Harem Daily Life

After going through several intermediaries, the things Madam Feng wanted to send, along with a letter, were finally delivered to Eunuch Zhang.

He held these two hot potatoes, frowning deeply.

"Master, this is for His Majesty. It's been in your hands for a long time. Aren't you going to send it over?" Zhang Gonggong's apprentice, Xiao Xizi, asked in confusion.

Zhang Gonggong pondered for a while longer, still showing some hesitation on his face.

"You don't know, this was given to Princess Pingning, the former princess of Yan, when she went to Yan for a political marriage. If I remember correctly, this is over twenty years old." The box in Eunuch Zhang's hand was engraved with the late emperor's seal. It was a gift from the late emperor when she went to Yan for a political marriage.

Because it was a gift from the late emperor, Eunuch Zhang hesitated, unsure whether he should present it to His Majesty. What if His Majesty wanted to use this item to blackmail him into doing something? It would be better for him to keep the item and end the matter abruptly with him.

"What are you two, master and apprentice, looking so worried about?" He Jin'an, who was currently on duty in various ministries, came to the door of the Imperial Study with documents from the Ministry of Revenue in his hand.

Zhang Gonggong quickly came to his senses, but there was nowhere to hide what he was holding, and He Jinan had seen it all.

"This servant greets Prince Jin," said Eunuch Zhang respectfully.

He Jin'an nodded: "No need for formalities, Eunuch Zhang. Are you here to deliver something to the Emperor?" He Jin'an's gaze fell on the box in Eunuch Zhang's hand, and he immediately recognized the late Emperor's seal on it.

Eunuch Zhang had no choice but to briefly explain the origin of the object.

“I see.” He Jin’an’s eyes darkened slightly. “Since it was a gift from the late emperor and the person returned it, they must have something to ask for. Why don’t we let Father see it? Perhaps Father will be curious too.”

Eunuch Zhang lowered his eyes and followed He Jin'an inside, handing over the box and letter.

Upon hearing that it was sent by the former Princess of Yan, He Linzhang became somewhat impatient.

When they conquered the Yan Kingdom, He Linzhang spared her life out of consideration for her contributions to the Great Zhou Dynasty, granting her freedom. Unexpectedly, she returned several years later.

He Linzhang did not open the letter or the box, but instead asked He Jin'an what was wrong.

He Jin'an suppressed his surging gossip and began to report on official business.

"Father, the population of the Great Zhou has increased in recent years. The Ministry of Revenue has conducted a national population census and formulated a new tax policy. Please review it, Father." He Jin'an presented the document in his hand and explained each figure in person.

Hearing his son's report, He Linzhang was very pleased, nodding from time to time, and asked a few more questions.

"I agree with this new tax policy, but whether it can be implemented depends on a pilot program."

He Jin'an also agreed and volunteered, saying, "Your subject believes that Qianzhou can serve as a pilot area. Your subject is willing to go to Qianzhou immediately to implement the new policies and record the process and effects in detail for reference."

He Linzhang was very pleased with his son's actions, but he shook his head and said, "The New Year is just a month away. You should wait until after the New Year before you go to your fief. Your mother will miss you. Spend more time with her."

He Jin'an naturally agreed, but suggested sending people to prepare in advance, as implementing a new policy is not so easy.

After finishing their business, He Jin'an glanced at the box but remained standing still. He Linzhang couldn't help but find it amusing; this son wasn't Tao Yanyan's biological child, but his love for gossip was exactly the same as Tao Yanyan's.

He had no choice but to open the box and see a gold medal inside, which also bore the seal of the late emperor.

He opened the letter again, and his face darkened after reading it.

Upon seeing his father's expression, He Jin'an regretted staying there to read the gossip.

"Look at this, I never expected this woman to be so ambitious. Over the years, she has gained and lost a lot, yet her ambition remains unchanged."

He Jin'an took the letter and saw that the first half was filled with old friendships and detailed her contributions to the Great Zhou. The second half described her hardships and concluded with a request for the emperor to bestow upon her the title of Protector of the Nation and to allow her to enter the court as a female official.

He Jin'an frowned deeply: "Father, this man is arrogant, conceited, and insatiable."

He Linzhang's eyes were also deep and dark: "I remember that when the Great Zhou was weak, it had no choice but to make a marriage alliance with the Yan Kingdom. In order to dispel her concerns, the late emperor did say in front of me that she could make a request at any time, and he gave her this gold medal, and promised that every He family successor would have to grant her one request."

He Jin'an scoffed lightly: "Then if she proposes to become empress, does that mean the throne has to be given to her?" He Jin'an was speaking in anger, and He Linzhang naturally understood.

For a moment, the air in the imperial study was heavy and silent, neither father nor son uttering a word. Finally, He Jin'an broke the silence.

“Father, we must keep the late emperor’s promise, but she cannot accept the title of Lady Protector of the Nation.” The title of “Protector of the Nation” carries immense weight; not everyone has the ability to deserve it.

"Besides, the system of female officials is implemented in the inner palace. Do you want her to go to the inner palace and offend the Empress Dowager?" Just by looking at Madam Feng's greed, He Jin'an knew that if she entered the inner palace, she would definitely cause trouble for the Empress Dowager.

He Jin'an suggested, "Why not negotiate with her and offer her gold and silver? It's better to use silver to fulfill your promise than to use anything else."

He Linzhang pondered for a moment, then said, "I'm too lazy to see her. Since you already know about this matter, you can handle it."

He Jin'an accepted the order and, after leaving the Imperial Study, thought for a moment and then went to Chang Le Palace.

The mother and son never kept anything to themselves, and He Jin'an directly stated the request of the former Princess Consort Feng of Yan.

Upon hearing that the father and son wanted to settle things with money, Tao Yanyan's lips twitched.

"Absolutely not." Tao Yanyan would never spend an extra tael of silver on this woman.

She wouldn't do anything that would lead to extortion.

He Jin'an remained silent.

“Mother, if we don’t keep the promises left by the late Emperor, people will say that Father Emperor is not a man of his word. But this person must not become a female official, lest she enter the harem and anger you.”

Tao Yanyan naturally knew that He Jin'an had put a lot of thought into things.

But you can't settle it with money.

That was money I had painstakingly saved up.

"Your father sent you to negotiate. Go ahead. Tell him that there is no official title, but a female official position can be given. As for where she will be employed, I will naturally arrange a good place for her when she comes to pay her respects to me."

Having no other choice, He Jin'an had to do as his mother wished. Of course, he informed his father, the Emperor, beforehand.

What else could He Linzhang say? He had a feeling that the Empress was getting playful again.

If Tao Yanyan knew what he was thinking, she would definitely cry foul.

Heaven have mercy, she really couldn't bear to part with the money and didn't want to be blackmailed!