Since Consort Chen gave birth to Princess Chaoyang, she had enjoyed exclusive favor for quite some time.
The Imperial Medical Academy specially prepared high-quality fertility medicine to help Consort Chen conceive another child.
But after all these years of taking it, she still hadn’t gotten her wish.
Both Emperor Qianwu and the Empress Dowager had already given up.
Other imperial concubines in the palace whispered privately that Consort Chen was already fortunate to have given birth to a princess by chance, and wanting another child was nothing but a pipe dream.
When these words reached Consort Chen’s ears, she flew into a rage, punishing many palace maids and eunuchs who had gossiped, causing widespread anxiety and fear of misfortune.
However, angry as she was, Consort Chen refused to give up.
That bowl of unbearably bitter fertility medicine carried her lifelong hopes and dreams.
If she could conceive another child and give birth to a prince for His Majesty…
The vacant position of Empress would undoubtedly fall into her hands.
If her son ascended the throne in the future, she and Chaoyang would have security for the rest of their lives.
Her trusted matron immediately said, “It’s already prepared.”
Consort Chen’s fingers, painted with nail polish, tightened slightly. “Bring it here.”
…
Princess Chaoyang left Consort Chen’s palace and went straight to Emperor Qianwu’s Imperial Study.
Without waiting for an announcement, she barged right in.
“Father Emperor!”
Emperor Qianwu was reviewing memorials when Princess Chaoyang boldly strode in.
But the palace attendants in the Imperial Study were already accustomed to this.
This little princess was His Majesty’s only child.
Her status was extremely precious!
This was personally promised by His Majesty himself, with his imperial word.
My Princess Chaoyang may come and go freely in the palace, even in the Imperial Study!
Seeing his beloved daughter, Emperor Qianwu set down his imperial brush, his expression both affectionate and helpless.
“Why has my Chaoyang come?”
Princess Chaoyang didn’t even bow as she approached, plopping down on the chair beside Emperor Qianwu.
“Father Emperor, I’ve taken a liking to that Tanhua. Didn’t you say that I am the most noble princess of Great Zhou, and that whatever I desire, Father Emperor would surely grant me?”
“I want that Tanhua Lang now!”
“I want him to serve in my Princess’s Mansion!”
Upon hearing this, Fuquan broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead.
He instinctively glanced at Emperor Qianwu’s expression.
This little princess really knew how to give His Majesty a difficult problem!
Others might not know the inside story, thinking Zhou Mingchong had found some connections.
If only that were the case.
How could a mere Tanhua Lang compare in importance to His Majesty’s only princess?
But Fuquan knew best—Zhou Mingchong had an exceptionally beautiful younger sister who had caught His Majesty’s eye…
His Majesty, mindful of the Meiren about to enter the palace, couldn’t possibly let her brother become a Male Concubine for his own daughter…
Wouldn’t that be absurd if word got out?
Moreover, if that delicate beauty objected, His Majesty would have another headache!
Emperor Qianwu frowned and directly changed the subject. “Where have you been playing these past few days? Why haven’t you paid respects to your imperial grandmother? She misses you.”
Princess Chaoyang snorted lightly, her demeanor charmingly naive. “Father Emperor is brushing me off!”
“I’m talking to you about that little Tanhua, and you’re telling me imperial grandmother misses me!”
“Of course I’ll pay my respects to imperial grandmother.”
The little princess pouted. “But you must promise me, you must assign that Tanhua to me!”
Seeing that he couldn’t fool his daughter, Emperor Qianwu had no choice but to chide her gently. “Nonsense!”
“You’re an unmarried girl—how can you talk about wanting a man so openly?”
“You are the most noble princess in all the land, not some market shrew. Why must you insist on having that Tanhua Zhou?”
Princess Chaoyang refused to yield. “Father Emperor no longer cares for your daughter!”
Emperor Qianwu had no way to handle his only precious treasure and said helplessly, “How could I not care for you?”
“Who in all the world does not know you are my only child? The most esteemed princess!”
Princess Chaoyang pouted, feeling smug inside.
“Then bestow that little Tanhua upon your daughter!”
In her words, it was as if Zhou Mingchong were not a living person, not a young talent who had become this year’s Tanhua Lang through his own abilities.
But rather an object.
“Our Great Zhou is vast and rich in resources, blessed with outstanding people. Father Emperor is wise and mighty—it’s not as if we lack just one little Tanhua, is it?”
“Your daughter has taken a liking to him and wants him to enter the Princess’s Mansion to serve me.”
It must be said that Princess Chaoyang understood her father extremely well.
To the outside world, she was willful and spoiled, vicious and cruel, even at a young age, given to debauchery, domineering and shameless.
But in the eyes of Emperor Qianwu and the Empress Dowager, although Chaoyang was somewhat indulged, she was pure and adorable.
After all, when looking at one’s own child, everything seems good.
Emperor Qianwu truly had no way to deal with her, so he pushed her off to the Empress Dowager.
Chaoyang hurried away in a flurry.
Emperor Qianwu held his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
“Fuquan.”
“Your servant is here.”
Fuquan quickly bowed and stepped forward. “Your Majesty.”
“In three days, take people and personally escort Jieyu Zhou into the palace.”
Fuquan was taken aback.
Hadn’t it been said that the young lady would be granted the title of Meiren, a fourth-rank consort?
How had she become Jieyu, a third-rank consort?
Fuquan was very clever; naturally, he would not question the Emperor’s decision.
Even if it were a momentary lapse in the Emperor’s memory, it would still be Jieyu Zhou’s good fortune.
“Yes, your servant obeys.”
…
When Princess Chaoyang went to the Empress Dowager’s Cining Palace, she became much more restrained.
However, as the only daughter of Emperor Qianwu and the only granddaughter of the Empress Dowager, Princess Chaoyang still enjoyed considerable favor here.
The Empress Dowager’s trusted aunt, Aunt Zhulan, personally led her into the inner hall.
As soon as Princess Chaoyang entered, she threw herself into the Empress Dowager’s arms.
“Imperial Grandmother, your granddaughter has come to see you!”
“Have you eaten well today? Did you miss Chaoyang?”
The Empress Dowager set down her prayer beads, smiling with utmost kindness.
“Imperial Grandmother must eat well just to be able to spend more time with Chaoyang.”
“I missed you! Imperial Grandmother misses our little Chaoyang every moment!”
Aunt Zhulan seized the opportunity to say, “If Her Highness were to accompany her, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager could even eat an extra bowl of rice!”
Princess Chaoyang cooed, “Then from now on, your granddaughter will come every day to accompany Imperial Grandmother for meals.”
The Empress Dowager looked at Princess Chaoyang, feeling that this child was pleasing in every way.
Truly worthy of being the Emperor’s daughter, her own granddaughter.
She tapped her granddaughter’s nose, her smile full of doting affection. “That’s what you, clever little imp, said yourself. When the time comes, Imperial Grandmother will really send someone to the Princess’s Mansion to fetch you.”
Princess Chaoyang clung to the Empress Dowager’s arm, acting spoiled.
“With just one word from Imperial Grandmother, Chaoyang will certainly come every day.”
“But…”
She paused. “Chaoyang came today to beg Imperial Grandmother for a favor.”
The Empress Dowager’s face was full of affection. “Speak, what has my little girl taken a fancy to this time?”
Princess Chaoyang immediately said, “No wonder everyone says your granddaughter is most like Imperial Grandmother. Your granddaughter hasn’t even spoken yet, and Imperial Grandmother already guessed.”
She clung to the Empress Dowager’s arm, her smile sweet and coquettish, as she eagerly said, “Your granddaughter has taken a liking to someone these past few days.”
The Empress Dowager immediately understood the girl’s purpose in coming.
However, the matter of the woman at Hanshan Temple concerned the emperor’s heirs, which was an affair of state.
There could be absolutely no mistake.
The Empress Dowager had originally thought that Chaoyang was merely acting on childish whims, changing her mind as quickly as the wind.
She might have taken a liking to Zhou Mingchong, but perhaps she would forget about him in a few days.
Moreover, as he was the brother of that woman, she had shown special leniency and ordered Zhou Mingchong to be released.
Even if Chaoyang remembered him later, Zhou Mingchong was, after all, a Tanhua. If she truly fancied him, it wouldn’t be impossible to have the emperor bestow a marriage upon them.
“Oh? My little Chaoyang has grown up.”
“Thinking of marriage?”