Chapter 275 - 274: Selection of Imperial Consorts
As an emperor, showing such affection to the child is enough to see how much he cares.
Even in ordinary families, such warm moments aren’t always present.
Empress Wei’s lifted corners of her mouth couldn’t be suppressed.
With a child, her relationship with the emperor would be very stable!
Wanting them to spend more time together, Empress Wei did not take the child, just quietly watched them.
Suddenly, she had an illusion.
They were just ordinary couples, with a beloved child...
After holding for a while, the emperor handed the young Crown Prince to the nursemaid, "Take him to sleep, take care of him well, there must not be any mishaps."
The nursemaid acknowledged.
Without the nursing little one, the emperor returned to his solemn demeanor.
But traces of the milk scent reduced his authority a bit.
The detached aura made Empress Wei feel a bit sour.
In the emperor’s mind, the child was more important than her.
No, she might not even compare to one of the child’s fingers.
Thinking this way made her feel even worse.
Can only silently tell herself that he is her own son.
The emperor being good to the child is being good to her.
Competing with her child for affection, that’s too inappropriate, spreading out would only be laughed at.
In the blink of an eye, Empress Wei adjusted her mood.
"Emperor, are you staying for dinner tonight, I’ll have someone prepare your favorite dishes."
Not getting a response immediately, Empress Wei became nervous.
Even having a child, their relationship couldn’t be considered intimate.
While the palace was quiet now, she wanted to develop feelings with the emperor.
Otherwise, with countless beauties in the future, can she truly guard her position as Empress and ensure safety for herself and Ah Shu?
"Hmm, staying."
The emperor’s attitude was cold, unchanged from before.
Empress Wei didn’t think much about it.
She personally went to instruct once, then had someone brew the tea that the emperor often drank.
Seeing Mrs. Wei busy bustling around, putting him at the center, the emperor felt a bit guilty.
Men having multiple wives and concubines is commonplace, but it is somewhat cruel to women.
Not to mention whether feelings would be hurt.
The more people, the more interests and struggles would arise.
Men can fight for a career outside, while women can only guard their husbands, the rear courtyard, surviving in a small space.
At this moment, the emperor suddenly felt that Mingzhu being with Xie Yunzhen was the best outcome.
Xie Yunzhen’s rear courtyard has no concubines, Mingzhu is both safe and can enjoy wealth and grandeur.
Better than the devouring harem, it’s countless times better.
Staring at the wafting incense, the emperor thought about the time he hurt Mingzhu.
If he ordered Xie Yunzhen not to take concubines or promote maids, and even more not to have mistresses or courtesans, he wondered if Mingzhu would thank him.
Thus reducing her disgust towards him?
Seeing the emperor’s solemn expression, Empress Wei asked with concern, "Emperor, do you have anything troubling you?"
The emperor gathered his thoughts, absent-mindedly turned the jade ring.
"Someone submitted a petition, wanting me to expand the harem, for the Royal Family to prosper descendants."
This wasn’t the first time this happened.
Empress Wei’s hand hidden in wide sleeves instinctively clenched.
Previously, when ministers wanted to place people in the harem, the emperor either directly refused or acted as if nothing happened.
Showing such abnormal behavior today, perhaps he also had this thought.
Empress Wei knew they weren’t ordinary couples, but her heart still hurt a little.
Had she not learned etiquette well while waiting to be married, her expression might already be losing control.
Testing the waters, she said, "Now that the seas are calm, it’s time to rest and nourish, to propagate descendants, Emperor, you shoulder heavy responsibilities, it’s time to select good family girls into the palace."
The emperor pursed his thin lips tightly.
It was hard to see whether he was happy.
Empress Wei showed her stance, then said no more.
No woman can calmly accept her husband taking concubines.
Saying too much would seem pretentious.
"Then as the Empress said, you shall handle this matter, start preparing in the coming days."
Paused, then added, "Appropriate-aged official daughters shall also be sent into the palace for selection, if not selected, they can return home for marriage discussions."
Whether to keep Yun Ling or not, he hadn’t decided yet.
Let people enter the palace for a trip first.
Empress Wei’s heart churned with great waves.
Was this move by the emperor due to fancying a lady from some family, wanting to bring her into the palace logically and legally?
In the future, support her to contend with her and the Wei Family?
Fiercely restraining her emotions, Empress Wei worriedly said, "Such haste, if some girls have already found a suitor, will this action break the pair?"
"If truly having someone in mind, I allow them to leave the palace."
If the world’s matters were truly that simple, there wouldn’t be talk of being powerless.
Seeing the emperor’s determined attitude, seemingly having made a decision, Empress Wei knew that no matter how she advised it wouldn’t work.
The emperor dined in the main palace.
And spent the night in the main palace.
Knowing the emperor was just appeasing her, Empress Wei had bitterness but couldn’t express it.
While bathing, the trusted palace maid advised, "Lady, you need to give birth to more children for the Emperor, only then can the brothers unite and His Highness have a smooth path."
Nobody can say for sure about palace matters, a single child... is ultimately too thin.
Such words, no one dared to say explicitly.
Empress Wei fingered a petal, "Do you think I don’t want to? But the emperor is always busy with state affairs, not obsessed with gender relations, what can I do?"
She, as Empress, cannot be like those who use beauty to serve him, always seeking favor in the Imperial Study Room.
As the trusted palace maid, she was most clear about the emperor’s and empress’s affection compatibility.
Each month the emperor stayed overnight in the main palace only twice, and might not engage in that affair.
If not for that one time in the Eastern Palace when the lady conceived the young prince.
She would suspect whether the emperor had issues in that aspect.
Otherwise, why would it be so indifferent?
Others may not know the reason for the emperor’s disinterest in romantic matters, but Empress Wei knows.
Since having the child, the emperor’s touches could be counted on one hand.
Once, he even murmured Ji Mingzhu’s name.
Her chest heaved a few times, Empress Wei threw the petal back into the bath.
This time selecting, she must keep her eyes open.
Anyone looking like Ji Mingzhu, even just a little similar, she had to find ways to send them out of the palace.
Otherwise, it would be a buried disaster for herself, bound to cause trouble sooner or later.
Wearing gilded attire, letting down her raven-black hair, Empress Wei appeared before the emperor with a gentle face.
Due to deliberate dressing up, she was enveloped in floral fragrance, beneath the thin dress, her curves were faintly discernible.
"Emperor, should I serve your rest now?"
The emperor knew her intentions.
They hadn’t been intimate for a long time, when the last time was, he couldn’t remember.
As a man, he had that aspect of need, requiring occasional release of desire.
As a husband, letting the wife always stay alone was not quite suitable.
Suddenly being lifted up horizontally, Empress Wei couldn’t help but exclaim, then wrapped around the emperor’s neck.
Her face was full of shy charm, completely opposite to her usual dignified elegance.
If there wasn’t someone in the emperor’s heart, he might have been moved by her for a few moments.
But having seen peerless beauty, no other woman, no matter how good, could ever be her.