In the last few days of the year, the entire harem was filled with joy.
The Empress was very generous, and the year-end rewards were double what they had been before. Everyone received a lot of new clothes, plenty of charcoal, and their jewelry was brighter. There was no need to replace them or mix and match old and new clothes.
Even the palace servants below received rewards and new clothes.
As for the late emperor's concubines, Changning didn't want to give anyone cause for gossip in the first year, so she specially sent Zhao Fuhai to deliver them in person. When he returned, he was all smiles, which meant the mission had gone smoothly.
Changning has been so busy these past few days that she hasn't slept much. She's been constantly checking accounts and distributing rewards with Hutuli and Yierha. Finally, the rewards for those inside the palace have been distributed to all the different places. Now it's time to distribute the rewards outside the palace.
Changning didn't want her two daughters to get too involved in matters outside the palace, so she gave them a break to rest and play. It was cold in winter, and she was afraid that they would catch a cold from running around, which would not be good for them.
Changning was quite clear about the situation outside the palace, but for the sake of caution, she still summoned her mother to the palace, and the two of them were busy for quite a while.
Sochoro rubbed her lower back and groaned twice, "Ouch, as you get older, you become useless."
Changning quickly had two palace maids help her mother massage her back.
"Mother, you're not old, you'll always be eighteen, a beautiful flower."
Sochuro was amused by her daughter and pointed at her, saying, "You, you've always had a sweet tongue. Now that you're the Empress, the mother of the nation, you're still like a little mouse that stole honey."
Everyone in Chengqian Palace was one of their own, so there was no need to hold back when speaking. Changning said coquettishly, "What's wrong with that? Aren't I Mother's favorite little darling?"
"Hahahaha, yes, yes, yes, don't let Hutuli hear you say that, or she'll copy you again."
Changning pouted: "This girl loves to mimic my speech the most."
"She's just being nice to you. Mother and daughter are the closest, even closer than father and daughter."
Sochoro's eyes revealed a look of nostalgia: "When you were little, you were like a little bean, always following me around, calling me 'Mommy, Mommy' all the time. In the blink of an eye, you have nine children now."
"That's still your eldest daughter." Changning chuckled. Although she was almost thirty, she always seemed like a little girl in front of her mother, never growing up.
Speaking of children, Suochuoluo also mentioned the situation of her sister-in-law Changning and Dong'e: "Her pregnancy looks good this time. Her belly is pointed, just like when I was pregnant with Changhua and the others."
Changning understood the implication in her mother's words and laughed, "Isn't that great? Mother can hold her grandson again."
Sochuo Luo was naturally happy, but she was also worried about her eldest daughter-in-law's health: "Your sister-in-law is over thirty years old and hasn't gotten pregnant for so many years. Everyone thought she wouldn't be able to, but who knew that she would have such a happy event this year? I just hope that both she and her child can be safe and sound. Your eldest brother has two good children, Duoxi Hui and Alin A, which is enough. Our family doesn't need to have too many children. Taking care of your health is the most important thing."
These words from Sochoro were truly from the bottom of her heart.
She was a woman herself, so she naturally knew that childbirth was a long and exhausting process for women.
To outsiders, it may seem like the child was born in the blink of an eye, but only the mother herself knows the bitterness and pain involved.
Moreover, childbirth is like walking through the gates of hell. Dong Eshi is now in her thirties, no longer the most suitable age for pregnancy, so her worries are understandable.
Hearing this, Changning naturally knew that her mother was referring to her.
She's 27 or 28 now, which is still a prime age in modern times. She's probably just gotten married and could easily have a few more children.
However, in ancient times when the average lifespan was very low, there would be some risks involved in having another child, especially since she had already given birth to nine children, including three in her previous pregnancy. The physical depletion she had was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.
Changning naturally understood this principle, so she had no intention of having any more children. These nine little devils were already enough of a headache for her, not to mention that Yinzhen was also worried about her health and refused to let her get pregnant again.
So she comforted her mother, "Mother, don't worry. I have some top-quality tonics here. I'll have Chuixue find them later, and you can take them home to help my sister-in-law recover. Don't worry about me either. I need to wait until Hutuli and Hongyan are both officially married and grown up before I can think about anything else."
Knowing that she was intelligent and could understand the unspoken meaning in her words, Suochuoluo nodded in satisfaction.
In fact, Empress Changning's position was already very stable. Whether it was favor, offspring, or family power, she did not need to have another child to stabilize her position.
Especially considering that the entire palace only has eleven children.
She gave birth to nine children.
The identity of Hongyan as the next crown prince is almost out in the open.
Even though Lady Suochuoluo did not work in the officialdom, she knew that the Emperor usually took Hongyan with him when handling affairs.
The mother and daughter chatted about their child's marriage again, and Sochoro was also recently troubled by Doshihun.
Dong Eshi is currently pregnant and doesn't have much energy to attend to Duoxihun's marriage arrangements, so she can only entrust the matter to her, the nanny.
Sochoro was skilled at socializing and got along well with the wives and ladies of various ministers, so she also had some information on ladies from prominent families.
Doshihui is the pillar of the next generation of the Fuca clan, and his future wife is to become the matriarch, so naturally, she must be carefully chosen.
Moreover, this child has a somewhat impulsive personality and needs a steady and dignified girl.
Suochuoluo also wanted to take this opportunity to discuss things with Changning, as she had her eye on the daughters of the two families.
One is the daughter of Li Fu, a leader of the Qingliu faction and the current Governor-General of Zhili.
Li Fu had some acquaintance with Bodell, and the two had always had a good relationship. Li Fu was also relatively honest and upright, but he was a bit pedantic and had a very strict family upbringing.
His eldest daughter is now fifteen years old. Suochuoluo has met her once and found her to be truly beautiful and elegant with a natural air about her.
Another one is Tulichen's daughter. Tulichen is a member of the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner, of the Ayan Gioro clan, and is currently the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He has been sent as an envoy to Russia many times and is an important official in the Qing Dynasty's diplomacy with Russia.
His youngest daughter is now thirteen years old. Suochuoluo has met her before. What is particularly outstanding is her appearance. Her pretty eyebrows and eyes, and her rosy lips are truly like peach blossoms in March, making people forget the mundane world upon seeing her.
Hearing her mother say this, Changning was also at a loss for what to do. She simply said that after the New Year, she would invite the two young ladies to Chengqian Palace to meet them in person, and then she would make a decision.
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