frightfiction Chapter 514 Zhenpin
Chapter 514 Zhenpin
With the emperor present at dinner, the three children changed their lively behavior during breakfast and lunch and sat at their seats properly to eat.
This birthday banquet was a bit depressing. Hongzhan, who had long noticed that his father was in a bad mood, took his younger brother and sister out tactfully after receiving the specially made sword as a reward.
The emperor watched the three children leave the palace while holding a cup of tea, and sighed in a deep voice.
"Rong'er, in the blink of an eye, you have been with me in the palace for nearly ten years."
"You still look the same as when you first entered the palace, but my energy is far less than before."
"Your Majesty, you devote all your energy and energy to national affairs day and night. How can a mere woman like me compare to you? In my heart, you are as wise and powerful as ever."
An Lingrong pressed the emperor's stiff shoulders with moderate force, and her soft voice was full of admiration.
"I see that the emperor is not in a good mood. Has he encountered any difficulties?"
"It's better if you don't mention it. I get really angry when you mention it. A few days ago, Su Peisheng was asked to renovate Chengqian Palace for Wanpin. I don't know who leaked it, and those censors collectively jumped out to oppose it at the morning court."
The emperor became angrier and angrier as he spoke, and he slammed the teacup in his hand down on the small table.
"They said the luxurious Chengqian Palace had fallen into disrepair and that repairing it now was tantamount to rebuilding it. They also said the southwest floods had strained the national treasury, and that I shouldn't be extravagant and wasteful for a deposed concubine."
"Rong'er, you don't know how excessive those censors are. They take my salary, but they point at my nose and curse me."
"I just refuted them a few times. They said that if I insisted on going my own way, I might lose the support of the people."
"What a bunch of ignorant and foolish officials! They really make me angry."
An Lingrong stopped massaging the emperor's shoulders and gently massaged his back to help him breathe.
"The censors are always like this, always making a mountain out of a molehill. Your Majesty has your own thoughts, so why bother with them?"
After the emperor vented his anger, he felt much better.
"The ministers are against it, and it's inappropriate to force this. I've already thought about it. Chengqian Palace has two courtyards, and the main hall in the front yard is five bays wide, which is enough for Wanpin to live in after she returns to the palace. So for now, let's just simply renovate the front yard."
"I have already made concessions, so I don't think they can say anything more."
"Your Majesty is right. You previously reorganized the Imperial Household Department and sent a large sum of money to the national treasury. Now you only want to renovate Chengqian Palace, not build a new palace for Concubine Wan. Those censors are indeed overly nervous."
An Lingrong expressed her dissatisfaction with the censor following the emperor's words, and then she asked worriedly.
"Your Majesty, you only ordered the renovation of the main hall in the front yard of Chengqian Palace. Wouldn't the pregnant Wanpin feel wronged?"
"Wanpin is not that kind of person. She was willing to wait for me in the remote Lingyun Peak because she was afraid of embarrassing me."
The emperor turned sideways, pulled An Lingrong in front of him, and held her on his lap.
"She used to be very arrogant, but after more than three years of spiritual practice, she has changed a lot."
"I think Rong'er would be shocked if she saw her."
An Lingrong leaned her head against the emperor's chest and asked curiously.
"Now that the emperor has said this, I would like to meet Concubine Wan as soon as possible."
"But Your Majesty, have you decided when to bring her back to the palace?"
"I have mentioned taking her back to the palace before, but Wanpin has refused every time."
The emperor reached out and pinched An Lingrong's chin, forcing her to raise her head.
"Rong'er, you are both women. Can you tell me why Wanpin is unwilling to return to the palace with me?"
An Ling tolerated the discomfort in his chin and replied with a smile.
"Your Majesty, I suspect that Wanpin left the palace in anger three years ago, and three years later she rekindled her relationship with you at Ganlu Temple. She must have been extremely reluctant to leave that place."
"Rong'er, now that you put it that way, I understand why she doesn't want to move away from Lingyun Peak."
The emperor patted An Lingrong's head in a joking manner and made a promise casually.
"Wanpin said that the sunset glow at Lingyun Peak is scorching and gorgeous. If I have some free time in the future, I will take you to see it."
"Thank you very much, Your Majesty, for your grace."
An Lingrong thanked him with a smile, but the smile did not reach her eyes.
Even though she gave birth to three children for the emperor, this man still didn't take her seriously.
This is perfect. No matter what she does in the future, she will not feel burdened.
An Lingrong slowly let out a breath and stood up considerately.
"Your Majesty, it's very hot today. I'd like to have some ice bowls prepared in the kitchen to cool you down. I'll have them brought to you right away. Okay?"
"The food in your palace is quite good. I'll have some more."
The emperor had something on his mind when he was eating just now, but now he feels that his stomach can still have something more.
After the emperor took a few bites of the cold seasonal fruits and vegetables in the bowl, he thought of Zhen Huan who was alone in the back mountain of Ganlu Temple to take care of her pregnancy.
He finished the remaining half bowl without any taste, wiped his mouth, and spoke slowly.
"Before leaving the palace to pray for blessings, Wanpin had already received the imperial decree to confer the title of Consort, but due to some minor reasons, the ceremony was not completed."
"I want to welcome her back to the palace as a concubine. What do you think, Rong'er?"
"Your Majesty, I think what you said makes sense. If Concubine Wan were to return to the palace, Princess Longyue and Concubine Hui would surely be the happiest."
An Lingrong unnoticeably pushed a plate of snacks toward the emperor.
"Everyone in the palace knows the deep sisterly love between Concubine Wan and Concubine Hui. In the three years since Concubine Wan left the palace, Concubine Hui has always cared for Princess Longyue as if she were her own child."
"Now the two of them are pregnant together, and they live in palaces just steps away from each other. This is truly a great fate."
"A great fate? I... you mean, Wanpin and Huipin are sisters with a deep bond, and both are pregnant."
The emperor didn't hesitate for a few breaths and changed his mind.
"Zhen is still the descendant of a criminal minister, so it is inappropriate to directly confer the title of consort on her."
Shen Meizhuang was also pregnant, so he had to consider Huanhuan more. It would not be too late to reward her after she gave birth to the child.
"The character 'Guan' is not a good name. To avoid any further complications arising from past events, I want to change her title to 'the past is dark and irretrievable, the future is bright and glorious'. So, I'll give her the character 'Xi', which means bright and glorious. What do you think?"
An Lingrong's eyelids twitched. Did the emperor remember that there was a playful concubine living in the Yanx Palace?
"I think the character 'Xi' is very good. However, when the Emperor was enjoying the ice skating in the garden that day, he also gave the character 'Xi' to Bai."
"Xiying is also pregnant with the emperor's heir. Your Majesty, are you going to change her title? Or..."
"It's all because the wine tonight was too intoxicating, I didn't think of it for a moment."
The emperor shook his head lightly and looked at An Lingrong, who was full of the scent of books. He asked as if he was possessed by a mystery.
"Rong'er, which character do you think is suitable for the Zhen family?"
An Lingrong smiled faintly.
"Your Majesty, I am a humble woman, so please listen. I personally believe that her title is far away and yet it is right before our eyes."
"You mean using the surname as a title?"
The emperor thought for a moment and slowly shook his head.
"Only unfavored concubines are given surnames as titles. But Rong'er, you reminded me that the character 'zhen', which is homophonic with Wanpin's surname, means 'righteousness and integrity' and 'constant virtue and unity'. It's a good meaning."
"It is truly rare for Concubine Zhen to leave the palace and pray for me for three years. This title suits her perfectly."
"Your Majesty is wise. This title you have carefully chosen will surely delight Concubine Zhen."
An Lingrong was looking forward to Zhen Huan's reaction when she heard the imperial edict bestowing the title.