On the first day of the Crown Prince's rule, peace reigned throughout the realm, and naturally, there were no significant state affairs for the court officials to report.
After listening to the morning court session for two hours, all they discussed were trivial matters from various regions.
The court recorder meticulously recorded the officials' remarks, and then Zhao Hua selected the slightly more important matters to present to Xiao Jingheng for his judgment after the morning court session.
The Chaoyang Palace was the grandest building in the entire imperial palace, with a considerable area.
It could be divided into two main sections.
The front section was the Jinluan Hall, which could be accessed directly from the Wumen Gate and served as the place for the daily court sessions.
The rear section was not connected to the front and required walking through the corridors of the eastern six palaces to reach it.
This place was where the emperor rested during his daily activities, with courtyards, main halls, study rooms, and inner chambers, among other things.
After the morning court session, Zhao Hua followed the corridor to the rear of the Chaoyang Palace.
But just as she entered the courtyard, a flash of scarlet rushed toward her, nearly colliding with her.
Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was Ning Wanshuang, hurrying and in a great hurry to leave.
Her behavior today was very peculiar. Not only did she not stop when she saw Zhao Hua, but she also hurried away as if there was a strong wind beneath her feet.
Zhao Hua noticed the redness in Ning Wanshuang's eyes, as if she had just finished crying, and she wondered about it in her heart.
At this moment, Liu Yue, who had been chasing after Ning Wanshuang, caught up and respectfully greeted Zhao Hua, saying:
"Empress, please don't argue with my lady. This morning, news came from the mansion that the old lady is critically ill and beyond the reach of medicine... The Emperor specially allowed the Imperial Noble Consort to leave the palace to see her off, so that's why the Imperial Noble Consort...”
"I understand," Zhao Hua interrupted Liu Yue, gently advising, "Go and serve her quickly, and be careful not to let the Imperial Noble Consort fall."
Life, old age, sickness, and death are the norms of life.
When Zhao Hua was six years old, her mother passed away, and at that time, she had no ability to give her mother a dignified farewell. She watched her mother being hastily buried without even leaving a memorial tablet, leaving her with regrets to this day.
Now that Ning Wanshuang could personally accompany her mother on her final journey, it was also a fortunate thing for the women confined within the palace walls.
She quietly instructed Xiaofuzi:
"Have someone guard the Ning Mansion. After Lady Ning's passing, send the funeral offerings in the name of the Empress. The Ning family has fallen on hard times, relying on the monthly support from the Imperial Noble Consort. It wouldn't be appropriate for Lady Ning to depart in a simple and undignified manner."
After giving these instructions, Zhao Hua adjusted her mood and entered her inner chamber.
When she arrived, Xia Ze was brewing medicine for Xiao Jingheng.
The medicine had a pungent and slightly fishy smell that made one's stomach churn.
Upon seeing Zhao Hua, Xiao Jingheng instructed Xia Ze to wait and gestured for Zhao Hua to sit beside him.
"On the Prince's first day at court, how did Cheng Yu perform?" he asked.
Zhao Hua smiled helplessly. "The child is still young and needs more experience. When faced with so many court officials standing before him, it's only natural for him to feel apprehensive."
Xiao Jingheng said, "When I was five years old, I already accompanied the late Emperor in handling state affairs. Where would there be any fear? It's not just me; even Prince Rui and Prince An, when they first handled court affairs, were younger than Cheng Yu and yet managed with ease."
In his words, there was a clear expression of dissatisfaction with Cheng Yu's timidity. "Never mind others, even Cheng Huan's courage and spirit surpass Cheng Yu's. Zhaohua, don't spoil Cheng Yu too much. He is the crown prince, the future ruler who will bear the heavy burden of the nation. How can he be afraid of his own subjects?"
Xiao Jingheng's presumptuous words made Zhaohua feel even more disgusted than the pungent smell of medicine.
Cheng Yu was raised outside the palace since childhood and was only brought back when he was five years old. Everything around him was unfamiliar.
How can a child raised among commoners compare in courage and spirit to a child raised in the palace?
Children born in the common folk only need to be healthy and self-sufficient in the future, and their parents have no other demands.
But as a prince, from the day he could remember, he had to study day and night to learn how to be a good prince, how to be a future ruler.
Everyone spends seven or eight hours a day in the study, becoming slaves to the imperial power, naturally broadening their horizons and having extraordinary courage and spirit.
In Zhaohua's heart, she only wished for her child to be healthy and safe.
But at this moment, she couldn't go against Xiao Jingheng's intentions.
So she had to go along with his words and continue speaking somewhat seriously.
"I have already reprimanded Cheng Yu. However, he was not raised in the palace since childhood, so he needs time to gradually adapt to many things. Lord Xiao, please be patient. Cheng Yu is intelligent, and I believe that with some time for him to experience and grow, he will become a qualified future ruler, sharing your worries and solving problems."
Xiao Jingheng's slightly furrowed brow finally relaxed, and he smiled, saying, "No rush, I believe in our son. It's just that these days, Zhaohua will have to work hard. Just now, the noble consort came to find me. There have been changes in her family, and her mother is seriously ill and may not live much longer. I granted her permission to leave the palace to accompany her, and if she needs to observe the mourning period, it will take about half a month before she can return to the palace.
With her presence, she could still take care of the matters in the harem for Zhaohua. But now that she's gone, Zhaohua has to take care of the previous dynasty's affairs and deal with the trivial matters of the six palaces, which is truly burdensome."
Zhaohua grasped Xiao Jingheng's hand in return and smiled, her words gentle and charming.
"Everything I do is for Lord Xiao. As long as I can accompany Lord Xiao by your side and help you solve your worries and difficulties, I won't feel tired no matter what I do."
Seeing the deepening smile lines on Xiao Jingheng's face, Zhaohua knew that these words, so insincere, were what Xiao Jingheng appreciated the most.
Perhaps, what he wanted was never the genuine affection of those around him, but their unconditional obedience.
Later, when attending to Xiao Jingheng taking his medicine, Zhaohua suddenly thought that Ning Wanshuang had left in a hurry and probably didn't have time to arrange Jin Yue properly.
So she said, "With the noble consort gone, the Second Princess will be living alone. She is still young and needs someone to take care of her. The Second Princess gets along well with Ruo Xin. How about we bring her back to the palace and let her stay in the Feng Luan Palace for now?"
Xiao Jingheng objected, "Zhaohua, the harem affairs will be taken care of by Zhaohua from the previous dynasty. Besides, you already have three children in the palace. Adding one more will only make you more overwhelmed, won't it?"
After some consideration, he said, "I have thought it over and it might be best to have Jin Yue temporarily move to the Chaoyang Palace. Each day, when you accompany Cheng Yu to court, bring Ruo Xin along as well. In my presence, Jin Yue can also have a playmate."
I have been preoccupied with state affairs and have had little time to enjoy the pleasures of family in recent years. I have neglected the children. Now that I am unwell, having the children by my side, playing and having fun, will uplift my spirits and perhaps aid in a speedier recovery."
Deep down, Zhao Hua did not want Ruo Xin to have too much contact with Xiao Jingheng.
The conflicts and grudges between adults should not involve innocent children. After all, Xiao Jingheng is Ruo Xin's father.
In the future, when the emperor passes away, if Ruo Xin suddenly loses her father, due to their limited interaction since childhood, the child will cry for a while and then move on, without experiencing much grief.
But if the bond between father and daughter deepens, the young child will suffer greatly from the loss of her father.
However, since Xiao Jingheng has already made the request, Zhao Hua has no reason to prevent him from getting closer to their children.
Thus, she could only softly reply, "That would be fine. The children must also long to have a closer relationship with their father."
