His Majesty presented the Empress Dowager with an eight-treasure coral Buddhist altar. On top of it was a white jade Guanyin statue.
It was done so realistically.
The wild geese returning south brought a longevity-themed glazed tile screen. It's rare to find such a fine piece being produced at this time.
It was a complete set. A large landscape screen, with the character for "longevity" in various calligraphic styles all around. It was placed on the floor.
The other three are kang screens: one with flowers, one with a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons, and one with the symbols of fortune, prosperity, longevity, and happiness.
Exquisite and beautiful, made of the finest wood, even if the Empress Dowager disliked Yan Nangui, she would still find this gift excellent.
The envoys naturally sent generous gifts, but they also received some return gifts when they returned home, so they didn't lose out.
Late into the night, after the grand banquet ended, everyone left the palace.
Shu Chengfeng escorted the Empress Dowager back. Because it was late, the Empress Dowager didn't say anything, only that she wanted the Emperor to come the next day because she had something to say.
Shu Chengfeng knew what she was going to say, so he agreed.
Everyone was tired. After washing up at Zhaochun Palace, Shu Chengfeng rested without saying anything else.
He had to attend court early in the morning.
So by the time they arrived at the Empress Dowager's place, it was already after lunch.
The Empress Dowager cut to the chase: "How could Lady Yan be sitting there yesterday? Are you trying to treat a concubine as a wife?"
"Consort Duanyi is steady and capable in managing the harem, no less so than the previous empress. It's only a matter of time before she is made empress. Although yesterday was the Empress Dowager's birthday, there were many envoys and civil and military officials present, so it wouldn't look good to leave the empress's position vacant."
"Emperor! These are all excuses. Just because it doesn't look good to leave it empty, you're going to have a concubine sit there? Make an empress? You want to make Lady Yan the empress? Have you forgotten that Lady Yan is a second-time bride?" The Empress Dowager frowned: "I will not agree to this, and neither will the entire court."
"Yan's lineage is sufficient for her to be empress. I will definitely make her empress. There's no need to rush. If the civil and military officials don't agree, then we'll decide when to make an empress and then discuss the matter of making a crown prince."
"Emperor! How can you be so willful as you get older? How can you put such things together? Lady Yan has no sons. Even if you make her empress, you still won't have a legitimate heir. If you're going to make an empress, you might as well make one with a prince, someone you like." The Empress Dowager said.
"Whom does the Empress Dowager intend to appoint? Consort Li?" Shu Chengfeng's tone turned sour: "Is there anyone in the harem more suitable than Consort Yan? Who can outdo her?"
"Isn't that because you supported her? As the Noble Consort Duanyi, she naturally has a higher rank than others. How can anyone suppress her?" the Empress Dowager said.
"It was the same when she was of lower rank. Mother, please don't worry about it. I will definitely make Lady Yan the Empress. Mother is not good at politics, so you don't need to concern yourself with this matter. No matter who is made Empress, they will only be loyal to you."
"Your Majesty, you are making me so sad. What is so good about Yan Shi?"
"Mother, what's wrong with Lady Yan? As a concubine, she makes her son happy. As a daughter-in-law, she yields to you at every turn. As the head of the harem, she treats everyone equally. As an elder, she guides and takes care of the princes and princesses. If it weren't for her, who else would dare to discipline or guide the princes and princesses?" Shu Chengfeng's tone softened.
"She has no right to discipline the princes and princesses; it is you who have repeatedly indulged them!" The Empress Dowager refused to back down.
"Is that so? As the Empress Dowager, with no Empress in the palace, it is your duty to educate the princes and princesses. Have you done anything about it? Ever since the Fifth Prince was scarred, have you shown him any affection? Your mother is only focused on supporting a Crown Prince. You ignore those you don't approve of. The mothers of the princes and princesses are of varying quality. Why can't I appoint an Empress? At least Lady Yan has been more devoted to them than you have been."
Shu Chengfeng's voice turned cold again: "Do you know what the princes like to eat? Do you know when the princesses need to change their food according to the seasons? When the Fifth Prince was seriously ill this year, he kept calling Yan Shi 'Mother.' Did you personally go to visit him?"
The Empress Dowager was stunned and speechless.
"Mother, you are the Empress Dowager, and your son should be filial to you. The whole world should support you. Please don't worry about anything else."
"Is the Emperor blaming me for not showing enough affection to the princes and princesses? Yes, I've always been too lenient. I've only thought that since I'm the Empress Dowager now, if I interfered too much, it would only annoy people..."
"Since Mother doesn't want to get involved, someone has to." Shu Chengfeng took a deep breath. "Mother, since I ascended the throne, we've hardly had anything in common. Mother's only concern is supporting a crown prince; does that mean it doesn't matter to me? If Yan Shi is made empress, that's my wish. If she is, I'll be happy. If she isn't, I'll be unhappy. Must Mother insist on opposing it? Whether I'm happy or not doesn't matter to Mother, right?"
These words left the Empress Dowager speechless.
Granny Fei stepped forward: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please calm down. His Majesty likes the Consort and is considering making her Empress. The Consort is virtuous and capable of keeping the palace in check. She is indeed suitable. However, Your Majesty's concerns are not unreasonable. Everyone in the court knows that the Consort is a second-time bride. I'm afraid the court officials may also have objections."
"What good is it if I agree?" the Empress Dowager quickly offered a way out.
"Your Majesty, although people outside may disagree, ultimately, the establishment of an empress is a family matter for His Majesty. If His Majesty insists on this, what can people outside do? You are His Majesty's mother, and what mother wouldn't want her son to be happy? You two don't need to argue about this." Granny Fei said with a smile.
"What Granny Fei says is true. The Empress Dowager is just having trouble understanding things. Please enlighten her. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now. I'll come to see the Empress Dowager again in a few days." Shu Chengfeng rose to take his leave.
After he left, the Empress Dowager angrily said, "He really doesn't respect me at all now."
"Your Majesty..." Granny Fei said helplessly, "The matter of the Imperial Concubine becoming Empress is only a matter of time. She has no children, so why are you so concerned?"
"I just can't stand it! Even if I don't stop it, will the outside world agree?" the Empress Dowager said.
“The outside world is the outside world. His Majesty can’t argue with every court official, can he? You are his mother. If you agree, wouldn’t it be better for mother and son to be of one mind?” Granny Fei thought to herself. With His Majesty’s temperament and the Consort’s methods, she was afraid that no one outside could stop him.
It was bound to happen sooner or later.
I have to say, the Yan family is truly remarkable.
The Empress Dowager was furious, but that's another story.
The next day, Yan Nangui met his father in Zhaochun Palace.
Only the father returned this time.
“The other day, seeing you sitting there, I was already thinking about His Majesty’s thoughts. However… this matter will certainly not be easy.”
"It's not difficult, Father, you don't need to get involved in this matter. Just avoid suspicion. His Majesty is determined to make me his successor, and there's no use trying to stop him from doing so. At least, families related to the princes won't dare to stand up for him. For example, the Ning family."
The Ning family had offended the emperor, which is why the Duke of Ningguo retired early.
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