Chapter 698 - Chapter 698: Heartfelt Thoughts
Chapter 698: Heartfelt Thoughts
Editor: Atlas Studios
Considering this was the palace, Mu Yangling was assured to let Little Bear go around with Little Treasure. In addition, it wasn’t suitable for Little Bear to be around when she was talking to Li Jinghua, so she nodded and agreed.
Little Treasure and Little Bear immediately held hands excitedly and ran out. The palace maids and emissaries who were serving them hurriedly chased after them.
The sisters-in-law watched as the two children disappeared before turning around. As they looked at each other, they couldn’t help but smile. “There may be differences between people, but all parents worry about their children.” Li Jinghua took Mu Yangling’s hand and said, “Let’s go in and talk. Let them play. With people serving them at Upper Wood Park, it’ll be fine.”
Li Jinghua’s purpose for asking to meet Mu Yangling was to ask about the Dali Princess Duan Yuqing. The Emperor attached great importance to Dali, and Duan Yuqing had been conferred the title of the head of the four concubines. It could be seen how much importance Qi Xiuyuan attached to this.
Although Li Jinghua was jealous, she could see the bigger picture and knew that she had to handle the matter in a grand fashion. Not only could this intimidate the vassal states, but she could also take the chance to show her authority and motherly bearing.
It was impossible for her to casually decorate Consort Xian’s palace. Not only did it have to conform to the etiquette, the decor also had to suit Duan Yuqing’s preferences. She did not know Duan Yuqing’s preferences, so she could only ask Mu Yangling.
Of course, she also had the intention of sounding out information.
Mu Yangling told her about Duan Yuqing’s temperament and preferences. Seeing Li Jinghua take serious notes, she inwardly sighed and whispered into her ear, “Sister-in-law, Duan Yuqing injured her uterus when she was escaping. She’ll never conceive.”
Li Jinghua widened her eyes and looked at Mu Yangling. Nodding slightly, Mu Yangling said, “She has a meek personality, too. Do take care of her if you can. Her family is far away in Dali and with it being a vassal state, her family can’t enter the capital without an edict…”
Li Jinghua reached out and held Mu Yangling’s hand. Her eyes were slightly red as she said, “Only you would think of me at this time…”
Li Jinghua enjoyed unparalleled glory in her position as the Empress, but she was also under a lot of pressure. In spite of that, she accepted all of this calmly because she did not think that any Empress in history would be as lucky as her.
The Emperor had deep affection towards her, and she had also safely given birth to his eldest son, the future Crown Prince. For the sake of her and Little Treasure, the Emperor had delayed adding women to his harem. Li Jinghua felt that even if she could not become the Empress Dowager in the future, she would not have lived this life in vain just with these few years of affection and memories alone.
However, this did not mean that she did not feel aggrieved. It was not easy to be a mother to the world. Managing the harem was a small matter to her, but she still had to help Qi Xiuyuan deal with the families of the officials and fight for more power and benefits for him.
In addition, she had to perfect the etiquette system of the palace, which to her was the most difficult and exhausting.
Five generations ago, the Qi family consisted of bumpkins. Qi Xiuyuan’s great-grandfather was a xiucai, and his jinshi grandfather peaked at the fifth grade. Next in line, Qi Feng had reached the fourth grade. It could be said that a family like theirs had no foundation to speak of. However, now that Qi Xiuyuan had become the Emperor, he could not make any mistakes in etiquette. Otherwise, if he lost face in front of the ministers, how could he maintain his dignity in the future?
However, the aristocratic families were most well-trained in etiquette. Every dynasty and every generation, even after the dynasty changed, aristocratic families would be activated. And why was that?
An Emperor from an aristocratic family would activate the aristocratic families to obtain their support. However, an Emperor from a more humble background would have different motivations for doing that—for the sake of prestige and the foundation of the aristocratic families.
Not to mention anything else, when worshiping his ancestors, the Emperor had to follow strict etiquette for every step he took. From the first step to the top of the stairs, how many steps did he have to take? Even the length of the stride had strict requirements. Did Qi Xiuyuan know?
He didn’t know, so he could only let someone teach him.
However, he was unwilling to put the aristocratic families in important positions for it would bring many drawbacks. He might be comfortable using them now, but it would bury many disasters for future generations.
However, this did not mean that Qi Xiuyuan totally refused to use people from aristocratic families. As long as one was talented, he would appoint people from aristocratic families to important positions. However, it was impossible for him to specially support aristocratic families.
In the past year since Qi Xiuyuan ascended the throne, not only did he not put the aristocratic families in important positions, but he was also weakening them step by step. This undoubtedly angered the aristocratic families who secretly dug a lot of holes hoping to entrap Qi Xiuyuan. Qi Xiuyuan had indeed made a lot of blunders in the past year, but his mental fortitude was high, and he appeared unfazed regardless, accepting things calmly. Outsiders only felt that the Emperor was thick-skinned, but Li Jinghua saw how Qi Xiuyuan came to her place to learn those etiquette stuff step by step, from the old palace maids and emissaries of the previous dynasty.
Qi Xiuyuan treated her with deep affection, so how could she not do something for him?
Qi Xiuyuan was unwilling to deal with the aristocratic families, so she stepped forward to deal with them on his behalf. For his sake, she even took this opportunity to write to the Li family and ask the head of the Li family, Li Jian, to come.
One had to know that Li Jian was considered her enemy. He was 50% responsible for her father and brother becoming disabled, leading her to suffer when she was young.
After she became the Empress, Li Jian had hinted more than once that he wanted to become an official and move his family to the capital, but she had not agreed. Seeing her clan curry favor with her father and brother, who had all along been abandoned in a corner, she was more than elated. But now, she wanted to suppress her hatred and happiness and work with Li Jian again for the sake of her husband.
The ministers in the court always thought of ways to present women to the Emperor. This time, Duan Yuqing’s conferment of Consort Xian meant that the harem had opened up. After her, more women would enter the harem. Li Jinghua was under immense pressure, but she couldn’t confide in anyone.
Busy with political affairs day in and day out, Qi Xiuyuan was as tired as a dog by the time he came to her place. Aside from accompanying Little Treasure, he also spoke with Li Jinghua about current affairs. Otherwise, it would be time for husband and wife to bond. He didn’t have time to listen to her complaints at all, and she also wouldn’t say those things to him to spoil the mood.
To her trusted aides, she was the master and they the servants. When they heard her complaints, they only comforted her dully.
She could confide in her family or her best friend, but her family was not here and her mother had a meek personality. Telling them would only cause them to worry. As for a best friend, Li Jinghua had never had one.
In all seriousness, the only person whom she could somewhat confide in was Mu Yangling.
With reddened eyes, Li Jinghua wiped her tears and said, “I originally wanted you to enter the palace to give me some information. I didn’t expect you to hear so much nonsense from me.”
Mu Yangling didn’t expect anyone to dare to mock Qi Xiuyuan, the Emperor, and for such a ridiculous reason to boot. Overwhelmed with anger, her face turned green. “Sister-in-law, you should have told us about this long ago. The Emperor represents the prestige of a country. If the Emperor makes a fool of himself, it’s equivalent to Great Qi making a fool of itself. It means that all the subjects of Great Qi are making a fool of themselves. By laughing at Big Brother, those people are laughing at themselves. I’ve never seen such idiots. Aristocratic families. Hmph, aristocratic families!”
Li Jinghua looked in surprise at Mu Yangling, who was gnashing her teeth in anger. Thinking of Qi Haoran’s personality, she hurriedly pulled her back and said, “You mustn’t tell Fourth Brother about this. If Fourth Brother’s temper flares up in the Imperial Court…”
Mu Yangling’s eyes rolled around and she said, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. Haoran won’t cause trouble in the Imperial Court.” As for whether he would cause trouble outside, she wouldn’t know.
All of Li Jinghua’s worries, grievances, sorrows, and sadness were gone, leaving only worry. ‘Fourth Brother, please don’t cause any trouble.’
Li Jinghua tried to persuade Mu Yangling to keep this matter to herself and not tell Qi Haoran. However, before she could convince her, a palace maid ran in in a panic. “Your Majesty, the Eldest Prince and the Little Prince are fighting with Young Master Lu.”