“Chapter 061”

"Chapter 061"

"This had never happened in her previous life."

"She couldn’t understand why her grandfather would make such a decision."

"Was he dissatisfied with her as a daughter-in-law? Since her rebirth, she hadn’t made any mistakes; she had even earned commendations from him... What could have caused such a drastic change in his attitude?"

"Chu Yin was deeply puzzled and felt wronged, but he was not only her elder but also the emperor, so she couldn't defy him, 'If there really is a wise and capable person to share my burden and help me, then of course, that would be a good thing.'"

"See, how cleverly put."

"Implicitly, she was open to accepting a concubine, but that concubine must be discreet, not causing trouble or disrupting the order of the Eastern Palace."

"But a woman’s influence isn't solely contained in ‘wisdom and reason’; Emperor Jianxing’s gaze swept over her calm and beautiful face, thinking, 'The crown prince’s affection surely isn’t based on her 'virtuousness,' is it?'"

"Emperor Jianxing put the two children down from his lap, 'Zhuang, Zhen, you look tired. Take them back for a rest.'"

"Chu Yin agreed and led the children away from the Qianqing Palace."

"She had arrived joyfully, but now she was leaving filled with worries."

"It wasn't really the prospect of Lu Jingzhao taking a concubine that scared her, but rather the uncertainty, especially changes in her grandfather's thoughts. Any deviation from her past life could affect everything in the future."

"Yet, she couldn’t fathom the reason behind this change, leaving her somewhat at a loss."

"The children, still young, couldn't comprehend their grandfather's earlier words and were carefree. Lu Zhuang, tugging at his mother's sleeve, asked, 'Mother, you borrowed my 'horse' earlier, can you fold horses now?'"

"Mimicking the model, she could indeed fold one; the challenge lay in finding the trick to create other shapes."

"'When I have time, I'll fold a pair of horses for you.'"

"'Yay!' Lu Zhuang was thrilled, quickly adding, 'I want one white and one red, like the horses father and mother ride!'"

"'Alright,' Chu Yin agreed, then turned to her daughter, 'Does Zhen want one too?'"

"Lu Zhen shook her head, 'I don't want horses, I want red pomegranates, purple grapes…'"

“……”

"That's quite challenging, Chu Yin replied, 'It will take some time then.'"

"Talking with her children, her mood lifted slightly."

"No matter how things developed, as long as she fulfilled her duties without fault, her father-in-law, despite his displeasure, couldn’t dismiss her as the Crown Princess without reason. Her job was to maintain her position and watch how things unfolded."

"As for Lu Jingzhao, she trusted him, but she was unsure how to broach this subject with him."

"Her father-in-law hadn’t explicitly mentioned a concubine. If she brought it up, it could seem like she was stirring trouble or gossiping. If her father-in-law found out, it would be her fault. After all, Lu Jingzhao would eventually learn of it."

"As she expected, within three days, Emperor Jianxing broached the subject with his son."

"First, he tested Lu Jingzhao on what he had learned in his studies, then mentioned that the Eastern Palace lacked liveliness and needed more children."

"'I regret having only three sons, and I pin my hopes on you and Jingchen... But I see A-Yin preoccupied with Zhuang and Zhen, and in these four years, no new child. If this continues, you'll even lag behind me!' Emperor Jianxing glanced at the newly sprouting buds outside the window, 'Jingzhao, tell He Zhong your preferences; your Eastern Palace is too quiet.'"

“……”

"Seeing his son's silence, Emperor Jianxing added, 'Rest assured, they will all be women of exceptional beauty, befitting your status.'"

"Lu Jingzhao’s lack of response was due to his disbelief."

"His father had taken concubines himself, causing his mother a lifetime of pain, and now he was being asked to do the same."

"Was he expected to follow in these sordid footsteps?"

"Father, you must know that I have no interest in women," he immediately refused, "I also don’t have the time to entertain this."

"His father, not surprised by this response, smiled and said, 'You reject the idea so quickly, but A-Yin has already agreed. You have such a virtuous wife, which pleases me greatly. You needn't worry about her; let things be as they are.'"

"Chu Yin knew about this?"

"A flicker of surprise crossed Lu Jingzhao’s eyes."

"Emperor Jianxing continued, 'Throughout history, no crown prince has had only one consort. I neglected this earlier, but now, I cannot let you be deprived. It’s settled then.' Without heeding his son’s thoughts, he walked away, hands clasped behind him."

"The setting sun cast a layer of orange light over the desk."

"His father had come to the Chunhui Pavilion expressly to discuss him taking concubines..."

"If he had no children, it would be one thing, but with both a son and a daughter, what reason was there to take concubines for the sake of an heir? Lu Jingzhao truly couldn’t fathom his father’s intention in urging him to 'join the sordid ranks.'"

"He Zhong cleared his throat lightly, 'Your Highness, please tell me your preferences.'"

"Lu Jingzhao replied, 'I have none.'"

"He Zhong: '…'"

"Wasn’t this making things difficult for him?"

"'Your Highness, I don’t wish to pressure you, but I am acting under an imperial command.'"

"This time, Lu Jingzhao said, 'You may leave.'"

"He Zhong realized he could not complete his task."

"Caught between a father and son at odds, one wanting to bestow concubines, the other refusing them, he had no choice but to face the emperor’s wrath. There was no resolution to be found here, and he hurriedly excused himself."

"When Emperor Jianxing saw him return, he wasn’t surprised, simply asking, 'You didn’t succeed?'"

"He Zhong knelt, touching his forehead to the ground, 'I am incapable, Your Majesty. Please forgive me!'"

"As expected, another refusal."

"However, can this child, who once was as cold as ice and refused the lure of beauty, truly remain so indifferent now? Even with an excellent wife, compared to fifteen or sixteen-year-old girls, she's not young anymore. Can he really stay unaffected by other beauties? Emperor Jianxing commanded, 'Search among the eligible women in the capital, choose those with beauty... their families should not be too prominent, a modest beauty would be best.' His aim was to divert his son's affection from his wife, not to stir up strife."

"Once my son has other women, he will not treat emotions as seriously as Jiang Zhi, becoming overly attached."

"In the future, he won’t squander everything he has to please a woman, leading to chaos in the state affairs, like Emperor Daizong of the previous dynasty, who ultimately had his power usurped by his own wife!"

"Choose a variety of appearances, don't limit it to a single type." The more options, the more likely the son might become infatuated with someone else.

"He Zhong couldn't help but feel concerned for Chu Yin, cautiously asking, 'How many do you plan to select, Your Majesty?'"

"Four should be sufficient, quality over quantity."

"'Yes,' He Zhong responded."

"Under the glow of the palace lanterns, the octagonal table was set with six delicious dishes, but Chu Yin noticed that Lu Jingzhao's appetite was not as good as usual."

"'Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?' she probed."

"Lu Jingzhao put down his chopsticks, 'No, it's not that.'"

"His gaze fell on Chu Yin, and his father's words echoed in his mind: 'Chu Yin has already agreed.'"

"Why hadn’t she told him?"

"Had she really agreed?"

"Had she hesitated?"

"His gaze was extremely complex, a mix of warmth and coldness. Chu Yin couldn’t help but touch her face, 'What are you looking at, Your Highness?'"

"'Nothing.'"

"Chu Yin sensed something odd about him, but since he was unwilling to elaborate, she didn’t press further."

"Who would have expected that before bed, he suddenly regained his 'appetite', kissing her relentlessly, like a parched traveler who has found an oasis, almost draining her."

"With a dry mouth and aching tongue, Chu Yin was about to protest when he stopped and said while holding her chin, 'You really can endure.'"

"Chu Yin was completely taken aback, 'What?'"

"'About taking a concubine,' he fixed his eyes on hers, 'how long were you planning to keep it to yourself?'"

“……”

"How could he have known?"

"Even if his father intended to have him take a concubine, he shouldn’t have mentioned the matter of the Qianqing Palace. Chu Yin’s eyelashes fluttered twice, 'The emperor hinted at it, but I wasn’t sure, so I didn’t tell Your Highness.'"

"'But you agreed.'"

“……”

"'Did you really agree?'"

"Beneath the calm surface of his eyes, a storm was brewing."

"Sensing danger, Chu Yin hurriedly explained, 'How could I? I don’t want you to take a concubine, but I didn’t dare to defy the emperor!' She would be insane to agree, unless Lu Jingzhao himself wanted to take a concubine. If he had no place for her in his heart, she wouldn’t care how many he took."

"His expression softened slightly, 'You shouldn’t have kept this from me.'"

"'I was afraid the emperor would blame me for instigating trouble,' Chu Yin said, wrapping her arms around his waist, 'Did the emperor speak to you about it today?'"

"'Yes.'"

"Has His Highness agreed?"

"No, but Father probably won't listen to me," he had already discerned his father's attitude, "I'll make another visit to the Qianqing Palace tomorrow."

Lu Jingzhao is not one to prevaricate; he must have made himself very clear, yet his father remains stubbornly set in his ways. What use is there in opposing him again? It would only add to his father's displeasure.

"If Father truly refuses to change his mind, Your Highness should not be too defiant," Chu Yin earnestly advised, "In our great Yue, filial piety governs the land. As Father commands, we must obey. Your Highness, you must understand what is more and less important." Being granted a concubine is but a trifling matter; their father could force it upon them, and they could not refuse. However, his control only extends to bringing a concubine into the Eastern Palace; beyond that, he has no say.

At that moment, he thought of the time in Qingzhou when Chu Yin, pregnant, urged him to accompany his father to the capital.

She was absolutely right, he knew.

Yet suddenly, his heart was a tumult of complex emotions, because Chu Yin had always been soberly aware from the beginning.

From the time she married him until now, she had always been acutely conscious.

Lu Jingzhao said, "I understand."

He would not quarrel with his father over this. Chu Yin breathed a sigh of relief; she truly feared that this time, their father might consider replacing the crown prince, presenting an unprecedented crisis they would have to face.

She really didn't want to resort to that unless absolutely necessary.

Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly found herself flipped over by the man, and then realized she was lying prone on the bed.

A rather shameful posture...

She thought of the few positions he had mentioned before.

Chu Yin's face burned with heat, and she attempted to flee, but he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, slightly lifting her body.

"Didn't Your Highness say you didn't want children?" she weakly resisted with this reason.

He neither denied nor confirmed, simply kneeling behind her, his hand trailing downwards.

Chu Yin trembled all over.

In a daze, she felt like a leaf floating on the sea, constantly pushed and buffeted by the waves, utterly powerless to control her own movement.

Occasionally, her hands clutched at the pillow, sometimes at the quilt, but she couldn't grasp hold of Lu Jingzhao.

Behind her, he surged like ceaseless tidal waves, as if he would never stop.

In the end, tears were forced out of her, and she couldn't help but sob, "I can't take it anymore with you..." Perhaps accepting a concubine would be a relief, a thought that flashed through her mind, but it was quickly dismissed as a mere moment of exhaustion and complaint against him.

How is it that this man's vitality seems to be growing stronger!

Shouldn't one grow weaker with age? He's a year older than last year.

As she wondered, the man pressed his chest against her back, saying, "I want us to have a child now, Ah Yin."

Chu Yin was so startled that her tears stopped: "What?"

Does that mean trying out every position?

And summer is just around the corner!