What?
Upon hearing Yun Chan's words, the people in the main hall finally became restless.
He only had one woman in his life?
Is this something an emperor should say?
If the emperor doesn't take any concubines and the empress has no children, what will happen to the royal family?
With the royal family in decline, the State of Chu is in grave danger!
Several ministers exchanged glances and then presented an elderly minister with deep wrinkles and white hair and beard.
The man braced himself, bowed, and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, the Empress is very well, and we all respect her greatly."
The Emperor and Empress are in perfect harmony, and we, their subjects, are delighted to see this.
But, throughout history, which emperor didn't have three palaces and six courtyards, and numerous offspring?
Offspring are of paramount importance to the royal family!
The Empress grew up in the royal family of the Great Qi Dynasty and studied at the Imperial Academy for more than ten years. She was well-educated, reasonable, and knowledgeable in etiquette.
Now that she has married into the State of Chu and is the mother of the nation, she should take the initiative to find concubines for the emperor, expand the harem, and ensure the continuation of the imperial lineage…
He talked on and on like he was reading a book, rattling off a lot in one breath.
Outside the palace.
Yuan Yao frowned as she listened.
These old spoiled brats!
Previously, Yun Chan rarely mentioned matters of the court to her.
These ministers are just... indescribable.
Even after Yun Chan said that, he still wouldn't give up...
Therefore, the imperial court should give young people more opportunities.
Back then, when the Ninth Prince established the National Academy, how many promising young civil and military officials did he cultivate for the Great Qi?
The more Yuan Yao compared them, the more he admired the Ninth Prince.
Looking at the old emperor of Chu, he's really no good!
What kind of ministers are in this imperial court?
pedantic!
rigid!
No wonder they were capable of provoking the Great Qi...
"Tsk..."
Yuan Yao took a sip of tea and said to Aruo, "These old guys are full of talk about benevolence and morality, but in reality they are just using this as a pretext to try to stuff people into the palace."
Aruo frowned as she listened: "A couple of days ago, I overheard some palace maids gossiping."
They were spreading rumors that a prominent family in the capital of Chu had prepared more than a dozen noble ladies who were proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, just waiting for an opportunity to enter the palace.
This servant trusts His Majesty, therefore, I have not mentioned this distressing matter to Your Highness.
"A dozen or so noble ladies?" Yuan Yao's interest was immediately piqued. "Are they pretty?"
After asking the question, before Aruo could answer, she continued, "A noble lady from a prominent family, having gone through generations of selection, must be very beautiful..."
Aruo quietly looked at Yuan Yao, who was in high spirits, and smiled faintly: "I've heard that there's everything from plump to slender women."
Yuan Yao raised an eyebrow.
She picked up a sweet peach slice, took a small bite, and said with a smile, "It's not impossible for those ministers to insist on sending their daughters into the palace."
"Your Majesty?" The usually composed Aruo showed a hint of surprise.
"Wait, I haven't finished yet." Yuan Yao's eyes flickered, a half-smile playing on her lips. "I remember, the Chu Kingdom had many temporary palaces."
An imperial palace is also a palace.
I heard that some of the palaces in the Chu Kingdom could enclose several mountains.
It's such a waste to leave it idle!
After a few days, I had the palace renovated.
On the mountain, deer, chickens, and rabbits are raised; in the fields, rice, vegetables, and fruits are grown; and in the ponds, fish, shrimp, ducks, and geese are raised...
When those noble ladies arrive, pack them all up and send them to the imperial palace!
Aren't they skilled in playing musical instruments? At that time, let them carry their instruments and play them in the mountains and fields every day.
Chickens, ducks, and geese that grow up listening to the beautiful music of a zither every day must have very tender meat, and the rice and vegetables must be especially delicious!
If you were to sell them, they would be snapped up!
Just thinking about it, it's all incredibly lucrative..."
The more Yuan Yao spoke, the brighter her eyes became.
Aruo listened and smiled to herself.
Your Highness is still the same little princess you always were!
From a young age, unless she wanted to, no one could get anything good out of her...
Trying to manipulate her is a recipe for disaster!
Aruo smiled and looked up at the main hall.
Inside the main hall.
That nagging old stubborn man finally finished talking.
He coughed twice and looked up at Yun Chan.
Yun Chan sat on the dragon throne, one hand supporting his chin, the other clenched into a fist and placed in front of his thin lips, and elegantly yawned: "Minister Zhang, are you finished?"
Minister Zhang: "???"
His beard trembled violently a few times, and his body swayed twice as well.
His hand trembled as he tried to point at Yun Chan: "You...you..."
After saying "you" for a long time, I almost fainted from anger.
Yun Chan's thin lips curved slightly, forming a cool arc: "I heard that Minister Zhang just celebrated her fiftieth birthday last year."
He was only over fifty years old, yet his hair and beard were already completely white, and he could no longer stand for long periods of time, which shows how much he had worried about the court...
When I was a prince, I owned several estates outside the capital of Chu.
Therefore, my dear minister, take your family and stay at the estate for a while, do some farming and fish raising, and then return to the capital.
"Bring me paper and pen."
The minister swayed even more violently, his beard trembled wildly, his eyes rolled back, and he almost fainted.
Yun Chan glanced at him indifferently and said, "Someone, summon the imperial physician."
At this moment, a minister in his forties stepped forward: "Your Majesty, please think twice before you act!"
Yun Chan took the pen from A Qi's hand, and upon hearing this, couldn't help but look up: "What? Lord Wang, you're so young, do you also want to stay at my estate?"
The minister surnamed Wang immediately choked up.
He didn't actually want to live in the manor.
Once you go, you might never come back!
That's enough.
Minister Wang knelt on the ground, kowtowed, and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, your health is weak. It is not appropriate for you to take care of the affairs of the estate yourself!"
"How about we recruit some skilled farmers and send them over to manage things for the Emperor?"
Upon hearing this, Yun Chan glanced at the person in surprise.
They're quite sensible.
Yun Chan clenched his fist and placed it to his lips, coughed a few times, and then slowly said, "My Empress is gentle, kind, generous, and considerate."
During the Great Qi Dynasty, how many men wanted to marry her?
However, she married into the State of Chu alone.
Even though she knew that her beloved ministers were eager to send women into the palace, she never said a bad word about them.
However, my lords, do not forget the Empress's identity.
Emperor Fengxun of Xiqiu was the Empress's elder brother, born of the same mother.
Emperor Jiang Chengyan of the Great Qi Dynasty was her cousin by blood.
Empress Jiang Huaiyao of the Northern Di was her blood cousin.
Emperor Ye Changyou of the Eastern Night was her sworn brother...
Not to mention, I will never take any woman into my life again.
If anyone insists on forcing me to take a concubine, they may write to the four kingdoms and ask their emperors and empresses if they would allow it!
After speaking, he swept his cold gaze across the entire hall.
Inside the main hall, all was silent.
Apart from the sounds of breathing and clothes rustling, no one dared to speak.
yes!
Who is Yuan Yao?
Which of her identities would be inferior to that of "Empress of Chu"?
Offending her alone means offending the four kingdoms of Qi, Xiqiu, Dongye, and Beidi...
With the alliance of four states, they could raze the State of Chu to the ground!
Never mind.
What is more important than the life of a royal heir?
Immediately, a younger minister stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the Empress is still young, and Your Majesty is also young, so there is no rush regarding the matter of the imperial heir!"
"I second that!" someone else stepped forward. "His Majesty's health is not good; it would be better for him to rest for a few more years before having an heir!"
"I second that opinion!"
One by one, people stepped forward and said, "His Majesty's health is already poor. If he takes on more concubines, wouldn't that harm his health even more?"
"Exactly! I really don't know what those people who want to send women to the palace are thinking!"
"..."
"Clap clap clap!"
A crisp clapping sound came from outside the main hall.
Inside the hall, Yun Chan looked up and smiled.
All the ministers turned to look outside.
There stood the young empress, dressed in simple yet elegant robes, smiling brightly at the entrance of the hall. Her voice was sweet and soft as she said, "The discussion just now was truly fascinating!"
It had been an hour since the court session ended.
"My lords, I have come to take His Majesty back to take his medicine."
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