Ye Zhen is pregnant!
The empress's pregnancy signifies the continuation of the imperial line and the stability of the nation, a joyous occasion for the Great Yuan Dynasty.
The new emperor extended his benevolence to the people, issuing edicts to reduce taxes, lighten corvée labor, pardon minor offenses, and provide relief to orphans and widows.
The news spread throughout Da Yuan, and the people cheered with joy.
Dayuan first had crops such as sweet potatoes and potatoes, and later improved rice varieties, so the people never went hungry again.
Now, with these acts of kindness, the people have more and more hope for the future, and they all kneel down to express their gratitude.
Then another message came: the Empress took out a sum of money from her dowry to repair reservoirs in various prefectures of Da Yuan, so that water could be stored during the rainy season and used for irrigation during the drought.
Most people rely on farming for their livelihood and depend on the weather for their food. If the floods and droughts could be alleviated, it would be a life-saving act for the people. The crowd knelt down again in the direction of the capital to express their gratitude.
The retired emperor and the Marquis of Dingyuan sat in their carriage watching from afar. The emperor sighed, "Zhaolin did a better job than I did."
He and the Prince of Dingyuan had been out for more than half a year and had heard too many people praising the new emperor.
The emperor was moved by what he saw.
The Prince of Dingyuan patted his shoulder, "My son is doing well too."
He was tall and imposing, with a full beard. Although he was nearly seventy years old, his skin was still firm and his spirit was high. His eyes were piercing, and he looked even healthier than the retired emperor.
She had many sons, but the only one still alive was the retired emperor, whose personality was most like his wife's.
The more Prince Dingyuan spent time with his son, the more he liked him. The two spent more than a year together, and he gave the retired emperor plenty of fatherly love.
In his eyes, his son was the best in the world. Even though the new emperor was his own grandson, the one he loved most was his only son who had left home at a young age.
She couldn't bear to hear her son belittle himself.
The retired emperor was used to his father's constant protection and was about to thank him with a smile when he heard his father say, "The only thing you can't do as well as him is your ability to pick women."
The new emperor's chosen empress not only did not hinder his progress, but was also a powerful ally. Empress Ye Zhen deserves much credit for the new emperor's achievements.
As for the retired emperor's wife, Zheng, let's not even mention her.
The thought of that woman scheming against his son for decades filled Prince Dingyuan with intense hatred.
He leaned slightly closer to his son. "Son, may I call you that?"
The retired emperor nodded.
Although there is a distinction between ruler and subject, they are currently traveling incognito, and he had already told his father that they would address each other as father and son in private.
The Prince of Dingyuan said earnestly, "Why don't you find another woman? The fastest way to forget an old relationship is to start a new one."
My son is so outstanding, and he is now in the prime of his life. If he spends the rest of his life with only this one person, I will die with regrets.
The retired emperor had developed a deep affection for his father and couldn't bear to hear him talk about death, so he quickly said, "Father, you are in good health and will surely live to be a hundred."
"If one is unhappy and constantly worries about one's son, what is the point of living a long life?"
Prince Dingyuan sighed, "You were sent away when you were young, and you suffered so much in the palace just to keep your life. I have been feeling guilty day and night."
Unfortunately, your love life has been unsuccessful, which makes your father feel even more sorry for you. If I hadn't sent you to the capital back then, you wouldn't have met that Zheng family.
My son, I also lost my wife in middle age, but your mother was the best woman ever. Even though she's gone, I can still get through the days with the memories we shared.
But you're different, son. Can't we start over? Your father thinks Danniang is quite good. She doesn't know your background and has been very kind to you. Why don't we give it a try?"
Danniang was the daughter of his deputy general. Her mother died early, and she and her father depended on each other for survival. A few years ago, her father passed away, and she observed three years of mourning, which made her quite old.
Later, a marriage was arranged, but the other party had designs on the family's future. Dan Niang realized this and decisively broke off the engagement.
After that, she met several suitors, but they were either after her family's wealth or because she had the favor of the Prince of Dingyuan. So Danniang simply decided not to get married and has now become an old maid at the age of thirty.
Dan Niang was strong-willed and kind-hearted. Prince Dingyuan always treated her like a daughter and was worried about her marriage.
After the retired emperor moved into the Prince of Dingyuan's residence under the guise of a relative, the Prince of Dingyuan, seeing his lonely son, thought of bringing the two together and created some opportunities for them to get to know each other.
Dan Niang is a straightforward girl who admits to having feelings for the Emperor Emeritus, but the Emperor Emeritus has not yet fully recovered from his previous relationship.
Prince Dingyuan did not force his son, but this time when he accompanied his son on the trip, he used the excuse of broadening Dan Niang's horizons to bring Dan Niang along as well.
Throughout the journey, Danniang and Chen Banjun took care of the father and son's daily needs.
After nearly a year of getting to know each other, Prince Dingyuan realized that the Emperor Emeritus did not reject Danniang, so he wanted to strike while the iron was hot and settle their relationship today.
The retired emperor was somewhat troubled. "Father, given my status, it's not appropriate for me to remarry."
He was the retired emperor, and his wife should have been the empress dowager, or at the very least, a concubine. However, these titles were traditionally reserved for the women of retired emperors before their abdication.
If he were to remarry now and grant Dan Niang a title, it would surely cause controversy in the court, and he did not want to cause such trouble for his son.
If I don't give them a proper title, I'll be letting them down.
Prince Dingyuan had long considered this issue. "Danniang is not power-hungry; otherwise, she would have asked me to arrange her marriage long ago."
But you still have to give her the title of wife. If you agree to start a relationship with Danniang, you can marry her as a member of the Helian family, how about that?
Seeing the Emperor Emeritus hesitate, he used singing, dancing, and acting to persuade and coax him until the Emperor finally agreed.
When the emperor left the palace, the three concubines who had previously been there learned that he was going to abdicate and go away, and that he might not return to the palace in the future. None of them were willing to go with him, so the retired emperor let them each find their own place.
The Prince of Dingyuan was a decisive man, and he immediately began arranging the marriage between the two.
They are currently in the area where Han Zijin was serving as the county magistrate.
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