The most important thing for a royal family is to have children and have an heir. Even though the queen has given birth to three legitimate princes for the emperor, the empress dowager is still not satisfied and wants to select a concubine for the emperor.
Xiulan and the others felt very sorry for Jiang Changning. Fucui even whispered, "The Queen Mother only gave birth to two children herself, and she has the nerve to complain that our Queen gave birth to too few."
"Shut up and don't talk nonsense. It will bring trouble to the Empress." Xiulan frowned and scolded her.
The Crown Prince and Xiao Bai also did not understand the selection of the imperial concubines. Xiao Bai even asked directly, "Why does Father want to select the imperial concubines? Isn't it enough for Father to have the Queen Mother?"
Xiaobai ignored the other concubines in the harem. They were all well-behaved. Apart from paying their respects to Jiang Changning every five days, they rarely appeared in public during the holidays. Gradually, the three brothers forgot about the women who were nominally their father.
"This selection of talents was the idea of your great-grandmother. Don't blame the wrong person." Jiang Changning explained on behalf of Emperor Xuanzhi.
"Mother, you once said that if parents' words or deeds are inappropriate, children should advise them instead of obeying them." The prince said seriously.
"Your grandmother arranged the selection in accordance with ancestral rules and did nothing wrong." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
"Is it necessary to hold a talent show?" the prince asked with a frown.
Jiang Changning smiled, "Not necessarily, but this is what your royal grandmother wanted." When she became a mother-in-law in the future, she would never interfere in the affairs of her son and daughter-in-law.
"Why?" Xiao Bai was puzzled. "Father and mother are husband and wife. Isn't it good for them to love each other? Why did the royal grandmother want to select a concubine? Why did she want to destroy the relationship between father and mother?"
"Xiaobai, in the eyes of your grandmother, your father and I are husband and wife, and other women are just playthings that are not presentable. As the legitimate wife and queen, I should be generous and virtuous. Those women can't destroy the relationship between your father and me."
After a pause, she said, "But she forgot that everyone has a desire for exclusivity. I am not willing to share my husband with others. I am not generous, nor do I want to be that kind of virtuous person."
"Then why did you agree to the talent show, mother?" Xiaobai asked in a deep voice.
"Mother, you can't stop it. If you do, the Empress Dowager will accuse you of being narrow-minded, unvirtuous, and unworthy of being the Queen who rules the country." The prince explained to his brother.
Jiang Changning smiled and raised his hand to touch Xiaobai's head, "Don't worry, Xiaobai, your mother won't embarrass your wife in the future."
"I don't want to marry. I want to stay with my mother!" Xiaobai said while hugging Jiang Changning's arm.
"Silly boy." Jiang Changning looked at his eldest son who was still frowning and smiled, "Your father said that this selection is mainly for men from royal families and noble families to marry."
The prince frowned even more tightly, "Do you believe what he said?"
"I am willing to believe him, but if he betrays my trust, then from now on, I will just be his queen." Jiang Changning said in the same serious tone.
"The Queen Mother is the Empress." Xiaobai didn't understand.
The prince understood, "Mother, if it's father, don't be sad, you still have us."
"Well, I still have three good sons." Jiang Changning hugged the prince, "But I still hope your father will not break his promise."
Palace fighting is too tiring. Although she will not compete for favor, she has to protect her three sons.
"Father is a man who keeps his promises." The prince didn't want Jiang Changning to be sad, so he followed her words.
While the mother and son were talking, Emperor Xuanzhi, who was reviewing memorials in the imperial study, was annoyed by the long-winded memorials written by his ministers. He threw the memorials on the dragon table and asked, "Where is the crown prince?"
Half a year ago, Emperor Xuanzhi brought his eldest son to his side and began to teach him how to govern the country.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has taken the Second Prince to Qiyuan Palace to visit the Queen." Chang Youzhong replied.
"Is that so? Then I'll go see the Queen too." Emperor Xuanzhi stood up and walked out.
Chang Youzhong looked at the floor tiles silently. If he remembered correctly, His Majesty rested in Qiyuan Palace last night, but now he spoke in a tone as if he had not seen the Empress for a long time.
The eldest son was with her, while the second and youngest sons were playing games with the palace servants.
"The Empress looks so comfortable. I am so envious of her." Emperor Xuanzhi said jokingly.
"Your Majesty, please take a moment to relax." Jiang Changning sat still, and the prince stood up to greet Emperor Xuanzhi.
The Second Prince also came over with the Third Prince, and saluted Emperor Xuanzhi. Xiaobai asked directly, "Father, why are you here?"
Emperor Xuanzhi raised his eyebrows and asked, "I can't come over?"
Xiao Bai chuckled and shrank his neck, "You're not going to review the memorials anymore?"
Emperor Xuanzhi sat down on the chair that the Crown Prince had given up, "I'm tired, take a break." He raised his leg and kicked the Crown Prince who was standing beside him, "You are such an adult, but you don't know how to help your father share his worries. Why don't you go and read those memorials."
"Yes, I'll take my leave." The prince had no choice but to leave and go to the imperial study to help his father share his worries and read the memorials.
"You guys go and have your fun too." Emperor Xuanzhi waved his hand and sent his second and third sons away, then turned and smiled at Jiang Changning, "Pick two concubines for that brat in this talent show."
"How old is Xiao Ming? Why does he want to choose concubines? It will only ruin his health." Jiang Changning said unhappily.
"He is already twelve or thirteen years old. It's time for him to understand human affairs." Emperor Xuanzhi said with a smile.
Jiang Changning thought that Emperor Xuanzhi might also have his first woman at this age. Given the current rules, if she couldn't find a good reason, she might not be able to convince Emperor Xuanzhi.
After thinking for a while, Jiang Changning said, "I have read in medical books that the kidney is the foundation of the body and is responsible for storing essence. The production of human qi and blood mainly depends on essence and qi. The vigorous qi and blood..."
Jiang Changning talked about medical knowledge for a long time, and then said, "Your Majesty, let's wait until he is eighteen years old. A child of twelve or thirteen is ignorant of everything. Why should he be taught about human affairs?"
Emperor Xuanzhi was silent, and Jiang Changning became anxious, "Your Majesty, I won't agree to this anyway. If you insist on picking concubines for him, then I will be the bad guy and torture them to death every day."
"How does the Empress plan to torture me?" Emperor Xuanzhi asked curiously.
Jiang Changning raised her eyebrows, "How can I tell you this?" No matter how she wasted her time, she had to find someone to learn from.
"Okay, I'll do as you say. I won't let the brat choose a concubine this time."
Jiang Changning smiled happily, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Is that it?" Emperor Xuanzhi looked at her sideways.
"Xiao Ming is also your Majesty's son. Your Majesty spared him the choice of concubines out of consideration for his son's health. My thanks are redundant. I take them back."
"Can you take back the thank you you said?"
"Why can't I take it back? If I say I can, then I can. I am the Queen." Jiang Changning said proudly.
Emperor Xuanzhi laughed dumbly, "Yes, yes, the Empress can do whatever she wants."
The couple sat under the porch, drinking tea, eating cakes and chatting, feeling cozy and comfortable.
(End of this chapter)