Harem Daily Life

Tao Yanyan took out her little notebook and made a note of the military department that had stopped her from opening a fruit drink shop.

"I think that the punishment of losing three cities for the Xia Kingdom is enough. The long-term blockade of border trade is not a long-term solution. Since they come to us asking for help, we might as well do them a favor. Opening up trade will benefit the people of both countries and enrich the national treasury." said Lord Fang, the Minister of Revenue.

"You, the Ministry of Revenue, only see money. How can you give up so easily the right to speak that the soldiers fought for with their lives? If we let the Xia Kingdom succeed so easily, won't they come to harass us again in three to five years, and we will have to fight again?" Lord Yuan retorted.

He Linzhang looked at the other adults.

Tao Qian stepped forward and said, "The border defenses have been repaired, costing a considerable amount of money. The post-war reconstruction of several border towns has also cost a considerable amount. All this money was allocated from the national treasury. I believe that now that the fighting has stopped, it's a good time to make money. While Xia is in urgent need of supplies, wouldn't it be better if we sold more and earned back the money we spent on the national treasury?"

"Master Tao, how can you civil officials understand the hardships we military officers endure? Every time we go into battle, we risk our lives. All you care about is money. Can money be more important than human life?"

Seeing that several people were about to quarrel, He Linzhang raised his hand and asked them to be quiet.

Tao Yanyan felt that today might not be the right time to come. Everyone had different opinions and it would be difficult to reach a consensus.

He Linzhang noticed a hint of disappointment in her brow and coughed lightly, saying, "What you, my dear ministers, have said is all for the sake of the Great Zhou and makes sense. Since you all disagree, I will make the decision."

Everyone looked at the emperor, and Tao Yanyan also looked at him lovingly with his big round eyes.

He Linzhang raised his eyebrows and said, "I agree to reopen trade between our two countries, but I have a condition. I need to talk to Kang Mowan. Once I have reached an agreement, I will sign the letter of credence."

Tao Yanyan looked at He Linzhang doubtfully, only to see the darkness in his eyes.

Kang Mowan didn't expect that looking for Ning Yuanhou would have such a good effect!

On the third day, word arrived from the palace that he would be granted an audience. His subordinates were delighted. They had previously refused their invitations several times, citing a palace banquet as an excuse. But the fact that the palace was holding a banquet and simultaneously summoning them proved even more compelling that Ningyuan Marquis was capable and would not interfere with the affairs of the Xia Kingdom.

The Emperor of the Great Zhou only summoned Kang Mowan to meet him, so none of his subordinates followed him. He entered the palace alone with the Marquis of Ningyuan.

He Linzhang met him in the Qinzheng Hall. The two of them entered the imperial study, and all the palace maids inside came out. Eunuch Zhang was the last one to come. He closed the door and stood guard outside the imperial study.

Tao Yanyan was at the banquet, but his heart had already flown to the Qinzheng Hall.

"Empress, Empress?" Noble Concubine Xian called her twice before Tao Yanyan came back to her senses.

"Well, you're talking to me?"

Consort Xian smiled and said, "What are you thinking about, Her Majesty? You seem so lost in thought. I want to ask, what do you think of Lord Yuan's granddaughter?"

Tao Yanyan looked at the graceful young lady in red in the warm room and nodded: "She has a well-proportioned figure and a good demeanor."

As soon as he finished speaking, the little girl spoke in a voice as rough as a man's.

Tao Yanyan and Concubine Xian: "..." and instantly turned their gaze to others.

"The one wearing the goose yellow jacket is also good. She is the second daughter of the Minister of Justice, Lord Qi." Concubine Xian pointed to Tao Yanyan, who was quite satisfied.

"It's just that the skin color seems a little darker and not white enough." As for her daughter-in-law, she wants to find a prettier one so that her genes will be strong in the future and her grandchildren can inherit the perfect genes.

Tao Yanyan shuddered at the thought that she was about to become a grandmother, and Concubine Xian quickly asked someone to send her a new hand warmer.

The noble ladies who came today were all of varying appearances, and each of them had put a lot of effort into dressing up. Unfortunately, in the end, Tao Yanyan still couldn't choose one that he liked.

Seeing that the Queen lacked interest, Concubine Xian had no choice but to accompany her to another palace garden, which was reserved for male guests.

The young masters of each family were reciting poems and composing couplets. When they saw Empress Tao and Consort Xian coming over, they all clasped their fists and greeted them.

Tao Yanyan took a quick look around and saw that they were all tall, young and handsome.

He Jinan was also among them, chatting with a few young men.

"Your son pays homage to the Queen Mother and the Virtuous Consort." He Jinan said gracefully.

"What are you talking about? It seems like you two are having a very interesting conversation." Tao Yanyan asked.

"We didn't talk about anything. It was just Mr. Fang telling us some strange stories. He was quite interesting, so we gathered together to listen."

Seeing that Mr. Fang was quite handsome, Consort Xian wanted to know more about him, so she asked, "What is this strange story? Why don't you let us hear it?"

Fang Ziming quickly said, "To answer your question, Lady Xian, it's about Lady Lingxi, who's been going around Fuyan Temple on the outskirts of the capital lately. They say Lady Lingxi knows everything in the world, and anyone who pays a large sum of money to draw a fortune will be rewarded with blessings or averted from disaster. Even more amazing is that she has many novel ideas that can make people rich overnight, so many people come to her for help, and there's often a line at the city gate."

Tao Yanyan was confused. She originally thought that the so-called strange stories were some ghost legends, but she didn't expect them to be about divination and fortune-telling?

And this Lady Lingxi is also so arrogant that she actually dares to say that she knows everything in the world!

However, when she heard the word "get rich quickly", she also became interested.

"Are you talking about what you saw with your own eyes, or what you heard from others?" Tao Yanyan asked.

Fang Ziming said respectfully, "Reporting to the Queen, my aunt once went out of town to ask for permission from the Lingxi Queen. She asked for a fortune and received a recipe for wealth. Now she has opened a shop specializing in beauty and skin-regenerating creams, and business is pretty good."

Tao Yanyan raised his eyebrows. This was like a psychological suggestion. It was like someone was telling you that you could make money by selling you a prescription. If you opened a shop and your business was good, you would think it was all thanks to Empress Lingxi. Little did you know that the economic situation in the Great Zhou was good in recent years, and it was difficult for any shop to fail.

Tao Yanyan smiled and didn't take Empress Lingxi's matter to heart. However, Concubine Xian was very interested and thought it would be better to find an opportunity to ask for a fortune to see the third princess's marriage.

The two of them walked around, and Concubine Xian compared everyone's appearance and conversation, and then set her sights on Master Fang, thinking of finding someone to investigate his character first.

Seeing that today's banquet had little effect, Tao Yanyan had people give rewards to each family, left early, and went to the Qinzheng Hall.

Eunuch Zhang had been guarding the Imperial Study for over an hour. Seeing the Empress approach, he hurried forward and said, "If your Majesty is not in a hurry, please return first, or wait in the side hall for a moment. I will go in and report. His Majesty is discussing important matters with Prince Kang of Xia, and he said he will not see anyone."

Tao Yanyan raised an eyebrow. She was very curious about what conditions He Linzhang had to discuss privately with Kang Mowan...