Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne
Chapter 78: First Update

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: First Update

In Zhao Yang Palace, Empress Xie learned that the Emperor had bestowed some gifts upon Liang Zhaoyi and felt puzzled, "Out of the blue, why would His Majesty suddenly reward Liang Zhaoyi?"

Jiang Chuan was also perplexed, "It’s not even the day for Liang Zhaoyi to serve in bed, she hasn’t met with the Emperor recently, nor has she sent anything to Chengguang Hall. The Emperor suddenly rewarding Liang Zhaoyi is indeed peculiar."

Empress Xie never considered Liang Zhaoyi a threat. The only one she regarded as a rival was Noble Princess Consort Rong. Not even Princess Consort De or Princess Consort Shu mattered to her.

"Perhaps the Emperor had a whim."

"My Lady, should you reward Liang Zhaoyi as well then?" Every time the Emperor bestowed gifts upon the concubines, the Empress would also give her share.

"Give her a few pieces of cloth." Empress Xie dismissed the matter. "Let someone else deliver her reward; you come with me to Yongxin Palace."

At that moment, Nanny Sun carried a Fertility Guanyin in a brocade box.

"Have Meng Gang send the Imperial Physician and the Beauty to Prince Dai Mansion," ordered Empress Xie.

"My Lady, shouldn’t we show the Beauty to Noble Princess Consort Rong?" Jiang Chuan asked.

"If we show her, she will certainly be displeased; just send them directly to Prince Dai Mansion."

"Yes, My Lady."

Empress Xie raised the corners of her mouth with a wicked smile, "Let’s go to Yongxin Palace."

Jiang Chuan showed a schadenfreude smile on his face, "Yes, My Lady."

Empress Xie, leaning on Jiang Chuan’s hand, gracefully headed towards Yongxin Palace.

Another palace maid, Bai Zhu, carried some cloth from the previous year and headed towards Kunde Hall.

In Yongxin Palace, Noble Princess Consort Rong heard rumors that Prince Dai could not sire offspring and was furious. She had just thrown a major fit.

"My Lady, be careful not to harm your body from the anger." Jin Mei brought over a cup of chrysanthemum tea, "My Lady, have some tea to calm down."

Noble Princess Consort Rong, with a sour face, took the teacup and after drinking several sips, her anger did not lessen. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and she smashed the teacup on the ground.

Jin Mei saw that Noble Princess Consort Rong’s hand was wet from the tea, quickly took a handkerchief from her sleeve, and knelt to wipe her hand.

"My Lady, what will you do if you fall ill?"

"Duke Zhen humiliating Prince Dai like this, how can I swallow this insult?" Noble Princess Consort Rong said, looking increasingly grim with anger, "Sooner or later, I will make the Xie family pay in blood!"

"My Lady, there should be good news from Prince Mansion soon, and then this rumor will naturally collapse."

"It’s all because of Chang Ying’s uncooperative womb." Although Noble Princess Rong was pleased with her niece since she grew up by her side and was taught well by her. But now, the ridicule caused by the issue of Prince Dai without offspring made Noble Princess Rong dissatisfied with this daughter-in-law. "Married to Prince Dai for two years, yet no news from her womb at all."

Jin Mei thought it wasn’t just Princess Consort Dai’s fault, but at such a time, she couldn’t defend her.

"My Lady, why not ask the Imperial Physician to prescribe some remedies for Princess Consort Dai to nourish her body?"

Noble Princess Rong nodded slightly, "Let Doctor Xu do it." Doctor Xu is the most skilled gynecologist in the palace.

Jin Mei comforted her, "My Lady, don’t worry too much. With Doctor Xu taking care of the Princess Consort, she will surely conceive soon."

"Let’s hope so." Noble Princess Rong spoke with a hint of self-blame on her face, "It’s all my negligence. When they first married, I should have sent the Imperial Physician to check on Chang Ying, preventing Prince Dai from being mocked now."

"My Lady, His Highness was dispatched by the Emperor to quell disturbances soon after marriage. Even if he wanted children, there wasn’t time."

"At that time, I asked him to take one or two people to serve alongside him, and he said no women are allowed in the military camp, rejecting my suggestion," Noble Princess Rong said, "Had he listened, bringing one or two people to serve beside him, I would have had a grandchild by now."

"My Lady, our prince is a man of principle. If a concubine were to become pregnant first, what would happen to the Princess Consort?" Jin Mei argued, "The Princess Consort is His Highness’s cousin; they grew up together from childhood; how could His Highness bear to see the Princess Consort embarrassed?"

"Not wanting to embarrass the Princess Consort leads to his own mockery."

"My Lady, the Princess Consort will soon have good news," Jin Mei continued to console Noble Princess Rong, "Once Miss Kong enters the Prince Mansion, she will expand your family line, so you needn’t worry too much."

Noble Princess Rong suddenly remembered something, her brows slightly furrowed, "Isn’t it true that the descendants of the Kong family, the family of Kong Taichang, aren’t numerous? I recall he has only two sons."

"And two daughters, Miss Kong is the youngest daughter," Jin Mei said, "All four of Kong’s children were born by Mrs. Kong. Kong Taichang doesn’t have any concubines, relatively speaking, his descendants aren’t considered few."

"What you say, makes it seem not few at all." Noble Princess Rong said with a worried look on her face, "I worry that Kong Taichang’s youngest daughter might not be someone who bears easily."

"My Lady, you are too..."

Just as they were speaking, Nanny Shi came in, respectfully reporting to Noble Princess Rong, "My Lady, the Empress is here."

Noble Princess Rong heard the words, frowned, and showed a look of displeasure, "What is she here for?"

Jin Mei guessed, "My Lady, the Empress probably doesn’t have good intentions."

Noble Princess Rong guessed Empress Xie’s purpose, her bright face suddenly turning sinister and cold.

"She has come at the right time."

She ordered Nanny Shi, "Let her in."

According to the rules, Noble Princess Rong should rise to greet Empress Xie, but she didn’t. Instead, she sat inside the hall, waiting for Empress Xie to enter.

Nanny Shi approached Empress Xie, "My Lady, Noble Consort requests you to enter."

Jin Mei heard this, full of fury, angrily scolded Nanny Shi, "Insolent! How dare you let the Empress enter, has Noble Consort forgotten the hierarchy?"

Nanny Shi stood silently aside.

Empress Xie wasn’t angry, she maintained a gentle demeanor, "Tell Noble Princess Rong, I came on the orders of His Majesty. If she doesn’t come out, I will leave."

Nanny Shi heard this, a flash of astonishment in her eyes, then quickly rushed back.

"My Lady, the Empress says she came on the Emperor’s orders."

"Emperor’s orders?" Noble Princess Rong immediately stood up, tidied her attire, and then went out to greet Empress Xie.

Seeing Empress Xie, Noble Princess Rong did not salute, coldly asked, "What orders from His Majesty did the Empress bring?"

Empress Xie, upon seeing Noble Princess Rong, looked very stern.

"Noble Princess Rong, watch your attitude."

Noble Princess Rong was not afraid of Empress Xie and replied unkindly, "Empress, if you don’t tell me the Emperor’s orders, I’ll personally find the Emperor."

Empress Xie restrained her anger and said, "Prince Dai has been married for two years and still has no offspring. The Emperor and I are very concerned."

Noble Princess Rong listened, her face immediately darkened.

"For Prince Dai without offspring, it’s my negligence as the legitimate mother. I specially asked the Emperor for forgiveness," Empress Xie said, with a tone full of self-reproach, "Although the Emperor didn’t blame me, I indeed overlooked this matter. I remembered when I first entered the palace, my mother specially sought a statue of Fertility Guanyin for me..."

Her words were coldly interrupted by Noble Princess Rong.

"It’s unnecessary."

"This statue of Fertility Guanyin is very efficacious, I soon conceived the Seventh Prince..."

Noble Princess Rong interrupted Empress Xie once again, "It’s unnecessary."

Twice interrupted, Empress Xie remained unangered, still with a smiling face, "Noble Princess Rong, His Majesty wants me to send this Fertility Guanyin to Prince Dai and Princess Consort Dai, are you sure you don’t need it?"

"Empress, isn’t this your idea?" Noble Princess Rong coldly said, "My cousin wouldn’t do this."

The address "cousin" sounded somewhat grating to Empress Xie.

"The Emperor agreed. Oh, and I’ve already dispatched the Imperial Physician to Prince Mansion. Have them carefully diagnose Prince Dai and Princess Consort Dai. If there’s an issue, there’s still time for treatment and care."

"You..."

Noble Princess Rong had just started to speak when Empress Xie interrupted her, "Noble Princess Rong, I am relaying the Emperor’s orders, your repeated interruptions, where is your etiquette?" She reprimanded, "Do you still acknowledge the Emperor?"

"Stop using my cousin to suppress me." Noble Princess Rong defiantly glared at Empress Xie.

"Like mother, like son. Your arrogance has corrupted Prince Dai, causing him to be accused of disrespect by the Imperial Censor." Empress Xie coldly sneered, "Noble Princess Rong, you now even disregard the Emperor. Are you and Prince Dai plotting treason?"

"Empress, stop slandering me." Noble Princess Rong suddenly laughed, very smugly, "My cousin would never blame me."

Empress Xie knew Noble Princess Rong spoke the truth. The Emperor always favored Noble Princess Rong, excessively indulgent towards her.