Harem Daily Life

Chapter 402: The Prince Gives Out Porridge

The three little ones were also shocked by the scene. Normally, seeing people kneeling below was just a routine act. It was rare to see people kneeling from the bottom of their hearts like they did today.

On the way back to the palace, Xiao Jinan was still a little dazed.

"Mother, is it true that if the superiors are sincere to the people, the people will also be sincere to them?"

Tao Yanyan thought for a moment and said, "As a ruler, you should be sympathetic to the sufferings of the people and seek the well-being of all people. The people will naturally be grateful to you. However, as a ruler, it is not enough to just have a heart that cares for the people. You must also know how to use methods to manage the people. Governing the country according to the law, being brave, resourceful, kind-hearted, and having the means to control the people are all indispensable."

Xiao Jinan seemed to understand but still nodded.

"Jin'an is still young, so you should study hard. There are many truths about being a person and doing things in books. You should also look outward, see more of the outside world, and experience different lives. Only then can you know the full picture of this world."

Little Jin'an blinked his eyes and said, "But mother, I don't even have the chance to leave the palace. I also want to get in touch with the outside world as you said, but it's so difficult."

Tao Yanyan thought about it and realized that the weather was cold now, and many officials and their families in the city had already set up porridge stalls to provide porridge. Why not take the three children there to experience it for a few days.

That night, Tao Yanyan mentioned her idea to the emperor: "I think that letting the children interact with the people more can help them better understand the people's livelihood. I will choose Xiangman Garden as the place for distributing porridge. There is a kitchen there, which is convenient for making porridge, so there is no need to set up a new stove. The time will last from tomorrow until the children's vacation is over. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

He Linzhang held the person in his arms, and naturally supported Tao Yanyan's idea: "Of course you can, but it's best not to reveal your identity. I'm worried. How about this, I'll let the shadow guards protect you secretly, and Qi Yizheng can also go over. It just so happens that he has been avoiding blind dates recently, and he begged me to give him more work to do."

Qi Yizheng, who was eating dim sum and braised food at Xiang Man Yuan, sneezed: "Who is saying bad things about me behind my back?"

"Avoiding blind dates?" Tao Yanyan asked in confusion, "Is he so resistant to getting married?" Qi Yizheng is about the same age as the emperor. The emperor has been married for many years and has six children, but Qi Yizheng is still avoiding blind dates?

"He wouldn't... like..." Tao Yanyan suddenly became curious and stared at the emperor.

He Linzhang coughed lightly: "What are you thinking? He is a normal man."

Tao Yanyan recalled that when they met again on Penglai Island, Qi Yizheng came up and gave He Linzhang a bear hug. Thinking about it now, he inexplicably wanted to ship them as a couple.

As soon as He Linzhang saw her expression, he knew that the little concubine had read too many indecent books. He turned over and pressed her down: "When you are by my side, you are not allowed to think about other men, especially random thoughts!" After saying that, he kissed her deeply.

Qi Yizheng received an order early in the morning to take the shadow guards to protect the imperial concubine and the princes and princesses while distributing porridge.

Fortunately, the location was in his sister's Xiangmanyuan, so he could eat while working. In his heart, he finally did not protest.

Xiangmanyuan opened a side door and set up a porridge stall. The news spread quickly and many families came with pots and bowls to ask for porridge.

Tao Yanyan had people prepare a lot of boiled eggs and steam several large pots of steamed buns. Not only was there porridge, but eggs and steamed buns were also available. The ingredients were more than at other places where porridge was distributed.

The three children were dressed like the boys and girls under the Bodhisattva's seat, round and cute, but they were not arrogant and would politely put food into people's bowls.

Passersby couldn't help but stop and take a few more glances at a beautiful veiled woman and three cute children distributing porridge.

"Thank you very much, sir. With the steamed buns you gave me, my grandson can finally have a full meal." A gray-haired lady said gratefully.

"Our porridge stall will give out porridge for a month, and you can come and get some every day." Little Jinan said in a baby voice.

"Thank you, my dear. You are such a kind-hearted person. You are simply the reincarnation of a Bodhisattva." The old lady walked away tremblingly, holding the eggs and steamed buns and carrying the porridge.

Xiao Jinan looked at her retreating figure, his eyes moistened. Tao Yanyan asked Dongfang to take Xiao Jinan's place, and she took the child to the inner room.

"Did seeing that old lady remind you of the hardship you had living on the streets before?" Tao Yanyan wiped his tears away. "Forget the past if you can. If you can't forget it, there's no need to be sad. Jin'an has a family now, relatives, and no worries about food and clothing. Don't be sad anymore, okay?"

Little Jin'an nodded: "Mother, I must be a useful person in the future, so that the people of Dazhou can live and work in peace and contentment, have enough food to eat, and no longer suffer from life."

Tao Yanyan was very pleased: "Jin'an has backbone and ideals. Mother supports you very much. Then mother will wait and see. Jin'an will definitely be a useful talent for the Great Zhou in the future."

After the two finished talking, they went out to continue distributing porridge. Not far from the crowd, Princess Yan looked at Tao Yanyan with hatred in her eyes.

"Hmph, she only knows how to win people's hearts and do these trivial things that are not presentable! Go and hurry her up. Why does it take so long to buy some snacks? I am too lazy to look at that seductive face anymore. Tell her to hurry up." After Princess Yan finished speaking, the maid beside her immediately got up and went to the Xiangmanyuan shop to look for someone.

Today, Xiang Man Yuan had a very good business. The freshly cooked dim sum and stewed food were quickly bought up by the people in the queue. The people of Princess Yan had to wait a little longer. When it was finally her turn, the dim sum she wanted to buy was sold out again, so she could only wait for the next pot.

"The princess is very angry, you'd better hurry up." The maid who came in later urged.

"I can't go faster just because I want to. We have to wait a little longer for the freshly-made snacks!" said the maid in the queue.

Madam Qi came out to smooth things over and comfort them: "Girls, please wait a moment. It will be ready soon." After that, she went to greet other guests.

But when Princess Yan saw that one or two of them had gone and none had come back, and Tao Yanyan's face kept flickering in her sight, making her annoyed, she couldn't help it and sent her guards to argue with them.

There were already many people in Xiangman Garden, and when the guards arrived and started shouting and cursing, the situation instantly got out of control.

"Where did you come from, guard? Our shop was awarded a plaque by His Majesty himself, and you dare to act wildly here?" Madam Qi was not tolerant either. She was usually kind, but she was not afraid of troublemakers.

"I don't care who gave you the plaque. My princess of Yan State is waiting for snacks, but she hasn't gotten any. You are just bullying me. If I were in Yan State, I would have died long ago!"

The New Year was approaching, and the guard's constant mention of the word "death" was really irritating. However, when Madam Qi heard that it was the princess of Yan State, she did not say anything and asked someone to go to the kitchen to urge her.

Tao Yanyan was so angry after listening to this that she glanced at the carriage across the street, narrowed her eyes, and walked over with Qi Yizheng.