Yan Qi's straightforward advice brought the matter of the successor to the throne into the open. The following day, during the morning court assembly, this issue became the sole topic of discussion among the courtiers.
There were many courtiers who advocated for urging Xiao Jingheng to choose his successor as soon as possible. They were not swayed by any personal interests but rather considered the welfare of the nation.
Currently, Xiao Jingheng has only one son, Chenghuan. However, the court physician had previously stated that Chenghuan's skin condition, known as "snake scale psoriasis," was a severe illness. If afflicted with this condition, there was a high probability that he would not live past the age of five. Even if he managed to survive beyond five years with careful attention, his future would be extremely difficult. The constant breakdown of his body would lead to recurring infections, ultimately depleting his health until his demise.
An imperial prince who could pass away at any moment clearly had no hope of inheriting the throne.
In the matter of selecting the successor, some loyal courtiers who were devoted to the well-being of the dynasty advocated for choosing Zhao Hua as the empress. Their reasons were as follows:
The royal lineage carries utmost importance, and Empress Jiawei had not borne a legitimate son for Xiao Jingheng. Therefore, the male fetus currently carried by Zhao Hua became the best choice.
If Zhao Hua were to become the empress, her child would be of legitimate birth, with pure royal blood.
On the other hand, some courtiers skilled in flattery also advised Xiao Jingheng to choose Zhao Hua as the empress. They were adept at discerning the imperial intentions. From their perspective, Xiao Jingheng's previous efforts to improve Zhao Hua's family background, such as marrying her into the Luo family, were paving the way for her future as the empress.
Hence, their advice today was merely following Xiao Jingheng's inclinations.
The custom of paying respects to silkworms occurred at the beginning of March, which coincided with Zhao Hua's due date.
From this perspective, choosing Zhao Hua as the empress seemed to align with the auspicious timing and harmonization of heaven, earth, and humanity.
However, during the morning court assembly, Xiao Jingheng did not make a final decision. He temporarily set aside the matter for further discussion.
*
Before the imperial concubines gave birth, maternal relatives were allowed to enter the palace for visits.
On this day, Mrs. Luo was summoned to the palace to see Zhao Hua.
She brought many handmade baby bellybands for Zhao Hua. The bellybands were made from the softest silkworm silk, with colors predominantly chosen as bright yellow, indigo blue, and sky blue, which are commonly used for baby boys. The embroidered patterns on the bellybands were intricate designs of kylin and dragon motifs.
It was evident that Mrs. Luo firmly believed that Zhao Hua was carrying an imperial prince.
Receiving these thoughtful gifts, Zhao Hua smiled and said, "Mother, your eyesight is not good, yet you still put in so much effort to make these. I am truly touched."
Mrs. Luo smiled with a hint of pride and said, "What's the fuss about? When you become the empress one day, this child will be the emperor's legitimate son. Compared to the emperor's rewards, my little gifts won't be worth mentioning."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Hua's expression suddenly changed, and she hurriedly whispered, "Mother, you mustn't say such things."
"Where am I speaking recklessly? This is already a rumor circulating among the previous dynasty's imperial concubines. Regarding the matter of the emperor appointing you as empress after the silkworm ceremony, I'm afraid the decree will come down soon."
Mrs. Luo gently tightened her grip on Zhao Hua's hand and said in a deep voice, "Rest assured, your father will join forces with officials he is familiar with to plead with the emperor for your succession. The position of the Empress is within your grasp."
"My father wants the officials of the previous dynasty to speak for me?"
Zhao Hua's face turned pale with anxiety. She instinctively withdrew her hand from Mrs. Luo's palm and shook her head repeatedly.
"Mother, you should advise him too. What my father is doing is rather confused. The matter of succeeding the throne is a national affair, but fundamentally, it is the emperor's family matter. The emperor has his own considerations for choosing the Empress, and he cannot be influenced by officials from the previous dynasty."
"Besides, Noble Consort Chen has both sons and daughters, and she has been by the emperor's side since his ascension, sharing a deep affection with him. If we talk about succession, I personally feel that Noble Consort Chen is more suitable."
"She has no hope anymore." Mrs. Luo interrupted Zhao Hua's words coldly. "Noble Consort Ning's father and brothers were once punished by the court. The emperor issued an edict to publicly execute them in the busy streets of the capital. Many people in the capital witnessed it. Her status is embarrassing. Even if the emperor has affection for her, he will not raise her to the status of a lawful wife."
"Then please, Mother, persuade him not to go through all this trouble for my sake."
Zhao Hua offered a cup of tea to Mrs. Luo and opened the skylight to speak frankly with her.
"I know that the previous dynasties' harem was part of the same entity. If my daughter can become the Empress, it will also bring honor to the Luo family. But as an unfilial daughter, I don't have the ability to bear the heavy responsibility of being the Empress."
"Mother, please don't laugh at me, but all I want is to live a carefree life. With abundance in life, children and a loving husband, and the grace of the emperor, that's already wonderful. I know my father is planning for my sake, but all these good intentions will push me into a pit."
"You, my child..."
Mrs. Luo sighed repeatedly, feeling quite helpless.
After a while, she picked up the tea cup offered by Zhao Hua and took a shallow sip.
"Alright, alright. Even if your father succeeds in planning for your position, your future days will be devoid of much joy. Whether you become a noble consort or an imperial noble consort, you will still be a concubine of the emperor. If you truly love the emperor and want to be his rightful wife, don't you desire that?"
During the private conversation between Mrs. Luo and Zhao Hua, Zhao Hua responded confidently and fluently, except when she heard these words, a hint of melancholy flashed across her brows.
However, she still forced a smile and said, "As long as we hold each other in our hearts, why should we care about the distinction between wife and concubine? I only know that Xiao Lang is my husband, and in his heart, he also considers me his wife. That's enough."
Later in the evening, Zhao Hua invited Mrs. Luo to have dinner at Chang Le Palace.
Originally, she wanted her to stay overnight in the palace, but Mrs. Luo declined, citing that Lord Luo had been suffering from rheumatism and she needed to return home to take care of him. Zhao Hua didn't insist and instructed Xiao Fuzi to see Mrs. Luo off properly.
As expected, after Xiao Fuzi left, he returned about an hour later.
At that time, Zhao Hua was soothing Ruo Xin to sleep. Xiao Fuzi waited outside the door for a while, only speaking in a low voice when Zhao Hua quietly left the side hall.
"Your Majesty, Mrs. Luo left the palace in a sedan chair but returned after half an hour. I secretly observed that the sedan chair was taken in the direction of Chaoyang Palace."
Zhao Hua smiled gracefully and replied, "It is understandable for the Empress Dowager to visit her son-in-law."
Xiao Fuzi also smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you predicted that the Emperor would send Mrs. Luo to test you. After hearing your conversation with her earlier, I believe the Emperor must have been moved."
Zhao Hua chuckled and shook her head, then raised an eyebrow at him, teasingly saying, "She is not my mother, but merely a stepping stone. A stepping stone should fulfill its role properly to be truly useful. Otherwise, it would be no different from a useless piece of wood thrown into the fire to burn, wouldn't it?"
