Jinling—
The Imperial Palace.
The emperor, who was well past the age of twenty, now firmly grasped military power with the help of his uncle and tutor.
On this day, he selected Consort De from among the concubines.
"Who has Consort De met with recently?"
"Your Majesty, it seems that Consort De has been in close contact with the old lady of the Yongning Marquis's residence recently."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"This old servant dares not speak nonsense, please Your Majesty judge for yourself."
"Get up. I didn't mean to blame you. That's all. I'll go to Consort De's place tonight."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will give the order immediately."
"Go."
The emperor rubbed his temples and then continued reviewing the memorials.
A short while later, a palace attendant announced that the Empress had fainted...
When the emperor arrived at the empress's palace, his mother was already there.
Upon seeing him, the Empress Dowager frowned in alarm.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty."
"My son, how busy must you be to neglect the Empress?"
The Empress Dowager immediately lashed out and reprimanded the Emperor.
The king was a dutiful son and remained silent, letting the empress dowager scold him.
While giving the Empress Dowager ample face, it also made everyone in the harem understand more deeply that the Empress Dowager had the Empress Dowager's backing and could not be neglected.
"All of you, step back. I wish to speak with the Emperor and Empress."
"Chirp~"
"This servant takes her leave."
After everyone had left, the Empress Dowager helped the prince to his feet and said gently:
"My poor child, come quickly, Fu'er is pregnant!"
"really?"
The emperor, disregarding his mother's presence, hurriedly grasped his wife's hand, his expression of joy and delight impossible to conceal.
"Yes, the imperial physician diagnosed that it has been three months. However, during the winter, I thought it was just a feeling of cold and fatigue, but I never imagined..."
The Empress was a woman with delicate features and a gentle demeanor.
She wasn't particularly beautiful, but she came from a scholarly family and was someone the emperor truly cherished.
To protect the empress, the emperor could only pretend to favor other women, diverting the attention of the harem away from the empress...
In fact, he acted very successfully.
In the inner palace, apart from the Empress Dowager, no one knew...
“My son, we can’t hide it now. Fu’er will probably become the target of everyone’s criticism. Think about how to protect Fu’er and the child in her womb.”
The Empress Dowager also extended her affection to the Empress because her son liked her.
I apologize to the other concubines.
"Mother, please don't worry, I have a way..."
The emperor nodded. He was no longer the young emperor everyone coveted when he first ascended the throne.
That night, the emperor spent the night in Consort De's palace.
After their lovemaking, Consort De sweetly asked the Emperor for a reward.
"Your Majesty, my brother has returned victorious from his eastern expedition. May I request a decree?"
"Oh? What kind of decree does my beloved concubine wish to request?"
The emperor's eyes darkened, but his tone remained gentle as water.
"A marquisate would be fitting for my brother, who is utterly loyal. Only by bestowing upon him the title of marquis could the Emperor's grace be truly shown. As for the fiefdom, I think Yunshui County is quite suitable... perhaps..."
"Yunshui County?"
"Yes, the Junior Tutor is, after all, an outsider. How can he be as close as my own brother? To hand over such a vast Yunshui Prefecture to the sister of an outsider is too frivolous. Perhaps..."
"My beloved consort is right. I will consider it..."
"Your Majesty, I obey!"
......
Of all the relatives by marriage, he only recognized his maternal uncle.
Even the Empress hasn't made any plans for her family, yet Consort De is already so eager...
As for Yunshui County, that was a decision made when the Emperor was still alive; how could he overturn it?
Moreover, the Junior Tutor was both a teacher and a friend to him. His mother, Princess Xiangyun, was the only princess of Tianyao with a different surname, and she was also selfless. Any new reform plans, new projects, new water conservancy plans, or anything else in Yunshui County would be reported to the Six Ministries!
How could he possibly mistreat such a loyal and devoted subject?
It seems it's time to purge the influence of the former court and the harem!
......
In May of the tenth year of Yongxi, Consort De, lacking virtue, colluded with the previous court in an attempt to form a clique for personal gain. Her status as a consort was revoked, and she was banished to the Cold Palace.
His brother fraudulently claimed military supplies and substituted them with inferior goods, intending to harm his colleagues. Once the truth was found, he was executed on the spot!
In October of the same year, the Empress gave birth to a legitimate son, who was named Crown Prince a hundred days later.
In December of the same year, Consort Shu attempted to murder the young crown prince, but was discovered and committed suicide by poisoning herself.
In the eleventh year of the Yongxi reign, Consort Xian gave birth to a daughter and suffered postpartum hemorrhage. The little princess was adopted by the Empress and later bestowed the title of Princess Changping.
In June of the same year, the emperor abolished the imperial concubine selection process.
At the end of the eleventh year of the Yongxi reign, Minister Liu retired, leaving behind a legendary legacy in the imperial court.
In the twelfth year of Yongxi, Wu Shaofu officially became Wu Taifu, in charge of the cabinet, second only to the emperor.
In the thirteenth year of the Yongxi reign, the Empress passed away. The Emperor was heartbroken and fell ill from overwork several months later, following the late Empress in death.
In June of the same year, Grand Tutor Wu supported the young emperor's ascension to the throne and changed the era name.
Tiansheng!
Thus began the first year of Tiansheng, a glorious era of prosperity.
With tribute from all directions, and invincible in every battle and conquest, Tianyao's territory has expanded tenfold, its army is strong and its people are prosperous!
Wu Qingyun, also known as Wu Taifu, is a legendary figure from a poor family who rose to prominence and whose life story has been celebrated for centuries.
In his autobiography, his mother, Lady Wu Jiang, the renowned Princess Xiangyun, is particularly revered...
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