Harem Daily Life

Chapter 233: Don’t assume the worst

On the first day of resuming work at the beginning of the new year, He Linzhang was extremely busy. He argued with the ministers for a long time. Unfortunately, he was so angry that he didn't sleep well last night, so he felt a little tired.

Eunuch Zhang had already prepared dinner. Seeing that the emperor looked unwell, he felt it was difficult to say aloud what had been said in the harem today.

After reviewing another memorial, He Linzhang stood up and turned his neck: "Just say whatever you want to say."

Eunuch Zhang then said, "It's nothing, actually. There are just some rumors in the palace that are unfavorable to Concubine Tao. I have already told them not to talk too much."

When He Linzhang heard that it was about Tao Yanyan, he asked, "What rumors?"

Eunuch Zhang then spread the rumor throughout the palace that in order to gain power, Tao Zhaoyi deliberately caused trouble for the Queen's family, hoping to dethrone the Queen and replace her.

He Linzhang: “…”

If Xiao Zhaoyi really had such "ambitions", she would not have locked herself outside the palace gate last night and avoided seeing him...

He Linzhang narrowed his eyes and said, "Tell me, is she afraid of gossip, so she deliberately avoided me? After all, something happened in the Queen's family, and she was the one who found out. If she is favored at this time, others will be jealous and make up stories about her."

Eunuch Zhang choked. He had a hunch that Concubine Tao was not someone who would deliberately ignore His Majesty because of rumors. So, she avoided him because she really didn't want to see him...

Eunuch Zhang didn't dare to speak his mind, so he could only play it safe and said, "It's possible that it's true. This Concubine Tao is very considerate. She's probably worried that Your Majesty will be embarrassed at this time, and she has to take care of the Queen's mood, so she avoided it."

He Linzhang raised his eyebrows. He was furious last night and was unhappy with Concubine De, but now he suddenly wasn't angry anymore.

"Send someone to Changle Palace first and tell them that I'm going to see Tao Zhaoyi at night and ask the people downstairs not to close the door." He Linzhang decided to say it openly. He didn't believe that Tao Yanyan would stop him outside the door after he said that.

Thinking that the little Zhaoyi might have felt wronged and worried and had not slept well last night, He Linzhang quickened his dinner speed, thinking of finishing reviewing the memorials as soon as possible and going over.

Tao Yanyan came back a little late today, and the weather was cold, so little Jinan felt a little unwell, and his little face turned abnormally red.

Tao Yanyan didn't even have time to eat dinner, so he sent someone to invite Doctor Liu.

"How is it? Is it serious?" There were no anti-inflammatory drugs for reducing fever in ancient times, and Tao Yanyan was very worried.

"Reporting to Concubine Tao, it's not serious. He just needs to take two doses of medicine and sweat. However, he may cough for a few days afterwards. Just eat a light diet and drink water and rest." After Doctor Liu finished speaking, he went out to write a prescription. Tao Yanyan asked Mingyue to get a warm towel for Xiao Jinan to put on his head to cool him down, and asked Mingyue to massage him before going out to ask Doctor Liu questions.

After writing the prescription, Doctor Liu handed it to Qingfeng. Seeing that no one was around, he said, "Yesterday in Fengyi Palace, there were so many people around that I didn't have a chance to talk to Zhaoyi. The Queen said yesterday that she had a miscarriage, but it wasn't serious. But Doctor Zhao exaggerated, so we had to cooperate. Doctor Zhao is the Queen's personal doctor, so it's normal for him to exaggerate on purpose."

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "Everyone is acting, I'm used to it."

Doctor Liu nodded: "I took the Queen's pulse and I think it will be a prince."

Tao Yanyan was surprised and said, "Can you tell the gender of a child from the pulse? Your medical skills are really amazing!"

Doctor Liu modestly said, "I can only say that the probability is relatively high. Of course, there is also the possibility of misdiagnosis."

"Whether it's a prince or a princess, as long as the mother and child are safe, everyone will be happy." Tao Yanyan didn't care what the queen gave birth to. Anyway, whoever wanted to sit on the throne of the royal family could sit on it. It had nothing to do with him.

"Tao Zhaoyi is very smart and doesn't care about these things. But there's no guarantee that others don't care. Yesterday, I faintly smelled a little musk on the imperial concubine, but the smell was not strong and had no effect on the queen's fetus. Perhaps the imperial concubine didn't know that musk would cause miscarriage and used the incense by mistake." said Imperial Physician Liu.

Tao Yanyan has watched TV dramas and knows that musk, which causes infertility, is often mentioned in harem dramas. She asked, "Occassional contact won't be dangerous, right? Only long-term and large-scale contact may affect pregnancy."

Doctor Liu nodded: "Indeed."

"It was probably worn by mistake. We can't assume the worst of people's minds." After saying that, Chang Tai came in and reported, "Zhaoyi, His Majesty sent someone to tell you not to close the palace gates tonight. His Majesty will come over later."

Tao Yanyan: “…”

I thought he was angry and would never come again, but I didn't expect that he wanted to come again after just one day.

Tao Yanyan had no choice but to nod: "Then you guys light up the lanterns. It's good that His Majesty is here to help me take care of Jin'an. It will be an extra helper."

Doctor Liu was so shocked by her words that he coughed twice: "Ahem...Tao Zhaoyi, that's His Majesty. If he gets hurt and injures the emperor, it will be a serious crime."

Tao Yanyan said with a smile: "But that's his son. His son has a fever, so his father took care of him overnight, right?"

Doctor Liu: "..."

What you said makes a lot of sense, I can't even refute it.

He Linzhang reviewed all the urgent memorials, left some that did not require urgent review for another day, and then took his men to Changle Palace.

Chang Tai and Dong Fang saw the emperor's procession from afar, and they respectfully welcomed the emperor into the palace.

"Where is your master?" He Linzhang asked when he saw that Xiao Zhaoyi was nowhere to be seen.

"Reporting to your majesty, the second prince is ill and has a fever. Concubine Tao is taking care of him in his room."

When he heard that Xiao Jin'an was ill, He Linzhang went to the side hall anxiously. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Tao Yanyan massaging some acupuncture points for Xiao Jin'an, who looked sick and not as lively as before.

"How is Jin'an? Has he been examined by the imperial physician?" He Linzhang asked.

Tao Yanyan stood up and made room for He Linzhang to take a closer look at his son. "Doctor Liu has come and said that it was cold and he had a cold. He has a fever. He has given him medicine and the fever has subsided a little."

He Linzhang touched the child's forehead and found that it was not very hot, so he felt relieved.

He held Tao Yanyan's hand again: "This is the first time your child is sick. You must be scared, right?"

Tao Yanyan shook her head and said, "Fortunately, the imperial physician is here. Your Majesty, would you like to go and rest first? I definitely cannot sleep tonight. I am afraid that Jin'an will have a fever again in the middle of the night, so I am prepared to stay by his side."

Mingyue said, "The servants will take turns to guard the place, Zhaoyi, you can go and rest without any worries. If there is anything, I will report to you later."

Tao Yanyan shook his head and said, "This is the first time Jin'an has fallen ill. I am worried. I must stay with her tonight." After saying that, he glanced at He Linzhang and said, "Or, Your Majesty, go to another queen's palace?"

He Linzhang pinched her fingers and said, "I'll accompany you." He looked like he was saying, "Don't chase me away. I won't leave even if you chase me away."

Tao Yanyan pouted, "Okay then. Mingyue, go get the bed quilt and bring it over. Your Majesty will have to squeeze on the couch tonight."

He Linzhang thought that he would have to squeeze with Xiao Zhaoyi, but he didn't expect that Xiao Zhaoyi would sleep directly with Jin'an, and he would be alone on the small couch next to them.

He looked at Tao Yanyan sadly: "It's too cold for me to sleep alone."