Chapter 379 A Springboard
Yan Qi's frank advice brought the issue of establishing a queen to the surface.
When the court was held early the next day, this matter became the only topic discussed by all the court officials.
There were many court officials who advocated persuading Xiao Jingheng to establish a queen as soon as possible.
Moreover, they were not instigated by anyone with vested interests, but were all considering the country's foundation.
Now, the only prince under Xiao Jingheng's lap is Cheng Huan.
The imperial physician had also stated that Cheng Huan's tinea versicolor was a serious disease. If he was afflicted with this disease, he would spend his whole life with it, and there was a high probability that he would not live past the age of five.
Even if someone is well cared for and survives past the age of five, the road ahead will be very difficult. Multiple ulcers in the body will cause infection day after day, and eventually the person will be exhausted to death...
A prince who could die at any time obviously has no hope of inheriting the throne.
Regarding the selection of a queen, some old officials loyal to the Qi Dynasty advocated choosing Zhaohua as the queen.
The reasons are generally attributed to:
The royal family values bloodline the most. Empress Jiarui did not give birth to a legitimate son for Xiao Jingheng.
Therefore, the boy that Zhaohua is carrying in her belly right now becomes the best choice.
If Zhaohua became the queen, her children would be legitimate and of pure blood.
Another group of court officials who were good at flattery also advised Xiao Jingheng to choose Zhaohua as the queen mother.
These people are the best at understanding the emperor's intentions. They secretly think that Xiao Jingheng gave Zhao Hua a good family background like the Luo family before, wasn't it just to pave the way for her to become the queen in the future?
Therefore, my advice today is just in line with Xiao Jingheng's wishes.
The silkworm-loving ceremony is held in early March, which is also the day when Zhaohua gives birth.
From this perspective, establishing Zhaohua as queen seemed to be in accordance with the right time, place and people.
However, Xiao Jingheng did not make a decision at the morning court session, but put the matter aside for the time being and discuss it later.
*
Before a concubine gives birth, her mother's family can come to the palace to visit her.
On this day, Madam Luo was summoned to the palace to meet Zhaohua.
She brought Zhaohua many baby bellybands that she had sewed and embroidered herself.
The fabric of the bellyband is the softest natural silk, and the colors used are mostly bright yellow, indigo, and sky blue, which are the colors most commonly used by boys. The embroidery pattern with gold thread on it is also the Qilin dragon pattern.
It can be seen that she was also certain that Zhaohua's baby must be a prince.
Zhao Hua accepted her kindness with a smile and said:
"My mother has poor eyesight, but she still takes the trouble to do these things. I am really touched as a daughter."
Madam Luo smiled with some pride, "What's that? When you become the queen one day, this child will be the emperor's legitimate son. By then, compared to the emperor's favor, these thoughts of yours will not be worthy of mention."
Zhao Hua's expression suddenly changed when he heard this, and he hurriedly whispered:
"Mother, don't say such things casually."
"How could I be talking nonsense? Now the rumors are spreading in the imperial court and the imperial harem. I'm afraid the emperor will soon issue an order to make you the empress because of the silkworm ceremony."
Madam Luo took Zhaohua's hand and slowly squeezed it, and said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, your father will work together with the officials who are familiar with him to advise the emperor to make you the queen. The position of queen will definitely be yours."
"Father asked the ministers of the previous dynasty to speak for me?"
Zhao Hua was terrified, and subconsciously pulled his hand out of Madam Luo's palm, shaking his head repeatedly and saying:
"Mother, don't try to persuade me. Father is really a bit confused to do this. To put it in a big way, the establishment of a queen is a national affair, but fundamentally, it is also the emperor's family affair. The emperor has his own considerations on who he wants to establish as the queen. How can he be influenced by the foreign ministers of the previous dynasty?
Moreover, Concubine Chen has both sons and daughters, and has been serving the Emperor since he ascended the throne, and has a deep relationship with him. As for choosing a queen, I personally feel that Concubine Chen is much more suitable."
"She has no hope." Madam Luo interrupted Zhao Hua coldly, "Noble Concubine Ning's father and brother were once convicted of crimes by the court and were executed in a busy street by the emperor's order. Many people in Kyoto saw this with their own eyes. Her status is awkward, and even if the emperor is deeply in love with her, he will not make her his principal wife."
"Then please ask mother to persuade me, so that father won't have to run around for me on this matter anymore."
Zhaohua offered a cup of tea to Mrs. Luo, and broke open the skylight to talk to her openly.
"I know that the harem and the palace were originally one entity in the previous dynasty. If my daughter could become the queen, it would bring honor to the Luo family. But my daughter is unfilial and I don't think she has the ability to be the queen.
I am not afraid of my mother laughing at me. My daughter's selfish wish is just to be an idle person. A rich life, a son and a daughter, and the emperor's grace are always there, which is very good. I know that my father is kind in planning for me, but this kindness is pushing me into the fire pit. "
"You kid..."
Mrs. Luo sighed again and again, feeling quite helpless.
After a long while, she picked up the teacup that Zhao Hua placed in front of her and took a sip.
"Forget it, forget it. Since you don't have this intention, even if your father plans for you to become the empress, you will have little joy in the future. But whether you are a noble concubine or an imperial concubine, you are the emperor's concubine. You and the emperor are truly in love. Don't you want to be his legitimate wife?"
Today, Madam Luo and Zhao Hua had a private conversation. Zhao Hua answered questions calmly throughout the whole conversation.
Only after hearing her say this, a trace of disappointment flashed across Zhao Hua's brows.
But she still forced a smile and said:
"We are thinking about each other in our hearts, so why would we care about the difference between wife and concubine? I only know that Xiao Lang is my husband, and in his heart he also thinks of me as his wife, and that is enough."
Later, Mrs. Zhaohua Liuluo had dinner at Changle Palace.
Originally, they wanted her to stay overnight in the palace, but she declined on the grounds that Lord Luo had recently suffered from rheumatism and she had to rush back home to take care of him.
Zhaohua did not force her to stay, so he ordered Xiao Fuzi to escort Madam Luo out of the palace.
As expected, Xiao Fuzi did not return until almost an hour later.
At that time, Zhaohua was coaxing Ruoxin to sleep, and Xiao Fuzi waited outside the door for a long time.
Only when Zhao Hua quietly left the side hall did he hear him whisper:
"Your Majesty, Madam Luo left the palace in a sedan chair, but returned half an hour later. I secretly watched and saw that the sedan chair was carried to the direction of Chaoyang Palace."
Zhao Hua smiled gently and said:
"It's understandable that the mother-in-law wants to meet her son-in-law."
Xiao Fuzi also smiled, "Your Majesty has calculated that the Emperor will ask Madam Luo to test you. The Emperor must have been moved by what you said to Madam Luo today."
Zhao Hua sneered and shook his head, then raised his eyebrows and looked at him, saying jokingly:
"She is not my mother, but my springboard. A springboard should naturally do its duty well, so that it can be used to its full potential. Otherwise, what difference is there between her and the waste wood thrown into the fire?"
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