Yukun Palace.
Rong Shi, Cheng Simian's mother, entered the palace. The mother - daughter pair sat on the small couch by the window.
Rong Shi held the eight - month - old little princess in her arms, her face beaming with affection.
"Look at our little princess. Her eyes are so bright, her nose is dainty and delicate, and she's so fair and tender. She looks exactly like Her Majesty the Queen when she was a child."
Nanny Chen was seventy this year, with a head full of silver hair. But she was still in fairly good health.
She had been Rong Shi's wet nurse and had served Cheng Simian for more than a decade. Now, looking at the little princess, it was as if she saw her fourth generation. Tears welled up in her eyes.
The little princess did look very much like Cheng Simian, as both Lu Sihong and the Empress Dowager had said.
"Has Han'er not come back yet?" Rong Shi also missed her grandson.
Lu Jinhan was the name Lu Sihong personally chose for the little prince.
The little princess reached out her hand, trying to grab the rattle in Cheng Simian's hand. Cheng Simian smiled and put it into her hand.
"The imperial tutor is very strict. There's a lot of schoolwork every day. I guess he'll be another hour."
The current Crown Prince's tutor was Shi Jinglu, who was even stricter with Lu Sihong than the previous tutor, Gentleman Wen.
Rong Shi sighed. "He's only four years old and already works so hard. It makes one feel so sorry for him."
But the royal family had always been very strict in cultivating their heirs.
Since the day he was born, Lu Jinhan had borne a lofty and heavy mission.
He couldn't slack off for a single moment.
Shuyi lifted the beaded curtain and walked in. Her face looked rather grim.
"Your Majesty the Queen, the Empress Dowager has sent word, asking you to go over."
Cheng Simian frowned slightly.
The Empress Dowager must have known that Rong Shi had come to the palace to visit her grandson and granddaughter today.
This was a rare moment for their mother - daughter reunion. If it weren't for something major, the Empress Dowager wouldn't have called her away at this time.
Rong Shi looked worried. "Mianmian, go quickly. You mustn't keep the Empress Dowager waiting."
Cheng Simian stood up, stroked the little princess's cheek, and gave a few instructions to the wet nurse before hurrying to Shoukang Palace.
As soon as she entered, she smelled the scent of the soothing incense, stronger than usual.
The Empress Dowager was reclined on the soft pillow, pinching the bridge of her nose, as if troubled by something.
"Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
"Get up quickly and sit down."
The Empress Dowager put down the finger on the bridge of her nose, forcing a smile while mustering her energy. "I've interrupted your mother - daughter reunion. Let your mother stay in the palace for a few more days."
"Does Your Majesty the Empress Dowager have any troubles? Your servant has been derelict in her duty and failed to share your worries in time."
Cheng Simian had already keenly sensed something.
These days, more and more noble ladies from marquis and duke families had been entering the palace to request an audience with the Empress Dowager.
The whispers from the previous court had also reached her ears.
Among these noble families, the officials in the previous court had submitted memorials, asking the Emperor to select more concubines for the harem.
The noble ladies came to beg the Empress Dowager every now and then, wanting to send their granddaughters, daughters, and sisters into the palace.
Every time Lu Sihong came back from court, he didn't want to talk about these things with her.
Cheng Simian was also very cautious and didn't bring it up.
Because no matter what her attitude was, it would cause discussions in both the previous court and the harem.
So these days, she had used taking care of the little prince and the little princess as an excuse to avoid going out as much as possible.
Her Yukun Palace was calm, but there were turbulent waves around Lu Sihong and the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager propped her temple with her arm. The worry between her eyebrows wouldn't fade.
"Mianmian, you've always been smart and insightful. You must have heard about what's been happening recently."
Cheng Simian lowered her eyes and calmly replied, "Yes, your servant has heard about it all."
"Hong'er has always been opinionated since he was a child. Now, only you, the Queen, can persuade him."
Cheng Simian understood.
The Empress Dowager couldn't bear the pressure anymore and wanted Lu Sihong to select more concubines for the harem.
But she didn't want to bring it up herself for fear of hurting the mother - son relationship.
Throwing this difficult problem to her was both a test of her attitude and a consideration of real - world interests.
The Empress Dowager admired and recognized her, but she had never agreed to Lu Sihong's promise of exclusive favor in the six palaces.
As far as Cheng Simian knew, there were several unmarried girls in the Pei family, the Empress Dowager's natal family. They were all gentle, virtuous, and well - educated, just waiting to be sent into the harem as concubines.
The interests of the previous court and the harem were intertwined, and it had always been so.
Lu Sihong's current behavior was nothing less than a struggle against the entire system and rules.
Seeing that Cheng Simian didn't say a word, the Empress Dowager frowned even more.
She actually didn't want to believe that Cheng Simian was a selfish and jealous woman.
There was no doubt that Cheng Simian loved Hong'er, but compared to Lu Sihong's fanatical infatuation with her, her love was based on reason.
In her heart, there must be something more important than love.
"You have a good reputation outside. People all say that you're the best queen. The late Emperor and I both believe that you can manage the harem well. But look around. The six palaces are empty. Except for you, the Queen, there are hardly any young women. How can you prove your ability?"
The Empress Dowager wanted to discuss this issue with her in a gentle and consultative manner.
She was also a woman. Her husband was also an emperor. She had once been in Cheng Simian's position. Asking the queen to select concubines for the emperor was a responsibility and a kind of cruelty.
How could she not understand that painful feeling?
But there were some things more important than love.
To stabilize the previous court and the harem, something always had to be sacrificed.
Cheng Simian still remained silent.
Once she agreed, it would be a betrayal of Lu Sihong's oath.
Lu Sihong would surely go crazy.
So she showed a deep - seated worry.
The soothing incense on the table burned quietly.
The Empress Dowager became even more upset.
"His Majesty the Emperor is here!"
The voice of Xiao Anzi came from outside the door.
The Empress Dowager was startled for a moment. She looked at Cheng Simian and forced a bitter smile.
Lu Sihong hadn't even had time to take off his court robe.
"Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
"Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty the Emperor."
In front of others, they still had to act out the etiquette between the monarch and his subject.
Lu Sihong helped Cheng Simian up and led her back to the small couch to sit down.
He sat beside Cheng Simian himself. In the Empress Dowager's sight, Cheng Simian was completely blocked by him.
"Are those ministers who submitted the memorials still kneeling in front of Qianyuan Hall?"
The Empress Dowager was dissatisfied, but she couldn't say anything.
Lu Sihong stroked Cheng Simian's hand. "It's cold these days. You've been suffering from chills since you gave birth to the little princess. Your hands are so cold."
"Doctor Shen has prescribed a formula. I drink it every day. Your Majesty doesn't need to worry."
Lu Sihong nodded and then slowly answered the Empress Dowager's question. "Let them kneel if they like. They're all old. Anyway, it won't be me who gets rheumatism in the end."
The Empress Dowager was almost laughed out of anger.
This didn't sound like something an emperor would say at all.
His behavior was no different from that of Liang Er back then.
Cheng Simian happily hid behind Lu Sihong, barely able to hold back her laughter.
"They're all veteran ministers of two dynasties. They have some status and influence. If you just leave them out there, people will talk."
"None of them has the surname Lu, yet they keep interfering in my family affairs. I've already given them enough face by ignoring them."
The Empress Dowager closed her eyes helplessly. "Selecting concubines is not only a family matter but also a national affair."
Finally, mother and son had put this matter on the table.
"Mianmian is kind and virtuous. How could you bear to let her be accused of bewitching the Emperor and monopolizing the imperial favor? There have been a lot of discussions among the people, saying that Mianmian is a demonic queen. I can't stand to hear such words, and I won't allow them to ruin Mianmian's reputation."
What the Empress Dowager said was the truth.
Cheng Simian also knew those rumors.
If their love were in the common people's world, it would be praised. People would say that Lu Sihong was devoted and that she was faithful, and it would become a beautiful story.
But in the harem, she had become the demonic queen condemned by everyone.
Lu Sihong's face turned cold.
"Someone must be fanning the flames and spreading rumors behind the scenes. Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, don't you know their purpose?"
"Of course I know that someone is maliciously spreading slanderous remarks about Mianmian. But rumors have no end. To stop them, we have to select concubines. Although you already have a son and a daughter, the century - old foundation of the Lu family needs more descendants to protect. Your heirs are still too few. Mianmian alone has limited abilities. Selecting concubines is not only to enrich the harem but also to have more descendants. Naturally, the more descendants of the royal family, the better."
"The more descendants there are, the more ambitious they become and want to fight for the throne, just like Lu Siming. Has Your Majesty the Empress Dowager forgotten?"
The Empress Dowager's face changed abruptly.
Cheng Simian's heart skipped a beat.
What Lu Sihong said to the Empress Dowager was a bit too harsh.