Harem Daily Life

Chapter 790 The Most Difficult Task

He Linzhang went to Yongtai Palace without wasting any time, and sure enough, he saw all the concubines, led by Concubine Xian, gathered in Yongtai Palace to welcome him.

"I was very worried when I heard that Your Majesty was poisoned. Now it seems that Your Majesty is in good health. It is really the blessing of the Bodhisattva." Concubine Liang looked at He Linzhang with a smile, and He Xin followed her.

He Xin now looks more and more like the former Concubine Li, and has grown into a little beauty.

He Linzhang waved his hand and asked He Xin to come to him. He Xin rarely saw his father and was a little reserved, but children can appreciate kindness, and after a while, He Xin had let go of his nervousness.

He Linzhang waved to He Min again, and He Min came to him skipping and jumping. She was more flattering than He Xin and her mouth was sweeter: "Father, I miss you so much."

He Linzhang touched He Min's head and said, "I miss you too."

He then glanced at the concubines and said, "During my absence, you have all been greatly cared for by the Empress, and also by the assistance of the virtuous concubine in handling official business. I understand your intentions. It's getting late, so please return to the palace and rest. I will see you again another day when I have time."

The concubines looked at each other. Although they had guessed that His Majesty would not summon any of them on the first day of his return to the palace, they were still a little sad to hear His Majesty ask them to go back.

The virtuous concubine took a deep breath and gritted her teeth to finish what the empress had asked her to do.

She stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, the Empress said that Your Majesty has not been to the harem for a long time, and the concubines rarely serve Your Majesty. She asked me to follow Your Majesty's wishes tonight and arrange for the concubines to sleep with you."

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt that His Majesty was emitting cold air all over his body, which was coming out in a rush.

Concubine Xian closed her eyes and thought that this task tonight was the most difficult one she had done for the Empress in all these years!

After hearing this, the concubines had different thoughts. They had not had a emperor's bed for several years and had almost forgotten what it felt like.

Several concubines secretly looked at His Majesty's handsome face, and their faces flushed.

Some also felt the atmosphere was a bit off, primarily because His Majesty had favored the Empress alone for years and probably wouldn't want them around now. Rather than wishful thinking, it was better to avoid any changes, lest they offend the Empress.

He Linzhang was extremely angry. He had accepted the fact that the little queen had been rude to him and had not given him good food today. But now she was arranging for other people to sleep with her. Was this reasonable?

They had only had each other for several years, so why would he spend the night in someone else's palace?

The virtuous concubine bravely asked, "Your Majesty, it's getting late. I wonder what your Majesty's arrangements are?" She had to quickly ask His Majesty to choose a good person. The Empress had said that whoever was chosen would be promoted to a higher rank tomorrow.

The virtuous concubine also couldn't understand what the Queen was up to. She just hoped that the Emperor would not choose her to avoid embarrassment.

He Linzhang said coldly, "I have just recovered from a serious illness and need to rest. I will return to the Qinzheng Palace today. You can all go back."

Everyone was stunned. Did this mean that he would not summon anyone? Sure enough, His Majesty was still the same, unchanged.

Everyone had no choice but to give up and leave.

He Linzhang also stood up, touched He Min's face, then turned to look at Concubine Xian and said, "Concubine Xian, I know you respect the Queen very much, and you try your best to complete everything she asks you to do. But there are some things you don't have to obey her. After all, she is young and likes to play around, so you have to persuade her."

The virtuous concubine said in embarrassment: "Your Majesty is absolutely right, but I have tried my best to persuade her today, but the Empress... Your Majesty should go and comfort her."

Concubine Xian was also tired, thinking that she had been managing the harem affairs for the emperor and empress in the past few years, and now she had to deal with them.

Woo woo woo, who will speak for me?

He Linzhang also sighed. After leaving Yongtai Palace, he gritted his teeth and said, "Let's go to Changle Palace!" He really wanted to ask this little queen, is she so angry that she can't even arrange for someone else to sleep with him?

When the emperor's sedan chair was halfway there, Shu Cairen suddenly blocked the road.

Eunuch Zhang's eyelids twitched, and he stepped forward and said respectfully, "Lady Shu, why aren't you returning to the palace so late? I wonder what's the matter?"

Shu Cairen ignored Eunuch Zhang and looked at the imperial chariot with affection: "Your Majesty, please come to my palace tonight. I have many things to say to Your Majesty."

"I have just returned after accompanying the Empress Dowager on a one-year mission. I wanted to see Your Majesty more often, but Your Majesty was poisoned and had to leave the palace to recuperate. It has been almost two years since I last saw Your Majesty." Shu Cairen lowered her head and shed tears silently.

It was February now, it got dark early and the weather was cold. Shu Cairen sneezed while shedding tears.

He Linzhang's voice rang out from the imperial carriage: "Ms. Shu, the weather is cold. You seem to have caught a cold. I am not well yet and cannot let the illness get to me. You should go back early. If you are worried about not being able to see the way in the dark, I will send someone to escort you."

Shu Cairen felt a little uncomfortable after being rejected. She wanted to say a few more words, but was ruthlessly stopped by Eunuch Zhang: "Do you want me to find two people to send you off?"

Shu Cairen sneered in his heart. He had said so much and begged him so much, but he was still so heartless.

She stamped her feet and had to step aside to let His Majesty's sedan chair pass.

The gates of Changle Palace were tightly shut, and the sound of a pipa could be heard from within. He Linzhang looked up at the sky in silence. The young empress had the leisure and elegance to play the pipa, but no interest in spending the night with him? How displeasing!

Several scenes suddenly appeared in Eunuch Zhang's mind. It seemed that it was late at night, and it was the scene when His Majesty arrived at Changle Palace and was refused entry.

At that time, His Majesty was arrogant and proud. When he saw that the Empress had closed the door and refused to see anyone, he was so angry that he turned around and returned to the Qinzheng Hall.

Those days were really hard. His Majesty scolded whoever he caught, and everyone was trembling with fear while doing their work, fearing that if they were not careful they would be demoted or downgraded, and even lose their lives.

"Zhang Fuhai, why are you still standing there?" His Majesty's displeased voice sounded in his ears. Eunuch Zhang shuddered and realized that he was lost in his memories and did not hear clearly what His Majesty had just said.

Eunuch Zhang sighed - whenever you, the Emperor and the Empress, quarrel, we are always the ones who get hurt.

"Move forward and return to the Qinzheng Palace." Eunuch Zhang thought that the emperor would be angry and lose his temper like before, but unexpectedly, the people carrying the imperial sedan chair did not move at all, and they all looked at him with complicated expressions.

He Linzhang was so angry that he almost laughed. He encountered obstacles everywhere when he returned to the palace today.

"I told you to knock on the door. Do you understand? I must go in today!"

Eunuch Zhang: “…”

Damn it, I misunderstood Your Majesty!

He hurried forward and knocked on the door of Changle Palace.

How could Chang Tai and the others really dare to stop the emperor? After a slight knock on the door, it opened immediately.

He Linzhang walked in with a gloomy face and went straight to Tao Yanyan's bedroom.