readsfreenovel Chapter 263 Sixth Prince Zhou Chengchen
Chapter 263 Sixth Prince Zhou Chengchen
Little Noble Lady Su said with a sweet smile, "Your Majesty has conferred titles on the harem this time, and all the ranks of Noble Consort, Noble Consort, and Noble Consort are now complete. It's a pity that Consort Wan is still in that remote place in Changle Palace."
There was no trace of regret in Lady Su's tone, as if she was just telling the truth.
Concubine Liu coughed lightly and said, "Empress Wan has a son, the eldest prince. He is your Majesty's eldest son and is already fifteen years old. He will be married in two years. Your Majesty will definitely want the eldest prince to return to the palace. However, the Empress... her sixth prince is only nine years old, still a child. I believe the Empress will not want the eldest prince to return to the palace."
Concubine Su looked at the palace maids standing in the hall and signaled to Concubine Liu with her eyes. Concubine Liu reacted and quickly picked up the teacup and drank some tea to cover up her carelessness.
Little Noble Lady Su raised her eyebrow, but said in a low and arrogant voice: "Sister, what are you afraid of? Isn't this in Concubine Liu's palace? Don't you think people will tell you the truth?"
Concubine Su shook her head helplessly, and Concubine Liu started laughing again and chatting with the two sisters.
Concubine Hu—the former Noble Lady Shuixia—was lost in thought in her Qiongshui Palace. Over the years, she hadn't had any particularly close friends among the imperial concubines. As a concubine offered by the small Xisha Kingdom, she knew that the other concubines from aristocratic and official families looked down on her. Furthermore, His Majesty had shown her no favors over the years. Even when the Six Xisha Kingdoms sent envoys to pay their respects to the Dasheng Dynasty annually, the Emperor Shenwu didn't treat her any differently. Concubine Hu gradually realized that she was merely a symbol, a token of friendship and submission between the Six Xisha Kingdoms and the Dasheng Dynasty. She believed that if anything happened to her in the Dasheng Palace, the Six Xisha Kingdoms would simply send another woman of even greater status to the Dasheng harem! She was replaceable.
Concubine Hu suddenly thought of Princess Yunqi, the rude, ridiculous, and pathetic Yunqi. His Majesty was probably planning to keep her locked up until she died! She remembered the last time she'd visited her, she'd gone completely mad, paranoid, obsessed with meeting the Emperor Shenwu. She refused to believe he'd already crowned her empress, even neurotically telling her, "You clearly admire His Majesty, too. Now that you've become his consort, why not give it your all? Are you going to regret it later?"
Hupin's wandering gaze gradually became firm. Princess Yunqi was right in one thing she said. She was already His Majesty's concubine, and she represented the six countries of the Paracel Islands. As long as she didn't do anything outrageous, she wouldn't be hated by His Majesty. So why didn't she try her best?
Hupin believed that her promotion from noble lady to concubine was certainly due to the relationship with the six countries in the Paracel Islands, but His Majesty certainly had not forgotten her.
Thinking of the Empress, Concubine Hu's eyes darkened. That woman's presence weighed on her heart like a mountain. And since she had monopolized the emperor's favor for so many years, Concubine Hu believed that the Empress's presence weighed on the hearts of every woman in the harem. Even someone as proud and high-born as Concubine Wen had to temporarily avoid the Empress's glare.
Concubine Hu stood up leisurely and said, "Let's go to Yulu Pavilion. I heard that Concubine Liu from Yulu Pavilion is an excellent embroidery expert."
Emperor Shenwu summoned several civil and military officials to the Qianzheng Hall for a meeting. Lan Qingwu was quietly reading in his bedroom in the main hall of Qianzheng Hall, waiting for Emperor Shenwu.
At this time, Ru Ping walked into the hall lightly. Lan Qingwu asked, "Why didn't Chu Ming come? You went to pick him up and he didn't show up?"
Ru Ping said hesitantly, "Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince has been taken by His Majesty to meet the ministers of the previous dynasty."
Lan Qingwu was stunned for a moment: "This... Your Majesty is a little..."
Lan Qingwu didn't finish her words. She put down the book in her hand and sighed slightly. She knew that Emperor Shenwu had high hopes for the Sixth Prince, but she always felt that it was too early.
In the main hall of Qianzheng Hall, the chief and second-in-command of the cabinet, along with several important ministers, and several trusted military generals of Emperor Shenwu were summoned into the hall by the emperor.
"Your Majesty! Long live His Majesty!
After the ministers finished their ceremony and looked up, they saw the Sixth Prince sitting on the right side of the emperor.
The ministers were startled, and the Grand Master frowned. His Majesty had brought the Sixth Prince to the main hall of Qianzheng Palace, allowing him to listen to a discussion with important civil and military officials. This... His Majesty's intentions were clearly intriguing. Had His Majesty already determined that this child, only a few years old, was the heir to the Dasheng Dynasty? Had His Majesty forgotten that there was also an eldest prince? The Second Prince was said to be very intelligent, and the Fourth Prince was also quite talented. Besides being a legitimate son, what else did the Sixth Prince, who was younger than them all, possess that made him so exceptional?
However, the Grand Tutor was still able to keep his composure. He waited for other colleagues to test the emperor's intentions first. However, after waiting for a while, the hall was still quiet.
Master Taifu: “…” Although His Majesty has great prestige, you don’t have to be like this!
The Shenwu Emperor had already spoken: "Everyone, please stand up! This is the Sixth Prince!"
"Your Highness and I pay our respects to the Sixth Prince!"
A childish voice rang out: "Stand up!"
The Blue Tree Man quietly raised his head and looked up at his superiors. He saw a half-grown child sitting upright on a high chair, his dark, bright eyes gazing directly at them, the important civil and military officials. There was no curiosity or novelty in those eyes, only the scrutiny and assessment of a superior.
The Blue Tree Man quickly lowered his eyes. The Sixth Prince was only nine years old. It might be his illusion!
Next, Emperor Shenwu discussed state affairs with his ministers as if no one was around, and the Sixth Prince listened and watched silently on the side.
About half an hour later, Emperor Shenwu looked at the hourglass and said, "Let's stop here today. All the ministers, please leave!"
Several civil officials looked at each other and found that His Majesty had not discussed the matter of the Sixth Prince with them at all.
Fu Ruixuan, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, I wonder what is the significance of bringing the Sixth Prince to this Qianzheng Hall?"
Emperor Shenwu raised his eyebrows slightly, "Master Fu is still so straightforward! I am just taking the child to broaden his horizons."
Lan Shuren frowned in disapproval. Emperor Shenwu had not yet made up his mind to appoint a crown prince. Doing so at this moment would only allow the Sixth Prince to be in front of the Jade Emperor too early. This way, the Sixth Prince would be noticed by the former court and the harem, and the Sixth Prince would become an open target. Lan Shuren didn't believe that Emperor Shenwu had not thought of this.
Imperial City Prefect Lin Suzhi said directly, "Your Majesty, may I have a few words with the Sixth Prince?"
Emperor Shenwu paused for a moment and said, "Exactly!"
Lin Suzhi then turned to the Sixth Prince and said, "Your Highness, what was it that Your Majesty and I were discussing just now? Your Highness, could you perhaps recount a few things?"