Chapter 27 The Emperor's Son Does Not Want Anyone Else to Take Away His Time with the Crown Princess…
Peaceful days are rare in the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess had been in a cold war for half a month. Finally, the Crown Prince returned to the mansion that night and went to the main courtyard, but unexpectedly, he went back to the study to stay that night.
Zhu Yu thought the Crown Prince would have dinner in the main courtyard. Seeing him return looking dejected, she knew something was wrong. She urged the eunuch to fetch the food while she went to help him change. However, before she could even get close, she saw the Crown Prince sitting down with a sullen expression.
After Jiang Chen sat down, he didn't ask anyone to serve him. He picked up the teapot to pour himself some water, but to his surprise, the teapot, which was always kept warm, was empty. He was furious, feeling as if even the teapot was working against him. Feeling stifled, he slammed the teapot down. Zhu Yu, who happened to be standing next to him, shuddered. Oh no, they'd had another fight.
"What happened this time?"
Jiang Chen grew angrier the more he thought about it. He had been running around outside all day and was still worried about her feeling wronged when he came back at night. The tasks assigned by the emperor were getting more and more difficult, and he had so much work to do that he couldn't finish it all. He finally waited until she entered the palace, and then he dropped everything and rushed back, only to find that she was still angry.
That shouldn't be the case... Although Shen Jiaojiao is a bit spoiled as her name suggests, she is definitely not someone who likes to dwell on things. He thought about it carefully and realized that he understood her quite well. She wouldn't be angry with him for so long because of He Zhiju's matter. Thinking of this, Jiang Chen's teeth itched a little.
"Zhu Yu, what does the Crown Princess mean by 'new concubine'? Is anyone coming to the manor recently?"
"My God!" Zhu Yu squeezed his eyes shut. How did he end up in this mess? "Your Highness, what the Crown Princess said... is probably about the general election next month. This election, which is held every three years, happens to be this year. I heard from the palace that this time they not only want to fill the harem, but also select a few people to serve Your Highness and the princes. Our Eastern Palace should also be getting people in."
"Let people in?"
Jiang Chen's mind went blank for a moment. He had never thought that his current identity would have any symbolic meaning besides its political function, nor did he consider himself a proper ancient person under the polygamous system. Now that Zhu Yu was hinting that he might have a concubine, he immediately felt resistant.
So, the next day, when the Crown Prince entered the Imperial Study, Zhu Yu's heart finally died. After Jiang Chen entered the hall, he not only closed the door to the Imperial Study, but also Zhu Yu's will to live.
Well, what can happen if things get worse? Killing someone is just a matter of beheading them. I've already begged and pleaded, but the Crown Prince is the master. If he wants to do things his own way, then let him be.
"Smack—"
The memorial landed heavily on Jiang Chen's head, the pages flipping over his head and hanging all over him. The scene looked quite comical, but he dared not reach out to brush it off.
"You're utterly absurd!" The emperor was so angry he wanted to throw something else at the crown prince. "A prince, the heir apparent, you actually tell me you want to spend your life with only the crown princess?"
"The royal family has many offspring, and you have given birth to the eldest grandson of the emperor. This is the foundation of the Great Xia Dynasty and the expectation of our ancestors. Do you even know this?"
Jiang Chen had endured the pain in his forehead for a long time, and now he finally had a chance to move. He raised his shoulders and cupped his hands, saying, "Father, it is precisely because I know how important this is that I think it would be best if the eldest grandson of the Emperor were the legitimate heir of the Shen family."
As the memorial fell to the ground, the emperor threw another one at him: "Even if you want the eldest son born to Lady Shen, what does that have to do with you taking concubines and concubines? In the Eastern Palace, who can surpass the Crown Princess? Even if you don't like him, choosing two concubines and keeping them there will be considered as you following the ancestral rites!"
“Father,” Jiang Chen said with a slight pain, bowing his head respectfully, “In this inner courtyard, once there are too many people, trouble is bound to arise. I believe you have seen how I have been in the past. Now, thanks to the Crown Princess’s frequent advice, I have gradually improved a lot. If new people enter the inner courtyard, it will inevitably distract the Crown Princess. I am now focused on my studies and do not want to let such things interfere with my duties.”
"The Crown Princess is from the Shen family of Jiangnan, how could she be as fond of jealousy and rivalry as you say!"
"Your Majesty, it is not that I am worried about the Crown Princess competing with Consort Liang and Consort Bao, but rather that I do not want Consort Liang and Consort Bao to take up the time I spend with the Crown Princess. If the Crown Princess has to take care of me and manage the inner palace at the same time, it will be too much of a burden for her."
"Clang—"
This time, it was the inkstone beside the emperor that flew out. Although Jiang Chen had his head down, he still noticed the flying shadow. He glanced at it and quickly dodged to the side. The inkstone hit the ground and slid a long way.
"Get out of here! Kneel before your mother's palace! Look at your mother, who manages the six palaces every day; she's never acted like this!"
Seeing the Crown Prince flee from the Imperial Study as if he were running away, Zhu Yu hurriedly stepped forward. When he saw the redness and swelling on the Crown Prince's forehead, his heart skipped a beat. However, since they were under the corridor of the Imperial Study, he dared not ask any questions. He could only step forward and help the man walk out.
Jiang Chen didn't stand on ceremony. As soon as Zhu Yu lifted his arm, he pretended to be injured. Before they even reached Kunyi Palace, the Empress heard the news: Today was a day off, but the Crown Prince had rushed into the palace early in the morning. It sounded like he had been scolded by the Emperor.
But before the Empress could find out what was going on, a palace maid came to report that His Highness the Crown Prince was kneeling outside the Kunyi Palace. The maid invited him in, but he refused, saying that His Majesty had made him kneel as punishment. But now, people were coming and going and watching.
Upon hearing this, the Empress's heart sank. What had the Crown Prince done to provoke such a furious reaction from the Emperor?
She didn't dare to let the Crown Prince come in to answer, so she sent someone to call Zhu Yu in. After she understood the general situation, she was both amused and exasperated. She quickly asked someone to call the Crown Prince into the hall. Seeing that his forehead was red and swollen, she asked Zhiyuan to bring some ointment to reduce the swelling.
"Are you stupid? Even if you wanted to make a request about something like this palace selection, you should have come to your mother, the Empress Dowager," the Empress said helplessly as she applied medicine to his wound.
Jiang Chen had recovered by now, but unfortunately, this was the first time he had faced such a situation. Not to mention his wives and concubines, he was also in a pre-departure situation when it came to getting along with his family after marriage. Hearing this, he lowered his head slightly and said, "It was all due to my lack of consideration."
Seeing him like this, it was the Empress's turn to feel melancholy: "Do you like the Crown Princess that much?"
Of course! Of course! At least she only throws crumpled paper at me, but your husband throws stones at his own son!
Just as Jiang Chen, who felt he had found his place, was about to put on a show of acting, Shen Yujiao's words suddenly came to mind: "At most, you can act as if you are respectful to each other in front of others. Showing affection is not a problem, but you can't let people think that you are too doting on me, especially in front of the elders."
“Crown Princess…” he began slowly, “She is both learned and adept at managing affairs. Not only does she manage the Eastern Palace in an orderly manner, but she also puts my mind at ease with the Empress Dowager’s frequent visits.”
"Shen is kind and has a great sense of the big picture. Since our marriage, my son has been greatly influenced by her. Even Father has been praising me more lately than before. If another new concubine enters the Eastern Palace, I am always worried..."
Upon hearing his words, the Empress's original thoughts took a turn.
Because most of the concubines in the palace came from prominent families, and the maternal families of the princes were all more prestigious than the last, the candidates for prince consorts had to come from less prestigious families. Even the Crown Princess, the heir apparent of the Eastern Palace, came from a family that only had the late emperor's edict but no imperial favor in the present era. If it weren't for the Crown Princess in this generation, the Shen family of Jiangnan would probably be no different from that reclusive family. Therefore, in this year's selection, the concubines with princes all wanted to choose a few noble ladies from prominent families.
She had thought the same thing before today, but... her gaze returned to the Crown Prince.
No matter how powerful a concubine's family is, it can't compare to the Crown Prince's own abilities. She and His Majesty have raised this youngest son for so many years, yet he hasn't made as much progress as he has in the two months since his wedding. If the Crown Princess really has an influence on this, then she really needs to reconsider.
Not to mention that she was already satisfied with the Shen family, her status as the Crown Princess was also different from that of all the Crown Princesses in the dynasty. "Shen family daughter, Empress of the Great Xia"—this one sentence alone increased the Crown Prince's advantage in this competition.
"Alright, I understand what you mean. Let's go back for now. Remember not to be so rash in the future."
Although Jiang Chen knew he should take these words with a grain of salt, since the Empress had made a gesture, his trip today had not been in vain. He was about to get up and take his leave when his gaze swept over the west side hall and he suddenly remembered something.
He instructed Zhu Yu to open the box he had brought, and then said to the Empress, "I bought this yesterday in the outskirts of the capital because I found it interesting. The Crown Princess said that although this clay doll doesn't look very refined, it has a unique rustic charm. I originally thought of sending two to the Empress Dowager and Yong'an, but I was afraid that this country stuff wouldn't be presentable. I saw it this morning and thought I'd bring it to the Empress Dowager. If the Emperor gets really angry, I might be able to get something out of you."
This playful and amusing act delighted the Empress, but she still pretended to be serious and said, "It was the Crown Princess who told you that you were thinking of me. You always take advantage of others and are so glib."
As she spoke, the Empress reached out to slap him, but Jiang Chen did not dodge. He let the Empress laugh heartily before getting up and leaving.
After he left, the Empress played with the two clay dolls for a while, then called Zhiyuan over and said, "Send them to Princess Yong'an; her brother brought them in."
Since the Crown Prince rarely gave anything to the Empress, Zhiyuan took the doll and couldn't help but ask, "Doesn't Your Majesty keep one for yourself?"
The Empress chuckled and said, "I wouldn't treasure such a little thing. The Crown Prince is becoming more and more filial. I'm waiting for him to send me something better in the future."
That suits her taste better.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Palace, after hearing the news that Jiang Chen had been punished by the Emperor to kneel in the palace, Shen Yujiao was restless all day long. When he finally returned home, she no longer cared that she was still in a cold war with Jiang Chen. She went into the study and asked him repeatedly what trouble he had caused in the palace.
Jiang Chen had been scolded all day in the palace, with his memorials thrown at him and his inkstone smashed. Now, hearing the undisguised worry in Shen Yujiao's words, he felt that Shen Yujiao, who was raising her eyebrows at him, was extremely gentle.
He strode forward, pulled her into the crook of his right arm, raised his left hand high above his head, and spun her around in place. As if he had won a battle, he said proudly, "I went to the palace and told the Emperor and Empress that I really do not want to compete with the harem for the Crown Princess's favor. In order for me to be the Crown Princess's exclusive favorite, we should not select new people for the Eastern Palace."
"You, you're crazy?" Shen Yujiao's eyes widened, unable to believe that he would dare to say such a thing.
Before she could react, Jiang Chen grabbed her wrists with both hands and said sincerely, "Your Highness, I was wrong a few days ago. I shouldn't have spoken rudely to my brother-in-law. After reflecting on myself for the past two weeks, I have fully realized my mistake. Please forgive me this time."
Seeing that she didn't respond, he grabbed her wrist and shook it from side to side until Shen Yujiao had no temper left.
"Don't say that next time, whether it's about Zhiju or the election. We finally had a few days of peace..."
“I know,” Jiang Chen lowered his head as much as he could, “I know I was wrong.”
"Fine, you know you were wrong, right? Then read through all the memorials from the past few days. I'll be watching you."
"Huh? We have to read again?"
......
Hearing the occasional noise coming from the study, the eunuchs serving outside were worried that the two masters would start arguing again. Only Zhu Yu stood under the eaves, looking up at the sky. How wonderful, he had escaped with his life again.
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