Chapter 997: Chapter 997: Palace Affairs
The birthdays of the previous sons were all celebrated simply.
This is his first legitimate princess.
And the only apple of his eye, how could he let his little daughter be wronged?
So it must be held with the highest standards.
Xia Ruqing had no choice, so she agreed to it.
After all, there wasn’t much else going on, right?
However, palace duties are still managed by Consort Hui.
With the year’s end approaching, preparations for New Year’s Eve were needed, and even the post-New Year’s Empress’s enthronent ceremony.
It’s likely that she is already quite exhausted.
Xia Ruqing was pondering whether to send so people to help Consort Hui.
Unexpectedly, Consort Hui personally ca to visit.
"Greetings, Empress!"
As soon as Consort Hui entered, she respectfully saluted.
Xia Ruqing hurriedly said,
"Please rise and have a seat, there’s no need for formality!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Consort Hui stood up and sat down beside Xia Ruqing.
Zi Yue served two cups of tea.
Consort Hui thanked her, took a couple of sips, and then smiled.
"Empress, I have co to discuss sothing with you."
"Oh? What is it?"
Xia Ruqing inquired with a smile.
She really appreciated Consort Hui’s straightforward nature.
Unlike so people who speak in circles.
Consort Hui laughed and said,
"Your Majesty has received the imperial edict for so days now!"
"Previously, I temporarily managed the Six Palaces’ affairs out of necessity!"
"Now that we have Your Majesty, these palace duties naturally belong under your managent. I should not continue overstepping my bounds!"
"I was thinking of finding a ti to hand the palace duties over to you. What does Your Majesty think?"
Managing the Six Palaces seems glorious on the surface, but it cos with countless hardships behind the scenes.
If done well, no one will praise you, but if done poorly, you must be the first to take the bla.
On reflection, it doesn’t seem worth it.
It’s better to live quietly with Yi An.
As a Consort, she has a good relationship with the Empress, at least with no grudges.
There’s also so affection from the Emperor, likely no one would make things difficult for her!
She also has a daughter, providing support for the future; life couldn’t be better.
So, she was eager to step down.
Xia Ruqing frowned.
Palace duties?
Heavens, she has four children; even if Chenchen is moved out, there are still three.
Yue Er is still so young; where would she find the ti to handle all these trivial matters?!
So she almost imdiately refused without thinking, looking troubled.
"To be honest, I’ve given birth to four children, and the Imperial Physician says I’ve hard my body, and shouldn’t exert myself ntally!"
"After Chenchen moves out, I still need to care for the three children. It’s already quite taxing, and I truly cannot manage palace duties!"
"You’ve always been reliable and graceful in your work, even the Emperor greatly trusts you!"
"There’s no need to transfer the palace duties for now!"
"It’s better for you to continue managing, what do you think?"
Two clever people were pushing a hot potato back and forth.
Consort Hui looked a bit troubled.
"Your Majesty, this..."
"I would be honored to share your burdens, truly, but... this seems against the rules!"
The Empress is present.
Having a palace consort manage the Six Palaces would inevitably lead to gossip behind her back and even insubordination!
Consort Hui had indeed heard so rumors.
Therefore, she really didn’t want to manage it anymore.
Xia Ruqing continued,
"Don’t worry!"
"There’s no need for concern; those who refuse to listen or spread rumors can be dealt with according to palace rules, do not trouble
for that!"
"I do not believe they are capable of much!"
Having said so much,
Consort Hui couldn’t refuse anymore; she reluctantly nodded.
"Yes! Then I... will obey respectfully!"
Xia Ruqing breathed a sigh of relief, sincerely saying,
"Rest assured, I will rember your kindness!"
Consort Hui felt embarrassed, imdiately kneeling.
"Your Majesty, I am unworthy of such words!"
Xia Ruqing quickly helped her up.
"Don’t be like this; if I say you deserve it, then you do!"
Consort Hui could only smile.
"Your Majesty, you truly think highly of !"
"Use people without suspicion, and do not use people you doubt!"
"I know you’re intelligent, and that’s enough!"
Consort Hui laughed a bit.
"Your Majesty, there’s another matter I would like to ask you for!"
"Speak!"
Consort Hui said,
"Regarding the Princess’s first birthday banquet, the Emperor has decreed that it should be grand!"
"Following that is the New Year’s Eve banquet, and after the New Year, Your Majesty’s enthronent ceremony, I..."
"I am really quite overwheld!"
"I was thinking if the Little Princess’s birthday banquet could be entrusted to you, Your Majesty?"
"It’s really... to avoid wronging the Princess!"
Xia Ruqing thought for a mont.
With so many things, she was indeed busy, and sneaking in so leisure didn’t seem quite right.
She then nodded in agreent.
"Very well!"
"You’ve worked hard with all these things!"
"Your Majesty is too kind!"
Consort Hui saluted again.
"If there’s nothing else, I won’t disturb Your Majesty’s rest!"
Xia Ruqing nodded, instructing Zi Yue to see her out warmly.
At the side, Zi Su couldn’t hold back.
"Your Majesty, why are you handing the palace duties over to Consort Hui, wouldn’t it be better for us to manage them ourselves?"
"You are, after all, the master of the Six Palaces!"
Xia Ruqing chuckled wryly.
"It’s not really a good thing! Why fight over it?"
"Consort Hui is intelligent; I feel at ease leaving it to her!"
Zi Su fell silent.
...
Consort Hui returned from Duanning Palace, taking Xiang Tan back to Zhaoxiang Pavilion.
Upon entering.
She took off her clothes and drank so hot tea, then a slight smile appeared.
As if... she was quite satisfied with sothing.
"Your Majesty, the palace duties remain with us; why are you happy about that?"
It’s not rightful, faced with people’s gossip, and no benefits are gained.
On the surface, it seems splendid.
But behind the scenes, Your Majesty often stays up late working hard; who sees that?
Consort Hui just laughed.
"Our Empress is smart! She likes to be a hands-off leader!"
"Her body isn’t well, and she has many children around her, lacking the energy is normal!"
"I had already anticipated this result!"
"Then why did you go?" Xiang Tan asked, puzzled.
"How could I not go?"
"Without the Empress’s statent, I would only face more criticism in the future!"
"Although I also want a quiet life, handling nothing, but... the conditions just don’t allow it!"
Besides, managing the palace duties isn’t without its benefits.
At the very least, her own life is better, and she can save more dowry for Yi An.
As a mother, having so harmless personal considerations is normal too.
Xiang Tan kept quiet.
Consort Hui sighed with satisfaction.
"Being able to hand over the Fourth Princess’s first birthday banquet makes
quite content!"
Now, there’s only the New Year’s Eve banquet to worry about.
As for the enthronent ceremony, that’s next year’s matter, not a concern yet!
Finally, not so tiring!
Consort Hui waved her hand with a smile.
"Enough thinking about it!"
"Go fetch
a bowl of soup!"
"I’m sowhat hungry!"
"Yes!"
...
In the afternoon.
Consort Hui called for the ledgers and ceremonial cases related to the first birthday banquet to be delivered.
There were about five or six days left until the birthday banquet.
Xia Ruqing did not dare delay and swiftly began reviewing them.
Fortunately, there were precedents to refer to, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs was adept.
With a word of instruction,
those below enthusiastically sprang into action.
Therefore, the preparations for Xiao Lele’s first birthday banquet went very smoothly.
In the blink of an eye, it was the 18th of the twelfth lunar month.
Xiao Lele’s first birthday banquet arrived.
In the flower hall of Duanning Palace, an opera stage was set up early.
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