Harem Daily Life

Chapter 264 Hua Chao Zhang

Defei was summoned by the Emperor and reprimanded for the gift-giving incident at Prince Yu's Palace. She was very upset after returning to the palace.

Haitang knelt on the ground and apologized: "My queen, this is all my fault. I really didn't know there were these customs. I gave the wrong gift. Please punish me, my queen!"

Concubine De looked at the maid kneeling on the ground. Although she was very angry, she finally did not make things too difficult for her.

"I am also wrong. When I was in the boudoir, I didn't learn how to manage the household affairs. Later, I entered the palace, with the Queen and the Imperial Concubine above me, so naturally I don't need to worry about anything. If it weren't for Yu'er, how could I be willing to take care of these tedious matters? Well, you should get up first. Every failure is a learning experience. You should learn more in the future. Otherwise, if I don't understand, you don't understand either. Then the two of us, master and servant, will really be in the dark and can't do anything well."

Haitang felt very guilty and stood up with her back bent. "If I were to say, this Prince Yu's Mansion really doesn't give me face. The gifts they sent are obviously valuable, but they actually went to Your Majesty to complain just because of a few red eggs and wolf-hair brushes. It's really hard to deal with them."

De Fei also showed a hint of dissatisfaction on her face: "Anyway, let him sue only once. Be careful in the future and don't let others use it against you again. Is there anything else that needs to be prepared in advance this month? Don't be unaware of it when the time comes and cram at the last minute without thinking it through."

Haitang thought for a moment and said, "There are indeed two things. One is the Flower Festival on February 25th. Last year, the former imperial concubine held a flower-viewing banquet in the Imperial Garden and invited the families of officials above the fifth rank in the capital to come and enjoy the flowers. Should we continue this year?"

When Concubine De heard this, she was overwhelmed.

She remembered that the Flower Festival last year was held by Concubine Wen with great fanfare. She also found a princess for the Ninth Prince during the Flower Festival, which became a legend. If she wanted to hold such a grand ceremony, she would probably tire herself to death.

Concubine De said with a headache, "Noble Concubine Wen loves to hold banquets, and I can't compare with her in this respect. After a flower-viewing banquet, I have to review everything, including snacks, fruits, and tea. Invitations, receptions, and welcoming and seeing off guests, which one doesn't require careful consideration? I can't do it. Think about it carefully. In addition to holding a flower-viewing banquet, are there any other forms? Something simple, easy to make, and easy to show off will do."

Haitang frowned and agreed, then said, "Another thing is that Concubine Tao's birthday is this month, and it only comes once every four years. I wonder if we should hold a birthday party for her?"

"February 29th..." De Fei pondered for a moment and said, "Just pretend you didn't mention this matter. She wants to live her life on her own. How can I have the energy to hold a birthday party for her?"

Haitang understood what her master meant and said nothing more.

In Changle Palace, Tao Yanyan went to catch up on his sleep as soon as he came back, and slept for more than an hour before getting up.

Qingfeng felt sorry for her tiredness, so he asked Caiyun to stew the best blood swallows for her to nourish her body, and served it to her when she woke up.

Tao Yanyan finished his drink in a few gulps and then asked about the customs of the Great Zhou.

Prince Yu's complaint today reminded her that if she wanted to avoid offending others and live a smooth life, she had to adapt to the local customs and learn more about the rules of this world.

Several young palace maids chattered and told everything they knew. Tao Yanyan discovered that the ancients had quite a lot of etiquette and many festivals to celebrate every month. It might be because there were no mobile phones or computers, so they were willing to go out of the house, gather together to appreciate the flowers, visit each other, and settle their lifelong affairs.

"I hadn't entered the palace during last year's Flower Festival. Is this Flower Festival held every year?" Tao Yanyan really wanted to see it.

Mingyue said, "In the past few years, we have been busy suppressing the rebellion. The Queen, Imperial Concubine, and Virtuous Concubine all gave birth to children one after another. The Queen Mother didn't care about these chores, so no ceremony was held. It was only last year when the Imperial Concubine assisted in managing the six palaces that a ceremony was held. At that time, I was assigned to the tea room, and I didn't have enough time to boil water in a day."

"The Imperial Concubine is good at organizing these things. Eight out of ten banquets in the palace are hosted by the Imperial Concubine." Qingfeng added.

Tao Yanyan said regretfully, "Then it probably won't be held this year. Concubine De is not a noble concubine. She doesn't have the ability to coordinate a large banquet, and she doesn't want to tire herself to death."

After thinking about it, Tao Yanyan thought of a possibility: "Since there is a custom of going outing on the Flower Festival, and the palace cannot hold a flower viewing banquet, can we directly choose to go out of the palace for an outing?"

Qingfeng and Mingyue both shook their heads.

Mingyue said: "Your Majesty, His Majesty has given you special permission to leave the palace and go to the imperial manor. If you want to go out during the Flower Festival, it is absolutely impossible."

Tao Yanyan gave a sly smile: "How do you know it's impossible when you haven't even tried? Anyway, I have to mention it. It will definitely be fun outside that day, and I can also take the two children out to see the world."

Qingfeng and Mingyue did not try to persuade them. To be honest, they both wanted to go out as well. They were locked up in this deep palace all day, with only the sky to see when they looked up. It was indeed not as interesting as the outside world.

When He Linzhang came over that night, he found that the little concubine was even more gentle and her voice was extremely sweet. If the two children had not yet gone to bed and were waiting for the little concubine to coax them to sleep, he would have already taken them into the room.

After Tao Yanyan finally coaxed the two kids to sleep and returned to her room, He Linzhang hugged her and said, "You kept acting like a spoiled child to me today. Do you need my help with something? Hmm?"

After living together for so long, He Linzhang has somewhat understood the little concubine's temper. If she wants him to help her, she will definitely give him some benefits first so that he cannot refuse her at all.

Tao Yanyan smiled brightly and kissed He Linzhang on the face: "Your Majesty has discovered this. It seems that Your Majesty really has me in his heart."

He Linzhang said with a smile: "Tell me, what do you want to do?"

I pinched her face, but this time her hands were not slapped away immediately, so she allowed me to pinch her face. It seemed to be a difficult task.

He Linzhang raised his eyebrows and said, "You don't want to take the children to the hot spring palace to accompany the Queen Mother, do you?"

He held her tightly in his arms and said, "You are not allowed to go. Last time you said you wanted to go, I regretted agreeing to it. This time, no matter what, you cannot leave me and take the children with you."

Tao Yanyan was really at a loss whether to laugh or cry: "The children still have to go to elementary school, and I will not delay their studies. I just thought that the Flower Festival is coming this month, and I want to find a place outside the palace to take the children to relax."

He Linzhang thought about it and realized that the royal hunting ground was too far away. It seemed that only Jingci Temple was relatively close. He also remembered what Yingyi had recently found out about the relationship between Concubine Li and Ningyuan Hou's sister, so he said, "Jingci Temple is located on the scenic Qixia Mountain. It is not high and the terrain is flat, so it is easy to climb. If you want to go, I will accompany you. I just happen to have something that I want to ask Concubine Li for confirmation."

Tao Yanyan happily hugged his neck and said, "That's great. Then the eldest princess will also have a chance to see her biological mother. Your Majesty, you are so well. I really like your Majesty who is so easy to talk to."