In the harem, the atmosphere was stifling.
Ever since the prophecy of troubled times appeared, the entire harem had avoided it. According to the history books, the ones most likely to control the imperial power came from the imperial palace.
"Mi Yue, Empress Zhao, Empress Lu, Empress Dou …"
Everyone in the imperial palace was in danger, afraid that the prophecy of troubled times would be associated with them. But when the Mohist and Confucian journals publicly refuted the rumor, everyone in the harem couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Since the Confucian and Mohist journals publicly declared that the prophecy of troubled times was false, it meant that they wouldn't implicate the people in the harem, not to mention that Li Junxian, who was suspected to be the female lead King Wu, was chased out of the imperial palace. For a moment, the atmosphere in the harem relaxed.
"Since the prophecy of troubled times is the traitorous prophecy of the Yin-yang school, then why does Your Majesty still suspect General Li? Isn't this giving people the right to talk?" Empress Zhangsun advised in the Administrative Hall.
Although the women in power in the past were all from the harem, and most of them had the position of empress, Empress Zhangsun didn't avoid it at all. Firstly, she had a deep relationship with Li Shimin, and secondly, her body was deteriorating day by day. She probably wouldn't be able to last until then.
"Of course We know that Li Junxian is loyal. After Meton's reminder, We realized that Li Junxian was very suitable for the prophecy of troubled times, so We sent him to Hua Province to lure out the remaining Yin-yang school and eliminate them all in one fell swoop," Li Shimin explained. He had absolute trust in Empress Zhangsun, so he didn't hide anything.
Empress Zhangsun immediately understood that this was the best ending. On one hand, it could strike a blow to the Yin-yang school, and on the other hand, it could indirectly save Li Junxian. Because she knew her husband's temperament the best, if he really didn't mind the prophecy of troubled times, he probably wouldn't have sent Li Junxian.
After Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun had a moment of intimacy, Empress Zhangsun advised, "The harem has been tense recently. Your Majesty, it's best to pacify them!"
Empress Zhangsun was very knowledgeable. She naturally knew that even if the Mohist and Confucian journals publicly refuted the rumors, it could not compare to Li Shimin's personal comfort. Only when Li Shimin personally said that the prophecy of troubled times was a rumor could the harem restore its former peace. Otherwise, under all kinds of suspicion and fabrications, it would probably lead to a disaster.
Li Shimin stood up and left the Hall of Governance. He comforted the concubines one after another, showering them with rewards. In fact, when Consort Yin asked for a fief for her Prince of Qi, Li Shimin waved his hand and asked for the position of Governor of Qi Province for Li You, giving him control over the military and political power of Qi Province.
Li Shimin repeatedly comforted the concubines. When he arrived at Zheng Chonghua's palace, it was already night. He took the opportunity to stay the night at Zheng Chonghua's place.
"Brother Liu's words are too biased. Who said that women are not as good as men …"
Zheng Chonghua softly threw herself into Li Shimin's arms and said in a tender voice, "Your Majesty, how was Chenqie's singing of Mulan's Song?"
"Not bad. My beloved concubine's singing has improved again. It is comparable to Lady Gongsun." Li Shimin repeatedly praised the beauty in his arms. Mo Jiazi, Lady Gongsun, was Gongsun Yue's title. Since the Song of Mulan came out of nowhere, Gongsun Yue's reputation had spread throughout Chang 'an overnight.
"I have nothing to do recently, so I studied singing out of boredom. Your Majesty, you flatter me. I know that my singing is far inferior to Lady Gongsun's, so I don't deserve Your Majesty's praise." Zheng Chonghua said coquettishly. She was acting coquettishly in front of Li Shimin, but she also seemed to know when to advance and when to retreat. She knew what Li Shimin was thinking. With Li Shimin's vision and knowledge, some brainless beauties would naturally not enter his heart.
With a doting expression, Li Shimin said, "Wherever Zhen goes, all the imperial concubines are in fear and trepidation because of the prophecy of troubled times. Only Consort Zheng's place is the most relaxed, without any misgivings. Could it be that Consort Zheng is not worried about being implicated by the prophecy of troubled times?"
Zheng Chonghua giggled and said, "I am not afraid. If I want to be a Mulan, I want to be a Mulan that can help Your Majesty. I do not want to be a female protagonist or King Wu. It is my greatest fortune to be favored by Your Majesty. I will not do anything else in my life."
"Oh! Then how are you going to help me as a harem Mulan? "Li Shimin teased.
Zheng Chonghua said seriously, "Let me think. The method that Merton proposed to break the prophecy of troubled times is to dissect the theories of the Yin-Yang school and destroy the luck of the Yin-Yang school. The most suitable method for the imperial family is to accept the will of the heavens."
"Accept the will of the heavens!" Li Shimin slowly nodded. Accept the will of the heavens was a theory of the Yin-Yang school that he was very satisfied with. It was practically tailor-made for him.
Zheng Chonghua continued, "However, accepting the will of the heavens is not just a stroke in the history books. Instead, it is to let the subjects of the world remember that Your Majesty is the Emperor who accepts the will of the heavens."
"Remember it at all times? Then how should I do it? "Li Shimin's eyes lit up.
"Not only must the subjects of the world remember it at all times, but it must also be solemn. Nothing can be better than an imperial edict. In the future, when Your Majesty writes an imperial edict, it will be written at the beginning: 'The Emperor who accepts the will of the heavens. The imperial edict says …' In this way, wouldn't the subjects of the world know that Your Majesty is the Emperor who accepts the will of the heavens?" Zheng Chonghua said with a flash of inspiration.
"The Emperor who accepts the will of the heavens. The imperial edict says!" Li Shimin felt a rush of excitement. Such an imperial edict was practically tailor-made for him. It would appear solemn and could be widely known.
Zheng Chonghua said proudly, "How is it? I didn't become Hua Mulan of the harem for nothing, did I?"
"Not bad. That's exactly what I wanted." Li Shimin was very happy.
That night, he stayed in Chonghua Palace and doted on Zheng Chonghua. It was not until the next day that he reluctantly left.
Li Shimin had just walked out of Chonghua Palace when Pande came forward and bowed. He asked, "Your Majesty, to keep or not to keep?"
In the palace, to keep or not to keep meant to keep the dragon seed in the concubine's body after the Emperor spent the night there. If to keep, it meant that the concubine could conceive and give birth to a prince. If not to keep, it meant that the nannies in the palace had to stimulate the concubine's acupuncture points to force out the dragon seed, and then she had to drink a bowl of contraceptive soup.
Li Shimin paused and then said coldly, "Not to keep!"
"Yes!" Pande lowered his head and responded. He ordered the palace nannies to make arrangements.
Inside Chonghua Palace, Zheng Chonghua lay lazily on a soft couch. Li Shimin's night in the palace had given her great vanity. She couldn't help but stroke her belly. If she could take the opportunity to conceive the dragon seed, she would definitely be able to rely on her son to rise in status in the palace.
"Your suggestion is good. Bengong will reward you." Zheng Chonghua said satisfactorily to the reward of a little eunuch below the stage. The reason she was able to bring up the idea of following the Emperor's edict was the idea of this eunuch in front of her. However, she didn't know that the person in front of her was the new Yin-yang Zi.
"Many thanks for Concubine Chonghua's reward." The little sorcerer pretended to be pleasantly surprised.
Zheng Chonghua nodded satisfactorily and said, "From now on, you will stay in Chonghua Palace. Bengong will use you well."
In Zheng Chonghua's view, this little eunuch had some ability. He could often give her ideas and help her fight for favor.
"Your servant thanks Concubine Chonghua for her grace!" The little sorcerer agreed without hesitation. After all, if he could become Zheng Chonghua's favorite person, he could come into contact with more suspected female Martial Kings in the palace and continue to promote the prophecy of troubled times.
Zheng Chonghua waved her hand and indicated for the little sorcerer to leave. Suddenly, a group of palace nannies and palace nannies walked in. The palace maid in the lead bowed and said, "Reporting to Concubine Chonghua, following the Emperor's edict, not to keep."
"Not to keep!" Zheng Chonghua suddenly froze. She had contributed such a good idea to Li Shimin and was the most favored concubine in the harem. She originally thought that her relationship with Li Shimin was as solid as gold. In the end, all she got in return was not to keep. This meant that she couldn't conceive a child at all. A concubine without a child was destined to have a miserable ending in the palace. The glory and wealth of the harem was just a golden millet dream in the end.
As the door of the Chonghua Palace slammed shut, Zheng Chonghua's painful screams came from inside. After a long time, the palace maids bowed and left.
The little sorcerer pushed the door open and entered the Chonghua Palace. He saw Zheng Chonghua lying on the soft couch with her hair disheveled. Although she was still wearing a gorgeous palace dress, she was no longer as energetic as before.
"Your Majesty, why do you treat me like this? I just want a child," Zheng Chonghua said with dull eyes.
The little sorcerer sighed and said, "Concubine Chonghua, haven't you realized that since the eighth year of Zhenguan and the birth of King Cao, none of the concubines in the palace gave birth."
Zheng Chonghua recovered a little and asked, "Why is that?"
Back then, the Retired Emperor Li Yuan was already old and had more than ten children. Li Shimin was now in his prime and the concubines in the palace were all at the age of pregnancy. How could there be no new princes and princesses in the palace for so many years?
The little sorcerer looked around and saw that there was no one around. He whispered, "Your Majesty already has fourteen children. There is no need to add another prince."
"There is no need to add another prince!" The little sorcerer's words exploded in Zheng Chonghua's ears like thunder. Li Shimin already had fourteen princes. There was no need to worry about the issue of an heir. In other words, no matter how much Zheng Chonghua was favored, she would not give birth to any children.
Was she destined to be alone in the palace for the rest of her life? Zheng Chonghua shuddered when she thought about it. She was now in the prime of her life, but she saw her tragic ending in the future.
"It is rare for a little eunuch like you to have such foresight. In your opinion, how can I give birth to a prince?" Zheng Chonghua frowned and asked.
The little sorcerer smiled strangely and said, "The only person who can make you give birth to a prince is the Emperor. Although you are favored now, your status is not high. Empress Zhangsun's health is deteriorating day by day. If you can seize the opportunity and become the Empress after Empress Zhangsun passes away, you may be able to make the Emperor make an exception."
Right now, he was already Zheng Chonghua's favorite. If Zheng Chonghua could ascend to the position of Empress, then he would definitely rise in status in the future. It was not impossible for him to reach Pound's position. At that time, his chances of successfully promoting the prophecy of troubled times would greatly increase.
"The Empress's position." Zheng Chonghua's eyes lit up. Empress Zhangsun's health was deteriorating day by day. She was originally Empress Zhangsun's backup. If she could take the opportunity to manipulate it, she may have a chance to become the Empress's Empress.
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