dognovel Chapter 188 Prince
Chapter 188 Prince
In the blink of an eye, ten years have passed. April is full of flowers and spring is in full swing.
During the first month of the year, Qin Zhi issued an edict, ordering people to carefully renovate the Shangxiang Palace on the left side of the Qingliang Palace so that the princes could study.
At the same time, Yu ordered the six-year-old eldest prince Qin Mingyu, the five-year-old third prince Qin Mingjin, and the fourth prince Qin Mingyin, who was the same age as the third prince, to go to Shangxiang Palace to enroll in school after the New Year and the one-month annual leave of the court officials.
Before the age of twelve, the princes lived with their mothers in the back halls of their respective palaces.
However, the princes had to arrive at Shangxiang Palace to study at Chenshi (7 o'clock in the morning) every day, and could only return to their palaces to rest at Shenshi ( o'clock in the afternoon) after completing their daily study tasks.
After the princes’ twelfth birthday, they had to move to the Qilin Palace behind the Shangxiang Palace immediately the following year to live with their brothers and cultivate their family affection.
In late spring in April, falling flowers welcome early summer.
At the beginning of the afternoon, all the teachers left the Shangxiang Palace.
Only the palace maids and eunuchs, as well as the eldest prince Qin Mingyu, the third prince Qin Mingjin, and the fourth prince Qin Mingyin were left in the hall.
"Big Brother, Third Brother, where are you going?"
I saw Qin Mingyu and Qin Mingjin leaving together.
Seeing that they were going to leave him behind and go out to play with their brothers, Qin Mingyun immediately put down the book in his hand, and asked, swinging his legs leisurely without touching the ground.
When going out to play, they didn't even bring him along. How could he be excluded from their small group of brothers?
No.
If he saw them, it would be impossible for the eldest and third brothers to be the only ones going out to play.
"Fourth brother, my eldest brother said that he would take me to Queen Mother's Pepper Palace to visit my newly born ninth brother." The third prince Qin Mingjin blinked his big round eyes and answered in a childish voice.
In the ninth year of Jingzheng, that is, in October last year, Concubine Yi Meng Wu Yue gave birth to the seventh prince.
In the following November, Jiang Lanzhi was restored to a beauty after giving birth to the eighth prince. On the eighth prince's full moon day, she was promoted to a noble lady.
On the day when the third prince Qin Mingjin entered school, his mother, Concubine Li Xihua, was reinstated and became a beauty again.
Not long after the 100th day of her birth as the empress dowager, Empress Shen Ningyue became pregnant with Dayong's eldest son, the Ninth Prince.
The mourning period for the empress dowager had not yet ended, and the empress became pregnant during the mourning period. Although there was no explicit regulation, it was indeed indecent behavior. After the news of the empress's pregnancy was revealed, accusations arose from both the court and the public.
They did not dare to target Qin Zhi, so they directed their attacks directly at Queen Shen Ningyue and her family.
He bluntly said that Jinzi Guanglu Doctor Shen Siheng did not teach his daughter well, that Empress Shen Ningyue was rude and lawless, that the eldest son was born at the wrong time, and that his origin was flawed.
Fortunately, Qin Zhi had no intention of making the Ninth Prince the Crown Prince, otherwise there would have been voices saying that the Ninth Prince was not worthy of inheriting the throne.
In order to suppress the criticism against the queen and his legitimate son, Qin Zhi directly "announced" the queen mother's last words.
The empress dowager closed her eyes outside the delivery room where Concubine Zhen gave birth to the sixth prince. The only thing she was thinking about was the continuation of Dayong's descendants. Before she closed her eyes, she left a message hoping that the emperor would change the old custom that filial sons were not allowed to have children during the mourning period.
The emperor's mother, the empress dowager, wanted the emperor's rulers, ministers and people to serve their families and country by having many children and continuing the family line.
As filial sons and daughters-in-law, the emperor and the empress were willing to risk the wrath of the world in order to obey the empress dowager's last teachings.
The act of giving birth to a prince for Dayong during the 100-day mourning period after the death of the empress dowager was an act of filial piety to implement the empress dowager's wish to change old customs.
This is when the patch was applied.
But the government and the opposition simply turned from direct criticism to secret discussions.
After Shen Ningyue gave birth to two daughters, Princess Hengshan Qin Mingyue and Princess Zhaode, she became anxious under her mother's worried gaze and threatening words.
About a month after she finished her confinement, Shen Ningyue became pregnant with the ninth prince despite her anxious mood. In April of this year, she gave birth to the eldest son of the Dayong Dynasty.
No matter what, the eldest son was born.
As for Qin Zhi himself, he actually didn't care much about the discussions of the court and the public. Even if someone pointed at his nose and said he was unfilial, so what? It was just nine clans.
Power is violence, and when violence is in his hands, no one can make any difference.
"My ninth brother is not even a month old yet, will Mother allow us to visit him?
Earlier, my mother said that she would take me to Luanyi Palace to visit the newly-born Concubine Yi and my seventh brother who was just a few days old, but I just sat there, gave him a gift, and exchanged a few polite words, but I didn’t get to see my seventh brother at all.”
The fourth prince, Qin Mingyun, drooped his chubby little face and complained with an indignant look.
"I have already accompanied mother to meet my ninth brother. Do you want to join us?" The eldest prince Qin Mingyu said proudly, acting like a big brother.
Qin Mingyun was very excited.
"Then wait for me for a moment. I'll go tell Aunt Huaixu who's coming to pick me up."
Qin Mingyun was also very curious about his ninth brother, who had the most noble status and was teased by his mother in private, and agreed without hesitation.
Before he finished speaking, he rushed out of Shangxiang Palace.
"Aunt Huaixu, Aunt Huaixu, I want to go to Queen Mother's Pepper Room with my eldest brother and third brother to visit my newborn ninth brother."
Qin Mingyun rushed to Huai Xu and spoke loudly before he could even stop.
Huai Xu hesitated for a moment and said, "I will go with your Highnesses."
Qin Mingyun's eyes wandered for a moment. Aunt Huaixu had been taking care of him since he was born, just like his elder. He went out to play with his older brother and third brother of the same age, and he was very reluctant to bring his elders with him.
Seeing that her naughty Fourth Prince was hesitating, Huai Xu narrowed her eyes and said firmly:
"If His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince is unwilling to take me with him, I will be worried, and Concubine Hui will be even more worried. Why don't you go back to the Suzaku Palace with me and ask Concubine Hui for her opinion, or ask Concubine Hui to take His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince to the Pepper Palace, okay?"
When Qin Mingyun heard this, his eyes widened and he immediately agreed to take Aunt Huaixu to the Pepper Palace.
When the eldest prince Qin Mingyu, the third prince Qin Mingjin and the fourth prince Qin Mingyin got together again, each of them was accompanied by his most trusted head maid in his mother's palace.
Sui Wan in Lanlin Hall, Yue Ya in Yue Shi Hall and Huai Xu in Suzaku Hall smiled at each other in tacit understanding.
It is obviously impossible to allow one's precious prince to wander around the harem on his own.
Even if the princes bring a group of palace servants with them, the other palace servants are unable to control the princes who are at an age where they are disliked by everyone, and the Empress in the palace and them are also worried.
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In the Jiaofang Hall.
Shen Ningyue lay on the bed, stroking her forehead, and looked sideways at the Ninth Prince whom she had given birth to in great worry. This was her and His Majesty's eldest son.
She heard the rumors outside before she gave birth.
Although His Majesty was worried that her health would be affected by these criticisms, he quickly blocked the news.
But for Shen Ningyue, that was no different from covering one's ears and stealing a bell. The sound did not disappear if you didn't listen to it. You could guess at it, and the unknown might be even more terrifying.
Shen Ningyue gave birth to the ninth prince amidst repeated struggles between regret and not regretting.
Seeing that the Ninth Prince did not become too thin due to her complicated emotions, her heart was filled with joy and relief. God had always been kind to her.
After she impulsively seduced His Majesty and became pregnant with the Ninth Prince, Shen Ningyue could no longer control her panic.
She didn't know if she was too wrong. She also knew that she shouldn't let herself let her thoughts run wild while she was pregnant, but Shen Ningyue couldn't control herself.
It was not until the moment the guillotine fell that Shen Ningyue finally calmed down.
Now, looking at the Ninth Prince who was blowing bubbles unconsciously with cherishment, Shen Ningyue felt extremely at peace.
She gave birth to His Majesty's eldest son, so His Majesty should not be disappointed in her. Shen Ningyue also did not want to speculate about her relationship with His Majesty.
But I don’t know if my mother will regret threatening her.
However, it was Shen Ningyue's own choice to conceive and give birth to the Ninth Prince at the wrong time. Anyway, at this moment, Shen Ningyue did not regret it.
"Empress!" Pu Jie tiptoed into the bedroom and said in a low voice.
"What's matter?"
Shen Ningyue lay on her side softly, not looking haggard at all. Her smooth black hair spread out on the pillow, making her look extremely gentle and charming.
"Your Majesty, the First Prince, the Third Prince, and the Fourth Prince request an audience."
Pu Jie has been serving Shen Ningyue for five years.
Unconsciously, Pu Jie would still be stunned and dazzled by Shen Ningyue's beauty and temperament, marveling at how there could be such a fairy-like beauty in this world. Even the fairies in heaven might not be as good as his own queen.
No wonder His Majesty, after seeing Shen Ningyue for a few times during the selection, made her the Empress of the Central Palace, the Queen Mother of Dayong, and the Mother of the Country. She deserves the title.
"?" Shen Ningyue's pair of clear phoenix eyes were wide open, full of doubts.
"Did the brothers come here by themselves?"
Pu Jie nodded and said, "There are only three princes. Their mothers are not around. Judging from the time, they must have come directly here after finishing school at Shangxiang Palace."
"Go, have them draw down the curtains of the inner room, and let them in.
The three princes are still young, and I am their mother, so it is not an offense." Shen Ningyue said softly.
As for His Majesty's other children, in Shen Ningyue's heart, although they are not as good as the ones born to her and His Majesty, she still loves them.
As for the eldest prince Qin Mingyu, his mother Shi Qingzhang often brought him to the Pepper Palace to play, and Shen Ningyue was the one who was most familiar to him.
The third prince Qin Mingjin was raised by the Queen Mother for a period of time. He loves to eat and play and is very cute.
The fourth prince, Qin Mingyun, is intelligent and bold, cheerful and enthusiastic.
She has some fondness for each of the princes.
"Greetings, mother. May your mother be blessed with good health." The three brothers Qin Mingyu, Qin Mingjin and Qin Mingyun bowed and greeted in unison.
"My princes, there is no need to be polite. Get up quickly."
Shen Ningyue looked out through the gauze curtain of the inner room and saw three small figures bowing and greeting her. Their movements were uniform and resembled each other. It reminded her of her younger brothers at home, and she couldn't help but chuckle.
"Mother, here are Mingyu's favorite cakes. Did Mingyu bring his brothers to eat your favorite cakes?"
"No." Qin Mingyu shook his head like a rattle, but Xiaoji on the side had already happily brought all the cakes over.
Xiao Ji smiled and covered her face, "Your Highness, you came here with Your Highness, the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince today. Besides, Lady Shi, who didn't let you eat cakes, is not here. I have more cakes to serve, so you don't have to worry about Your Highness, the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince sharing all your cakes. If they are not enough, I will ask the small kitchen to make more."
When Qin Mingyu heard Xiaoji's words, he blushed immediately.
"Aunt Xiaoji, I am not worried that my third and fourth brothers will take away my cakes. I am the eldest brother, and I have my own way. Don't slander me."
"Reporting to the Queen Mother, my eldest brother is indeed not guarding his food. When he was studying in Shangxiang Palace, he often shared his snacks with us and was scolded by the teacher. We came here today to see our newly born ninth brother."
Qin Mingyun waited for his elder brother Qin Mingyu to finish speaking before speaking.
It's called sharing, but in fact it means sharing the responsibility. When studying, everyone has a share and no one can escape when eating. However, only the third prince Qin Mingjin would be willing to take the snacks handed to him by the eldest prince Qin Mingyu. The fourth prince Qin Mingyin was a little disgusted.
"You can watch, but your ninth brother is still too young and his body is very fragile, you can't get started!
do you know?
The Queen Mother welcomes you brothers to visit the Ninth Prince often. When he can walk and talk, he can play with you."
"Thank you, mother." Qin Mingyun grabbed Qin Mingjin, who was holding a pastry in each hand, glared at him fiercely, and nodded hurriedly.
"Thank you, mother." Qin Mingjin stuffed pastries in his mouth and mumbled along with his fourth brother to express his gratitude.
"Wash your hands and wipe your mouth!" the eldest prince Qin Mingyu scolded, and snatched the pastry from Qin Mingjin's hand.
They are both five-year-old children, but why does the fourth brother look much smarter than the third brother?
After that, Qin Mingyu turned around and shouted to Xiaoji: "Aunt Xiaoji!"
Xiaoji nodded with a smile and signaled the palace servant behind him to bring a copper basin filled with warm water.