Yan Nangui didn't have time to count before he was overpowered by His Majesty. After a great struggle, Yan Nangui couldn't even kick him anymore.
The next day, when I sat there receiving everyone's greetings, my back was still sore.
The thighs, too, don't feel like my own.
At least I can sit up; if I were to walk, I'd be completely helpless.
"That damned man." Yan Nangui's outward expression was very gentle, but in his heart, he had already begun to plot regicide.
Murong Yan's principal wife, Lady Zhang, came from a distinguished family, the once-illustrious Fengyang Zhang family. Many members of the family had held official positions, but none of them remained today.
This Fengyang is the place where the emperor of the previous dynasty rose to power.
However, with the emperors of the Dayan Dynasty succeeding to the throne one by one, naturally no one valued Fengyang anymore.
However, the Zhang family lineage only declined a few decades ago.
In the past, they were a prominent family.
Now, although it's dilapidated, it still retains its original essence.
Indeed, this Zhang family member was a person of great magnanimity.
Consort Ke was also present. Although she and her mother did not meet alone, both of them had tears in their eyes.
“It’s been over ten years since Consort Ke entered the manor, and she hasn’t seen her family yet. Now that you’re here, go and talk to your mother and sister-in-law. Your father and the others can come again tomorrow,” Yan Nangui said.
Consort Ke naturally wanted to as well, but she didn't refuse too much. She thanked her and then took her leave with her mother and sisters-in-law.
Back at her lodgings, she knelt down and cried out for her mother.
The mother and daughter hugged and cried for a long time before they could sit down and talk. The two sisters-in-law did not dare to disturb them and sat in the outer room drinking tea.
After washing their faces, the mother and daughter sat inside: "Good child, you've lost a lot of weight."
"Mother too." Consort Ke wiped away her tears again.
"We don't dare to inquire too much about what happens in the palace, but we still know what we need to know. My son has suffered these past years."
Madam Zhang wiped away her tears. Her dignified and composed face still betrayed a deep sense of reluctance and heartache. However, always mindful of propriety and decorum, she didn't show it very clearly, even after crying.
"Isn't this how it is in the harem? No matter how bitter it is, that's how it has to be. At least I have the Third Prince, who is very sensible. He's grown up now, and I can count on him." She always had a sense of resentment when she said this.
The people in this household are all about the same age.
The age difference is only two or three years.
Neither of them are young anymore. Yet their lives are worlds apart. If His Majesty had shown her even a little more favor, she would have had more than one Third Prince. But that didn't happen. Both Consort Xiang and Consort Chen were infertile, yet one conceived and the other gave birth to a princess. Wasn't it all because of His Majesty's long-standing favor?
Unfortunately, what you want is unattainable, and what you get is just so-so.
She knew perfectly well that if she was still out of favor at this point, there was no point in hoping for anything in the future.
Murong Wanqing was ambitious, but ultimately she also hoped to gain her husband's pity and love.
Even her fantasies of composing poems and composing lyrics with her husband while she was still a young lady in her boudoir, and of drawing her eyebrows and combing her hair, never came true.
She prided herself on her talent, but it seemed the women in the harem never paid attention to such things.
"You've suffered so much," Madam Zhang said, wiping away her tears.
"Mother, look at Consort Chen... does she have any dignity now?"
"Yes, after the Empress's incident, she and Consort Xiangxian took over the management of the inner palace. Consort Xiangxian is now raising the Eighth Prince, the son of Consort Lu. But in my opinion, His Majesty now favors Consort Chen, who only has a princess. Of course, Consort Chen has been very favored these past few years," Consort Ke said.
“Alas, it’s all fate. There’s nothing a man can do about who he’s going to favor. But you’re not young anymore, you can’t keep wasting your time like this. The Third Prince is growing up, he should have a future. What will happen to those women in the harem who aren’t favored if their sons don’t amount to anything? Last year, the late Emperor’s fourteenth son passed away, and not long after, we heard that Consort Ye also passed away…” Madam Zhang shook her head: “Mother is really scared.”
"Mother, don't worry, I won't end up like that." Consort Ke held Zhang's hand: "Even if I can't be favored, I won't."
"Good child, once you enter the palace, you have to walk your own path. But when it's time to be ruthless, you can't be soft-hearted. Not to mention for your family, just for yourself and your son, you have to fight with all your might. With Consort Jing gone, Consort He is far inferior. The Empress has also lost power. One day, you should take another step forward."
Consort Ke nodded, her eyes resolute: "I know."
"That's good. Your mother always loves you dearly. You are the most outstanding legitimate daughter of the Murong family, and your future should have been much more than this," said Madam Zhang.
Regardless of what the mother and daughter said, Yan Nangui was quite a lively affair.
Everyone who came was very respectful.
After they left, Lady Yang stayed behind.
After everyone left, she knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you very much. To avoid trouble, we didn't thank you along the way. Your Majesty, Consort Feng and I are deeply grateful for your great kindness. We will do anything you need."
"Get up. We'll talk about the future later. You two should have been promoted anyway. His Majesty is very generous to promote you so high."
"It's all because of Your Majesty's influence. If it weren't for your words, His Majesty wouldn't have remembered us," Consort Yang said with a wry smile.
That's the truth.
No one mentions it, and His Majesty will never remember them. They are likely still just court ladies even now.
Yan Nangui simply smiled and didn't say anything more.
After Consort Yang left, Shuanzi came in and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Ke has also left. She sent someone to thank you."
"Okay. Got it," Yan Nangui said.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty has sent someone to deliver a message." After a while, Shuanzi said again from outside.
"please."
It was Eunuch Liu who arrived.
"Greetings to Consort Chen." Eunuch Liu said with a smile.
"Get up and talk," Yan Nangui waved his hand.
"Oh, thank you, Your Majesty. His Majesty said he wants to go out for a stroll tomorrow and would like you to accompany him."
"Is this a private visit?" Yan Nangui asked.
"Yes, it's best not to make a big fuss. Even if it's a private visit, I'm afraid it won't be able to be kept secret." Although Qintang is a big city, how could they not know that His Majesty has arrived?
Even if it's a private visit, it still requires a large number of guards; it can't be kept secret.
"Okay, I understand." Then we need to prepare well and not lose face for the royal family. But we can't actually go shopping adorned with jewelry.
The eunuch Liu received the reward and left happily.
The seventh princess woke up and was carried over; she was rubbing her eyes.
I got a kiss from my mother.
He tilted his head back and reached out, and his mother caught him in her arms.
"You're so comfortable, you don't have to think about anything, right?" Yan Nangui said with a smile, bouncing the child.
The seventh princess yawned blankly.
It's time to eat, so it's twisting and turning and whimpering.
So Yan Nangui handed her back to the wet nurse.
Once they were full and energetic, they would grab the toys given to them by their wet nurse and start babbling.
I was very happy sitting on the bed in the outer room.
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