Harem Daily Life

"Have you heard? The Prince of Han filed a complaint against the Prince of Jin, and the Prince of Jin was punished by His Majesty and confined to his residence to reflect on his actions."

"He was stripped of his position. He had finally gained a foothold in the Ministry of War, and it was all destroyed in one fell swoop."

"This Prince Jin is not his biological son, so our relationship is just lukewarm. He can give up on me whenever he wants, and he won't give me a chance even for the smallest thing."

"Compared to the Han Prince's residence, His Majesty seems to favor the Han Prince's family more!"

"That's natural, the heir of the Han Prince's mansion is going to marry the princess."

"Besides, how much favor can Prince Jin possibly show to a merchant's daughter?"

……

As gossip spread, Prince Jin had become known as a prince disliked by His Majesty. The news spread like wildfire and eventually reached the ears of the Hua family.

On a carriage leaving the city, Hua Yurong bit her lip and said anxiously, "Was it because His Majesty suspended the Prince from his post for helping me?"

Hua Yurong heard various versions and felt extremely guilty.

He Jin'an found it amusing. His father wanted him to take his future princess to take care of his grandmother for a few days, so he found an excuse to give him leave and put on a show for the Han Prince's Mansion. He didn't expect it to upset his future princess.

Seeing the little princess's distressed expression, He Jin'an pouted and said, "Then how will Yue Rong make it up to me?"

Hua Yurong opened her big eyes wide: "How long will Your Highness be suspended from duty, and how much salary will you lose? I will compensate you double."

He Jin'an coughed lightly: "The money is a small matter. The main thing is that my father's affection for me cannot be measured in gold or silver."

Hua Yurong was in a dilemma. She couldn't very well help He Jin'an compete for the emperor's favor, could she?

"Then... what does His Majesty like? I will try my best to cater to his tastes." Hua Yurong made up her mind. As long as His Majesty likes it and it can help He Jin'an, she will buy it and present it to him regardless of the consequences.

Seeing her pained expression, He Jin'an lifted the carriage curtain to look at the road outside. They were very close to the residence, so he abandoned his intention to tease her: "Father likes filial people. Filial piety doesn't require spending too much money. Today, you can come with me to visit the two elders and have a meal with them."

Hua Yue Rong didn't know who the dignified prince was going to accompany, but when she arrived at the courtyard and saw the person, He Jin An respectfully called out "Grandmother," she knew.

Hua Yurong was very nervous. She hadn't prepared any valuable gifts before coming, but she listened to He Jin'an and bought some food from Xiangmanyuan. Not sure if the Empress Dowager would like it, she respectfully handed over the food box.

The Empress Dowager was worried about running out of snacks when she saw the Xiangmanyuan packaging and said with a smile, "You've come at just the right time. Let me see what delicious treats you've brought me."

Mu Yu, looking on with doting eyes, quickly took the package for her and opened it.

Crispy ribbonfish, steamed pork ribs, crispy chicken strips, spicy dried shrimp, lotus root cake, brown sugar lotus root, spiced melon seeds, and fish skin peanuts—each one was a favorite of the Empress Dowager.

"Quickly, quick, put them all on plates. It's been so long since I've had so many different kinds of food."

Mu Yu choked: "The fish skin peanuts I ate yesterday, and the lotus flower sugar cake I ate the day before, you've already forgotten about them?"

The Empress Dowager gave him a reproachful look: "One thing to eat a day is not enough. My grandson and granddaughter-in-law are so kind, they know to bring me more."

Mu Yu shook his head and smiled, then affectionately picked out two pieces of each item for her and handed them to her.

Hua Yurong blushed and dared not ask what the relationship was between the two people in front of her. They seemed too intimate, but hadn't the late emperor passed away many years ago?

She wisely kept quiet and didn't ask any questions, then heard He Jin'an say, "Why hasn't Grandfather written to Mother Empress lately? Mother Empress has mentioned it several times."

Mu Yu glanced at the Empress Dowager and pointed, "It's spring now, and your grandmother wants to learn how to farm. She wakes me up at dawn every day to go to the fields, so I don't have time to write at all. Tell your mother not to worry when you get back, we're doing fine."

Hua Yurong's heart was filled with shock. One was the Empress Dowager, and the other was the Empress's father. What kind of relationship was this? Could she have known some secret and been silenced?

Seeing her unease, He Jin'an offered to take her for a walk, which made Hua Yuerong feel as if she had been granted a pardon.

The two strolled around the courtyard, which was a small courtyard with three courtyards. It had a unique design, with pavilions and waterside terraces, and the scenery was beautiful. Sure enough, there were some small vegetable seedlings planted in the vegetable garden, which had just sprouted a little bit and looked a bit sparse.

"Is there something you want to ask me?" He Jin'an pulled the person out and didn't let go of their hand, continuing to talk while holding them.

"I want to ask, but I don't dare to," Hua Yuerong said honestly.

He Jin'an understood: "You want to ask why the Empress Dowager lives here, and why the maternal grandfather is by her side?"

Hua Yurong nodded curiously. If He Jin'an had told her directly, it wouldn't have been considered her inquiring about royal secrets.

He Jin'an said a few words briefly, leaving it at that. Although Hua Yurong was shocked, she eventually understood the reason.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about this, I swear." Hua Yurong raised three fingers very seriously.

"I believe you, otherwise I wouldn't have brought you here." He Jin'an smiled, took the finger she used to swear, and held both of her hands in his.

Hua Yurong felt He Jin'an's boundless trust, and her heart was filled with joy, her face beaming with smiles. But being pulled along like this, the tips of her ears couldn't help but turn red.

"Your Highness...do you really enjoy holding other people's hands?" Hua Yurong asked softly, her eyes lowered, embarrassed.

“Others?” He Jin’an raised an eyebrow: “Besides Yue Rong, there’s no one else.”

Hua Yue Rong looked up and met He Jin An's smiling eyes.

"Oh my god, you two are such a perfect match, I'm starting to believe in love again."

Hua Yurong was startled and quickly broke free from the hand that was holding her. She looked around but didn't see anyone.

He Jin'an's hands were suddenly empty, and he frowned in displeasure: "What, wasn't the back mountain fun enough? You're back so soon?"

As soon as He Jin'an finished speaking, the talkative parrot fluttered its wings and landed steadily on the bare branch next to the two of them, tilting its little head to look at them.

"Those stupid birds can't even talk. Playing with them lowers my IQ."

If she hadn't seen and heard it with her own eyes and ears, Hua Yuerong would never have imagined that Prince Jin was actually talking to a bird.

The parrot sized up Hua Yue Rong: "Who are you? I'm Xiao Qi, nice to meet you."

"Xiao Qi?" Before Hua Yurong could speak, He Jin'an frowned and said, "When did you choose this name? How come I didn't know?"

The talkative parrot hopped around twice, raised its head, and said, "This bird has given itself the title of He Xiaoqi. How about it? Sounds good, right?"

He Jinan: "..."

Hua Yuerong: "..."

Even a bird needs a name, and this one is named He, following Xiao Liu in the order...

This talkative parrot must be possessed by a spirit!

"Tell Xiaoqi quickly, who are you?" the parrot pressed.

Hua Yuerong had no choice but to speak softly: "My surname is Hua, my given name is Yuerong, and I am... the future princess consort of Prince Jin."

He Xiaoqi flapped her wings and flew around Hua Yurong twice, her voice rising eight octaves: "So it's Second Sister-in-law! So it's Second Sister-in-law! My Second Brother is finally taken!"