As for the people around Consort Luo and the people in front of the eldest princess, they disappeared without a trace.
At the same time, His Majesty has begun to order the Ministry of Works and the Imperial Household Department to select a site for the reconstruction of the Prince's residence.
Instead of rebuilding, we'll just select the former residences of the ministers and modify them.
This means they want the prince to move out.
Immediately afterwards, His Majesty issued another decree, promoting Consort Chen to the rank of Consort Duanyi. Naturally, there was a plethora of praise for her.
It's just nonsense about how good her character is.
There was also an imperial edict stating that the Emperor had no legitimate son, but many illegitimate sons of varying ages and whose character was unclear; therefore, he would not appoint a crown prince for the time being. He would have to wait several years.
Those few officials who were most vocal in their criticism were directly sent to local areas by the emperor.
Inside Zhaochun Palace, everyone was overjoyed and offered their congratulations, but Yan Nangui didn't seem to care much.
She already knew that the emperor would promote her rank on her birthday this year.
Now that it's been brought forward, it's just a way to appease those outside.
When Shu Chengfeng came over, she just gave him a perfunctory thank you.
"Why aren't you happy?" Shu Chengfeng asked with a smile.
"It's nothing," Yan Nangui sighed. "The princes are fighting like fighting cocks, why would you raise my rank?"
"I have my own reasons. Don't worry, with me here, how could anything happen to you?" Shu Chengfeng said.
"Nothing will happen, but it's troublesome," Yan Nangui rolled her eyes.
"Don't think too much about it. Your father is on his way back. Since you want to go home, go back in style this year. The Seventh Princess has never been before, so take her with you," Shu Chengfeng said.
"Um."
"Alright, don't be down. Sooner or later, won't we all give you this position?" The longer it went on, the more Shu Chengfeng felt that other women were not up to par.
At least, no one can reach the position of Consort Yi.
He didn't know if Yan Nangui would still be the same if she gave birth to a prince, but as things stand now, no one could replace her.
"Didn't you want to be the Empress? Being the Consort Duanyi for a few years will also help you gain the respect of the people."
Yan Nangui was taken aback, then looked at him: "Aren't you... being too lenient with me?"
Shu Chengfeng had intended to make a joke, but with so many things happening lately, he couldn't be bothered with it.
"You may be ruthless, but you always have a sense of proportion. There's nothing wrong with you being the empress."
“This is really not something an emperor would say,” Yan Nangui said.
Shu Chengfeng didn't say anything, he just went to wash up.
After washing up and changing into a casual dark green robe, she called Yan Nangui over.
Once inside the study, he would habitually look at the paintings of wild geese returning south.
Naturally, there were many more paintings of the seven princesses—cute, sleeping, awake, and even crying and laughing.
There are also pictures of the father and daughter together; these were all painted in recent years.
"I failed as a prince back then, and it seems I'm not a good father either."
"Whether you're a good father or not is another matter, but as a prince, isn't it too cowardly to have no ambition? You don't have a legitimate son, so it's normal for your illegitimate sons to fight each other, isn't it?"
Shu Chengfeng took her hand and led her outside to sit on the veranda.
"Sometimes I think that the Empress has been pregnant three times but has not been able to give birth to a prince. Perhaps she is destined to have no legitimate son."
“Actually, after the Empress passes away, another one can be established. There will always be a legitimate son. Isn’t it precisely because you don’t want the princes to fight even more fiercely, and you don’t want the harem to be even more chaotic?” Yan Nangui said, “The harem now is much quieter than it was during the late Emperor’s time. There are gains and losses. What other choice do you have?”
Shu Chengfeng smiled and said, "You do know me."
"So, who do you think has the best chance?"
“I was optimistic about the Third Prince before, but after this incident, I think I misjudged him. The Empress's position is vacant, and everyone is too anxious. Why don't we wait a bit? Let your youngest sons grow up a bit more,” Yan Nangui said.
Shu Chengfeng sighed, "If only there were someone who could see as far as you do."
“I see things from afar because I’m calm. I’m calm because I don’t have a son. If I did, I might be even more anxious than they are,” Yan Nangui said.
Shu Chengfeng did not refute this statement, but simply said, "Perhaps."
But he felt it was impossible; this woman was always calm.
Even when he's ruthlessly dealing with people, he remains incredibly calm.
"When you come back from home, go stay at the Lotus Garden. Let's have fewer people going this year." Shu Chengfeng rubbed his temples.
"I can go tomorrow if I want. When my father and the others come back, I can go back from the Lotus Garden." Poor Emperor, he just wants to relax.
"Tomorrow is too rushed, let's wait for you to come back. Bao'er likes to play with Wen'er, take her with you." Wen'er is the sixth princess.
“Princess, go ahead. I know you don’t want to see the eldest princess, but you’re not planning to make a scene. She’s your daughter, and you’ve already put up with it. Her mother has also been demoted. Just pretend you don’t know anything else,” Yan Nangui said.
"I'm sorry you had to suffer. No matter what, they used you as a tool. As for Consort Ke... I can't disrespect the Third Prince and the outside world right now. I've remembered everything I should remember," Shu Chengfeng said.
"It's alright. Since this matter has dragged me into it, I'll take my own revenge. If I can't move her, I'll just let her sit there and take the beating," Yan Nangui said calmly.
"...You... Fine, you see for yourself." This woman really doesn't want to be taken advantage of.
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing, and I'm not the same as before." I'm not as impulsive anymore.
Shu Chengfeng sighed: "Once you become Empress, you can do whatever you want."
"Hmph, I never suffered this kind of humiliation when I was a concubine, why would I wait until I became the Empress? If I don't deal with this now, I'm afraid I'll get angry later."
As she spoke, she called out, "Bring incense."
Previously, the masters were talking in the courtyard, and the servants went inside.
At that moment, Jiangxiang came over and said, "Your Majesty."
"Go and spread the word to the Imperial Household Department and all departments within the palace. The Third Prince's establishment of his residence and his grand wedding are momentous events that cannot be taken lightly. Although Consort Ke is the Third Prince's birth mother, her character is questionable and her status is low. Therefore, she cannot handle these matters on behalf of the Third Prince. Tell them that anything arranged by Consort Ke is strictly forbidden. All matters must be decided by His Majesty and me."
“Tell her plainly. If she’s not afraid of making her son’s wedding look bad, then let her handle it. Anything she does will be downgraded.”
Jiang Xiang was taken aback and subconsciously looked at Shu Chengfeng, only to find that His Majesty was just resting with his eyes closed.
"Yes, I will go and tell them right away."
She naturally knew which words could be said in public and which could only be heard by Consort Ke.
This was no small amount of slapping Consort Ke across the face.
Despite being a concubine, she was not qualified to arrange her son's marriage.
Furthermore, Consort Ke could no longer enjoy the hidden favors and protections offered by the harem.
Unless the Third Prince truly becomes the Crown Prince and takes responsibility, she can only keep quiet about it.
At least for now, Consort Duan Yichen is much more capable than her.
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