Chapter 213 [Extra] Dismissing the Harem
Three days later, an imperial edict was issued, causing an uproar in the court and the harem.
Emperor Jingxuan ordered the disbandment of the harem. Those who were interested could leave the palace voluntarily and take away their money, salary and jewelry that were not stamped with the palace seal. In addition, they would be rewarded with gold, silver and land as compensation, and were free to marry.
If necessary, they can receive female household registration documents stamped by the Ministry of Household Affairs and be protected by the government.
In addition, the palace maids who were originally required to leave the palace at the age of 25 were released three years earlier, at the age of 22. Now, palace maids who have reached the age can leave the palace voluntarily.
This was unprecedented! Not surprisingly, this matter sparked another wave of debate in the court, but Emperor Jingxuan finally silenced the opposition by offering a second option: to remain in the palace or become a monk.
But for Concubine Kang and others, it is a great thing!
They didn't expect that this matter would go so smoothly, and from now on they would be truly free, without the royal stigma.
Before leaving the palace, Concubine Kang and her group came specially to thank Yun Wan.
They took off their heavy palace attire and pearl hairpins and put on their favorite dresses, each beautiful in her own way.
"I haven't dressed like this in a while and I feel a little uncomfortable. I wonder if people will think I'm an old woman pretending to be young when I go out."
The person who spoke lowered her head and tugged at her dress, her cheeks slightly red.
Concubine Kang snorted coldly: "So what? I can wear whatever I like. If anyone dares to say anything, I'll slap him twice!"
The others nodded in agreement.
Since they dared to decide to leave the palace, they were prepared to face rumors after leaving. Besides, they were no longer naive, gullible and thin-skinned girls.
They also knew that among those who opposed them in the past few days were their fathers and brothers. They felt disheartened and became more determined to leave the palace.
At worst, they can just move out. Anyway, they have the female household register and money, houses and land. As long as they keep a clear head and keep their eyes open, they can continue to live a luxurious life for the rest of their lives.
Yun Wan: "If anyone speaks rudely, just teach them a lesson. His Majesty has said that anyone who speaks ill of the royal family will be punished."
Several people should be.
The time was almost up, and Concubine Kang and the others said goodbye, their eyes slightly filled with tears. "After we part today, I don't know when we will meet again. From now on, if Your Majesty needs me in any way, please send me a message. I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
Yun Wan nodded, signaling the palace maids to bring up the gold ingots and distribute them to them: "This is what I prepared for you. After much thought, gold and silver are the most practical. It's a little token of my appreciation. Please accept it."
"Thank you, Queen!"
The carriage to leave the palace had already been prepared to take Concubine Kang and others out of the palace.
Yun Wan stood on the city wall and watched their carriage leave the palace gate. She returned to her bedroom and asked Zhou Xianyue, "Now that they're gone, do you regret it?"
Zhou Xianyue rolled her eyes: "I regretted it after I left. Who will talk to you in the future?"
She is now rich, has free time and status, and has a prince. Since the construction of Prince An's mansion, she has been living outside the palace. Occasionally, she comes to the palace to chat with Yunwan. She is so happy. Everyone is polite to her when they see her.
It happened that Xiao Mingyang woke up and came to find Yunwan with a messy hair. He couldn't wait any longer.
After throwing herself into her mother's arms, she yawned, her snow-white little face flushed, which was very cute.
Zhou Xianyue was itching to touch him. She stared at the round and plump back of Mingyang's head, her voice unconsciously tightening: "If I leave the palace and leave the capital, how can I ever see our beautiful Mingyang again, right?"
Hearing his own name, Xiao Mingyang turned his head, opened his big watery eyes and suddenly smiled: "Auntie~"
Her chubby cheeks swayed as she turned her head, her eyebrows and eyes curved like crescent moons. Even though her hair was frizzy, it did not affect her cuteness at all, which instantly captured Zhou Xianyue's heart.
She couldn't wait to reach out her hand, "Good boy, let Aunt Zhou hug you!"
Yun Wan smoothed her daughter's hair and handed her to Zhou Xianyue after getting Xiao Mingyang's consent.
Holding the soft and fragrant little girl in her arms, Zhou Xianyue spoke in an incredibly gentle voice, "Xiao Mingyang, how about coming back to Prince An's Mansion with Auntie?"
When Xiao Mingyang heard that they were going to other places, he subconsciously looked at Yun Wan and blurted out two words: "Mom!"
It means that mom wants to go too.
Zhou Xianyue shook her head, "If your mother doesn't go, it's just the two of us."
She sighed and said, "The key is that even if your mother agrees, your father will not agree."
When things go wrong, you are the only one who is looked down upon.
Xiao Mingyang reacted quickly, saying with a stern face, "If Mommy doesn't go, I, won't go!"
"If Mom goes, I'll go too!"
Hearing this, Yun Wan's expression softened. Zhou Xianyue was envious and said, "What a little girl!"
Although this was outrageous, she still wanted to say:
Your Majesty’s order is so kind!
There is a beauty by my side, and a pair of fairy children.
She couldn't help but feel jealous.
After staying for more than an hour, Zhou Xianyue left the palace before dark on the pretext of returning home to have dinner with the Third Prince.
The Third Prince has grown stronger in the past two years and his appetite is as good as ever. When Zhou Xianyue eats with him, she unconsciously eats half a bowl of rice more.
........
When Yun Wan was combing her daughter's hair with a small comb, Emperor Jingxuan came back.
As soon as he took a look, he was immediately amused, "How did my little princess become a little lion?"
Isn’t the angry little Mingyang just like a little lion?
Xiao Mingyang turned his head and retorted: "I'm not Xiao Xiji, I'm Xiao Naofu!"
Ever since she was taken to the zoo to see tiger cubs that were a few months old, Xiao Mingyang has developed a love for tigers.
The two adults smiled at each other.
Xiao Mingyang's hair was tied up in a bun, black, smooth and thick, and of different lengths, slipping through his fingers from time to time.
Emperor Jingxuan took the comb from her hand and said, "Madam, let me do it."
"no!"
Asui's urgent refusal came from the door.
He dropped the book in his hand, smiled at Emperor Jingxuan and said, "Father, let me comb Xiaobao's hair."
He still remembered the scene of Emperor Jingxuan combing his hair, and he didn't want his sister's hair to be pulled out.
After saying this, he snatched the small comb from Emperor Jingxuan's hand and sat down to comb his sister's hair.
Little Mingyang leaned obediently in his mother's arms, with his brother combing his hair. His short legs were lifted up and placed on his old father's legs, looking lazy like a little bully.
Asui combed two buns for his sister and pinned two silk flowers on them. The frizzy little Mingyang instantly became neat.
Emperor Jingxuan clicked his tongue and was quite satisfied.
He lifted his daughter onto his shoulders and took her back for a ride on the big horse.
Little Mingyang, who had long been accustomed to various heights, was not afraid at all. He grabbed his old father's hair and giggled.
There was laughter and joy in the hall, while outside the hall Jiang Fusheng shook his head helplessly.
I haven't seen Your Majesty angry for a long time.
.......
When Xiao Mingyang was three years old, a major event happened in Da Qi, which was...
Emperor Jingxuan officially issued an edict, appointing Asui as the crown prince!
On the day of the enthronement, the sun was shining brightly, and all the civil and military officials came to congratulate him. The scene was grand and the atmosphere was magnificent.
Little Mingyang was dressed exquisitely and adorably, and was held by a palace maid as he watched his royal brother, surrounded by a crowd of people, wearing the crown and robes of the crown prince, and being worshipped by thousands of people on his knees.
"My royal brother is so awesome!" Inspired by the scene, she clapped her hands happily. Her childish voice sounded particularly abrupt in the solemn occasion, but no one frowned to stop her.
After all, when the little princess was two years old, she used the throne as a rocking chair in public and slept soundly on it for an entire morning, and the emperor didn't say anything.
As if sensing something, Asui looked over and smiled at his sister.
After the ceremony, Xiao Mingyang took advantage of the crowd to play hide-and-seek with the palace maids, and in a blink of an eye, he shook off the palace maids and slipped away alone.
Having been the apple of her parents' and brothers' eyes since she was young, little Mingyang knew that her family was not just big, but exceptionally big.
Not only is it big, it also has many rooms, but all of them are just occupied by their family.
A few months ago, she had been happy to take the palace maids on 'explorations' in the palace, curious about places she had never been to and discovering strange things.
........
"Xiao Cui, are you going to deliver food to that person again?"
The maid called Xiao Cui nodded, holding a large food box in her hand.
The maid suggested, "I think you should just not go, or just deliver one meal a day, so as to avoid being beaten and scolded by that person again."
She looked sympathetic. Since the imprisonment of that person, countless palace servants had been replaced in delivering meals. After delivering meals for a while, each one would spend money and use connections to transfer to another place.
Take Xiao Cui for example. That guy got mad and just picked up something and smashed it at her. Now there are big bruises on Xiao Cui's back, which were left when she was pushed down and hit the corner of the table a few days ago.
Xiao Cui smiled bitterly. She also wanted to change her job, but she was just a lowly servant sold into the palace by her family. She had no background and no money, so this job fell on her. She could only work hard and do this hard job without complaint.
As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at the food box in Xiao Cui's hand. "I see there's meat in that person's meal. Why don't you eat it yourself? No one will know anyway."
The master is the master after all. Even the imprisoned deposed prince has better food than these low-ranking palace servants, and has meat at every meal.
Xiao Cui understood what she meant and shook her head. She couldn't do such an inappropriate thing. Besides, if she was discovered, she might lose her life.
Seeing this, the other party couldn't help but feel disappointed, thinking that Xiao Cui deserved to have her original job taken over by someone else, and it was her own fault for not being able to adapt.
She was too lazy to say anything else and turned away.
Xiao Cui didn't want to talk to her any more and continued walking forward with the lunch box.
Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of the flowers swaying by the roadside, making a slight rustling sound. She immediately became alert: "Who?"
"Who's there?"
As she was feeling uneasy, the flowers swayed, and then a round head of a little girl popped out.
Xiao Cui paused, looking at her delicate face and the jade pendant on her waist, and was instantly shocked: "Little, little princess?"
She had never seen the legendary little Princess Mingyang, but she recognized the jade plaque because the nanny of the ceremonies had specifically reminded her of it after she entered the palace. Moreover, today was the auspicious day when the Fourth Prince was established as the Crown Prince, and there was only one little girl who could run around the palace and dress luxuriously.
That is the little princess who is loved by everyone.
Xiao Mingyang nodded, jumped out from the flowers, and patted the grass debris stuck on his body.
"Xiao Cui?" She shouted, looking up and blinking her big eyes.
Xiao Cui was flattered: "Princess, do you know this servant?"
Xiao Mingyang shook his head, "I don't know him."
She heard what the palace maid shouted just now.
She put her hands behind her back and looked at the food box in the other person's hand. Combining the conversation she just heard, she tilted her head and asked curiously, "Xiao Cui, who are you going to deliver the food to?"
She listened to the general idea, but understood the main point: Xiao Cui was going to deliver food to a very scary person.
Xiao Cui's heart skipped a beat because of the cuteness, but she didn't dare to say much. She only said vaguely: "Uh, it's a master."
"Master? Where does the master live? Have I seen him before?"
Xiao Mingyang asked, is there anyone in the family that she hasn't met?
Xiao Cui didn't dare to lie, "You haven't seen it, it's in Yongzhang Palace."
Yongzhang Palace?
Is there any place she hasn't been?
Xiao Mingyang instantly became curious, "I want to go deliver the food, too. Xiao Cui, take me with you."
She naturally reached out and grabbed Xiao Cui's sleeve, motioning her to take her with her.
Xiao Cui's face turned pale when she heard this, and she quickly shook her head and explained, "Princess, I'm afraid that won't work. It's very dangerous there, and I wouldn't dare act without your Majesty's permission."
"Did you come out alone? Can I take you back?"
she tried to coax.
Xiao Mingyang shook his head: "No, I want to go with you to deliver the food."
Xiao Cui wanted to cry but had no tears: "Princess......"
Seeing her firm attitude, Xiao Cui gritted her teeth and said, "Then I will take you there."
He said he was taking Xiao Mingyang to Yongzhang Palace, but in fact he was taking her towards the harem.
Xiao Mingyang didn't know the way and was very happy along the way.
When they reached the border between the front court and the harem, someone came over from a distance, stopped Xiao Cui, and asked, "Where are you taking the princess?"
Sensing the other party's vigilance, Xiao Cui quickly explained: "Sir, I was going to Yongzhang Palace to deliver food to that person, but I met the little princess on the way..."
She explained the whole story to the visitor, and when she saw his expression ease a little, Xiao Cui finally said, "I had no choice but to lead the princess this way, hoping to meet someone who was looking for her."
Xiao Mingyang now understood that she had been deceived by the seemingly honest Xiao Cui!
She put her hands on her hips in anger, and when she saw who was coming, she exclaimed, "Are you my brother's teacher, Master Lu?"
Meeting her clear eyes, Lu Yuanduo nodded, his expression softening: "Yes."
He glanced at Xiao Cui and said, "Go ahead. I'll send someone to inform His Majesty."
Xiao Cui breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you, sir."
Xiao Mingyang watched helplessly as the meal she wanted to deliver slipped away from him, feeling unhappy.
Lu Yuanduo bent down, and asked with a smile in his eyes: "Where are the palace maids around the princess?"
Xiao Mingyang raised his chin and said, "The hide-and-seek game is gone. I threw it away on purpose!"
Looking at her proud little look, Lu Yuanduo didn't know whether he should tell her that she might get beaten.
Just like her brothers back then.
"Why did the princess go to Yongzhang Palace?" he asked tentatively, worried that someone had said something to her.
Xiao Mingyang put his hands on his hips and said, "I haven't been there, I want to go and see it."
Lu Yuanduo: "There's nothing to see there. The people there have bad tempers and will beat up children when they get mad, especially a well-behaved and beautiful child like the princess."
Recalling what the palace maid had said not long ago, Xiao Mingyang showed a trace of fear on his face, "Is this so scary?"
"Can Father defeat the people in there?"
Lu Yuanduo hesitated for a moment but still didn't answer this question. He knew the nature of children very well. As long as he explained, they would have countless questions.
He looked up at the sky and pretended to change the subject: "It's getting late. Your Majesty and Your Majesty must be anxious. I will take you back."
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