Chapter 320

Chapter 320: The Tragedy of the Times

He indeed harbored hatred towards the Empress and Consort Qiong.

It was because of them that his mother died.

It was also because the Emperor favored them too much, allowing his mother to die.

Couldn't she have just been sent to live in the Cold Palace?

How could he be so heartless after all the years Mother Consort had been with him?

So he kept silent to his death, letting them fight amongst themselves; none of them are good, let them die as they please.

It wouldn't matter if they all died.

It doesn't matter if the Emperor doesn't like him; he doesn't like them either.

Wiping away his tears fiercely, he thought as long as his younger sister was well, that's all that mattered.

An Chongyi won't have more children and has no family background; she has only this child and will surely treat her well.

----

This winter, no more incidents occurred in the harem.

On the ninth day of the eleventh month, Hu Baolin gave birth to the Twelfth Prince. Both mother and child were safe.

She was also promoted to Hu Xiaoyi.

Whether the Empress didn't make a move or couldn't succeed, Hu Xiaoyi was getting better day by day, and her child was still raised by her side.

January 8th, in the sixteenth year of Chongzheng, was the day the Grand Princess got married.

Princess Yiyang was married off to Marquis Fan.

Currently, Marquis Fan was a first-class marquis, also a top scholar, serving at the Imperial Censorate, with a bright future ahead. Moreover, his father was the Minister of Personnel.

The Fan family was clearly set to flourish for several generations.

The marriage of He Jinli's legitimate eldest daughter was naturally a grand affair with miles of red adornments, limitless in splendor.

From the palace gate to the Princess's mansion, red carpets were laid down. The procession for delivering the dowry was very long.

Outside the grand hall of Cian Palace, Princess Yiyang, in her phoenix crown and wedding robe, kneeled to bid farewell to her grandmother, father, and mother, with tears in her eyes.

Consorts, princesses, and princes were all present to bid her farewell.

He Jinli personally helped her up: "After getting married, live well. If you're unhappy, your father is here. The palace will always be your home."

Princess Yiyang cried even harder.

The Empress also wiped her tears.

"Alright, no more crying. Crying will ruin your looks," He Jinli, filled with emotion, wiped her tears: "Have your cousin carry you out. It's time."

Princess Yiyang nodded and then knelt to kowtow: "I am leaving now, hoping Father, Mother, Grandmother, and all the noble ladies stay healthy."

After three bows, He Jinli pulled her up again. He covered her bridal veil.

She was escorted out by the eldest son of King Qi, which would normally be done by her own direct brothers.

However, the Second Prince, born in the fourth year of Chongzheng, was simply too small and couldn't carry her.

Emperor He Jingxi could have done it, as her father.

But as the Emperor, it was impossible.

So, they settled for the next best thing, having her cousin escort her was just as well.

The Empress stood watching her leave, unable to stop her tears.

"There's no need to be so sad, Empress. The Princess's marriage is a joyous occasion. We've carefully chosen the match; it can't go wrong," the Grand Empress Dowager consoled.

"You're right, Mother. I know she won't suffer; it's just hard to let go," the Empress sighed.

The Grand Empress Dowager also sighed subtly, remembering how it felt to send off Huaying in the same way.

Even though she was nominally a concubine's daughter, she couldn't cry like this.

But the sentiment was the same.

Turning to speak, Emperor He Jingxi saw Consort Jinde also wiping away tears.

Suddenly, he found himself at a loss for words.

Yes, if the Crown Prince were still alive, at seventeen this year, he would have been just the right age to escort his sister.

The thought of that child made Emperor He Jingxi truly heartbroken.

After all, back in the Eastern Palace, he had only one son and one daughter.

When the Crown Prince was born, he hadn't yet become the Emperor, but he had held and soothed him.

Or rather, among his many children, those he had held and soothed were few. Only the then Princess, the Crown Prince, and now the Third Princess and the Ninth Prince.

After his ascension to the throne, due to the mourning period, he couldn't visit the harem often, so he frequently called these two children to the Zhengyang Palace...

Even with all her faults, Consort Jinde had given birth to the Crown Prince...

Initially, Yun Li didn't pay attention to this detail, but eventually, she noticed.

Seeing this, she looked at Emperor He Jingxi's expression.

She knew then that the deceased child remained a forever tender spot in the Emperor's heart.

Unlike the Eighth Prince, who died before coming of age.

Yun Li had seen the Crown Prince too, a very handsome child.

Perhaps that's why Consort Jinde has managed to maintain her position over the years.

Yun Li then looked at the Second Prince, sneering inwardly.

Emperor He Jingxi doesn't like the Third Prince, so he must favor the Second Prince?

Not necessarily.

What's lost is precious; even if Consort Jinde raises another to be just like the Crown Prince, it will never be the Crown Prince.

If that were the case, perhaps the struggle would be fiercer, and the Crown Prince could have quickly fallen out of favor.

After everyone dispersed, the Consort, brimming with excitement, came to see Yun Li, bringing the Second Princess with her.

"I saw it today; the Princess's dowry is enormous. What I birthed is of concubine birth, so I dare not ask for as much. But it also can't be too inferior; otherwise, I won't accept it. Whether I'm favored or not doesn't matter, but my daughter can't be too much less than Yiyang."

"Oh, Mother, I'm only a few years old," Princess Yixuan said shyly.

"Go on, do you plan to wait until the day you marry to start thinking about it?" the Consort playfully scolded her.

Yixuan stuck out her tongue.

Yun Li smiled and patted Yixuan's head: "Don't worry, a sister's child is different. The dowry won't be small. Not to mention Yuan Zheng, would a sister who is a Consort be lacking?"

In the palace, it would not look good for a princess of lower status and less favor to marry.

"Indeed, oh, how quickly the Grand Princess is getting married," sighed the Consort.

Yun Li smiled: "Yes, it's quite fast."

"Right, did you see Consort Jinde crying? Such deep affection for the Grand Princess?" asked the Consort.

Yun Li chuckled; the Consort truly was absent-minded.

"Sister, have you forgotten the Crown Prince?" Yun Li said.

The Consort slapped her forehead: "Oh, it's good I'm talking to you. If I said this outside, I'd probably be hated to death."

Yun Li shook her head: "It's fine, as long as you talk to me."

"Indeed, the Crown Prince back then, ah, such a pity. Do you think things would have naturally followed if the Crown Prince was still here?" the Consort wondered.

Then she answered her own question: "Impossible, even if he were alive, it wouldn't be anything special."

Yun Li laughed again: "Sister, have lunch with me here."

The Consort nodded.

Yun Li then ordered the meals to be prepared.

That night, by both sentiment and reason, the Emperor was to stay with the Empress.

But in fact, unknown to anyone, the Empress had not shared the Emperor's bed since the year she damaged her pelvis.

Indeed, while other functions were normal, sharing the Emperor's bed could lead to pregnancy.

And she couldn't withstand pregnancy, so why bother?

She knew this herself, but knowing didn't mean her heart wasn't heavy.

Yet, however heavy her heart was, she could only endure.

Her mindset was still that of ancient times; with her daughter married off, she considered herself old.

How could she dare seek pleasure?

Not to mention now, even at the peak of her romance with Emperor He, she dared not.

It must be said, isn't this also a kind of tragedy?

The tragedy of the times.