Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze involuntarily fell on Gao Xiuwen, whose delicate brows were slightly furrowed, her expression clearly displeased.
Before she could speak, Lan Rong preemptively spoke first. However, the decision rested with the Empress Dowager, and it wasn't a matter of whoever made the request first being granted permission.
Although Gao Xiuwen was unhappy, she was not in a hurry, but waited to see how the Empress Dowager would decide. In fact, the Empress Dowager had already made a decision and was just waiting to announce it today, but unexpectedly Lan Rong took the initiative to speak.
The Empress Dowager had high hopes for Lan Rong, thinking that after Lan Rong entered the palace, she could win Hongli's favor by relying on the kindness she had shown him in the past, and give birth to a son or daughter for Hongli, breaking the situation where Su Yushan was the only one favored. However, she did not have any success in the five years since she entered the palace!
The Empress Dowager was greatly disappointed and no longer placed her hopes on Lan Rong. After observing for a long time, she felt that Gao Xiuwen had more courage and was worth cultivating. Therefore, the Empress Dowager was unwilling to waste any more energy on Lan Rong and sighed helplessly:
"It is Yongcheng's blessing that you have this intention. However, as you know, Yongcheng is a special child with a strong destiny. I need to find an adoptive mother whose birth chart is compatible with his. I have had your birth chart calculated, and it is not compatible with his."
Lan Rong thought that as long as she asked, the Empress Dowager would agree, but to her surprise, the Empress Dowager refused!
At this moment, the Empress Dowager's gaze fell on Gao Xiuwen's face, her expression gentle. "Consort Rong's birth chart is indeed compatible with Yongcheng's. I intend to entrust Yongcheng to you for upbringing. Are you willing?"
Gao Xiuwen secretly rejoiced that she hadn't guessed wrong; the Empress Dowager was indeed still biased towards her. She felt smug, but her face remained impassive. She slowly rose, curtsied, and thanked her.
"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. I am willing to raise Yongcheng and will take care of him as if he were my own child."
The Empress Dowager had already spoken, so even though Lan Rong was unhappy, she dared not show it. She could only force a smile and say something to Gao Xiuwen.
"Sister, you have such a lucky life! Congratulations!"
This person may offer congratulations to her face, but who knows what curses and resentments they might be harboring behind her back!
Gao Xiuwen saw through it but didn't say it outright, and reluctantly agreed, "As long as you serve the Emperor wholeheartedly, you will surely have your wish fulfilled and a child of your own in the future."
Lan Rong wanted to serve him, but unfortunately Hongli never came to her!
Gao Xiuwen's words were clearly sarcastic, but she couldn't get angry. Suppressing her anger, she smiled and replied, "Thank you for your kind words, sister."
After leaving Cining Palace, Lan Rong returned to Xianfu Palace, growing angrier with each passing thought. When Qiu Cha offered her tea, she casually tossed it aside, spilling it. Her heart pounding, she grumbled angrily.
"In terms of family background, I am better than Gao. The Empress Dowager should have entrusted Yongcheng to me to raise. Why was he given to Gao Xiuwen instead?"
Qiu Cha couldn't help but remind her, "I heard that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor have already elevated the Gao clan's status, and the Imperial Clan Court is handling the process. From now on, the Gao clan will be renamed Gao Jia."
"That can't hide the fact that she came from a bondservant family!"
Neither of the two women was favored by Hongli, so there was no need to compare them. As for other aspects, Lan Rong always believed that she was superior to Gao Xiuwen. Besides, it was the Empress Dowager who personally chose her to be a secondary consort. Logically speaking, the Empress Dowager should have favored her more, after all, she had saved Hongli's life!
"Those who are not favored by the Emperor will be looked down upon even by the Empress Dowager." Feeling deeply abandoned, Lan Rong became increasingly aggrieved and anxious.
"What should I do to win the Emperor's heart?"
Remembering the incantation ritual at the Autumn Tea Party, Lan Rong had a sudden inspiration and asked her in a low voice if she could bewitch Hongli.
"This..." Qiu Cha hesitated, "In fact, the Zhu You technique is not as simple as Master imagines. It requires two people to be alone together, without being disturbed by anyone, and the other person must be watching the pendulum bead without any defenses in order to have a chance of success."
This servant has no opportunity to be alone with His Majesty. Besides, His Majesty is the true Son of Heaven, with a willpower stronger than ordinary people; I'm afraid he will be difficult to sway.
How could Qiu Cha be allowed to spend time alone with the Emperor? Such an opportunity was indeed hard to find. Even if it were found, what if Qiu Cha used her magic to have an intimate encounter with the Emperor and rose to power?
Considering the consequences, Lan Rong ultimately did not dare to take the risk and continued to wait for an opportunity.
Yongcheng's appearance temporarily calmed the Empress Dowager, and she finally stopped trying to take advantage of Su Yushan and her children.
Hongli met with Yongcheng alone once, asked him a few casual questions, and treated him with indifference.
Yongcheng could tell that his father did not like him. It didn't matter, as long as he could live in the palace, be closer to his father, and see him often.
More importantly, he was able to go to the Imperial Study and read with other people.
Yonghuang and Yonglian were both very curious about the new Fourth Prince. Yongcheng was new to the Imperial Study and didn't know much about the rules, so they would help explain them to him. However, there was one thing: when Yonghuang was by Yongcheng's side, Yonglian would not go over, and vice versa.
The two of them always kept their mother's teachings in mind and dared not play together.
After the matter of the child was resolved, Hongli could focus on politics. After seven periods, Hongli was finally allowed to stay overnight in the harem. Of course, his harem was just for show; the only place he preferred to go was Jingren Palace.
Tonight, the moon is bright and the stars are few; the thin moonlight guided him toward Jingren Palace.
At that time, Su Yushan had just finished washing up and was leaning against the curtain, reading a book by candlelight.
Hearing the palace servants' greetings, she knew it was Hongli. She looked up and saw a man dressed in a crimson robe with auspicious patterns walking in.
A few days ago, he always wore a dragon robe, giving people a sense of awe and unapproachability. Tonight, he changed into casual clothes, and Su Yushan suddenly had the illusion of returning to the past, feeling very warm and familiar.
The woman inside the tent gazed at him tenderly, her plain inner robes crisscrossing around her neck, revealing glimpses of snow-white skin. Hongli, who had been fasting for a long time, couldn't help but imagine that hidden beauty.
Su Yushan was unaware of his ulterior motives and simply greeted him casually, "Just finished working?"
Hongli nodded, walked over and sat down beside her, his gaze fixed on her face. He gently stroked her cheek with his finger, feeling the softness between his fingers.
Do you know what day it is today?
Since entering the palace, he had never come at night. Now that he had come tonight, Su Yushan naturally guessed the reason, but she pretended to be clueless.
What day is it?
Hongli smiled slightly, his eyes filled with longing for her, "The day of breaking the rules."
He had indeed been going through a tough time. When people are tired and stressed, they long to be close to their loved ones and relax. However, the rules were there, and he couldn't do anything reckless. He could only wait.
The long-awaited day has finally arrived, and Hongli is extremely excited about what is about to happen tonight.
Su Yushan suddenly remembered that his status had changed, but she had completely forgotten it and was still behaving as before, without any manners.
"Oh dear! I just remembered, I didn't bow when you came in. You won't punish me, will you?"
Hongli was about to comfort her, but before he could finish speaking, he changed his mind and said in a similar tone:
"He deserves to be punished, and he should be punished severely!"
As he spoke, Hongli leaned closer, his dark eyes, burning with fire, fixed on her.
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