Harem Daily Life

Tao Yanyan didn't have to wait long. After about half an hour, the door of the imperial study opened and Ning Yuanhou and Kang Mowan walked out. Both of them had very solemn expressions on their faces.

Ningyuan Hou gave Kang Mowan a look and said, "I hope Your Highness will think carefully about today's matter when he returns. I also felt it was difficult at first, but if it is truly accomplished, Your Highness will be a hero to the Xia Kingdom. I will follow the instructions of His Majesty and do my utmost to support Your Highness. If you need anything, please feel free to speak up. I will do my best to help you."

Kang Mowan's face was still pale. He opened his mouth and pondered for a moment before saying, "This matter is of great importance. I...I will make careful plans when I return. My Lord, wait for my news. I will give you an answer in three days."

The two of them left the palace together, and Eunuch Zhang personally went to the side hall to invite Empress Tao to the imperial study.

"Why are you here at this time? How is the palace banquet going? Do you have any candidates you like?" He Linzhang had just finished a difficult negotiation. He rubbed his brows and asked.

Seeing his tired look, Tao Yanyan walked over to stand behind him, raising her hand to press his temple. "It was just a palace banquet, so I can't tell much. But I think you've chosen a candidate for Consort Xian. Your Majesty, why did you talk with Kang Mowan for so long? Is everything going well?"

He Linzhang would not hide anything from her, so when she asked, he said: "I agree to reopen border trade, but I also require him to take over the Xia Kingdom and replace the monarch."

Tao Yanyan was shocked: "Your Majesty, are you asking him to rebel?"

He Linzhang pulled her in front of him, held her on his lap, rested his head on her shoulder, and smelled the faint fragrance on her body.

"The Xia Kingdom has been harbouring its evil intentions for years. They've been harassing the border for a few years now, causing me immense annoyance. Their monarch is a treacherous and insidious villain. As long as someone like him exists, there will never be peace between the Great Zhou and the Xia Kingdom. I believe that although Kang Mowan's ambitions are modest, he is quite devoted to the people of the Xia Kingdom. Most importantly, he seeks wealth, not power. As long as he's in power, he can ensure a peaceful border between the two countries, perhaps ensuring peace for another 10 to 20 years."

Tao Yanyan frowned and asked, "But does he have the strength?" Overthrowing a regime is not a simple matter of words; it requires real fighting. Tao Yanyan's impression of Kang Mowan is still that he is a prince who is focused on wealth, not a lord who can rule the country.

He Linzhang's eyes were dark and determined: "He doesn't have the ability, but I do. I will secretly support him and give him three years to take that position."

Tao Yanyan was still worried: "Your Majesty, doing this will cost you a lot of energy, not to mention money, I'm afraid it will also require a lot of manpower support."

He Linzhang raised his head and kissed the corner of her mouth. "There are gains and losses. If we want to solve the problem of Xia Kingdom's repeated instability, we must eradicate the cancer at its root. As for the expenses, I want to use the money from the imperial property account and not use the national treasury to avoid being discovered by others."

The imperial property is the emperor's private property, and the empress also has a share in the emperor's private property. He Linzhang said this to seek Tao Yanyan's consent.

Tao Yanyan sighed: "Since Your Majesty has made the decision, I will naturally support Your Majesty." Those golden little coins, your days of belonging to me will not last long...

Seeing her pained expression, He Linzhang couldn't help but explain, "Kang Mowan longs for peace and doesn't want to fight, but he's a minister of his monarch. If the monarch wants to fight, he can't stop him. But every time he loses, it's him who begs for mercy. I think he's unwilling to accept this. With this unwillingness, coupled with my full support, I believe he will succeed. Once we conquer Xia, we can open up trade for as many years as we want. Is Yan Yan still worried about not making money?"

Tao Yanyan pursed his lips. "As long as your Majesty has confidence, that's all. However, the money flowing through the imperial account is easily discovered. It's better to use it for its intended purpose. Come up with an obvious excuse and embezzle it privately."

He Linzhang smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Queen. I'll tell you the amount, and I'll have to ask the Queen for help with the account issues."

Tao Yanyan glared at him and said, "Your Majesty is always ordering people around. I am really tired."

He Linzhang was amused by her and couldn't help but hug her tighter: "Then I will treat you well tonight and make it up to you."

Tao Yanyan blushed instantly and wanted to get out of his arms. If she stayed any longer, she was afraid that she would not be able to return to Changle Palace tonight.

Kang Mowan thought about it for three days before finally deciding to give it a try.

But this matter is of great importance, and he must plan it carefully.

After receiving Kang Mowan's feedback, He Linzhang called Ningyuan Hou into the palace to discuss the subsequent details. Ningyuan Hou felt that he was too old to take on such a heavy responsibility, so he declined.

"Your Majesty, there is no need to underestimate yourself. You have served two dynasties and made remarkable achievements in the affairs of Yan State. I have great confidence in the Ningyuan Marquisate, so I have entrusted this matter to you. Your Majesty, rest assured that Qi Yizheng will cooperate secretly. He has already arrived at the border and will cultivate power there to support you. Furthermore, General Gu is in charge of the military camp. No one can mobilize troops better than General Gu. The Ningyuan Marquisate is my best choice."

Seeing that His Majesty had said so, Marquis Ningyuan no longer refused and secretly made up his mind to see this matter through. Otherwise, if he failed and the truth was revealed, he, Marquis Ningyuan, would lose his reputation in his later years.

Tao Yanyan pondered the idea for several days before contacting Dong Fang, who had him purchase a large tract of land in Yongning City, the city closest to the Xia Kingdom's border, to build various workshops. The imperial estate would serve as an investor, sharing in the workshops' dividends but not participating in their management.

With the project in place, the royal treasury would be transferred to Dong Fang as investment funds, providing a source for the money flow. Since Dong Fang was her man, she could manipulate the profit accounts. Then, she could simply transfer the money allocated to support Kang Mowan from the accounts, and no one would be able to detect the connection.

Moreover, Yongning City is close to Xia State, so it is convenient for doing anything. It's just a pity for Dong Fang. He has to manage so many industries and add another one. He is really busy.

"Your Majesty, the virtuous concubine is here."

"Please ask her to sit in the front hall. I will be there soon." After writing the last few words, Tao Yanyan put down the pen, folded the letter to Dong Fang, put it in the envelope, sealed it with wax, stamped it with the seal, and then got up and went to the front hall.

The virtuous concubine came here today to ask the Queen to allow her to leave the palace and go to Fuyan Temple to worship Buddha.

"There is a Buddhist temple in the palace. Why would Concubine Xian go so far away in such cold weather?" Tao Yanyan pulled her coat closer. She was getting older and her energy and blood were not as strong as before, so she was not as resistant to the cold.

Consort Xian smiled and said, "To be honest, I came here to pay my respects to the Buddha, and secondly, I am really curious about Lady Lingxi, so I wanted to go and take a look."

Tao Yanyan understood as soon as he heard it. Concubine Xian was attracted by what Fang Ziming said that day. She was probably going to ask Empress Lingxi for a fortune-telling for He Min's marriage.