"Your humble son, pays respects to Mother Empress!"
Kunyuan Palace, the Crown Prince bowed deeply, his long sleeves touching the ground, showing utmost sincerity.
Empress Qiao was sipping a bowl of perfectly cooked, tender snow clam. Facing the Crown Prince’s bow, she showed no reaction and continued sipping.
The Crown Prince dared not rise, maintaining the posture with his long sleeves touching the ground.
Despite the hot weather, the Crown Prince managed to hold this position for half the ti it takes for an incense stick to burn before sweat began to bead on his forehead.
Only then did Empress Qiao slowly lift her gaze to him.
"Oh? Why hasn’t the Crown Prince risen yet? Get up quickly!"
"Thank you, Mother Empress!"
Qi Junji stood up, full of respect.
Empress Qiao carefully observed him and suddenly sighed: "Co to think of it, I was a confidante of your mother consort in the palace, but alas... she t her end early at the hands of villains. Still, when I see you, I feel like I’m seeing her."
The Crown Prince, Qi Junji’s heart trembled; his biological mother passed away shortly after giving birth to him. He was practically raised by Empress Qiao herself. Now that she brings up his biological mother, what does she an by this?
Instinctively sensing danger, he quickly said: "Your humble son is terrified! Since childhood, I’ve followed Mother Empress, who treated as her own. I’ve long regarded Mother Empress as my biological mother. What Mother Empress said really troubles !"
Empress Qiao narrowed her eyes, revealing a gentle expression: "In truth, I have always treated you as my own son, but we are ultimately not mother and son. If soone with ill intentions speaks behind our backs, who knows what..."
"Mother Empress!" The Crown Prince exclaid, kneeling down, "Your humble son is truly terrified and deeply grateful for your nurturing. Anyone who dares speak ill of Mother Empress speaks against , and I shall have them torn limb from limb!"
"What tearing limb from limb, my dear son, you’ve gone too far. After all, rumors only stop with the wise, rember this well!"
"Yes, your humble son heeds Mother Empress’s teaching!"
"Since antiquity, a Crown Prince without fault, even the esteed Emperor, cannot be easily deposed. My dear son should be diligent, securing the position of Crown Prince firmly."
This was ant to reassure and inform Qi Junji that with Empress Qiao as his protector, no one could shake his position as Crown Prince.
Imdiately, Qi Junji excitedly placed his forehead on the ground.
"Your humble son, thanks Mother Empress!"
"Mother Empress is also tired, my dear son you may leave!"
"Your humble son, shall take his leave!"
Qi Junji respectfully perford another bow, then retreated out.
Once Qi Junji left, Empress Qiao’s wet nurse, Aunt Zhen Shu approached and said: "Your Majesty, concerning the Crown Prince, I have ensured that no information he shouldn’t hear reaches him!"
Empress Qiao gently rubbed her brow with her hand, her previous composure gradually dissipating, leaving a cold deanor.
"Since returning from Nanyuan Palace two months ago, that wretched woman has caused quite a fuss. How co I didn’t see her deviousness before?"
Empress Qiao’s face gradually twisted as she spoke, clearly enraged!
"That wench Consort Li, truly pulls every trick out of the hat against , even devising ways to drive a wedge between and my son!"
"Your Majesty, rest assured, those words are baseless; the Crown Prince hasn’t heard them and wouldn’t believe them even if he did!"
Aunt Zhen Shu quickly interjected.
Empress Qiao waved her hand, her voice icy: "No, you’re wrong. Rumors are fiercer than tigers, and once they are repeated, they beco truth even if they were not, moreover..."
She paused and glanced at Aunt Zhen Shu.
Aunt Zhen Shu hurriedly knelt down, bowing repeatedly, "Your Majesty, regarding that matter, I swear I was the only witness, no second person saw it!"
Empress Qiao withdrew her gaze and said indifferently: "Zhen Shu, you are my wet nurse, I trust you. But still... I’m curious, how did that wench obtain the news?"
"Your Majesty, please give so ti, and I shall investigate this matter!"
"Good."
...
Long Yue’s housewarming banquet was quite simple, with only a few horse carriages outside, it was hard to tell the family was holding a banquet.
"Yue’er, congratulations! Although you previously stayed at the General Mansion, where General Cao trusted you to manage his household, it wasn’t truly your ho, right? Finally, you can be comfortable now!"
"Isn’t it just so, especially with a child, the noise is unbearable, always worrying about disturbing others!"
"Qiao’er, is your child particularly noisy?"
"Yes, almost tearing the house down!"
"Hahaha..."
The group of won sat around a table, chatting and laughing, with Long Yue, Yang Zhuoya, and Chai Qiao’er discussing childcare while almost forgetting the n around them.
"Uncle Mu, has your wife forgotten her husband now that she has a child?"
Qi Jingyu, though only fifteen or sixteen, was quite mature-minded, his sharp eyes darting between Long Yue and Xiao Rui’er.
Li Qingmu’s handso face turned dark and gloomy upon hearing this, and he pinched him directly.
"Ow—You set up! How dare you!"
"Young Master, when did I ever set you up? Are you injured? Don’t falsely accuse!"
Li Qingmu, feigning innocence, infuriated Qi Jingyu to death.
This man is shaless!
"The Emperor’s decree—"
Suddenly, outside ca Chief Eunuch Chen Zhong’s voice, catching everyone by surprise as they looked at each other, clueless about what transpired.
Even Long Yue and Li Qingmu were confused.
But with the Emperor’s decree ca, they hurried to receive it.
"By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees, bestowing the na Jingrui upon the son of Imperial Censor Li Qingmu, for his intelligence and virtue, goodness and wisdom, accordingly—Appropriately nad—Jingrui, hereby!"
Once Chen Zhong finished announcing, the surroundings fell silent.
Li Qingmu was too dumbfounded.
He rely asked Qi Yun to na the child, but now there was an Emperor’s decree?
Worse, it was proclaid throughout the realm!
Qi Jingyu, ever astute, quickly sensed sothing unusual.
Jingrui? Why is there the "Jing" character in the middle?
Is this equating him with the Imperial Family’s level?
This is not just ordinary favor; it’s an extraordinary honor, the height of prestige!
"Mr. Li, will you receive the decree?"
Chen Zhong, chuckling, handed the decree to Li Qingmu.
Li Qingmu bowed and said: "I... Accept the decree!"
"Mr. Li, this is His Majesty’s favor; cherish it well!"
Chen Zhong, smilingly, said this and left.
Li Qingmu still stood there, a bit dazed. This is... leaving him no chance to dodge, directly facing the envy, jealousy, and fury of his peers?
Li Qingmu chuckled lightly, with a smile mingled with relief.
This Emperor, ruthless to himself, and equally ruthless to others!
"A Mu, the Emperor granting a na is one thing, but granting the ’Jing’ generation, this seems rather improper, doesn’t it?"
Xiang Yin pondered and felt sothing was amiss.
But with the decree issued, they couldn’t defy it.
Su Shi pondered: "His Majesty the Emperor never acts pointlessly. I actually believe this signals a Crown Prince contest!"
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