Her face turned pale: "I may not be a good woman, but I truly have no regrets about my relationship with the late emperor."
She was almost forgetting her husband from back then, Shu Changfeng.
I won't even remember how he spoke or smiled back then.
But she remembered the late emperor; she could recall almost every expression he made towards her.
She liked the way he looked when she was with the late emperor.
His maturity captivated her.
She also liked the late emperor's appearance.
Although Shu Changfeng was also handsome, he resembled Empress Ye.
Unlike His Majesty, who perfectly inherited the appearance of the late Emperor.
Princess Zhen, recalling the past, lost her appetite: "You all go heat it up and eat it."
He nodded when he encountered water, but when he wanted to offer further advice, he didn't know how to begin.
We had no choice but to pack up and take the food out.
Luo Shui is drying his quilts outside.
She called me into the house, but I didn't say anything; the hot food was served in silence.
"Sister Luoshui, what's wrong with you lately?" Yushui asked.
"fine."
"Then why didn't you go to serve her this morning? Her Majesty is used to you," Yu Shui asked again.
“Everyone’s here to serve, who’s going to do the chores? We’ve only been here a few days and everyone’s already left. If I don’t do this kind of work, what am I supposed to do?” Luo Shui frowned.
She stopped talking when she encountered water, feeling that what she said was right, but also sensing that something was amiss.
Yan Nangui slept soundly until noon.
When she got up, Jiangxiang said, "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Xinyang's family came to pay their respects on the fifth day of the new year."
"Yes, have you sent everything out?"
"Yes, she delivered it. Yuanhua went herself this morning and should be back by now. She delivered it exactly as you instructed. Don't worry." Jiangxiang knew that she and the Marquis of Xinyang's family were true relatives, so she dared not neglect her.
"That's good, then I can rest for two more days." Yan Nangui yawned.
These few days are the time for the concubines in the harem to meet with their relatives.
Although we met briefly during the Spring Festival, the Marquis of Xinyang no longer held any official position; a marquisate was nothing special. He sat quite far back and we didn't get a chance to speak.
Meanwhile, at the Marquis of Xinyang's residence, after seeing Yuanhua off, the Marquis of Xinyang breathed a sigh of relief: "I think everyone around the Empress is quite formidable."
“I never imagined this girl would come to this,” Lan Xiangyi sighed. “This child… she really worries me.”
"Madam, please don't worry too much. After all, she is now an empress. Things are different from before."
“Yes, Mother, don’t worry. At least... she’s in a high position now and can’t stand those grievances anymore,” said the eldest son, Luo Kang.
"Alas, how can the palace be so easy to deal with..." Lan Xiangyi said, but dared not continue, for it would not sound good if these words were to get out.
"Your Majesty has gone to great lengths to bestow these gifts; please take a look," Marquis Xinyang said with a smile, trying to change the subject.
The gifts were quite plentiful.
There were several bolts of cloth that looked like they were for men, and some items that were suitable for making shoes.
There were also jade and other precious stones used for inlaying belts. These were all fine items.
Most of the jewelry was women's jewelry.
There were gifts for Lan Xiangyi, gifts for Luo Kang's wife, Sun, and gifts for Lan Xiangyi's two daughters. Even the eldest daughter received some after she got married.
There's also a concubine's daughter and a concubine's son. They're categorized, but there are fewer of them.
Lan Xiangyi felt a warmth in her heart looking at these things: "Back when my sister was still alive, we used to exchange things like this... You even laughed at us, saying it was all the same stuff we were exchanging. After she passed away, I never had that experience again. Now..."
As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears.
Marquis Xinyang sighed and tried to comfort her.
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, the Ye family went to the palace to pay New Year's respects to the Empress Dowager and Consort Ye separately.
The Empress also stayed with them for a while, and then went back.
Lady Ye, the Duchess of Ye, also wore that white fox fur cloak.
Wearing it on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day would be a bit much, after all, the Ye family's status is not low now.
It's perfect for wearing in the third year of junior high school.
Everyone has selfish desires, so today, Lady Ye also brought her eighth and eleventh daughters from the manor.
Both were incredibly beautiful. One was fifteen, the other fourteen—both were perfect ages.
Consort Ye looked at her two younger sisters, her heart filled with mixed feelings. She understood her family's intentions perfectly well.
But what could she say?
That evening, she unleashed a torrent of anger in her Flying Phoenix Palace.
"It's one thing for outsiders to fight, but even our own family members have to fight. Are you just so jealous of me?"
After she had vented her anger, Aunt Lu came to comfort her: "Your Highness only thinks of yourself, how can this be?"
"Your Majesty should think of the Ye family. Now that things have come to this, how can you live only for yourself? If your family is not good, how can Your Majesty be good? In this harem, who has a good position and good treatment? None of them can do without a good family background. Unless it's someone like Consort Xiangxian. But someone like that would only be more tired and have a harder time than you. If she could change, she would want to change to someone like you."
"You can completely ignore the Eighth and Eleventh Misses. What you need to do is secure their favor and give birth to a child. Then, even if the Ye family sends another girl, what can she do? Can she surpass you? Once you've established yourself, the Ye family will understand your importance and will rely on you."
"I suppose those two young ladies have learned their lesson from their families. Even if they enter the palace, they will only be there to assist you. If your own family members start fighting amongst themselves, that would be an opportunity for others to take advantage of the situation."
"I understand." Consort Ye's mood had calmed down considerably by now. "When can my mother see me alone?"
"The lady said, 'Come in and pay your respects after the fifteenth.'"
Although Madam Qian now manages the inner quarters of the Ye family, the old lady still exists. It's truly not easy to get a private meeting with Madam Ye.
Because the Empress Dowager came first, and everyone took their turn, it was naturally the fourth day of the month that the Ning family entered the palace to pay their respects to the Empress.
The other concubines will be on the fifth or sixth day of the month.
However, very few people actually get to see their families.
On the fifth day of the lunar new year, the wild geese returned south early and were waiting.
Lan Xiangyi entered with her daughter-in-law, Madam Sun, and her youngest daughter, Luo Fei.
Luo Fei is sixteen years old this year.
After everyone paid their respects, Lan Xiangyi's first words were: "Your younger sister is engaged to a cousin from Madam Sun's family. The engagement will be formalized after the first month of the lunar calendar. The wedding will take place after the mourning period for the late Emperor."
This is to avoid suspicion; after all, if you bring an unmarried woman into the palace, you need a reason.
Otherwise, with His Majesty being so young, there's no guarantee that someone won't spread lies.
Lan Xiangyi was reluctant to let the wild geese return south, feeling wronged.
"Really? What about the other party?" Yan Nangui asked with a smile.
“He’s a good boy, eighteen this year. We were planning to get engaged last year and get married this year. But... it’s better to wait a little longer,” Lan Xiangyi said.
"Your Majesty need not worry. My cousin is exceptionally handsome and has a good temperament. He is a natural scholar. His birth mother passed away years ago, and he now lives with a stepmother. However, my step-aunt is even gentler than his previous one. They have always gotten along well. My cousin will surely pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi. He will not let my sister down."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
