Chapter 20 Promotion and Arrival in the Capital
Inside the Shou Kang Palace, the most honored imperial mother and son sat facing each other in silence, the atmosphere in the room heavy and tense.
Seeing the emperor frown and remain silent, the Empress Dowager understood that he was unwilling to listen.
She longed to please the emperor in everything and enjoy a loving and filial life with her children in her later years, but she had no choice. For the sake of Ulanara and Uya, she had to say it.
Consort Xin's maternal family was far from the capital, but they were not a small or insignificant family. The prefect of Sichuan was a real official of the fourth rank, and her father, Lü Wenzhong, was also a capable man. There had never been any trouble in the Sichuan region in recent years.
Furthermore, Lü Yingfeng was originally a concubine in the Prince's residence and had served the Emperor for many years. Now she has two sons and a daughter, enjoying both favor and privilege. If she were to be promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine, she would pose a greater threat to Empress Yixiu than Nian Shilan.
But these are not things that can be directly discussed with the emperor.
The Empress Dowager sighed softly and continued to speak to the Emperor: "The key to a stable harem lies in checks and balances. I know that Your Majesty favors Consort Xin; she is a fortunate woman, and I like her too. But have you considered what Consort Hua would think if you were to promote her to the rank of Noble Consort? It is currently the time for the selection of new concubines, and they will soon enter the palace. If the harem is not peaceful from the beginning, it will inevitably give others something to criticize."
“Shilan was right beside me at the time, and she had no reason to object,” the emperor retorted calmly.
The Empress Dowager seemed surprised by the Emperor's words, and after a moment of hesitation, she continued, "If Consort Hua is willing, will her brother be willing? Consort Hua is domineering, and her brother will be even more so. If he uses this as an excuse to cause trouble, then there will truly be no peace."
When Nian Gengyao was mentioned, Yinzhen raised his eyes, his brows furrowing even more.
These words touched his heart.
Shilan is domineering but only thinks of herself. She has a charmingly arrogant side, and lately she has become more and more considerate.
But Nian Gengyao did become increasingly audacious.
Seeing that the Emperor's expression seemed to soften, the Empress Dowager did not press too hard. She softened her tone and coughed lightly twice, covering her mouth with her handkerchief. "When Consort Xin gave birth to twins in the Prince's mansion, it was premature. Now, she has given birth to the Sixth Prince Hongzhou before he was eight months old. Her mother has not been granted the honor of being allowed to visit her in the palace. If Your Majesty wishes to bestow a reward, why not grant her such an honor?"
Another agonizing silence ensued. Yinzhen rested his hand on the table, gazing into the distance with a distant look. After a long moment of contemplation, he suddenly tapped the table lightly—"Su Peisheng, issue the decree."
Upon hearing his name called, Su Peisheng bowed and quickly entered, standing before the Emperor.
"Promote Lu Wenzhong, the prefect of Sichuan, to the governor-general of Zhili. Send people to bring his female relatives into the palace. Before the governor-general's mansion is completed, let them stay in the palace with Consort Xin for a while."
"yes."
"emperor!"
Hearing that the Empress Dowager intended to obstruct him, Su Peisheng stopped and secretly glanced at the Emperor's expression. Meeting the urging look in the Emperor's eyes, he understood the meaning of the matter. As if he hadn't heard anything, he turned around and went out to draft the imperial edict.
"The Prefect of Sichuan is a fourth-rank official, and the Governor-General of Zhili is a second-rank official. Shouldn't the Emperor consider this carefully?" Seeing that she couldn't stop Su Peisheng, the Empress Dowager raised her voice and asked the Emperor while clutching her chest.
Yinzhen did not make this decision on a whim. He turned his head and looked at his mother with a calm gaze. “Empress Mother, I am over forty years old. I only have three sons who can be considered worthy of respect. Two of them are born to Yingfeng, and I only have one daughter, who is also born to Yingfeng. It would be too disheartening to let such merits go unnoticed.”
The Empress Dowager also knew that it was difficult for the emperor to have children, and she understood even more deeply why it was so difficult for her son to have children.
Being too gentle makes one too soft-hearted, while being too ruthless makes one too cold-hearted.
Just take the most recent incidents, such as Consort Fang's miscarriage and Consort Xin's premature birth. The Empress Dowager doesn't need to investigate to figure out how much of this was orchestrated by the Empress.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager remained silent, the Emperor did not press the matter further. "Your Majesty, please rest well. Your son will take his leave now."
After saying that, he got up and walked out of Shou Kang Palace.
In fact, Lü Yingfeng did not hear the Emperor's promise that night. Later, when she heard that the Empress Dowager had stopped the matter, she did not say much, but just smiled faintly.
In her view, whether she was a Noble Consort or not didn't matter; her current rank as a Consort was just right. She wouldn't become the target of everyone's envy and jealousy, nor would she arouse the suspicion and distrust of the naturally suspicious Emperor.
Unexpectedly, the emperor promoted his father's official rank to make up for his own shortcomings!
For Lü Yingfeng, this was an unexpected delight, far more worthwhile than the position of Imperial Concubine.
My family used to live far away. If it weren't for the good fortune of having two lovable children, Hongzhao and Hongjin, I probably wouldn't have the luck I have today, and I might not even have had the chance to become a benefactor.
Governor-General of Zhili... a second-rank official position... that means he's going to the capital!
The emperor also said that he wanted his mother to come to the palace to stay with him for a while.
Thinking of her parents, whom she had not seen since entering the palace, Lü Yingfeng clasped her hands together in joy, her mouth agape as if she were crying or laughing, her eyes unconsciously filling with tears.
"Mother, don't cry."
"Don't cry, Mother."
The two little ones clung to the edge of the bed, climbing up on their hands and feet, reaching high to wipe away the tears on their mother's face.
Lu Yingfeng bent down and picked up the two children, pressing her face against their soft, milky cheeks. She took a deep breath and said with a smile, "Mother didn't cry. Mother is happy. I've never been so happy."
Hongzhao stretched out his little hand and gently patted his mother's back, mimicking her usual gentle manner.
"Mother, Hongzhao will make you happy forever."
Lu Yingfeng tilted her head and affectionately nuzzled Hongzhao's nose, taking it as a childish remark expressing concern for his mother. Little did she see the earnest look in his pure eyes.
That night, the Sixth Prince Hongzhou was born, and the Emperor promised to promote Consort Xin to Noble Consort Xin. These words spread throughout the harem in no time, and although they were never implemented, no one dared to make fun of them.
Although she didn't become a Noble Consort, it might have allowed her father, whose position had remained unchanged for many years, to be promoted four ranks to become a high-ranking official in the capital, and brought her family from Sichuan, thousands of miles away, to the capital. This was something that not everyone could do.
Which woman in the imperial harem didn't seek the favor of her family and the support of her father and brothers? This was something that most people couldn't achieve in a lifetime, but Consort Xin accomplished it to the extreme in just three years.
But there are some brainless, quick-tongued people who just love to talk.
Consort Qi was a prime example of this.
"Consort Xin hasn't finished her postpartum confinement yet? Judging by the days, it's almost over. Could it be... she's too embarrassed to come out in public?" She covered her mouth, feigning a proud laugh. Seeing no one was paying attention, she awkwardly straightened her sleeves and continued, "If I were Consort Xin, and the Emperor announced her promotion to Imperial Noble Consort one minute and then changed his mind the next, I'd be too ashamed to show my face either... this..."
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