Harem Daily Life

Chapter 446: Saving Money to Raise a Baby

When Tao Yanyan thought about the good business of Miaoyinfang, she felt it would be a pity to close it down. The huge amount of money that came in every day was calling her.

"Your Majesty, Miaoyinfang has a high status in the music scene of the four countries, and music is also a part of cultural heritage. I think we cannot just let it go to waste. Moreover, the people in Miaoyinfang are innocent. If it is closed, what other way out can they find? Instead of letting it go bankrupt, it is better to take it over and continue to run it."

He Linzhang glanced at her belly and said, "Who are you going to let run it? You can't do it yourself. I don't agree."

He Linzhang held her hand. Now his heart and eyes were full of her and the child. He would never allow Tao Yanyan to be too tired.

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "There is a term called self-government. I think it would be better to select a manager from Miaoyinfang and let him lead the people below to continue the business."

He Linzhang could only agree to her proposal in the end: "Then let Li Zongguan do it and select a capable person to continue the business. I'm afraid you won't be willing to part with the 30,000 taels of silver per month."

Tao Yanyan's eyes widened, and she said embarrassedly: "Your Majesty really understands me. I really don't want to spend the money."

She took He Linzhang's arm and said coquettishly, "But I save money for our family! You see, I have to take care of the baby in my belly, and the three in Changle Palace. When they grow up, the princesses have to prepare dowries, and Jin'an has to prepare gifts. Money will be spent everywhere. Most of your majesty's property is paid out to the national treasury every year, and your majesty has such a large harem to support, so I have to do some work myself and make a small treasury or something to save some for the children."

He Linzhang: “…”

What you said makes so much sense that I can't refute it.

"We will stop the talent show and no more recruits, so there won't be so many people to support." He Linzhang had no choice but to make a promise.

Tao Yanyan tilted his head and looked at him: "Really? Have you stopped from now on? Your Majesty, you are no longer thinking about that delicate and tender little sister who is only sixteen or seventeen years old?"

When He Linzhang saw that she didn't believe him and was questioning him, he frowned and said, "Don't joke." He couldn't help but pinch her cheek and said, "With Yan Yan being so stunningly beautiful, who else can I see?"

After saying that, he lowered his head and kissed her. Tao Yanyan felt as if he was being embraced in a warm embrace, and he could no longer think, his heart was a little confused.

After a long while, He Linzhang released her, panting. He rested his forehead against hers and whispered, "What should I do? Your pregnancy will take ten months. I... am really suffering."

Suddenly I felt a little regretful for letting the concubine get pregnant too early, which delayed things too much.

Tao Yanyan stepped back slightly and said, "If Your Majesty can't help it, then..." She couldn't say anything else. She was very conflicted now. Although she knew that in this era and in this context, she couldn't monopolize him, but if she really monopolized him for a while, she would no longer be magnanimous enough to share with him.

He Linzhang sighed: "Forget it, I'll just bear with it. Otherwise, what if you start crying and ignore me?"

Now, in this big world, the most important thing is that Tao Yanyan gave birth to a child safely. He Linzhang would not lose control over such a thing.

The two of them whispered to each other for a while before Tao Yanyan was helped back to Changle Palace.

The news of her pregnancy fermented for a day and a night, and now everyone in the palace knew it. On the way back, passing by the Imperial Garden, Shufei seemed to be waiting for her specially, and kept lingering on the road that Tao Yanyan must pass.

Qingfeng reminded in a low voice: "Your Highness, the Concubine Shu is in front, and seems to be waiting for us."

Tao Yanyan took a look and thought it was natural to say hello when they met. It would be a bit unreasonable to just ignore him.

When Concubine Shu saw the Imperial Concubine's procession coming, she stepped forward and bowed: "Your Highness, I greet you."

Tao Yanyan is now the leader of all the concubines. Although Shufei entered the palace earlier than her and is a member of the Shu family, she is now a little lower than her. There is a difference in status, and Shufei is quite considerate in etiquette.

"Thank you for your courtesy, Concubine Shu. The weather is hot, so when you come out to stroll around the garden, stay in the shade of the trees to keep cool."

After the sedan chair landed, Tao Yanyan did not stand up, but continued to talk while sitting.

Concubine Shu smiled and said, "I heard this morning that the Imperial Concubine was pregnant, so I wanted to come and congratulate her, but the Third Prince kept crying, so I had no time to come. Your Majesty is so lucky to be pregnant so soon."

Tao Yanyan couldn't be sure whether her words were sincere or false, but she followed the principle of taking good words as good words, and thanked her: "Thank you, Concubine Shu. I haven't seen the Third Prince for many days. I will go to see him when I have time another day."

The child is almost one year old. The last time I saw him, he was still very small and thin. Compared with the third princess who is about the same age, he is two times smaller.

Concubine Shu smiled faintly: "Your Majesty is pregnant, so you don't have to work hard. When the weather is cooler, I will take the Third Prince to Changle Palace to pay respects. The Third Princess often goes to Changle Palace to visit her brothers and sisters, and the Third Prince is envious of her."

Tao Yanyan naturally welcomed her with a smile on his face. Although he didn't know why Concubine Shu specifically said these words, as long as she didn't hurt him, Tao Yanyan would still keep it to himself.

The two said goodbye, and after Concubine Shu walked away, Qingfeng stepped forward and asked in confusion, "I really don't understand why Concubine Shu stopped you on the road and talked to you like this. Your Majesty, do you want to ask Imperial Doctor Liu to come over and take your pulse?"

It’s not that Qingfeng is overly cautious, he just feels something is a little strange.

Tao Yanyan thought about it and realized that there was some distance between him and Concubine Shu, and he had not come into contact with any spices, so he thought that it should be fine.

"Forget it. It's so hot, don't ask Doctor Liu to run around. Go back early to change the medicine for me. The new medicine is cooler and will make my arm more comfortable." Tao Yanyan ordered.

When Concubine Shu returned to Yongning Palace, her face looked very ugly.

Fu Xin brought her a cup of cold tea to help her calm down. Concubine Shu drank it in one gulp, but still found it hard to suppress her anger.

"I worked so hard, took so many medicines, and suffered so much, but in the end I gave birth to a sickly child. Why did God treat me like this? Why?" Shufei said as tears fell.

Since the birth of the third prince, although the emperor would visit her from time to time, he never stayed overnight. It would be more accurate to say that the emperor came to see the child rather than to see her.

Her current situation is no different from living in the cold palace, the only difference is that she can still wear fine clothes and eat delicious food, and it is not as desolate as in the cold palace.

If it were any other concubine, they might not have thought about it. After all, they had the prince, the family, and the aunt-niece relationship with the empress dowager. Even if they were not favored in the second half of their lives, they could still live a rich and prosperous life.

But Concubine Shu is different. She has feelings for the emperor, and because of her feelings, she desires to get more.

Fu Xin went forward to wipe the tears of Concubine Shu and advised: "Your Majesty did not give the sachet to Concubine Gui today, which shows that Your Majesty was also reluctant."