While drafting the imperial edict, Liang Wentao secretly thought that there would be a good show to watch tomorrow.
The emperor had always been known for his integrity. How could he resort to such underhanded tactics?
It was just like the style of Liang Er.
The four veteran officials knelt until the palace gates were about to close, but they still didn't see the emperor changing his mind.
They could only support each other to stand up and agreed to kneel again during the court session tomorrow. None of them would back down.
Early the next morning, before dawn, just as the four veteran officials had put on their official robes and were about to go to court, the imperial edict arrived.
Their daughters had overnight become the concubines of the four princes.
The imperial edict also specifically emphasized that after they married into the royal family, they should bear more children for the royal family.
This news was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
But they had no choice but to grit their teeth and reluctantly squeeze out smiles to express their gratitude for the imperial grace.
They thanked the emperor for giving their daughters the opportunity to marry into the royal family.
The status of a prince's concubine was far inferior to that of the emperor's concubines!
But they dared not show their anger.
In the court, Lu Sihong looked relaxed, with a hidden look of joy.
The four princes also had to kneel to thank the emperor for the marriage arrangement and promised that they would bear more children for the royal family.
"The queen and I have limited capabilities and energy. Our Great Zhou's territory needs more descendants to thrive. My veteran officials also earnestly hope that the royal family will have more children. My younger brothers should share more of my burdens."
The four princes, as if they had practiced in advance, said in unison, "We are willing to share the emperor's burdens."
The four veteran officials were so angry that they blew their beards and glared.
But they had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill.
After these four trouble - makers were dealt with, no one in the court dared to mention the matter of the emperor taking more concubines.
They were afraid that if the emperor was unhappy, he would issue an edict to marry their daughters or granddaughters to those old princes.
Lu Sihong not only had four younger brothers but also three uncles.
These old princes were in their forties or fifties.
No one wanted their precious daughters to become the concubines of old princes.
Finally, Lu Sihong's ears were clear.
In March, he had new things to attend to.
The provincial examinations across the country began, followed by the metropolitan and palace examinations in August.
The idea of the emperor taking more concubines was nonsense, but recruiting more talents had been Lu Sihong's grand goal since he was the crown prince.
He wanted to select more outstanding children from poor families to break the monopoly of high - ranking official positions by the noble families.
Not only civil officials but also military generals would be selected through the military examinations.
Since Liang Yuzhou and Shi Luohan, for the past seven or eight years, no more outstanding masters had emerged to amaze and impress him.
The old duke had relinquished his military power and official position five years ago to retire in peace. Apart from General Shi Luohan, there were few outstanding generals in the court.
And now Shi Luohan could only be regarded as half a general of the Great Zhou. After he married the Queen of Yaoguang, he became the regent of Gaochang.
The court was in great need of people. Lu Sihong hoped that there would be outstanding talents emerging this year.
...
In March, the weather gradually warmed up, and the capital finally welcomed the long - awaited spring.
The little princess's little mouth began to make continuous "da da da" sounds.
Especially when Lu Sihong picked her up, the little one just wouldn't stop talking.
"My little princess is calling me daddy."
Surprisingly, the one who liked to play with the little princess the most was Princess Lingyang.
This princess, who had never touched a needle and thread in her twenties, actually started sewing cloth dolls to please her little niece.
She pricked her fingers countless times and cried out in pain, but she never gave up.
In order to see the little princess every day, she even refused to live in her luxurious and spacious princess mansion and moved back to the palace. She wished she could live in Yukun Palace every day.
The little princess also liked Aunt Lingyang very much.
When Lingyang first took out that ugly cloth doll, the little one was scared to cry by its ugliness.
But miraculously, the next day, the little princess actively grabbed the cloth doll and took it everywhere. She even hugged it when she slept.
This made Lingyang extremely proud.
"Xueling is the closest to aunt. When you grow up, aunt will give you the princess mansion to live in. Aunt will give you all the best treasures in the world!"
Xueling was the title Lu Sihong gave to the little princess.
Lingyang's black mountain dog, Thunder, was also getting old. If calculated in human years, he was already over seventy.
He was no longer as majestic, fierce, and agile as he was five years ago. His movements were slower, he ate less, and he lazily followed Lingyang every day. There was a touch of kindness in his eyes.
"When Xueling grows up, aunt will give Thunder to Xueling. Let Thunder protect Xueling."
Thunder was originally a divine dog presented by Gaochang to the late emperor. The late emperor had intended to let this black mountain dog guard the imperial tombs and protect the ancestors of the Great Zhou.
Unexpectedly, Lingyang fell in love with it at first sight. The late emperor doted on his little daughter and let her raise it.
She had raised it for fifteen years.
On that thrilling night five years ago, Thunder had bitten Lu Siming and saved Song Wanchu at a critical moment. Lu Sihong had even specially granted Thunder the title of "Brave General".
Since then, Thunder had become famous. Everyone in the palace and the court respected him.
The hero was getting old.
Cheng Simian stroked Thunder's furry ears and stuffed a piece of beef jerky into his mouth.
She silently prayed in her heart that Thunder could live until the little princess grew up.
The wet nurse walked in and said with a smile, "Princess, it's time for the little princess to have milk."
Lingyang held the little princess in her arms, reluctant to let go. She kissed the little one a couple of times before handing her to the wet nurse.
"Sister - in - law, I won't disturb your rest. I'll come to see Xueling again tomorrow."
"Look, the sun is about to set. Stay and have dinner."
Lingyang pouted, "It's no fun just the two of us. If the emperor brother comes halfway through the meal, I'll be the extra one again."
Cheng Simian laughed. She liked Lingyang's straightforwardness. She said what was on her mind without any false pretenses.
Just as Lingyang was about to get up, Qiluo came.
"Qiluo is getting more and more beautiful. If I were a man, I would have asked sister - in - law for your hand in marriage long ago. I heard that there are many young nobles outside waiting eagerly for you to leave the palace."
Lingyang joked with Qiluo with a smile.
Qiluo was twenty - one this year. She would be able to leave the palace in another four years.
Her father was a third - rank official in charge of the Ministry of Works and was highly valued by the emperor. She was also a first - rank female official beside the empress dowager, with a noble status.
After leaving the palace, there would naturally be many noble families and young nobles waiting to propose marriage.
Not to mention that Qiluo was an extremely beautiful woman.
Qiluo bowed to Cheng Simian and Lingyang.
"If this slave can gain the favor of the princess, after serving the empress dowager for a few more years, I'll follow the princess."
Lingyang laughed even more happily. "I do want you, but I'm afraid those young talents outside will scold me for bullying men and dominating women!"
After joking for a while, "Alright, sister - in - law, Qiluo rarely comes to see you. You should entertain her well!"
She took a step to leave.
"Princess, please wait."
Qiluo said, "The empress dowager sent this slave to pass on a message. She said that Miss Pei, the fourth daughter of the Pei family, has come to visit her. The empress dowager invites the empress and the princess to go to Shoukang Palace. Miss Pei has prepared gifts for both the empress and the princess."
"Miss Pei, the fourth one. Is it the one named Pei Zhaoyi?"
Cheng Simian had heard of this Miss Pei.
She was the youngest daughter of the Duke of Jing'an, the elder brother of the empress dowager. The empress dowager had personally given her the boudoir name.
She was good at calligraphy, ink painting, and played the pipa very well.
She was a well - known talented woman in the capital.
There were also many rumors that her painting style had captured the essence of Mr. Mingxi.
Cheng Simian was very interested in this Miss Pei.
Although they saw each other at the palace banquets every year, they had never talked face - to - face.
But Lingyang didn't like this cousin very much.
"Who cares about her gifts? That year when she came to the palace, Thunder just stole a piece of date - paste cake from her, and she kicked him into the carp lake. At that time, Thunder was even smaller than a shoe. How could she be so cruel! She was heartless at a young age. She won't be any good when she grows up!"
Princess Lingyang held a grudge.
"Did you take revenge on her for Thunder?" Cheng Simian didn't know about this past between them.
"I pushed her into the lake too. I heard that she got sick from the scare after she went back, and her father never let her enter the palace again."
So Lingyang hadn't seen Pei Zhaoyi for more than a decade.
Cheng Simian was deep in thought.
She hadn't dared to enter the palace for more than a decade. Why did she suddenly dare to come?
It couldn't be that she came specifically to apologize to Lingyang for what happened more than a decade ago, could it?