"Legitimate child?" Zhao Hua was slightly taken aback, with puzzlement filling her eyes as she looked at Xiao Jingheng.
Xiao Jingheng laughed at her silliness, "When you become My empress, our children will naturally be legitimate."
It is common for people to have desires, and anyone who suddenly hears such great news would show unrestrained joy.
Zhao Hua was no exception.
Although she was happy, her timidity still overshadowed it in the end,
"Your servant knows she is not qualified enough, and cannot handle the many trivial matters in the harem, she cannot even figure out her own palace affairs, how can she bear such heavy responsibilities? Xiao Lang, wouldn't it be better to..."
"It doesn't matter, these are all minor issues that can be slowly learned over time."
Xiao Jingheng waved his hand casually, cutting off Zhao Hua's words, "I want to make the woman I love My empress, if Zhao'er continues to decline, it would mean you are unwilling to be My wife."
Seeing Zhao Hua's emotional response, Xiao Jingheng seized her hand tightly, his words full of sincerity:
"Hasn't Zhao'er always said she wants to grow old with Me? By becoming My wife, and being buried together after death, we would not let each other down. Is Zhao'er willing to walk alongside Me in the future, and always stay by My side?"
He held Zhao Hua's hand, slowly bringing it closer to his chest, causing a faint blush to appear on her cheeks.
"Zhao'er is willing... As long as I can be with Xiao Lang, Zhao'er is willing to do anything."
With mutual affection between husband and wife, looking at each other with naked hearts,
At this moment, as their gazes intertwined, countless words of love and tenderness vanished into the unspoken,
Henceforth, the matter of establishing an empress was settled.
As Zhao Hua's due date was nearing, the time for establishing the empress was set for early April,
Only after she gave birth to the heir and completed her confinement, would the grand enthronement ceremony that attracted nationwide attention be held,
Only then would she reach the pinnacle of glory.
Although she had not been formally invested, His Majesty's heart was set, and the struggle for the position of empress in the six palaces quietly faded out.
In the following days, the concubines in the six palaces came to pay respects to Zhao Hua even more diligently.
On this day when they came to greet her, Consort Yun blurted out,
"Looking at Her Majesty the Empress's excellent complexion today, next month..."
"She hasn't been enthroned as Empress yet, but you address her so smoothly as Empress." Ning Wanshuang's long brows slanted upwards as she glared coldly at Consort Yun, "I wonder who used to address her as a lowly slave."
Consort Yun had always known Ning Wanshuang to be a loose-tongued madwoman, but did not expect her to show no regard for the new Empress's prestige, and to so brazenly utter such greatly disrespectful words.
Given that Zhao Hua received deep favor as soon as she entered the palace, which concubine here hadn't heaped curses on her before?
At this moment, Consort Yun was also nervous, secretly glancing at Zhao Hua's expression, and hastily trying to defend herself,
"Your Majesty the Empress must not listen to her nonsense, your servant absolutely did not..."
Things from the past were not worth remembering.
Zhao Hua simply smiled it off, then swiftly shifted the conversation,
"Worthy Consort Yun is not wrong. Without the enthronement ceremony, I am still Noble Consort. Even if I become Empress, I will still be your sister. In our daily lives we still address each other as sisters, which displays greater intimacy."
The concubines chorused: "Yes, we will abide by Noble Consort's teachings."
After sending them off today, only Ning Wanshuang alone stayed behind.
She and Zhao Hua strolled in the garden, complex emotions churning on her face. For a long time, they remained silent, then she gave a bitter laugh and said,
"Congratulations to you."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Hua also gave a wry smile and shook her head, "Does sister think this is a joyous event?"
Ning Wanshuang said: "My relationship with him is merely superficial harmony. I used to long for the position of Empress in hopes that with the status of his wife, I could have the legitimacy to accompany him by his side. Although I no longer harbor such delusions now, having desired it for so long, I still can’t help feeling complex emotions in my heart."
Zhao Hua listened quietly. With an unintentional upward glance, her sights landed on the gilded plaque in front of the palace halls,
Looking at the three large characters "Chang Le Palace", she couldn't help sighing,
"Sister lives in Yonghe Palace, your relationship is discordant despite the facade. I live in Chang Le Palace, looking glorious and joyful to others, but only I know the bitterness within. Consort Hui lives in Zhaochun Palace, appearing to be the simplest person in the harem, but underneath that harmless appearance lies the most disgusting malice."
She suddenly broke into laughter, frequently shaking her head,
"Yonghe lacks harmony, Chang Le lacks joy, Zhaochun lacks purity... As for our Emperor's discernment in selecting and assigning palaces and chambers for us, it can be said he put in considerable effort."
Ning Wanshuang also smiled self-deprecatingly, adding,
"The others aside. You must be vigilant against that one from Zhaochun Palace. Seeing you become Empress and give birth to an heir, she appears to be increasingly unable to restrain herself. In the next few days, it’s best if you avoid any interaction with her. After the child is safely born, settle all grievances with her then."
Zhao Hua nodded in acquiescence, smiling gently, "Many thanks to sister."
After sending Ning Wanshuang off, Xiao Fuzi brought Zhao Hua news from outside the palace,
"Mistress, Tianji Office has discovered more dubious details about Prince Qi's estate. No faults can be picked with Prince Qi and his main consort, but his concubine is unconsciously revealing extravagant wealth. His concubine loves amethysts. Some days ago, she privately purchased an amethyst chest ornament worth thousands of taels..."
"Thousands of taels?" Yun Shan clicked his tongue. "What is Prince Qi's monthly salary? His concubine isn't from some wealthy family, how could she casually spend thousands without blinking an eye? Could it be embezzled money?"
"Embezzled?" Zhao Hua sneered, "He battled Candle Yin for three years without making any headway. His Majesty was furious with him and reduced him to an idle prince long ago. What present could an idle prince without any power possibly extort? Where would he get the ability to embezzle?"
Xiao Fuzi said, "Back then, Mistress had suspected some covert connection between Prince Qi and Candle Yin. For his family to now possess such shocking wealth, if not bestowed by the imperial court, then there is likely another source."
"Who knows?" Zhao Hua smiled enchantingly as she casually fiddled with the flowers and plants in the yard, "In any case, after His Majesty hears of this matter, he will naturally investigate. There is no need to trouble ourselves over it."
"Yes, Tianji Office will continue monitoring Prince Qi's estate."
"To think Prince Qi is truly foolish to have eluded Tianji Office's surveillance for so long without noticing anything."
"Tianji Office has always acted swiftly and covertly, it is not easy for them to expose flaws."
"You're wrong." Zhao Hua looked at Xiao Fuzi, tone light as she said,
"We must let him know. A frightened bird startles at the mere twang of a bow. Only when he hears them drawing the bowstring will he lose his composure. Tell Tianji Office to reveal some flaws deliberately and let Prince Qi discover someone secretly investigating him."
Xiao Fuzi understood Zhao Hua’s intention after a little thought. "Mistress's wisdom is extraordinary. This servant knows what to do."
‘Boom’
From the edges of the overcast sky, rumbles of thunder suddenly sounded,
Almost at the same time as the sound faded, fine raindrops had already begun pelting Zhao Hua's robes.
Yun Shan shielded her to the corridor, lightly brushing the water beads off her clothes, complaining:
"The sudden spring rain. Mistress, you should head back to rest, in case the dampness affects you."
Zhao Hua stretched out a hand into the rain, allowing the raindrops to splash onto her palm, smiling lightly:
"February 28th is Consort Hui's birthday. There are not many days left. I have thoughtfully set up the stage for her. Let us watch as she performs this final act."
