Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 46 Part 2

The capital was gloomy, covered by dark clouds.

On the third day of the third month in the 38th year of the Yongchang era, Emperor Jiaxuan became critically ill.

Before the capital knew that the emperor was beyond hopeless, Empress Chu had tried to keep it a secret for as long as possible.

One night, Empress Chu summoned the ladies of the aristocratic families and the concubines to admire the chrysanthemums, including Princess Consort Cheng and the daughter of the Mu family. But before the dinner was over, the whole palace was already in chaos.

Emperor Jiaxuan hadn’t been able to sleep since the spring hunt. The death of Prince Yan had completely broken the situation of the three princes’ rivalry, and Empress Chu took the opportunity to control the court. Prince Cheng didn’t give up because the court’s power quickly fell to Prince Jin. He tried to assassinate Prince Jin twice. But with Xiao Yu’s father-in-law’s military power, he could not compete with the Su family.

The night the news came from the palace, Su Jingbei personally led troops to encircle the Imperial Palace.

Even beggars on the street would realize something big was happening with such a posture.

Empress Chu received the imperial decree from the dying emperor, sat on the high platform with her lapel folded, and ordered the supervisor to unfold the decree before the officials.

Everyone let the tedious biography of the emperor pass by their ears and only paid attention to the last sentence.

Prince Jin Xiao Yu is brilliant and excellent; We favor him. He is capable of great things and will ascend to Our throne. Become the emperor, and manage the world…

Below is the jade seal.

The concubines of Emperor Jiaxuan had been wearing plain clothes and knelt in the palace since earlier. One after another, they cried, pretending to grieve as usual, as if the one most exhausted with the hoarsest voice could be called true love.

After crying throughout the sunrise and sunset, the voices of the concubines were all hoarse, but their tears were endless.

These concubines had no children, so they had to follow the late emperor to his next destination. The riches and honor they had obtained in half their lifetimes were useless. Now they only hoped to earn some benevolent titles to be marked on the erecting memorial archways.

Following the late emperor’s tomb, these concubines were taken away one after another. The situation was so tragic that Su Ling couldn’t bear to look at it.

The next thing she knew, there was a bang in her ears.

A guiren had chosen to die directly by hitting her head on a pillar in the main hall to avoid the pain of suffocation and death by covering her still living body in a coffin. The eunuchs dragged her body expressionlessly and lowered her head to clean up the dirty blood.

Su Ling staggered, and Xiao Yu quickly pulled her behind him, held her hand, and whispered, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

After the funeral, Xiao Yu quickly moved from Prince Jin’s mansion to the Imperial Palace.

It was winter, and snow fell one after another. Layers of white shrouded the carved beams and painted buildings.

As the new emperor ascended the throne, it was peaceful again.

In the evening, Xiao Yu had dinner with Empress Dowager Chu.

The dowager put down her golden chopsticks and said slowly, “Aijia heard that after hearing Your Majesty aws enthroned, the Li family of Goryeo quickly sent their officials to send their princess over. They should be here in two days.”

Xiao Yu’s right hand paused. He raised his eyes and stared at her.

He wasn’t her own son, but Empress Dowager Chu had raised him for a few years. Now that he had donned the emperor dragon robe, he looked intimidating. “Aijia heard that not only is she outstanding in appearance, she’s also proficient in Chinese. Although Goryeo is a vassal state, she’s still a princess of the Li clan. It’s inevitable she’ll occupy the position of consort. In this way, there’s already one of the Four Consorts, leaving three more. Does Your Majesty have anyone in mind?”

Xiao Yu’s throat twitched slightly.

“Speaking of which, Lord Liu, the chief assistant in the cabinet, and the Xue family are quite talented. We have to choose one of each to enter the palace. Does Your Majesty have some candidates in mind?”

Candidates.

Xiao Yu naturally couldn’t answer it since he had never considered it.

Seeing his eyes freeze, Empress Dowager Chu couldn’t help laughing. “Look at you. Your thoughts aren’t about this. Aijia will just discuss it with Ah Ling tomorrow.”

Xiao Yu was about to speak when the dowager sighed again. “Speaking of the empress, why has there been no movement in her stomach after so long?”

Xiao Yu’s eyes grew dim. He clenched his fists and said lightly, “This son has experienced assasination twice in the past six months. The empress has even taken a hit for me. It was I who didn’t want to try for a child yet.”

Who knew if he wanted to or not? But the dowager clearly saw that he was protecting her.

But how could there be such a deep feeling between young couples? Not to mention the Su family had contributed a lot to the emperor. It could even be said that the Su family was the top contributor to Xiao Yu’s success in ascending the throne so smoothly.

This was also why Empress Chu wasn’t in a hurry to recruit the daughter of the Chu family into the palace.

Becoming first was not considered a win within the high walls of the harem.

After the emperor had tasted all kinds of delicacy, he would grow weary one day. At that time, most women in the world would look the same.

To win, one must scheme and have some tricks.

Empress Dowager Chu smiled. “Your Majesty’s words seem to have hidden meanings.”

Xiao Yu said directly, “We don’t want to hurt the Su family’s feelings before the empress is pregnant. Except for the princess sent by Goryeo, the rest will have to wait.”

Empress Dowager Chu’s tone became more solemn. “Your Majesty is the son of Heaven, and the Su family is merely your courtiers. If you’re partial to the Su family, aren’t you afraid of the retaliation of the Liu and Xue families?”

Xiao Yu smiled and said slowly, “Mother, there’s order in everything. Pay attention to the one who comes first. Just like how the Chu family is incomparable in this son’s heart.”

Hearing that, Empress Dowager Chu calmed down and chuckled. “All right, stop trying to coax me. I will find a physician to check on Ah Ling soon. Some things cannot be delayed for too long.”

Xiao Yu smiled. “Let’s do it as you say.”

“It’s not early anymore, Your Majesty. Let’s rest earlier.”

Snowflakes fell, and a row of attendants was waiting outside Cining Palace.

Eunuch Sheng handed the lantern to the younger eunuch, put the black-gold cloak on the emperor, and asked, “Where to, Your Majesty?”

Xiao Yu replied, “Kunning Palace.”