Harem Daily Life

Chapter 1008 Queen

Upon learning that Yanran and Hemin were going to sleep with Yu Nuo, Tao Yanyan instructed Xianglan to bring two more quilts over and keep an eye on them to make sure they didn't stay up too late before returning to her own palace.

He Linzhang had drunk a few extra cups of wine that evening and was slightly tipsy. He had already bathed and was lying in bed, his clothes half-undone, revealing a patch of well-defined, wheat-colored skin. Tao Yanyan entered the room, glanced at him, her ears turning slightly red, and quickly took a change of clothes into the inner room.

When she came out, He Linzhang was already quite eager. He pulled her onto the bed and leaned over her, showering her with kisses until Tao Yanyan felt hot all over.

Tao Yanyan had a few more questions she wanted to ask, but she no longer had the chance to speak.

He Linzhang was almost forty-three years old, but his virility was as strong as ever. Tao Yanyan couldn't understand why his waist was still so strong, as if it never got tired, which made her unable to bear it.

"Distracted?" He Linzhang lightly bit her lip: "It seems I haven't tried hard enough."

Tao Yanyan was on the verge of tears, and hurriedly wrapped her arms around his neck, begging for mercy: "Your Majesty, please be gentle, I have many things to do tomorrow."

Ever since he mentioned going out for a walk, Tao Yanyan has gradually arranged everything at hand to avoid being caught off guard. As she started arranging things, she realized there were many things to explain.

He Linzhang gradually slowed his pace, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. But the more gentle and considerate he was, the more Tao Yanyan's heart itched with desire. Looking at the Empress's tearful eyes, as if about to cry, He Linzhang gently stroked her bright red lips with his fingers: "Now I'm gentler, slower, is the Empress satisfied?"

Tao Yanyan glared at him, thinking he was doing it on purpose. Gritting her teeth, she flipped over and climbed on top of him.

He Linzhang looked at her with amusement, his eyes filled with encouragement and expectation.

Tao Yanyan didn't care about anything else and began to act recklessly towards him, mimicking his usual domineering manner. He Linzhang was indeed tormented to the point of being both angry and amused, and in the end, he had no choice but to pretend to be a submissive figure to satisfy the Empress's queenly heart.

The next day, He Linzhang did not attend the morning court session, nor did the Empress get up early for her morning exercise. Everyone assumed that the Emperor and Empress had drunk too much at the palace banquet the night before and were still intoxicated, which was why they couldn't get up. Only Empress Tao knew that this fellow had been outrageous all night and hadn't gone to sleep until the early hours of the morning.

The emperor and empress, who had only gotten up around lunchtime, were not even looked at by the palace maids who served them. After serving the food, they quickly left the room.

Tao Yanyan glared at the serious-looking man opposite her: "Your Majesty, please don't stay up so late anymore. Yanran and Min'er both slept in Chang Le Palace last night. How am I supposed to face people after this?"

While eating his meal slowly and deliberately, He Linzhang chuckled and said, "I see that the Empress is enjoying this immensely. Is it wrong to cooperate with the Empress?"

Tao Yan was speechless, her face flushed: "Anyway, don't mess around like this again."

He Linzhang sighed softly, "Alright, the Queen may do as she pleases, and I will cooperate."

Tao Yanyan almost spat out her food. This guy was really something, getting the benefit and still acting innocent.

After finishing his meal with a flushed face, He Linzhang wanted to take a nap, so he pulled Tao Yanyan into the bedroom.

"Today's efforts have been in vain; we couldn't do anything," Tao Yanyan sighed.

"You seemed to want to ask me something yesterday, but then you got delayed. What did you want to ask?" He Linzhang moved a little closer to her and gently massaged the soft flesh around her waist.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I was wondering if Your Majesty's urging of Marquis Jing will cause him dissatisfaction."

He Linzhang chuckled: "You'd better keep your dissatisfaction to yourself. I told them long ago to go back to Yanzhou, but it's been dragged on for so long and there's still no progress. If we don't urge them soon, they might really be delayed."

Tao Yanyan glanced at him: "The Fourth Princess's wedding is in two months. If there's no one at the Marquis of Jing's residence by then, we might have to leave the capital. It'll be so deserted. Doesn't His Majesty feel sorry for us?"

After all, she was Consort Li's niece, so Tao Yanyan didn't believe that He Linzhang didn't love her.

"Perhaps our departure from the capital won't be too soon." After saying that, he lowered his head and rubbed his chin against Tao Yanyan's forehead. "I originally thought the Xia Kingdom delegation would return as soon as possible, but I didn't expect Kang Mowan to send another letter, asking me to take care of the people who came this time for the time being. He said that once he has control of the situation on his side, he can send these people back. I have investigated, and these people are all the best of the younger generation in Xia Kingdom, the eldest sons of various families. I'm afraid Kang Mowan sent them here, firstly to control the ministers, and secondly to reassure me."

"Those are all protons?" Tao Yan said.

He Linzhang nodded: "He is quite honest. He thought of this, and I didn't force him to do anything, but he did it himself."

Tao Yan smiled and said, "Kang Mowan is determined to fight with his back to the wall. Your Majesty, what do you think of Kang Pingzhi after seeing him last night? Shuang'er said that Yanran and Kang Pingzhi had a very pleasant conversation, but Min'er didn't even glance at him."

He Linzhang was silent for a moment: "I think he's not bad. You can ask Yan Ran what he thinks later."

"Hmm." Tao Yanyan's voice softened: "We didn't allow the princess to be married off before, but now we have to send someone over."

He Linzhang patted her back: "Times have changed. The world is now divided into three. Yanzhou has now been incorporated into the Great Zhou territory. The remaining Xia Kingdom will be our ally once Kang Mowan takes the throne. There will be no danger for the child when she marries there. Moreover, her future is limitless, so it's not a bad thing."

After talking for a while, the two fell into a deep sleep.

After the Xia Kingdom delegation returned, they gathered to discuss their intention to propose marriage. Some insisted on marrying a legitimate princess, while a few agreed with Kang Pingzhi's idea of ​​marrying a county princess.

"Your Highness, the Third Princess is about your age, making her the most suitable candidate for a marriage alliance. Moreover, she is the daughter of the Virtuous Consort, a woman of exceptional nobility. To propose marriage to the Third Princess would be an incredibly fortunate event!"

“That Princess Yanran is also quite good. I heard that she was raised under the Empress Dowager’s care and is the legitimate daughter of the Prince of Yong of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Her status is also very noble.”

"But her birth mother was from the Yan Kingdom, so she is somewhat different from His Majesty's legitimate daughter."

"What's the difference? Their birth mother was a former princess of the Yan Kingdom. I think both of them are very good; it just depends on which one the Crown Prince chooses."

Kang Pingzhi waved his hand: "It's pointless for us to discuss and argue here. The most important thing is that His Majesty the Emperor of Great Zhou is willing to marry his daughter off."

He looked at everyone and said, "Seek an audience with the Emperor of Great Zhou as soon as possible, explain our intention to propose marriage, and sound him out."

The oldest official in the delegation asked, "Then, we must decide who we want to marry. If we are ambiguous, the Great Zhou might doubt our sincerity."

Kang Pingzhi recalled He Yanran's bright yet slightly aloof face and said with a smile, "I remember when my second brother came to the Great Zhou to ask for a marriage proposal as a prince, he returned empty-handed. I suppose His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Zhou would not marry a princess to a foreign country. If even a prince is turned away, what chance do I, as the heir apparent, have? Perhaps it would be better to betroth Princess Yanran, the daughter of Prince Yong. I think the chances of success are much higher."

The official frowned: "In this way, there is still some distance between her and the Emperor of Great Zhou. There is still a difference between a niece and a biological daughter."

Kang Pingzhi smiled faintly: "Princess Yanran is very good. You all should stop talking. Lord Ouyang, you should write a letter to ask for her hand in marriage as soon as possible. I will find out the princess's intentions first."

Several subordinates hurriedly advised, "Your Highness, please be careful. We have heard that women in the Great Zhou Dynasty have many rules, and it is very rare for girls from high-ranking families to go out. How can you possibly inquire about them?"

Kang Pingzhi smiled and said, "I have my own brilliant plan, so you don't need to worry about it."