Chapter 18 His Sense of Proportion
On this day, the Crown Princess went to the Lizheng Hall to pay her respects to the Empress as required by custom. She dressed plainly today, with a lingering trace of melancholy between her brows, and her words were less reserved than usual, with a hint of hesitation.
The Empress, being a woman of great wisdom, saw through her thoughts at a glance. She took a sip of tea and spoke calmly, "The Crown Princess doesn't seem to be looking well lately. Is it because of the many affairs of the Eastern Palace that she's been so busy and tired?"
Upon hearing this, the Crown Princess's eyes reddened slightly. She quickly dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and forced a smile, saying, "Your Majesty's concern is appreciated. There are precedents to follow in the affairs of the Eastern Palace, so it's not too burdensome. However... Your Highness has been working tirelessly on state affairs lately, and I worry about Your Highness's health. I also feel incompetent and unable to share Your Highness's burdens, so I am truly uneasy." She cleverly disguised her grievances as concern for the Crown Prince and her own self-reproach.
The Empress put down her teacup, her voice calm yet carrying a profound meaning: "The Crown Prince's diligence in governing is a great blessing to the country. As the Empress Consort, you should be virtuous and kind, managing the household well for him so that he has no worries. That would be the greatest relief. As for other matters... the Crown Prince knows what he should do."
The Crown Princess felt a chill run down her spine, knowing that the Empress was subtly warning her not to lose her composure out of jealousy.
She quickly lowered her head: "Your Majesty's reprimand is correct, I will remember it." She dared not say anything more, but her purpose had been achieved—at least the Empress knew about the current situation of the Crown Prince's exclusive favor.
After the Crown Princess left, the Empress rubbed her temples and sighed to her trusted nanny beside her, "Zhan'er really went too far this time." She could tolerate her son's favoritism towards a certain woman, but such blatant monopolistic affection had already caused unrest within the palace, and if this continued, it would not be a blessing for the country.
Moreover, offspring are the foundation of the nation. The Crown Prince has no heir to date and is clearly unwilling to get close to the Crown Princess. How could she and the Emperor not be worried?
A few days later, Xiao Jingzhan came to the Lizheng Hall to pay his respects, and the emperor happened to be there as well.
After a few casual words, the Emperor casually brought up the matter: "Zhan'er, you are now of age, and your mother and I are very pleased with your performance in state affairs. However... the matter of the Crown Prince's heir is also related to the foundation of the nation. Your mother personally chose your Crown Princess, Lady Li, who is dignified and virtuous. After your wedding, you prepared for the expedition, and were unable to consummate your marriage due to military training. Now that you have returned to the capital, you should visit Changchun Palace more often and give birth to a legitimate son as soon as possible to reassure the hearts of your subjects." The Emperor's tone was gentle, yet it carried an undeniable expectation.
The Empress chimed in, "Yes, Zhan'er. The Crown Princess is, after all, the principal wife, and you should give her the respect she deserves. Although Su is good, she is ultimately a concubine. Just be kind to her and don't let a small matter cause a big loss and chill the hearts of the principal wife and the Li family."
Xiao Jingzhan's expression remained calm, but his mind was clear. He knew this was a formal warning from his father and mother about his excessive favoritism towards Yu'er. He rose, bowed respectfully, and spoke in a steady, emotionless tone:
"I will always remember the teachings of my father and mother. The matter of having an heir is related to the fate of the nation, and I will never forget it."
He first affirmed the Emperor and Empress's intentions, then changed the subject: "However, precisely because of this, the matter of the eldest son must be handled with even greater care. I believe that the eldest son should be the hope of the nation, requiring favorable timing, location, and popular support. Although the world is at peace now, the northern barbarians are eyeing us covetously, and floods occur frequently in the southeast. Although the national treasury is full, the foundation is not stable. Whenever I think of this, I feel uneasy and unable to eat or sleep, fearing that my virtue is not commensurate with my position and that I will not be able to lay a foundation for lasting peace for my descendants."
He raised his eyes, his gaze clear and firm as he looked at the Emperor and Empress: "If we rush into having an heir at this time, I have concerns, and I fear I will not be able to devote myself fully to state affairs, nor will it be a blessing for the legitimate heir. Moreover, the Crown Princess is of a dignified and composed nature, and I also hope to spend more time with her, to get to know each other, and to wait until the time is right before continuing the lineage. This is the prudent way. In this way, we are not only responsible to the country, but also respectful to the Crown Princess and the future legitimate heir."
His words were perfectly flawless. He attributed the "not consummating the marriage" to "being concerned about national affairs," "hoping to cultivate feelings with the Crown Princess," and "creating a better environment for the legitimate son," placing himself at a high level of concern for the country and the people and deep thought. This not only saved face for the Emperor and Empress but also cleverly postponed the consummation of the marriage indefinitely.
The Emperor and Empress exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes. Their son's words, spoken with such grandiloquent logic, left them speechless! Were they to force him to abandon state affairs to have a child? Or were they to say that his consideration for the nation was wrong?
The Empress sighed, finally showing concern for her son, and waved her hand: "Alright, since you have this consideration, your father and I are not unreasonable people. State affairs are important, but the peace within the palace cannot be neglected. You... just make sure you know what's appropriate."
"Your subject obeys the decree. I will certainly not fail the expectations of Father and Mother." Xiao Jingzhan bowed again, lowering his eyes to conceal a trace of coldness.
His sense of propriety? His sense of propriety was to never let Yu'er suffer the slightest grievance. As for others... he couldn't give them that, nor did he want to.
After leaving the Lizheng Hall, Xiao Jingzhan went straight back to the East Palace, heading towards the Liuli Pavilion without stopping.
...
That day, Su Jingyu went to the Lizheng Hall to pay her respects to the Empress as per custom. The Empress treated her with even greater kindness than usual, holding her hand and talking for a long time, and rewarding her with many fashionable clothes and exquisite jewelry.
As she finished speaking, the Empress dismissed everyone except her trusted nanny. Holding Su Jingyu's hand, she spoke gently yet meaningfully: "Good child, you are a sensible girl. I have seen how Zhan'er treats you. He is cold-hearted, and it is rare to have you by his side to make him happy. I am very happy."
Su Jingyu quickly lowered her head: "Your Majesty is too kind. It is my honor to serve Your Highness."
The Empress gently patted the back of her hand and sighed, "But Zhan'er is, after all, the Crown Prince, the heir apparent of the nation. The eyes of the world are on him, and the ancestral rules are still in place. Offspring are the foundation of the nation, and it is a responsibility he cannot shirk."
I know it's difficult for you to persuade him to treat his children equally, but... you should also understand that some things are beyond human control, and no one can have everything. If you truly care for him, sometimes... you need to understand his difficulties.”
These words, spoken with utmost tact, were like a tiny needle gently pricking Su Jingyu's heart. She understood that the Empress was subtly pointing out that the Crown Prince could not forever remain devoted to only her.
A bitter feeling welled up inside her, but she still maintained a proper smile: "Your Majesty, I understand. Thank you for your guidance."
At dinner time, Xiao Jingzhan came to Liuli Pavilion. He seemed to be in a good mood today, and even specially asked the kitchen to prepare several Jiangnan dishes that Su Jingyu liked. During the meal, he casually mentioned, "You went to see the Empress Dowager today. Did she give you any trouble?"
Su Jingyu paused slightly in her chopsticks, then smiled nonchalantly, "No, Her Majesty the Empress treats me very well, bestowing many gifts upon me, and even... showing concern for His Highness's offspring." She was just saying it casually, trying to change the subject.
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