Chapter 123: Concubine Ning
After coming out of Rongle Palace, Concubine Chen Gui let out a long breath, closed her eyes and took a deep breath, returned the Phoenix Seal, and felt that the air in the palace was much fresher.
Pei Chuyan couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips when he saw Concubine Chen like this: "Concubine Chen is very happy."
It is an affirmative sentence, not a question.
Concubine Chen nodded, and there was even a faint smile in her bright eyes: "Yes, I'm very happy."
That night, the Emperor of Great Chu naturally came to Qingyun Palace.
In the morning, when Concubine Chen Gui had just left Rongle Palace, the Queen Mother brought the maidservant to the study and handed the Phoenix Seal back to the Emperor of Great Chu. The Emperor of Great Chu was surprised when he saw this: "What is this, Mother?"
"Don't worry, Your Majesty," the Queen Mother knew what the Great Chu Emperor was worried about, so she explained, "Qing Yan came to Rongle Palace in person and handed the Phoenix Seal to me."
The Emperor of Great Chu still looked at the Queen Mother in confusion.
"Qingyan understands this matter and doesn't want to embarrass the emperor."
The Queen Mother sighed at this point and said, "She is a sensible girl. The Emperor should not treat her badly."
The Great Chu Emperor also nodded and fell into deep thought. Qing Yan's move really solved a big problem for him.
When they arrived at Qingyun Palace, the Great Chu Emperor did not say much, but just took Concubine Chen Gui's hand and said, "I am sorry for wronging you."
Seeing this, Concubine Chen just scratched her head in embarrassment and said, "Your Majesty, what are you talking about? I think this kind of life is great. In this palace, I don't have to worry about food and clothing, and I have people to serve me. It's much more comfortable than in the barracks."
Lu Xingwan on the side also spoke happily.
[Father, my mother is lying. I don't believe that her life now is happier than in the military camp. Although I have never been in the military camp, my mother is at least a deputy general. She must be very comfortable in the army.]
[But come to think of it, the palace is definitely more comfortable.]
[In summer, there is ice, in winter, there is a heater, so you don’t have to sleep in the open air, and you don’t have to worry about food. It’s really good. ]
[If Father could give Mother the job of managing the six palaces to someone else, Mother would be more comfortable.]
The Emperor of Great Chu could not help but smile helplessly, let alone being in charge of the six palaces, even the power to assist in managing the six palaces was something that other concubines were fighting for. As for these mother and daughter, he wished they could be sent away immediately.
Concubine Chen Guifei also complained in her heart: So what I said was that it was more comfortable than in the military camp, not that it was happier than in the military camp! But I am afraid that I will never have the chance to return to the border in this lifetime.
Forget it, forget it, just live well in the present.
The Great Chu Emperor felt even more sorry for the mother and daughter.
On the second day, during the morning court session, the Grand Secretary Yu once again mentioned the issue of establishing a queen. The Great Chu Emperor did not evade the question and simply asked, "Does the Grand Secretary Yu have any good candidates?"
Lord Rong has always been a very straightforward person. He just felt that His Majesty was finally willing to give in, so he knelt down and said, "The queen chosen by His Majesty will naturally be excellent."
After being tortured by these people for these days, the Great Chu Emperor had the intention to tease them: "Since I asked you to speak, you should speak."
Although the official was straightforward, he was not stupid. He did not think it was his place to comment on such matters, so he just knelt on the ground and said, "I dare not."
The Great Chu Emperor turned around and looked at the second person who had spoken out that day: "What does the Minister of Personnel think?"
The Minister of Personnel, Lord Shen, also hurried forward and knelt on the ground, imitating the example of the Minister of History: "What Your Majesty chooses is the most suitable."
After the Great Chu Emperor pointed around, the Minister of Works, Lord He, finally spoke up and said, "Noble Consort Chen has been in the palace for many years and has won the emperor's favor. I think Noble Consort Chen is suitable."
When the Third Prince saw that someone had finally mentioned Concubine Chen's name, he hurriedly stepped forward and said, "I second your motion."
However, this time, no one else seconded the proposal, and the court fell silent.
The Great Chu Emperor couldn't help but blatantly roll his eyes, which made the Third Prince feel uneasy.
Xintian had indeed told him that he should be the first to recommend Concubine Ning, so that he would surely gain the favor of His Majesty. However, he thought that he had never had any contact with Concubine Ning, and if he recommended her openly, wouldn't it arouse his father's suspicion?
It would be better to please the emperor. After all, he is very fond of Concubine Chen, so it is not a bad idea to recommend her.
After Xintian learned about this, he said: I am really not smart enough to choose such a fool as my assistant. I might as well choose the eunuch, who will be smarter and more obedient than him.
The Emperor of Great Chu also cursed in his heart, fortunately he still had the Crown Prince as his successor. It would be really sad if his kingdom was handed over to a brainless person like Jinchen.
No wonder Wanwan said that the Third Prince was on the throne for less than two years before his regime was overthrown by the Second Prince.
Thinking of this, the Great Chu Emperor couldn't help but look at the Second Prince and asked, "What do you think, Jin Yu?"
The Second Prince saw that his father had finally pointed to him, so he simply answered as he had agreed with the Crown Prince in advance: "I think Concubine Ning is the most suitable."
Upon hearing this, the Third Prince turned around and looked at the Second Prince in surprise. Jin Yu had no contact with Concubine Ning on a daily basis, so why would he recommend her for no reason?
The Great Chu Emperor asked the Crown Prince again, and the Crown Prince just calmly replied: "I think what Jin Yu said makes sense."
The Emperor of Great Chu nodded and said no more, only looking around at the faces of the ministers in the court.
The third prince was surprised. Could it be that he really made the wrong choice this time? Should he really recommend Concubine Ning? Why did his father favor Concubine Ning so much?
Of course he didn't have the brain to think about it. The selection of the empress was never based on the emperor's own preferences, but more on considerations for the previous dynasty.
The Emperor of Great Chu was in a good mood today, and all the ministers could see that he was no longer as anxious as he was yesterday.
The prince took a step forward, smiling gently, looking like a gentleman: "I think father has already made his own considerations."
The Great Chu Emperor nodded, and was even more satisfied with the Crown Prince: "Yes, I have discussed this with the Queen Mother and Concubine Chen."
After saying that, he looked at Meng Quande and said, "Announce the decree!"
When they came out of Jingzheng Palace, the ministers were still confused. His Majesty really chose Concubine Ning? But Concubine Ning had only been in the palace for less than half a year. How could this happen?
Of course, some opportunistic ministers ran to the side of Lord Shen, the Minister of the Dali Temple, and said, "Congratulations, Lord Shen, congratulations, Lord Shen, from today on, you are the father-in-law of the emperor."
Several officials nearby also came forward to congratulate him: "Congratulations, Mr. Shen."
Lord Shen has always been a low-key person, so he hurriedly responded to the greetings one by one: "My colleagues, please stop talking about whether he is the father-in-law of the emperor or not. It is a blessing for Concubine Ning to be chosen by His Majesty."
After saying this, he returned the greetings to the other ministers one by one, turned around and quickly left the palace.
But I feel very uneasy inside.
He had no intention of currying favor with the powerful and had always been doing his own thing. Sending his daughter into the palace was simply an imperial order that could not be disobeyed.