Harem Daily Life

Tao Yanyan still took Madam Wang's words to heart. At today's palace banquet, Tao Yanyan did not ask about the affairs of the Xia Kingdom. After all, He Linzhang seemed to be in a bad mood since yesterday, so she wanted to wait until tomorrow to ask.

At the palace banquet, neither He Linzhang nor the Empress Dowager were in high spirits. Tao Yanyan, sitting beside them, could sense this most clearly. She didn't know what had gone wrong between the mother and son. It was as if they had suddenly become strangers again. They spoke coldly, maintaining a surface of calm.

Fortunately, the atmosphere of the entire palace banquet was quite good. All the concubines in the harem were promoted this year, and everyone was in a good mood. The guests and hosts drank and chatted happily.

The children could no longer bear it and were taken back to rest first. The empress dowager also returned to Changchun Palace soon after. Tao Yanyan stayed with He Linzhang until the end. When the palace banquet was over, He Linzhang was already drunk and drowsy.

"Your Majesty, I will stay with you in the Qinzheng Palace." Tao Yanyan said that if she returned to Changle Palace at this time, she would be afraid of the cold air outside.

"Okay." He Linzhang helped Tao Yanyan up and walked towards the bedroom.

After washing up in a hurry, He Linzhang fell asleep. Tao Yanyan couldn't help but mutter: "Don't you see how old you are? You still drink so much."

He Linzhang narrowed his eyes and said slowly: "I'm sorry to have made Yan Yan worried."

Tao Yanyan put her arms around his waist from behind and leaned on his back: "Your Majesty, why are you drinking so much? Is there something on your mind?"

If he wanted to talk, Tao Yanyan would listen. If he didn't want to talk, she wouldn't force him to talk. In short, as long as he needed it, she would give him some constructive advice on anything.

He Linzhang moved his mouth: "The Queen Mother... forget it, let's go to sleep." He Linzhang found it difficult to speak. Since the Queen didn't find out, then let it be. It would save one more person from worrying.

Tao Yanyan's eyes darkened. It turned out to be the Queen Mother's business. Seeing that he didn't say anything, she kept silent.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, princes from various families came to the palace to pay New Year's greetings. He Linzhang went to entertain guests, and Tao Yanyan also had to receive princesses, so he was busy with his own things and forgot to check the matter of the empress dowager. It was not until the fifth day of the Lunar New Year when Tao Yanyan had some free time that he remembered this.

She called Chang Tai and asked him to find out if anything special had happened in Changchun Palace recently.

Chang Tai was indeed the palace's "gossip girl." Not long after, he came back to report: "Your Majesty, everything has been normal in Changchun Palace recently. If there is anything wrong, it is that Eunuch Qin left the palace the day before the New Year's Day, and he left the palace again on the New Year's Day."

Tao Yanyan frowned: "You've been out of the palace for two consecutive days? Is there something urgent you need to do?"

Chang Tai replied, "Xiao Luzi said he didn't bring anything in from outside the palace, nor did he see anyone taking anything out. It seems like just this living person has gone through twice."

Tao Yanyan was even more puzzled. Who wouldn't stay in the palace and walk around in the middle of winter? Besides, Eunuch Qin was old and had cold legs. Going out in the cold weather was bad for his legs and feet.

"Did you tell me where he went after leaving the palace?"

Chang Tai thought for a moment and said, "After leaving the palace, Xiao Luzi went to find a place to wait for Eunuch Qin. He didn't follow him. However, he said he went east. Could that place be the Wang family's residence?"

"You mean he went to see Island Master Mu?" Tao Yanyan narrowed his eyes: "Did he go to pass on a message to the Queen Mother..."

While she was pondering, Caiyun came in and asked about the lunch arrangements: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Farm sent us some excellent mutton today. Would you like some grilled skewers?"

In a flash, Tao Yanyan seemed to have thought of something. She looked at Caiyun and asked, "Does Your Majesty usually eat mutton?"

Caiyun nodded and said, "It's edible. I've made it several times. The fresher the mutton, the better the soup. Your Majesty always drinks an extra bowl of mutton soup."

Tao Yanyan finally knew where the problem lay. She recalled the conversation between His Majesty and Eunuch Qin in Changchun Palace that day.

"Eunuch Qin may have been busy and forgotten that I don't like mutton in clear soup."

"I didn't know His Majesty was coming today, so I made a mistake in the kitchen arrangements. I will definitely not make it again next time."

Tao Yanyan held his forehead. Eunuch Qin had served the Queen Mother for decades, so how could he not know the tastes of mother and son? That day in Changchun Palace, His Majesty deliberately said that he didn't like eating mutton to test Eunuch Qin, and Eunuch Qin didn't refute... That Eunuch Qin, there was something strange!

That day, Eunuch Qin kept picking food for her, and knowing that she didn't eat coriander, it became clear who was under her skin.

No wonder the Empress Dowager looked dazed after that day, and He Linzhang was also very upset. It turned out that the crux of the problem was here!

This eunuch Qin is not that eunuch Qin.

"Your Majesty?" Caiyun saw Empress Tao's annoyed expression and couldn't help asking, "What about the mutton..."

Tao Yanyan waved his hand and said, "You can do whatever you want. Make a mutton soup for His Majesty, and grill the rest into skewers."

After Caiyun left, Tao Yanyan hesitated for a long time before deciding to have a good talk with He Linzhang.

At noon, He Linzhang came over and the whole family had lunch. Then Tao Yanyan took him to the study.

"Is there something wrong, Queen? You're so mysterious." He Linzhang raised his eyebrows and looked at her.

Tao Yanyan took his arm and said, "Your Majesty, if you encounter any difficulties, you must tell me and share them with you. Don't keep it in your heart."

He Linzhang looked at her with amusement: "Are you guessing that I'm worried again? Don't worry, I'm fine."

Tao Yanyan pouted: "Your Majesty knows whether it's true or not. Your Majesty has been depressed for several days. Ever since returning from Changchun Palace that day, Your Majesty has been like this..."

He Linzhang didn't want to talk about this topic because he was very confused.

"Your Majesty, you like mutton, right? Did you say you didn't like it that day just to test me? Because you could tell that man wasn't Eunuch Qin."

He Linzhang saw that she already knew, so he had no choice but to say: "I didn't want to tell you this, their affairs have nothing to do with you."

"If it affects your majesty's mood, it has something to do with me." Tao Yanyan held his hand: "Your majesty, do you want to hear my opinion?"

He Linzhang smiled bitterly and said, "You called me here alone. Even if I don't want to hear it, you still have to tell me, right?"

Seeing through her thoughts, Tao Yanyan glared at him and said, "Yes, yes, it's okay if I don't speak out."

He Linzhang shook his head helplessly: "Okay, tell me, what do you think?"

Tao Yanyan coughed lightly and said, "Actually, I was quite shocked when I first learned about this. I never thought my father would go this far. I beg Your Majesty not to punish him. He pretended to be Eunuch Qin and stayed by the Queen Mother's side, which shows how deeply he loves her."

He Linzhang sighed: "If you want to punish him, you can arrest him that day."

Tao Yanyan shook his arm. "So Your Majesty is also a man of affection and righteousness. Your Majesty cannot bear to see the Queen Mother suffer in her later years."