Harem Daily Life

Chapter 769 It’s My Own Fault

Tao Yanyan looked at the sad Wang and thought of Concubine Wen who also died of illness many years ago.

Which woman who could marry into the imperial family was not of exceptional family background and exceptional beauty? But once in the palace, navigating the vortex of power, how many could truly live a wonderful life?

The Wang in front of him looked haggard and had a sallow complexion. She no longer had the noble appearance she had when she first met Tao Yanyan. It was a bit sad that she had played a good hand of cards so badly.

"It's all my own fault that we've come to this point." Wang said weakly, her eyes full of regret.

"I know that I don't have much time left, and there are some things I don't know who to talk to. The relatives around me are all coveting my money, sucking my blood, forcing me to stay away from them. Some of my former sisters have become enemies, and some have passed away early. In the end, I am left alone." Wang seemed to be recalling the glory of the past, and her eyes gradually dimmed.

"I was betrothed to the Crown Princess at sixteen, and officially ascended to the throne at twenty-one. That year, I had Yue'er, and he said that if the child was a prince, then he would be the legitimate Crown Prince. I was so full of pride back then! Unfortunately, Yue'er wasn't a prince after all. I was so anxious, so anxious to have a prince, but I didn't expect that one wrong step would lead to another. In the end, not only did I become estranged from my daughter, but I also lost my throne as Empress."

Tao Yanyan listened quietly and did not interrupt her.

"In this harem, every step is filled with fear and anxiety. The superficial splendor and wealth are but fleeting. Throughout my life, I have fought for power and harmed countless people, yet in the end, I have ended up like this."

"It's come to this, there's no point in saying this. But if you still have any wishes, if I can do it... I will help you if I can."

Wang looked at Tao Yanyan and said, "The only thing I'm worried about is my children. I know you're kind and capable. If there's a chance in the future, I hope you can help me take care of them."

Tao Yanyan nodded and said solemnly, "Don't worry, Yue'er has been raised by my side for many years, and I have long treated her as my own. Min'er is under the protection of the virtuous concubine, and I will also take good care of her."

Wang smiled with relief. "Your words put my mind at ease. I've made so many wrong moves in my life. You must not follow in my footsteps." Then, as if realizing something was amiss, she added, "Look at me, I'm sick and confused. You're more capable and intelligent than me, and he loves you, so naturally you won't follow in my footsteps."

After saying this, Wang slowly closed her eyes and said, "You guys should go now. It's freezing cold. Thank you for coming here, Your Majesty."

Tao Yanyan stood up and said, "You should take good care of yourself. I am leaving now."

As she turned around, Wang whispered, "Don't tell him about me."

Since the relationship is over, let’s just be strangers.

A tear fell from the corner of Wang's eye.

Tao Yanyan said "hmm" softly and went out with the breeze.

When leaving the courtyard, He Yue finally cried, her eyes were red, but she didn't want to be seen, so she lowered her head all the way and let the tears slide down her cheeks.

When He Xiaobao found his second sister crying, he thought that she had not eaten for too long and was hungry, so he went to rummage through the food box as soon as he got on the carriage to find something to eat for his second sister.

Tao Yanyan was originally feeling a little down, but when he saw He Xiaobao anxiously looking for food with his butt sticking out, his low mood eased a lot.

"Seven pieces of meat, seven pieces of meat." He Xiaobao took the tiger-skin chicken feet made by Caiyun and handed them to He Yue.

He Yue had no appetite at all and shook her head: "Sister doesn't want to eat."

He Xiaobao tilted his head, thought for a moment, and then took out a piece of lotus cake and handed it to He Yue.

He Yue continued to shake her head: "Sister doesn't want to eat."

He Xiaobao, whose mind was full of passing food to his sister, persisted in passing food in different ways, including fish skin peanuts, candied fruit, dried pork, fruit... He searched through everything in the food box, but his second sister said she didn't want to eat it.

He Xiaobao was sweating profusely in the middle of winter. He flung his little hands and nestled into Tao Yanyan's arms: "I want seven candied haws, candied haws, don't cry."

Tao Yanyan: "..."

Next time I go out, I will ask Caiyun to make a few strings of candied haws for me. It’s so cold out now, and there’s no one selling candied haws on the street!

He Xiaobao had already lifted the car window curtain and was looking out, wishing he could catch someone selling candied haws right away.

"Catch the thief, catch the thief!" Suddenly, a cry was heard from the other side of the street, and several people were chasing a man.

Shuang'er was worried that the horses would be frightened, so she immediately asked someone to pull the carriage aside.

Unfortunately, the thief stumbled and fell beside the carriage Tao Yanyan was riding in due to the snowy weather. Shuang'er stepped forward to catch him, but he struggled and his hat fell off, revealing a familiar face.

"It's you?" Shuang'er exclaimed.

Jiang Yingying didn't expect that she would meet Queen Tao again under such circumstances. After she fell, she was picked up by Shuang'er and stuffed directly into the Queen's carriage.

"Hey, that guy just stole our silver. Hand him over quickly, or we will report him to the police!" Several men chased to the carriage and shouted at Shuang'er to hand over Jiang Yingying.

In the carriage, Tao Yanyan looked at Jiang Yingying who had returned to her old job, his brows furrowed tightly. "Are you still doing this? Do you remember what you promised me?"

Jiang Yingying hurriedly explained: "No, I didn't steal their money, I was just taking back the wages I deserved..."

Before she could finish her explanation, a fight broke out outside.

Shuang'er saw that these people looked ferocious and were shouting and yelling in front of the Queen's carriage. She didn't like any of them and kicked each of them out.

The other escorting guards did not take any action, and a group of people fell in front of the carriage.

"You, you are going too far. Are you accomplices of that thief? You deliberately stole our money and want to run away, right? Report to the police, report to the police now, and you will be paid back tenfold or a hundredfold!" The leader outside was shouting, and Jiang Yingying was furious when she heard it.

"Okay, then report!" Jiang Yingying poked her head out: "Your Yixingtang is recruiting workers in the name of labor, but in fact you are deceiving people into doing hard labor and not paying them. As long as they ask you for wages, you will lock them up and beat them, and then hand them over to the authorities on the grounds of theft. I don't know if that government office is run by your Yixingtang. Everyone who was sent there was beaten with a stick and fined. In the end, they couldn't get their wages and were beaten and disabled. The most hateful thing is that you actually deceived me. I worked for a month and you didn't pay me a penny. I took back what was originally mine. What's wrong with that?"

Tao Yanyan understood what was going on and his eyes turned cold.

"Shuang'er, tie them all up and send them to the authorities. Commander Wang, take my token and bring a few men with you. If the prefect is protecting us or showing partiality, arrest him on the spot!"

Commander Wang took the token, gave a few instructions, and then left with the kidnapped people from Yixingtang.

"Let's find a better restaurant for lunch first." Tao Yanyan gave instructions. Everyone had to eat and wait for Commander Wang's reply. More importantly, she wanted to have a good chat with Jiang Yingying.