Chapter 10 The Queen Mother Returns to the Palace
A few days later, the Queen Mother returned to the palace. The Emperor of Great Chu and his concubines were waiting at the palace gate early in the morning. Then, a magnificent phoenix chariot slowly came into view.
On one side of the phoenix chariot, there were the empress dowager's personal maids and eunuchs serving.
On the other side were the Second Prince Lu Jinyu and the Young Master Pei Chuyan of the Duke of Anguo's Mansion, who accompanied the Queen Mother to Mingjing Temple to pray for blessings.
When the Queen Mother was helped down from the Phoenix Sedan by her personal attendant, Madam Su, the Great Chu Emperor hurried forward and embraced the Queen Mother, saying, "Mother, you have worked hard on this trip to Mingjing Temple."
Due to severe drought in the Great Chu State for several months in a row, the people's spring harvest was completely destroyed, and the people were left with no means of survival and starving people everywhere.
Since there was no Empress in the palace, the Empress Dowager went to Mingjing Temple, the national temple of the Great Chu State, in person to pray for the country. The concubines did not need to accompany her, so she chose the Second Prince to accompany her.
The Queen Mother patted the Great Chu Emperor's hand and said with relief: "I am only praying for blessings. It is more tiring for you to sit in the court. The Emperor does not need to worry about me so much."
"In the end, it was the Queen Mother's sincerity that moved the Lord. With these two rains, our Great Chu State is saved."
Hearing the words of the Great Chu Emperor, the Queen Mother raised her head and looked for Concubine Chen: "Concubine Chen gave birth? But it's already a month old? Bring her here for me to see."
Concubine Chen Gui hurriedly took Lu Xingwan from the wet nurse and walked towards the empress dowager.
[Wow, it's the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother is the most kind person. Thanks to her for protecting the Crown Prince all these years. Unfortunately, she was later imprisoned in the palace by Prince Rong and died of depression.]
[It must be hard to see your own son kill his own brother for the throne, right? ]
The Great Chu Emperor and Concubine Chen had long since gotten used to Lu Xingwan's nagging, and now had learned to remain calm when he insulted them, and would slowly learn to digest it after returning to the palace.
"My son has already appointed Qingyan as the Imperial Consort." The Great Chu Emperor whispered in the Queen Mother's ear.
"Yes, it should be." The Queen Mother always liked the low-key Concubine Chen. "It should be. I heard that it rained heavily when the child was born, and it rained again on the full moon day. I think she is the lucky star of our Great Chu State!"
The Queen Mother gently took Lu Xingwan and looked at her closely.
[The Queen Mother is the wisest. This fairy is definitely a lucky star! ]
"I have already proposed a title for Wanwan, Yong'an." The Great Chu Emperor said as he took Lu Xingwan's hand and showed the lotus birthmark on her arm to the Queen Mother, "Have a look, Mother."
"It's actually a Buddhist lotus." The Queen Mother has always believed in Buddhism, and she was even more surprised when she saw this, "Good, good, good, Concubine Chen, oh no, Concubine Chen really gave birth to a good daughter."
The group was chatting happily, and the second prince came forward to pay his respects when he saw them.
"I pay my respects to the Emperor and congratulate Empress Chen."
The Great Chu Emperor saw him like this and turned to look at him: "Get up quickly, you have worked hard on the journey."
"It is my grandson's blessing to be able to accompany the Queen Mother to pray for blessings."
Pei Chuyan, who was following beside him, also strode forward and paid his respects to the Emperor of Great Chu and his concubines.
Pei Chuyan was the only son of the Duke of Anguo's Mansion. In the war with Fengguo in the same month last year, although the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion suffered heavy losses, it was less than one-tenth of the losses suffered by the Duke of Anguo's Mansion. The Duke of Anguo went deep into the enemy's territory alone to take the head of the enemy general, but was shot in the heart by the enemy and died on the spot.
After the news came back, the wife of Duke Anguo could not bear the shock and fell ill on the spot. From then on, there was no cure for her and she finally passed away at the end of last year.
The old Duke of Anguo also died in battle a few years ago.
The only one left in the family was the eight-year-old prince Pei Chuyan, who could only be raised by the empress dowager and wait for him to be granted the title when he came of age.
[Wow, I see the hero! Let me take a look at my second brother, he is so handsome, but he is only in his teens and he is so outstanding, what will happen to him in the future? ]
[My father has so many princes, and my second brother is the most suitable to be the emperor. What a pity, my second brother went through so many twists and turns before he ascended the throne.]
[The people have been made miserable by Prince Rong and the Third Prince. It really took a lot of effort! ]
After hearing Lu Xingwan's inner monologue, the Great Chu Emperor couldn't help but look at the Second Prince a little more. He never thought that the Second Prince, whom he had never noticed, was the most suitable candidate for the Crown Prince. However, the Crown Prince...
The Great Chu Emperor looked at Concubine Chen again, but saw that she looked calm.
[Master Pei is here too. He looks as cold as ice now. Who would have thought that this little kid would become the Second Prince's most powerful assistant in the future!]
The Emperor of Chu couldn't help but rub his forehead when he heard this. Wanwan, you are just a little kid!
"Ninth sister is really well-behaved." The second prince took a step forward, walked up to the Queen Mother, and looked at Lu Xingwan, "She is as beautiful as Empress Chen!"
Only then did Concubine De and Concubine Lan come forward to pay their respects.
"Let's end it today. The Queen Mother has to go back to the palace to rest. You can go back to your palaces first." The Emperor of Great Chu saw that the Queen Mother looked a little tired and spoke hurriedly.
When they arrived at the Queen Mother's Palace, the Great Chu Emperor dismissed the servants and then said, "Mother, I'm afraid Prime Minister Cui has rebellious intentions."
There is no need to mention this matter to the Queen Mother, but since it involves the Third Prince, it is better to let the Queen Mother know.
Seeing that the emperor was calm and composed, he asked, "But is there any evidence?"
"We have thoroughly investigated it, but we haven't arrested anyone yet. After all, Prime Minister Cui has been in office for many years and has deep roots. We are afraid that if we disturb him even a little, the whole body will be affected." The analysis of the Great Chu Emperor was clear and concise.
"You are right to worry. Prime Minister Cui has a deep foundation, and Concubine De has two sons. I'm afraid it will be difficult to take him down." Although the empress dowager did not participate in court affairs, she had accompanied the late emperor through thick and thin in his early years, so she naturally understood some political affairs.
Seeing that the Great Chu Emperor was still in deep thought, he said, "This matter requires long-term consideration."
The Emperor of Chu nodded and said nothing more.
Thinking about Prince Rong again, he considered it again and again, but finally did not speak to the Queen Mother. Wanwan just said that her mother died of depression because of Prince Rong's attempt to seize the throne. It is better not to let her worry about this matter for now.
After leaving the Empress Dowager's Rongle Palace, the Emperor of Great Chu, who was about to return to his study, suddenly changed his route and went to Concubine De's Changqiu Palace.
"Yuqi, I promoted Concubine Chen to the rank of Noble Concubine this time. Do you have any complaints?" The Emperor of Great Chu naturally wanted to test Concubine De.
"Your Majesty, what are you talking about? Sister Chen has contributed a lot to the birth of Princess Yong'an. She has also been very attentive in nurturing the Crown Prince over the past few years. She is a person who has made contributions to the country. How could I be jealous?"
Defei's answer was satisfactory, but the Emperor of Great Chu was awakened.
He was afraid that the investigation into Prime Minister Cui had exposed his true colors. Concubine De had always been jealous, so how could he not know that Concubine De had always been thinking about the position of empress? With such a clever answer, he was afraid that Prime Minister Cui had already informed her.
The Great Chu Emperor immediately thought: "Go and ask someone to call the Third Prince. I haven't seen him for many days."
The Emperor of Great Chu had always shown little concern for the princes and princesses, but now he had taken the initiative to summon the Third Prince. Although Concubine De was shocked, she hurriedly gave orders.