12dz Chapter 554 Who is fit to succeed as Empress (1)
Chapter 554 Who is fit to succeed as Empress (1)
The selection of imperial concubines proceeded smoothly according to plan.
During this period, Empress Dowager Jiang twice summoned Meng Shu and Consort Shun to Cining Palace under the pretext of inquiring about palace affairs, and the palace doors were closed for more than half an hour.
Such actions were quite intriguing to the people in the harem.
It was common for the Empress Dowager to inquire about palace affairs, but she chose a delicate moment when the winds of change were rising in the court, and she specifically bypassed the highest-ranking Consort Chun. Although this subtlety did not cause a huge uproar, it had already created ripples in everyone's hearts.
Those with a keen eye couldn't help but secretly speculate that the Empress Dowager was clearly promoting Consorts Jin and Shun, while intentionally neglecting Consort Chun.
Is it simply a matter of disliking Consort Chun?
Or was it because the Marquis of Lin'an's mansion stood behind her that made the Empress Dowager wary?
Or perhaps, this was simply the Emperor using the Empress Dowager to put pressure on the Tang family on the eve of establishing an Empress.
Regardless of what others speculated, Consort Chun remained nonchalant and indifferent.
The snow is melting and the weather is gradually getting warmer.
She maintained her usual pace, either diligently worshipping Buddha and copying scriptures in the side hall, or playing chess and playing the zither with Meng Shu, chatting and sipping tea. Their two children often played together, their innocent voices always bringing laughter to everyone.
Following Aunt Mei's instructions, Mengzhu and the others grew increasingly close to Lvliu and Donggua, their interactions even more frequent than when they were in the palace. This warmth among the palace servants subtly eased the chill emanating from the imperial court and harem.
The Emperor has been visiting the inner palace infrequently these days. Seven or eight out of ten times he goes to Lingcui Palace, and the rest of the time he visits Consort Shun. Although Consort Mu is pregnant, the Emperor has only bestowed gifts upon her twice as usual, and has visited her personally very few times. Consort Mu herself is happy to enjoy the peace and quiet, spending her days recuperating in the palace, while Consort Pei, who lives in the same palace, is secretly anxious.
Pei Fuyan had originally thought that with Consort Mu's pregnancy, the Emperor would visit their palace more often, giving her a chance to make an appearance. However, last month the Emperor didn't set foot there even once, and she didn't even get to see his face. Whenever she heard that the Emperor had gone to Lingcui Palace again, she would clench her handkerchief tightly, almost tearing holes in the fine Hangzhou silk with her fingernails.
Since Jiang Jie left, Consort Shen seemed to have lost her soul, remaining in a daze for quite some time. It wasn't until she learned that Consort Mu was pregnant that she regained some of her spirits. However, she had long since given up on vying for the emperor's favor and serving him in bed. Now, she devoted all her attention to raising the second princess. Apart from occasionally bringing the child to visit Consort Mu, she mostly stayed indoors in Shujing Palace.
At this time, the inner palace was a rare period of leisure for Meng Shu and Consort Chun.
With the Empress absent, Consort Yang was imprisoned in the inner palace. Currently, Consort Mu is focused on her pregnancy, Consort Shen is teaching her daughter behind closed doors, and Consort Pei is also confined to Consort Mu's palace, unable to accomplish much. Consort Qi and Consort Yun are always well-behaved, and the remaining consorts are even less likely to cause any trouble.
The only variable is Consort Shun.
But it's too early to tell. Right now, she's just handling things step by step and hasn't shown her true colors yet...
......
This continued until late February, when the two-month-long period of calm was officially broken.
Tai Chi Hall Chao Hui.
As the officials lined up, just as the usual reports on government affairs were about to be finished, Li Minde, the white-haired and white-bearded Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Pavilion, holding a jade tablet, bowed and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, this old minister has something to say today that is stuck in my throat."
"The Empress Dowager holds the position of mother to the nation, and is the foundation of the country. Without an empress, how can the order and discipline be maintained? I humbly request Your Majesty to establish a new empress as soon as possible to reassure the hearts of the people!"
As soon as he finished speaking, another senior nobleman stepped forward to second his opinion: "Grand Secretary Li is absolutely right! A country cannot be without a ruler for a day, nor can the harem be without a mistress for long. Only by appointing an heir as soon as possible can we stabilize the harem and ensure the continuation of the imperial line. This is of utmost importance for securing the foundation of the nation!"
Following that, several other respected senior officials stepped forward and echoed the sentiment.
Although the wording differs, they all point to the fact that the position of phoenix is vacant.
The emperor, seated on the dragon throne, had his face hidden behind the twelve tassels of pearls and jade, making his expression unreadable.
After the ministers had finished speaking, he slowly began, "My dear ministers, your concern for the foundation of the nation is commendable. In that case, I shall ask you a question—in your opinion, among the concubines of the harem, who is worthy to succeed as Empress and serve as the mother of the nation?"
Upon hearing this question, most of the officials who had just been speaking eloquently immediately lowered their heads and became more subdued.
The matter of choosing an empress is of great importance, involving countless forces in the court and the harem. A single careless word could bring disaster, so no one dared to speak lightly at this moment.
In the oppressive silence, only Prince Rui and Grand Secretary Li briefly exchanged glances.
Soon, Li Minde, holding a jade tablet, stepped forward again: "Your Majesty, this old minister believes that the Imperial Concubine has been in the palace for many years, and is known for her gentleness, virtue, and prudence. She has also given birth to Your Majesty's second son, which is of great merit to the country. Moreover, the Imperial Concubine enjoys a high reputation among the people. It would be most appropriate for her to succeed as Empress."
Upon hearing this, Yun Qian, the Minister of Revenue standing in the ranks of civil officials, felt a sudden sinking feeling in his heart.
He subconsciously exchanged a glance with the Marquis of Huai'an opposite him. Both of them saw the same shock and solemnity in each other's eyes. Li Minde had never had any dealings with the Marquis of Lin'an's family and was known for his composure and neutrality in the court. Why was he so clearly pushing Consort Chun to the forefront at this moment?
Yun Qian's hand unconsciously tightened in his sleeve. He was Madam Yun's uncle, and his fate was intertwined with that of the Marquis of Lin'an. In the current situation, he wanted to speak but knew the importance of avoiding suspicion, so he could only think of sending a letter to Tang Xian, who was in mourning in Lin'an, as soon as possible after court.
Standing not far behind Yun Qian was Su Han, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, who was Su Wanwan's father and Tang Lin's father-in-law. He was bowing his head and holding his breath, secretly observing the emperor on the throne out of the corner of his eye.
The emperor lightly tapped the armrest of his dragon throne with his knuckles, his gaze sweeping over the civil and military officials in the hall, without uttering a single word.
This silence is more unsettling than any words.
At this moment, surprisingly, Vice Minister Wei of the Ministry of Personnel stepped forward.
His voice boomed like a bell, carrying the clear and resonant quality characteristic of a military general: "Your Majesty, I participated in the previous imperial examinations, serving as a deputy examiner. I often heard scholars from Jiangnan mention Consort Chun. They all said that Consort Chun was renowned for her benevolence and kindness even in Lin'an. In years of famine, she would open her private treasury to provide relief, and she was also compassionate towards the elderly and poor, establishing numerous free schools. Today, the people of Yuzhou are also grateful for Consort Chun's kindness and have even erected a shrine in her honor. As the ancient saying goes, 'The mother of the nation should be a model for all.' Since Consort Chun has such a virtuous reputation and is deeply loved by the people, I believe that it is the will of the people and she is truly deserving of the position of Empress!"
Several worldly-wise old ministers in the hall twitched their eyelids slightly.
Prince Rui stepped forward tremblingly, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, this old minister has a different opinion. The eldest prince is exceptionally intelligent and talented. Consort Jin, as the eldest prince’s birth mother, has been an excellent mother. She has been assisting in managing the six palaces for a long time, and her virtue is worthy of being a model for the six palaces. In my opinion, Consort Jin is the most suitable candidate to succeed the empress, as a mother should be able to rise in status through her son.”