Harem Fighting Strategy 4
Tao Yuan cleaned and dried the fresh rose petals, then started making rose jam. After the rose jam was made, he sealed a part of it and used the rest to make rose cakes.
After doing all this, Tao Yuan took some rose jam and flower cakes and went to the Queen Mother again.
The Queen Mother had a maid make tea with rose jam. After taking a sip from the cup, she ate a rose petal, savoring the sweet aroma of the rose, which made her feel much more relaxed. Of all the flowers, the Queen Mother's favorite wasn't roses, finding them too bright and gaudy. Yet, she loved their fragrance the most, so she created a secluded little garden and planted it entirely with roses.
"I didn't expect this rose jam to be so delicious just for tea. This flower cake is even better." The Queen Mother put down her teacup and praised. Then she turned to the palace maid beside her and said, "Bring me the treasure box on my dressing table."
A maid brought the empress dowager's treasure box and placed it on the table. The empress dowager opened one of the layers, took out a bright moon pearl, and said, "I thought it would be very elegant to enjoy the moon while eating these flower cakes and drinking these flower teas. I give this bright moon pearl to you as a reward. Place it by your pillow at night, and you will have the bright moon by your side."
"Thank you for the reward, Her Majesty." Tao Yuan respectfully took the Moon Pearl from the Her Majesty's hand. This kind of stone, which is shaped into a ball and can emit fluorescence at night, was very rare in ancient times. The Queen was willing to give it to him as a reward. It seemed that she really liked the rose jam and flower cakes.
During these two months, Tao Yuan also received many rewards from the Queen Mother. Although the Queen Mother was still biased towards Ye Rong because he was born into a scholarly family and had previously won the Queen Mother's favor, she was always kind to Tao Yuan. Because of the delicious food Tao Yuan made, she gave Tao Yuan many rewards. However, every time she rewarded Tao Yuan, she would also give Ye Rong a reward.
This was the first time that the Queen Mother had rewarded Tao Yuan alone before Ye Rong arrived, which showed that the Queen Mother had a high liking and recognition for him.
When Ye Rong arrived, he saw the cup of tea on the table, still emitting an alluring rose scent, and knew that Tao Yuan must have brought it to please the Queen Mother. Although he remained calm on the surface, he felt regretful again in his heart and became more wary of his opponent Tao Yuan.
When Tao Yuan returned to Chuxiu Palace, the nobles from the military families all came to his and Sun Yuan's room, drank flower tea, ate flower cakes, and praised them highly.
"It smells so good! I really want to put this flower jam in my room and smell it at night. It must be even more fragrant. It smells much better than incense."
"I didn't like the scent of roses before, but for some reason, this flower jam smells so good."
"Me too. I used to feel dizzy when I smelled roses, but this refreshing and sweet scent is so comfortable."
"Don't just smell it. Once you drink it, the fragrance will stay in your nose."
"This flower cake is so delicious! No wonder the Queen Mother is so full of praise for Axi's snacks. When her appetite is poor, the only snacks she can eat are Axi's."
"It's lightly sweet, not cloying at all, and really delicious."
"Hurry up and eat more now, because when Axi becomes the emperor, we won't be able to eat anymore."
"Yes, after Ah Xi became the Imperial Noble, he could only make snacks for His Majesty and the Queen Mother. We are not sure whether we can stay in the palace in the future, so how can we have the chance to eat the snacks he made?"
"I'm afraid that by then, someone will take advantage of his status and force Axi to make snacks for him."
"What are you afraid of? Once Ah Xi has gained His Majesty's favor, I'll ask His Majesty for permission. Only the Queen Mother and His Majesty can allow Ah Xi to make snacks. Let's see if he gets angry then."
Tao Yuan and Sun Yuan exchanged a glance without saying anything. Even the people on their side felt that Ye Rong would definitely be the Queen. Tao Yuan didn't want to say anything, nor did he need to, so he just let them assume it.
Ye Rong's room is just opposite Tao Yuan's room. Although there is a large courtyard in between, with the door open, one can see what the people opposite are doing.
The people on Ye Rong's side saw that the people on Tao Yuan's side were talking and laughing, and it seemed very lively. Even if they couldn't hear clearly what they were saying, they could guess the general content.
Even they had to admit that Tao Yuan's performance over the past two months had earned the Empress Dowager's favor, and it was only natural. When it came to etiquette and protocol within the academy, his performance was no less impressive than Ye Rong's. He was also a skilled cook, and his desserts completely captivated the Empress Dowager's appetite. Her treatment of him was noticeably more genuine than before, and it wasn't just because his father was the Grand Marshal that she treated him and Ye Rong equally.
Although these people had to admit in their hearts that Tao Yuan really performed well, they still refused to admit it.
"It's just that I can make a few snacks. Even if I can please the Queen Mother, it's hard to please His Majesty. His Majesty is the highest authority, and he certainly won't like someone just because of a little food. Only someone like Arong, who is both beautiful and charming, with an extraordinary appearance and a refined temperament, can win His Majesty's favor."
"He always stays in the kitchen to make those snacks, and he smells of cooking fumes. If Your Majesty smells it, I wonder how disgusted he would be."
"When Arong becomes the queen, I will act like the emperor's wife and let him know who is truly beloved by His Majesty."
"Yes, since he loves making snacks, after Ah Rong became the Queen, she let him do it every day and kept him in the kitchen."
Ye Rong stood up and said calmly, "I'm a little tired. You guys go back to your rooms. I want to rest."
Those people looked at each other, then stood up and said, "Then you should have a good rest. If you feel unwell, ask the palace maid to find the imperial physician to take your pulse."
"Yeah." Ye Rong nodded.
After those people left, the person who shared the room with Ye Rong closed the door. Ye Rong walked to the bed, took off his shoes and lay down on the bed.
He had met the emperor several times in Jingshou Palace, but failed to attract the emperor's special attention. He originally thought that with his stunning appearance and the aura of a leading man, he would definitely be able to attract the emperor's attention. He had also met Prince Yu several times before and successfully attracted him. In less than a year, he made him fall in love with him. However, his aura of a leading man did not seem to work on the emperor yet.
After much thought, he could only come up with one reason: the emperor was difficult to win over and was not easily tempted. So, he had no choice but to think of other ways. In short, he had to win the emperor's favor before the wedding.
In the evening, after washing up, Tao Yuan sat at her dressing table, looking at the Moon Pearl the Empress Dowager had gifted her. Moon Pearls, also known as Night-Shining Pearls, are not a type of pearl, but rather a type of stone that glows. Their soft, bright light isn't enough to illuminate anything, let alone a wide area like a lightbulb. However, rarity makes things valuable. This naturally glowing stone was very valuable in ancient times, and its availability was extremely limited.
After Sun Yuan finished washing up, he sat down next to him, looked at the bead and asked, "Is this the Bright Moon Pearl? I've only heard of it before, but this is the first time I've seen it in person. However... it doesn't seem as bright as I imagined. I thought it would be bright enough without a lamp."
Tao Yuan smiled and said, "In complete darkness, it will be brighter, but it won't be brighter than a lamp."
"But no matter what, these are rare items, and they were given by the Queen Mother. Others can't get them even if they beg for them." Sun Yuan said.
The two talked for a while and were about to get up and go to bed when they suddenly heard an urgent knock on the door.
Sun Yuan walked quickly to the door, opened it, looked at the palace maid outside and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Eunuch Xu is here, come out to greet him." The palace maid said quickly, then ran to the doors of other people's rooms and knocked.
Sun Yuan turned around and glanced at Tao Yuan. The eunuch Xu who had asked them to go out to greet him must be the eunuch in charge of the emperor's affairs. They could only think of one reason why he came to Chuxiu Palace at this time.
All the ministers were standing outside their own houses. Minister Xu was already standing in the middle of the courtyard with his attendants and palace maids, waiting to welcome Eunuch Xu.
After a while, Eunuch Xu came in with his men, followed by ten eunuchs and more than ten palace maids. Each palace maid was holding a large palace lantern. In the middle of the two rows of palace maids, eight eunuchs were carrying a sedan chair with a gauze curtain.
This situation was just as they had expected, the emperor was going to visit the minister.
It was normal for the emperor to visit the concubines and ministers who were still waiting to be selected. Those who were favored by him were already selected in advance and had to enter the harem. Because they were already the emperor's people, even if they died alone in the palace, they could not leave the palace and marry someone else.
Xu Shiguan stepped forward and half-bowed to Eunuch Xu, "General Manager Xu."
Eunuch Xu nodded to him, "Officer Xu."
"Excuse me, Chief Steward Xu, are you here to pick up that Minister?" Officer Xu asked respectfully.
Eunuch Xu did not answer, but looked around.
Because Eunuch Xu had come with the Emperor's orders, the ministers stood respectfully at the doorways of their rooms, most of them feeling a mixture of nervousness and anticipation. Those who wished to remain in the harem hoped they would be the one to be favored, but Eunuch Xu's arrival was so sudden that they were unprepared, and so they all became nervous.
Eunuch Xu turned and walked to the left. When he stood in front of Tao Yuan, he said, "Minister Mu, His Majesty has invited you to sleep with him tonight. Please get in the sedan chair."
Tao Yuan had already guessed that it would be him. He met Xiao Junye during the day, and Xiao Junye found that the fragrance on his body could relieve his headache, so he would definitely look for him. However, he did not expect it to happen so soon, and in this way.
Under everyone's gaze, Tao Yuan got on the sedan chair and was carried out of Chuxiu Palace.
After watching those people disappear outside the gate, Officer Xu said loudly, "It's already late, go back to your rooms and sleep."
The others turned back to their rooms with mixed feelings. Most of them probably wouldn't sleep well tonight.
Ye Rong clenched his fists and turned back to his room. He didn't expect that the first person to serve him in bed was not him, but Tao Yuan.
Ye Rong lay on the bed, taking off the jade hairpin from his head and holding it in his hand. He even prepared the medicine and was ready to serve the emperor in bed at any time. Although he couldn't really have sex with the emperor now, he was still very unhappy that the emperor didn't choose him to serve him in bed.
Tao Yuan was sent to Kunyang Palace, which was Xiao Junye's bedroom, but Xiao Junye was still in the imperial study. With the help of the palace servants, Tao Yuan bathed and changed his clothes again, then sat on the bed waiting for Xiao Junye to come and visit him.
After sitting for a while, Tao Yuan saw Xiao Junye walk in. He immediately stood up and walked forward to greet him, "Your Majesty."
"All of you step back." Xiao Junye ordered.
The attendants and palace maids did not dare to delay for even a moment and immediately retreated quickly.
Xiao Junye walked towards Tao Yuan step by step. Tao Yuan looked at him, then slowly backed away, looking a little scared. "Your Majesty..."
Xiao Junye saw that his skin was as rosy and fair as a peach blossom, his lips were as red and tender as a rose, and his face was as delicate as a flower and the moon. He was very bright and charming. He was wearing a red bedclothes, and his long hair was draped behind him. He had an indescribable seductive charm.
"You don't have to be afraid." Xiao Junye comforted him, "I have something to ask you, and you must answer me truthfully."
"Your Majesty, what do you want to ask me?" Tao Yuan looked at him and said.
"Where does the fragrance on your body come from?" Xiao Junye had sent people to investigate secretly during the day. He originally thought that after knowing what kind of fragrance he used, he might be able to find a way to detoxify him, but the result of the investigation was that he did not use anything with fragrance.
"I don't like incense. My body has had this fragrance since I was a child." Tao Yuan had retreated to the bedside, with nowhere to retreat, so he fell down on the bed.
The original owner's body did have a little fragrance, but when Xiao Junye smelled the fragrance on his body, he felt very comfortable. It was because he drank the spring water in the space.
Xiao Junye also sat down beside the bed, hugged him tightly, buried his face in his neck and breathed hard, "I want to smell your fragrance, but you can't tell anyone, this is why I asked you to sleep with me."
"Yes..." Tao Yuan said in a low voice, letting him hold her motionlessly.
Xiao Junye had originally just wanted to hold him, inhale his fragrance, and make himself feel better. He had no other thoughts. But even though he was deeply intoxicated, he was still a normal man. It was hard not to feel such a fragrant and soft body in his arms. His hands couldn't help but slip into his pajamas and caress him. The smooth touch made him unable to let go.
Xiao Junye buried his face in his neck, pressed tightly against his skin and breathed hard. Although he didn't know why the fragrance on his body could relieve his headache, he was certain that this fragrance could definitely control the poison in his body.
Xiao Junye had been suffering from headaches for many years and he had never felt so comfortable before. He seemed to never get enough of this fragrance.
Xiao Junye's face slowly moved downwards. He couldn't help but pull open Tao Yuan's clothes with his hands and buried his face in his chest.
Because of his actions, Tao Yuan's breathing became more and more rapid, and his body gradually became hot.
Xiao Junye's face looked lower and lower because he found that the skin on his chest had a stronger fragrance than that on his neck.
Xiao Junye's lips pressed against his skin, the smooth and warm touch made him unable to help but stick out his tongue to lick it. Such a good taste was even more delicious than the snack he had eaten in the morning, and it was also very smooth, so he sucked harder.
Tao Yuan couldn't help but tremble because of his actions.
………………………………
Xiao Junye didn't do it to the end. He wanted to, but he was too busy inhaling Tao Yuan's fragrance to think about anything else. His body felt much better, and he fell asleep while inhaling it. He hugged Tao Yuan tightly, inhaling his fragrance, and slept soundly all night.
Tao Yuan was kissed all over by him, and finally stripped naked and held tightly by him. He slept well, but Tao Yuan, who was not satisfied, did not sleep well all night. Tao Yuan would rather he did it thoroughly and then fell asleep in exhaustion. He was aroused by him, and he was neither up nor down, so he could not sleep well.
When Xiao Junye woke up the next morning, he felt full of energy and his body was much more comfortable. He no longer had the uncomfortable feeling he had every morning before.
Before he went to court, he sat by the bed, looking at Tao Yuan's sleeping face, thinking to himself that perhaps this person was his antidote, which was why he felt so comfortable after smelling her fragrance. He had spent years trying to detoxify himself, but he couldn't find any medicine or method that could. Just when he was about to give up and thought that he could only delay it for a few more years, God suddenly helped him and sent the antidote to his side.
Xiao Junye felt that no matter whether the fragrance on his body could really cure his poison, even if he still didn't have many years to live, as long as this person was by his side, at least he could live more comfortably in the last few years of his life.
Xiao Junye leaned over and buried his face in his neck, breathing in his fragrance several times, and then stood up to attend court.
About half an hour after Xiao Junye left, Tao Yuan was woken up. He then got up, washed, changed his clothes, and went back to Chuxiu Palace.
Early this morning, all the concubines and ministers had to go to the Xunli Pavilion in Chuxiu Palace to listen to Minister Xu explain the etiquette and rules of the palace.
When Tao Yuan arrived, they had already started talking for a while, but they knew why he was late, and when he walked in, everyone's eyes turned to him.
Tao Yuan apologized to Officer Xu for being late. Officer Xu didn't say much and just let him in and sit down.
Tao Yuan walked to the empty seat next to Sun Yuan and sat down, and then Officer Xu continued to speak.
Most of the ministers didn't sleep well last night, especially those on Ye Rong's side, who barely slept the entire night and were therefore quite listless. Now that Tao Yuan had arrived, they couldn't help but glance at him from time to time, completely ignoring what Minister Xu was saying.
Seeing their state, Xu Shiguan had to stop and said, "Today, I'm going to talk about how the concubines in the harem should behave according to their ranks when the palace holds a large celebration. If you don't remember it, if you make a mistake, you will be confined to reflect on your mistakes at the very least, or banished to the cold palace at the worst, and your family may even be implicated. In the harem, those who know more rules will have a better life than those who know less."
Because of Xu's reminder and warning, they had to be alert and carefully write down every word Xu said. Otherwise, when the critical moment came, if they made a serious mistake and had no one to protect them, they might really lose their lives.
After Officer Xu spoke for half an hour, he asked them to rest for an hour and remember carefully what he had just said. Then he continued to speak for another half an hour. This morning, it was over and the afternoon would be the time to learn etiquette.
After Officer Xu left, some people sat in the house drinking tea alone, silently remembering what Officer Xu had just said, while others went outside and sat in groups of three or four, talking in low voices.
Tao Yuan and Sun Yuan walked towards the pavilion outside. Tao Yuan covered his mouth and yawned, and many people around immediately looked at him.
After walking into the empty pavilion and sitting down, Sun Yuan whispered, "After you left last night, those people in our yard must have had a bad sleep all night."
Tao Yuan said with half-open eyes, feeling a little sleepy, "They can't sleep, and I can't sleep well when I want to. They are jealous of me and can't sleep. It's their own business."
Sun Yuan smiled and said, "If they heard you say this, they would definitely think you were showing off. But the one who couldn't sleep the most must be that person. Those people thought he would be favored as soon as he entered the palace, and you would definitely be disliked by the emperor after entering the palace. Now you have beaten him to the bed, and he must be so sad."
The two had just exchanged a few words when others came over.
"Axi, you must not have slept well last night, right?"
"Yeah..." Tao Yuan thought, but it's not the kind of poor sleep that you think.
"There's still an hour left. Why don't you let the maid make the bed for you in your room and go get some sleep?"
"Yeah, actually you don't have to come today. I can just wait for A Yuan to go back and tell you. Anyway, you two have good memories, so you can remember it after listening to it once."
"You should go get some sleep. You still have etiquette lessons in the afternoon. You need to be more alert to cope with it." Sun Yuan also advised.
"Okay." Tao Yuan nodded. "I'm going to sleep for a while. You can call me later."
"I'll ask the maid to make your bed."
"We'll stay outside, you can sleep peacefully."
Tao Yuan stood up and walked towards the empty room over there. It would be good to take a nap, otherwise he would look sleepy all day and they would think he was showing off all the time. Even if he wanted to show off, he wouldn't do it now. When he got Xiao Junye's exclusive favor, he could achieve the effect of showing off even if he didn't show off.
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