Everyone in my harem is talented

Chapter 183 Trivia

Outside the Pepper Room, the spring breeze brought a chill that penetrated into the bones, while the incense burner inside the Pepper Room was filled with the warm scent of cypress wood.

"Seventeen, thank you for your hard work."

Qin Zhi closed his eyes, rested his forehead on Shen Ningyue's neck, and slowed down his breathing.

"I am not tired, but Your Majesty, you haven't had a good rest recently."

Shen Ningyue's eyes were slightly red, and tears were sparkling in her clear eyes.

"It is my duty as a son to see my mother off to her final journey."

Qin Zhi raised his head and comforted him calmly, "Don't worry, Seventeen. When my father passed away and I ascended the throne, I spent the year like this.

Seventeen will give birth in two months. If it is a prince, I will make him the crown prince. If it is a princess, I will make her Princess Zhaode. Is that okay?"

He is almost thirty years old, and it is time for him to appoint a crown prince. If the crown prince is unworthy, he can be deposed. He has no shortage of sons.

Shen Ningyue was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to answer.

She hesitated for a long while before she said softly, "Then I will accept the title bestowed by Your Majesty for our Third Princess Zhaode. Thank you for your great grace."

As he said this, he stood up and bowed.

"What? Your Majesty, the Queen is unwilling to give birth to a prince for me?" Qin Zhi raised his eyes, looked at her coldly, and said in a joking tone.

Seeing that Qin Zhi was not really angry but was threatening her, Shen Ningyue bit her lip and replied unconvincedly:

“Your Majesty is really good at putting the blame on me. It is clearly your Majesty’s fault. The prince was still in my belly. Your Majesty was in the prime of his life, yet you casually decided on the foundation of the country without consulting the court officials.

I also know that Your Majesty has always been a man of final say, but the matter of appointing a crown prince is a matter of great importance, and Your Majesty's words really make me panic.

Your Majesty, do you want me to become the target of public criticism? Do you still want me to give birth to the child?"

"Bold."

Shen Ningyue smiled coquettishly, but did not respond. She changed the subject and said:

"Your Majesty, when you mentioned the title of princess, I suddenly remembered the eldest princess of Concubine Yi.

During the days of my mother's funeral, both I and my sister Imperial Concubine Yi were exhausted. My sister Imperial Concubine Yi was so tired that she had her bleeding, so she had to go back to bed to rest.

The eldest princess brought her younger brothers and sisters to mourn for their mother. I saw that although she was full of sorrow, her demeanor was naturally dignified and her behavior was polite.

He respects his superiors and loves his subordinates, and is very graceful in helping me receive ladies from other dynasties.

She is even more patient and friendly to her younger brothers and sisters, and always cares about them, whether they are hungry or cold, or warm. She has the bearing of an eldest sister and the demeanor of the eldest princess of the Dayong royal family.

There are many princes in the palace, but the only princesses now are the second princess born to me and the eldest princess born to my sister, Concubine Yi.

On the day of my third birthday, Your Majesty conferred the title of Princess Hengshan on my concubine Mingyue, and announced it to the world, bestowing favors on the people.

The eldest daughter Ronglu, the elder sister of Concubine Yi, has not yet been given the title of princess, but is only called the eldest princess.

Ronglu is almost ten years old. In a few years, Your Majesty will have to choose a suitable consort for her. When are you going to grant the eldest daughter the official title of princess?"

"Seventeen, do you think so highly of Ronglu? In my impression, Ronglu is still a naughty child, but you make it sound like she will surrender in the blink of an eye."

"Children always grow up in the blink of an eye. When I first married into the palace, Ronglu was only five years old. Five years passed so quickly. Ronglu has grown up to be so outstanding. Sister Noble Concubine Yi has taught him so well."

"Just because Imperial Concubine Yi taught well, doesn't that mean I have no credit for it?"

"Your Majesty, you should tell your sister, Imperial Concubine Yi, and Ronglu about this."

"I see that you disagree with my opinion?"

"More than quite, Your Majesty!"

Qin Zhi narrowed his eyes with a fierce look in his eyes, but when he saw Shen Ningyue's pretty face staring at him with a smile, his ferocity soon failed him.

"Forget it, I won't bother with you.

After the mourning period for my mother is over, I will grant Ronglu the title of princess. ” Qin Zhi was somewhat emotional.

The Pepper Room was filled with warmth as the emperor and empress leaned against each other and talked about trivial matters.

In addition to the sudden death of the Empress Dowager in Chongde Hall on the day when Concubine Zhen Lu Xinyin gave birth to the sixth prince, there is another major event in the palace that cannot be avoided, which is the death of Concubine Li Yan Shuer and Concubine Ying Li Sisi in their respective palaces on the second day of the Empress Dowager's funeral.

Concubine Li and Concubine Ying died on the same day. Qin Zhi directly suppressed the news that Concubine Li was stabbed to death by Concubine Ying in Changchun Palace and that Concubine Ying later committed suicide in Yuntai Palace.

The only news to the public was that Concubine Li was too sad about the death of the Empress Dowager, which led to premature and difficult labor, and both mother and child died, so she went to serve the Empress Dowager.

Concubine Ying had been seriously ill for a long time, but she insisted on going to mourn for the empress dowager and to see her off for the last time. She knelt and sobbed for a short while before her body could no longer support her. She left in a hurry in the middle of the empress dowager's funeral without even having time to say a word to anyone, which caused the empress and the concubines to misunderstand that she was unfilial to the empress dowager.

"I intend to posthumously confer the title of Ying Guipin as Ying Fei and Li Guiren as Li Guipin. As for their funeral rites..."

Qin Zhi hesitated for a moment. The Queen was two or three months away from giving birth, and Imperial Concubine Yi was less than three months pregnant and the fetus was not yet firmly established. Concubine Zhen was not considered at all.

The highest ranking person is only Concubine Hui Meng Xinghe, who has the power to assist in palace affairs.

But Guipin was still too low. It was okay to hold a funeral for Lipin, but it was somewhat inappropriate for Guipin Hui to hold a funeral for Yingfei.

"The funeral ceremonies for Concubine Ying and Concubine Li will be presided over by Concubine Hui. You should give Concubine Hui an imperial decree tomorrow to keep everything simple."

Shen Ningyue nodded slightly.

After the mourning period for the empress dowager is over, Hui Guipin, who had presided over the funeral ceremonies for Ying Fei and Li Fei, will inevitably become a concubine. Although Meng Xinghe's family background is impoverished, his luck is quite good.

If Meng Xinghe and her son, the Fourth Prince Qin Mingyun, had not been poisoned, Your Majesty would not have promoted Meng Xinghe's position to comfort the mother and son, and Meng Xinghe would not have been promoted directly from the position of Concubine Hui to Concubine Hui.

If this hadn't happened, given Meng Xinghe's background as the daughter of a criminal, it would have taken her an unknown amount of time to be promoted from a noble lady to a concubine.

After being promoted to Concubine Hui due to a blessing in disguise, Meng Xinghe encountered that Concubine Yi became pregnant and had no energy to manage the affairs of the harem. It was because of her position as Concubine Hui that Meng Xinghe was able to share the palace power and work with Concubine Yi to manage the harem.

Now it was the time for the Empress Dowager's funeral, and the two sisters, Concubine Ying and Concubine Li, to attend. Because Concubine Yi was pregnant, she was unable to preside over their funerals, so this task fell on Concubine Hui. With the task, she could get credit. Who wouldn't praise Concubine Hui for her good luck?