Harem Daily Life

Chapter 1041 Can't we learn something normal?

Upon learning that the carriage behind had stopped, He Linzhang, worried that the Empress Dowager was unwell, got out of the carriage himself to inquire.

The Empress Dowager didn't say a word, just stood by the roadside, enjoying the breeze and resting with her eyes closed. Her pet dog, He Xiaoqi, also closed its eyes in the same way, but since the wind was a bit cool, it snuggled into the Empress Dowager's arms.

"What exactly happened?" He Linzhang had no choice but to ask He Yinuo.

He Yinuo stretched her limbs and pulled He Linzhang aside: "I want to be alone."

"Who is Jingjing?"

He Yinuo: "..."

He Linzhang belatedly realized that Jingjing wasn't a person, but a state of being. He coughed lightly and asked, "Who made her so angry?"

He Yinuo then casually recounted the Empress Dowager's checkers record, saying, "She's not lucky with any color of checkers, therefore..."

He Linzhang's lips curled into a smile. He hadn't expected his mother to have such a childlike side.

Seeing that it was still early, He Linzhang did not urge them, and simply ordered his men to set up camp on the spot and rest for half an hour before continuing.

Shadow Three had already led his men to guard the area, surrounding his masters like an iron barrel.

Tao Yanyan straightened her clothes, which He Linzhang had disheveled, and tidied her makeup before getting off the carriage. The official road here was wide, and small caravans passed by from time to time; it wasn't remote. She had originally intended to accompany the Empress Dowager, but as soon as she approached, He Linzhang led her away.

"The Empress Dowager wants to calm down, so don't disturb her. I'll take you for a walk in front." As he spoke, he was pulled far away, and the children and Mu Yu also got out of the carriage, keeping a considerable distance from the Emperor and Empress.

Tao Yanyan found it somewhat amusing when she learned that the Empress Dowager had gotten out of the carriage to calm down because she had been losing the game of chess: "When I first met the Empress Dowager, she was stern and unsmiling, sitting high in the hall, and a single glance from her could make people kneel down. I never expected that she would become such a lovely little old lady now."

He Linzhang looked at her with affection, thinking that in the whole world, probably only Tao Yanyan would dare to speak of the Empress Dowager in this way.

“Before, Mother was the Empress Dowager of the Great Zhou Dynasty, but now, she is herself.” He Linzhang stroked Tao Yanyan’s hand: “I have to thank you for persuading me all these years to restore my relationship with Mother.”

Tao Yanyan chuckled lightly: "A mother and son are of one heart. His Majesty has always had the Empress Dowager in his heart, and the Empress Dowager also puts His Majesty first in her heart. Even without me, the temporary estrangement can be resolved."

Seeing her unassuming manner, He Linzhang gently pulled her into his arms: "Having you is my greatest fortune."

As soon as he finished speaking, a slight downward force came from the hem of his clothes. He Xiaoqi had flown in at some point and was now tugging at He Linzhang's clothes with her mouth, looking up at him.

"The Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty speaks in such a mushy way. You should read fewer storybooks and be mindful of your public persona."

He Linzhang raised an eyebrow slightly: "You were eavesdropping on my conversation? How dare you!"

He Xiaoqi shuddered and flew up from the ground to land on the branch in front of them: "This is a place without walls, not your residence. What kind of eavesdropping am I doing here? This is the wild, the home of my Bird King. You are speaking in my house, and I am listening openly. Do you have a problem with that?"

He Linzhang: “…”

Is a bird's thinking that clear? You must be some kind of genius.

With an exceptional talent for languages, He Xiaoqi shook its feathers, displaying an air of triumph. It tilted its head and looked at Tao Yanyan: "I've heard that Her Majesty the Empress invented checkers? I wonder if Her Majesty would be willing to take me as your apprentice?"

He Xiaoqi could no longer tolerate losing seventeen games in a row; it wanted to win.

Tao Yanyan had spent the whole morning cuddling with He Linzhang in the carriage, so of course she wanted to go play in another carriage and readily agreed. The two of them, one human and one bird, happily went back, while He Linzhang could only follow behind, looking rather aggrieved.

Two more people squeezed onto the Empress Dowager's carriage, making it slightly crowded when combined with the original few people.

But no one wanted to get out of the car; they all wanted to see if He Xiaoqi's outside help would turn the tide for the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, please go back first. This carriage is so small, and you're so big. You're taking up the space of three people." The Empress Dowager said with slight disdain. Most importantly, she didn't want her son by her side when she lost the game. Otherwise, how could she maintain her authority when teaching him in the future?

He Linzhang raised an eyebrow, seeing through her intentions but saying nothing, and nodded slightly to Tao Yanyan before returning to his carriage.

Red went first, and Tao Yanyan explained and taught the Empress Dowager how to place her pieces. The Empress Dowager and He Xiaoqi, as expected, won the first game. Having avenged their previous defeat, the Empress Dowager's brows finally relaxed, and He Xiaoqi laughed excitedly, "Hehehehehehehehe..."

The demonic sound pierced through their ears, causing everyone to shudder involuntarily.

Where did they learn that laugh sound? Can't they learn something normal?

He Xiaoliu grabbed He Xiaoqi and pinched the bird's beak with his two chubby little fingers: "Seventh brother, it's good that you're eager to learn, but you have to choose the right teacher. Tell me who your teacher is who taught you to laugh, and I'll help you find a new one."

He Xiaoqi, whose beak was pinched: "..."

Don't even think about making me open my mouth, even if I die, really.

"Tell me quickly! Who corrupted you?" He Xiaoliu said, heartbroken.

He Xiaoqi, unable to speak: "..."

"Waaaaaah..." forcing me to use ventriloquism.

"Hey, Xiao Liu, why don't you just let it go?" He Xiaobao couldn't stand this interrogation method any longer and tried to persuade him.

He Xiaoliu shook his head: "If I can't teach my younger brother well, I don't deserve to be an older brother. Fifth Brother, don't try to persuade me. I will not give up."

Everyone: "..."

Tao Yanyan cleared her throat: "Let's start the next game. Everyone, choose your pieces."

He Xiaoliu then let go: "I'll interrogate you after this game is over. Today I'm going to find that teacher who misled the students."

Once freed, He Xiaoqi quickly flew to the Empress Dowager's shoulder, nuzzling her neck with her bird head, looking utterly aggrieved: "I can't bring myself to tell him how miserable my life is."

The Empress Dowager disliked its noise, saying it was affecting her chances of winning the game: "Stop acting. Your acting teacher is also misleading people."

Everyone: "..."

Having gained experience from the previous victory, the Empress Dowager was full of confidence in this game. However, she forgot one thing: the chess strategy taught by Tao Yanyan was not only heard by her, but also by the other children. They were all intelligent and applied it flexibly. In this game, the Empress Dowager went from being the winner to being last in the standings once again.

Tao Yan said, "...It's only been two games. In the next game, we'll flank from the side and we'll definitely win."

The Empress's fighting spirit was also ignited.

As evening approached, the carriage stopped again, and the two large animals and the bird got off to calm themselves in the wind.

Upon receiving Ying San's report, He Linzhang felt it best not to inquire further, lest the Empress be angry that evening and forbid him from touching her. He simply instructed Ying San to tell Princess Yuno to quickly go upstairs, clutching her stomach and complaining of hunger, so that the Empress Dowager and Empress could depart as soon as possible.

He Yinuo, having received the task, slightly raised his chubby face: "See? In crucial moments, I'm still the one who has to step up." He ate a piece of fruit in one gulp, clapped his hands, and stood up.

"How about next time, we all let each other win?" He Yanran said, looking at her two younger brothers.

"Who said I didn't yield? I yielded three steps, Xiao Liu yielded two steps, and Sister Yanran, you yielded one step too, right?"

In the end, the three of them unanimously agreed that it was because He Yinuo did not give way that the Empress Dowager lost.

He Yinuo, who went out to coax people: "..."

I clearly skipped a round and gave way countless times, and you still try to smear me? Don't you have any conscience?