“Lingqing is the emperor’s Lingqing. As his subjects and children, we should naturally share his burdens. When the people’s lives improve, they will naturally love and respect the emperor even more.”
After Zhong Muyu finished speaking, she silently sighed in her heart.
Hopefully, this answer will satisfy the Empress. She and Lu Ziyuan truly had no intention of vying for this wretched throne.
"You're absolutely right. I'm relieved that you have this idea."
Hearing her say that, the Empress's expression softened considerably. Although she didn't know what she was thinking, she didn't make things difficult for her on the surface.
Zhong Muyu took a sip of tea, concealing the emotions in her eyes. At this moment, the Empress turned her gaze to her stomach.
"If I remember correctly, you have been married to Yuan'er for more than half a year, haven't you?"
"yes."
Zhong Muyu nodded, wondering what kind of trouble she was up to this time.
"As a royal wife, everything else is secondary. Your primary responsibility is to produce offspring for the royal family and ensure the continuation of the family line. How come your belly is still not showing any signs of pregnancy after more than half a year?"
Zhong Muyu smiled awkwardly: "These things depend on fate, and can't be rushed. The prince also thinks so. If we follow the will of heaven, the child will come naturally."
"That's true, but we still can't be careless. Su Zhirou was executed for what she did, so it's time to add some new women to your household."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Muyu immediately understood the Empress's meaning.
This is a plan to send a few people to make things difficult for her. I'm afraid the baby-giving is just a pretext to monitor them, and the people they send are definitely not respectable.
Zhong Muyu's mind raced for a moment before she said, "There are quite a few people in the manor now. The prince took in a few concubines before, and they get along very well. Given time, they should have children soon."
"But they are all concubines, women from humble families, not good enough to be considered respectable. We need to choose some proper noble ladies. Besides, how can a prince not have a single concubine?"
The Empress seemed very resolute, as if she wouldn't allow her to argue. Zhong Muyu cursed her inwardly, but there was nothing she could do.
The Empress said, "Let me and the Emperor discuss this matter, and we will definitely choose a good person for you. Aren't you going to visit the Empress Dowager? I'm tired, you may go."
Zhong Muyu had no choice but to leave. After leaving Fengyi Palace, Qiao'er said indignantly, "What does the Empress mean by that? Is it because the Prince and Princess are too close that she's sending someone here to cause trouble?"
"Say less. This is the palace. Be careful, the walls may be overheard."
Qiao'er quickly covered her mouth: "I forgot. After all, I've been away from the palace for too long and I've gotten used to freedom."
"Then from now on, be careful and speak less."
Qiao'er nodded: "This servant understands. Then, Your Majesty, what do you intend to do about this matter?"
"What can I do? If she wants to force me, I can only accept it. Tsk! I'll just have to take it one step at a time."
Zhong Muyu couldn't think of a solution at the moment, so he could only wave his hand impatiently and quicken his pace.
On this trip to Renshou Palace, it happened to be the time when the Empress Dowager was taking her medicine, so Zhong Muyu and Aunt Xunfang served the Empress Dowager her medicine together.
The Empress Dowager seemed to be in much better spirits: "Thanks to the medicine you brought before, my headaches have improved a lot and haven't recurred. It's just a pity that as I get older, my health is deteriorating day by day. As soon as one illness is cured, another one comes along."
"Your Majesty, you are blessed with great fortune; things will surely get better."
"Even you say such things. I know my own body. The only thing I'm worried about right now is you children."
The Empress Dowager patted Zhong Muyu's hand, gesturing for her to come closer, and dismissed the others.
Zhong Muyu leaned closer, and the Empress Dowager asked, "I heard from Xiao Zhuozi that you were summoned by the Empress. What did she say to you?"
"It's just some everyday gossip."
"Gossip? I don't think she would chat with just anyone. Don't think I don't know, Yuan'er's achievements this time and last time have frightened her quite a bit. What she cherishes most right now is the position of Crown Prince. She must be using this opportunity to give you a warning. Am I right?"
Zhong Muyu sighed softly. Nothing could be hidden from the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager added, "I know Yuan'er well. He is an honest child, but he has grown up and started his own family. I dare not say whether he will develop unwarranted ambitions. The Empress's concerns are not unreasonable."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Muyu replied at lightning speed: "Your Majesty, the Prince absolutely has no intention of coveting the throne, and neither does your granddaughter-in-law. When we went to Baijun to treat the plague, it was because the Prince and Prince Rong were on good terms, and Prince Rong had once done me a favor, so we helped out. We absolutely did not have any other intentions!"
This statement of attitude worked, and the Empress Dowager quickly had Aunt Xunfang help her up: "Don't kneel down so easily. I understand your thoughts best. With you by Yuan'er's side, I believe he won't do anything rebellious."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhong Muyu sat back down on the stool.
"But just because I think this way doesn't mean the Empress thinks the same way. If I'm not mistaken, she should have already made her move against you, right?"
Now that things had come to this, Zhong Muyu no longer concealed anything: "Yes, the Empress wanted to give the Prince a few new concubines on the grounds that her granddaughter-in-law had no children."
The Empress Dowager was not surprised after hearing this: "As expected, she is called a concubine, but in reality, she is used for surveillance."
"But that's alright. As long as you have a clear conscience, you can just keep this kind of person in your household as you please."
Zhong Muyu had no choice but to agree: "My granddaughter-in-law thinks so too..."
"However, you still need to be careful about the people she sends into the manor. If they are troublemakers, like that Su Zhirou before, it could be very disadvantageous for you."
"Your granddaughter-in-law will handle this carefully."
"Just being careful isn't enough. What if the other person gets pregnant first? That would be a real problem. Once there's a child, things will be very different."
At this point, the Empress Dowager seemed to remember something: "By the way, why didn't you bring Zaochun with you this time?"
“In early spring, she already had someone she liked, so her granddaughter-in-law married her off.”
"How foolish! Of all the people to marry off, you had to send Zaochun away. Sigh! Otherwise, you could have made her Yuan'er's concubine. Then, the child she gave birth to could recognize you as its mother, and you could consolidate your power."
"Uh... Actually, Zaochun is still in the Prince's mansion. She has her eye on Chengfeng, the Prince's personal bodyguard. Now that she's still by my side, everything is quite easy for her."
Zhong Muyu was somewhat at a loss for words; she could never do something like sacrificing other people's happiness to fight for her own rights.
Besides, she didn't care about the power in the inner quarters. She liked Lu Ziyuan, not a princess who was good at palace intrigue.
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