The next day, after the morning court session, the Crown Prince prepared to go to Hulong Temple to pray for the forr Empress.
Before the end of the court session, the Emperor reminded the Crown Prince to take care of himself during the prayers for the forr Empress and not to overexert.
Faced with the Emperor’s unexpected concern, the Crown Prince was startled for a mont, then very touched, and promised he would take care of himself.
The Emperor also ntioned that he would personally go to Hulong Temple on the anniversary of the forr Empress’s death.
Upon hearing this, the entire court was shocked. This was the second ti since the forr Empress’s passing that the Emperor would personally go to Hulong Temple to pray for her.
The first ti the Emperor went to Hulong Temple to pray for the forr Empress was when she passed away. In the following years, the Emperor never made a special trip to Hulong Temple. This year marks the seventh anniversary of the forr Empress’s passing, which is a significant year, so the Emperor must go to Hulong Temple.
"On the anniversary of the forr Empress’s death, there will be no court session."
The Emperor spoke these words very calmly, but they caused a great deal of unrest in the hearts of all the court officials.
No court session?!
The Emperor was actually going to suspend court again for the forr Empress?!
The entire court showed expressions of disbelief!
Even the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen were shocked, not expecting the Emperor to suspend court for the forr Empress a second ti!
Since his ascension, the Emperor had only suspended court when the forr Empress passed away. Since then, he had never suspended court again, insisting on holding court even when he was gravely ill and unable to get out of bed.
On the seventh anniversary of the forr Empress’s death, the Emperor was again suspending court for her; this... It seems in the Emperor’s heart, the forr Empress, though having passed away for years, remains very important!
The Emperor looked at the Crown Prince: "Later, co with to Zhonghua Palace."
"Yes, Father."
"Does anyone have matters to present?" the Emperor asked.
"We have no more matters to present."
"Dismiss the court then."
Sun Kui loudly announced: "Court dismissed!"
All the officials knelt down to pay their respects: "Long live His Majesty!"
Before leaving, the Crown Prince gave a triumphant look at Prince Dai and then went to find the Emperor.
After court was dismissed, the ministers supporting the Crown Prince gathered around Duke Zhen.
"Duke Zhen, did you already know the Emperor would suspend court for the forr Empress for one day?"
Of course, Duke Zhen did not know, but he had to pretend he did.
"This year is the seventh anniversary of the forr Empress’s passing, the Emperor would surely pay attention."
"I didn’t expect the Emperor to always think of the forr Empress."
"The forr Empress is still very important in the Emperor’s heart."
"The forr Empress was the Emperor’s first wife, and their union was harmonious."
The ministers supporting the Crown Prince, all smiled broadly, feeling smug.
Recently, because the Emperor arranged for the youngest daughter of the Grandmaster to be betrothed as a concubine to Prince Dai, the ministers supporting Prince Dai were particularly arrogant, often boasting in front of those supporting the Crown Prince, making them very anxious and worried that the Emperor might actually depose the Crown Prince.
Now seeing the Emperor so attentive to the forr Empress’s anniversary, the ministers supporting the Crown Prince felt a sense of relief, along with a sense of pride.
As long as the forr Empress holds importance in the Emperor’s heart, he won’t easily forsake the Crown Prince.
Though Noble Princess Consort Rong is favored above all six palaces, she cannot compare to the forr Empress. When she passes away, the Emperor certainly wouldn’t suspend court for her.
Observing the jubilant Crown Prince’s supporters, Prince Dai and Marquis Xuanping’s expressions were very grim. They had never expected the Emperor to suspend court for the forr Empress again.
In the carriage back to the mansion, Prince Dai spoke through gritted teeth: "Father actually suspended court for that woman again!"
Hearing this, Marquis Xuanping hurriedly reminded him: "Your Highness, lower your voice. If these words reach the Emperor’s ears, he might be displeased."
Prince Dai, hearing this, lowered his voice and said: "She’s been dead for seven years, yet Father still regards her so highly..."
"My prince, please stop speaking."
The Heir of Marquis Xuanping also advised Prince Dai: "Your Highness, you must not show disrespect to the forr Empress, let alone be dissatisfied with this, as it may anger the Emperor if he cos to know of it."
"Isn’t Father’s favorite person my mother?" Prince Dai couldn’t understand, clearly the woman the Emperor loves most is his mother, yet the Emperor places importance on the forr Empress’s anniversary.
"The forr Empress may not have been the woman the Emperor loved most, but her stance in the Emperor’s heart is exceptional," Marquis Xuanping said. "Moreover, with Duke Zhen still around, the Emperor must respect the forr Empress’s anniversary, even if it’s just for the Duke Mansion’s sake, otherwise, he could be deed ungrateful."
Upon hearing this, Prince Dai felt slightly relieved.
"I shall eliminate the Duke Mansion sooner or later." Prince Dai understood in his heart that to beco Crown Prince, he had to remove the Duke Mansion, his biggest obstacle.
"The Emperor is already wary of the Duke Mansion, it won’t remain complacent for long," Marquis Xuanping advised. "Your Highness, you must endure a little longer."
Prince Dai coldly laughed: "Then let the Duke Mansion remain smug for a while."
"Your Highness, at this mont, the most important thing is your marriage to Miss Kong. I’m worried that Grandmaster Kong would rather ruin his daughter’s reputation than let her marry into Prince Dai Mansion."
Two days ago, Grandmaster Kong boldly went to see the Emperor alone to refuse the marriage, but the Emperor did not agree.
Prince Dai didn’t expect Grandmaster Kong to be so ungrateful, and said in a cold tone: "How dare he!"
Marquis Xuanping said: "We cannot be careless!" Although the entrance of Grandmaster Kong’s youngest daughter into Prince Dai Mansion would threaten his own daughter’s position, he believed his daughter could handle it. Besides, for Prince Dai to ascend to the position of Crown Prince, he must garner the support of the Kong Family.
"I will have soone secretly monitor the Kong family."
In another carriage, Pri Minister He and Grandmaster Liu were also discussing the Emperor’s decision to suspend court for the forr Empress.
"I thought the Emperor no longer cared for the forr Empress, but it turns out he still holds her in great respect," Shen Hu said.
Chu Ying remarked: "This year marks the seventh anniversary of the forr Empress’s passing, so the Emperor would not take it lightly."
Song Dekang laughed and said: "The expressions on Prince Dai’s side were priceless just now."
Zhang Gong said: "They didn’t expect the Emperor to suspend court for the forr Empress again."
Shen Hu laughed: "The Crown Prince’s supporters are feeling smug once more."
Song Dekang noticed Pri Minister He and Grandmaster Liu were not speaking and asked in confusion: "Pri Minister He, Grandmaster Liu, why aren’t you saying anything? Is there sothing amiss about this matter?"
Pri Minister He stroked his beard and said: "There’s nothing amiss."
"Did you two already know the Emperor would suspend court for the forr Empress?"
Grandmaster Liu: "We guessed it." That’s why they weren’t surprised at all.
"No wonder you two stayed silent." Shen Hu sighed, "As long as the Emperor still holds the forr Empress in his heart, the Crown Prince won’t be easily replaced by Prince Dai."
Upon hearing Shen Hu’s words, Pri Minister He and Grandmaster Liu exchanged a knowing smile.
Song Dekang said: "For now, we don’t need to worry about the Crown Prince."
Pri Minister He said amusingly: "When was it your turn to worry about the Crown Prince?"
Grandmaster Liu added: "The Crown Prince doesn’t need you to be concerned for him either."
Shen Hu retorted: "It’s not the Crown Prince we are concerned about, but the forr Empress."
Hearing this, Pri Minister He and Grandmaster Liu did not say anything further.
At this mont, the Emperor took the Crown Prince to Zhonghua Palace.
Zhonghua Palace used to be the residence of the forr Empress. After her passing, the Emperor transford Zhonghua Palace into a dedicated shrine for the forr Empress, forbidding anyone to reside within it.
Entering the main hall of Zhonghua Palace, the first thing one saw was the portrait of the forr Empress.
In the portrait, the forr Empress wore the formal dress of an Empress. Her features were delicate, her gaze gentle, and her smile graceful.
The artist was extrely skilled, capturing the essence of the forr Empress’s deanor perfectly.
Just looking at the portrait, one could tell the forr Empress was a very gentle person. Her gentleness wasn’t superficial but radiated from deep within.
Before the portrait were placed fresh flowers, fresh fruits, and the snacks she loved during her lifeti.
The Emperor raised three sticks of incense to the portrait of the forr Empress and placed them in the incense burner. The Crown Prince then knelt before the portrait and kowtowed three tis.
"Father, last night I dread of Mother." The Crown Prince stood behind the Emperor, slightly raising his head to gaze at the portrait of the forr Empress. His eyes were slightly red, his voice sowhat choked, "Mother said she is doing well in the other world, and told us not to worry about her." The Crown Prince had indeed dread of the forr Empress and was not lying.
"Mother also said Tuantuan is growing well." When the forr Empress was alive, the Crown Prince depended on her a lot, "Mother loved children the most, but unfortunately, she didn’t get to see Tuantuan born."
The Emperor looked at the portrait of the forr Empress and said nothing.
The Crown Prince continued: "Father, Mother asked to tell you not to feel guilty about her passing. She never blad you and hoped you wouldn’t bla yourself either." This was sothing the Crown Prince said on his own accord.
Hearing this, the Emperor lightly sighed and said: "Your mother was always considering , never wanting to be troubled."
"Mother was that kind of person."
Back then, the forr Empress hid her illness not only from the Emperor but also from the Crown Prince. Aside from those attending her, no one else knew.
"Mother blad for being incompetent, making you worry about ."
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