Chapter 418 – Power

Chapter 418 - Power

"Given the Empress's critical condition, the preparations for the New Year celebrations should be handled by Concubine Xiaian and Concubine Gui," said He Jinli, seated in the highest position.

After saying this, he glanced at Concubine Shu. "Oh, Concubine Shu should join them as well."

No one could tell if it was deliberate or not, but Concubine Shu certainly felt embarrassed.

The Empress Dowager spoke up, "This year's New Year festivities will be more demanding due to the newly appointed Crown Prince. It won't be the same as previous years. Moreover, we need to start preparations early for next year's selection of consorts. So, you all have your work cut out for you."

The three concubines hastily responded that they were willing to do their part, as it was their duty.

The Empress Dowager gave them further instructions but made no indication of wanting to seize power.

When they had finished discussing matters, she dismissed the concubines, leaving only her and her son behind.

"The Empress's illness—how severe is it?" the Empress Dowager inquired.

He Jinli sighed, "She can't get up now. Her condition isn't good. It might take a while for her to recover fully. Due to the excessive medication she's taken in the past, ordinary painkillers don't work on her anymore unless they're extremely potent."

"The Empress has never experienced such injuries, but I can imagine the agony. It's unbearable," the Empress Dowager sighed.

"He's right, but we can't just administer any medicine. If we do, her mind won't be able to handle it. It might lead to..." He Jinli was also worried.

Although the Empress had lost the people's favor over the years, she was still his first and lawful wife.

He wouldn't wish for her death.

But the Empress's health was truly a concern that he couldn't ignore.

Ordinary medicines were ineffective, and unconventional ones would be too much for her. If used, there would be no turning back.

How could the mother of the nation rely on addictive substances? What kind of precedent would that set?

Moreover, it would only provide temporary relief – like drinking poison to quench thirst. Could she be given such medicine continuously around the clock?

"If all else fails, we could ask the imperial physicians to nourish her body thoroughly. Wouldn't that help improve her condition?" the Empress Dowager inquired.

"Her Highness the Empress's current state is like a dilapidated house. It's risky to replenish her too hastily; her body can't withstand it," said He Jinli.

The Empress Dowager fell silent for a moment.

"All we can do is ask the imperial physicians to do their best," she sighed. "Yes, let them try their utmost. I never imagined things would come to this."

Who could have foreseen this?

After He Jinli left, the Empress Dowager sat alone for a long time.

"I've experienced the battles in the harem once before, but I still find it hard to get used to it."

"You're overthinking, Your Majesty. The struggles in the harem are indeed brutal, but the Empress's misfortune seems to stem from her own ill luck. Ever since she became Empress, it's as if she exhausted all her good fortune. The Emperor has always shown her extra care and respect, hasn't he? In their youth, he was focused on her conceiving. He doted on Princess Yongning so much. Can we really say he treated her poorly? But what about her? She consistently disappoints. During the incident back then, another was also pregnant, and she was unscathed. Yet, with her already far along in her pregnancy, she was frightened into premature labor, which led to Prince Qin's weakened health."

Were it not so, wouldn't she, as the rightful queen, and her son, the rightful heir of the King of Qin, ascend to their positions naturally and without contention?

"Her anxiety got the better of her. As an empress, she should have maintained her composure. It was unbecoming of her to vie for favor with concubines, only to end up falling off her horse herself. To this day, I still find it utterly humiliating. After all, she is a daughter of a military family," grumbled Aunt Fan with a sigh.

The Empress Dowager also shook her head.

In that case, the Empress truly has bad luck.

"Though it was attributed to bad luck, her impatience grew with each passing day. Back when Qi Qingluan was in the palace, she constantly gave the Empress a hard time, yet the Empress still managed to maintain her position. In the following years... it has been downhill every year. Perhaps things might have been better if she had never given birth to the King of Qin."

Nanny Fan nodded in agreement. That was indeed true.

It was the fear of loss that plagued people the most, rather than the absence of gain.

No sooner had Yun Li returned than the Empress Dowager's messenger arrived with next year's list of candidates for the imperial selection. Along with it came a message: "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager says that the main purpose is to choose a crown princess for your son. She asks you to examine the list yourself."

Yun Li received the message in silence, somewhat speechless.

Indeed, it was time to choose consorts for the next generation.

Princes Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth were all eligible to make their selections.

Originally, there had been no plan for a yearly selection of consorts. However, since the investiture ceremony for the Crown Prince had taken place this year, it was high time to start considering potential brides.

He Jinli had already shown interest in several families, but he was not yet fully committed. He wanted to see the qualities and appearance of the young women through the selection process.

Another reason He Jinli wished to proceed with the selection early was because the Empress was now severely ill.

Even if a choice were made promptly, the wedding of the Crown Prince would still be a significant event that couldn't be hurried. It wouldn't take place in the same year.

At the very least, it would be the following year, and if the chosen candidate was too young, another year might pass before the marriage could occur.

It was better to decide sooner rather than later, as the Empress's health wasn't expected to last indefinitely, though not imminently.

Yun Li understood this implication and thus didn't comment further, instead focusing on examining the list at hand.

Ultimately, they would have to meet the candidates in person. The list had already undergone some preliminary screening.

Most of the unsuitable candidates have already been eliminated.

However, it was almost New Year's, and the selection still had two to three months to go. There was no need to rush.

Assured that the Empress would not make an appearance during the festivities this year, they began planning how to proceed accordingly.

The Fengyi Palace did not receive guests; therefore, the more prominent visitors would have to visit the Empress Dowager instead.

Hao Jinhui said with great consideration, "On New Year's Eve, we'll be at the Linzhi Palace. On the first day of the new year, all of you can pay your respects to the Empress Dowager together. Afterward, you can split up and go your separate ways."

Yun Li nodded in agreement.

"Others might not mind, but what about Prince Qin and the First Princess?" Yun Li inquired.

"Hold them accountable for their own decisions. If they wish to visit the Fengyi Palace, let them. If not, they can always go to the Empress Dowager," Hao Jinhui suggested, as there was still the Empress Dowager to consider.

"Speaking of which, shouldn't Prince Qin also start selecting his consorts next year?" Yun Li suddenly asked.

Prince Qin would turn eighteen after the New Year.

After some thought, He Jinning said, "Let's hear it from him."

He Jinning was also aware that the Qin King was infertile and seemed to have no interest in marriage. So, he decided to let him handle it his own way.

Yun Li nodded. "I understand then."

"Alright, it's getting late. Aren't you tired?" He Jinning embraced her with a smile. "You've lost weight, haven't you? I noticed that your coat seems loose today. Indeed, you're much thinner now."

Yun Li frowned. "Really? I didn't even notice."

He Jinning frowned as well. "I'll have the imperial physician examine you tomorrow."

Yun Li nodded in agreement.

But He Jinning suddenly added, "No, we can't wait. Let's see the physician now!"

Recalling the time when she was poisoned, he knew that any delay could have cost her life.

Yun Li felt it wasn't that serious, but she didn't argue. Anyway, she wasn't sleepy just yet.

Physician Zhu was on edge the entire time he was summoned, fearing that something might have happened to Her Majesty.

After taking her pulse, he sighed in relief. "May I ask what has been bothering Your Majesty lately?"

Good, it seemed there were no major issues.

Otherwise, the physician wouldn't have asked such a question.

Yun Li replied, "There's nothing wrong. It's just that His Majesty thinks I've lost some weight."

Physician Zhu nodded. "Your Majesty's health is in no way compromised. This slight weight loss might be due to your recent busyness, I presume?"