Harem Daily Life

Chapter 1001 A Clever Mind

Yu Nuo took a bite of the candied hawthorn and chewed it.

"Can Mother get up early?" Yu Nuo tilted her head and asked cutely.

Tao Yanyan coughed lightly: "To be with Nuo'er, Mother... is willing."

At worst, I can make a deal with He Linzhang for a while and tell him to behave himself at night.

"Alright then, but once something starts, it can't be abandoned halfway. If Mother breaks her promise, she will be fined."

Tao Yanyan chuckled and nodded, "I know, you little rascal, you never miss out on anything."

He Yinuo said coquettishly, "It's all thanks to Mother Empress for giving me such a clever brain." As she spoke, she handed a piece of braised duck gizzard to Tao Yanyan. The mother and daughter chewed and chewed, looking like two guinea pigs, one thin and one round, with their cheeks bulging.

The next morning, Tao Yanyan was woken up by Xianglan. She looked at the sky outside in a daze and looked sad. However, since she had promised the child that she would accompany her to exercise, she could not stand her up. Tao Yanyan got out of bed, dressed, washed up quickly, tied her hair into a simple bun, and then left Chang Le Palace with Yu Nuo.

The two didn't do any strenuous exercise like running; they just walked briskly. When they arrived at the Imperial Garden, they practiced boxing with Shuang'er for a while. After completing a set of movements, both mother and daughter were sweating.

Seeing that the two were already exhausted after only practicing for a short time, Shuang'er encouraged them, saying, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, the Fifth Prince, and the Sixth Prince are practicing martial arts ahead. Would you like to go and practice with them?"

Tao Yanyan was too exhausted to move. She quickly waved her hand and said, "No, no, exercise should be done gradually. Let's go back now."

He Yinuo also waved her hands in a blur: "Aunt Shuang'er, another day, another day. Aunt Caiyun is almost ready for breakfast, let's hurry back, it's hot and delicious."

The mother and daughter walked back hand in hand, afraid that if they were a step too slow, Shuang'er would catch them and make them go back to continue practicing.

Shuang'er watched the mother and daughter hurrying away and her lips twitched: I'm not a ghost, why are you running so fast?

He Yinuo was alright; children are naturally active. Tao Yanyan, on the other hand, usually sleeps until she naturally wakes up and only does yoga stretching. She hasn't done any strenuous aerobic exercise. When she woke up the next day, she found that her whole body was sore.

However, thinking of her promise to her child, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and persevere, and took He Yinuo to exercise in the morning again.

After five or six days of morning exercises, the other concubines in the palace were also eager to join in.

Tao Yanyan never expected that this would spark a trend of morning exercise in the palace. In the past, the concubines in each palace paid great attention to their demeanor and would not easily practice boxing or kicking. Now, seeing the Empress practicing boxing in the Imperial Garden, everyone followed suit and practiced as well.

Shuang'er suddenly became the head instructor of all the concubines in the harem.

He Min also brought Consort Xian with her that day. Consort Xian's face was flushed, and she was a little embarrassed when she saw Tao Yanyan. At first, she stood aside and did not join the exercise team. In the end, she was dragged out by several concubines, and only then did she dare to stretch her arms and bend her waist.

"Mother, look, doesn't moving around make you feel much more energetic?" He Min smiled, the sixteen-year-old girl shining like a warm little sun in the morning light.

Consort Xian wiped the sweat from her forehead, glanced at Tao Yanyan, and said apologetically, "It's good, but the boxing style feels too vigorous and not suitable for someone my age."

Consort Xian is almost thirty-seven years old this year, five years older than Tao Yanyan. However, because she has been assisting in palace affairs for many years and has too many things to worry about, and does not receive the emperor's favor, she looks about eight or nine years older than Tao Yanyan.

Tao Yanyan thought about it and realized that the square dancing of later generations seemed more suitable for these noblewomen who already had some dance background.

So she said, “What Consort Xian said makes sense. You always hold back when you’re boxing. How about this, starting tomorrow, we’ll switch to group dancing and do a few simple movements to stretch and exercise.”

That very day, she summoned the people from the Music Bureau and taught them a few simple movements from later generations, asking them to choreograph a dance that would be more in line with the times.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will perform the dance for you right away. I guarantee the movements will be easy to do and graceful."

The people from the music troupe started dancing soon afterward, and it was indeed a level above Tao Yanyan's square dance, and also simple and easy to learn.

Tao Yanyan clapped her hands and said, "We need to find a tune to go with it. Let's find a cheerful one, and I'll sing it for you."

The people in the music bureau were already used to it. The Empress played the pipa well and was proficient in music theory, but she couldn't read the sheet music. So as soon as the Empress finished speaking, someone took out paper and pen and began to record it.

Listen carefully.

The vast horizon is my love, flowers are blooming at the foot of the rolling green hills, what rhythm is the most swaying? What kind of song is the most joyful? ..."

As the piece ended, the musicians at the music bureau jotted down notes with lightning speed, their expressions filled with excitement. After finishing, they tried singing it once and exclaimed in admiration: "The melody is catchy and easy to learn, but the lyrics... aren't they a bit too explicit?"

What love? What dedication to keeping you here? Can this really come out of the Empress's mouth? It's too passionate!

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "This song is about hospitality, so there's no need to frame it as a romantic relationship. It's fine, just sing it like this. Come early tomorrow morning. You don't need many instruments, just one or two will do."

Hearing that the Empress would lead everyone in a group dance to exercise in the morning, the concubines who hadn't joined the palace exercise group before showed up the next day. Everyone automatically lined up and squeezed into the crowd to dance with the Empress.

When the music began and the musician started singing, everyone was startled. Firstly, they had never heard such a catchy, cheerful, and straightforward tune before; secondly, wasn't it a bit too explicit?

All the concubines were noble ladies raised in seclusion in wealthy families. They were always dignified in their walking and speaking. Even when they learned dance, they had the graceful and elegant posture of Chinese style. So when they suddenly did these simple but somewhat large movements, they were still a little timid and hesitant.

However, the Empress and the Fifth Princess were dancing enthusiastically in front, and the Noble Consort Xian was also pulled up by the Third Princess to dance. The other lively concubines also joined in, their faces flushed, whether from the heat of dancing or the lyrics, it was hard to tell. Those concubines who were still somewhat hesitant simply went for it and started moving to the rhythm.

Breaking the rules can be quite exciting sometimes.

After being bound for so long, this sudden change of pace, I must say, gave me a taste of freedom.

After several rounds of dancing, these ladies, who already had a dance background, were all moving with ease and grace, shedding their shyness. They were all covered in a thin layer of sweat and had smiles on their faces.

Tao Yanyan was also happy, hahaha, finally she wasn't the only one with sore legs and back; all the sisters were together, even if it hurt, they would be together.