Chapter 136 You and I are both masters of this world
It is late spring and the weather is warm.
Concubine Jin and Choi So-won were walking on the palace road. They hadn't known when pear trees had been planted on both sides of the road. The white pear blossoms swayed in the breeze, and the fallen petals were floating on the stone slabs.
Seeing this, Concubine Jin snorted coldly, "Pear blossoms fade quickly, and we can only see them for two or three months each year. Your Majesty planted so many in the palace, after all, for people to admire and remember."
Cui Zhaoyuan smiled and said, "It is well known that His Majesty favors the Imperial Noble Consort. Now that Jiang has been deposed, I think it won't be long before the Imperial Noble Consort will rule the harem."
Concubine Jin was not convinced in her heart, but she had no choice but to let go of the fact that she had been demoted and no longer dared to cause trouble.
Cui Zhaoyuan glanced at her and said, "Sister, you just went to the prince's residence yesterday. Why are you going again today? Doesn't the eldest prince have to go to the study?"
Concubine Jin was originally going to the prince's residence to visit the eldest prince, but she met Cui Zhaoyuan on the way. When the eldest prince was still being raised by her, Cui Zhaoyuan also often came to visit him, so they traveled together.
"With the change of seasons these past two days, Cheng'er has been feeling a little unwell, so I let him rest for a few days."
Cui Zhaoyuan frowned slightly, motioning the palace servants behind her to keep a distance. Then, she lowered her voice and said, "Sister, you must not neglect the eldest prince's studies. I heard that His Majesty has allowed many boys from aristocratic families to enter the upper study. Among them, the Prince of Huaiyang has been summoned by His Majesty many times. It seems that he is more favored by His Majesty than the eldest prince, his own son."
Concubine Jin didn't know about this, but she knew that He Yanchen didn't like the eldest prince very much and might not remember to summon him for several months.
"My father told me that His Majesty might be planning to adopt a boy from the royal family as the crown prince."
"What?!" As soon as Cui Zhaoyuan finished speaking, Concubine Jin exclaimed.
She glanced behind her before whispering, "Your Majesty clearly already has a prince, so why would he adopt one from the royal family? And Your Majesty is still in his prime, so why worry about not having more princes?"
Cui Zhaoyuan sighed softly, "Sister, can't you see clearly? His Majesty intends for the Imperial Noble Consort to be the Empress, but you and Concubine Zheng have always been at odds with the Imperial Noble Consort. If the eldest prince becomes the crown prince, His Majesty will surely be worried that you will bully the Imperial Noble Consort in the future."
"Everyone knows the Imperial Concubine's origins. Most women from those places cannot conceive. Your Majesty is naturally paving the way for the Imperial Concubine."
Concubine Jin gritted her teeth when she heard this. His Majesty could actually do this for the Imperial Concubine.
As he was speaking, the prince arrived.
Concubine Jin's expression was not very pleasant, but Cui Zhaoyuan had already calmed down and said with a smile: "Sister, please don't say anything nonsense when you meet the eldest prince. Children are sensitive and will inevitably think too much after hearing it."
Concubine Jin hummed absentmindedly.
After entering the gate of the prince's residence and turning around the corridor, there is a courtyard. From a distance, Concubine Jin saw Concubine Zheng playing with the eldest prince.
The two of them slowed down.
In the courtyard, Concubine Zheng was playing chuiwan with the eldest prince. The eldest prince was a little tired from running, and his forehead was covered with sweat.
Concubine Jin frowned and called the eldest prince's name.
When the eldest prince heard the voice, he immediately dropped what he was holding and ran over: "Mother!"
Choi So-won noticed the stiffness on Concubine Zheng's face.
Concubine Jin squatted down and took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off the eldest prince's face. "Didn't you say you weren't feeling well? Why are you still playing outside?"
The eldest prince subconsciously glanced at Concubine Zheng. He was already five years old and knew the difference between a biological mother and an adoptive mother. Concubine Zheng was his biological mother, but he had been raised by Concubine Jin since he could remember. Concubine Jin was very good to him, and he liked her more.
But today, Mother Zheng asked to play with him, and he didn't want to spoil her fun, so he agreed.
The eldest prince hesitated for a moment, but still did not tell the reason, only saying that he was playful.
Concubine Jin glared at Concubine Zheng unkindly, then took the eldest prince's hand and said, "Look at you, you're sweating all over. Mother will accompany you to change clothes. Don't catch a cold."
After saying this, she didn't even look at Concubine Zheng, and directly took the eldest prince into the inner hall.
Concubine Zheng stood there awkwardly, and it was Cui Zhaoyuan who stepped forward to smooth things over: "Sister Zheng, please accompany me for a walk."
Along the way, Concubine Zheng was preoccupied. Cui Zhaoyuan curled the corners of her lips and said, "Sister Zheng, don't worry about the eldest prince. Concubine Jin has taken care of him for many years and has long regarded him as her own son."
Concubine Zheng forced a smile and said, "I dare not..."
"Speaking of which, the eldest prince is also lucky to have two mothers who plan for him." Cui Zhaoyuan smiled, "Don't be offended, sister. I know how hard it is for you not to raise the eldest prince yourself, but now that he is the only prince in the palace, having two mothers to help him is much better than others."
"In the final analysis, you and Concubine Jin both love your son dearly."
Concubine Zheng was slightly comforted. She sighed, "But Cheng'er is not favored by His Majesty..."
"Your Majesty was not favored by the late emperor either." Cui Zhaoyuan's eyes were calm. "It doesn't matter whether he likes you or not. After all, Your Majesty only has this one prince."
Concubine Zheng's family background was not prominent, and she didn't know anything about the study room or the direction of the previous dynasty. When she heard what Cui Zhaoyuan said, she subconsciously expressed her worries:
"Your Majesty is in his prime, and perhaps soon, he will have other princes."
"No matter how many princes there are, it cannot change the fact that the eldest prince is the eldest son."
Cui Zhaoyuan said with some dismay, "You and Concubine Jin clearly have the best cards, so why don't you fight for the Crown Prince?"
"Fight?"
Concubine Zheng's pace gradually slowed down. Cui Zhaoyuan knew from her expression that she was thinking something, so she said no more.
*
Linde Hall.
He Yanchen had not left the court yet, but Yueli got up early today and ran over to wait for him.
It was almost noon when she heard footsteps outside and she went into the inner hall with the help of a man.
"Your Majesty!" Yue Li ran over and hugged his waist as usual, rubbing her chest first before looking up and looking at him with curved eyebrows.
He Yanchen stroked her waist and asked, "Why are you here so early today?"
"I miss your majesty."
He Yanchen took her into the study. There was a low table in the study of Linde Hall. Yueli could sit on the futon and snuggle in his arms.
She accompanied him to read memorials like this every day. When she was in a good mood, she would grind ink for him to read the memorials. When she was tired, she would lie in his arms and take a nap. When she was bored, she would play with the palace maids. In the end, she stayed in the Linde Hall all day long.
Yue Li leaned in his arms and played with his jade pendant for a while, but she saw that he was holding a memorial and was looking at it for a long time.
"Your Majesty, have you encountered any difficulties?"
"Yes." He Yanchen responded, then pushed the memorial to her and said, "I'm looking at the ceremony for the empress's coronation that the Ministry of Rites is preparing. Can you see if there's anything I've missed?"
Yue Li was shocked: "Your Majesty...are you really going to confer a title on me?"
"How could this be false?" He Yanchen raised his eyebrows slightly. "The imperial edict has been delivered to you. Do you want me to change my order every day?"
"But..." Yue Li felt as if something had improved, "But His Majesty hasn't issued an imperial decree yet?"
He Yanchen tapped her forehead and asked, "Were the two imperial edicts I gave you that day just for show?"
Yue Li blinked, feeling that the procedure was wrong: "Shouldn't Eunuch Ji be the one to announce the decree? I thought you only told me in advance that day."
He Yanchen lowered his eyes and looked at her: "That is an imperial decree for a minister, so it is necessary to announce it, kowtow, and kneel in thanks."
"You are my wife, you don't need all this formalities."
"You don't need to kneel before me anymore. You and I are both masters of this world."
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