The favor of the imperial harem, as long as it doesn't involve the interests of the court, actually doesn't cause much of a stir.
But this time, after the Emperor specially favored Concubine Zhen, he not only directly promoted Concubine Zhen's father to a third-rank official, but also appointed Jiang Yanxi, who indirectly caused the downfall of Prime Minister Song, as the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Isn't this too biased?
Among them, Wang, Minister of Rites, had the most intense reaction.
When the previous Minister of Rites retired, he recommended Wang to replace him as the Minister. They were just waiting for officials from Fengtian Prefecture to come and go through the formalities before he could officially take office.
As a result, just because he had a good daughter, the Emperor directly appointed Jiang Yankun as the Minister.
The two had been deputy ministers for many years and had always been adversaries. When Jiang Yankun's daughter hadn't entered the palace, they often argued, and their relationship was like fire and water.
But later, when his daughter entered the palace and gained favor, they were no longer on the same level, and even the old Minister had to curry favor with him.
He had finally outlasted Jiang Yankun, and the Ministry of Rites was about to be his domain. Now the Emperor has sent another member of the Jiang family, and one even more troublesome than Jiang Yankun – a stubborn mule who dared to report his own superior. How was he supposed to live his days from now on?
How many eyes would be watching the Ministry of Rites in the future?
The most terrifying pair of eyes would be watching him!
"Your Majesty, the positions in the Ministry of Rites are all assessed by Fengtian Prefecture and promoted level by level. This Jiang Yanxi was originally just a private advisor to the magistrate of Qinzhou, an official even lower than the lowest-ranking ones. How can he take on such an important role?"
The Emperor sat on the dragon throne, not even raising his eyes: "Special talents naturally receive special treatment. Jiang Deputy Minister is not afraid of power and is willing to report illegal activities even at the risk of his life. Just for this point alone, he is capable of this great responsibility. Moreover, Minister Jiang is still there. He knows the procedures of the Ministry of Rites better than anyone, after all, he was once Wang's superior, right?"
The implication was that if Jiang Yanxi had anything he didn't understand, he would naturally consult Jiang Yankun, and even if he wasn't familiar with the procedures, it wouldn't trouble Wang. It was a warning for him not to go against the Emperor's will.
After the court session, only Minister Jiang from the Ministry of Personnel and a few officials from the Ministry of Punishment walked together with Jiang Yankun. Others gathered in groups of two or three, looking as if they were deliberately ostracizing Jiang Yankun.
"Huh!"
"Childish!"
Jiang Xinyue rested her chin on her hand, not hiding her exasperation in front of the Xuanwu Emperor: "They're all in their fifties or sixties, yet still playing these petty office politics games. It's really immature."
The Xuanwu Emperor chuckled: "I also find them extremely childish. They all think I appointed your uncle as the Deputy Minister of Rites because I favor you. But what I value is his courage to expose the darkness in officialdom. The Ministry of Rites is a place of great wealth. With tribute from foreign envoys and return gifts from the court, the Ministry of Rites can make a fortune with just a little manipulation. Favoring you is one reason, but I genuinely need someone like Jiang Yanxi to help me keep an eye on Wang."
The money in his treasury could be used to support the army or the people, but not to feed insatiable parasites.
On this point, Jiang Xinyue quite admired the Xuanwu Emperor. He truly loved his people and his empire.
"Ouch—"
The little one in her belly was restless, kicking just above her pubic bone, causing her to suck in a sharp breath of pain.
The Xuanwu Emperor immediately placed his hand on her belly: "Little Six, be good, be gentle. Your mother is the apple of father's eye. If you hurt her, father will spank your little bottom."
As he spoke, he patted the pulsing belly twice.
Surprisingly, perhaps due to the father-son connection, the little one's movements truly became gentler, making Jiang Xinyue marvel at the wonder.
In her past life, although she had a boyfriend, they had only progressed to holding hands. As for that aspect... the Xuanwu Emperor was her first man.
Ah... what a pity!
If she had known, she should have slept with her fair-skinned, beautiful, long-legged, abstinent-type boyfriend when they were dating.
Why be a pure love warrior?
She should have been a pure flesh warrior.
"Your Highness... Your Highness?"
Several calls brought her back to reality. She looked up to see Fang Rumeng, who had been promoted to the position of Clothing Steward, smiling at her while holding an exquisite palace gown: "Concubine Zhen, this is the dress that the Emperor ordered the Imperial Wardrobe to make for you a month ago."
The female workers from the Imperial Wardrobe unfolded the dress. The beautiful satin shimmered with light, captivating any woman who laid eyes on it.
Fang Rumeng and the other female workers all wore silk gloves, afraid that a moment of carelessness might damage the precious garment with the calluses on their fingers.
"Your Highness, this is violet silk satin, the most delicate and rare dustproof fabric in the palace. It's made from nylon, silk, gold thread, and fine pearls. The entire fabric is composed of five-colored satin patterns, flowing with brilliance as if tiny jewels are sparkling. These dozen or so embroiderers from the Imperial Wardrobe spent a month embroidering climbing trumpet creeper flowers on the dress using double-sided embroidery. Each flower is a relief craft, lifelike. Under the lamplight, there's even an illusion of dew drops falling. In the entire harem, only you have such a piece, Your Highness."
The preciousness of this dress wasn't just in the garment itself, but in the display of the superior skills of so many embroiderers working tirelessly day and night. It was a manifestation of the Emperor's love for Concubine Zhen.
Most importantly, the Emperor had also made a matching outfit, though much more low-key and plain, but in the same color.
When the Emperor and Concubine Zhen stand together wearing these outfits, the trumpet creeper flowers on Concubine Zhen's dress and the trumpet creeper branches on the Emperor's outfit would overlap, making it look as if the two were entwined by flower branches.
You in me, me in you, intimately entangled.
However, the Emperor currently doesn't want them to reveal this to Concubine Zhen, saying he wants to give her a surprise at the New Year's banquet.
Jiang Xinyue had always been Fang Rumeng's supporter. Her favor naturally made Fang Rumeng happier than anyone else.
But with the Xuanwu Emperor watching nearby, she couldn't show it too obviously, and only spoke well of the Emperor in a proper manner.
"Concubine Zhen's beauty is unparalleled in the world. Paired with this silk satin, it truly complements each other, enhancing both."
It was the dress that would highlight Concubine Zhen's unparalleled beauty, and it was the stunningly beautiful Concubine Zhen who was destined to make the silk satin the talk of the entire harem at the New Year's banquet, becoming a rare fabric that all the concubines would scramble for.
Considering that Jiang Xinyue was still heavily pregnant, Fang Rumeng had moved the side slit of the banner gown slightly upwards and added several pleats to the hem, making it more accommodating.
The lively design made Jiang Xinyue appear even more otherworldly and gorgeous, like an elf or a fairy.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I love it very much."
Jiang Xinyue held it in her hands, standing in front of the mirror and trying it on for a while. After asking Xi Que to put the dress away, she said, "Your Majesty, just one dress for me has kept the embroiderers of the Imperial Wardrobe busy for so long. You must reward them well, and Clothing Steward Fang too... I also really like the flower pattern she designed. They have put in so much effort, we can't mistreat them."
Otherwise, who would be willing to work for her in the future?
