Harem Fighting Strategy 7
As the wedding day draws closer, the palace becomes increasingly busy, but in the court, everything remains the same, proceeding step by step.
Xiao Junye was reviewing memorials in the imperial study when he suddenly slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and said, "Let's discuss it after the wedding? Is the Ye family threatening me?"
"Your Majesty, please calm down and take care of yourself."
Although Eunuch Xu didn't know what Xiao Junye was angry about, every time he got angry, he would immediately get a headache. So when he saw Xiao Junye angry, he immediately advised him to take care of his health.
Xiao Junye's head was throbbing with pain. He took a deep breath, and after calming down, he walked to the window with his hands behind his back and thought again, rethinking who he should go to on the wedding night.
Regardless of whether Xiao Junye would compromise with the Ye family this time, his favorability towards Ye Rong had already significantly decreased. Those in high positions disliked being threatened, especially the emperor, whose majesty as the Son of Heaven could not be offended.
Although Xiao Junye was very tolerant when he was the crown prince, now that he is the emperor, there are times when he has to be tolerant. However, his mentality is different now. Even if he can be tolerant on the surface, he can no longer tolerate it in his heart.
Ye Rong's use of family power to threaten Xiao Junye was a big mistake, but he himself thought that it was not a threat. He just wanted Xiao Junye to know that as the grandson of the prime minister, he had given up the position of queen to Mu Xi, which was a compromise for the emperor. The emperor should compensate him in other ways, such as showing that he valued him more, and the wedding night was the best opportunity to show it.
The Ye family also felt that this was not a threat, but a subtle reminder to the emperor that their family was willing to compromise in order to support him, and asked the emperor to give them more confidence, such as showing more grace to Ye Rong and the Ye family.
Tao Yuan also knew that not every emperor had an easy time. Ancient emperors often compromised with their ministers, and some emperors were forced to do so. Sometimes, the emperor favored someone in the harem, not because he truly loved that person, but to impress that person's family.
Xiao Junye had just ascended the throne not long ago, and the throne had not yet been firmly established. He had not yet regained many powers, and there were still some forces secretly eyeing his throne.
So even if he really went to Ye Rong's place on the wedding night, Tao Yuan would not really be angry about it. Moreover, he knew that even if he went to Ye Rong's place, nothing would happen between them. Or rather, Ye Rong would not have anything happen between her and Xiao Junye before she got pregnant in order to ensure that she was pregnant with Prince Yu's child.
…………………………
The wedding day soon arrived. Tao Yuan got up early, washed and dressed, and with the help of the palace maids, he put on layer after layer of wedding clothes.
Xiao Junye has to go to offer sacrifices to the heavens early in the morning, and the wedding will not officially begin until around noon. There are many steps to be completed one by one, so today will be a very tiring day.
Tao Yuan ate something to fill his stomach, then combed his hair and put on makeup. After everything was ready, he went to the Empress Dowager's palace to pay his respects. After Xiao Junye finished offering sacrifices to heaven, he and the Empress Dowager would set out from Jingshou Palace and go to Chengtian Hall to perform various wedding ceremonies with Xiao Junye.
Tao Yuan was the Queen from today on. He appeared in Jingshou Palace wearing the formal wedding dress of the Queen. The concubines who were waiting to go in and pay their respects to the Queen Mother knelt down to pay their respects to him.
Ye Rong had also changed into the royal wedding attire today. Tao Yuan walked straight towards him and looked at him.
Ye Rong knelt respectfully on one knee and saluted, "Greetings to the Queen."
Tao Yuan deliberately waited for a while before saying, "No need to be polite."
Ye Rong clenched his fists in his sleeves, because he would have to perform this ritual with Tao Yuan for quite a while, which made him very unwilling. In order to change the current situation, Ye Rong wanted to get pregnant as soon as possible and gain Xiao Junye's exclusive favor as soon as possible.
Everyone entered the main hall to pay their respects to the Queen Mother. From today on, Ye Rong could not walk side by side with Tao Yuan, but had to walk behind him like everyone else.
"Greetings to the Queen Mother." Everyone saluted together.
"Stand up."
"Thank you, Queen Mother."
The Queen Mother looked at Tao Yuan and Ye Rong, and then gave them a lot of teachings. The general meaning was that they should work together to maintain order in the harem, strive to be role models for the concubines in the harem, serve the emperor well, and so on. Then she lectured the other concubines, the general content of which was to let them behave themselves, not disrupt the harem, and give birth to more princes for the emperor.
"We will follow the Queen Mother's teachings and will never let her down." Everyone answered in unison.
The Queen Mother nodded. Although she appeared pleased with their words, she knew in her heart that while her words were just words, it would be impossible for everyone to truly and strictly abide by them. As a veteran herself, and as the victor of the palace battles so far, she understood their minds very well.
When the time was almost up, a eunuch came to report to the Queen Mother, saying that the auspicious time was approaching.
After Tao Yuan paid his respects to the Queen Mother, he set off for Chengtian Hall under everyone's gaze. Everyone else stayed in the Queen Mother's Palace. After the ceremony in Chengtian Hall was over, they followed the Queen Mother to attend the wedding banquet in the palace.
Although today was also the wedding of Ye Rong and Xiao Junye, and the day he officially became an Imperial Noble, the various ceremonies were only observed for the wedding of the Emperor and Empress. Because in this world, monogamy and polygamy were the norm, only the Empress or the Consort were the Emperor's legal wives. Even the Emperor could only have one legal wife. Although the Imperial Noble was considered a co-wife, strictly speaking, she was just a concubine.
If it were a game, the scene would jump directly from the emperor offering sacrifices to heaven to the banquet, and then to the bridal chamber, to see who the emperor would go to. But in this real world, time flows every minute and every second, and everything that should happen will actually happen.
After the ceremony was completed, Xiao Junye held Tao Yuan's hand, and the two walked up the steps step by step, standing at the highest point to accept the kneeling and congratulations of civil and military officials.
The moment Xiao Junye held Tao Yuan's hand, he suddenly felt like he had taken over the most precious person in his life. The two looked into each other's eyes, their gazes entangled. This was the first time in this life that their souls touched.
After the ceremony, Tao Yuan returned to Fenghua Palace. After a short rest, he changed into the formal court dress of the king and queen and prepared to attend the dinner.
Today is the emperor's wedding day. The entire imperial city is as lively and festive as New Year's Day. Not only will all civil and military officials attend the dinner, but the officials' families will also come to the palace to celebrate and attend the dinner.
The emperor sat in the center of the dais, the empress dowager sat to his left, Tao Yuan sat to his right, and Ye Rong sat below Tao Yuan. The next level down was the royal family, the next level down was the court officials, and the bottom level down was other officials and their families.
The singers and dancers from the palace's music bureau performed on the lowest round stage, playing music of flutes, zithers, and drums, singing and dancing, creating a festive scene of peace and prosperity.
Ye Rong was more certain that Xiao Junye would go to his place, so even though he had to sit below Tao Yuan, he was still in a good mood.
He turned to look at Xiao Junye's handsome face, and his heartbeat quickened. He had never felt this way before, even towards Prince Yu. He felt very sorry that he couldn't really have anything happen to him tonight. He had to make sure that she was pregnant with Prince Yu's child, and convince Prince Yu that she had not had sex with Xiao Junye before she became pregnant with his child. Only then would he have his full support after Xiao Junye's death.
Ye Rong had already planned that after he gave birth to Prince Yu's child, he would no longer give Xiao Junye hallucinogens. Even if the people arranged by Prince Yu in his palace knew that he had had a relationship with Xiao Junye, he could say that Xiao Junye seemed to have noticed something, and in order not to arouse more suspicion from him and to protect their child, he had to obey Xiao Junye. He was also very painful in his heart. In this way, Prince Yu would feel even more distressed about him.
The empress dowager could not hold on any longer and went back to Jingshou Palace. Before the end of the dinner, Xiao Junye also got up and went back to Ganyang Palace to change clothes. Tao Yuan and Ye Rong also got up and left, and the other concubines also left one after another.
Tao Yuan returned to Fenghua Palace, took a comfortable bath in the bathtub, then changed into a red silk nightgown, sat on the wide wooden bed covered with a bright red wedding quilt, and waited for Xiao Junye's arrival.
To be honest, Tao Yuan himself was not very sure whether Xiao Junye would come to him. Although he knew that even if he went to Ye Rong, Ye Rong would definitely use hallucinogens to avoid having sex with him, but just in case, Tao Yuan also gave him some drugs two days ago, so that even if he went to Ye Rong, it would be impossible for him to have sex with Ye Rong.
The concubines in the harem will not be able to sleep peacefully tonight. Although they will feel jealous no matter who the emperor goes to, they are still very curious about who the emperor will favor in his heart on such an important day as tonight.
Ye Rong had also washed up and changed his clothes, and was sitting by the bed waiting. Not only did he put hallucinogens in the wine and tea, he also smeared some hallucinogens on his lips and body, just to ensure that Xiao Junye could not stay awake and would have hallucinations.
The door of the bedroom suddenly opened, and Xiao Junye strode in from outside. All the servants and palace maids in the bedroom knelt down to salute him.
Tao Yuan stood up and took a few steps forward to salute Xiao Junye.
Xiao Junye personally helped him up, then said to the palace maids and attendants who were still kneeling, "You all step back."
"promise."
As the palace maids retreated, they also lowered the layers of silk and gauze curtains in the bedroom.
The two walked to the bed and sat down. Tao Yuan looked at Xiao Junye with eyes full of peace of mind and emotion.
"Do you think I won't come?" Xiao Junye raised his hand and stroked his smooth face.
Tao Yuan lowered his head and said, "I understand Your Majesty. Even Your Majesty has his moments of helplessness."
Xiao Junye hugged him and kissed his forehead. "Since I promised you that I would come, I will not break my promise. You are my legal wife, and tonight is our wedding night. How can I let you stay alone in the empty room tonight?"
Tao Yuan looked up at him, his eyes sparkling. "Your Majesty..."
Xiao Junye lowered his head, kissed his lips, and put his hand into his clothes to caress him.
Tao Yuan kissed him back with her eyes closed, and they both lay down on the bed. When Xiao Junye took off his pants, Tao Yuan cooperated by lifting his waist.
Tao Yuan bit his lips. Although it was not his first time, it still felt a little painful because his speed was a little slow. Tao Yuan waited for a long time before he finally entered completely.
Xiao Junye hugged Tao Yuan tightly, kissed his mouth and face, and began to move quickly.
Tao Yuan cried out, and that suppressed yet enjoyable sound encouraged Xiao Junye. He gradually lost control of his movements and moved even faster.
Such a wonderful enjoyment, their bodies were so compatible, this feeling made Xiao Junye understand why some people were so addicted to beauty and desire. And the most beautiful person was in his arms at this moment, and he was in the most beautiful body, enjoying the most wonderful feeling in the world.
Although Xiao Junye was poisoned, he was still very strong, and due to his martial arts training, he was also very strong. Tao Yuan's body could not withstand Xiao Junye's endurance, and he gradually became exhausted and fell asleep.
Ye Rong sat by the bed for more than two hours, but Xiao Junye still didn't show up. He became more and more impatient and kept pacing back and forth in the bedroom.
The palace maids all stood with their heads down, not daring to persuade him to go to bed first, because if they did so, it would mean that the emperor would not come, and they were afraid of angering him and making him angry.
When the sky outside the window gradually brightened and the emperor still didn't come to him, Ye Rong sat back on the bed. He was lost in thought. He had failed. He had tried so hard to win the emperor's favor and failed. He had even used the power of his family, but the emperor still didn't come to him. Why did this happen?
………………………………………………
Xiao Junye woke up at dawn, ready to practice martial arts. This was a habit he had maintained for years, waking up at this exact time every day. To minimize the effects of the poison and to live longer, he practiced martial arts daily to strengthen his body and prevent it from being worn down by the poison.
Xiao Junye had already put on his clothes. Seeing Tao Yuan half-open his eyes but still looking dazed, he sat down beside the bed and said to him, "It's still early, you should sleep a little longer."
"Hmm..." Tao Yuan was really sleepy. He nodded, closed his eyes, and soon fell asleep again.
Xiao Junye touched his face, knowing he was exhausted last night. He hadn't expected himself to lose control so much. He had thought he'd married a gentle and virtuous queen, and while that satisfied him, no one else could truly enter his heart. But the person before him had already pushed open the tightly closed door in his heart. Now, standing outside the door, he was about to enter his heart.
A dozen palace maids came in carrying toiletries, and Xiao Junye washed and changed his clothes with their help.
Tao Yuan slept for more than half an hour. Although he was still a little sleepy and didn't want to get up, he had to get up because he had to pay his respects to the empress dowager.
After practicing martial arts, Xiao Junye returned to his bedroom. Since there was no early morning court today, he would go with Tao Yuan to pay his respects to the empress dowager.
After Xiao Junye entered, he saw Tao Yuan sitting on the bed in a daze, with a confused look on his face, which looked very cute.
Xiao Junye walked over to the bed and sat down, touched his face and said, "Are you awake?"
Tao Yuan didn't say anything, but threw himself into his arms and rubbed his face against his chest.
Xiao Junye was stunned for a moment, then looked down at him. He saw him rubbing against his arms like a beautiful and noble kitten, so cute that it made his heart beat faster.
He was a little stiff at first because of Tao Yuan's behavior, not knowing how to react, but after smelling the alluring fragrance on him, he couldn't help but raise his hands and hug him. He buried his face in Tao Yuan's neck, sniffing hard, inhaling the fragrance in his nose, making him feel comfortable all over.
Thinking about the fact that he hadn't had a headache since going to bed today, Xiao Junye knew that it must be because he had been smelling the fragrance on his body all night.
The muscles on Xiao Junye's chest were very hard. Tao Yuan rubbed them and finally became much more sober, then looked up at him.
Xiao Junye met his eyes, and his clear and charming gaze melted her heart, and she couldn't help but feel hot. Although she had a childish face when she first entered the palace, after this period of serving the emperor, the corners of her eyes had become even more charming.
There was no time to waste in paying respects to the Empress Dowager. After Tao Yuan woke up, he got out of bed, washed and changed his clothes, and then went to Jingshou Palace with Xiao Junye.
The concubines who came to pay their respects to the Queen Mother immediately knelt down and saluted when they saw Xiao Junye and Tao Yuan coming over. "Greetings to Your Majesty, and to the Queen."
"Stand up." Xiao Junye said to them.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After everyone stood up, Ye Rong looked up at Xiao Junye with tears of grievance in his eyes. Coupled with his stunning face and the charm exuded by his protagonist's halo, it was hard not to be moved.
Unfortunately, Xiao Junye walked in without looking at him. However, when Tao Yuan passed by him, he gave him a quick look with a provocative look.
Ye Rong clenched his fists tightly, then quickly quickened his pace to catch up. He thought to himself, what are you so proud of? This battle for favor has just begun. The more proud you are now, the more miserable you will cry later.
After everyone went in to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager, Tao Yuan and Ye Rong received a lot of rewards from the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager had something to say to the Emperor alone, so she quickly let them leave today.
Tao Yuan was more than happy to leave Jingshou Palace early, because he was really tired last night. He could just go back and take a nap before getting up for breakfast.
"Did the emperor go to Fenghua Palace last night?" In fact, the empress dowager already knew about this matter when she woke up in the morning, and this was exactly what she wanted to talk to the emperor about.
"Yes." Xiao Junye put down his teacup and said, "I know what your mother is going to say. As the emperor, if I can't even make my own decisions about visiting the harem, then they will probably think that I am an emperor who can be manipulated by them."
"Your Majesty certainly doesn't need me to say more about the affairs of the court. But there are some things I still want to remind Your Majesty that the Ye family is loyal to Your Majesty, and Your Majesty must not disappoint the loyal ministers." said the Queen Mother
"Although I need the Ye family now and know they are loyal to me, I must let them know that it is one thing for me to favor Ye Rong willingly, but it is another to be forced to do so by them. If I give in to them every time and let them get carried away, they will soon become even more aggressive."
The Queen Mother said, "Your Majesty must naturally maintain his dignity in front of his subjects, letting them know that His Majesty cannot be offended. However, Your Majesty has only just ascended the throne, so he must exercise moderation."
"Don't worry, mother. I know what I'm doing." Xiao Junye said.
The Queen Mother nodded.
In reality, the Queen Mother's words weren't meant to disapprove of the Emperor's visit to Fenghua Palace last night. It was simply that she had recently noticed that the Emperor seemed to favor Tao Yuan over Ye Rong. While this was completely unexpected, the Emperor's decision about who he favored was entirely up to him, and the situation at court determined who he treated well. So, she simply wanted to remind him not to be overly partial to one side before he had firmly established his position on the throne. If the Emperor had gone to Ye Rong's place last night, she would have also reminded him not to neglect Fenghua Palace so much at this time.
So, being an emperor is not easy. In the harem, he can sleep with whoever he wants, but he cannot choose not to sleep with someone he doesn't want to.
Tao Yuan could naturally help detoxify Xiao Junye, but the fact that he was poisoned was kept secret, and only the Queen Mother, Xiao Junye, and some of his confidants knew about it. Furthermore, the poison he had was not something that could be diagnosed by taking his pulse. If Tao Yuan suddenly offered to help detoxify him, he would definitely be confused as to how he knew.
Although Tao Yuan could also secretly help him detoxify, if Xiao Junye got better for no apparent reason, he would definitely be suspicious, and Tao Yuan would definitely be the main suspect.
And most importantly, Tao Yuanke didn't have the habit of doing good deeds without leaving his name. Even his lover had to know that it was he who cured him. So helping Xiao Junye detoxify would have to be put on hold for the time being, until the most appropriate time.
Although Xiao Junye wanted to establish his authority, as the Queen Mother said, he had to be flexible, that is, after giving a slap in the face, he had to give a candy as well.
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