The Jiang Nan case was brought up again, but this time, no one asked for mercy for Rui Wang. The Emperor didn't specially send a high ranking official to Jiang Nan to investigate. Instead, he sent down an Imperial Decree for the Judicial Office and the Ministry of Justice to work together to investigate the case.
Originally, some people had guessed that the Emperor would use this chance to topple Rui Wang. Who knew that the Emperor would treat this matter as official business. He had no intention of favoring his brother, and didn't take the chance to punish his half-brother. Many people sighed at the breadth of the Emperor's heart.
Whether or not He Heng was so broad-minded wasn't that important to Qu Qing Ju. Right now, she was the largest household in the hougong. She didn't want to eat and play too happily.
As the weather gradually entered autumn, her appetite grew. She liked to eat both sour and spicy. One night at the end of the ninth month, she ate two bowls of rice in one go. One bowl of sour and spicy fish, one bowl of mushroom and tofu fish head soup. They were clearly the most common household dishes, but she liked to eat them. He Heng was so frightened that he accompanied her to walk around the garden for more than an hour that night.
Qu Qing Ju's birthday was on the second last day of the ninth month. That day, Empress Dowager Wei held a family banquet at Fu Shou Palace. Other than the three of them, only Muhou Empress Dowager, Jin An Princess Royal, and Xian fei were present. The other three feipin only kowtowed once outside the palace gates before letting them leave.
Jiang Yong Yu was the only one of the feipin in the hougong that was a first-grade fei. Her appearance at the banquet showed the Empress' virtuousness and magnanimity, and that she could tolerate the other women in the hougong. But Jiang Yong Yu knew what her status was and what she had to do. So after making a bow, she chose the corner furthest from He Heng to sit down and silently pretended to be a statue.
Because after He Heng ascended to the throne, he had raised the ranks of Jin An Princess' children, everyone in Jing knew that Jin An Princess and the new emperor had a deep relationship. So of all the princesses of xiandi, only Jin An Princess' position wasn't affected. The people of Jing still carefully fawned over her.
This was human nature. A biological father being the emperor and a half-brother being the emperor, those were two different kinds of treatment. It was no wonder that some princesses would choose a side in the matter of succession. Jin An Princess had made a correct choice.
Those with eyes knew that when the new emperor had been Duan Wang, Jin An Princess and Duan Wang Fei had been especially close. When the news of Duan Wang's assassination came out, Jin An Princess had immediately sent many herbs to Duan Wang. Didn't these actions clearly show Jin An Princess' position?
Another beneficiary was probably Cheng Wang. Originally, he had been a pitiful child that his own father didn't care for, but now he was one of the people that the new Emperor trusted. His di wife had some relations with the Empress, and his status was even higher than when xiandi had been alive.
"Empress' appetite is so good," After the meal, Jin An Princess looked in shock as Qu Qing Ju wiped her mouth. A beat later, she said, "Being able to eat is a blessing."
"Not a lot," Qu Qing Ju took a sip of the digestive tea that a palace maid presented. She looked in puzzlement at He Heng beside her and asked, "Really a lot?"
"It's good that you're happy eating," He Heng smiled. Looking at the other's white and smooth face, his fingers trembled slightly before he resisted the urge to reach out and pinch. He turned to Ming He behind him, "Today's pickled cabbage fish head and kung pao beef tendon were done very well. Who is the chef in charge? There's a reward!"
Ming He noted down the names of the two dishes. Knowing that these were the Empress' favorites, he motioned for the little taijian behind him to go to the Imperial Kitchen to reward the cook.
Empress Dowager Wei took a sip of tea and smiled, commenting: "The last few days, Qing Ju's appetite has gotten better and better. Aijia, when she eats, feels her appetite increase and eats an extra half bowl of rice."
Hearing this, Muhou Empress Dowager smiled, commenting: "Meimei and Empress' good appetite, even in Chang Ning Palace, I have heard of it. I heard that the people of the Imperial Kitchen are constantly researching new pastries and new dishes, hoping to gain your favor."
"It seems that the reputation of us mother and daughter has spread," Empress Dowager Wei smiled at Qu Qing Ju, not minding at all that the people in the palace were talking about these things. She said to Muhou Empress Dowager, "Jiejie, you and I have known each other for more than twenty years. When xiandi was alive, we were careful, always mindful. Now that our children have grown up, we don't have to be careful. While we can eat and drink now, we should enjoy ourselves. "
Muhou Empress Dowager hadn't thought that Empress Dowager Wei would say such a thing. She paused before smiling, "You are right. Life is short. We have endured for half of our lives, we can't waste it." She and Wei shi didn't have any conflicts of interest. Now that Duan Wang had succeeded the throne, he had treated her very well. Even Jin An Princess, who was under her name, was the most valued out of all the princesses. Right now, she was just a leisurely Empress Dowager, what was there to worry about?
Qu Qing Ju listened to the sisterly conversation between the two Empress Dowagers. If one didn't know, they wouldn't believe that the two had once served the same man. The words seemed to be saying, we finally made it, let's enjoy ourselves.
But as the two talked, the topic somehow wandered to Qu Qing Ju. Muhou Empress Dowager looked at Qu Qing Ju's waist that didn't grow fat no matter how much she ate: "Today is the Empress' birthday, it's not good to have the taiyi take the pulse. But tomorrow, we can let the taiyi take a look. Eating too much, I don't know if it will harm the spleen and stomach." Her words were extremely tactful, but inside, she was suspicious of another matter.
What kind of person was Empress Dowager Wei? When Muhou Empress Dowager said this, she knew what the other meant. She lowered her head and calculated. When xiandi died, it was the end of the fourth month, the end of the seventh month. After the end of the mourning period, Qu Qing Ju still lived in the rear hall of Tian Qi Palace. Heng'er hadn't gone to the other women in the hougong. It was the end of the ninth month, two months had passed. Was it … …
The two Empress Dowagers were experienced. They knew that this kind of speculation couldn't be casually said. Otherwise, if there was hope and then disappointment, it would be hurtful. The two exchanged a look. Empress Dowager Wei said: "Jiejie saying this, I'm slightly worried. Why don't we let the taiyi take the pulse tomorrow?"
Qu Qing Ju felt helpless. Ever since she entered the palace, even if her body wasn't ill, the taiyi would come every half a month to take the pulse. He would also prescribe soups for the body. She didn't like to drink those things the most.
He Heng's eyebrows moved slightly. He then smiled and said: "I've made two muhou worry. Tomorrow, this son will summon the head of the Imperial Hospital to take the pulse for the Empress."
Qu Qing Ju put down the teacup, remarking: "Recently, the weather has been getting colder and I couldn't help but eat more. There shouldn't be any problems. I've made two muhou worry."
Empress Dowager Wei smiled and sighed: "As long as you are well, we, muhou, will not worry."
Qu Qing Ju's heart moved slightly. She wasn't an idiot so she could hear that there was at least eighty percent sincerity in Empress Dowager Wei's words. As a popo, in reality, Empress Dowager Wei had done very well. Not to mention this era, just the place she had lived in in her previous life, it was rare to find a popo as considerate as Empress Dowager Wei.
Thinking about her interactions with Empress Dowager Wei, the mutual probing at the beginning, and the closeness in the end, Empress Dowager Wei had tried her best to treat her, her erxiu. Even when He Heng had given the decree to crown her Empress in front of the world, and the action of not going to the hougong after the mourning period, Empress Dowager Wei had never been dissatisfied with her, but treated her even better.
"Muhou's words make erxi feel ashamed. For us juniors, as long as you are healthy and everything goes smoothly, it is a happy matter." Qu Qing Ju smiled as she spoke, "It is erxi's good fortune to have muhou care so much about erxi."
Empress Dowager Wei paused and then said in a gentle tone: "You really are a silly child. Now that you are Empress, you still make aijia worry."
Sitting at the side, Xian fei heard Empress Dowager Wei's words and sighed inside. When the Empress had just entered the fu, the Empress Dowager hadn't been very satisfied with the Empress. Now, she treated her as if she was her own.
From beginning to end, He Heng had a smile on his face. Even when he returned from Fu Shou Palace to Tian Qi Palace, the smile on his face hadn't faded.
His good mood lasted until the morning court on the second day. But when he heard an official suggest that he take a few female candidates as feipin in the hougong, his brows furrowed.
Some officials didn't think about politics all day, didn't do much, and only focused on the matters of his hougong. What was the use in keeping such officials?
"Emperor, now that the mourning period has passed, your hougong is empty. This subject thinks that you should take female candidates as fei and expand the hougong." An official from the Ministry of Rites said, "This is an important matter to continue the line of descendants. Emperor, please decide."
The words sounded like they were urging He Heng to take a fei, but in reality, they were saying that the Empress didn't have any children and wanted him to take other women to have children.
An emperor with He Heng's personality wouldn't listen to this. If this person had the guts to speak for the people of the world, He Heng would feel that this person could be used. But this person just had to speak for the matter of the women in the hougong. He looked coldly at the official from the Ministry of Rites: "Do you mean to criticize zhen's Empress for not having children, or are you hinting zhen to have another feipin give birth to the Imperial Eldest Son?"
This official from the Ministry of Rites almost bit his tongue. He was clearly urging the Emperor to take a fei, how did it become slandering the Empress and scheming against the Imperial Heir? He felt the situation wasn't good and knelt down: "This subject doesn't have such intentions, Emperor, please forgive me."
The di son of the middle palace inheriting the throne was legitimate, unless the Empress really couldn't have children. He didn't dare to hint to the Emperor to have another feipin give birth to the eldest son. Wasn't that a mess?
"The Empress has been married to zhen for less than a year. Previously, she was in mourning for xiandi. After that, she burned incense and prayed for xiandi every day and never stopped. Such a virtuous and virtuous descendant, to be tarnished by you like this, it really is hateful, "He Heng said in a heavy voice," As an official, you should do your best for the people, and not put your efforts on the matters of zhen's hougong. Does everyone like other people telling your houyuan what to do? Or is it that some people think they can arrange everything for zhen, and make decisions for zhen? "
Once the words came out, all the officials in court followed suit and knelt down to beg for forgiveness. Who in the world dared to make decisions for the Emperor? Wasn't that a great crime?
He Heng snorted coldly. He looked at the people kneeling, "Xiandi just passed away not long ago. Even though zhen replaced the year with one month, but every time I think of xiandi's face, I still grieve. How can I have the mind to take another woman? You are all scholars and naturally understand what filial piety is. To respect one's elders is filial piety, to fulfill one's duty to one's elder brothers, wife and daughter is righteousness. If you can't even be filial, how can you be a person? "
"Emperor is wise!" He Ming loudly shouted.
"Emperor is wise, this subject is ashamed!" Luo Chang Qing and Wei Wen Guang shouted in unison.
The other people also followed and praised the Emperor for being wise. Who dared to refute these words? Wouldn't that be an unfilial and unjust person?
As to the official from the Ministry of Rites who had suggested He Heng take a fei, he was so scared his face was ashen and he was trembling. The officials beside him silently took a step to the side and moved further away from him.
He Yuan looked coldly at He Heng on the dragon throne. As expected, the Emperor and Empress's affection was stronger than gold, it was … … an eyesore.
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