In the Jingdi court, he was busy with official duties and his mother was devastated by him. She focused on Buddhist practice, indifferent to worldly affairs.
He couldn't feel at ease entrusting the organization of the full-moon feast to the consorts, mainly because they lacked experience and he feared that it might not be done well.
After thinking it over, the Jingdi selected two experienced old nannies from within the palace.
Have them carefully prepare the full-moon feast for the second prince and little princess.
Only present him with important matters for his approval, and have Lu Xi keep a close watch at all times.
The two nannies were experienced and were old hands in the palace, and they managed the full-moon feast very well without any problems.
On the day of the full-moon feast, the imperial palace was adorned with colorful lanterns and red silk banners, exuding joy and prosperity.
Imperial officials and noble women in their finest attire streamed into the resplendent palace, beaming with joy.
The location of the full-moon feast was set in the Qianyuan Hall.
The Qianyuan Hall is usually not open to the public and is primarily used to host large ceremonial banquets for important foreign envoys, distinguished court officials, and so on.
Today, the Qianyuan Hall is grandly opened, with melodious music playing and dancers gracefully spinning, a scene of prosperity and opulence.
The palace servants were moving around busily.
The consorts, ministers, and noble women who came to the banquet were all dressed in their finest attire. They whispered among themselves, their eyes frequently drawn to the dragon-and-phoenix twins held by the two wet nurses.
The dragon-and-phoenix twins were wrapped in delicate and soft swaddling cloths, looking as exquisite and delicate as jade, with snow-white skin that was adorable. They had big, black eyes that looked around randomly, without fear of strangers, which made them extremely endearing.
Yu Yao was on her double-moon confinement and did not attend the full-moon feast.
Only let the wet nurses take the two children out, and Huang Pu and Liula were watching from behind.
Zhenfei, holding the eldest prince, arrived at the Qianyuan Hall early.
She looked at the two jade-carved dragon-and-phoenix twins in the wet nurses' arms, feeling a heart full of envy.
When the eldest prince was born, he was weak and thin, as if a gust of wind could blow him away. At that time, everyone was worried that he would be difficult to raise, so the shi san and the full-moon feast were not organized.
Now that the eldest prince's health has improved, he has missed out on this opportunity. Zhenfei, seeing this scene, can't help but feel sad for the eldest prince in her heart.
Being the most noble eldest prince, he is not as grand and prominent as the second prince and the little princess.
Although Zhenfei felt sad for the eldest prince, she thought that as long as the eldest prince was healthy now, everything else was secondary.
As the music of ritual ceremonies played, Jingdi slowly entered the Qianyuan Hall, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, with a straight posture, a handsome face, steady steps, and a joyful and proud expression on his face as a father.
He scanned the surroundings, his gaze finally settling on the pair of dragon-and-phoenix twins being held carefully by the wet nurses, filled with tenderness in his eyes.
"Today, the moon of my royal son and daughter is full. I have specially arranged this banquet to celebrate it with you all."
The voice of Jingdi was loud and solemn, drawing a chorus of heartfelt congratulations from the crowd.
He gently raised his hand, signaling the wet nurses to bring the dragon-and-phoenix twins to the front of the stage so that everyone could witness the elegance of the imperial offspring.
"I hereby name the second prince 'Rongqi' and grant him the title of crown prince. May he receive the blessings of heaven, and may his blessings be long-lasting. As for the little princess, I name her 'Rongwan,' and grant her the title of Ruiyang Princess. May she be gentle and virtuous, possessing both wisdom and blessings."
Jingdi's words were full of hope, and his words, like imperial decrees, instantly set the entire banquet ablaze with excitement.
The crowd was greatly surprised. It was extremely rare in the history of the Great Qing Dynasty to appoint a crown prince just a month after birth, which showed that Jingdi's affection for Chen Feipin had surpassed the usual bounds.
At this time, no one dared to object, and everyone respectfully lowered their heads.
Next, Jingdi's gaze fell on the eldest prince held in Zhenfei's arms, his eyes carrying a touch of pity: "Eldest Prince, I bestow upon him the name of Rongkang. Kang means health and peace. Seeing that the eldest prince was born weak and frail, my heart was filled with worry. Although he has improved now, I still hope that he will live a peaceful and healthy life in the future. I confer upon him the title of Kang King, may he live a life free from illness and misfortune in this world, assist the Crown Prince in governing our Great Qing Dynasty together."
Upon hearing these words, there was an even greater stir among the crowd.
Although the eldest prince was not born to Chen Feipin, Jingdi's action was undoubtedly a form of comfort for the mother of the eldest prince, Zhenfei, and also a promise for the future of the eldest prince.
Zhenfei, upon hearing Jingdi's naming of the eldest prince and his appointment as the Kang King, felt a pang of bitterness in her heart, but also secretly let out a sigh of relief.
The name Rongkang, along with the title, contained the emperor's blessings for the eldest prince. As long as the eldest prince could grow up healthy and strong, Zhenfei, as his mother, would have no other desires.
The crowd once again shouted "Long live the emperor" in unison, expressing their congratulations to Jingdi.
In the midst of the bustling atmosphere, the mood of the banquet gradually became lively.
The palace maids moved through the banquet hall like fluttering butterflies, their trays brimming with a variety of fine delicacies.
The fragrance of fine wine spread in the air, intertwined with the scent of delicious food, making people drool.
The ministers began to toast each other, discussing court affairs and palace news, their words filled with congratulations to the imperial family but also not without speculations about the future situation.
In the corners of the Qianyuan Hall, some consorts gathered together in hushed tones, whispering to each other.
"Chen Feipin is truly blessed. The second prince is so young and yet has been appointed as the crown prince. In the future, she will probably have no peer in the palace."
"Yes, look at Zhenfei. She holds the eldest prince with a look of despondency on her face. Although the eldest prince has been granted the title of Kang King, the difference is immediately noticeable."
"We can only lead a plain and ordinary life in the palace, and we mustn't provoke Chen Feipin."
……
What happened at the banquet was soon heard about at the Qionghua Palace.
Yu Yao heard that the second prince had been appointed crown prince, but her expression remained calm, and she did not say anything.
Her child becoming the crown prince was not the first or second time, so there was no need for surprise.
Not long after, the pair of dragon-and-phoenix twins were brought back. They seemed to be tired and yawned prettily before quickly falling asleep.
Yu Yao's face was filled with a gentle smile, gently patting the faces of the two children, and quickly instructing the wet nurses to take the children to rest.
The full-moon feast came to an end quickly, and the officials, mandarin women, and concubines gradually dispersed, and the palace returned to calmness again.
Jingdi deeply loved Yu Yao and had promised her to be his only true love for life.
Now that Jingdi had decided to exclusively favor her, the other concubines in the palace were rendered obsolete, and some of them even became a nuisance.
In fact, Jingdi didn't really mind. It was mainly Yu Yao who wasn't at ease.
She was always worried that he might resist the temptation in the middle of the night and sneak into that woman's palace.
In order not to cause any fluctuations in their relationship or unnecessary conflicts.
On this day, Jingdi made a decision to move all the concubines in the palace to the royal garden to reside.
Their treatment would remain as in the palace, just that they would no longer be under his watchful eye.
Of course, there are also the precious consort Zhenfei and the expectant Shu Gui who will remain in the palace.
After all, they have children, and they can't move out with them.
Otherwise, how would the officials view the children in the eldest prince's and Shu Gui's bellies?
As the mother is elevated by her son, the son is also elevated by his mother.
Although he didn't like Zhenfei and Shu Gui, Jingdi would still consider it more due to the children.
The news spread, causing a stir in the palace.
The concubines who were moved away wept and wailed, insisting on their innocence and grievances.
But Jingdi remained unmoved, showing cold indifference.
Upon hearing this decision, Yu Yao felt quite pleased in her heart.
Finally, she didn't have to worry about the emperor running off in the middle of the night to seek his pleasures.
Yet, she still playfully said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, though this action is for my own sake, those sisters have been in the palace for many years. They must surely hold resentment towards me after being suddenly moved out."
Jingdi looked at her, half-smiling and half-derisive, and teased, "Then would it be good for the emperor to revoke the imperial decree and have the people brought back to the palace?"
Yu Yao was momentarily at a loss for words, her expression becoming extremely peculiar. She looked at the emperor with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, resembling an angry little wild cat.
She reached out and twisted his waist fiercely, pouting playfully and saying, "Fine, you bring them back. Then once I'm done with the confinement, I'll take the child on a tour of the country. From then on, this palace will never see me again. As for whom the emperor wants to favor or not favor in the future, it's none of my business…"
She wouldn't have dared to say such a thing before.
However, as Jingdi's love for her grew deeper, there was nothing she wouldn't dare to say.
Jingdi knew that she was speaking in anger, pretending to be afraid, and quickly embraced her, whispering softly, "Ouyao, don't be upset. Don't be upset. I was just joking with you. How could I possibly call them back? My heart only belongs to you. I said a lifetime of one man and one woman and I won't break my promise. What I said just now was simply to see your adorable expression of jealousy and worry. It was too tempting for me to resist teasing you."
Yu Yao huffed and turned her head away. This dog emperor was quite good at charming women; he had even made her heart bloom with joy.
Yet, she said, "The emperor always uses sweet talk to coax me. But my heart still feels uneasy. The emperor has moved all those sisters away. It's inevitable that there will be gossip in the palace. In the future, there may be a reputation for exclusive favoritism, and we may be pointed at and whispered about behind our backs."
It's like saying she's a whore who still wants to set up a signboard, talking about her, she's just too shameless.
Yu Yao admitted that she wasn't a good person, of course, she wouldn't harm anyone.
Jingdi gently turned her face, making her look at him, his eyes filled with deep affection, "Ouyao, my Ouyao has become so concerned. I am the emperor, and I will handle the affairs of the palace. I only care about Ouyao's feelings. As long as Ouyao is happy, everything else doesn't matter to me. As for those idle gossip, I will make them disappear."
Upon hearing Jingdi's words, Yu Yao's anger subsided by half, and she said, "Then Your Majesty might as well issue another decree, allowing any of them who wish to return home or remarry to do so freely."
The dog emperor will never favor them again, just leaving them in the royal gardens. Although they have everything they need, they can't help but feel lonely in their hearts.
All of them are at a blossoming age. Their days ahead are long, and they will be left to age in the royal gardens. How could they not feel lonely?
Especially at night...
Jingdi raised his eyebrows, his eyes flashed with surprise, but quickly returned to a gentle expression.
"You are truly kind-hearted, Ouyao. To have you is a blessing for me."
Jingdi held her a bit tighter, "I will do as you wish. I will issue an edict tomorrow, stating that if any concubines wish to return home or remarry, I will not stop them and will even grant them generous rewards to ensure they have no worries in their future lives."
Yu Yao smiled contentedly, "Your Majesty is so wise, I can rest assured. This will not only demonstrate your benevolence but also give hope to those sisters, preventing them from growing morose in the royal gardens."
The following day, Jingdi indeed issued an edict.
The edict was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing quite a stir in the palace.
Those concubines who had been transferred to the royal gardens heard this news and had different thoughts in their hearts.
Some concubines came from prestigious families, and their family honors did not allow them to remarry, so they could only continue living a cold and lonely life in the gardens.
But their resentment towards Yu Yao also diminished somewhat.
After all, this is a humane choice.
And some concubines, who had grown weary of palace life, took this opportunity to start planning how to express their desire to return home or remarry to the emperor.
In the royal gardens, Ning Zhao Yi frowned and said to the person next to her, "Chen Feipin's move is truly formidable. It has gained her good reputation while placing us in a difficult situation. If we choose to leave, it's like admitting that we failed in our pursuit of favor. If we stay, it's truly unbearable to be so lonely."
Jingfei in the palace heard of this news and developed an additional respect for Chen Feipin.
She couldn't help but sigh, "Although Feipin looks weak, she is actually incredibly intelligent and kind-hearted. What she has done not only solves the problem of her rivals and troubles but also provides a way out for the other concubines."
During Yu Yao's confinement, Shu Gui successfully gave birth to a second princess.
This was still due to Shu Gui's labor, Yu Yao had secretly given her a pill for smooth delivery, otherwise Shu Gui might have ended up with the same fate as Yunfei.
The second princess was not as weak at birth as the elder prince had been, but she was still somewhat frail compared to a normal fetus.
Fortunately, the physicians in the imperial palace were skilled, and with proper care, there were no major issues.
The second princess was named Ronglan, a name that was both poetic and grand.
After the birth of Princess Ronglan, Shu Gui was also elevated to the rank of Consort Shu.
She devoted all her thoughts to her daughter.
Jingfei devoted herself to teaching the eldest prince, perhaps due to the loneliness in the palace, and since both had children, their relationship gradually improved.
They often held their children and chatted together, sometimes she would come to his palace, and sometimes he would come to hers.
Princess Ronglan, under the careful care of Consort Shu and the imperial physicians, gradually recovered her health. Although she was still somewhat weaker than a normal person, there were no major issues.
At this time, Jingdi had taken Yu Yao and the dragon-and-phoenix twins out of the palace for a trip.
Of course, it was a secret visit in disguise as common people.
Their entourage was not large to avoid drawing too much attention.
Jingdi only brought a few trusted bodyguards, all of whom were highly skilled in martial arts, silently guarding around to ensure the safety of the group.
Yu Yao was very happy. She had been stuck in the palace for a long time and was finally able to go out and play.
Rongqi and Rongwan were both held by wet nurses, full of curiosity about everything outside.
Although Rongqi was still young, he already showed the composure of a prince. However, when he saw something new, his eyes still betrayed his excitement.
Rongwan, on the other hand, was like a happy little bird, chirping away continuously throughout the journey.
Their first destination was a famous mountain.
The mountain was enveloped in mist, with lush green trees and clear streams babbling.
Jingdi held Yu Yao's hand and walked in front, with the two children carried by the wet nurses following behind, slowly climbing up the winding mountain path.
Upon reaching the summit, the view suddenly became broad and clear.
The distant mountains rose and fell in continuous waves, as if a scroll of ink-wash painting.
Jingdi stood at the top of the mountain, facing the wind, and felt as if all his tiredness was swept away.
He turned to look at Yuyao and the two children, a smile of happiness on his face.
"Ouyao, for a long time now, I have not been so relaxed and contented."
Jingdi sighed softly.
Yu Yao responded with a smile, "Your Majesty, the beauty of this world truly can make one forget their troubles."
They stayed in a temple on the mountain for one night.
On the second day, they continued their journey and arrived at a quiet water town.
The houses in the town were scattered along the river, with small boats gently rocking on the water surface.
Yu Yao and the two children sat at the bow of the boat, Jingdi personally rowing while the boat slowly advanced.
Along the way, the local people saw them and mistook them for members of a wealthy family on an outing, failing to recognize the current emperor.
In the town, they tasted the local special dishes, such as sweet and soft cakes and delicious fish soup.
Rongwan ate so much that her little mouth was surrounded by food residue, looking incredibly cute.
Rongqi, on the other hand, acted like a mini-adult, trying to imitate Jingdi's graceful dining etiquette.
After their visit to the water town, the group traveled to many more places.
They saw the vast and awe-inspiring sea. The boundless blue made one feel reverent. Rongqi and Rongwan happily ran on the beach, chasing after the waves, their laughter floating on the sea breeze.
They had also visited a serene valley, where flowers bloomed luxuriantly.
Yu Yao picked many wildflowers to weave into a wreath, which she placed on Rongwan's head, making her look like a little flower fairy.
As time went on, the children grew up gradually.
Rongqi was wise and intelligent, displaying exceptional talent in governing and managing the state.
Jingdi was extremely pleased. At the age of 15, he passed the throne to Rongqi and then ran away with Yu Yao.
Imperial Study
Rongqi looked at the towering stack of documents in front of him, his face expressing resentment.
"Father, I really want to go out and play too."
Although he was full of resentment, he also knew his responsibilities were immense.
He remembered his father's last words of trust, asking him to be a wise ruler and govern the Great Qian Empire into prosperity and splendor.
He had to put aside the thought of playing and focus on his duties.
After Yu Yao and Jingdi left the palace, have a good time playing. Go wherever you want and wherever the fun is.
Yu Yao lived a very happy life in this lifetime, with the dog emperor dedicating all his charms to her.
Of course, she spent a happy life in the endless adoration of the dog emperor.
Their story became a legendary tale in the history of the Great Qian Empire, passed down from mouth to mouth and forever etched in memory.
