Chapter 518: Dilemma

"Erlang!" Empress Changsun called softly.

The husband took the map and left without saying a word. He was absent-minded and did not respond even after being called several times.

"Erlang!" Empress Changsun gently tugged at her husband's sleeve.

"Hmm?" The emperor came back to his senses and looked at the queen blankly. "What's the matter?"

"On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, it's the Lantern Festival. I want to hold one in the palace and invite the noble ladies from all the mansions to enjoy the lanterns. What do you think, Erlang?" asked Empress Changsun.

The emperor stared into the queen's eyes and knew what she meant.

The beautiful face of the girl from the Zheng family appeared in my mind. My heart was pounding yesterday, but now it felt dull.

In the eyes of men, conquering wars and becoming the world overlord are the joys of life, and women are just icing on the cake.

At this moment, his heart was filled with the vast territory on that land, and he had no interest in women at all.

Which of his concubines was not stunningly beautiful? Which of them was not gentle and charming? Which of them was not talented and sentimental?

If you see too much beauty, you will get aesthetic fatigue!

"Forget it! You are pregnant, just focus on taking care of the baby and there is no need to work so hard!" The emperor put his arm around the queen's waist and walked slowly.

Empress Changsun was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said gently, "Okay!"

She was the queen, in charge of the entire harem and taking care of her husband's concubines.

Most of these concubines were brought into the harem for political purposes, to win over the aristocratic families and balance the power of various parties in the court.

As a queen, she and her husband share a common interest and advance and retreat together.

She was virtuous and took the initiative to share her husband's worries, and comforted and treated the concubines well.

Instead of being jealous, trying to commit suicide, and questioning her husband, what about the promise of being together for life?

Yesterday her husband was so stunned and couldn't help himself, but today he stopped, which really surprised her.

Just because she's not jealous doesn't mean she likes her husband taking a concubine.

"As for Changle, please ask someone to prepare her dowry and we will propose marriage when she comes back from her trip." The emperor said in a gentle voice.

Changle is his most beloved eldest daughter, and he is reluctant to let her go even if she marries into the Changsun family.

Having promised Changsun Wuji to marry Changle, now he has an excuse to delay it.

"Okay!" Empress Changsun said meekly.

Changle's body was the same as hers, with some congenital deficiencies. Even though she was being treated by an imperial physician, she was still skinny.

"Gao Ming, Ke'er, Qingque and You'er are of similar age. We should consider arranging a tutor for them in their rooms." Empress Changsun said again.

In ancient times, princes began their sexual enlightenment at around the age of thirteen, with palace maids, female officials, wet nurses and others teaching them in real life.

The palace maids are practical models, giving the princes practice. After the action, they are still palace maids and cannot get pregnant.

But she no longer had to serve others, nor was she allowed to leave the palace. She had to spend the rest of her life in a special nursing home.

The female official is the one who instructs the prince when he is practicing, and will personally go into battle when necessary. She can get pregnant, and can even stay with the prince and get a position by virtue of the child.

"Well, just take care of the arrangements!" The emperor patted the queen's shoulder, which became even thinner.

Her health is worrying. If she leads the army in person, all the affairs in the palace will be on her shoulders!

Compared to ten years ago, she was young and energetic, able to accompany him in battles, take care of the harem, and maintain relationships with his father, brother, and sister-in-law.

In a blink of an eye, his wife's efforts were exhausted and her body was overdrawn, and a wrinkle appeared at the corner of her eyes.

"Erlang" Empress Zhangsun looked at her husband in confusion.

"Guanyin, what you said is very good. Let's do as you say!" The emperor said with a smile.

I didn't listen to what the queen said at all.

"But..." Empress Changsun was conflicted.

"But what?" The emperor was puzzled.

"I think it's such a pity! She has made great achievements in the court, but the harem is a cage for her." Empress Changsun looked regretful.

"The emperor looked confused, "Aunt Yin, what is there to be sorry about?"

"Erlang!" The Queen was speechless. "I'm talking about Master Xiao Su!"

"How is Su Ying involved with her?" The emperor regarded Su Ying as an important minister.

"Alas! Didn't the Lu family come to ask for Su Ying to be the second son of Lu's wife a few days ago?

The whole city was in an uproar, and everyone was laughing at her.

It's totally unjust that such an outstanding girl was treated badly by others.

I like this girl very much and think it would be better to pair her with Gao Ming.

But being a concubine means she can no longer participate in government affairs. Such a talented person is really in a dilemma... "

For the first time, Empress Changsun found it difficult to make a decision.

The emperor stopped and stroked his beard to think.

Although her family background is a little weak, Su Ying's talents are more than enough to make her a match for the Crown Prince. If she is not qualified to be the Crown Princess, she is good enough to be a Consort.

Concubines are not allowed to interfere in politics, this red line cannot be crossed!

If I really became the Crown Prince's Consort, she would no longer be able to make suggestions for me.

But if she continues to be a minister, she will have to marry someone sooner or later.

He is not at ease with whoever he marries! They can quickly form a gang wherever they are placed.

I didn't see that several of my sons were attracted by it.

"Let's put it there for now! It's time to put the more important things on the agenda! You should sort out the young ladies of marriageable age from the aristocratic families." The emperor arranged.

"Yes!" Empress Changsun understood that her husband wanted her eldest son to choose a Crown Princess from among the great families of Cui, Lu, and Wang.

The aristocratic families have been competing with their husbands to choose a big aristocratic family for the prince to marry into so that there will be fewer obstacles and stumbling blocks when he ascends the throne in the future.

However, if the new emperor is not powerful enough, then such a noble family, with the blessing of their status as relatives by marriage, will probably become the biggest constraint on the new emperor.

Empress Changsun prefers to marry Su Ying, whose family background is a little weak, but with Su Ying's understanding, she should not interfere in state affairs.

But it’s a pity to think that such a talent is included in the harem.

Oh! Forget it, I don’t want to think about it anymore. I’ll wait and see, maybe there will be a turning point.

"You should have a good rest! I have something to discuss in Liangyi Palace!" The emperor sent the queen back to Lizheng Palace.

In the Liangyi Hall, Fang Xiang and Hou Junji had been waiting for a long time.

Just as I was about to have dinner at home, someone from the palace came to summon me.

"Come and take a look!" The emperor unfolded the map.

"Where is this?" Hou Junji couldn't figure it out. It was not one of the maps he was used to seeing.

"World map!" Fang Xiang remembered what happened last night.

The “World Map” confused Hou Junji!

Is not our dynasty among the nations? What is the world?

"This is the territory of our dynasty!" The emperor pointed to the blue area in the picture.

"Hou Junji's eyes widened.

Point to other places in the picture and ask: "This is it, what about here and here?"

"This one is land, and this one is ocean!" The emperor pointed at the words above.

Hou Junji looked carefully for a long time and said, "Your Majesty, fight..."

"We could conquer such a vast territory even if we spent our entire lives conquering it! Even if we conquered it, we wouldn't be able to control it, and it would only waste our manpower and money!

I’m afraid that before we conquer the world, our dynasty will perish first!” The emperor sighed.

The previous dynasty launched three expeditions against Goguryeo and built the Grand Canal.

The excessive military spending, waste of resources and labor, and widespread complaints led to the death of the second emperor.

The previous car's fall serves as a lesson for the following cars, so we must be cautious! The emperor's hand knocked on the table again and again.

No wonder Su Ying strongly advocated the construction of large ships that could sail far, the development of firearms, and the development of military rations!