The Marquis of Chengen's family was a military family; their ancestors were founding generals. They enjoyed hereditary favor and were once incredibly powerful and influential.
However, the two emperors of the Southern Dynasty in succession valued civil affairs over military affairs, and the Chengen Marquis's Mansion had long lost its former glory. No outstanding scholars emerged in these two generations, and it gradually declined.
The Emperor and the late Emperor were brothers born of the same mother. When the late Empress Dowager was choosing a wife for her youngest son, she did not consider power or influence, but only the woman's family background and character.
Coincidentally, before her marriage, her mother was not only stunningly beautiful, but also renowned for her gentleness, virtue, and talent. At a royal banquet, her father took a liking to her at first sight, and she was later chosen by the Empress Dowager to be the Princess Consort of Yu.
Her mother was her father's first wife. When her father was still the King of Yu, the two had a very good relationship. She gave birth to her eldest son, Rong Ning, and her eldest daughter.
However, her mother was unlucky. She had a difficult childbirth when giving birth to Rong Ning. Although she was saved from death, her health was severely damaged, and she barely survived for a few years before passing away.
When their mother passed away, Rong Sheng was nine years old, Rong Yang was seven years old, and Rong Ning was only five years old.
When the mother was nearing the end of her life, she was worried about her three children, so she discussed with the father that they should choose an honest and dutiful concubine from her maternal family to be Yu Wang's secondary consort and take care of the three children.
The Emperor thought it was feasible; after all, they were family, and he would take better care of them, so he agreed.
So, before her mother passed away, she arranged for a concubine's daughter from the Bai family to be brought into the Yuwang Mansion as a secondary consort.
Before this, the couple had a very good relationship and had many children, so the emperor's harem consisted only of the mother.
The concubine was the first one to be brought in.
Not long after, my mother passed away.
The Emperor was deeply saddened by the recent loss of his first wife. The concubine seemed to be an honest and dutiful person, managing all the affairs of the palace in an orderly manner. Every day, without fail, she would gently comfort the Emperor and accompany him through those sorrowful days.
Later, the emperor got used to the presence of this concubine, and the concubine became pregnant the year after the mother's death.
People say that the living can't compete with the dead.
But the truth is, the presence of a living, warm, and beautiful woman can make one quickly forget painful memories.
When their mother had just passed away, their father would always hold the three siblings and cry his heart out, reminiscing about their mother.
But in less than a year, didn't the concubine's gentleness and understanding also win him over?
Rong Yang and Rong Sheng are the eldest son and daughter. Their mother was very strict with their upbringing when she was alive, which made them more thoughtful in their actions and considerations. So they didn't find anything wrong with seeing this scene. After all, it's not realistic to expect a man in his prime to remain celibate for his deceased wife.
This day will come sooner or later, and they will have to learn to accept it sooner or later.
Ke Rongning was the youngest daughter. After giving birth to her, her mother was in poor health and felt that her days were numbered, so she was extremely lenient with her. The little girl was pampered and raised from a young age, becoming innocent, lively and adorable.
And a bit willful.
Young Rong Ning couldn't understand why her father would turn to another woman so soon after her mother's death.
She couldn't understand it at all. She started crying, making a scene, and using her innocent and unfiltered words to attack her father and concubine.
Rong Ning's personality began to change from that time on.
He became unconventional and defiant, turning the backyard of the Prince's mansion upside down.
This continued for a very long time.
It wasn't until the concubine became pregnant that she used the excuse of being unable to serve the prince to send several women into the prince's backyard.
Only then did Rong Ning calm down.
The seven-year-old girl, with her innocent face, spoke with remarkable clarity: "Father doesn't love them, and they don't love Father either. Father and they are both so pitiful."
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