The 49-day mourning period was over, and the late emperor's coffin was sent to the funeral palace for temporary placement. It would be moved there on a different day after his mausoleum was built.
Although he no longer had to go to the palace to mourn every day, Prince Jin became busier, leaving home early and returning late.
The four regent princes were divided into two camps, checking each other, and a strange balance temporarily appeared in the court.
The power struggle in the court also had an impact on the harem. As soon as Jiang Changning came out of confinement, she received a stack of greetings from people.
Jiang Changning held the post and asked King Jin for his opinion, "Who should I meet, and who shouldn't I meet?"
"You can see whoever you want to see. If you don't want to see anyone, then don't see anyone." Prince Jin put his arm around her and said.
"They are like Xiang Zhuang dancing with a sword, aiming at Pei Gong. They are here to pay their respects to me, but in reality they want to join you. If I don't meet them, what if their men defect? If they delay your important plan, it will be my fault."
King Jin snorted coldly, "It's better not to have such a fence-sitter."
"Your Highness, the wind is just strong enough and never stops, so the grass on the wall can only lean to one side." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
"That makes sense." King Jin took the stack of invitations, flipped through them, and pulled out five of them. "You can meet these five people."
"I understand. I will take care of this matter for His Majesty." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
"The most important thing is for you to take good care of yourself." Prince Jin pulled open her collar and kissed her.
The kiss was a bit heavy, and Jiang Changning gasped, "Are you going to eat me?"
"Yes, I will skin you and eat your flesh." Prince Jin has been a sedentary for so long. If he hadn't been concerned about Jiang Changning's health, he would have dragged her to the bed and made love with her.
Jiang Changning could not accompany him. There were many people in the mansion who wanted to accompany him, but Prince Jin was a chaste man.
Park and Chen Yi were both very anxious. When Park learned that Prince Jin went to Jingshe Hall to handle matters, she mustered up the courage to come. She knew that she only had one chance, and if she failed tonight, she would die.
When she arrived at Jingshe Hall, as she expected, she was stopped by Chang Youzhong, "What's the matter, Madam?"
"I want to see the prince." Park said directly.
"The prince is very busy. If you don't have anything important to do, it's better not to disturb him." Chang Youzhong said seriously.
"It's about my sister, it's very important." said Mrs. Park.
Chang Youzhong hesitated for a moment and said, "Madam, please wait a moment. I will inform you."
"Thank you, Eunuch Chang." Mrs. Park knelt down.
Chang Youzhong entered the study room of Jingshe Hall and said, "Your Majesty, Madam Park said she has something to report about the late princess."
"Let her in." Prince Jin suspected that there was something else behind Concubine Park's death, but the Marquis of Anding's Mansion was unwilling to investigate it, so he did not investigate it in detail.
Chang Youzhong went to invite Park in. After Park bowed and greeted the King of Jin, she said, "Eunuch Chang, please go out."
Chang Youzhong looked at Prince Jin, who nodded slightly.
With the consent of King Jin, Chang Youzhong went out and closed the door.
"Go ahead." Prince Jin said calmly, sitting behind his desk.
"Your Highness." Park called in a tender voice.
She untied her tightly wrapped cloak, revealing a cool outfit, and walked towards King Jin while twisting her waist.
In the cold winter, she was willing to risk everything to seduce Prince Jin.
Prince Jin's face looked extremely ugly. He had been a vegetarian for so long. Did he want to eat meat
Of course he did. He had grabbed Jiang Changning and nibbled her for a long time before, and then used her little hand to relieve himself again.
But it was just a scratch, and it satisfied my craving, but I didn't feel full.
Park was teasing her deliberately, and it was impossible for any man to remain indifferent.
Prince Jin did not say anything to stop Park from approaching. Park was secretly happy. She knew that tonight was a good opportunity. "Your Majesty!"
Seeing that she was about to jump into his arms, Prince Jin picked up the paperweight on the table and placed it against her waist.
"Get out." King Jin said coldly.
"Your Majesty, I have been behaving myself since I came into your palace. I do not expect to be favored by you like the princess. I only ask for your mercy and grant me a child." Park knelt down and begged.
"Someone come here." King Jin said loudly.
"I'm here." Chang Youzhong came in in response.
"Drag her out and put her under house arrest." The King of Jin did not specify the length of time for which she would be confined, but it seemed as if he was going to lock her up in the room for the rest of her life.
"Your Highness, why do you treat me like this? I have not done anything wrong. I just want to serve you, Your Highness! Your Highness, I admire you." Park cried.
Her cries and pleas were in vain; Chang Youzhong ordered people to drag her out.
In order to prevent her from shouting on the road, Chang Youzhong even found a ball of cloth to stuff her mouth.
But the noise was still a bit too loud, and Jiang Changning soon found out.
Jiang Changning was a little surprised. Prince Jin was a man of vigor and vitality, and Park was originally his concubine. It was not impossible for him to take advantage of the situation and let her serve him.
Of course Jiang Changning was happy with his refusal. If Prince Jin really touched Park, the relationship between husband and wife would be over. She would live with her son and would never let him touch her again.
In the evening, after finishing his work, Prince Jin returned to Rujingyuan to sleep.
After washing up, he went into the room and warmed himself by the fumigation cage before going to bed.
As soon as he got on the bed, a body with a faint fragrance rolled into his arms.
"Did I wake you up?" King Jin asked in a low voice.
"No, I'm not asleep. I'm waiting for you."
"You want to tell me something?"
"Reward you." Jiang Changning's hand slid into his clothes and stroked him gently.
Prince Jin smiled, hugged her tightly, and whispered in her ear: "Jealous."
As a man, he couldn't say that he didn't have any thoughts about being seduced by his concubine, but he felt uncomfortable all over when he thought about Jiang Changning getting angry and becoming estranged from him.
He couldn't bear the consequences of losing Jiang Changning, so he decisively rejected Park. Now it is proved that his refusal was right. His little princess was so domineering.
But he liked this domineering attitude. Prince Jin excitedly began to gnaw on Jiang Changning again and tasted his son's rations.
The wind stopped and the rain stopped. Prince Jin fetched some water and asked Jiang Changning to wash her hands. After washing, he hugged her and said, "When Xiaoming is six months old, you can drink the milk-reducing soup and stop feeding him."
He already knew that Jiang Changning was feeding her son herself, and he couldn't persuade her, so he could only let her do as she pleased and even helped to conceal it from the Concubine Dowager.
“At least feed it until it’s a full year old. Half a year is too young.” Jiang Changning said.
"No, half a year is the limit. Your health is more important. He can drink the wet nurse's milk." Prince Jin insisted.
Jiang Changning thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
The King of Jin then kissed her with satisfaction, "Good girl, go to sleep."
The couple slept in each other's arms and had a good night's sleep.
Chen Yi also knew that Park went to the Jingshe Hall to see the King of Jin, but was not allowed to stay in the King's bedchamber. Instead, she was sent back to the courtyard and confined. "Useless thing, you can't even grasp such a good opportunity."
After despising Mrs. Park, Chen Yi wondered how she could successfully serve the emperor in bed
The next day, Jiang Changning replied to the five people selected by King Jin and invited them to his house for a chat.
The five ladies who received the reply were overjoyed. They prepared generous gifts and visited the master the next day.
(End of this chapter)