Chapter 819 - 822: Emperor and Empress

Chapter 819: Chapter 822: Emperor and Empress

"Did the Crown Prince not come to pay his respects to you today?" Hua Shunming suddenly changed the subject. Appointing the Eldest Prince as the Crown Prince had been a decision made after much deliberation.

Even aside from his status as the legitimate eldest son, the Eldest Prince was the most satisfactory among the Princes. Hua Shunming only hoped he could maintain his character and not be led astray by his maternal relatives.

Empress Zhou replied, "Holy Emperor, you have forgotten. The Crown Prince should be waiting for you in the Imperial Study Room at this hour."

Hua Shunming paused. "I really did forget. As I grow older, my health is truly not what it used to be. These wretched servants didn’t even think to remind me. Hurry up and summon the Crown Prince here!"

Le San hurriedly bowed and retreated. The eunuchs had thought of reminding the Emperor, but even with ten times their courage, they wouldn’t have dared interrupt him.

Taking a cup of tea from a nearby palace maid, Empress Zhou placed it on the table herself. "Holy Emperor, it will take some time for the Crown Prince to arrive. Shall we rest inside for a moment?"

"It is fine," Hua Shunming said. "I have not looked at the flowers and plants in this back garden for a long time. Stay and sit with me for a while, Empress."

Unsure of his true intentions for visiting today, Empress Zhou raised her hand in a silent command. Immediately, a group of palace maids and eunuchs formed a circle around them, creating a human wall to block the chilly wind. She then took her seat just below the Emperor.

"Time flies so fast. Our imperial son can now stand on his own. You have worked hard all these years, Empress."

"Without the Holy Emperor’s teachings, they would still fall far short.

"Besides, for so many years, you have granted me great dignity. I have become quite adept at handling the affairs of the harem, so I dare not claim to have worked hard."

"You are speaking more and more cautiously these days, Empress." Hua Shunming stared at her for a moment before a nostalgic look appeared on his face. "I still remember when you were the valiant daughter of a general, yet because of a Holy Decree of marriage from the late Emperor, you were confined within these palace walls.

"Thinking back to those early years, it still feels like it was just yesterday."

Empress Zhou shot him a sideways glance with her phoenix eyes and said, embarrassed, "Holy Emperor, I was young and ignorant back then. I indeed did many things that broke the rules. I am truly grateful for your tolerance."

Thinking of the various methods the Empress used to torment the concubines back then, Hua Shunming couldn’t help but laugh aloud. "That was just your excellent leadership, Empress. It certainly gave me a lot of peace and quiet in this harem."

Even he had joined in her antics for a while out of novelty. Thinking about it now, it was exceptionally amusing.

Because of the various new rules Empress Zhou established back then, even if the concubines wanted to vie for his favor, they had to think twice. It truly made him the most carefree Emperor.

"However, Holy Emperor, because of you, I had to formally adopt four Princesses. This mother-daughter title really gives me a headache." Bringing this up, Empress Zhou took the opportunity to complain a little.

"Oh? Are those Princesses still sending letters to the palace?"

If she hadn’t mentioned it, Hua Shunming would have almost forgotten about those Princesses he had conferred titles upon.

Some he had married off to distant lands for political alliances, while others he had betrothed to his trusted confidants. These Princesses bore the noble title of royal blood, but he had not given them much actual power. Their faces were already very blurry in his mind. If the Empress hadn’t brought them up today, he truly would have forgotten them entirely.

Empress Zhou had guessed as much and said calmly, "After all, we bear the title of mother and daughters. Their letters paying respects have come especially frequently this year.

"The two Princesses who were married off for alliances wish to return to the capital with their husbands. I simply cannot make a decision on this matter."

The Princesses married to officials were understandable enough; they merely wanted to maintain good ties with the Royal Family. Now that the Crown Prince was decided, various factions were making their moves.

But Empress Zhou was very troubled. Given her and the Crown Prince’s current situation, it was best to do absolutely nothing. Even her own older brother—the Crown Prince’s uncle—had left the capital to avoid suspicion, yet these people were desperately trying to force their way in. With this kind of superficial mother-daughter relationship, Empress Zhou certainly didn’t believe they had any real affection for her.

"Pay them no mind," Hua Shunming said, immediately understanding their intentions. "Later, you can issue a Holy Decree, Empress. Since they are already married women, they should abide by their duties as wives. The journey is long, so they shouldn’t exhaust their husbands and children by traveling back and forth."

"Understood," Empress Zhou replied. Having gotten what she wanted, the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

Hua Shunming loved this little expression of hers the most. Seeing it improved his mood, and he ended up saying what he originally hadn’t planned to reveal.

"Empress, I originally wanted to find a capable tutor for our imperial son. Unfortunately, fate makes fools of us all. I’m afraid it won’t go as planned."

Empress Zhou looked at him in confusion. "Does our imperial son not already have tutors?"

"I said for the Crown Prince," Hua Shunming corrected, expressing some dissatisfaction with the current tutors. "The things those rigid pedants teach are all the same. I do not understand—they aren’t passing it down through a single lineage, yet what they teach is virtually identical."

The way of the Emperor, imperial political maneuvering, and the like were indeed things he needed to learn, but his other shortcomings needed to be remedied as well. More importantly, Hua Shunming knew his own health. He wouldn’t last much longer. He needed a capable man who did not covet power to help guide the Crown Prince.

Gu Wenheng was the official he had been most satisfied with over the years, but coincidentally, he had just submitted a petition for Ding You.

Empress Zhou had a guess in her heart. "May I ask who the Holy Emperor is referring to?"

"Gu Wenheng. What do you think of this man?" Hua Shunming asked.

Empress Zhou’s pupils shrank slightly. She pondered for a moment before answering, "I only know that he has a good personal relationship with my older brother. Over the years, he has done many practical things for the common people. He has a very good reputation and is deeply loved by the public."

"My Empress, you are still as straightforward as ever after all these years," Hua Shunming said abruptly, staring at her. Then he laughed, "I should be happy. Even if he is loved by the people, it is only because of the power I bestowed upon him. It shows my ability to recognize and utilize talent.

"Come to think of it, there is one more thing you probably don’t know, Empress!

"Gu Wenheng submitted a petition for Ding You today, planning to observe a three-year mourning period at home. Tell me, Empress, should I approve it?"

Empress Zhou fell silent. This was his fatal trap for the day; any answer she gave would be wrong.

"What? Is it that difficult to answer?"

Empress Zhou replied, "Holy Emperor, the harem has never been allowed to interfere in politics. I have asked myself over the years, and I believe I have upheld this rule. I plan to continue strictly adhering to it in the future. Please understand."

Hua Shunming paused. "It is good that you are like this, Empress. Knowing your place is a blessing for our imperial son."

With that, he stood up, flicked his sleeves, and left, leaving the Empress behind to lead the eunuchs and palace maids in a chorus. "Respectfully sending off the Holy Emperor."

Once the imperial procession had departed, the nanny who had been standing far away hurried over to support her. "Your Grace..."

Empress Zhou raised a hand to stop her. "Help me inside first..."

By now, the nanny could feel that the Empress’s back was completely drenched in sweat. She quickly summoned a female official, and together they escorted Empress Zhou into the inner hall. "Quick, have someone prepare hot water!"

By the time Empress Zhou changed into her casual clothes, the servants had already served a bowl of hot soup.

"Your Grace, should we invite His Highness the Crown Prince over?" Nanny Xu asked with a look of worry. When the Emperor visited, they had all stood far away and had no idea what was discussed.

"There is no need. Everyone is watching the Crown Prince’s every move right now. It isn’t suitable for him to interact too much with the harem." Empress Zhou finally regained her composure.