novelraw Chapter 1079: Moving into the Palace
Chapter 1079: Moving into the Palace
The Emperor’s decree spread throughout the Harem in less than half a Shi Chen.Xia Ruqing was the first to know, and the first to be dumbfounded.
"Crown Prince?"
She didn’t know how to describe her feelings.
It’s like... something you’ve never imagined suddenly overwhelms you.
Without any mental preparation, you have to endure it immediately.
She was stunned for a while before she came to her senses.
And felt somewhat worried.
"Chenchen is only ten years old... Chenchen’s birthday is this month..."
"Chenchen... he’s still so young!"
Ten years old, he’s still just a child!
She instinctively worried.
No, it was worry, not joy.
She was worried that her child would have to bear greater pressure from now on.
She worried that Chenchen would have to undergo more rigorous royal education.
She worried that such a young child would have to suffer more hardships and fatigue.
Having been in ancient times for so many years,
no one knew better than her: being an Emperor wasn’t fun at all, being a Crown Prince was the same!
On the surface, it seems infinitely glorious and high above.
But the suffering endured in secret is unimaginable to ordinary people!
Just thinking about it scared her; she couldn’t bear it!
While she was still in a daze,
she heard a Little Eunuch announce loudly outside.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
Xia Ruqing gathered her thoughts and quickly stood up to greet him.
After paying respects, Zhao Junyao took her into the inner chamber.
Seeing her complexion wasn’t good, he smiled and asked.
"Qingqing, what’s wrong?"
Xia Ruqing was trembling, unable to smile, and asked shakily.
"Emperor..."
"Such a big matter! Why didn’t you discuss it with me in advance!"
Her hands were cold, and her face turned pale.
Zhao Junyao frowned instantly.
"Why... aren’t you happy?"
He feared that any woman in the Harem would go crazy with joy at such good news.
Throughout the ages,
the goal of all Harem struggles was almost always this.
To vie for favor, give birth to a dragon heir, seize the throne, ascend to power...
All of them strive for this position.
Even though Qingqing isn’t interested in vying for favor,
Chenchen is the legitimate eldest son; she should be prepared for this.
She shouldn’t... react so strongly, right?
Zhao Junyao was completely puzzled.
Could it be, Qingqing doesn’t want Chenchen to be the Crown Prince!
Xia Ruqing shook her head, forced a smile.
"No... not unhappy!"
Zhao Junyao heaved a sigh of relief.
"Then what’s wrong?"
Xia Ruqing patted her chest, smiled bitterly, and said.
"It was just too sudden, I was scared!"
She was merely frightened!
Zhao Junyao sighed in relief and his heart settled.
He patted her back gently and said affectionately,
"It’s all my fault! Next time, I’ll discuss it with you!"
Xia Ruqing was on the verge of tears.
’Is there a next time?’
...
Not only was Xia Ruqing shocked, but the entire Harem was also thrown into chaos.
However,
the concubines were only shocked at the initial news.
Calming down and thinking about it.
"Isn’t this something bound to happen sooner or later!"
"Exactly, as the eldest legitimate son nurtured personally from a young age by the Emperor, talented in literature and martial arts at such a young age, who else would be the Crown Prince if not him?"
"Indeed!"
"Whether it’s established now or later, it makes no difference to us!"
Everyone realized that this matter had nothing to do with them.
So, after a brief period of shock, they returned to their usual routines.
The Harem finally returned to calm.
...
The concubines calmed down.
But for the Empress Dowager...
Seeing the Harem in uproar for days,
the Empress Dowager felt something was amiss.
So she went to great lengths to evade the watchful eyes around her to gather a few pieces of information.
"The Emperor has installed a Crown Prince!"
A piece of news easily knowable by others,
yet she had to undergo all manner of hardship for just a few words.
The Empress Dowager was shocked.
"The Crown Prince?"
"The eldest son born to Lady Xia, right. Counting the years, that child is ten now!"
"At ten, a legitimate eldest son can indeed be established as the Crown Prince!"
A wry smile appeared at the corner of the Empress Dowager’s lips.
"The Emperor too, became the Crown Prince at ten, didn’t he!"
This year... he’s already in his thirties.
Time surely flies!
She hid her tightly clenched fists inside her brown cloak.
Standing by the carved window lattice, she gazed into the distance.
In the distant sky, flocks of wild geese flew south; they were free.
Closer were towering ancient trees, singing birds, falling leaves; they too were free.
Even closer,
every grass, every flower, every fish in the Ningshou Palace—all free.
But what about her...
She was not flora; she had emotions. When could she ever be free?
Zhao Junyao!
After all, I am your mother; haven’t these years of confinement been enough?
Around her stood walls like fortresses and guards.
Shielding her from seeing people or hearing news, this vast Ningshou Palace felt like a tomb for the living dead.
Wherever she looked was desolation, vicissitude, decline...
Ha... when would this kind of life ever end?!
The Empress Dowager sighed long and ridiculed herself.
In the next moment,
she fell into endless longing.
She desperately missed Zhao Zongcheng, except he was gone now.
Thankfully, their son was still alive, Junqi was living.
The Empress Dowager gradually unclenched her fists, and a gentle, contented smile spread across her face.
’Zongcheng, if not for Junqi, I would have long come to find you!’
’Rest assured, I’ll take good care of him!’
A cold wind blew in from the window.
She instinctively wrapped her cloak tighter, turned around, and went back inside.
...
After Chenchen was made the Crown Prince,
he soon moved out of his original palace to the Eastern Palace.
His previous residence was vacated.
Zhao Junyao said.
"Now we can let Henger and Yeye move in!"
"That place is close to the Eastern Palace, and the palace is big! The three brothers are close, living too far apart isn’t convenient!"
Xia Ruqing looked at him for a moment, suddenly realizing.
"Emperor!"
"So you had it planned all along!"
Zhao Junyao raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"What else?"
Xia Ruqing was at a loss for words.
She playfully punched him in the chest.
"You had everything planned and didn’t tell me!"
"I was almost shocked to death!"
Zhao Junyao didn’t dodge.
Her punch was like a tickle; no need to avoid it.
On the contrary, he pulled her into an embrace.
"Alright, Qingqing!"
"I wanted to surprise you!"
Who knew you wouldn’t be overjoyed!
With any other woman, they’d be ecstatic beyond measure!
But he should have known Qingqing wasn’t like other flashy, fickle women!
After some playful banter,
Xia Ruqing sat under the porch, looking at the empty palace, feeling melancholic.
"There’ll be two fewer children here from now on!"
"Why do I feel like a big piece of my heart is missing?"
Zhao Junyao opened his mouth, not knowing how to respond.
He knew almost nothing about women’s sentimentality.
He couldn’t understand why just a palace wall away should evoke such sentimentality.
The two children were perfectly fine, weren’t they?!
Why would a part feel empty?
Not knowing what to say, he chose to remain silent.
The two of them quietly watched the scenery.
Zhao Junyao suddenly felt a great peace, a feeling as though something filled his heart.