Harem Daily Life

Not long after Tao Yanyan arrived at the Imperial Garden, Fu Baolin followed her.

"Oh, Miss Tao, please stay. Why are you walking so fast that I can't catch up with you." Fu Baolin said proudly.

"Why are you chasing me? I think there is nothing we can talk about." Tao Yanyan said disdainfully.

The position of the two people at the Imperial Garden Station was conspicuous, and people coming and going could see them, and even those who were close could hear their quarrel.

Fu Baolin said: "Sister, if you don't help me, someone else will. Men are always fickle. After tonight, His Majesty will be unable to stop wanting me. By then, Sister, I want to see His Majesty, but I'm afraid His Majesty won't want to see Sister. So I advise you to be nicer to me now, maybe later, you will need my help!"

Tao Yanyan was amused by the confidence in her tone and looked her up and down: "You really should bring a mirror with you when you go out and look at yourself carefully."

After saying this, he walked away with the breeze.

Fu Baolin stood behind her and clenched his fists. Her maid advised: "Baolin, why bother to get angry with her? You should go back early and prepare to welcome His Majesty."

Fu Baolin finally calmed down and cursed in his heart: "Humph, why didn't she drown when she fell into the water?"

After Tao Yanyan returned to Yingyue Pavilion, he instructed Chang Tai: "You go and keep an eye on Fu Baolin tonight. Soon after His Majesty goes in, you..." After whispering a few words, Chang Tai nodded quickly.

Qingfeng worriedly asked, "What if Your Majesty didn't go to Fu Baolin at all?"

"That's even better. She must be even more sad if she prepared for nothing."

Qingfeng was still a little worried: "It was the Queen who asked His Majesty to go to Fu Baolin today. Will you offend the Queen by doing this, my beauty?"

Tao Yanyan said calmly: "I've already offended you a long time ago, one more time is not too much."

If she was not sure that the Queen would definitely go against her, she would not have deliberately picked on Fu Baolin when paying her respects this morning. It was precisely because of her picking on him that the Queen promoted Fu Baolin in order to slap herself in the face.

The anger in the Imperial Garden was also pretended. Tao Yanyan was not angry because Fu Baolin was going to sleep with her tonight. However, if the Queen heard about it, she would definitely be very happy.

Let them be happy first. The happier they are, the angrier they will be in the end.

As expected, the Queen summoned Concubine Shu again in the afternoon and said happily, "Did you see her expression? I have never seen her lose her composure like today. After tonight, His Majesty will have something new. I'm afraid he won't see her for ten days or half a month."

Shu Fei felt that today's events were a little strange, but she couldn't tell what was strange, so she had to go along with it and say a few words to Tao Yanyan.

"But, Your Majesty, will you definitely go tonight?" Shu Fei said, suppressing the bitterness in her heart.

The Queen said confidently, "She is the only one who has not slept with His Majesty. I personally went to persuade His Majesty, and His Majesty has agreed to go."

Shu Fei felt helpless. Women came into the palace one after another. There was a selection every three years and there were always newer faces. As time went by, the days she could see him each month became few and far between.

After Shu Fei left the Queen's place, she was surprised to find that the Queen Mother had not summoned her for a long time. She also remembered the pipa that the Queen Mother had given to Lady Tao at the palace banquet, so she said to Fu Xin, "Go to the imperial kitchen and get some delicious snacks. I want to see the Queen Mother."

When the Empress Dowager heard that Shu Fei had arrived, she summoned someone to come in.

"Greetings to the Empress Dowager. The imperial kitchen has made fresh desserts today. I have specially picked out two plates of delicious ones to bring to the Empress Dowager." Shu Fei said as she took out the exquisitely crafted desserts and placed them on the table.

The Queen Mother looked at the exquisite decorations, but she had no appetite, so she didn't move. "What have you been busy with these days? The Emperor's birthday is next month, have you prepared a gift?"

After all, she was her own niece. Even if the Queen Mother was angry at her for not fighting for her, she couldn't just ignore her like she did to other concubines. She still had to give her some advice when necessary.

"It's ready. I embroidered the inner garment for Your Majesty myself." Shu Fei said with a blush.

Although the Queen Mother thought it was unoriginal, she didn't say anything because she had sewed it herself.

"I wonder what gifts other concubines will prepare for Your Majesty? There are several new sisters this year, and they are all smart. I'm afraid they will outshine ours by then." Shu Fei said.

The Empress Dowager has been in charge of the harem for decades, and she knows exactly what happens in the palace. Shu Fei wants to find out more, especially about Concubine Li and Concubine Tao, who are her main focus.

As for other concubines, they have been together for many years, but every year is just the same, and there is nothing new to do.

The Queen Mother narrowed her eyes. Her niece was smart and knew how to use resources to her advantage. It was a pity that she couldn't win her son's heart and couldn't check and balance Concubine Li, so she had to abandon her in the end.

The Queen Mother glanced at Eunuch Qin, who understood and said, "Lady Tao went to the Bureau of Treasures and made a lot of jewelry with the jade that Your Majesty gave her. Your Majesty is using three of them. Perhaps they were gifts for Your Majesty's birthday."

Shu Fei was startled, but then she calmed down. Although her gift was valuable, hers was valuable because of the thought behind it. Maybe her cousin the emperor would like hers more.

While Concubine Shu was still waiting for news from Concubine Li, Eunuch Qin said, "We haven't found out anything about Concubine Li. The imperial doctors who come in and out every day can't get any answers. But I think she is confined to her pregnancy, and she probably won't attend your Majesty's birthday banquet."

The Queen Mother snorted softly, "She has been pregnant for several months and has not been around me. I have had a comfortable life. At the Emperor's birthday banquet last year, the Imperial Concubine and the others encouraged Concubine Li to dance. Who would have thought that she had learned to dance since she was young, and her skills amazed everyone and deeply attracted my son's heart."

After saying that, he glanced at Shu Fei and said, "They pick out other people's specialties and ask them to perform. The imperial concubine and the others are really stupid!"

Shu Fei's ears turned red. She always felt that the Queen Mother was mocking her, but she had no evidence.

"Speaking of which, Concubine Tao's performance of the pipa at the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet this time really amazed everyone. When she was in Youzhou, her skills were not yet so proficient, and her pipa was not as good as the one given by the empress dowager. The Xuansi is indeed a famous musical instrument of its time." Shu Fei mentioned the pipa, feeling a little jealous.

"A good musical instrument can only play its greatest value in the hands of someone who can play it. Otherwise, it will be abandoned in the storehouse and will be covered with dust sooner or later. I heard that Lady Tao saved you during the southern tour, so I rewarded her with Xuansi. She is really good at not burying this good pipa."

The Queen Mother's words made Shu Fei blush. It turned out that the Queen Mother finally found out what she had concealed.

She hurriedly thanked him: "Thank you, aunt, for repaying this favor on my behalf." No matter what the reason for the reward, she had to attribute the reason to herself now.

Shu Fei was very unhappy.

"Okay, there's no need to be so polite among family members. Besides, I also heard a good song, so it's worth it." I also ate delicious shredded radish and fresh meat mooncakes and spicy duck in sauce, so it's worth it!

“By the way, if you have time, please go and ask if the music score is ready, and copy a copy for me.” The Queen Mother said to Eunuch Qin.

Eunuch Qin quickly agreed and asked a young eunuch to go and ask today.