Harem Daily Life

Chapter 1052 I Don't Practice the System of Checks and Balances

He Linzhang and Tao Yanyan stayed at the Xia Kingdom's palace to discuss the marriages of their two children. Fortunately, both sides had already reached a consensus, and they finished their discussion in no time.

Midway through, He Linzhang was invited to the study by Kang Mowan to discuss other matters, while Tao Yanyan, accompanied by several children and the Empress of Xia, met with several of Xia's imperial concubines.

In the study, He Linzhang frowned slightly after hearing Kang Mowan's words: "Are you sure that the late emperor of Xia really fled to Yanzhou?"

Kang Mowan nodded, his expression grave: "It's all my fault for hesitating at the last minute. I didn't eliminate him completely. I thought I'd wait for him to surrender and then spare his life, or at worst, imprison him for life, which would be better than taking his life. But I never expected that this hesitation would allow him to escape with his men. The Second Prince's Consort was originally from the Yan Kingdom. After the fall of Yan, she fell out of favor. I never expected that at this crucial moment, she would become an accomplice, helping the late Emperor escape."

"The Second Prince has already died in battle, and his princess consort... does she have that kind of courage? Heh, she's quite something." He Linzhang said calmly, "Your people are being blocked. Besides the Second Prince's people, are there any other forces helping you?"

Kang Mowan hesitated for a moment before saying, “Indeed, there is. Otherwise, a disgraced Second Prince’s wife alone wouldn’t be enough to send someone away. However…” He looked at He Linzhang, “Yanzhou is a prefecture of the Great Zhou. I know that the Jing family is in charge of Yanzhou on behalf of Your Majesty. This Jing family… has Your Majesty’s son-in-law.”

He Linzhang glanced at Kang Mowan: "I have never thought of relying on marriage to maintain relationships, gain benefits and power, let alone engage in the system of checks and balances."

Kang Mowan immediately explained, "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. I do not believe this matter is related to Your Majesty. However, I wonder what Your Majesty's opinion is of the Jing family?"

If they didn't value them, they wouldn't have allowed them to govern the territory of a kingdom, nor would they have married a princess to them. But if they did value them, I heard that the Jing family was stripped of their title as kings of different surnames.

Kang Mowan couldn't figure out the details either.

He Linzhang's eyes darkened: "I will investigate this matter. If it is true that the Jing family is hiding the former emperor of Xia, I will personally tie him up and send him back to you."

Kang Mo was extremely grateful. He had just ascended the throne and had many things to do, so he was too busy to extend his reach to Yanzhou. It was more than enough that He Linzhang was willing to help.

After leaving the palace, He Linzhang immediately sent someone secretly to Yanzhou. The former emperor of the small Xia Kingdom was not a threat, but the fact that the Jing family dared to harbor the former emperor of the Xia Kingdom at this chaotic time was the most important thing.

Tao Yanyan started getting busy. He Yanran's wedding was approaching, and she was busy preparing her dowry and teaching her some household management skills.

He Yinuo finally felt a little better. Tao Yanyan was worried that she would get a fever and cough again, so she deliberately reduced her food intake. She was only allowed to eat at fixed times each day and no more.

Without food, He Yinuo was listless all day long, hiding in the Empress Dowager's arms and crying.

"Grandmother, Nuo'er is so hungry, I'm dizzy from hunger."

The Empress Dowager's lips twitched. She hadn't eaten a single one of the pastries that had just been taken away; they had all gone into He Yinuo's little belly.

Still hungry? No way!

He Xiaoqi, who was picking up some crumbs of snacks that He Yinuo had dropped and was preening her feathers, stopped when she heard this and jumped into the Empress Dowager's arms in three quick steps: "Grandmother, Xiaoqi is so hungry, I'm so hungry that I'm dizzy."

The tone, actions, and expressions were all perfectly imitated, leaving the Empress Dowager speechless.

"The acting is pretentious. He needs to work on it. It's an eyesore."

He Yinuo got out of her arms and stared at her in disbelief.

The Empress Dowager quickly reassured her, "I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about this bird. Its acting is terrible, it's not as natural as yours."

Look at this poor thing, with its round, rosy cheeks, it's so endearing.

He Yinuo pouted and snuggled back into the Empress Dowager's arms, sobbing.

He Xiaoqi was exasperated. She jumped back three steps, huffing and puffing, and went back to continue preening her feathers. She hadn't been eating much lately, and her belly had shrunk considerably, making her feathers dull and lifeless.

To avoid any unforeseen complications, He Yanran's wedding was scheduled for the nearest possible date, so as not to delay the Emperor and Empress of the Great Zhou's return to the capital. On the wedding day, 260 loads of dowry were carried out of the post station and sent in a grand procession to the First Prince's residence. He Yanran cried her heart out, and Tao Yanyan's eyes were also slightly red. After finally getting her into the bridal sedan chair, He Yinuo cried uncontrollably and refused to let go of He Yanran's hand no matter what she said.

In the end, Tao Yanyan used a roasted chicken to coax the people down, allowing the bridal sedan chair to set off smoothly.

"Look at you, what are you doing grabbing your cousin? You almost made us miss the auspicious time." Tao Yanyan flicked He Yinuo on the forehead, she was really annoyed by her daughter.

He Yinuo chewed on the roast chicken, saying, "It's not that... it's that I can't bear to part with my cousin. From now on, she'll be living in Xia Kingdom, which is far away from the capital. I'm afraid I'll never have the chance to see her again!"

As He Yinuo spoke, she felt like crying again. She looked at the chicken leg in her hand and silently held back her tears.

Tao Yanyan sighed softly: "If you miss her, you can write to her, or come to see her every year."

He Yinuo raised her eyes: "Can I still leave the palace?"

Tao Yanyan nodded: "Be a good girl and listen to me. If you have the chance, I will allow you to leave the palace."

He Yinuo leaned closer with a grin: "Then Mother Empress must accompany me. It's very dangerous for me to travel alone outside. It would be terrible if I were kidnapped."

Tao Yanyan looked at her figure and found it somewhat amusing: "Who would dare to take you away? Ordinary families can't afford to support you."

With such a small appetite, even if we take away their food, we won't be able to keep it.

He Yinuo took a big bite of the chicken leg: "I have money, I can support myself." Her little treasury has tens of thousands of taels of silver, making her a proper little rich girl.

The wedding was a grand affair, and Kang Mowan fulfilled his promise, allowing the eldest prince to marry He Yanran according to the regulations for a crown princess. The Xia Kingdom's court officials had also realized that this eldest prince was likely their future heir apparent, so everyone's ambitions were ignited. If they couldn't secure the position of principal wife, they would take a concubine; once the eldest prince ascended the throne, their path would be paved with easy access to the throne.

However, they wouldn't be so foolish as to force someone into their marriage so soon after the wedding, especially since the Emperor and Empress of Great Zhou were still in Xia Kingdom; they couldn't be in such a hurry. They would discuss it further after the Emperor and his entourage left.

Ten days after He Yanran's marriage, He Linzhang and his entourage set off. Kang Mowan personally escorted them to the city gate, his manner as if he were seeing off his own elder brother. The two monarchs were as close as family.

He Yanran watched the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager's carriages depart, remaining lost in thought for a long time.

Kang Pingzhi silently took her hand: "I'm here with you, don't be sad."

He Yanran smiled and affectionately squeezed his hand back. Recalling the token Empress Tao had given her a few days ago, her heart remained unsettled. She had thought she was the least noticed person in the world, but Empress Tao had arranged so much for her, even leaving her a troop of men.

These people remained in the Xia Kingdom as merchants, and could be used and commanded by her at her command. This was the confidence that Tao Yanyan had given her.