Chapter 290 The Imperial Study, Raising a Daughter
When the imperial edict to dissolve the harem was issued, the uproar and chaos it caused within the harem was unprecedented and earth-shattering.
Upon seeing the bright yellow imperial edict, the concubines realized that Emperor Zhaoheng's words at the morning meeting were not a joke.
He really wants to do something so contrary to his ancestors!
Even... for that woman who came from a lowly family!
Countless people in the harem had similar thoughts flashing through their minds.
There were many who were surprised, angry, and delighted.
This time, the harem was far from calm; it was in complete chaos.
Inside Yonglu Palace, Wen Jingfeng sat alone by the window, with her packed bundles and trunks beside her.
The contents of the imperial edict still echoed in her mind, every word crystal clear.
Freedom... the freedom she had longed for had arrived in such an earth-shattering way.
Her eyes held an irrepressible anticipation and excitement, as if she could already see the vast world beyond the palace walls, but deep within them lay unease... as well as bewilderment about the unknown future and worry about the possible reaction from her family.
Wen Jingfeng took a deep breath and continued to silently pack up her few personal belongings.
She didn't touch any of the gorgeous palace dresses or jewelry, only packing up a few old books and some savings.
On the other side of the harem.
Tuoba Pin's reaction was much more direct.
After hearing the imperial edict, she was stunned for a moment, then a carefree smile appeared on her lips, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
"Finally, I don't have to face the sky in all four directions anymore and learn those complicated rules!"
She laughed loudly and immediately directed her maid, "Aya, quick, pack up all our things! We don't need those fussy palace dresses anymore!"
Tuoba's eyes were bright, filled with longing to return to the grasslands.
However, not everyone was delighted by this unexpected blessing.
Inside the secluded Zhuijin Pavilion, Consort Li and Consort Zhang huddled together, their faces filled with fear and unease.
"Sister, what... what should we do?"
Zhang Changzai's voice trembled, "If we go out like this, what will become of our family's reputation? How will we live from now on? Who would marry someone who has been released from the palace..."
She dared not continue.
Consort Li's face was equally pale. She was a few years older than Consort Zhang and her thoughts were more troubled: "The Emperor's decree is hard to disobey... However, although we are not favored in the palace, at least we have enough to eat and wear and a place to live. Now that we are suddenly sent out, we will be helpless and alone, I'm afraid..."
She sighed, her eyes filled with confusion.
The two whispered to each other, becoming increasingly flustered and confused.
Inside the Lihe Palace, Shui Xian was on her throne directing the Imperial Household Department in handling relevant matters.
She knew that this decree was only the beginning; how to handle the follow-up matters smoothly would be the real test for her as the empress.
Narcissus pondered:
"The Imperial Household Department shall immediately inventory the treasury funds and, according to their rank, formulate regulations for rewarding the concubines who leave the palace. These regulations shall be generous and ensure that they have a comfortable life after leaving the palace."
"Those who voluntarily leave the palace shall be reported to the Shanggong Bureau for registration within three days, and the reward money and departure procedures shall be completed within ten days."
Shui Xian looked at the latest batch of female officials entering the palace, "The Shanggong Bureau is responsible for assisting each palace in packing their belongings, allocating vehicles and personnel, and ensuring that the departure process is orderly and that there are no obstructions or deductions."
"At the same time, register the list of those who do not wish to leave the palace and wish to retire to a temporary palace, and strictly implement all their treatment in accordance with the imperial decree."
After Narcissus finished arranging these things, the palace servants all bowed and said yes.
The empress's wisdom impressed them, and they felt that having such a wise ruler was a blessing they had never dared to dream of before entering the palace.
Narcissus paused, thought for a moment, and then continued:
"Furthermore, by imperial decree... Each palace mistress must restrain her palace servants from causing trouble or spreading rumors due to their departure from the palace. Any violation will be severely punished."
Everyone in the hall held their breath and respectfully accepted the order, quickly getting to work.
Just as Narcissus finished dealing with various matters and was taking a short rest, Dew came in to report:
"Your Majesty, Consort Li and Consort Zhang are outside requesting an audience. They say they are filled with fear and wish to beg Your Majesty's grace."
Shui Xian's eyes flickered slightly. She waved away her attendants, leaving only Ting Lu by her side, before summoning the two of them in.
Upon entering the palace and seeing Narcissus, Consort Li and Consort Zhang immediately knelt down, tears streaming down their faces before they could utter a word.
"Your Majesty, please have mercy!"
Consort Li wept, "We know we are foolish and dull, and have not won Your Majesty's favor. We only ask that we may have a place to stay in the palace. Please, Your Majesty, do not send us away..."
Consort Zhang kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty, my family is only a minor official. If we are sent out of the palace like this, my family will surely lose face. I... I will have no face to live in this world! Please, Your Majesty, have mercy and allow us to stay in the harem!"
Looking at the two people at her feet, who were crying with tears streaming down their faces, Narcissus felt no impatience, but rather a sense of pity.
Although Emperor Zhaoheng had promised that those who did not wish to return home could live in the imperial palace, those who were uneasy about this were by no means a minority.
She gestured for Tinglu to help the two up and offered them seats before speaking softly and gently to comfort them.
"You keep saying you want to settle down in the palace, so let me ask you, in all these years since you entered the palace, have you ever seen the Emperor even once a year? Have you ever truly felt happy?"
Both Li and Zhang were taken aback, their faces showing embarrassment and bitterness.
The answer is self-evident.
Narcissus continued, "Life in the palace may seem splendid, but it is actually lonely."
She sighed softly, looking at their young faces.
"You are in the prime of your lives, are you really content to spend your days in this deep palace, waiting for nothing, until you grow old?"
"His Majesty's actions are not to drive you away, but to give you a new way to survive."
Her gaze swept over the two of them.
“The area outside the palace is no longer what it used to be. Women in the common people can also study and understand principles, and each can display their talents.”
"Not to mention that you've all learned some rules and read some characters in the palace, don't you want to go out and see the world?"
The scenario she depicted was something that Consort Li and Consort Zhang had never imagined.
They have been trapped in the identity of imperial concubines for too long and have long forgotten that women have other possibilities.
Seeing that the two men's expressions had softened, Narcissus added fuel to the fire.
"As for your family's reputation, you need not worry about it. This time, it is the Emperor's benevolence that has granted you permission to leave the palace, and the rewards are generous enough to ensure that you will have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of your lives, and even to help support your families."
"I can also promise you that I will secretly look after your families and ensure their safety. In this way, your leaving the palace will not be a disgrace, but rather an honor for obeying the Emperor's orders and understanding His Majesty's heart."
This heartfelt conversation, building up layer by layer, completely persuaded Consort Li and Consort Zhang.
They looked at each other and saw a renewed hope in each other's eyes.
The two rose from their seats again, this time bowing deeply with genuine sincerity.
"Your Majesty, I am foolish and ignorant, but I thank you for your guidance!"
"Your Majesty's words are like golden jade, clearing away the clouds and revealing the sun. Your humble servants... now know how to choose!"
Watching the two leave, tears of gratitude streaming down their faces, Narcissus breathed a sigh of relief.
Dealing with these uneasy concubines requires not only authority, but also insight into human nature.
It's perfectly normal for these women to feel uneasy after being suddenly expelled from the palace, and what she's doing now, constantly confirming and arranging with the Imperial Household Department, is precisely to ensure they have no worries about the future.
While Shui Xian was extremely busy at Lihe Palace, the atmosphere in the Imperial Study was different from that there.
Emperor Zhaoheng sat behind his desk piled high with memorials, his vermilion brush never ceasing.
The contents of the memorials were mostly related to the implementation of the new policies and the elimination of the remaining influence of the old forces.
However, unlike Narcissus, on a soft carpet not far from the imperial desk, Yongning was playing with her two toddler brothers, Qingyan and Qinghe.
Colorful dolls and small wooden swords were scattered all over the ground.
"Father, why are all those beautiful concubines leaving?"
Holding a wooden knife, Yongning blinked her big eyes and asked Emperor Zhaoheng curiously. She already understood some things and knew what the recent turmoil in the harem was related to.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaoheng put down his vermilion brush, and his gaze towards his daughter instantly softened.
He waved, and Yongning immediately ran over.
He pulled his daughter close and gently explained in a way she could understand, "Father, Mother, Yongning, Qingyan, and Qinghe—that's what we're all family. Just like Yongning's dolls, having your favorite one is enough, isn't it?"
Yongning nodded as if she understood, and put her arms around Emperor Zhaoheng's neck: "Alright."
Just then, Qinghe was chasing a small ball, wobbling unsteadily. She tripped and fell to the ground with a thud. Her little mouth twitched, and she looked like she was about to cry.
Emperor Zhaoheng almost immediately stood up, strode over, skillfully picked up his youngest son, and gently patted his back to comfort him: "Qinghe, be good, it doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt, let Father see..."
Just then, Yuan Chiyu was ordered to come in to report on the matter. Upon seeing this scene, a moment of surprise flashed across his handsome face.
He found it hard to reconcile the man in front of him, who was patiently coaxing the child and exuding a gentle aura, with the decisive and ruthless emperor in the imperial court.
When Emperor Zhaoheng saw Yuan Chiyu enter, he calmly handed Qinghe over to the wet nurse, regaining his imperial composure, and began to listen to the report.
The only evidence of what had just happened was the children's toys scattered on the carpet...
......
After a busy day, Narcissus had made preliminary arrangements for leaving the palace, and her brows and eyes showed signs of fatigue.
Tinglu poured her a cup of hot tea.
"Your Majesty, Miss Wen and Miss Tuoba are scheduled to leave the palace tomorrow... Before they depart, they wish to bid Your Majesty a final farewell and express their gratitude for Your Majesty's grace."
Narcissus took the teacup, and warmth emanated from the porcelain.
She nodded, too tired to say anything.
She did have some admiration for Wen Jingfeng and Tuoba Pin.
She took a sip of tea, her gaze drifting towards the palace as dusk settled outside the window. Suddenly remembering something, she asked, "I've noticed craftsmen frequently entering and leaving the side halls of the Qianqing Palace lately. Is there something going on?"
After a moment's thought, Tinglu replied, "This servant has also noticed it. I asked Eunuch Feng, and he only said that His Majesty felt that the side hall was a bit old and ordered it to be slightly repaired and tidied up. He did not give any special instructions."
Repair?
Narcissus frowned slightly.
Emperor Zhaoheng was not one to indulge in such extravagance, especially at a time when both the court and the harem were undergoing tremendous changes, and he suddenly had the idea to renovate a side hall that was not frequently used.
She had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but since Emperor Zhaoheng had glossed over it with this excuse, she didn't press the matter further and simply suppressed her doubts for the time being.
Right now, there are many more urgent matters that require her attention...
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