Harem Daily Life

Chapter 260 He is not the kind of person who would raise an army for a beautiful woman

Tao Yanyan recalled what He Linzhang said to her at the palace gate when he received urgent military intelligence and left Changle Palace that day. He said that Princess Pingning was not his white moonlight.

Tao Yanyan was not disturbed by the news Chang Tai heard. In her heart, she did not think that He Linzhang would be a king who would raise an army for a woman.

He is rational, confident, and loves his people. The reason he sent troops was definitely based on considerations of national safety. Once the State of Yan was in chaos, it might affect the Great Zhou, so he sent troops, not because of personal emotional reasons.

"Don't listen to rumors. His Majesty has his own reasons for doing things, and outsiders are not allowed to interfere." After giving Chang Tai a serious lecture, Tao Yanyan said to Li Zongguan: "People in this palace always like to get together to gossip in their spare time. It seems that Li Zongguan should go around to remind everyone that the palace has its own rules and ask those gossipers to stop spreading inexplicable gossip."

As soon as Manager Li heard this, he knew that Concubine Tao suspected that someone had deliberately leaked the news to Chang Tai. The purpose was, of course, to make Concubine Tao unhappy, or to instigate Concubine Tao to go to the emperor to question him.

Either way, the intention is to sow discord between Your Majesty and Concubine Tao.

After realizing what was happening, he nodded hurriedly and said, "Yes, thank you for your reminder, Madam. I will check the source of the news and deal with it properly."

Tao Yanyan waved his hand and said, "No need. I have guessed where the news came from. You don't need to check it again. Just remind everyone and focus on increasing the income of the imperial property."

Manager Li concealed the dark light in his eyes, but in fact he had more or less guessed who was behind the scenes.

It has been seven years since Princess Pingning was married, and the only people who knew about these things were the old people in the palace. At that time, the current emperor was still the crown prince, so the person who could spread the news must have been someone from the Eastern Palace.

There was only one empress who came out of the Eastern Palace, the demoted Concubine Wen and Concubine De. Concubine De didn't have this means, and Concubine Wen went out of the palace to practice cultivation, so there was only that one left.

Manager Li just didn't expect that the other party, who was already the queen, would actually use such means to trick the concubines under her. He didn't know if it was because she was too idle recently and had nothing to do.

After Li Zongguan left, Chang Tai sincerely apologized: "My lady, it's all my fault for being careless and falling into someone's trap."

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "They set up a trap and gave you some information. You can't defend yourself. Just be careful next time."

Chang Tai respectfully withdrew. Tao Yanyan stood up and stretched his muscles, saying, "My birthday is coming soon. I want to make a new dress. Qingfeng, come with me to the clothing bureau. I will make a dress for Jin'an and Xuan'er. I have already drawn the patterns and put them on the desk in the study. You can get them and we will go right away."

As the children have not finished school yet, Tao Yanyan wanted to go early and come back early so as not to be late for picking up the children.

The Shangyi Bureau was originally headed by Manager Sun. Later, Manager Sun offended Concubine Wang, who sued him and he was removed from his position as manager. Now Sun is just an embroiderer in the Shangyi Bureau.

When Tao Yanyan came over in a sedan chair, he saw Sun being punished to kneel in the yard, holding an unfinished dress in her hands, and the person standing next to her and insulting her was Chen, the manager who had replaced Sun.

Tao Yanyan heard the insults from a distance.

"I thought you had fifteen years of embroidery experience and were an excellent embroiderer, so I gave you this new dress for Concubine Wang to embroider. But look at what you embroidered? I clearly told you before not to embroider flowers, birds, or butterflies, but you embroidered birds and butterflies, and even lilac flowers, which Concubine Wang dislikes the most!" Manager Chen yelled at Sun with an attitude of accusing her of an offence, so that she dared not say anything.

Tao Yanyan frowned and walked closer: "What's going on?"

When the two saw Concubine Tao arriving, they immediately knelt down to pay their respects.

Sun glanced at Tao Yanyan and quickly lowered her head.

Manager Chen replied, "Your Highness, Empress Tao, the embroiderer Sun took the initiative and ruined Concubine Wang's new dress. I am reprimanding her. Your Highness, why are you here at the Clothing Bureau?"

Tao Yanyan did not answer her, but walked to the kneeling Sun, gently picked up the so-called damaged dress and took a look at it. It was finely made and well embroidered, and it was obvious that she had great skills.

"Since Concubine Wang doesn't like these patterns, just make another one. The weather is cold, so Sun Xiu Niang should get up early and go back to the room."

Qingfeng and Xianglan stepped forward, one on each side, to help Sun up. Sun was so grateful that she kept thanking them.

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "You don't have to thank me. I came here today to ask for your help. I want to make a set of clothes for the eldest princess and the second prince, and I also want to make one for myself. You can do it."

Sun was grateful. It was such an honor to be asked by her master to make clothes for him!

She was happy, but Manager Chen was not.

Everyone knows that Concubine Tao is in favor now. How can we miss such a good opportunity to curry favor with the concubine?

So Manager Chen hurriedly stopped her and said, "You don't know, Concubine Tao, we have been rushing to make the dress for Concubine Wang for half a month. They are pushing for it, and it is a first-come-first-served job. Sun really doesn't have time to do it. Why don't I find another embroiderer for you?"

Tao Yanyan glanced at her with cold eyes and said, "Wang Jieyu's clothes need to be redone. You can just change someone. Since Sun Xiu Niang can't make Wang Jieyu's clothes well, you also need to change someone for your smooth work."

In fact, everyone knows that Concubine Wang is deliberately making things difficult for people. Just because she had some conflicts with Madam Sun before, she is now finding ways to make things difficult for people!

Manager Chen had no way to refute, so he had to find another excuse: "This precious brocade fabric is hard to come by. If Sun has damaged the dress, according to the rules, she will also be punished. She needs to copy the rules of the clothing bureau and return the fabric. If she still doesn't return it, she will be confined for ten days to reflect on her mistakes. I'm afraid she will delay the Empress."

"Braided flowers?" Tao Yanyan felt familiar with the name of the cloth. Qingfeng beside her said quickly, "Your Majesty, His Majesty gave you two pieces of cloth before. You used one piece to make clothes last time, so you still have one piece left."

Tao Yanyan looked at Manager Chen and said, "I will provide the cloth, so Sun will not have to bear the punishment. Manager Chen is a smart man, and he should know clearly which is higher, the position of a concubine or a concubine."

Tao Yanyan spoke frankly and directly, making Manager Chen very embarrassed.

Admit that you understand, that is to admit that you are helping Concubine Wang to embarrass Sun. If you say you don't understand, then with Concubine Tao's attitude today, I'm afraid you will completely offend her.

Choosing the lesser of two evils, Manager Chen said hastily, "Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty. Then Sun will be responsible for making clothes for Your Majesty first, and I will arrange for someone else to make new clothes for Concubine Wang."

The matter was resolved satisfactorily, and Tao Yanyan took Sun into the house to discuss the patterns and styles of three sets of clothes, one large and two small.