In the evening, the eldest wife Zhang returned home, and Shaoyao went to see her despite her still unhealed body.
"Madam, Qingmei and the others are busy embroidering the wedding dress for the second young lady. Shouldn't we prepare the gold thread early?"
Madam Zhang looked at Shaoyao and asked, "Did someone from Zhilan Court come to see you?"
Shaoyao did not hide anything and told everything.
"I think that even though the Second Young Lady's wedding date hasn't been set yet, we should start preparing early. If there's an imperial decree from the palace one day, setting the wedding date within the year, we'll be in such a rush then, I'm afraid it'll be too late."
Madam Zhang nodded and said, "We should start preparing it sooner rather than later. How much gold thread have you prepared for the Third Young Lady's wedding dress?"
Shaoyao bowed and said, "Madam, I have prepared nearly four ounces of gold thread for the third young lady's wedding dress."
The eldest wife, Zhang, said, "Tell the needlework room to prepare another eight ounces of gold thread and send it to Zhilan Courtyard."
Shaoyao smiled happily, "Madam is really thoughtful."
The needlework room received the order and, a few days later, twisted five taels of gold into thread and sent it to Zhilan Courtyard. The remaining three taels were twisted and sent a few days later.
Qingmei and the others got the gold thread and busied themselves embroidering wedding dresses.
This matter reached Gu Yue's ears.
Gu Yue exploded immediately.
"That's too much! My wedding dress has less than four taels of gold thread. But Gu Jiu's wedding dress requires eight taels of gold thread. We're both legitimate daughters, so why should she have twice as much gold thread as me? My aunt clearly looks down on me. We can't just let this go."
Gu Yue was so angry that she started crying and insisted on going to find Xie to help her.
The maid Grape hurriedly tried to persuade her.
"Young lady, please don't be impulsive. Madam is exhausted from going out early and returning late every day to mourn in the palace. If you bring this matter to Madam now, she won't have the energy to stand up for you."
Gu Yue glared, "Then what do you say we should do? Do you want me to swallow my anger and watch Gu Jiu be so proud?"
Grape hurriedly shook her head and said, "What I mean is that the Empress's funeral is only a few days away. It would be better for you to wait until the national mourning is over before you find an opportunity to speak to Madam about this matter. I have heard that Madam intends to manage the household affairs together with the First Madam. The matter of the golden thread is a good excuse, and perhaps it can help Madam."
By then, the lady might be so happy that she might prepare a dowry of several thousand taels of silver for the girl."
Gu Yue bit her lip, her eyes rolling around. "You're right. Mother is exhausted and unable to stand up for me. I'll wait a few more days until the national mourning is over and Mother has rested before I step forward. Grape, keep an eye on Zhilan Court for me. The people in Zhilan Court are really going too far."
Grape obeyed the order.
In a blink of an eye, the Queen's body was kept for twenty-one days before the funeral was finally held.
Deeply mourned.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince cried particularly miserably.
Although the people around were also crying, most of them felt relieved.
After twenty-one days of suffering, it was finally over.
Looking around, everyone looked exhausted and haggard, as if they had aged four or five years.
Everyone's body was stretched to the limit. After the funeral procession left the city, everyone got on the carriage and suddenly collapsed in the carriage, unable to get up.
For the next two days, all officials and royal relatives above the fourth rank in the capital, without exception, were as quiet as chickens, sleeping and recuperating.
The emperor also understood everyone's hard work and specially granted them three days of rest. Three days was enough time for everyone to recover and return to court in high spirits.
When he arrived at the court, the prince was not there.
At this time, many officials realized belatedly that the prince had to observe three years of mourning for the empress.
The civil officials frowned at first. The prince had not attended court for three years. Was there still a place for him in the court?
Then he thought again, now that the Queen is gone, the Prince is in danger.
The prince not attending court for three years is a good way to save his life.
As a result, the civil officials nodded secretly, thinking that the Queen was wise.
The nobles frowned.
The crown prince has not attended court for three years. How can we find something to hold against him?
but……
Everyone looked up at the emperor.
The emperor had long disliked the crown prince, and even if the crown prince had not attended court for three years, there would still be a chance to bring him down.
Even if the Crown Prince behaves himself, the officials in the Eastern Palace will not remain silent.
Everyone spent eight years of hard work and finally made sure that no one around the emperor would speak for the prince.
After years of hard work, how can we let it go to waste?
Moreover, the Queen has passed away. Now is the time to press on and make His Royal Highness the Crown Prince pay the price.
Everyone exchanged glances and set their sights on Donggong.
East Palace Bowang Garden.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sat at the top, listening to the officials shouting loudly, but he remained silent.
He was dressed in mourning clothes, his face was haggard and sallow, and there were bloodshot eyes. His once plump body had visibly lost two pounds.
Regarding mourning, the imperial family had a custom of using days instead of months, with twenty-seven days representing twenty-seven months.
However, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had already decided to obey the Empress's last words and observe a three-year mourning period.
"...Your Highness, please think twice! When you return to court in three years, the situation will have completely changed. How will Your Highness be able to maneuver and win His Majesty's favor?"
"Not only that, within these three years, the Princes of Zhao, Yan, and Ning will undoubtedly aggressively win over court officials and expand their power. Three years from now, when Your Highness returns to the court, I'm afraid you'll have no place to stand. You'll be hampered at every turn, unable to even complete the smallest task. This will only make the Emperor even more dissatisfied with Your Highness."
"Your Highness and I all know that the Empress's last words were for Your Highness's benefit, but the Empress is still not thoughtful enough. The situation at court is changing rapidly, and you and I cannot attend the court. If Your Highness does not attend court for three years, who will speak up for Your Highness? If the Emperor punishes Your Highness, who will plead for Your Highness? Your Highness, please retract your order. You cannot stay away from court for three years!"
"Your Highness, please revoke your order."
Inside the hall, there were crowds of people kneeling.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince looked at everyone with a cold gaze and said, "My dear ministers, do you want to force me to death?"
"I dare not! Your Highness, please think twice."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince snorted coldly, "My Queen Mother's body is barely cold, and you're already forcing me. I ask you, do you still have the loyalty of a subject? You know that countless people in the court are eager to deal with me, yet you push me into the court at this moment? Aren't you afraid of killing me? I tell you, if I die, none of you will be able to escape."
"Your Highness, please be careful with your words."
"Your Highness, we are not unaware of the immense dangers of the court. But Your Highness should not retreat at this time. Fight hard, and there is still a chance. If you don't, I'm afraid you won't even have a chance, and will be at the mercy of others."
"Yes, there is still a chance if we try. Your Highness, please make a decision as soon as possible."
"Enough!" His Royal Highness the Crown Prince angrily scolded everyone.
"My Queen Mother is right. You are all too selfish. You always want me to be at the forefront, while you hide behind, working in the shadows and seeking personal gain under the name of the Eastern Palace. Get out of here, all of you."
"Your Highness is wronged! We have been thinking of Your Highness with all our heart, but in return we have been met with Your Highness' suspicion. We are not satisfied."
"I am not convinced."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sneered, "If you don't accept it, then keep kneeling."
After saying this, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince flicked his sleeves and left.
The officials of the Eastern Palace looked at each other in confusion, wondering what to do.
Could it be that His Highness has gone insane? He always respected their opinions in the past, but why did His Highness become a completely different person after the Queen's death?
Little did they know that due to the passing of the Queen, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince felt the pressure doubled.
Unfortunately, there was no one to share the pressure with him.
Only by hiding in the East Palace did he feel better.
He became more and more convinced that the Queen Mother's will, asking him to observe three years of mourning, was truly out of consideration for his own good.
Unfortunately, none of his officials understood his difficulties and just forced him to attend court to govern.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was almost suffocating under the enormous pressure.
At this time, whoever allowed him to attend court to govern would have ulterior motives and he would be disgusted by that.
But he didn't expect that the officials of the Eastern Palace, from top to bottom, all asked him to attend court to govern, and no one cared about him.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was extremely disheartened, and the more he looked at the faces of his officials, the more hateful they seemed to him.
He hid in his bedroom, refusing to see any of his subordinates. He told anyone who came to him to get out.
When the Crown Prince thought about facing the Emperor's eyes when he went to court and his mother was no longer around, he felt extremely frightened and timid deep down.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is truly afraid of his father, the Emperor, from the bottom of his heart.
The emperor could make him tremble like a sieve with just a glare.
In fact, he was not like this when he was young.
At that time, the father and son could still talk to each other peacefully, and the emperor also praised him highly.
It was unknown when it started, but the emperor looked at him with increasing impatience and disgust, as if he were an enemy.
Whenever his music was not to the emperor's liking, he would be scolded or even beaten by the emperor.
Time and again, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince became more and more afraid of facing the Emperor alone. Every time he went to see the Emperor, he was always extremely nervous.
If you get nervous, you will perform poorly. If you perform poorly, the emperor will be disappointed and disgusted.
Things have been spiraling in this vicious cycle, leading to the current situation.
His mother had told him to observe a three-year mourning period, which he didn't understand at first. But now he was extremely grateful to her for her wise decision.
After three years of mourning, he would not have to go to see the emperor. He could also take this opportunity to cultivate his character.
Maybe in three years, he would be able to overcome his inner fear and attend court as he did when he was young, speaking freely in front of the emperor and his ministers.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince only thought about his fear of the Emperor, but did not think about why the Emperor hated him more and more.
Just because the father and son have different ideas.
When the emperor thought about handing over such a vast empire to the hands of a weak prince, he became furious and wanted to poke his eyes out.
He was blind, that's why they made him the crown prince. But he turned out to be a pile of mud that can't be helped.
No one has ever truly analyzed the reasons behind this to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
He just kept saying that the emperor was cruel and unkind, and that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince must stick to his original intention and govern the country with benevolence.
Brainwashed every day, the prince also believed that the emperor was cruel and inhumane, and he was determined to change this situation.
Thus, the conflict between father and son inevitably broke out.
The Crown Princess came to meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness, please calm down."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sighed and looked at Crown Princess Sun.
Sun was from a famous family and the granddaughter of a great scholar in the court. She was dignified and steady, but her health was not very good.
"You're here! Why don't you rest in your room? You must be exhausted these days."
"I have rested for a few days and have felt much better. But Your Highness, you haven't had a good rest these days and you look much more haggard."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sighed again, "You've heard it all, right? The officials are forcing me to attend court. This is outrageous."
Crown Princess Sun said, "My Queen Mother, there are some things I think are very true."
"What?" The Crown Prince became interested.
Crown Princess Sun said thoughtfully, "When it comes to ministers, you should be lenient and strict. Beat those who deserve to be beaten, and kill those who deserve to be killed. You can't be soft-hearted."
The Crown Prince's expression changed slightly. "You... you think so too? Do you think we should kill a few people to establish our authority?"
Crown Princess Sun lowered her eyelids and did not meet the Crown Prince's gaze.
"Some people are not as honest as they appear. They have committed countless acts of corruption and abuse of power in private. Your Highness should be aware of this."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was speechless, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Crown Princess Sun sighed and said, "Due to the mourning period, the children's marriages will have to be postponed until three years from now. I wonder if they will still have the chance to marry and have children after three years."
"What do you mean by that?"
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was very dissatisfied. "Could it be that you and those officials are forcing me to attend court just by glancing at me?"
Crown Princess Sun slowly shook her head, "Your Highness has misunderstood. I agree with Mother's decision. The benefits of three years of mourning outweigh the risks. My only concern is the marriages of my children. You say Your Majesty has issued a decree granting marriages, but who can say for sure what will happen three years from now?"
The Crown Prince put his arm around Sun's shoulders and said, "Don't worry, the children will be able to marry and have children. Don't worry too much. Even if the worst comes to the worst, I will never burden you. I will be the first to end my life."
"Your Highness!"
Crown Princess Sun was horrified and looked terrified.
"How can Your Highness say such a thing?"
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince smiled, his eyes sad.
He held the hand of Crown Princess Sun and said solemnly, "Since my mother passed away, I have made preparations. If that day really comes, I will choose to end my life without waiting for the imperial decree.
In this way, the Emperor will naturally show mercy to the Eastern Palace, and you and the children can protect yourselves, escape unscathed, and become idle members of the royal family. Although life may be difficult, at least your life will be safe and your wealth will remain."
Crown Princess Sun burst into tears immediately, but she was afraid of attracting the attention of the palace servants, so she could only lower her voice and cry silently.
"Why is it so? Why is it so?"
I asked them both why it was like this, simply because I was really sad.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince laughed, "I have been the Crown Prince for over twenty years, which is enough. There will be records about me in the history books in the future. I hope the historians will show some mercy and not paint me in such a bad light."
Crown Princess Sun repeatedly shook her head, "Stop talking. Things haven't reached that point yet, and it might not... If Your Highness can survive these three years, and outlast His Majesty, that position will still be yours."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince shook his head slightly. "Even if I could survive these three years, I wouldn't be able to survive Father. Father is full of vigor and vitality, a sign of longevity. Please don't say such things again."
Crown Princess Sun repeatedly shook her head, "Father is already old, maybe..."
"Stop talking. Even if the Emperor is truly unwell, he will definitely issue an order to depose me and appoint another heir at the last minute. In short, don't let your imagination run wild, and don't act rashly. Just consider this as a plea from me."
Crown Princess Sun cried while nodding her head heavily, "I will obey Your Highness. However, the officials will not give up easily. They will definitely contact the generals in private. At the critical moment, I am afraid that they will cause chaos and implicate the entire Eastern Palace."
His Royal Highness frowned, "I have been too indulgent towards them. I will think about this matter carefully and find a way to control them."
Crown Princess Sun shook her head. It was useless. Those officials had already had their appetites bloated over the past ten or twenty years.
Unless they are all killed, mere restraint is useless.
Crown Princess Sun couldn't bear to hit His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, so she didn't say anything else.
It is very good that Your Highness is willing to cheer up and restrain his subordinates.
There is always a way forward. After His Royal Highness the Crown Prince takes the first step, she will then push him from behind to take the second and third steps. Maybe there will still be room for things to turn around.
Crown Princess Sun looked towards the direction of Xingqing Palace.
The prince has been the prince for more than 20 years, and his mother has passed away. Why is the emperor still unwilling to die?
If the emperor suddenly dies, can the prince ascend the throne smoothly and become emperor?
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