However, a few months later, he had completely changed.
He was speechless for a long time after hearing that his mother had died.
I don't know how much time passed, but when it was late at night and all was quiet, I suddenly realized what had happened and cried like a child.
Unfortunately, nobody cared about him.
With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, Consort Lixian's funeral arrangements were kept simple.
It wasn't appropriate to handle it in the palace, so it was sent to a special place.
She is a junior, and there is still the Empress Dowager in the palace, so she cannot make a big fuss about it.
The Ministry of the Interior is just putting on a show; as long as it looks good on the surface, that's enough.
On the actual Laba Festival, although it was forbidden to wear brightly colored clothes, the concubines still tried to outshine each other in their own way amidst the simple attire.
After all, as the old saying goes, if you want to look good, wear mourning clothes.
Especially for Consort Murong, who was originally like this, this was exactly what she needed.
The Empress Dowager took the seat of honor, followed by the Empress Dowager, His Majesty, the Empress, and others.
Today is a family dinner; not even relatives are present.
The emperor merely bestowed gifts upon the various princely residences, without summoning them to the palace.
Everyone took their seats according to their assigned order, and Shu Chengfeng smiled and said, "On this festive day, there's no need for formalities."
That being said, everyone still has to thank him.
The imperial concubines with official ranks were also present.
Consort Wanshu is still alive and must observe mourning for the late Emperor until after the New Year.
Shu Chengfeng had already told her in a tactful way, and while she was surprised, she was also full of confidence.
Compared to the other high mountains and wide rivers, Consort Fanghui was in a much more passive position.
The child was still young, and she never expected the late emperor to pass away so suddenly.
She thought it would be at least ten years.
Even if she doesn't plan for the child, shouldn't she at least have some plan? Now, she's completely in the dark.
She had always been dependent on the Empress Dowager, but now the Empress Dowager herself was just a figurehead.
One can only lament that he was young and didn't offend Empress Dowager Ye in any profound way.
Yan Nangui was relaxed. She sat in her seat, and someone served her hot tea, which she drank.
It was really cold, after all.
After everyone had exchanged pleasantries, the food was served one after another.
She picked and chose some food and asked someone to serve it to her.
I also had a few sips of Laba porridge to mark the occasion.
Shu Chengfeng had exchanged a few words with the Empress Dowager and then with Consort Ye. Suddenly, he turned and saw Yan Nangui.
She was eating with absolute ease.
Shu Chengfeng laughed: "Nan Gui has quite a good appetite."
Is it really okay to call someone's name in public?
Yan Nangui smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I am foolish and greedy. I am hungry, so I will just leave it at that."
"Are you still stupid?" Shu Chengfeng shook his head: "Take this soup of mine to her."
Yun agreed and went to get it.
Even at a family banquet, everyone is not at the same table; there is a hierarchy. What is on the emperor's table may not be found elsewhere.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Yan Nangui smiled and rose to give a curtsy.
She really liked the tofu, egg, and shrimp soup.
Empress Dowager Ye smiled and said, "Consort Yan is a very honest person."
"Sister Yan always speaks her mind. Being with her is quite relaxing," the Empress said with a smile.
"Yes, Sister Yan is a bit blunt, but she's very easy to get along with," Consort Su said with a smile.
Shu Chengfeng found it amusing; now everyone felt that the Yan family was someone who needed to be won over.
But they were all wrong. That woman was incredibly lazy and wouldn't be their pawn.
When she gets angry, she doesn't even care about herself.
Besides...
Shu Chengfeng thought that he had actually hesitated about whether to give the position of Consort Xian to Su or Yan.
Yan was intelligent and capable, but unfortunately, she was not obedient.
Well, as long as she's willing to behave well, there's no need to force her to do anything.
The Yan family was also loyal.
"Your Majesty the Empress and Sister Su are the best. Only Your Majesty the Empress and Sister Yan don't mind my fiery temper." Yan Nangui raised her cup with a smile: "To Your Majesty, Your Majesty has really lost a lot of weight these days. You must take care of yourself. If the late Emperor knew that you were like this, he would have called you a good daughter-in-law."
"Indeed, Your Majesty the Empress also respects her," Consort Su said with a smile.
The Queen raised her cup, moved, and said, "Come."
What a touching display of affection between wives and concubines.
Such theatrics were nothing new to either the Grand Empress Dowager or the Empress Dowager.
Who hasn't experienced that?
What happened next?
They've only just entered the palace; it's all an act.
Consort Ye snorted, but said nothing, though she was extremely resentful inside.
Originally, she wasn't as irritable as before, but after entering the palace, things changed again.
Now that she's a Noble Consort, and her aunt, the Empress Dowager, is there, she seems to have regained her confidence. Her aunt also said that she'll have a child once the mourning period is over.
If she can give birth to a prince, he will be the most honorable child in the palace.
She is capable of having children, but Yan Shi is not.
In a few years, she will inevitably seek revenge.
She hadn't forgotten the teacup that Yan had given her.
Regardless of what Consort Ye was thinking, Yan Nangui was in a good mood.
She didn't care whether the emperor's gift of soup was a target for criticism.
It takes skill to make the emperor use you as a target.
She's not someone who likes a mundane life.
If someone can live a peaceful life in the palace, then they are truly capable.
She was not afraid of wind or rain, and she was well aware that the emperor still had a strong interest in her.
Let's see what it's like when someone enters the palace again after the mourning period.
After watching the play for a while, the Empress Dowager also found what she wanted to do.
"Didn't Consort Zhen sleep well last night?"
Consort Zhen is still called Consort Tai, but nowadays even those who don't reach the rank of Consort are all called Consort Tai. The only difference is the monthly salary they receive. Otherwise, it would be troublesome to address them.
"Your Majesty, I slept quite well." Consort Zhen was extremely paranoid, afraid of saying the wrong thing.
“It’s because Sister Zhen is so carefree. I haven’t slept well for a single day these days. With the late Emperor gone, my heart is filled with… sigh…” Consort Li wiped away her tears.
Consort Li was formerly a Zhaorong, and has now been promoted to the rank of Second-Rank Consort. She has no children, and her relationship with the Empress Dowager is not particularly close, but it is not bad either.
Now, naturally, they are on the side of the Empress Dowager.
Consort Zhen's expression changed. Was this implying that she didn't care about the late Emperor?
"Your Majesty, that's not what I meant, I..."
"Alright." The Empress Dowager said indifferently, "Everyone in the palace knows what kind of person you are. The late Emperor was ill for so long, and you didn't even go to see him. It's a waste that he doted on you so much."
Consort Zhen's eyes widened. She hadn't gone to attend to the sick, not even once, but that was because she had been confined to her quarters.
She was shocked and incredulous, but who here didn't know she was under house arrest?
But when word got out, she said she hadn't taken care of the sick.
"Mother, today is a festival. Please calm down," Shu Chengfeng said at the right moment.
"Enough. Consort Zhen is ungrateful. I can't do anything about it now. Just copy more scriptures. Consider it a prayer for the late Emperor. Copy ten scrolls a day," the Empress Dowager said.
"Yes, Your Majesty, thank you very much." Consort Zhen's hands trembled.
The Eighth Princess was already in tears, but she dared not speak.
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