Harem Daily Life

He Linzhang went directly to Yingyue Pavilion in the evening. Tao Yanyan had used up all the meat in making mooncakes today, so he went to the kitchen himself in the evening and made boiled fish fillets, roast chicken with soy sauce, duck with soy sauce, shrimp and vegetable soup, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and mung bean soup. He also used the leftover meat from making mooncakes to make a special portion of meat pie and steamed egg for Xiao Jinan.

When He Linzhang ate boiled fish fillets again, he remembered the last time he ate it, which was not long after he started his southern tour. At that time, he and Tao Yanyan were not that close, and Tao Yanyan had not even slept with him.

In the past three months, he rarely summoned others to his place, and spent most of his time with Tao Yanyan.

He Linzhang frowned. The emperor should treat the harem equally. This was what his mother had always told him. Now that it was difficult to have an heir, he had to put the country first and could not just rely on his own preferences and stay with Concubine Tao forever.

Xiao Jinan has now become very skilled at the dining process, and he always serves soup to He Linzhang first.

He put two shrimp balls in front of He Linzhang. Then came Tao Yanyan's. He always had one more meatball than He Linzhang to show his love for Tao Yanyan.

The last ones are his. Sometimes he has the same number of meatballs as He Linzhang, and sometimes he has one less, but in any case he never gets more than him.

Looking at these little details, He Linzhang's lips curled up. This child may seem very young, but he has a delicate mind and his heart towards Tao Yanyan is indeed sincere.

Seeing the dish of steamed egg with meat pie that only Xiao Jinan had, He Linzhang raised his eyebrows and said, "Someday, I want to eat that dish too."

Tao Yanyan followed his gaze and saw a small steamed egg with meat pie. He smiled and said, "Today's meat was all made into mooncakes. There is no meat left. I will make some for Your Majesty another day."

Speaking of mooncakes, He Linzhang remembered that Qi Yizheng had asked for a recipe, so he asked, "Do you have a secret recipe for this fresh meat mooncake? General Qi loves gourmet food, and he wants a recipe so he can make it at home."

Tao Yanyan blinked and said, "There is no recipe. It's nothing more than wrapping the chopped meat in the dough. Why don't I tell General Qi the steps myself when I meet him some other time?"

"This is easy. There will be a Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet in a few days, and he will also come to the palace to attend the banquet. You can find a chance to talk to him then." He Linzhang was eating the dishes. After a while, he finished a bowl of rice and ordered another bowl.

Eunuch Zhang wanted to advise His Majesty not to eat too much for dinner, but looking at the table full of side dishes that were more appetizing than the imperial meal, he himself was drooling, so he did not dissuade His Majesty.

Tao Yanyan handed a chicken leg to Xiao Jinan, picked up another for the emperor, and gnawed on the chicken feet himself. While chewing, he thought that the Mid-Autumn Festival was just a few days away. In order to meet Qi Yizheng, it seemed that he had to copy the ten palace rules as soon as possible in the next few days and report to the empress.

"Sister, this meat pie and egg stew is so delicious. It's the most delicious food I have ever eaten." Xiao Jinan finished a whole bowl and couldn't help but praise.

Tao Yanyan laughed: "Then you said wontons were your favorite in the morning, and chicken legs were your favorite at noon, and now it's meat patties and stewed eggs? Do you like all delicious food? Are you deliberately praising me and wanting me to cook more and make delicious food for you?"

Little Jinan grinned: "Sister is so smart, that's what I meant, sister can actually read my mind, so great!"

The little one clapped his hands and gave his sister great praise.

Tao Yanyan was so coaxed by him that her eyes were full of smiles: "Well, sister, think about what else delicious food you can make for Jinan to eat, so that Jinan can grow up white and plump, okay?"

Xiao Jinan nodded, with stars in his eyes.

He Linzhang looked at the big and the small, and recalled that when he first met Xiao Jinan, he was still a dirty little beggar, hungry and naked. He was not so fair at that time, but Tao Yanyan did not seem to dislike him and directly held the child's hand.

This was different from any other woman he had ever met. The noble ladies he had met would not be kind to a beggar. Staying away from him was the normal reaction of those ladies.

He couldn't help but glance at Tao Yanyan. The little girl's eyes were full of innocence and clarity. She was smiling at the moment, and she was wearing a goose yellow dress. She was like a little sun, so warm that people couldn't help but want to get close to her.

"But..." Xiao Jinan suddenly lowered his head: "I don't know how Uncle Zhong and the others are doing, whether they got food on the street, and whether they have a place to rest at night."

Seeing the child recalling his days on the street, Tao Yanyan comforted him, "I gave them money, they should be able to live a good life. But people can't always rely on others for help, they have to be self-reliant. I hope that Uncle Zhong you mentioned can find a job. He is young and strong, so he can definitely help others work and earn money. There is no need for him to beg on the street."

Xiao Jinan nodded: "Yes, I understand. People can't be lazy and eat like a baby. They need to be self-reliant and strong."

"Yes, so Jinan should do the small things within his ability by himself. Don't just ask Xiao Quanzi and Qingfeng to help you. You will understand it once you do it. Everything you learn is on your own and it is a lifelong asset." Tao Yanyan picked up some vegetables for Jinan and said.

It was the first time that He Linzhang heard parents teach their children in this way, letting the children do things if they can do them and not to delegate them to others.

He remembered that when he was a child, most of what his mother taught him was about how to be a useful prince. The little things in life were almost all done by servants, even dressing was done by someone else. So he never served soup to anyone, and never knew that he should do little things within his ability.

After dinner, Tao Yanyan took the emperor's arm in one hand and held Xiao Jin'an's arm in the other and took a walk in the yard. This place was bigger than Cuiweixuan, so there was more space to walk. Tao Yanyan thought that he had to make a swing frame and a seesaw for Xiao Jin'an, so that the child would have more ways to play.

After little Jin'an ran away, Tao Yanyan asked the emperor, "Your Majesty, can I ask the craftsmen in the palace to build a swing for Jin'an? I also want to make a seesaw."

Although the palace rules were copied, Tao Yanyan was not sure whether she could command the craftsmen with her position.

He Linzhang pinched her face and said, "Okay, I'll let Zhang Fuhai arrange it."

He Linzhang recalled that when he was a child, he only had books and teachers, and no playtime, so he said helplessly, "You spoil him so much, he won't be spoiled by you, right?"

Tao Yanyan hugged He Linzhang's waist and looked up and said, "He is still a child. It is a child's nature to love to play. They should study hard and play happily. This is the childhood of a child. Why, Your Majesty didn't have fun in his childhood?"

He Linzhang's mouth twitched. He couldn't admit that he was a person without a childhood. "No way. I'm also good at having fun."

He Linzhang took the opportunity to stay in Yingyue Pavilion. In the middle of the night, Tao Yanyan cried, "I will never again dare to say that Your Majesty doesn't know how to play. Your Majesty, please forgive me. I am really sleepy."

"Well, one last time. There's one more trick we can try." After saying that, he leaned over again.