"Your Majesty, you are being far too generous. Most of your savings are in there."
“My mother has had a hard time maintaining the family all these years, and my younger brother still needs to go to school. I’ll help out as much as I can.”
"Many of the items inside were gifts from the Emperor."
Geng Youran glanced at Qianxue:
Do you think I could have avoided telling the Emperor beforehand?
"Hehe, I was just afraid the Emperor would blame you."
"Stop being so glib. Go and clean up the plum blossoms we picked yesterday, then we'll make something to eat."
"yes."
That evening, Yinzhen came over.
"Does seeing your family make you feel better?"
"Your Majesty, when have I ever been in a bad mood?"
"What was it about you that made you so down and listless the other day?"
Recalling her state a few days ago, Geng Youran smiled helplessly:
"I am worried about Hongzhou's affairs."
"What happened to Hongzhou?"
"This child is eleven years old, but he's always running around and jumping around."
Yinzhen patted the back of the person in his arms:
“This child has been like this since he was little, and I’ve never seen you discipline him before.”
Geng Youran raised her head defiantly:
"It's not that I don't care. He lives in the prince's residence all day long, and I can't control him even if I wanted to."
"Alright, alright, I misspoke. But I've placed Wei Zhu by his side, and with Wei Zhu's reminders, he should make progress."
At that moment, Geng Youran suddenly thought of his younger brother. But he was conflicted about whether he should say it or not.
Why aren't you saying anything?
Yinzhen waited for a long time, thinking the woman was asleep.
"I'm thinking about something, but I'm not sure if I should say it."
"explain."
"My younger brother is a few years older than Hongzhou, and he won't be taking the imperial examination until next year. I think..."
"Want to bring him here to attend classes with Hongzhou? I have already sent someone to make arrangements."
Geng Youran was stunned for a moment:
"Has His Majesty already made arrangements?"
"I have observed that your younger brother is doing well in his studies and is a steady person. He attends classes with Hongzhou, and I think he should be able to influence him to some extent. Alright, stop thinking about it and go to sleep."
Yinzhen forcefully pressed Geng Youran's head into his arms and then fell asleep first.
Geng Youran also fell asleep to the sound of Yinzhen's soft breathing.
The following day, Yinzhen received a memorial from Can Yuntang in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, citing reasons such as "unauthorized dispatch of people to Hezhou to buy grass and survey pastureland".
Immediately, Yinzhen reprimanded Yuntang and intensified surveillance of him.
In early March, Geng Youran's younger brother, Geng Xinglu, was sent to the palace to attend classes with Hongzhou.
Some people in the palace were dissatisfied with Consort Yu receiving this favor.
Especially Nian Yunrong, who was more than seven months pregnant, now known as Consort Nian.
Back when they first moved to the new palace, Nian Yunrong was overjoyed to be living in Yukun Palace, since only the Empress could use the character 'Kun'.
But when she learned that Geng Youran had moved into Chengqian Palace, her heart turned cold.
"Why should Your Highness get angry over such a trivial matter? Now that our Emperor has ascended the throne, you are a Noble Consort, second only to the Empress in the harem. This is already an immense favor."
Come to think of it, she originally thought she would be ranked as a 'concubine' like the Niohuru clan.
To everyone's surprise, the Emperor bestowed upon her the title of Imperial Concubine, and said that after she finished her postpartum confinement, he would give her the power to assist in managing the six palaces. There were many people in the palace who envied her.
"Where is Fu Hui?"
"The wet nurse just finished feeding him and he's asleep."
Nian Yunrong nodded in satisfaction, then placed her hand on her protruding belly.
Her biggest wish now is for the child to be born healthy.
A few days later, Yinzhen, who had only been on the throne for a few months, bestowed additional titles upon several meritorious ministers.
Among them, Longkodo, Maqi, and Nian Gengyao were granted the title of Grand Protector, and Nian Gengyao was also granted the title of Third-Class Duke.
Such favor is unique in the court.
In addition to the meritorious ministers, several of Yinzhen's younger brothers also received titles and rewards.
For example, Yunyou was made Prince Chun, Yunli was made Prince Guo, and Hongchang, the son of the thirteenth prince Yunxiang, was made a Beizi.
It wasn't until May that Yinzhen held his first court assembly in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where he received the homage of civil and military officials.
"Your Majesty, good news! Consort Nian has given birth to a prince!"
This was the first prince after Yinzhen ascended the throne. Following the previous naming order and as a blessing for the child, Yinzhen specially named the child 'Fupei'.
Immediately, Yinzhen rushed to Consort Nian's Yukun Palace.
Upon arriving at Yukun Palace, they saw the Empress and others present.
"Your Majesty, how is the situation?"
The Empress frowned and said:
"Your Majesty, the imperial physician said that after giving birth last time, Nian's blood and energy have not been fully replenished. In addition, she was frightened when she was at the manor before, so the little prince's condition is not good."
Yinzhen was startled.
"What happened to the Imperial Concubine that year?"
"Production went relatively smoothly, but I'm exhausted and currently asleep."
Yinzhen thought for a moment:
"Give the order that we do not tell Consort Nian about the young prince yet. She has just given birth and cannot be subjected to any more stress. Also, have the imperial physicians on standby to take good care of the young prince."
"yes."
Since birth, the little prince's cries have been much quieter than those of other children.
Nian Yunrong was puzzled, but Qingyan and Granny Zhou, who were by her side, dared not disobey the imperial decree. They could only say that the little prince had choked on amniotic fluid when he was born, but it was nothing serious and that the imperial physician was watching over him.
"How could this be? No, I must go and see."
Upon hearing that her child was not feeling well, Nian Yunrong, who had just given birth a few days prior, wanted to get out of bed.
But she strained too much during childbirth, causing some tears in her birth canal, and she couldn't move at all.
"hiss!"
Upon hearing their mistress cry out in pain, Qingyan and Granny Zhou rushed forward to stop her. Granny Zhou used some force to hold Nian Yunrong down.
"Your Majesty, please don't blame this old servant. The Emperor has decreed that you cannot make the slightest mistake. Besides, the imperial physicians are taking turns watching over the young prince, so there won't be any problems."
Nian Yunrong had no strength left to struggle, so she had no choice but to lie back down.
The young prince is having some trouble, and the Empress Dowager is also facing problems.
Three days later, as Yinzhen was reviewing memorials, Gao Wuyong rushed in, panting, and said:
"Your Majesty, the Empress has sent word that the Empress Dowager has fainted!"
Yinzhen stood up abruptly.
"What's going on? I was in good spirits yesterday when I paid my respects to the Empress Dowager."
The former Consort De, now the Empress Dowager, fell ill shortly after moving into Ning Shou Palace and remained bedridden ever since.
During this period, the Empress, Consort Qi, and others took turns serving him.
"Just now, Consort Wuya sent someone to say that the Emperor had just left yesterday, and the Empress Dowager was quite tired, so she slept for a long time. Consort Wuya was worried, so she went to see her again today and found that the Empress Dowager was not in a good mood. While she was out getting water for the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager fainted."
"To the Palace of Tranquil Longevity!"
When Yinzhen arrived at Ning Shou Palace, the Empress Dowager was still unconscious.
He waited there for two hours before the Empress Dowager finally woke up again.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
