The Empress Dowager remained calm, as if she already knew what Emperor Yuanwu was about to say.
She simply waved her hand dismissively at the old woman behind her.
The old woman understood and led all the people from the Imperial Study out, closing the door behind them.
"Mother."
"I've heard about what happened with Physician Li." The Empress Dowager slowly sat down. "Physician Li is getting old and has started talking nonsense. Whatever crazy things he says, Your Majesty need not listen to."
Emperor Yuanwu frowned: "Mother Empress may not know, but the Empress is vicious, even towards the Second Prince..."
"The Second Prince passed away due to a high fever. His Majesty executed the imperial physician who treated the Second Prince. Let's not bring this up again now that it's over," the Empress Dowager said calmly.
Emperor Yuanwu understood: "The Empress Dowager's words indicate that she is determined to favor the Empress."
"It's not that I'm favoring the Empress, but rather that I'm thinking of you." The Empress Dowager pulled Emperor Yuanwu to sit beside her. "The inner palace and the outer court are interconnected; if one thing is done, the whole situation is affected. The Empress has done many treasonous things, but even if you execute her now, do you think the Second Prince will ever come back?"
"Deposing the Empress is a major event. If the Empress is deposed, who do you want to make Empress? Consort Shu?"
"Your Majesty, you must not forget that Consort Shu's father is a great general, her brother is already a general at a young age, and her elder brother is this year's top scholar in the imperial examination."
"The Grand General holds military power, and she has three princes. It's hard to guarantee that she won't use the emperor to command the other princes in the future, which could lead to endless troubles."
Emperor Yuanwu was somewhat moved by what the Empress Dowager said.
"Although the Empress handles many things poorly, as long as the Empress is around, there will be someone who can restrain Consort Shu."
"Your Majesty knows that Consort Shu is a gentle and well-read child, and she gets along well with you. You like her."
"But even if you like her a lot, there has to be a limit. Once you give her exclusive favor, the other concubines in the palace will inevitably have complaints."
"Once you have grievances, you'll have a lot of ulterior motives."
"Once a person has evil intentions, they will do many wrong things."
"Take the Empress for example. If she had her own children and your favor, why would she harm those concubines and princes?"
"It's because of those concubines and princes that she felt threatened, that she felt that one day you would abandon her."
"The Empress should be punished, but she can't be punished openly."
"Consort Zhen has been pregnant for some time now. Has His Majesty visited her?"
Speaking of which...
Emperor Yuanwu lowered his head in shame.
"And then there are those newcomers who have entered through the selection process. Some of them the emperor has never favored, and those he has favored have no rank. If this continues, won't the harem be filled with resentment and everyone feel insecure?"
As Emperor Yuanwu listened to the Empress Dowager's words, the anger in his eyes gradually subsided.
"These days, there are many affairs in the court, and some things in the harem have indeed been neglected."
"However, when I go to Qiluan Garden, it's not simply to show my affection for Consort Shu. Many times, I'm just going to see Qianqian."
Speaking of Mu Qianqian, the Empress Dowager's expression softened a bit: "Qianqian is a lovely child. Why doesn't Your Majesty favor some more young concubines and let them give Your Majesty a few more princes and princesses?"
"Yes." Emperor Yuanwu lowered his eyes: "I have remembered what Mother Empress said, and I will definitely show more care for Consort Zhen."
After the Empress Dowager left.
Emperor Yuanwu remained silent in the room for a long while: "Wu Jixiang..."
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