Chapter 138 Auspicious Events Abound, Ten Miles of Flowers in Full Bloom, Joyous Events Continue
The fourth year of Jingyou was an exceptionally important year for the entire Xia capital city. It could be said that the people of the city eagerly awaited its arrival from the beginning of the year.
Since the current emperor ascended the throne, he has announced to the world that the emperor and empress must observe three years of mourning for the late emperor.
This matter naturally caused a great uproar when the edict was first issued. How could the royal family compare to the common people? The entire court of civil and military officials naturally opposed it vehemently. The emperor, empress and court officials went back and forth for several rounds and finally compromised on some matters, such as not eating vegetarian food, wearing mourning clothes and counting the three years as a whole. However, they explicitly prohibited all celebrations and banquets before the fourth year of Jingyou.
Even if this order was made to observe mourning for the royal family, if the imperial family had to do so, how could the common people dare not obey?
As a result, the entire Great Xia Dynasty observed a three-year period of national mourning for the late emperor. Although the Great Xia Dynasty ushered in a prosperous era of peace and tranquility after the new emperor ascended the throne, the inability to hold entertainment and weddings did indeed deprive the people of the Great Xia Dynasty of much joy.
Thus, the arrival of the fourth year of Jingyou became a year eagerly anticipated by all the subjects.
Since the beginning of the year, the sound of firecrackers and fireworks in the capital has never stopped. The weddings of countless families have been delayed for the past three years. Perhaps other places do not have such an atmosphere of caution and prudence. Xia Jingcheng is located under the emperor's nose, so no one dares to overstep the bounds. Now that weddings can be held normally, the long streets and avenues between the wards are almost covered with red paper scraps every day. Before the end of the first month, this joyous atmosphere has filled the entire capital.
As the climate warms and spring arrives, the noble families and powerful clans of the capital city begin one banquet after another. Spring outings, flower viewing, poetry gatherings, polo matches, and elegant gatherings are held one after another, as if everyone wants to release all the pent-up frustration of the past three years in an instant.
This uninterrupted grand occasion continued until May. Firstly, the continuous banquets eventually made everyone feel somewhat tired. Secondly, the royal family was about to hold its first grand ceremony since the new dynasty – the Empress's birthday banquet.
The first celebration of the new dynasty was naturally highly anticipated, especially since the current empress not only had the most noble status but also the most dignified honor.
Since the new emperor ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager has retreated to the inner palace. Whether she was exhausted from the catastrophe or simply reached old age, she no longer possessed the sharpness and imposing presence of her former self. Now, she lives in Cixi Palace with Consort Rong, enjoying her retirement. Teaching Princess Yong'an has become their greatest pleasure.
Besides the Empress Dowager no longer appearing in public, the only concubine in the harem also suddenly passed away last year. It is said that Consort Chu had been in poor health since the new emperor ascended the throne. She had been recuperating like Xi Shi (a famous beauty in ancient China) for more than two years, but in the end, she still could not survive the cold winter of last year. The emperor and empress were heartbroken and gave Consort Chu a great deal of honor at her funeral. In the end, her funeral was conducted with a scale that was higher than that of Consort Chu and second only to that of the empress.
With the departure of the Imperial Concubine, only the Empress remained in the Emperor's harem. As a result, her status as the Empress became even more prestigious. Countless noblewomen and wives of officials rushed to curry favor with her. Even before the Thousand Autumns Banquet was in the planning stages, all the women in the capital were already preparing how to present their gifts.
That day, as usual, Shen Yujiao went to Cixi Palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager and the Noble Consort. As soon as she entered the palace, the two teased her, "Look, the most popular person in Xiajing has arrived."
"My mother is always making fun of me!"
Shen Yujiao has lost her girlish appearance, but her eyes and brows are still lively and charming. She curtsied to the Empress Dowager, then nodded to Consort Rong, and gave a simple greeting. Only then did she sit down beside the Empress Dowager and said with a smile, "If Mother is willing to make an effort, all the noble ladies in the capital will not think of me. They will probably all rush over to pay their respects to you."
The Empress Dowager of today has lost her former sharpness and charisma. She sat there with a peaceful expression: "I am getting old, and I prefer quiet to all this commotion."
After saying that, her gaze involuntarily fell on Shen Yu's small belly. The old lady, more than Jing, longed for her children and grandchildren to be by her side.
Shen Yujiao noticed her gaze, immediately picked up her teacup and took a sip. She lowered her eyes, avoiding the Empress Dowager's gaze.
Since arriving in Daxia, she and Jiang Chen have been married for seven or eight years. In the first few years, they were still young, and being husband and wife was more of a formality than a real relationship. But after they realized their feelings for each other and Jiang Chen ascended the throne, this formality gradually became a real relationship.
As for having children, their plan was to let nature take its course. They hadn't conceived in the past two or three years, which made Shen Yujiao feel both happy and uneasy. Logically speaking, they should be at the most fertile age, but she had her pulse checked by the Imperial Hospital every five days and had never been diagnosed with a slippery pulse.
One day, when she went to Jiang Chen's Zichen Palace, she happened to catch the Imperial Physician Wang taking his pulse. The young imperial physician from back then was now the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. He had always been in charge of Jiang Chen's pulse diagnosis. So when she learned that he was inside, Shen Yujiao did not disturb him, but simply sat outside the palace and waited.
There is a well-known rule in the Zichen Palace: no matter who comes, they cannot be seen. If they want to meet the Emperor, they must wait for His Majesty to summon them in the Court Assembly Hall or the Imperial Study. This rule applies even to the Grand Secretaries and the Chief Minister.
However, there was one exception to this decree: if the Empress came to the Zichen Palace, it was the same as returning to the Qionghua Palace, and there was no need to announce her arrival or request an audience.
And it was precisely because of this that Shen Yujiao overheard their secret conversation—
"The Empress is still recovering, so I would like to postpone it for a while longer."
"But Your Majesty, although this soup is a contraceptive for men, it is still harmful to the body, just like those contraceptive soups given to women. Not to mention that Your Majesty's health is related to the stability of the country. If Her Majesty the Empress could recover soon..."
"Alright, alright, it's always the same excuses. I'm tired of hearing them. I've told you to stop. I'm only in my early twenties. How can the stability of the state be threatened if I don't have a son? Besides, even if I really wanted a legitimate son, I wouldn't be the one to give birth in place of the Empress. The pain of childbirth is irreversible for a woman. Compared to that, what is the harm caused by the contraceptive soup?"
Shen Yujiao was taken aback upon hearing this, but upon reflection, it was indeed something Jiang Chen would do. A warm feeling welled up in her heart; she couldn't help but be moved by Jiang Chen's consideration for her.
But at this moment, that feeling of being moved turned into guilt. The aroma of tea filled the air, and she peered at the Empress Dowager's face through the mist. She thought that if the Empress Dowager found out that it was her son who was actively preventing pregnancy, the Empress Dowager would not be able to bear it.
"Yong'an greets the Empress Dowager, greets the Imperial Sister-in-law, and greets the Imperial Concubine."
As the slender figure stood before them, everyone in the hall couldn't help but smile. Looking at the graceful young woman, the Empress Dowager's attention shifted from Shen Yujiao to Yong'an: "Our Yong'an is now a young lady. I wonder which young man in the entire capital has the good fortune to marry a princess."
Princess Yong'an's status is now quite extraordinary. Since the change of dynasties, the hierarchy of princesses has not been determined by the previous emperor's favor, but by the current emperor's attention. Jiang Chen has no half-sisters, so Princess Yong'an, who was raised by the empress, has become the one at the top of this generation. This is true not only for the princess, but also for all the brothers and sisters in this generation.
After all, during the struggle for the throne, all the princes formed factions and supported each other. Only Jiang Chen, after the death of his elder brother, had no one to help him. The presence of Princess Yong'an filled this void.
Therefore, not only do her two mothers who raised her love her, but Jiang Chen and Shen Yujiao, as her older brother and sister-in-law, are also happy to support her.
Shen Yujiao thought that Yong'an's birthday was close to her own, and after thinking for a moment, she said, "Yong'an turned 18 last year, but because of the national mourning, we couldn't hold a proper coming-of-age ceremony. A girl's coming-of-age ceremony only happens once in her life, so we must make up for it properly this year."
Upon hearing this, Yong'an opened her mouth slightly. She subconsciously looked at the Empress Dowager, who smiled and gently waved her fan: "Your sister-in-law is trying to use the momentum from her birthday banquet to create a buzz for your coming-of-age ceremony."
Yong'an naturally understood this principle, but it was precisely because she understood it that she was surprised. Now that she was helping her sister-in-law manage palace affairs, she was well aware of the popularity of this Thousand Autumns Banquet.
Apart from the noble ladies and relatives in the capital, all the prefects, governors, and provincial treasurers from various places rushed back to the capital to report on their duties before the Thousand Autumn Banquet. Everyone knew that they were not really in such a hurry. They just wanted their female relatives to show their faces at the Thousand Autumn Banquet.
These people had high expectations for this palace banquet. Even if they weren't sitting in her position, they could imagine that if the Empress announced that she would be holding a coming-of-age ceremony for her, then people in the capital would flock to it even more.
Thinking of this, she stood up and curtsied, saying, "I know my sister-in-law loves me, but..."
"What do you mean 'but'? Don't use 'buts' or anything like that. Among all these sisters, your brother values you the most, and I've watched you grow up. How can a coming-of-age ceremony not be held?"
Since Shen Yujiao said so, Yong'an really couldn't refuse anymore, and the matter was settled.
On the day of the Thousand Autumns Banquet, the entire capital of Xia was in an uproar. To celebrate the Empress's birthday, all the main streets of Xia's city were covered with flowers. Since it was the season when all flowers were in full bloom, although the flowers on the walls did not include the most precious varieties in the world, they were all the best among the common varieties.
Overnight, Xiajing was covered in blooming flowers, which amazed the people. However, what surprised them even more was yet to come.
Today, because of the Autumn Festival, the court is on holiday. The palace gates were opened wide early in the morning. All the noble families around the capital sent out their magnificent carriages and horses. The noble ladies and their wives got off their carriages and sedan chairs fifty miles away from the palace gates and then walked into the palace. The imperial guards stood guard within a hundred miles. This scene was no less spectacular than the imperial concubine selection.
At noon, an army entered the city gate. Since the new emperor ascended the throne, the Xia army had not fought any battles, so the capital had not seen any armored soldiers returning for a long time. This army entering the city was obviously a veteran of many battles.
"It's the Emperor's brother-in-law! The Emperor's brother-in-law has returned to congratulate our Empress on her birthday!"
Among the crowd, some recognized He Zhiju and pointed out his identity, instantly causing a considerable commotion among the people.
The dark army was led by He Zhiju, who was dressed in black armor, sitting high on his horse. He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and his back was straight. Behind him were carts of gifts carried by soldiers.
When he went north, he was seen off with a lavish procession of red bridal procession; when he returned to the capital, he brought a hundred jewels to celebrate the Empress's birthday. This imperial brother-in-law truly lived up to his reputation.
Since He Zhiju returned to the northern frontier with the army in the first year of Jingyou, he has been stationed on the frontier and has never returned to the capital. The generals in the court who originally thought that what happened back then was not true have also wavered in their beliefs. Until this year, when the emperor issued an imperial edict, he specially ordered the Duke of Yi to return to the capital to celebrate with the empress.
Although there was no follow-up to this order, the court officials had already begun to speculate in private whether the Duke of Yi would stay in the capital after returning.
Official positions were a matter of concern to the court officials, but the main event today was the Thousand Autumns Banquet, where the women were the main characters, and they were even more curious about the legendary Lady of the Duke of Yi.
To the powerful and influential circles of Xiajing, the Duchess of Yi was an extremely mysterious figure. A girl whose name had never been heard of had suddenly become the Duchess of Yi, a first-rank official.
If the Shen family has a daughter, she will become the Empress of Xia.
This edict left by the founding emperor only brought forth the first daughter of the Shen family several generations and hundreds of years later. Whether any daughters were born in the Shen family during those hundred years remains unknown to outsiders. After the current emperor ascended the throne, he narrowed the scope of this honor for the Shen family. From then on, only daughters of the Shen family who could become the Empress of the Great Xia could come from the direct line of the Shen family.
It is said that this rule was proposed by the Empress: if the direct descendants of the imperial family want to enjoy the support and protection of the entire Shen clan of Jiangnan, they must take on the responsibilities of the entire family.
Marriage is a constraint on women, so the position of clan leader is a constraint on men—the eldest son of the Shen family has inherited the position of clan leader for generations, and is not allowed to enter officialdom or engage in business.
But that's a story for another time. At the Thousand Autumns Banquet, accompanied by a palace attendant's call, the Duchess of Yi slowly stepped into the hall amidst the curious and inquisitive gazes of everyone.
"This humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress and wishes you a long and happy life."
Wasn't she supposed to have been raised on a country estate since birth? Yet her every move and gesture was that of a noble lady from a prominent family; wasn't she supposed to be just a collateral branch of the Shen family? Yet her speech was full of elegance cultivated over many years of literary and scholarly refinement; wasn't she supposed to be just a local noblewoman? Yet her bearing and demeanor possessed an imposing presence that many noble ladies in the capital could not match.
With her ethereal beauty, elegant demeanor, dignified and noble bearing, and imposing presence, she was a truly graceful noblewoman, a valiant and heroic woman, and a peerless and stunning Lady Yi.
Seeing Chu Rou again after three years, Shen Yujiao couldn't help but feel excited. She raised her hand and reached down, saying, "A Rou... Sister-in-law, come here quickly and let me see you."
Lady Yi, whose given name was Shen Rou, was said to have had little contact with her brothers and sisters in the clan when she was still unmarried. However, she was extremely close to the Empress and often stayed at the Duke of Cheng's mansion. Thus, her relationship with the Duke of Yi can be described as a childhood sweetheart romance.
"This, this isn't..."
Although those sitting in the hall were all seeing the legendary Duchess of Yi for the first time, some of them were still old nobles. Several noblewomen who had dealings with the Chu family in the previous dynasty were surprised to see that the woman sitting next to the Empress looked very much like the young and deceased Consort!
"Madam Liu, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
A clear, cool voice rang out as Princess Yong'an gracefully emerged from the side hall. Her face was smiling, her steps steady, followed by a group of palace maids carrying trays. Madam Liu merely glanced up, but the princess's imposing gaze instilled a cold sweat in her. She quickly waved her hands, saying, "It's alright, it's alright..."
"It's good that you're alright. Today is my sister-in-law's birthday. If you feel unwell during the banquet, it would be my fault for not being considerate enough."
Although he spoke with a smile, a sharp glint was hard to ignore in his eyes. He swept his gaze around the room, and the few noblewomen who thought they had discovered some great secret all lowered their heads.
The palace maids set out cold dishes on small tables. Princess Yong'an lifted her skirt and walked up the steps to Chen Yujiao's side. As she walked, she dispelled the undercurrent of emotion that the two people sitting at the head of the table had not noticed.
"Greetings, Madam."
"May Your Highness be well."
The two exchanged greetings and smiled knowingly at each other. Since there were only the three of them on the high platform, Chu Rou didn't hesitate to mention, "Ah Zheng also came back with me this time. He prepared a congratulatory gift for Your Highness. After the banquet, I'll have to trouble the Princess to pick it up for me."
"yes."
Yong'an's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head slightly. Shen Yujiao and Chu Rou exchanged a glance and couldn't help but raise the corners of their mouths.
That night, a summer breeze swept by as Jiang Chen, Shen Yujiao, He Zhiju, and Chu Rou drank and admired the moon in the courtyard of Qionghua Palace. The hustle and bustle of the day had faded away, and the coolness of the night was mixed with a touch of warmth, just right.
"You've had a tough time in the border region these past few years."
Jiang Chen took the lead in starting the conversation, and then listened to He Zhiju talk about the current state of border defense. At first, Shen Yujiao listened patiently for a while, but then, seeing that the two of them were really going on and on, she pulled Chu Rou to the side.
"How are you feeling these days? Did you experience any discomfort during your long journey back to the capital?"
During the meal, Chu Rou had already told Shen Yujiao that she was four months pregnant. Seeing her concerned expression, she couldn't help but feel a pang of tenderness. Chu Rou raised her hand and touched her lower abdomen, where it was not yet possible to tell that she was carrying a child: "I've passed the first trimester, and everything is fine."
Mentioning the child softened their expressions. Shen Yujiao thought for a moment and joked, "If this child is born, will he call me aunt or maternal aunt?"
"Didn't you say before that you wanted to be in-laws with me through our children's marriage? Instead of worrying about whether she should call you aunt or maternal aunt, why don't you guess whether she should call you mother-in-law or mother-in-law?"
“If you are willing, I will naturally be happy,” Shen Yujiao said, unable to suppress a smile, then sighed, “Now I’m at the age where I can be a mother.”
When this topic was brought up, Chu Rou seemed to think of something. She hesitated for a moment, but still advised, "Some of the remarks made in the imperial court in the capital are just for your ears. You don't need to take them to heart."
Shen Yujiao knew that she was worried about her being depressed because of not having children, so she laughed heartily: "It's okay, we're not in a hurry now. We'll have children when we want to. I don't care about it."
Shen Yujiao had carefully planned the timing of her pregnancy. Jiang Chen had been on the throne for four years, and both the court and the harem were now in order. The turbulent situation had ended, and she no longer needed to worry about being unable to raise her child or the child's safety after birth. If there was anything she was still concerned about, it was this one thing—
"What exactly happened with Qi Zheng?"
Speaking of this, a playful look appeared in Chu Rou's eyes. She first covered her mouth and smiled, then asked in return, "Yong'an, have you heard about it?"
"Stop trying to dodge the question, just tell me!"
Shen Yujiao gently tickled her leg, though she scolded her playfully, she was happy for Chu Rou. After marriage, Chu Rou had become much more vibrant, and now she was truly free.
Chu Rou couldn't stand the tickling and laughed as she dodged away. She then told Chu Rou about an amusing incident that had recently occurred in the Northern Frontier:
Since the Great Xia unified the tribes of the grasslands and deserts, all these tribes have been brought under the rule of the Great Xia. Protectorates were set up according to the regions, and officials were dispatched by the imperial court to guard them. The northern frontier was the area under the control of Qi Jing. Among the tribes closest to the northern frontier, there was a large tribe called Hulan.
During that catastrophe that wiped out the tribe, thanks to the clan chief's great wisdom and resourcefulness, the entire tribe was among the first to surrender to the Great Xia, thus escaping the disaster. It was for this reason that the Great Xia treated the Hulan tribe relatively leniently, with the court not stationing troops there and granting the Hulan tribe certain autonomy.
Unlike the Great Xia, the Hulan tribe is a rare tribe on the grassland where women are in charge. The current chieftain has four daughters, each of whom is a heroine. Among them, the youngest daughter, Qiqige, is spoiled by her family from a young age because she is younger than her three older sisters. The tribe also dotes on her to an extreme degree, to the point that they give her whatever she wants.
This time, she set her sights on Qi Zheng.
For Qiqige, this was a romantic encounter.
That day, Qiqige was riding a horse on the grassland, followed by several noble girls from the Hulan tribe. Each of them had their own mount, and they all looked dashing as they wielded their whips. From a distance, they formed a very beautiful sight.
Along the way, some boys from other tribes or young men from the border of the Great Xia couldn't help but look at them with admiration or attraction. Qiqige, who had been pampered since childhood, was already used to being admired and looked at by young men.
Among them, the only one who was special was Qi Zheng. On that day, he led his personal guards to train in a vast area. After the training, he led his troops to patrol the border as usual. Thus, the handsome and imposing young general came into Qiqige's sight.
That one glance haunted Qiqige for a full half month. The once lively and active girl, who used to go out riding horses and traveling with her friends every day, stayed cooped up in her tent all day after returning from that day, barely touching the food brought to her by her maid.
At first, no one noticed this, but later it was Qiqige's third sister, Bayar, who found out and took her out for a horse race. Qiqige rarely went out, so she wanted to go to the place where she had last met Qizheng to see if she could meet him again. So she took Bayar to that open space.
Naturally, they came up empty-handed. Qiqige's disappointment was written all over her face. Bayar also sensed something was wrong. When she learned the whole story, she was extremely surprised. She was astonished that her sister also had someone she loved but could not have.
That very night, the brothers and sisters of the Hulan tribe, along with their close elders, learned of the matter. Since it was a common practice for the whole family to spoil their child, they immediately went to inquire in private about who the young general was.
When the news came back, everyone was stunned—Qi Zheng, the youngest son of Qi Jing, the Protector-General of the Northern Frontier, the Light Cavalry General of the Flying Tiger Team of the Heavy Cavalry Battalion, and a famous handsome young man in the entire Northern Region.
Upon learning the boy's identity, the chieftain sighed. While the grassland tribes valued lineage, they didn't place the same importance on it as the Great Xia. Moreover, her daughter's status was so noble that she was among the most prominent in the entire grassland. However, to be matched with this man... was truly a stretch.
She remembered that battle very clearly. Being able to accompany the current emperor during his time as a prince, and being regarded as a brother by the Duke of Yi, this young general could even marry the daughter of the Prime Minister of the Great Xia. No matter how wealthy their tribe was, they probably couldn't match such a family. In order to make her daughter give up this idea as soon as possible, she sent people to send her countless treasures to coax her.
As a result, after learning of her mother's stance, Qiqige became uncooperative, throwing a tantrum and threatening suicide. She abandoned all her usual dignity and declared that she would never marry anyone but Qizheng.
Thus, the Qi residence welcomed a group of special guests.
For Qi Zheng, this was an undeserved disaster.
Heaven knows that while he was out leading troops on a training exercise, he caught the eye of a tribal princess. When he learned that his father couldn't refuse the matchmaker, he was so angry that he rode his horse directly to the Duke of Yi's mansion, went straight to the backyard to find Chu Rou, and asked his sister to help him resolve the matter.
Chu Rou understood his intentions and knew that Qi Zheng had Yong'an in his heart and would never have any connection with this Princess Hulan. Since there was no female head of the Qi family, she stepped forward as his sister-in-law and rejected the marriage proposal with the matchmaker.
It was fortunate that she was the Duchess of Yi's status; otherwise, it might not have been possible to persuade Qiqige's stubborn nature. To say that she persuaded her was a nice way of putting it; in reality, Chief Hulan knew that he could not go against the Duke of Yi's mansion.
This matter started last year and took almost half a year to calm down in the northern frontier. Although it was not a major incident, it was enough to become a topic of conversation in the northern frontier. Qi Zheng was afraid that this matter would be reported back to the palace, so he looked forward to returning to the capital every day.
He desperately needed an opportunity to see Yong'an. He knew the journey was long, and if it dragged on any longer, even if he finally spoke his mind, Yong'an probably wouldn't be interested in listening to his explanations.
Moreover, what kind of place is Xia Jingcheng? It's right under the emperor's nose, in the imperial city, a place where every inch of land is incredibly valuable. There are countless powerful families, noble households, and respectable people. What kind of young men and girls don't they have?
When he reached the age of youthful infatuation, he feared that Yong'an's eyes would fall on other young men.
"So that's how it is..." After learning the whole story, Shen Yujiao couldn't help but chuckle mischievously: "Then we'll have to give him a hard time. Yong'an isn't someone you can marry easily."
"What other ideas do you have?"
Chu Rou still wanted to say a few more words for Qi Zheng, but Shen Yujiao was determined not to say anything more no matter how Chu Rou asked.
Time flies, and after the Thousand Autumns Banquet, it was Princess Yong'an's birthday. Because of the national mourning last year, the Empress personally arranged this year's birthday celebration and wanted to give Princess Yong'an a belated coming-of-age ceremony.
Although the scene on the day of her coming-of-age ceremony could not compare with the Thousand Autumns Banquet, it was still the most grand princess birthday banquet in recent decades. It was probably more grand than the princesses of several generations of the Great Xia Dynasty combined. Young men and women came to watch the ceremony in their finest clothes. Qi Zheng stood among them and naturally did not miss the bright eyes that were looking at Yong'an.
"Slicked-back hair and powdered face..."
He thought he had spoken in a low voice, but he never expected that the King of Thailand beside him would hear it. Seeing the King's teasing look, Qi Zheng blushed instantly.
The King of Thailand saw through it but didn't point it out. Remembering that he and the young man had been comrades in the past, he advised, "The Empress Dowager and the Noble Consort have been looking for a consort for Yong'an since last year. Whether it's the sons of dukes and marquises or the young men from the families of upright officials, they have all been screened countless times. The ones who have come now are all the best."
"Yong'an is the most valued princess of our generation. Even my younger sister and my third brother's Yongshou are not in the same league. There are countless young men in the capital waiting to marry princesses. Even if you look down on them today, there's a saying: 'Those near the water get the moon first.' I've heard that several young men are using various methods to send invitations to the palace..."
It's unclear which of his words struck a nerve with Qi Zheng, but before the King of Thailand could finish speaking, he noticed Qi Zheng's pale face and, mindful that they were still in the midst of a ceremony, swallowed the rest of his words: "Silly boy, if you don't go now, it won't be your turn."
Perhaps it was Shen Yujiao's plan that worked, or perhaps it was the King of Thailand's words that acted as a catalyst. On the second day after his coming-of-age ceremony, Qi Zheng went straight to the Imperial Study to propose marriage. His impulsive and straightforward behavior made Jiang Chen both amused and helpless.
"A marriage arranged by parents and matchmakers... Your father is still alive. What can't you say before he returns to the capital to report on his duties? Even if you're impatient, do you think the Duchess of Yi will ignore you? Ziwang is really something, bringing you back, yet he can't control you..."
No matter what Jiang Chen said, Qi Zheng admitted his mistakes and accepted the punishment. But there was only one thing he wanted: Jiang Chen had to give him a definite answer, preferably an imperial decree to grant him marriage on the spot before he would be satisfied.
This infuriated Jiang Chen!
When the news reached Shen Yujiao, Qi Zheng had already been expelled from the palace. She couldn't help but chuckle and scolded the silly boy, saying that Jiang Chen was Yong'an's brother, not hers. How could she let him cause a scene in the Imperial Study?
But since the child had this intention, it was a good thing. So that very day, she went to Cixi Palace. She first asked the Empress Dowager and Consort Rong for their opinions. After receiving their approval, she spoke highly of Qi Zheng, and only then did she go to Yong'an to tell her the truth:
"...You've been arguing with your brother all morning, what are you thinking?"
The girl's cheeks gradually flushed pink at her words, but she still tried to maintain a dignified demeanor. However, when Shen Yujiao asked this question, Yong'an couldn't help but break down: "I don't want to leave my sister-in-law and mother..."
"You little rascal, even if you're willing to go, how could we possibly bear to let you go to the northern frontier?"
The following day, an imperial edict was issued from the palace, firstly recalling the Duke of Yi back to the capital to serve, and then bestowing upon him the title of Grand General of the State, giving him overall command of all military forces in the capital, including both the Imperial Guards and the large camps in the suburbs. From then on, all of them would be under the command of He Zhiju.
The second decree conferred a title upon Qi Jing, praising his meritorious service in defending the border and granting him the title of Marquis of Zhenbei. His son, Qi Zheng, was betrothed to Princess Yong'an, and after their marriage, they resided in the princess's residence in the capital city of Xia.
The two imperial edicts quickly spread throughout the capital, and Yong'an naturally heard the news as well. She was blushing deeply from being teased by a room full of elders, who were still not restraining themselves. She could only rush to Shen Yujiao, who was closest to her, and say, "Sister-in-law!"
Normally, the two sisters-in-law would bicker and tease each other, but today, for some reason, as soon as Yong'an's hand touched Shen Yujiao's shoulder, Shen Yujiao suddenly leaned over the high table next to her, and the teacup was pushed to the ground. The crisp sound startled everyone in the room, and they all froze on the spot.
"Quickly! Summon the imperial physician!"
In the end, it was the Empress Dowager who reacted first and summoned the imperial physician to examine Shen Yujiao's pulse.
Upon learning of this, Jiang Chen disregarded everything else and went straight to Cixi Palace after the court session. Just as he stepped over the threshold, he heard the imperial physician inside say, "Congratulations, Your Majesty the Empress! The Empress is pregnant!"
Jiang Chen froze on the spot, his heart filled with disbelief—Shen Yujiao was actually pregnant?
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