12dz Chapter 169 Moving Palace
Chapter 169 Moving Palace
He Lingyi kept replaying the words the Crown Prince had spoken to her the day before in her mind.
"The Empress's imperial edict will be delivered tomorrow. Your coronation ceremony should still be grand. I want you to stand by my side rightfully and witness the arrival of the Great Long Dynasty together."
These words were spoken with great passion, and He Lingyi had also considered standing with the Crown Prince through thick and thin.
After everything was laid bare yesterday, He Lingyi felt no more resentment. However, some things are not something she can get just because she wants them, so she can only do her best and leave the rest to fate.
"Star Luo".
He Lingyi called out, and the people outside came in. Seeing that He Lingyi had already gotten up, they immediately went forward to help her wash up and said something.
"When His Majesty left, he specifically instructed me not to wake Your Highness. After you get up, Your Highness can have your meal first and there is no need to wait. There are many things to do today. I will have Eunuch Xia bring the imperial edict over around noon. At that time, Your Highness will move to another palace."
The relocation of the palace can also be considered an important manifestation of the change of imperial power.
As the only member of the Crown Prince's harem, He Lingyi naturally intended to move into the Handan Palace, where Empress Wen had lived before her death, a fact she was well aware of.
"Okay, let's prepare early then."
"Yes, ma'am."
Today, He Lingyi is dressed in formal attire, but it is still the attire of a Crown Princess. Before she receives the imperial seal, no one dares to act recklessly.
She waited in the side hall until 1:15 noon when Xia Jing finally appeared with his men.
Following behind him were dozens of people, each carrying a lacquer tray. Upon seeing He Lingyi, they respectfully bowed and greeted him.
"This servant greets Your Majesty. Please accept the imperial decree."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I accept the decree."
Immediately afterwards, Xia Jing spoke in a slightly high-pitched voice.
"The Crown Princess, Lady He, is the granddaughter of He Changzhang, a great Confucian scholar from the Southern State. She comes from a distinguished family and is known for her filial piety. Now, in accordance with the late Emperor's last wishes, I hereby bestow upon you the imperial seal and establish you as Empress. You should be a model of virtue and prudence for all people. This is my decree."
"I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness."
After receiving the imperial edict with both hands, Xia Jing and Xing Luo helped her to her feet. Both of them had smiles on their faces, and then led everyone present to kneel down and pay their respects.
"This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand years and be blessed with good fortune."
"Everyone, get up."
"Thank you, empress."
Xia Jing waved his hand, and Xing Luo and the others accepted the imperial edict, the empress's crown, the official robes, and various rewards. He then spoke.
"Handan Palace has been prepared. Please move to the palace, Your Highness."
"Okay, Xingluo, let's go."
"Yes, ma'am."
After saying this, the group began to walk outside, boarded the carriages, and headed straight for the largest palace in the inner palace besides the Qi'an Hall—Handan Palace.
Looking back at the side hall, He Lingyi had a sudden realization.
Everything behind them seemed to become memories in their ears and minds. They were busy here taking care of the late emperor's affairs after his death, and they also took over the most prestigious position in this dynasty.
Whether the road ahead is thorny or full of flowers, the couple will face it together.
With this in mind, He Lingyi took each step with firmness and strength.
In Consort Qin's palace, she was currently preoccupied with the well-being of Prince Ping'an. Seeing that the weak and helpless child who had just been brought to her had finally grown a bit fuller, she felt quite comforted.
That's how people are; when they have something to look forward to, their spirits lift.
Therefore, when she was playing with the child and heard a palace maid report that the Empress had moved to Handan Palace, her expression did not change.
"Have your men pack up quickly. His Majesty has granted me permission to take Ping An to my fiefdom and live there. I will not be coming back. Now that the Empress has taken over the central palace, it is time for us old folks to leave."
Her words were the truth, and they were what the new emperor wanted to see.
Consort Qin was the head of the harem. Once she left, the other concubines and consorts would have no excuse to linger in the palace, even if they wanted to. Therefore, she had to set an example.
The new emperor didn't make things difficult for her, and she was willing to pave the way for the new emperor and empress.
"Your Majesty is right. But having lived here for so long, to be honest, I'm a little reluctant to leave."
“It’s only natural to feel reluctant to leave, but people come and go in the palace, and everyone has to accept this fate. Even the late emperor had to be carried out of the palace. So we are already grateful to the new emperor for being able to leave the palace alive. We should be sensible.”
"Yes, the servant understands."
The palace maids accompanying Consort Qin were all sensible and said a few simple words before stopping and diligently packing their belongings.
In comparison, Consort Yi's palace was much more peaceful.
She was raising the seventh princess, so in principle she didn't need to leave the palace. She might just have to move to the Shounan Palace, where the Dowager Consort resided. Of course, it was not the same as where she was currently living, but it was still better than those concubines who had no children and were sent to live in seclusion.
Therefore, she also gave instructions to the palace servants to prepare themselves so that they could leave immediately once an imperial edict arrived.
There are several other princesses' birth mothers in the palace who have now all taken refuge by her side. Their only hope is that the princess can marry well, nothing more, so they have no intention of causing trouble.
But after being stripped of her power, Consort Liang felt extremely uncomfortable, as if her heart was being torn apart.
According to the rules, she should also pack her bags, but she was not as fortunate as Consort Qin, who could leave the palace with the prince to her fiefdom, nor did she have to move palaces like Consort Yi. Instead, she could only move to a temporary palace outside the palace to live out her remaining years.
If this were before, when I had never experienced the taste of power, I would have let them move.
But now, to ask her to willingly live that ascetic life is simply a pipe dream.
Consort Liang listened with a livid face to the news that the Empress had taken over the Han Dan Palace, and then asked angrily in a low voice.
"Didn't you say you'd already given the Seventh Prince his medicine? Why is there still no sign of anything?"
"Your Majesty, that medicine is meant to be slow-acting, so it's natural that the effects would be delayed. Otherwise, if something had happened so soon after it was taken from our palace, wouldn't that have caused you trouble?"
"There has to be a limit to how slow it is! This has been going on for so many days!"
"Your Majesty, rest assured, the Consort might have an attack as soon as she leaves the palace with him. In that case, we won't be blamed at all."
The palace maid's answer calmed Consort Liang's anger slightly.
Now, she just hopes that Consort Tong's child will be born safely. Then she will follow suit, kill the mother, and take the child. Whether it is a prince or a princess, she will teach it carefully!
So this time, even if she were to leave the palace, she would have to take Consort Tong with her!
Just then, someone rushed in to report that Consort Tong was feeling unwell. This startled Consort Liang, as the baby in her womb was far too young to be born alive. So, with a grave expression, she gave instructions to her servants.
"Quickly, find the imperial physician! No matter what, you must save the child!"