The emperor's illness has not improved, and this year's Lantern Festival was also quiet and deserted.

Scholars traveling to the capital for the imperial examinations began a new round of spreading rumors in Sheng'an.

Huan Yue remained firmly seated in the Qing'e Palace, and during the day he even had to attend to his sick relative at the Ganlu Hall.

The weather is warm today, and the sage looks even better; he should live at least another fifty years.

Little Xie Tan was so happy hugging his own feet; the joy of having a grandfather is something most people can't understand.

Xie Yi watched his younger brother from the side. Reading to him and coaxing him were of little use; the younger brother was happy on his own.

I've never seen anyone so happy these days. With his eldest and youngest grandsons by his side, his illness has disappeared.

Huan Yue also thought his precious son was quite eccentric, proud of being born into the royal family.

"Waaah, the little one is calling for Mommy, she's hungry."

Huan Yue saw that he was finally crying out for food. He would eat a lot every day as long as he was fussy, and fortunately, there was enough breast milk.

Huan Yue also had a big appetite; he would feed his son as long as he was willing, and the boy grew up strong and healthy.

These days, I play with my eldest grandson, while my second grandson is a bit silly.

Little Xie Yi sat in his grandfather's lap.

Today, I asked him, "What should we do with those scholars?"

Xie Yi blinked.

Today, people look at their precious grandchildren. In reality, scholars and such are not much different from petty people; they become disrespectful when you get close to them, and resentful when you keep your distance. What do they think scholars are? There aren't many truly learned people.

Those who can truly cause trouble with fallacies are similar to the Zhou family in Yanling Village, except they are less educated.

Therefore, there's no need to completely idolize these things. It's time to give him a good thrashing.

Many scoundrels will behave after a beating.

How many scholars are there? Send an army of 100,000 to cut them down until the blood flows like a river, and see if they behave themselves.

Those with real backbone are admirable, but those spineless cowards are people I don't want to use at all.

Huan Yue came over.

Just then, a palace attendant came to report: "Madam Yan requests an audience."

The questioner asked, "What about the mother of the Prince of Dongping?"

The eunuch added, "The Prince of Dongping is a very filial son, serving his birth mother as if she were a concubine. The Princess Consort of Dongping always treats the Lady of Yan with utmost deference."

Huan Yue said, "If he is so filial, why doesn't he become a prince? Even if he praises his birth mother to the heavens, no one will care."

That woman being granted the title of a third-rank lady was already a great honor for the Prince of Dongping. For him to go any further, like a concubine, would be utterly disrespectful. Previously, the Prince of Dongping was more low-key, so it was tolerable.

Now that this woman has lived a few more years, she dares to come out and cause trouble?

She wasn't even a proper concubine. And she wasn't innocent either.

Huan Yue said, "It's a great blessing that she's still alive. Does she perhaps want to become the Empress Dowager?"

The eunuch thought to himself, "It's hard to say."

Huan Yue said, "Doing one's best is called filial piety. Doing what one cannot do is not called filial piety."

The father-in-law thought to himself, "His mother wants to be the Empress Dowager. Xie Huang's behavior isn't filial piety; it's courting death."

Today, someone said to Qing'e, "Tell her to go back to cultivate Taoism."

Huan Yue said, "It's impossible to reason with that old scoundrel."

The father-in-law remained silent.

A palace attendant rushed in and reported, "Her Majesty the Virtuous Consort has suddenly fallen ill."

He has no feelings for Consort Xian now.

Huan Yue didn't want to be too eager, so he asked, "What happened?"

The eunuch reported, "Consort Xing said she had noticed something before, but the Virtuous Consort said it was nothing; now she seems unable to hold on, as if she is shielding His Majesty from disaster."

The world has changed!

Huan Yue was also shocked. Although Consort Shen didn't seem likely to live long, few people would choose to die if they could live.

The current situation is stable: "Xuan Dalang".

The eunuch must go quickly.

Huan Yue then dared to say, "Seventh Princess..."

Jin Dian nodded: "Should we let Xing Jieyu recover first?"

Huan Yue nodded: "If she is willing, she can keep Princess Tai Ning company."

The eunuch went to the inner palace again. Consort Huan is kind-hearted. If Consort Shen were to have any problems, it would definitely affect the child. Although Consort Xing would likely take care of the child, the imperial decree makes it legitimate and also legitimizes the child's status.

Huan Yue added, "My sister-in-law is about to give birth, so we need to be extra careful."

The emperor then issued another decree: "Do not disturb the Wen family."

To put it bluntly, Wen Miao's status was different from that of Consort Shen. Consort Shen was originally an insignificant concubine, while Wen Miao came from the Wen family and was the first wife of the eldest prince.

The truth is, a woman's first pregnancy is not easy. And when her mother-in-law falls ill, she can't ignore it. But if there were an imperial decree, she could ignore it.

Besides, there are people in the palace to serve you.

It is inconvenient to go now, and Huan Yue does not need to go.

Xie Zhou came to visit his father, the Emperor, and then went to see his stepmother on his behalf, which was a great honor.

Xie Jian rushed over.

The emperor patted him on the shoulder and said, "Take good care of your mother. If anything happens, tell me."

After thanking the emperor for his kindness, she hurriedly went to Huanbi Palace.

At this moment, Huanbi Palace looks quite nice.

Adjacent to Taiye Pond, the spring breeze blows, and it seems to be favored and very orderly.

Consort Zhu was in charge of the affairs.

Xing Jieyu has already taken the seventh princess away.

Xie Zhou had seen Consort Shen.

Although she didn't live long in her previous life and died quietly, it's still quite remarkable that she has this courage now.

There are many women in the palace, but not many of them are willing to die for the emperor.

Xie Jian knelt in front of the bed and saw that his mother's hair had turned completely white and her complexion was extremely poor, but she remained calm.

Xie Jian couldn't hold back her tears and they started flowing.

Consort Shen was displeased: "You're all grown up now. You're going to be a father. You're the eldest."

Xie Jian cried, "It's because my son is useless."

Princess Shen Xianfei said, "I'm useless. How can you be useless when you are the queen of the Xie family?"

He was panting as he spoke.

Xie Jian became increasingly distressed.

Xie Zhou advised from the side, "Your Highness, don't be anxious."

Consort Shen, having recovered, spoke with rare boldness to His Highness: "I am incompetent. I relied on Empress Mingde before, and now I rely on Consort Huan. With Your Highness and Consort Huan, I have nothing to worry about. This is just a thought I had for a moment, and it's hard to explain. If I can truly help Your Majesty in any way, I will be satisfied. After all, Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and not just anyone can help you."

Xie Zhou knelt down: "I never expected this, I am ashamed. Your Highness, please accept my bow."

Consort Shen hurriedly exclaimed, "No!"

Seeing his mother's anxiety, Xie Jian watched as His Highness finished bowing again.

Consort Shen could only weep: "If it weren't for Empress Mingde, my son and I would have died long ago."

An official reminded her from the side, "Your Highness, please speak freely about what you are thinking."

Consort Shen cried, "I am fine. I only ask that Prince Peng and his wife live in harmony and happiness. I have no other wish."

Xie Jian knelt down.

Consort Shen stopped crying: "I am happy. I couldn't be happier."

Zhu watched from the side.

Consort Shen looked at her and said, "I really don't have any wishes. With His Majesty, His Highness, and Consort Huan, I don't need to think about anything."

Zhu and she had no feelings for each other, but now she felt a pang of regret.

His Majesty, His Highness, Consort Huan, and even the eldest grandson of the Emperor are all trustworthy.

Madam Zhu probably doesn't have any real concerns about the Zhu family; if she did, it wouldn't be her problem to solve.

Therefore, Zhu made a vow in her heart: she was willing to shield the sage from calamity.

Only when the sage is good will the Great Zhao be good, her son will be good, and the Zhu family will be good.

Even if Zhu thought that way, there was nothing wrong with it. As long as it could ward off disaster, she had nothing to be reluctant about.

Consort Shen glanced at her and slowly closed her eyes.

He hasn't died yet, but he won't last much longer.