Harem Daily Life

Since she was thinking about choosing a husband for the princess, Concubine Xian took the matter to heart. Coincidentally, the Fourth Princess's wedding was almost ready, so Concubine Xian went to Changle Palace to report to the Empress in person.

"Palace banquet? Hold it at this time?" Tao Yanyan looked at the cold weather outside the window and silently wrapped his clothes tighter.

"I'm thinking that the Second Prince, Min'er, and Princess Yanran are all of age, and their marriages haven't been arranged yet. So I want to cast a wider net and gather all the children of marriageable age in the capital together so that they can have a chance."

Tao Yanyan had never thought that he could make friends in this way, but there were no other channels in ancient times. Apart from banquets, there seemed to be no other way.

"Okay, then I'll trouble you to host it. I'll be in attendance."

Tao Yanyan agreed, and Concubine Xian continued, "The Fourth Princess's dowry list has been finalized. I've already stamped my seal on the palace's share. It's up to Concubine Liang to decide how to contribute her own share. Does Your Majesty have any other instructions?"

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "I trust you to do the work. Just follow the rules. I'll add two auspicious items. Xianglan can go find them and bring them directly to the dowry list."

Xianglan followed the order and went down. Concubine Xian took a sip from her teacup and said, "Unconsciously, the children have reached the age of marriage, and we are getting old too."

She glanced at Tao Yanyan. Time seemed to have been particularly kind to her. Even after more than a decade, she was still as beautiful as ever, making it hard to look away. Concubine Xian looked at her own hands, which had become dry in the winter, and then at Empress Tao's fair and tender hands. She smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you haven't changed at all. You seem to be getting younger and younger over the years. I'm almost afraid to see you."

Tao Yanyan said with a smile: "How hasn't she changed? You are no longer the delicate and tender girl of seventeen or eighteen. But come to think of it, I just happen to have something good to give you." After that, she ordered the little palace maid to get the freshly made face cream.

"I've just made a new face cream that's very moisturizing whether you apply it on your face or hands. I didn't have the ingredients at first, so I couldn't make it. It wasn't until the Xia Kingdom was defeated and I got some spices that I finally succeeded."

After the little palace maid brought it, Tao Yanyan opened the lid, put a little on it with her fingertips, and applied it on Concubine Xian's hands. After spreading it on her, Concubine Xian felt that her hands were very moisturized, and the places where the liquid was applied were moist and white.

"This thing is really useful. It must be cheap, right?" Concubine Xian exclaimed.

Tao Yanyan asked her to compare them. "This small jar must have cost three taels of silver. It's filled with natural spices and pearl powder. The spices are from Xia Country and aren't easy to find. The pearl powder is easier to make, as it's ground from small beads."

Tao Yanyan handed her the whole bottle and said, "I don't make much. Take one first. When I have a new one in the future, I'll make more and send it to you."

Concubine Xian accepted it with great pleasure. The Empress knew how to enjoy life the best, so her things were naturally the best.

"I will use it when I get back. On the day of the palace banquet, I will perform well in front of the ladies of various families." Concubine Xian said with a smile, and soon she returned to Yongtai Palace happily.

Xianglan had the tea brought down and said, "Your Majesty didn't make much this time. You only gave one bottle to Consort Xian. You'll have to wait a while for the next one."

Spices are hard to come by and have to be shipped from Xia Country, so it’s not possible to do it in the short term.

Tao Yanyan didn't care at all: "These are made to be used by others, and they can't be kept. How can I use so many by myself? I gave one bottle to Concubine Xian today. Go get two more bottles and give them to Princess Xinlan and Gu Ning respectively."

Xianglan took the order and planned to send out two more bottles, so that the Queen would only have three bottles left. She would have to use them sparingly in the future and only apply them on her face and hands, not on her body.

After taking a shower that night, Tao Yanyan searched for her skin cream for a long time but couldn't find it: "Hey, there's clearly some left."

She went to the place where she usually kept the bottles and jars, but still only found half a bottle left.

She had no choice but to use half the bottle to apply on her body. She scooped out a large spoonful and applied it on her arms and legs.

Xianglan came in to clean up and saw how much the Empress had used. She said distressedly, "Your Majesty, there isn't much left. Please use it sparingly!"

Xianglan felt heartbroken as she put away the half-used bottle.

He Linzhang was reading a book not far away. He looked up when he heard this and said, "There's no need to save on the things the Queen needs."

Xianglan was speechless, not knowing how to respond. Tao Yanyan waved her off and said, "The ingredients for this skin cream are rare, so Xianglan is heartbroken. Your Majesty, please don't blame her."

After saying that, she walked over to He Linzhang and sat down, continuing to massage her skin.

He Linzhang came forward, leaned close to her shoulders, and inhaled her fragrance: "Yan Yan is fragrant, soft, and fair and tender. Whatever materials you need, I will send people to find them for you."

Using it on her will be the one who benefits in the end, so He Linzhang is happy to help her solve the problem.

Tao Yanyan leaned into her arms and said, "These are all spices from the Xia Kingdom. It's a small matter. Your Majesty, don't worry about it. I can handle it myself. However, I heard that the Xia Kingdom has sent another delegation to the capital. Like in previous years, would Your Majesty like to reopen the border trade?"

He Linzhang had no intention of listening to her talk about political affairs at this time. He had a beautiful woman in his arms, and his mind was distracted. His hands unconsciously wrapped around her slender waist and slowly moved up and down, causing Tao Yanyan to tremble.

"Your Majesty~" Tao Yanyan grabbed his rebellious hand and said, "The matter of Xia Kingdom..."

"Yan Yan, are you sure you want to discuss Xia Kingdom with me at this time?" He kissed her neck, again and again, with great patience.

"But I don't want to discuss them. They're here and waiting to be summoned. I think they should be more patient this time than last time."

He Linzhang patiently persuaded Tao Yanyan, and soon she felt weak and tired and lay down under him.

When the Xia Kingdom delegation came this time, Kang Mowan found it difficult to speak when he met the Minister of Rites.

"Your Highness has come a long way, so please rest for a few days. If His Majesty summons you, I will invite you and the others into the palace."

Lord Wang, the Minister of Rites, was very polite, but what he said made Kang Mowan and others feel sad.

If they delay for one more day, the country of Xia will be in chaos. If they don't open up to trade, Xia's goods will not be sold and the necessary materials will not be brought back to the country. How will they explain this to the king?

Kang Mowan pulled the Minister of Rites aside and thrust a large silver note into his hand: "I hope you will speak well of us. We hope to return before winter comes."

Kang Mowan was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. This scene seemed to have happened a few years ago. He had been on diplomatic missions to the Great Zhou many times over the years and had seen all kinds of humiliation.

Minister Wang declined, "My government has strict laws. I dare not accept the silver you sent me. Please keep the banknotes. I will naturally pass on your message. After all, we are old friends. Besides, it is really inconvenient these few days. The palace is arranging marriages for several princes and princesses, and the emperor and empress are currently busy."

"Discuss marriage?" Kang Mowan was a little dazed. After failing to propose to the princess of the Great Zhou, his nephew turned to propose to the princess of the Yan State. He didn't expect that the disasters that Xia State had suffered in recent years all started from that time.