Chapter 258: Chapter 258
A moment later, Princess Bao Hua, the Crown Prince, and the Second Prince, the three siblings, entered the Emperor’s bedroom together.
Princess Bao Hua is sixteen this year, beautiful and graceful, as delicate and fresh as a dewy flower on a branch. The Crown Prince is fifteen this year, with the unique vitality and pride of a young man evident in his brows and eyes.
As for the Second Prince, he is four years old this year, with a chubby, handsome face, yet his expression is somewhat dull, lacking wit.
Phrased nicely, he is obedient and endearing. To be blunt, the Second Prince is naturally somewhat slow-witted and slower to react than children his age.
However, this obvious fact is something no one dares to speak aloud.
Emperor Taikang has few children, with only two sons and one daughter, each exceedingly precious.
The birth mother of the Second Prince, Consort Fan, is young and charming, highly favored, and her direct uncle is General Fan, commanding nearly thirty percent of the Capital City’s garrison, a prominent figure among military generals. His temperament is fiery and aggressive, provoking no one.
The dispirited Emperor Taikang felt somewhat uplifted upon seeing his children: "Come closer, all of you."
The Crown Prince responded, naturally bypassing Princess Bao Hua, and stepped forward quickly.
Princess Bao Hua glanced at the Crown Prince and silently stepped back slightly.
She is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Empress, the most prestigious princess of Da Liang. But as a woman, she is destined to have no part in royal power. Everyone in the palace reveres the Crown Prince and respects Consort Li. Outside the palace, Princess Bao Hua is known for her virtuous and gentle filial piety. This also reflects her position in the palace.
The young Second Prince, oblivious to all this, squeezed toward the bedside while calling out for his father.
The Second Prince is still an innocent child. The Crown Prince doesn’t mind him, even good-naturedly stepping aside: "Let Second Brother speak to Father first."
The Second Prince tilted his head back, grinned at the Crown Prince, and then cheerfully called out to his father.
Indeed, every time the Second Prince visits to "attend to illness," he’s only capable of calling out to his father without doing anything.
Emperor Taikang laboriously raised his head, patted the Second Prince’s head, then glanced at Consort Li.
Consort Li nodded slightly, took out a box of snacks, and coaxed the Second Prince to go aside and eat. The Second Prince gladly followed Consort Li away.
The bedroom finally quieted down considerably.
The Crown Prince helped Emperor Taikang drink a cup of clear tea, while Princess Bao Hua carefully wiped the corners of the Emperor’s mouth with a silk handkerchief.
Looking at his pair of sons and daughters, Emperor Taikang slowly said, "You have both grown up, and it’s time to consider major life decisions."
Men marrying and women being given in marriage. The Crown Prince, at fifteen, still has a couple of years to wait. At sixteen, Princess Bao Hua, with her youth fleeting, indeed has reached the age to discuss marriage.
Princess Bao Hua lowered her eyes and softly replied, "Regarding my marriage, I ask Father to decide. I trust Father will choose a suitable Prince Consort for me."
A complex emotion flashed in Emperor Taikang’s eyes, and after a while, he said, "I will carefully deliberate."
Princess Bao Hua acknowledged quietly and said nothing more.
The concern Emperor Taikang gave her was just that. Subsequently, he continued teaching the Crown Prince how to manage state affairs and review memorials.
Princess Bao Hua listened silently, feeling a trace of distraction for some reason.
Her cousin Jiang Shaohua, who won’t enter the palace and remains in Nanyang County, what kind of life does she lead?
Without the constraints of heavy rules, without the "lessons" of elders, where whatever she says goes in Nanyang County... Thinking of these, she even felt an infinite envy and longing.
"...In matters of state, always listen to Prime Minister Wang." Emperor Taikang, speaking slowly and laboriously, continued, "As for your grandmother’s ’instructions,’ just listen and let it be."
The Crown Prince was slightly taken aback, looking up at Emperor Taikang: "Father!"
Emotionally, the legitimate grandmother is, naturally, the closest. For over a decade, Empress Dowager Zheng has cared deeply for the Crown Prince, with genuine affection, and the Crown Prince has always revered Empress Dowager Zheng.
He truly did not expect that Father would advise him not to heed Empress Dowager Zheng’s words.
Emperor Taikang sighed helplessly, speaking in a vague and slow manner, "Your grandmother loves and cares for you, but she lacks much insight in state affairs. Duke An cannot shoulder heavy responsibilities either."
"You are still young and need several years of tempering before you can take on great responsibilities. In the coming years, you have to rely on Prime Minister Wang to govern the court. Therefore, you must trust and rely heavily on Prime Minister Wang."
Previously, while seated on the Dragon Throne, he watched the Prime Minister Faction and Empress Dowager Faction contend, secretly supporting the weaker Empress Dowager Faction to maintain balance in the court forces.
Now, as this Emperor is bedridden, and the Crown Prince still too young to control the ministers, the erstwhile balance in the court is completely broken, and the former strife between the two factions only worsens the situation.
Between Prime Minister Wang and Empress Dowager Zheng, the choice is clear, requiring no further thought or hesitation.
The court is a man’s world. Empress Dowager Zheng should remain quietly in the harem!
The Crown Prince and Emperor Taikang exchanged looks for a moment, then complexly nodded: "I remember all of Father’s words."
Emperor Taikang’s brows relaxed slightly.
Princess Bao Hua remained silent.
There was no secrecy in Emperor Taikang and the Crown Prince’s conversation with her. It could be seen as complete trust, but it can also be understood that she, as Princess Bao Hua, is actually insignificant.
Such is the truth. She has no say in matters of the court, while matters of the harem are handled by Empress Dowager Zheng, Consort Li, and Consort Fan. She is like a canary raised in the deep palace.
The Second Prince came running from somewhere, holding a pastry, crumbs dropping all over as he ran: "Father, eat!"
Emperor Taikang smiled fondly, unbothered by the Second Prince’s greasy, dirty hands, and opened his mouth to eat.
An hour later, the three siblings retreated from Zhaohai Palace. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝔫𝔢𝔱
A slender, charming Consort Fan awaited outside the hall. At twenty-two, she is in her prime, once the most favored.
Unfortunately, Emperor Taikang, incapacitated by a stroke, no longer calls upon concubines. Consort Li, leveraging her status as the Crown Prince’s mother, attends daily at Zhaohai Palace, while the young and beautiful Consort Fan, aggrievedly, has fallen out of favor.
Princess Bao Hua and the Crown Prince paid their respects to Consort Fan.
Consort Fan dared not receive the courtesy too openly, avoiding it, returning a bow, then carrying away the Second Prince.
In Consort Fan’s embrace, the Second Prince laughed foolishly.
The Crown Prince and Princess Bao Hua exchanged glances, each swallowing a sigh.
With such a foolish brother, there’s really nothing to say.
The brother and sister walked side by side.
The Crown Prince suddenly said in a low voice, "If Sister has someone in mind, it’s better to privately tell Father. Otherwise, if Father makes a marriage decree and mismatches your true pair, Sister will regret it."
Princess Bao Hua was silent for a moment, then softly said, "I have no one in mind. The Prince Consort Father chooses for me will surely be the best."
The Crown Prince found himself speechless, thinking to himself that girls just have thin skin. Sister, you fancy Wang the Fourth; do you really think I can’t tell?