Harem Daily Life

Zhang Jian looked at He Feng's receding figure and frowned. "Brother Tao, don't you think He Feng is a little too arrogant? As soon as he heard that your father didn't hold an official position, he became a little indifferent."

He Jinan just smiled and said, "I feel a little uncomfortable when he comes to talk to me. It's better if he leaves. I don't have to deal with him."

Seeing that he really didn't care, Zhang Jian patted his shoulder and said, "In fact, if you just say you are a branch of the Tao family, he won't dare to neglect you, but you are stubborn and refuse to admit that you have any relationship with the Tao family."

He Jinan raised his eyebrows: "How do you know I have a relationship with the Tao family? What do you know?"

Zhang Jian had a look that said, "Don't try to hide this from me." "Even last time, when you came back from outside, I saw the carriage that brought you. It was Minister Tao's carriage. You were able to ride in the Tao family carriage, and you were brought here by the Minister himself. How could you not be familiar with them?"

He Jinan remembered that day when he was taken to the Tao family for dinner. When he came back, it was indeed his grandfather who saw him off personally and tested his knowledge. He did not expect that he would be seen by Zhang Jian just at this time.

Zhang Jian continued, "The eldest son of the Tao family has a son, but his age doesn't match yours, so I guess you must be from a branch of the Tao family. Hey, the Tao family is not ordinary. You should call Empress Tao "Auntie", right?"

He Jinan shook his head slightly. "You, you can make so many connections based on just a few clues. You should start writing a story. Yes, I do have some connection with the Tao family, but we are not actually related by blood."

He Jinan was telling the truth. Tao Yanyan was not the biological daughter of the Tao family. He was Tao Yanyan's adopted son and had nothing to do with the Tao family.

However, Zhang Jian still had an expression that said, "Don't try to hide this from me." He patted He Jinan's arm and said, "Alright, alright, brother, you know what I mean. If you want to hide your background and deny that Queen Tao is your aunt, then don't admit it. I can't prove it anyway."

He Jinan said jokingly, "I really don't call her aunt, I call her mother, do you believe it?"

Zhang Jian was speechless for a moment. "Brother Tao, although we have a good relationship, you can't lie to my face, right? Also, be careful that someone with ulterior motives overhears and accuses you of disrespecting the Queen."

He Jinan was speechless. What he said was the truth.

No one noticed the two students from the Imperial College chatting. Everyone gathered around He Feng, saying compliments. The room was full of guests, and everyone was chatting and laughing.

The guests enjoyed themselves, some drinking tea and discussing philosophy, some reciting poems and painting, some playing the zither and strings, and some playing chess and hand-to-hand games. Meanwhile, the students of the Imperial College listened respectfully to the teachers' teachings, occasionally interjecting their own insights, which drew nods of approval from the crowd.

Literary men and scholars gathered in Prince Ding's mansion. The young men were reciting poems and writing couplets in the outer courtyard, while the young ladies were drinking tea and playing chess in the inner courtyard. The atmosphere was extremely good.

He Xuan usually stayed in the palace, rarely leaving. When many people learned she was there today, they came to pay their respects and offer their greetings, showing their respect and currying favor.

Facing a constant stream of visitors, He Xuan greeted each one with a smile and courteous manner, but she gradually felt exhausted. After all, long hours of socializing and small talk were a burden for anyone, especially someone of her status, who needed to maintain dignity and elegance at all times.

As time went on, He Xuan's fatigue became increasingly apparent. Her smile grew stiffer, and her speech lost its natural flow. Despite this, she forced herself to stay alert, trying not to let her fatigue show, lest she leave a bad impression.

Just at this moment, Nanny Li, who was beside He Li, came and said that the eldest lady invited Princess He Xuan to sit in the yard.

Princess Ding also advised He Xuan to go and sit down with her, and to give He Li some advice.

He Xuan knew that Shuang'er was following her secretly, so she was not worried and followed Li Ma'am. In order to prevent Shuang'er from being distracted for a while, she also sent all the maids around her out.

A hint of joy flashed across Li Ma's face. If the eldest princess was alone, it would be easier for them to act.

He Li's room was the same as last time, with the windows still covered with black gauze curtains. However, this time He Li came out very quickly and immediately poured tea for He Xuan.

"You don't have to be polite. I drank a lot earlier and I'm not thirsty." He Xuan was not in a hurry to drink tea, but just chatted with her.

He Li was a little anxious, because she couldn't keep trying to defeat He Xuan, otherwise people would become suspicious after a while.

"Sister, take a sip. This is the tea I brewed myself. Please take a look and see if it tastes good. This will also help me improve my tea making skills."

He Xuan picked up the teacup and smelled it. Apart from the fragrance of tea, there seemed to be nothing wrong. She took a small sip, picked up the handkerchief to wipe her mouth, and spit the small sip onto the handkerchief.

But even though she was so cautious, she still became a little confused in the end. As she talked to He Li, her mind became a little tired. Her eyes fell on the teacup, and then she slowly looked at He Li who was still talking in front of her. Her head could not support itself, and soon she fell on the table.

In the dark, Shuang'er clenched her fists. She hadn't expected He Li to be so bold as to knock the princess unconscious. Shuang'er held her breath, eager to see what He Li was up to.

But everything that happened afterwards made Shuang'er's blood flow backwards and she almost fainted.

He Li stood up, and soon He Xuan was picked up by Li Ma and taken to the inner room. In the inner room, Prince Ding was waiting there, and he had already taken off his outer clothes.

He Xuan was placed on the bed, her face calm, as if she had fainted. Nanny Li also stepped out.

"You've truly troubled me. I've drugged you twice in a row. Don't worry, I'll treat you well. As long as I have you, my cultivation will be complete. I'll be able to extend my lifespan by another thirty years, and enjoy another thirty years of wealth and prosperity."

Prince Ding took the medicine bottle, poured out a pill from it and swallowed it, then began to undress, intending to do something inappropriate.

Shuang'er was so angry that her blood boiled and she could no longer hold it in. She immediately appeared and knocked King Ding unconscious with a palm.

He Xuan was carried by Shuang'er to the couch beside her. She thought about it and found it difficult to calm down the anger in her heart, so she turned around and went out, found He Li who was hiding in another room, knocked her unconscious, and sent her to Prince Ding.

"Humph, I let you two, grandfather and grandson, work together to harm others, so I'll let you go to hell together."

When Nanny Li woke up, she felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck. She looked around. This was the eldest daughter's room. She was confused. She had clearly left after dropping her off. But before she could figure it out, she heard a cry of surprise from the couch, followed by a familiar voice: "Why am I here? Why is Grandfather here?"

Nanny Li was instantly shocked. She hurriedly ran up and lifted the curtain, only to see that Prince Ding and He Li had both taken off their clothes, and Prince Ding had fainted on the couch, unconscious.

"Ah——" Nanny Li was frightened and ran out quickly.

Suddenly, a burst of discussion was heard among the women in the backyard.

"What? Someone is doing something illegal in the backyard of Prince Ding's mansion?"

A single stone caused a thousand ripples, and people followed the person who brought the news to He Li's yard. Princess Ding hurriedly asked people to stop them, but how could she stop them?

The news spread not only to the backyard, but also to the front yard. Everyone loved to watch the fun and flocked to the backyard.