Chapter 126 Naturally, it is my daughter.

Chu Yi, puzzled, moved closer and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Your Majesty, you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Jinlan raised her hand and slapped him.

When Song Lincheng and the others arrived at the palace gate, the female eunuch at the gate was about to announce their arrival when she heard a crisp snap from inside. She immediately swallowed back the words she was about to say.

Everyone stopped in their tracks, holding their breath and remaining silent, frozen in place like statues.

Lu Jinlan's skill deepened day by day, and her strength grew heavier and heavier. With a casual slap, Chu Yi's head buzzed, and his face burned with pain.

He quickly covered his face and knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Your subject knows he was wrong."

Lu Jinlan frowned and said, "Who do you think you are? How dare you speak so presumptuously about the Emperor's Consort! Although your cousin is straightforward, she knows her limits. Although your mother is dull-witted, she knows when to advance and retreat. Your Chu family is a prestigious clan, how did you raise such a frivolous and unruly fool like you?"

Chu Yi pleaded in a panic, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Please have mercy and give me a chance to reform myself."

Lu Jinlan shook his head, "I have already given you a chance. You offended Imperial Nobleman Lu last time, and I ignored you for a few days. I thought you would reflect on your actions, but I didn't expect you to become even more outrageous."

"No matter what the Imperial Attendant has done, his rank is above yours. He shares the same surname as me, Lu, yet you dare to disregard rank and cause him trouble."

Lu Qilang stood behind the Emperor's Consort, and his eyes instantly reddened upon hearing these words.

Then Lu Jinlan said, "The Emperor's Consort has always been virtuous, kind, and magnanimous, tolerating you in every way. Not only are you ungrateful, but you also dare to speak ill of him in front of me. The Emperor's Consort is only twenty-five years old, and you say he is old and faded. But he is only one year older than me. Are you also mocking me?"

Chu Yi trembled with fear, "Your Majesty has misunderstood! You are young and full of vigor, I had no such intention!"

Lu Jinlan lowered her dark eyes, looking down at his trembling, disheveled state. She hooked his chin with her index finger and said coldly, "You are so proud and obsessed with the age of eighteen. I will make you stay eighteen forever for the rest of your life. How about that?"

Chu Yi shook his head repeatedly, tears welling in his eyes, "Your Majesty, please spare my life, I truly know I was wrong..."

Hot tears fell onto Lu Jinlan's hand. She wiped them with a cloth and said coldly, "If it weren't for your cousin's sake, I would have had you dragged out long ago. Go to the Cold Palace and reflect on your actions. When you've learned your lesson, you can come out to see me again."

Lu Jinlan glanced at the Grand Eunuch, his expression resolute, "Issue my decree: Consort Chu has failed in her husbandly virtues, her words and actions have been unrestrained, she has been disrespectful to her superiors, and she has repeatedly refused to change her ways despite repeated admonitions. Effective immediately, she is demoted to the rank of Yingzi and moved to the Cold Palace, where she is not to leave without an imperial edict."

Chu Yi closed his eyes, tears streaming down his handsome face. He pressed his forehead to the cold ground, choking back sobs as he accepted the imperial decree, "Your subject... thanks Your Majesty for your great favor."

*

The news terrified the Chu family, and Chu Yishu and Chu Ling rushed to the palace to apologize.

Chu Yishu knelt before the emperor, both anxious and angry, and cried out, "My cousin has always been arrogant and shallow, relying on his outstanding appearance. I knew he would cause trouble sooner or later."

As Chu Yishu spoke, she complained to Chu Ling beside her, "I told you not to let him enter the palace, but you insisted that if he entered the palace he would be favored and serve the emperor well. What can he do? Look at the good things he has done."

Chu Ling was filled with regret at this moment, saying, "This old minister has failed in his duty to educate his son, and begs Your Majesty to punish me."

Lu Jinlan smiled and said, "My two ladies, there's no need to be nervous. You can't be blamed for his mistake. As the saying goes, one obeys one's mother at home and one's wife after marriage."

“He is already mine, and I have already disciplined him. He will not implicate you. If he can reform himself in the Cold Palace, I will consider releasing him.”

Upon hearing this, the two men's anxious hearts finally calmed down a bit, and they both said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

That evening, the Emperor's consort, Song Lincheng, instructed his maid, Qingshi, "Go and find out whose concubine the Emperor chose tonight."

Qing Shi said, "This servant just asked the Grand Eunuch, and the Emperor is still discussing state affairs with the Prime Minister and hasn't chosen a concubine yet."

Song Lincheng thought for a moment, "Bring me the sachet I made for the Emperor. I haven't finished embroidering it yet."

He was working under the lamp with needle and thread, when Qing Shi, holding up the lamp, advised, "It's so late, it'll strain your eyes. Why don't you do it tomorrow? The Emperor's things are all made with great care by the embroiderers of the Imperial Needlework Bureau, why bother doing it yourself?"

Song Lincheng smiled. "The needlework bureau's products are indeed exquisite, much better than my skills. But the Emperor said that everything I embroider is plump and adorable, like something a child would make, and she finds it amusing."

"She is now the emperor, and there are other things I cannot do well and dare not do. This sachet is a small item. She can carry it with her and play with it when she is not handling state affairs, which will also bring her some pleasure."

Qing Shi smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you truly love the Emperor. It is rare that the Emperor also cherishes you. Your loving relationship is a model for all the people under heaven."

These words struck a chord with Song Lincheng. He smiled and nodded, saying with emotion, "Actually, I know that the Emperor is an emperor with the world in her heart. She's just young and loves to play and have fun. Others may not understand her, but I do."

"All the men in her harem combined are no bigger than the eye of a pin in her heart."

"You can't blame her for that. Women are supposed to prioritize the affairs of the world. She's the emperor, so she can't be sentimental like a man. But we men are only meant for our wives and daughters. We're destined to revolve around our wives and daughters."

"I've been married to the Emperor for seven years. People say the seven-year itch is here, and by this time, we're practically an old married couple. Even the most stunning beauty fades with time. Sometimes I wonder if she likes me as much as she used to."

At this point, Song Lincheng couldn't help but chuckle, "I should thank Chu Yingzi. If he hadn't pulled this stunt, I wouldn't have known that the Emperor still cared about me so much. We are, after all, a young couple, and her treatment of me is ultimately different from that of others."

Qing Shi laughed and said, "This must be what people often say: 'Even in old age with white hair, there's no regret; it's rare to find a husband and wife who are still young.' Besides, Your Majesty is only twenty-five years old, still with bright eyes and white teeth, a beauty that surpasses all others. How could Your Majesty possibly tire of you?"

Before the words were finished, an announcement came from outside: "The Emperor has arrived!"

Song Lincheng hurriedly rose to greet the Emperor. Lu Jinlan took his hand and helped him up. Lincheng smiled and said, "I knew Your Majesty might be coming today, so I prepared many of your favorite dishes. Would Your Majesty like some?"

Lu Jinlan nodded.

That night, she naturally stayed at the Emperor's Palace.

During their bedtime chat, the topic of Chu Yi came up. Lu Jinlan said, "You should have kept an eye on him a long time ago. You were quite capable of managing the household back in the Prince's residence. How come you've become so hesitant and restrained now that you're the Emperor's consort?"

Song Lincheng said, "I originally wanted to teach him a lesson, but my father came that day and gave me a lot of advice. My mother specifically asked my father to tell me not to be too harsh on the people in the harem."

"After all, you have already made me the Imperial Consort and my mother the Imperial Mother-in-law. You have already shown great favor and treated our Song family very well. If I were to strictly control your new favorite, it would seem like I was jealous and reckless, relying on my family background. I'm afraid my mother would displease you."

Lu Jinlan said, "Mother-in-law, you're overthinking it. I wouldn't think that way. Besides, I know you; you're not a petty person."

Song Lincheng laughed and said, "Since you put it that way, I'll take care of it next time, so you won't be distracted by these trivial matters between men. Actually, I was just thinking that you were in the mood and I didn't want to punish him and spoil your fun."

Lu Jinlan closed her eyes. "It's just a passing fancy; I'll forget about it once I get over it. I don't like stupid people, and he's exceptionally stupid. Once he's favored, he becomes arrogant, wanting to trample everyone else underfoot. I prefer someone with a calmer, more composed temperament..."

As Lu Jinlan spoke, she suddenly remembered someone.

Do you still remember Qingxuan?

"I remember that male monk who grew up in a Buddhist temple. He could speak Buddhist doctrines even before he could, and he was once famous throughout the capital. The late emperor even sent him to enlighten you, and didn't you take him as your concubine?"

Lu Jinlan touched her nose. "I was just being silly back then, acting on impulse. He's incredibly stubborn, practically incorrigible, saying he'd keep an eye on me to the end. I was afraid he'd keep bothering me, so I wanted to get rid of him and scare him a little, which is how I got him pregnant."

Song Lincheng sat up in shock. "He got pregnant after just one time?"

Lu Jinlan nodded. "She should be pregnant."

According to the system notification, he not only became pregnant, but also gave birth to a daughter.

Lu Jinlan said, "I sent people to look for him before, but we couldn't find him. The temple said he left after returning home and has been missing ever since."

“If he had given birth to the child, the child would be four years old by then. When I ascended the throne and became emperor, the whole world would know, yet he didn’t come looking for me. This shows that he is not a person who covets wealth and power. But I don’t want him and the child to suffer outside, so I want to bring them into the palace.”

Song Lincheng hurriedly said, "It's only right. His status is awkward, and he probably didn't want to cause you any trouble, which is why he went to a distant place. But no matter what he thinks, the imperial heir must not be left to wander outside. It's not easy for a man to raise a child alone, so we should let him come into the palace to enjoy a peaceful life."

Lu Jinlan said, "That's what I think too. I'll have someone take care of it later."

*

The next day, Lu Jinlan summoned Guan Shanyue to the South Study.

"You have extensive connections among the common people, and I would like to ask you for a favor."

Guan Shanyue hurriedly replied, "All the glory in my life has been bestowed by Your Majesty. You may give me any orders, and I will do them without hesitation, even at the cost of my life."

Lu Jinlan smiled and said, "It's not that serious. I just want you to help me find two people."

Guan Shanyue said, "If His Majesty is looking for these two people, they must be of paramount importance. I wonder who they are?"

Lu Jinlan said, "One male monk and one child."

Guan Shanyue was taken aback. "Forgive my impertinence, but... what do these two have to do with Your Majesty?"

Lu Jinlan nodded. "This male monk is my man, so the child is naturally my daughter."

"ah……"

Guan Shanyue struggled to process the massive amount of information. Lu Jinlan then said, "Master Qingxuan was once very famous. You should still remember him. His daughter is about four years old."

"I suspect that Qingxuan is still a monk, perhaps doing things related to Buddhism. Just follow this line of thought and send people to search for him. Report back to me when you find him, and then we will make a decision."

Guan Shanyue thought to herself: This is the Emperor's private matter. She entrusted this private matter to me, which shows that I am more intimate with the Emperor than others.

She readily agreed, but before leaving, she remembered a small matter.

"Your Majesty, there is something I have been thinking about and would like to ask for your opinion on."

Lu Jinlan: "Tell me about it."

Guan Shanyue said, "The Royal Academy's autumn recruitment ended yesterday, and the list of selected students from various regions who have come to the capital to take the exam has been finalized. As you wished, the academy has doubled its enrollment this year, and the number of imperial family members in the capital has been reduced to ten. For the remaining candidates, regardless of whether they are from the capital or not, a unified national standard has been achieved."

"All candidates participated in both the civil and military examinations, with the Prime Minister and Dean Ling personally serving as examiners. The best candidates were selected based on their scores. This year, more than 500 students from various regions came to Beijing to participate in the selection process, and more than 270 were ultimately selected, the highest number ever."

"This matter was originally settled, but Governor Zhang of Mianzhou came to my residence this morning to plead for leniency. He said that among the scholars from Mianzhou who failed the examination, there was one named Xiang Ruwei, who is the Prime Minister's younger sister."

"She was only two points short because there were ink stains on her paper, which caused her to lose two extra points. Otherwise, she could have been selected as the last-place candidate. Therefore, she wanted the Ministry of Rites to issue a note to allow Xiang Ruwei to enroll in the Royal Academy."

After listening, Lu Jinlan pondered for a moment, "The governor of Mianzhou, Zhang Siyuan, was promoted by Ruzhen, just like your relationship with me. It is understandable that she pleads for her family out of gratitude for the Prime Minister's support."

"Even I sometimes cannot remain indifferent and impartial when faced with personal relationships, let alone Zhang Siyuan."

“Mianzhou is a remote place, and Ruwei started her education late, so it’s truly remarkable that she has reached this level. However, if she enrolls this year, we need to give the other candidates a reasonable explanation. Unless…”

Lu Jinlan thought for a moment, "How about this? Let's say that I heard about this matter and, in order to commend His Excellency the Prime Minister for his diligence in handling state affairs, I have specially granted permission for his sister to enroll as an auditor. Let her occupy a spot in the royal family so as not to affect the other candidates."

"Say the same thing to everyone, even when you see the Prime Minister. Don't mention pleading for Governor Mian, understand?"

Guan Shanyue asked in confusion, "There's nothing wrong with letting His Majesty know, isn't there? The Emperor's grace is boundless, how could she not be happy? Besides... besides, before I came, I had already written a memorial about this and submitted it to the Grand Secretariat, His Majesty should already know."

Lu Jinlan sighed, "It's late, so there's no need to trouble yourself."

Just as Guan Shanyue was about to ask more questions, Xiang Ruzhen strode in angrily.

As soon as Xiang Ruzhen stepped across the threshold and saw someone there, she quickly and smoothly turned around and went out. She loudly apologized outside the door, saying, "Your Majesty, I have important matters to discuss and have been impolite. Please forgive me."

In fact, whether Lu Jinlan became emperor or not, the three of them remained the same in private as before, and Lu Jinlan never used the "I am emperor" or "I am emperor" titles with them.

But Xiang Ruzhen said that one must be polite in front of outsiders, and she often reminded Yan Wuxin to be extra careful, so she would put on such a show from time to time.

Lu Jinlan coughed lightly, "Come in."

Guan Shanyue glanced at the memorial Xiang Ruzhen was holding and said to Lu Jinlan, "Your Majesty, have you heard that the Governor of Mianzhou pleaded with Minister Guan on behalf of my sister Xiang Ruwei?"

Lu Jinlan nodded. "I just heard about it."

Xiang Ruzhen hurriedly asked, "What does His Majesty think?"

Lu Jinlan looked worried about the country and its people, gazing into the distance, and said in a deep voice, "Upon hearing this, I immediately felt that this matter was absolutely unacceptable."

"Ah!" Guan Shanyue suddenly raised her head. "That's not what the Emperor just said!"

I...

Then I...

no……

Guan Shanyue sensed a pot flying towards her.