Novel Bin
Chapter 1102: 1100: She Changed After Giving Birth to the Child
Chapter 1102: Chapter 1100: She Changed After Giving Birth to the Child
Chu Yihan’s imperial decree came like a bolt out of the blue, detonating suddenly in the royal court.
The enthronement of the Crown Prince was a matter of great importance, and without any warning, it aroused quite a few dissenting voices within the court.
When Leng Yi came to chat with Su Qingzhi, he didn’t miss a chance to make fun of him, “Old Su, your Marquis’s Manor has been unsettled this year, it’s time to go to the temple and pray.”
Su Qingzhi gave him a sideways glance, “Do you think you’ll have no troubles now that you’re not at the Prime Minister’s residence?”
“Without a granddaughter who’s the empress in the Prime Minister’s Estate, I don’t have to worry too much. Now that everything at the Prime Minister’s residence is managed by Jun Li, I’m quite happy to have some leisure,” Leng Yi said with a relaxed look on his face.
Compared to Su Qingzhi, who had to avoid suspicion to the extent that he couldn’t even enter the palace to see his granddaughter and great-grandson, Leng Yi’s days were indeed carefree.
But Su Qingzhi, a man who’d battled on the fields of war, how could he let Leng Yi win?n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
He snorted lightly, “Your little granddaughter’s marriage hasn’t been arranged yet, what leisure can you have?”
That hit home.
Leng Yi rolled his eyes at Su Qingzhi, “I came here thinking of helping you out with some ideas, you old hag, but you can worry about it yourself!”
He got up to leave.
“Sit down!”
Su Qingzhi commanded loudly, “Speak, then leave.”
Leng Yi pointed at Su Qingzhi and huffed.
Leng Yi told Su Qingzhi that after Su Yingxue was made empress and bore a prince, she and her child became too conspicuous. Chu Yihan doted on her and the prince, which inevitably led to criticism from both the court and the country, putting the Marquis’s Manor in the spotlight and subject to targeting by court officials.
As long as Su Qingzhi avoided suspicion and had Su Yingxue share some of her favor, and pushed back the timing of the Crown Prince’s enthronement a bit, it would help to calm the jealousies within the court.
Su Qingzhi knew there was reason in the old man’s words, “But how easily can we persuade the emperor, whose temperament is unpredictable? The emperor has kept the harem empty, do you expect me to bring up this matter?”
“If you raise it, it shows that the Marquis’s Manor has no ulterior motives. Whether the emperor agrees or not is secondary. You protect your granddaughter and great-grandson and maintain the Manor’s reputation. Don’t forget, your eldest grandson is still leading troops on the front lines! Aren’t you afraid that those in the court who are discontented will take cruel actions against him at the front?”
As someone who has stood in the royal court for decades, Su Qingzhi knew Leng Yi’s words weren’t a joke.
In the pervading undercurrents of the palace and harem, no position is truly secure.
Especially on the battlefield, a place of unpredictable treachery.
Su Qingzhi decided to follow Leng Yi’s advice and took the initiative to petition to postpone the Crown Prince’s enthronement and also to request Chu Yihan to expand his harem.
This memorial, once presented in the royal court, indeed made many court officials take a second look.
But it caused Chu Yihan’s face to turn ashen.
Chu Yihan summoned Su Qingzhi to the imperial study for an audience.
Su Qingzhi went, and Zhuo Junli was also present.
Chu Yihan granted Su Qingzhi permission to sit, and Zhuo Junli himself moved a chair for Su Qingzhi, smiling as he said, “Old General, your memorial has certainly struck a chord with the emperor. How is it not in line with your usual style?”
Su Qingzhi clasped his hands, “Thank you, Prime Minister.”
“Don’t be so polite, Old General.”
He then looked at Chu Yihan, “Your Majesty, your deep affection for the Marquis’s Manor and the empress isn’t unknown to me, but both the Manor and Her Majesty have caused much gossip among the court and country. Especially since Her Majesty is still weak from childbirth and recuperating. Lord Miaoyan told me that her spirits are still low, and if she hears more rumors, her recovery will be even more difficult. Moreover, Su Hao is still on the frontline. Our Manor has produced a marshal and an empress, an unrivaled honor that is also too conspicuous.”
If someone with ulterior motives were to harm Su Hao using the battlefield, in the midst of war, how could he defend against it?
Understanding Su Qingzhi’s concerns and the art of balancing power within the court and country, Chu Yihan had also given it thoughtful consideration, “Yingxue has just given birth. Enthroning the Crown Prince is the best reward I can give her. As for the harem… at least until she has recovered fully, I must inform her. If she disagrees, I would never do anything to upset her.”
Upon hearing this, Su Qingzhi felt a mix of relief and concern.
Chu Yihan specially allowed him to visit Su Yingxue in the harem.
Recently, Su Miaoyan was also residing in the palace because Su Yingxue had given birth to the little marvel. Chu Yihan had generously rewarded both the upper and lower ranks of the Marquis’s Manor, granting Princess titles to Su Miaoyan and Su Han, allowing them to come and go from the palace as they pleased.
From a distance, Su Miaoyan saw Su Qingzhi approaching and immediately ran towards Su Yingxue’s chamber shouting, “Sister Xue, Grandpa is here to see you!”
“The Old General has come,” Zhilan added, also happy for Su Yingxue.
It had been seven days since Su Yingxue had awakened, always feeling weak. She had suffered a great loss of blood after childbirth and had prescribed herself medicine to recuperate. However, Saint Ruan said her deep worries were a burden, and that merely revitalizing her body was not enough.