"Of course you can, dear. No matter who I become, you'll always be my little sweetheart. You can move in with me and stay with me for the rest of your life. How does that sound?"
Lan Miao tapped Xue'er's little nose gently, her voice soft and tender.
Hearing this, Xue'er's eyes lit up. She nodded happily, but then a look of surprise flashed across her face. "So I won't live with Yu Jia anymore?"
"What? Are you reluctant to part with her? You'll still be in the palace. You'll have plenty of time to see each other."
Lan Miao deliberately teased Xue'er.
Xue'er wrinkled her nose in a dilemma. "I do want to live with you, Mother. But I need to find a chance to talk to Yu Jia. She only knows that you've become the Emperor's concubine. She doesn't know that I'm going to move out."
Hearing Xue'er's words, Lan Miao thought carefully.
It was true. But Yu Jia might not be unaware of this. Even if she didn't, the Empress Dowager would surely mention it. Besides, the Empress Dowager had raised Yu Jia well. She would understand. It's just that the two girls might need some time to adjust.
"Don't worry, Xue'er. With the Empress Dowager's guidance, Yu Jia will understand. When we come back from the mansion, we'll have a good talk with her. You two need to get used to each other."
Lan Miao murmured slowly, "In the future, the palace is different from the mansion. Since you'll be living in the palace with me, there will be some new rules. There will be people to teach you these things. You can also ask Yu Jia."
"Okay..."
Xue'er leaned against Lan Miao and listened quietly.
For them, everything in the future was about to change.
The spacious and comfortable carriage was moving steadily. The silver bells hanging on the carriage jingled softly in the cold wind, and the long tassels fluttered in the air. The luxurious carriage caused quite a stir on the streets of Luojing, attracting the attention of the onlookers.
At the end of the year in Luojing, this was indeed a major event.
The current Emperor had married a widow who had just divorced. Even though it was a proper marriage, it still caused quite a commotion.
Inside the Qianqing Palace.
Many ministers who were discussing state affairs had some objections to Emperor Jingxiang's decision to take a widow as his concubine. However, Emperor Jingxiang was so majestic that they didn't dare to speak up. Instead, many of them lowered their heads and glanced at Lan Cengui, who was standing among them.
Lan Cengui looked calm. He remained unmoved under the various gazes.
In fact, he was also very surprised.
It was within his expectation that Lan Miao would enter the Emperor's harem.
But he didn't expect that Emperor Jingxiang would directly enoble Lan Miao as the Noble Consort Lan, a first-rank consort. Her rank was even higher than his. He thought that at most she would be made a noble lady. It was precisely because Emperor Jingxiang had given Lan Miao such a high rank that many people were dissatisfied.
However, this was only beneficial to the Lan family. So he wouldn't say much. He just stood by and watched as his colleagues were scolded by the Emperor.
The leading minister was Lord Xie, the head of the civil officials. He was old and experienced enough to speak in front of Emperor Jingxiang.
He was the first to voice what many ministers were thinking. "Your Majesty, taking a widow who has just divorced from the Marquis's Mansion as your concubine may be against the customs and damage the dignity of the royal family."
Emperor Jingxiang, who was sitting on the throne, wore a crown. The shadows of the pearl curtains were swaying on his face, making it hard to see his expression.
"Oh, according to what you just said, you also know that the Noble Consort Lan has divorced from the Marquis's Mansion. So how is it against the customs? The Noble Consort Lan has returned to the Lan Mansion after the divorce. As long as her father agrees, why can't I take her into the palace?"
"This..."
Lord Xie was at a loss for words.
As Emperor Jingxiang said this, he pointed at Lan Cengui in the crowd.
"Come on, my dear subject. You're the father of the Noble Consort Lan. Tell me, do you disagree?"
Lan Cengui, who was pointed at, turned pale. He didn't dare to say "no" even if he had a hundred guts.
He quickly stepped out of the line and stood behind Lord Xie. He bowed deeply.
"Of course I agree, Your Majesty. Affairs in the harem are your private matters. As your subjects, we shouldn't interfere."
Some of the ministers couldn't help but despise Lan Cengui. They thought he was a hypocrite. Now, for the sake of personal gain, he was being two-faced.
Some people wanted to speak up and refute Lan Cengui.
At this time, Emperor Jingxiang spoke again slowly.
"Look, even her father agrees. I'm not robbing a civilian girl. What I've done doesn't violate any laws of the Jing Dynasty. What else do you have to say?"
"Moreover, I've not only ennobled the Noble Consort Lan, but also treated her former husband's family, the Marquis of Yongyi's Mansion, well. The imperial edict for promotion will be sent to the Marquis's Mansion later. I've done my best. If any of you still have objections, don't blame me for being rude."
At the end, Emperor Jingxiang's voice suddenly became solemn.
Previously, Emperor Jingxiang had seemed calm when facing their advice. But now, he finally showed his toughness and majesty as an emperor. Only now did they realize that Emperor Jingxiang was being polite first and then forceful.
Lord Xie quickly knelt down, followed by all the other ministers.
"We dare not, Your Majesty. Your Majesty is wise."
"Your Majesty is wise."
Seeing that Lord Xie had no more objections, the other ministers didn't dare to say much. They all took the opportunity to back down.
The corner of Emperor Jingxiang's mouth twitched slightly.
Good. These people in the previous court were quite sensible.
The rumors in the harem would surely be quelled by the Empress Dowager.
Inside the Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager was sitting lazily on the resplendent phoenix throne, her eyes half-closed. A few shallow wrinkles were spreading at the corners of her eyes, which added a touch of the passage of time. It could be seen that she had taken good care of herself.
She listened calmly to the dissatisfied and angry words of the concubines below.
"Empress Dowager, that Lan Miao is really too much. Relying on your trust, she entered the palace as a jade carver and actually openly seduced the Emperor. She really let you down."
The Imperial Concubine had just recovered from a serious illness.
Instead of being discouraged, she became more determined. After taking all kinds of precious pills, she had regained her vitality.
When she heard the news that Lan Miao had been ennobled as a concubine, she almost fainted. She thought that the Emperor had high standards and wouldn't take a widow who was like a withered flower. But unexpectedly, Lan Miao had become a concubine. She almost got sick again from anger.
"Yes, Empress Dowager. That Lan Miao is a widow who has killed her former husband. She even has a child. That child is the reading companion of Princess Yu Jia. They're just like parasites on you and Princess Yu Jia, taking all kinds of advantages. You can't let her enter the palace so easily."
Another concubine below echoed the Imperial Concubine, and her words were even more explicit.
The Emperor had rarely come to the harem in recent years. They had to rely on their seniority to get promoted. Why should Lan Miao become a first-rank consort as soon as she entered the palace? It was really unfair.
She wanted to sow discord and arouse Princess Yu Jia's dissatisfaction.
"Does that Lan Miao, a jade carver, think she can seduce the Emperor just because she has a good-looking face? If such a person enters the palace, the harem will never be peaceful."
"..."
Among the concubines, the Noble Consort Jia didn't say a word.
She raised her long eyebrows slightly and coldly glanced at those who were talking. Everyone's face was full of jealousy, as if without Lan Miao, they could win the Emperor's favor.
It was really ridiculous.
She had known that the Emperor had taken a fancy to Lan Miao before the imperial edict for ennobling her was issued. But so what? The Emperor was in high spirits now. The more you tried to stop him and showed your dissatisfaction, the more determined he would be. She believed that after this period of freshness passed, everything would be fine.
She wasn't in a hurry. She had a prince, which was the guarantee for her to always be in an invincible position.
When the voices of the concubines died down, the Empress Dowager opened her half-closed eyes. There was a half-smile on her face as she calmly looked at them.