Harem Daily Life

Day 717: I am not afraid of my offspring lying flat, I am afraid of my offspring making progress

This censor was called away by Lord Tao all day long. Except for attending court, he followed the people from the Ministry of Works out to supervise work all day long. The eldest prince wanted to discuss something with him, but there was no sign of him. This made the eldest prince very angry, and he had a big tantrum in the palace.

Eunuch Feng felt helpless when he saw the eldest prince's angry expression. He couldn't just drag Censor Zhang back from the construction site, could he?

In the end, there was no other way, so Eunuch Feng had to send someone to keep an eye on the Zhang Mansion. As soon as Censor Zhang came back, he would immediately invite him to the eldest prince's mansion to help the eldest prince calm down.

As night fell, Censor Zhang dragged his tired body back to his mansion. Just as he was about to take a quick shower and rest, he was unexpectedly asked to leave by people from the eldest prince's mansion.

He was so tired that he took a nap in the carriage. When he arrived at the back door of the eldest prince's mansion, he was brought in in a daze.

The eldest prince really had something to ask him. Seeing him coming, the eldest prince politely greeted him and said, "Master Zhang, you have been working hard recently. Please take a seat. I have something I want to ask you."

Censor Zhang forced himself to cheer up, clasped his fists respectfully, and said, "I wonder why Your Highness has summoned me here?"

The eldest prince said, "As everyone knows, the second prince has already entered the Imperial Academy, while I am still studying in the elementary school. As the eldest prince, I must not fall behind him. However, if I have to go through the selection of the Imperial Academy before I can enter, I can't do it. I would like to ask Master Zhang to give me some advice!"

Censor Zhang was so exhausted that his head felt like it was about to explode. After hearing what the eldest prince said, he gritted his teeth and replied, "The Imperial College is the highest institution of learning in the Great Zhou. It's impossible for them to abuse their power for personal gain."

The eldest prince's eyes flashed and asked him to continue.

Censor Zhang said, "I can find a few tutors for Your Highness to tutor you daily, hoping to get you through the Imperial College. Alternatively, Your Highness might as well negotiate with His Majesty. If His Majesty asks, the Imperial College will be forced to grant you a spot."

The eldest prince frowned. It was not that he had not thought about going to see his father, but he also found that his father's attitude towards him was very distant. He had just begged to leave the palace and set up his own residence. If he asked to enter the Imperial Academy again, he was afraid that his father would think he was asking for too much.

Just as he was about to talk to Censor Zhang again, he heard snoring in his ear. Censor Zhang had actually fallen asleep on the stool.

The eldest prince looked down upon Censor Zhang for taking a nap anywhere. He rolled his eyes at him and left.

It took Eunuch Feng a long time to wake up Censor Zhang, and then he sent him out of the mansion through the back door and back to Zhang's house.

Eunuch Feng reported to Eunuch Qin everything about how the eldest prince secretly tried to win over Censor Zhang and several former members of the Rong family.

Eunuch Qin did not dare to hide it and turned around to report to the Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother has been feeling tired lately, and upon hearing this, her mood became even worse.

"Humph, he's clearly out of the game, yet he still refuses to give up! Well, thankfully, those old subordinates and the censor can't stir up any trouble, so let him have his fun. When he's done everything and finds it's all for nothing, he'll give up."

The Queen Mother's face was cold as she continued, "He now controls the money himself. Tell Eunuch Feng to be careful and make sure he doesn't squander it all in a few years. Sometimes, we're not afraid of our offspring being poor, but we're afraid of them being ambitious. The more ambitious they are, the more they squander the family fortune, until everything is gone. And you can't say anything to him. If you do, he'll argue with you, saying he's so ambitious and just encountered a minor setback, and you're despising him, ruining the relationship for no reason."

Eunuch Qin advised, "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. I believe that when the eldest prince is a few years older, he will understand things."

The Queen Mother just smiled, knowing in her heart that He Ye was stubborn, self-righteous, and violent, and had become a waste.

Jin'an, who is about the same age as He Ye, is different from He Ye. He treats his brothers and sisters very well and is studious. He passed the examination of the Imperial College on his own and was successfully enrolled.

"A dragon has nine sons, each one is different. Among all my children and grandchildren, those around Queen Tao are the most beloved." The empress dowager sighed, and thinking that she hadn't seen the twins and He Xiaobao for several days, she sent Eunuch Qin to pick them up to play with them.

When the three children saw Eunuch Qin coming to pick them up, they were all happy to follow him out. Tao Yanyan naturally followed him as well, lest the children make too much noise and no one could control them.

Tao Yanyan simply asked for leave from He Xuan and He Yue and took them to Changchun Palace together.

When the Queen Mother saw that all five children had arrived, her eyes narrowed into slits with laughter, and the corners of her mouth stretched to her ears. She quickly asked someone to bring up the prepared snacks and fruits to entertain her grandchildren.

"Xiaobao seems to have gained weight again. He looks rounder than last time." The Queen Mother pinched He Xiaobao's fleshy arms. He was really fat!

He Xiaobao drooled like a little Maitreya Buddha, and spoke happily to the Empress Dowager: "Ah, oh, ah ah ah."

I am in good health and enjoy eating. Every inch of my flesh is not grown in vain.

Yunuo was the clingiest one and had already occupied one of the Empress Dowager's arms, helping her to massage them, being extremely attentive.

Yu Cheng was a quiet little boy who sat aside, asking about the Empress Dowager's daily life from time to time, and occasionally giving He Xiaobao a piece of snack for him to chew.

He Xuan had grown into a graceful young lady, the most composed of the children. She sat obediently beside Tao Yanyan, a smile on her face. He Yue was the most caring, wiping He Xiaobao's saliva and giving him a sip of water. She was a loving sister who doted on her younger siblings.

The empress dowager was very satisfied to see that the children were getting along well with each other. She smiled at Tao Yanyan and said, "The queen has taught her children well. You have worked hard." She raised so many children by herself and did not let any of them go astray. The children had a good relationship with her. This alone was a rare trait in the deep palace.

Tao Yanyan said politely, "The children are very well behaved, and I didn't have to worry about them much. Today is a rare occasion, so why don't I cook a family dinner myself and let the children have dinner with the Queen Mother?"

The Queen Mother was naturally overjoyed, as she had not tasted the Queen's cooking for a long time.

Tao Yanyan gave Qingfeng and Mingyue a few instructions, asking them to look after the children, and then he went to the kitchen.

The cooks in the Empress Dowager's palace all knew that the Empress was an excellent cook, and after she arrived, they all volunteered to help her. Tao Yanyan took off her outer clothes, leaving only clothes that were easy to move in, and then got busy in the kitchen.

Taking into consideration the Queen Mother's advanced age and the children's inability to eat greasy food, her dishes today were mostly steamed dishes, which were light, delicious and varied.

But before the meal was ready, a young eunuch came running in hurriedly, saying that the Queen Mother had fainted.

Tao Yanyan didn't even have time to put on his outer coat and hurried to the front hall.

The children were already crying. Eunuch Qin stamped his feet anxiously and ordered someone to fetch the imperial physician immediately. Tao Yanyan quickly ran to the empress dowager and asked, "Empress Dowager, what's wrong with you?"

The empress dowager, who looked less than fifty years old, had her eyes closed and did not respond when called.