After dinner, when they rested on the couch, Ning Chen came over and hugged them.
Although there were several minor disturbances during the mourning period, it was still against the rules and he had restrained himself. Now that the mourning period is over, there is no reason to tolerate it anymore.
Ye Jun, however, stretched out her hand to stop him from moving closer, and stared at him steadily with her beautiful eyes.
"What's wrong?" Ning Chen whispered.
Thinking that she was not feeling well, he decided not to bother with her.
Unexpectedly, Ye Jun lowered her eyes slightly and avoided his gaze.
"I feel so upset when I think that once the mourning period is over, the emperor will be able to summon his concubines. It's all the emperor's fault. He has spoiled me for three years. Now I can't bear to see the emperor with other women."
This is Ye Yun's test and also an attempt.
Maybe, it will work.
Ning Chen was stunned for a moment.
This sentence suddenly brought his memory back to the past three years.
Although they could not be together day and night, during the past three years, he would come to Zhaochun Palace for lunch after court, then go back to review memorials, and then come here for dinner in the evening.
Occasionally, memorials would be brought to Zhaochun Palace for review.
The other people in the harem had long been forgotten, and she only went between these two places every day.
There was even a winter day when it was snowing heavily and the wind was howling fiercely, but he still came here in the wind and snow just to have dinner with Ye Jun.
Because he remembered that at lunch Ye Jun said that she had prepared his favorite soup for dinner, and she would personally watch over the cooking in the afternoon.
At that time, he just felt that he didn't want to disappoint Ye Jun's feelings, but he also wanted to be with her.
Perhaps, both of them have become accustomed to having only each other's company in the past few years, but Ning Chen, as the emperor of this era, has never thought about being a couple. But Ye Jun is different. She has thought about it and said it out today.
When this question was raised, Ning Chen began to think seriously about it for the first time.
After a long time, Ye Jun was about to give up and the words to change the subject were on the tip of his tongue, but suddenly the hand on his waist tightened suddenly, and the next moment he was held tightly in his arms.
Ning Chen's low and gentle voice was in my ears.
"I promise you that I will only be close to you in the future, and the other concubines will only be decorations in the harem."
These words were originally brought up by Ye Jun, but at this moment he didn't quite believe his ears.
He looked up at Ning Chen blankly, as if he was a little stupid.
Seeing this, Ning Chen couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips and leaned over to kiss her forehead.
"A gentleman's word is as good as his bond."
Ye Jun came back to her senses and hugged him, "Ning Chen, you are not allowed to lie to me."
Ning Chen was not used to being called by his name suddenly, but he also felt it was very subtle. He even felt that Ye Jun's way of speaking made them seem closer.
They were not a monarch and his subjects, or an emperor and his empress, but an ordinary couple.
"I won't lie to you." Ning Chen gently patted the back of the woman in his arms.
After so many years of calling himself that, he was not used to changing his words for a while, but Ye Jun didn't care about it.
She could feel that the man was sincere and couldn't help but chuckle.
The joy in my heart is beyond words.
Although their relationship may never be as strong as that of an ordinary couple, they are already satisfied to this extent.
Mutual affection can always make people feel more pleasure from each other, and tonight's lovemaking is more charming than any other before.
The next day, Ye Jun made a list of the entourage for the northern tour and sent it to each palace for them to see.
At the same time, he also sent a letter outside the palace, asking his mother to prepare a carriage and luggage for Shu Ran.
This time, it was Imperial Concubine Ye Jun who led the way, followed by Concubine Rongxian, Concubine Yi, Concubine Qi and Huo Xiuyuan, a total of five concubines.
Huo was also given a temporary title. She had been in this position of a beautician for many years. Now that she was leaving the palace, she wanted to get promoted to a higher position to look better.
For this reason, Huo Xiuyuan began to feel somewhat expectant, wondering whether the emperor would summon her again for the sake of her brother.
As for the royal heirs, Ye Jun does not plan to take the sixth prince and the fourth princess with him.
This trip is not as close as going to Lingxi Garden. The journey is long and the child is too young. It would be bad if he has trouble acclimatizing to the local climate. Ning Chen also said that this trip might be dangerous.
There are too many uncontrollable factors for children, so I won’t bring them with me.
She did so, and Concubine Qi also did not plan to take the Fifth Prince with her. The Fifth Prince was only one year older than Ye Jun's two sons.
The Qi family is an important family in the court. Even if there was no news about Ning Chen, Concubine Qi had heard some news from her family, so she decided not to take the child with her for the sake of the child's safety.
Concubine Huide is reliable, so there is no need to worry about keeping her in the palace.
There were children who took the initiative to refuse to go, such as the third princess.
Yao Xiang did not take good care of the third princess back then, which resulted in her being healthy when she was born, but becoming weak before she was one year old.
After coming to the care of Concubine Rongxian, he did get better, but he was still weak. Thinking about the fatigue of the journey, he decided not to go.
Ye Jun nodded naturally, knowing that she would not be wronged in the palace anyway.
Linlang Palace.
Concubine Yi was talking to the third prince.
Both mother and son looked unhappy because there were no members of the Wu family among the people traveling to the north this time, but Ye Jun's eldest cousin Chu Yunhuai was accompanying them.
"Han'er, now the imperial concubine is very powerful, and your mother can only bow her head in the harem. Even your maternal grandparents are suppressed. You must perform well when you go to Zasak so that your father will value you more."
"My son knows, mother, you don't have to worry too much. When my son inherits the throne in the future, no matter how powerful I am now, I will have to kowtow to you." The third prince's eyes were cold.
After hearing this, Concubine Yi's smile became even wider.
"Good boy, your mother is counting on you. How are your studies going recently? Have the teachers praised you?"
When it comes to schoolwork, the third prince becomes a little proud. He takes a sip of tea and curls his lips slightly.
"Don't worry, mother. My elder brother and second brother are not as good at writing as I am. The master often assigns me some homework. I made a new painting a few days ago, and my father praised me."
Concubine Yi nodded, and suddenly asked again, "What about the Fourth Prince? He is taking classes with you now, right?"
“After all, I am two years younger than my son. There are some things I cannot compare to him.” The third prince narrowed his eyes.
Some places are not as good as others, but some places are really not bad.
Sometimes it makes him feel very stressed.
Although he didn't want to admit it, he had a vague feeling that he could still suppress the fourth brother now because of his age advantage, but in a few years, it would not be possible.
However, Concubine Yi was still immersed in the joy of her son saying that he was praised by the emperor. She did not understand the hidden meaning of the Third Prince's words and was still happy.
"That's good. You've been smart since you were young, so it's natural that you're good at studying. But you have to be more diligent and don't be careless."
The third prince nodded and stood up.
"My son still has some luggage to pack and will be leaving soon, so I won't be dining with mother today."
"Okay, go ahead." Concubine Yi waved her hand.
On the way back to Ruyi Pavilion, I saw the Fourth Prince holding a copybook, talking and laughing with his study companion Xu Qinglin as they walked towards us.
"Your Highness the Third Prince." Xu Qinglin saw the Third Prince first and bowed.
The fourth prince restrained his smile and said calmly, "Third brother."