Chapter 161 Update 1
By the time of Emperor Jingzhi of Nanzheng State, there was, for the first time, a precedent for founding household establishments for princesses, specifically established for Eldest Princess Zheng Tianxin. As the first child born after Emperor Jingzhi’s ascension, Zheng Tianxin was the only child to receive Emperor Jingzhi’s affection, but shortly after her birth, Emperor Jingzhi’s health started to decline.
Emperor Jingzhi had been ill since childhood with a frail body and chronic sickness. By then, many already favored the robust and strategically gifted Prince Duan, who temporarily stayed his hand because it seemed Emperor Jingzhi wouldn’t live long and as the eldest son, he had the orderly progression of inheritance on his side. Moreover, Emperor Jingzhi had no male heir after many years of marriage to Empress Xiao without news of childbirth.
However, three years after Emperor Jingzhi’s ascension, his health unexpectedly improved, and he became energetically revitalized. From that time onward, he fathered two princesses and four princes. Eldest Princess Zheng Tianxin was the long-awaited heir of the entire Nanzheng State. It was also then that Qiandao Temple and the Mage gained unprecedented reverence from the People of Nanzheng, holding an absolute and esteemed status as their faith.
Nanzheng State even greatly expanded the construction of Xiongji Hall. Thereafter, Emperor Jingzhi had two more princesses and four more princes. Just as everyone thought Emperor Jingzhi was overcoming his illness and improving, his health plunged drastically overnight, as if all his vitality had been drained. As robust as he was before, he was now equally frail.
Zheng Tianxin’s estate occupied the most expansive and feng shui-compliant site on Qisu Mountain in Zheng Capital City, with mountains behind and water in front, long water corridors, and artificial rocks and stones that surpassed even the Other Palaces of the Royal Family in grandeur. Even the large stone lions at the entrance were personally carved by Emperor Jingzhi.
Preparations for Zheng Tianxin’s estate began when she was five years old. Over ten years, every detail was perfected. By the time the Eldest Princess invited the Prince Consort to move in, Empress Xiao moved almost half of the treasury there.
By this time, the number of days Emperor Jingzhi could rise from bed each month could be counted on one hand, and the unsupervised Zheng Tianxin had already developed a character of extreme luxury and desire.
The female servant Jin Luo hurried along the long corridor of the Eldest Princess’s main hall, her skirt wrapped around her legs. As she ran with great speed, she turned left towards a nearby courtyard after crossing the corridor.
This courtyard was located just next to the princess’s main hall and was also exquisitely designed. Jin Luo had no time to admire the finely engraved patterns on the brick and stone cornices. Upon reaching the courtyard entrance, two guards spotted Jin Luo and immediately became nervous. One quickly turned to report, while the other approached.