"Mom, the New Year is finally here. I don't have to go to the Queen's Palace!" Xu Yixing was so happy today. After returning from the palace, he threw his cloak a few meters away, strode straight to the bed, and lay down with satisfaction.
Siqin followed her every day. Although she saw that the queen didn't make it difficult for her, she was still restrained every day. Now she can finally have some peace and quiet. She is also very happy for Xu Yixing.
"Madam, Sister Siwen has handed over this year's accounts from outside. Would you like to take a look now?"
"No hurry, no hurry, let me rest for two days." Anyway, since the money won't increase now, why push yourself so hard? As soon as Xu Yixing lay down on the small couch, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind: "By the way, Siqin, what do you think of Siwen? She's not young anymore. Have you heard that she has someone she likes?"
"Well, I've heard some rumors." Siqin blushed and became mysterious.
"Hurry up and tell me, hurry up and tell me!"
"He's the head of our silk shop. He seems to be two years older than her and still unmarried. Although their relationship hasn't been made public, what those guys said is very true!"
"Just a hand seal?" Considering Si Wen is already capable of standing on her own, she could have married a wealthy businessman or a minor official. Why is she only interested in a hand seal? Well, that's her own business. If there really is a chance, Xu Yixing would be happy to help her.
"But every time I asked her, she said no. Is she afraid that I won't agree with her?"
"Well, Sister Siwen is very impressive now. She is still the same here. But when she comes to the shop, everyone respectfully calls her the manager. She is so absorbed in the shop now that she has no time for anything else."
"Okay..." Xu Yixing shook his head. It was good that Si Wen was making progress, but if this incident ruined her life, he would be committing a grave sin. Besides, he only had six months left, so if he wanted to do something for her, he had to do it sooner rather than later.
"What about you? Is there anything you want or want to do?"
"This servant just thinks it's good to follow Madam."
"I seldom ask about your private affairs, but now is the chance for you to speak up, but you won't get it again if you miss it. You'd better think carefully before speaking!" Xu Yi said with a smile.
"Really not." Siqin had originally thought that the young lady would bring her in to be a concubine, but after seeing over the years that neither the lady nor the prince had such plans, she gradually didn't care anymore.
"Okay, if you don't want to talk about it, forget it." Xu Yixing was lying there, tapping his head. He didn't know what had influenced the people around him. They were all old, but none of them had loved ones, and none of them were willing to leave and start their own business. Could it be that those stories about talented men and beautiful women were all fake?
But I was depressed for a while and then I put it out of my mind. Everyone has his own blessings. Why should I care so much?
The first month of the lunar year arrived quickly, with Laba Festival, Little New Year's Eve, and New Year's Eve—every day was bustling with activity. The only difference was that this year, no New Year's Eve banquet was held. The emperor had issued an edict, stating that the Empress Dowager had recently passed away and a grand banquet was not recommended. Besides, with all the princes in the capital gone this year, even if one were held, it would likely be deserted.
So the young couple had a happy New Year in the palace for the first time in their lives.
After eating New Year's Eve dumplings, Xu Yixing half-lay on the bed and rubbed his stomach. He was in such a good mood that he accidentally ate too much. He felt really uncomfortable.
"Are you going to move into the Eastern Palace after the New Year?" Xu Yixing leaned over and asked Lu Anyuan, who was still reading memorials.
Lu Anyuan's desk was facing away from the bed. He didn't even turn around when he heard the voice and answered, "According to the rules, you have to go. Why do you mean you don't want to go?"
Xu Yixing was of course reluctant to go. Given the current situation, it would be wise for him to avoid the palace altogether. "Didn't the Emperor say he would only appoint me Crown Princess after I gave birth to a son? Wouldn't it be unjust for me to move in?"
Lu Anyuan finally stopped writing and turned around with a look of surprise: "What does it have to do with him whether you become the Crown Princess or not? You are my princess now. If I confer the title on you, you will naturally be the Crown Princess in name only. What does it have to do with whether you have a son or not? The emperor just said that. Otherwise, if he really didn't let you become the Crown Princess because of this, the ministers would also criticize you."
"oh."
"Why do you really not want to enter the palace with me?"
Xu Yixing sat up, his face filled with worry. "Once you enter the palace, there are many rules, and even my shadow guards can't leave. Although the East Palace isn't within the Inner Palace, it does have an extra layer of security, and I'm imprisoned. How is this any different from what happened to Lu Chiyan back then?"
"So that's why. That's easy. After the new year, I'll go to the palace and talk to my father about it. He'll let us continue living in the palace."
Xu Yixing was surprised: "Is this matter negotiable?"
"Of course, I'm not a young prince, and I've already started my own government. All my staff are outside the palace. Father will understand."
Xu Yixing wanted to say a few more words, but seeing Lu Anyuan's confident look, she put her mind at ease.
The Lantern Festival passed in a flash. Afterward, the sixteen civil and military officials gathered for court, where they heard the news everyone already knew. Prince Xiaoyi, Lu Anyuan, was known for his outstanding virtue and was named Crown Prince. He was instructed by the Imperial Tutor of the Imperial Academy and assisted by the ministers of the Cabinet.
Xu Yixing breathed a sigh of relief after hearing that the emperor had indeed ordered the crown prince not to enter the Eastern Palace. Of course, he also became worried: Would the plaque at the gate of the Xiaoyi Palace be replaced?
However, before she could worry for a few days, the craftsmen had replaced the plaque with a new one overnight the day before the enthronement ceremony, but it was covered with a red cloth and would be unveiled as soon as the enthronement ceremony was over the next day.
The 28th day of the first lunar month is an auspicious day, and the prince's enthronement ceremony will also be held today.
The current emperor had never appointed a crown prince before, so the ministers were naturally very concerned about this grand event. Offering sacrifices to heaven and earth, and informing the ancestors, the entire process was extremely complicated, lasting from morning till noon.
Then, it was time for the Crown Prince to enter the Imperial Study to listen to the Emperor's instructions. Of course, Xu Yixing wasn't idle either. As Lu Anyuan had said, the Emperor didn't easily dismiss her title as Crown Princess. However, just before she was about to leave, the Empress summoned her to Zhaoren Palace and she listened to her nagging for quite a while.
Xu Yixing listened and listened, and thought that the Queen had said so much just to make him have a baby sooner rather than later. Would his anxiety help? However, there was no other way. People lived under the eaves. Lu Anyuan's biological mother had passed away early, and the Queen was her only legitimate mother. Even if the Emperor passed away, she would be the Queen Mother. He had no choice but to bow his head.
The sun was setting when Xu Yixing was finally released from the palace by the Queen. Rubbing her aching stomach and legs, she spat softly in the carriage before leaving: Bah, what a hell of a place! Now that I'm free, I'll never come back here again!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
