Chapter 565: Concubine De's Virtue

Then the minister who spoke knelt down.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to use my official position to guarantee that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is wrongly accused. Please investigate this matter."

Then a group of ministers knelt down.

"We, your Highness, are willing to guarantee with our official hats that you have been wrongly accused. Please, Your Majesty, investigate and reexamine the Crown Prince's case."

Ministers who supported the crown prince came forward one after another and requested a retrial of the case. For a moment, the atmosphere was tense and solemn.

Emperor Tianyuan looked at the nearly half of the ministers kneeling below. Did the prince actually have so many loyal ministers?

Jun Moyong was shocked when he saw so many ministers kneeling down to beg for mercy. The prince had already been imprisoned, but so many ministers risked their lives to plead for him, and even used their official hats as a guarantee. Sure enough, his cousin was right, the Hua family should not be underestimated. His eyes slowly swept over the ministers kneeling down to beg for mercy, and he retracted his expression calmly.

Prime Minister Yun looked at these ministers who were begging for mercy thoughtfully, but there was no surprise in his eyes.

"My lords, I am loyal to His Royal Highness, but as the crown prince, I must prioritize the interests of the people. As high-ranking officials of the court, you enjoy the support of the people of the world, and you should also consider the people's situation in everything you do. Local officials are the parents of the people. Whether the people live a happy life depends entirely on whether the officials are honest and fair.

If local officials were corrupt and accept bribes, disregarding the lives of the people, the people would inevitably suffer terribly. So, everyone present today, are your actions worthy of the people's support and the emperor's trust?

Then he bowed to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's corruption, bribery, and sale of official positions are irrefutable. The Emperor is guilty of the same crime as the common people. Your Majesty should give an explanation to the people of the world, instead of disregarding the bond between father and son and ignoring the suffering of the people of the world."

With Prime Minister Yun taking the lead, some ministers naturally felt that the prince should be punished, not to mention that officials who supported the second prince also followed suit.

"Your Majesty, I believe Prime Minister Yun's words make sense. Since the evidence is irrefutable, please order the punishment of the Crown Prince and the Hua family."

"Your Majesty, we second this motion. Your Highness the Crown Prince's actions are truly unworthy of his position..."

Emperor Tianyuan looked at the ministers in the Taiji Hall, some pleading for mercy, some pleading for punishment. He pondered for a moment, his eyes swept back and forth among the ministers, and finally spoke slowly.

"I know your loyalty is commendable, but this matter concerns the dignity of the state and cannot be taken lightly. Today's morning court session ends here. I will consider the Crown Prince's matter. As for the Hua family, I have ordered the Supreme Court Minister to continue the investigation and will certainly prove fair and just."

The other person glanced at Zhao Ping.

"Let's withdraw from the court."

Zhao Ping shouted hurriedly.

"Withdraw from the court..."

In the palace.

Even though Defei was given the power to assist in the management of the six palaces, she did not use her power to bully others. She just took care of the fetus in An Guiren's belly.

Every day, she accompanied Concubine An to have meals and take walks to digest her food. She did everything herself and even embroidered a bellyband and tiger hat for the baby in Concubine An's belly. When the emperor came to see Concubine An, she tactfully left.

That day, the emperor came to An Guiren.

Following the eunuch's announcement.

"The Emperor has arrived."

The two of them hurriedly stood up to greet him.

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."

Emperor Tianyuan spoke as he personally helped Concubine An to her feet.

"Get up quickly."

Then her eyes fell on the embroidery on the table.

"What are you two embroidering?"

Upon hearing this, Concubine De picked up the tiger hat.

"Your Majesty, I am currently embroidering a tiger hat for Ruxia's unborn child. Your Majesty, please take a look and see if my needlework skills have improved over the years."

Emperor Tianyuan took it and took a look.

"Yes, it's the same familiar stitching from back then. I remember you embroidered several tiger hats when you were pregnant with Yong."

Concubine An was quietly embroidering a bellyband for a child, watching the emperor talking to Concubine De without any jealousy.

Concubine De quickly turned her gaze to Noble Lady An.

"Your Majesty, please stop chatting with me and take a look at what Noble Lady An has embroidered. Her embroidery is truly exquisite, and it puts me to shame."

Upon hearing this, Lady An stopped sewing and spoke.

"Your Majesty, you think too highly of me. My embroidery skills are no match for yours."

Emperor Tianyuan's eyes fell on the embroidery in Concubine An's hand, and he stepped forward to take it and take a look.

"Well, the embroidery is indeed good."

At this time, Nanny He walked in and spoke respectfully.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Liu is here to check your pulse."

Upon hearing this, Concubine De smiled and spoke.

"Quickly let Doctor Liu in."

Then he looked at Emperor Tianyuan.

"It just so happens that Your Majesty is here today. Would you like to hear about the child's condition?"

Soon, Doctor Liu came in, bowed, and respectfully took Liang Ruxia's pulse.

Emperor Tianyuan spoke with some anticipation.

"How is it, Doctor Liu, how is Concubine An's health? How is the royal heir?"

Doctor Liu spoke respectfully after a moment.

"In reply to the emperor, Concubine An is in good health, and the heir in her belly is growing well. This shows that Concubine An is well cared for."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Tianyuan showed a relieved smile on his face and his eyes fell on Concubine De.

"Lady An's complexion is indeed rosy, which shows that you have taken good care of this baby. Thank you for your hard work, Concubine De."

Defei bowed slightly and spoke humbly.

"Everything I have done is for the peace of the Emperor and the harem. I only hope that the Emperor will have many children and grandchildren. I dare not take any credit for it."

Lady An spoke with a smile on her face.

"Your Majesty, I have been feeling a little unwell these days due to my pregnancy. Thanks to the care and concern of Concubine De, I couldn't eat, so Concubine De personally supervised the small kitchen to prepare dishes that suited my appetite, and even made cakes for me herself."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Tianyuan looked at Concubine De in surprise.

"You're still so hands-on."

Upon hearing this, Concubine De spoke gently.

"I have also given birth, so I naturally know the hardships of pregnancy for ten months. Therefore, I can now sympathize with Lady An's hard work. We are all serving the emperor, so I naturally have to take good care of her. Moreover, seeing the emperor happy makes me happy."

After Imperial Physician Liu left, Emperor Tianyuan stayed with Concubine An for a while, asked her about some daily matters, and then left reluctantly.

Walking out of the palace, Emperor Tianyuan seemed to be in a particularly relaxed mood, as if he had temporarily forgotten all the worries about state affairs in recent days.

"Zhao Ping."

Zhao Ping responded quickly.

"The servant is here."

Emperor Tianyuan spoke slowly.

"How has Consort De performed since she was given the power to assist in the management of the six palaces?"

Zhao Ping pondered for a moment after hearing this.

"Your Majesty, it seems that Concubine De asked the Imperial Household Department for some extra daily expenses. I heard that they were all used for Noble Lady An. She usually accompanies Noble Lady An. I heard from the palace servants that Concubine De attaches great importance to the child in Noble Lady An's belly. Even when Noble Lady An wants to take a walk in the Imperial Garden after dinner, Concubine De always accompanies her. She has not asked about other matters in the palace so far."