After hearing the summons, Hong Yingrong calmed herself down and walked into the side hall.
Her eyes fell on Li Longze at the first moment. Seeing that although his face was still pale, he had regained consciousness, she couldn't help but feel relieved.
So he slowly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, are you feeling better?"
Li Longze nodded slightly. Although his voice was still a little weak, he had regained his usual composure. "I'm fine. I'm sorry to have caused you, Madam, to worry."
"It is a blessing for the Great Zhou that Your Majesty is in good health." Hong Yingrong responded respectfully.
At this time, Empress Dowager Lu Fengqing also spoke: "Now that the emperor has woken up, it's time to make a decision."
As she spoke, her eyes swept over Chen Jin intentionally or unintentionally, as if reminding him that he was also involved in what was going to happen next.
Li Longze turned his neck slightly, sideways, and his eyes slowly fell on Hong Yingrong.
Although Hong Yingrong remained calm on the surface, her heart was in turmoil and she was filled with anxiety about the questions the emperor was about to ask.
"Old Madam," Li Longze said, his voice slightly weak, "Regarding Lady Liu and her unborn child, how do you think we should properly handle this?"
When Hong Yingrong heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. She did not expect that the emperor would ask about such a sensitive palace private matter, and even involved the unborn royal heir.
Earlier outside the palace, Li Longze had stated that he would wait until Concubine Liu gave birth before making a decision, but now he asked for her opinion, which made her feel very embarrassed.
"Your Majesty," Hong Yingrong responded cautiously, "All matters concerning the harem should be jointly discussed and decided by Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager. I dare not make any rash comments."
Li Longze shook his head slightly, a bitter smile spreading across his face. "Old Madam, I just want to know your opinion right now. It doesn't involve the overall political situation, but only the most appropriate way to deal with them."
At this moment, Empress Dowager Lu Fengqing interrupted coldly, "Emperor! You must not show favoritism in this matter! In my opinion, it is best to kill the mother and keep the son. After the royal heir is born, he will be raised by other concubines." Her tone was firm and decisive, and it was obvious that she had a clear view on the matter.
Hong Yingrong nodded slightly and said only one sentence, "Mother and child are connected by heart!" Then she fell silent.
Li Longze's eyes flushed slightly. He closed them gently, as if trying to calm his inner reluctance. Then he called out in a deep voice, "Chen Jin!"
"I'm here!" Chen Jin responded immediately, his figure appearing particularly firm under the dim palace lanterns.
"I will leave all matters outside the palace to you. Tomorrow, court will be suspended for one day. All memorials from the six ministries must be sent to the Imperial Household Department for review. No mistakes must be made."
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. I will do my best to live up to your trust!" Chen Jin said solemnly.
Li Longze nodded slightly, then turned to Hong Yingrong and said, "The student who was staying at the Marquis' Mansion is allowed to commit suicide. The merits and demerits of the Xingyuan Marquis' Mansion will be offset, and bygones will be forgiven."
Upon hearing this, Hong Yingrong immediately kowtowed in thanks, her voice trembling slightly as she said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. The entire Marquisate is deeply grateful."
Li Longze waved his hand, signaling her to stand up.
Then he took a deep breath and said slowly, "My Queen Mother is tired after half a day. Let's go back to the palace and rest... The old lady can leave the palace early tomorrow morning."
After hearing what the emperor said, Empress Dowager Lu Fengqing looked at him deeply with a complicated look in her eyes.
But she didn't say much, she just slowly stood up and left the side hall with the help of the palace maid.
The departure of the Empress Dowager slightly relaxed the atmosphere in the side hall.
Hong Yingrong also stood up and saluted Li Longze again, "Your Majesty, I will take my leave first."
"Go, old lady." Li Longze waved his hand, with a bit of fatigue on his face.
As the night deepened, the lights in the side hall gradually dimmed. Behind the curtains of the dragon bed, Li Longze was half asleep and half awake.
"Mother and child are connected by heart." These four words, like a spell, kept echoing in his heart, evoking the thoughts suppressed in his mind.
He remembered that his father's concubine Li was of humble origin and died in childbirth after giving birth to the emperor's eldest brother. As the eldest son, the emperor's eldest brother had never enjoyed the honor and love he deserved.
On the contrary, he was in the deep palace, suffering from cold eyes and indifference, and even when he was about to leave the palace and move to a new residence, he lost his life to a smallpox.
There was also Lady Wenying, who was the most favored concubine in the harem at the time. Her father had bestowed her with a special title, and everyone thought that she would replace the late queen.
As fate would have it, Bai Ling was sentenced to death due to a witchcraft scandal. The princes and princesses she left behind were initially loved by their father, but as time passed, his love gradually faded away.
People's hearts will change!
Li Longze sees it more clearly than anyone else, and so does he!
It was not until the appearance of Concubine Mei that the entire harem and the former dynasty truly understood the meaning of the emperor's favor.
"The Emperor of Han was obsessed with beauty and wanted to conquer the whole country, but he could not get it after ruling the country for many years."
The entire court was watching with awe, princes were trying to purge the emperor's court one after another, and wars were raging, but none of these could shake the emperor's love for Concubine Mei in the slightest.
He even wanted to bypass all the other princes and make the child born to Concubine Mei the crown prince!
However, a sudden fire reduced Concubine Mei, her son, and the palace carefully built for them to ashes.
At that moment, my father fell into complete madness.
Everyone speculated that the late queen was jealous and hateful, so she killed him, but Li Longze always felt that there was a more complicated truth behind it, and it might be inextricably linked to his mother, Queen Lu Fengqing, who had always kept her secret.
The fate of Liu Cairen is already clear, and the fate of the child she gave birth to within the deep palace walls is not difficult to imagine.
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