But it was in a warm and gentle tone.
If she wasn’t content with her current life, she wouldn’t have spoken so.
So, the Emperor was very pleased to hear this.
He then continued to speak to her.
"There’s another matter. I had intended to wait until everything was settled to tell you, but today I will let you know in advance."
"What is it?"
Lin Wanyi was puzzled and looked at the Emperor.
The Emperor gently swept aside her hair from her temple and then tenderly said,
"I’ve ordered the preparation of the Empress’s phoenix crown and auspicious clothes, all made according to your asurents. The designs and patterns are already decided. In a few days, the Inner Court Departnt will co to asure you."
"Ah?"
Lin Wanyi never imagined that being made the Empress would be spoken of by the Emperor so casually.
And she wasn’t prepared at all.
She’d been in the palace for less than two years, and she had already ascended from a concubine to the position of a consort.
Not only that, she had raised three sons and two daughters under her na.
Such prominence, except for Princess Consort Yi, no one in the palace could rival her.
Now, if she were to beco the Empress, it would surely cause an uproar across the land!
Thinking of this, Lin Wanyi imdiately refused.
But after spending ti with the Emperor, she understood that outright refusal would only make him rebellious.
So she didn’t directly say no.
Instead, she paused and spoke about other matters first.
"When I first entered the palace, I heard people praise forr Empress Xu for her virtues. Both concubines and attendants spoke highly of her wisdom. Compared to her, I know I’m of humble origins and lack her insight. Even the task of educating the princes, I’ve left for the Empress Dowager to handle. All I can do is ensure the children are well clothed and fed, and make sure Your Majesty feels at ease when visiting Yihua Palace."
"But to beco the Empress of a nation requires taking on many responsibilities. I’m not soone capable of that position, and even if I try to fit into it, I’ll always be subject to criticism."
"As a consort, I could focus solely on you and the children and not care about anyone else. But as Empress, the entire harem and its affairs would be my responsibility. If I were to have any petty jealousies, it would only harm our affection."
"Therefore, Your Majesty, please rescind the order. To have reached my current position is enough for . I dare not aspire for more."
"And in a hundred years, please don’t bury in the Consort Mausoleum. Just find a small hill to bury simply, where I can see the Imperial Mausoleum from afar and be by your side."
Lin Wanyi spoke sincerely, and the Emperor listened intently.
Although this wasn’t the first ti he had ntioned the empress position to her, it was the first ti Lin Wanyi seriously refused him.
And her reasons left him without a reply.
Indeed, the forr Empress was wise, yet she often urged him to treat all the concubines fairly according to the palace rules.
Ask any woman in the world if they’d genuinely be happy to share their husband?
If it truly ca to that, Lin Wanyi would be wrong whether she acted or not!
So, throughout history, being a favored concubine is easy, but being a worthy empress is difficult.
Thinking of this, the Emperor could only heave a sigh.
"I can promise you everything else, but not what happens after a hundred years. I am determined to be buried in the sa coffin with you, inseparable in this life and all lifetis. If there truly is reincarnation, in the next life and the one after, I’ll surely seek you out."
Upon hearing this, Lin Wanyi felt incredibly fortunate.
Even in the Imperial City, she had won a genuine heart.
As for everything else, she felt powerless and incapable.
So it was best to continue playing the role of a humble fool.
All she needed to do was tend to Yihua Palace and raise the children well.
"Yes, if there truly is a next life, please find early, so we can be a lifelong pair."
"Alright. I promise you!"
With that, the Emperor buried his head into her embrace.
They nestled closely together and drifted into a deep sleep.
As the new year arrived, everything was renewed.
The Nineteen Years of Da Wei Tianhe officially began.
The Emperor vowed not to write anything until after the Lantern Festival, so Shengjing City remained bustling.
The Lin Family spent this year’s festival with the Dong Family.
Old Master Dong and the old madam, seeing their family full of sons and grandchildren, were beaming with joy.
While they also hoped for new lives to arrive, they never pressured Mrs. Feng, Lin Xingzhi’s wife.
At the table, they didn’t speak of having many descendants but instead spoke of peace, happiness, and good fortune.
Before marrying, Mrs. Feng knew she was entering a good match.
But she hadn’t expected it to be so smooth and fulfilling.
Not only were she and her husband loving, but her in-laws were kind and her extended family adored her.
Always cherished and compared to her friends who married, she was extrely fortunate.
Even the rules she set were undone by her mother-in-law in just half a day.
Thus, during large family als, she didn’t have to stand and serve.
But rather, sat with the family and enjoyed the al together.
After the New Year’s Eve celebration, it was ti to visit relatives.
On the first day, they rested at ho, and on the second day, they returned to her family.
When Mr. Feng and Mrs. Feng saw their daughter and son-in-law co ho, they couldn’t stop smiling.
The whole family enjoyed a lively al together.
Upon returning ho, they found their in-laws looking sowhat displeased.
Mrs. Feng wondered if sothing serious had happened and asked imdiately.
"Mother-in-law, what’s wrong?"
Mrs. Dong sighed and took out an invitation.
It clearly read the three words Pri Minister’s Mansion.
Upon seeing this, she imdiately understood why her in-laws were upset.
"The servants from the Pri Minister’s Mansion just brought an invitation, asking our family to have a reunion al there tomorrow."
What kind of reunion was that?
Mrs. Dong thought to herself.
But in front of her son and daughter-in-law, she refrained from speaking bluntly.
Mr. Lin also kept silent, knowing that neither his wife nor his children wanted to go.
Yet duty and filial piety made it hard to refuse outright.
Instead, Lin Muzhi calmly remarked,
"Since grandfather invited us, we should go. The stage is set for a performance, and if we don’t attend, wouldn’t it lack for an audience?"
With these words, everyone beca puzzled.
Only Lin Xingzhi, who had heard Lin Xiang’s grand speeches in the court, understood.
He then laughed coldly and said,
"It seems they’ve prepared a show for us to watch. The question is whether the lead role is from the West Wing or one of us."
With these words, everyone suddenly realized.
Though Prince Zhan Mansion fell, the Pri Minister’s Mansion still had Princess Rongkang.
For decades, she had been domineering, relying on the prestige of Prince Zhan’s Mansion. Now, having beco part of a guilty household, she was likely throwing quite a tantrum at ho.
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