palace, he dug out a few medical books that He Xuan had given him and studied them carefully, not falling asleep until very late.

As for the eldest prince He Ye, after leaving the palace, he asked the coachman to drive the carriage around several streets, and finally entered the house of Censor Zhang from the back door of Zhang's mansion.

When Censor Zhang heard that the eldest prince had arrived, he knew that today was the day he would have to see the eldest prince. He dismissed the servants and maids and welcomed the eldest prince into his study.

After He Ye sat down, he said calmly, "It's so hard to see Master Zhang. Is Master Zhang feeling better today?"

Censor Zhang feigned a cough before saying, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I've taken a few doses of medicine and am almost feeling better. I wonder what brings you here today?"

The eldest prince did not beat around the bush and told him directly that he had entered the palace today and met his father.

"In my opinion, Father's condition is very serious. You have never seen it before, and you would definitely be shocked if you saw it."

He took a sip of tea. "That poison is very potent, it can age people. I see that father now looks like he's almost forty. So many changes have taken place in just a few days, which proves that the poison is indeed powerful. Although there is an antidote, whether we can find it is another matter. The most urgent task is to make me the heir to the Great Zhou Dynasty before the edict to establish the crown prince is announced. Do you think I'm right, Censor Zhang?"

Censor Zhang frowned. To be honest, he did have expectations for the eldest prince, but during his several battles with Queen Tao, he found that Queen Tao was not so easy to deal with, and the court officials might not be as determined as he was to choose the eldest prince.

The difference between a young and capable queen and an unsupported prince is obvious.

The eldest prince waited for a while, and when he saw that Censor Zhang didn't say anything, he said unhappily, "Censor Zhang, I'm asking you a question."

Censor Zhang said with some embarrassment: "Although I agree with you, Prince, we do not have the necessary strength at the moment. We still need to consider this matter carefully."

The eldest prince slammed his hand on the table. "Let's take the time to think about this, but I can't wait any longer! And Father's illness can't wait any longer! If Father ages into his sixties, seventies, or eighties soon, how much longer do you think he can hold on? Empress Tao is the Empress, and she has a prince. When the time comes, her son will naturally be made Crown Prince. What business will I have in that?"

He Ye was furious when he thought about that little guy Yu Cheng sitting on the throne of the Great Zhou.

"Then, according to what the eldest prince said, what should we do?" Censor Zhang asked with a frown.

He Ye calmed down his anger and said, "If Queen Tao lost her biological son, who else can become the crown prince?"

Censor Zhang was shocked. Could it be that the eldest prince meant... to kill the fourth prince?

"This... that child is only three years old. Maybe... maybe we should just take it slow and steady, impress His Majesty with our sincerity and talent, and make him accept the eldest prince..."

He Ye shook his head: "You are too naive. There is no way that my father likes me." Otherwise, if he entered the palace today, he would not have been invited to dinner.

A person adopted from the common people is more favored than him. He is a person who has no mother and no father to love him.

If that's the case, then you have to fight for what you want. Destroy anything that stands in your way!