The Red Mansions

Chapter 1721 The Fifth Queen, Virtuous and Elegant

Palace Garden, Hanyuan Hall——

After Jia Heng and other cabinet ministers had decided on the country's name and reign title in the palace, he instructed the imperial kitchen to prepare a grand banquet for all the ministers in Xihe Palace.

At this moment, all the civil and military officials had happy expressions on their faces, and there was no atmosphere of sadness and sorrow of the change of dynasties.

In other words, Jia Heng has completely straightened out the personnel of the entire court over the past decade or so, and looking around, all of them are his trusted and old friends.

As the sound of golden drums hitting jade chimes rang out, all the ministers in the hall drank happily, clinked cups, and celebrated the founding of the new dynasty.

In this way, the banquet lasted until the evening, when the ministers dispersed.

Jia Heng left the palace and stood on a vermilion-painted beam under the eaves. The fiery setting sun shone on Jia Heng's dragon robe, as if covering it with a layer of holy and boundless gauze.

Jia Heng looked at Liu Jixian standing beside him and said, "After that, have the Jinyifu guards guard the palace well and forbid outsiders from entering or leaving at will."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jixian didn't say anything else and just bowed in agreement.

After Jia Heng finished saying this, he looked at the setting sun slanting down from the towering palace walls. For a moment, he couldn't help but recall the scene of meeting Emperor Chongping in the palace that year.

Now, he finally became the master of this palace and the master of this world.

Instead of lingering for a long time, he returned to the harem.

Palace Garden, Kunning Palace——

Queen Song was wearing a scarlet dress embroidered with phoenixes. She was sitting on a soft couch covered with a quilt. Her snow-white face was rosy like peach blossoms in February.

Not far away, Queen Song’s son Chen Luo looked extremely dejected.

Chen Qianqian, who was standing aside, was peeling an orange and stuffing the tangerine into her mouth, looking quite naive.

"Well, now that I have resigned from my post, I should just study hard." Queen Song said with a slight smile under her green and beautiful eyebrows.

At this moment, a young female official with a slender figure and beautiful appearance walked into the hall quickly, and said with a hint of joy in her voice: "Your Majesty, the emperor is here."

While they were talking, the young man in the python robe came quickly towards them, with sharp eyes under his cold eyebrows like knife blades.

Queen Song stood up and asked, "You're here?"

Jia Heng turned his head to look at Chen Luo who was standing beside him, smiled and said, "Why is Luo'er here too?"

Chen Luo stood up, his handsome, fair face showed a look of being at a loss, or rather, he didn't know how to greet Jia Heng.

Is he going to call him father?
Qianqian stood up, raised her rosy and chubby face, and asked in a sweet and tender voice, "Brother-in-law, should I call you brother-in-law or His Majesty?"

Jia Heng smiled and said, "Call me brother-in-law."

You can't just call him father, right?

Queen Song turned her long black hair around and looked at Chen Luo with a smile on her face. She said, "Luo'er, go to the harem and stay for a while."

Chen Luo stood up and uttered "hmm" softly.

On the other side, Chen Qianqian's voice was a little coquettish: "Brother, let's go."

Qianqian is not young anymore.

As they were talking, the brother and sister left the side hall and walked quickly towards the bedroom.

Empress Song watched the twins leave and said softly, "After all, the children have grown up. They know everything about the court clearly."

Jia Heng nodded, came to sit down beside Queen Song, and said, "Yes, the child is precocious."

Queen Song said: "The most miserable family is the imperial family."

Jia Heng nodded, picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip, and said nothing more.

Queen Song put down her sewing and asked, "What title did you give Luo'er?"

Jia Heng thought for a moment and said, "King of Han."

Queen Song turned to look at Jia Heng with a meaningful look in her eyes and said, "King of Han? You are good at choosing titles. Aren't you afraid that he will be surrounded by a group of old men and young men in the future?"

Jia Heng said, "I am the founding emperor of the country, and I have created a great foundation. What do I have to fear? Besides, even if someone wants to summon the spirits of the previous dynasty and use Luo'er as an excuse, Luo'er is so smart that she will definitely not believe it."

Queen Song said: "That's true, but your offspring will probably face a lot of problems in the future."

Jia Heng said: "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Besides, how to handle the relationship with other vassal states is also something a qualified emperor should learn."

Queen Song asked, "What do you plan to name the country?"

Jia Heng thought for a moment and said, "The country's name is Xia, and the reign title is Shengding."

"Who do you plan to make the queen? Xianning?" Queen Song asked softly, her beautiful eyes sparkling with crystal clearness and as soft as water, under her emerald green eyebrows.

Jia Heng thought for a moment and said, "Let's follow the example of the Northern Zhou Dynasty and establish five empresses."

Queen Song frowned, her beautiful eyes were as soft as water, and she said, "Queen of the Fifth Palace, will people in the world say that you are too absurd?"

Jia Heng said in a clear voice: "Xianning and Chanyue were both wives of the emperor, so they should have become queens."

This was the most reasonable solution he could come up with. The Fifth Palace Queen solved the issue of his status as the main wife.

Qin Keqing was the Empress of the Central Palace, Xianning, Chanyue, Chaidai were the Four Empresses of the Palace. Later, Yuanchun was named Concubine Xian, Tanchun was named Concubine De, Yingchun was named Concubine Shu, and Xichun was named Concubine Zhuang.

She should have sighed before, but now she has become a virtuous and dignified person.

As for Chen Xiao, she was named Imperial Noble Consort and assisted in managing all affairs in the palace.

Afterwards, people like Zhen Lan, Zhen Xi, Ya Ruo, Song Yan, Gu Ruoqing, Li Wen, Li Qi, Miao Xiu, Yun Qin and others were given titles as imperial concubines.

You Erjie and You Sanjie could be conferred the titles of imperial concubines, and other maids could also be conferred the titles of imperial concubines depending on the circumstances.

As for Feng Ji, Li Wan and You Shi, due to their status as widows, they will not be given titles for the time being.

He has just ascended the throne, so it is not appropriate for him to attract too much discussion from people all over the world for the time being.

Queen Song thought for a moment and said, "That's fine. You are in charge of both the Ning and Rong mansions, so your situation is a bit special."

Jia Heng said: "Yes, it is not good for future kings to follow suit."

Queen Song nodded and said, "Someone will be moving into the palace in a few days. After your concubines move in, Concubine Rong and I will move out of the palace to make room for them?"

Jia Heng said, "What nonsense are you talking about? There are so many palaces in the palace, and there will be no shortage of places for you to live."

Queen Song nodded and said nothing more.

She doesn't want to move around anymore.

Jia Heng gently put his arm around Queen Song's shoulders, and the two of them enjoyed the rare quiet afternoon together.

……

……

Ningguo Mansion, Grand View Garden, Hengwu Garden

Baochai was now sitting on a soft couch covered with a cotton mattress. Her fair face, as white as a pear blossom, had the blush of a married woman on both sides.

Aunt Xue's fair and bright face was filled with joy as she said, "Precious girl, Heng has finally become the emperor this time."

Baochai put the child aside and said, "Mom, we are in heaven now, Mom, you shouldn't talk nonsense."

Aunt Xue smiled awkwardly and said, "The royal family has its own rules. It's not good to talk about these things when there are too many people."

Her girl knew what was going on. Since the first wife had no children, when Heng'er became emperor in the future and wanted to establish the Crown Prince, her precious girl would not be without a chance.

Ningguo Mansion, in the back hall——

Qin Keqing was also chatting with Youshi, You Erjie and You Sanjie at this moment. Nannies and maids stood with their hands hanging down on all sides of the hall, not daring to even breathe.

At this moment, a slim and beautiful maid came in from outside and said with a smile: "My lady, the prince has already entered the palace and ascended the throne."

When Qin Keqing heard this, a smile spread across her snow-white face, and she said, "This is going to be a great happy event."

Third Sister You smiled and said, "Sister Qin, you will be the queen in the future."

And she could be given the title of a concubine, and her child could be given the title of a prince, a duke, or something like that. In the seventh year of Qiande, Third Sister You gave birth to a son.

It can be said that the entire Ning and Rong mansions benefited from Jia Heng's abdication and ascension to the throne.

Third Sister You gently stroked her slightly bulging belly, her snow-white face full of happiness and sweetness.

You Erjie's face, which was still as beautiful as before, paused slightly, and a feeling of joy surged in her heart.

Yu's gentle and soft face was also full of joy and sweetness.

In the seventh year of Qiande, Youshi also gave birth to a son for Jia Heng. This time, it was not twins, a boy and a girl, but a son, which broke the curse that every wife would give birth to twins, a boy and a girl.

Of course, Youshi had never dared to expect that her son would be able to inherit Jia Heng's princely title.

Now that Jia Heng has become the emperor, as the ruler, he naturally ignores all etiquette and laws. Even the entire etiquette system serves Jia Heng. His son should also have a title.

Qin Keqing's graceful and beautiful face was full of reserved smiles. She said, "My Lord is in the palace right now, and he should be discussing important matters with the ministers. Let's celebrate first in our house."

Third Sister You smiled and said, "Then I'll ask someone to invite a troupe of actors, and we'll celebrate properly later."

The maids and servants sitting in a row on all four sides also had happy smiles on their faces.

Now that their prince has become the emperor, they can also serve in the palace.

……

……

At this moment, Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall——

The skirt, spiral bun, and pearl-like hair are shining and beautiful, and the sunlight shining through the window lattice outside creates a quiet and peaceful atmosphere for the quaint Rongqing Hall.

Grandmother Jia was sitting on a Luohan bed covered with a thick mattress. Her hair was silver and meticulously groomed, and her old and kind face was full of anticipation.

Previously, the capital was full of rumors that Jia Heng was going to abdicate, and the commotion at Ningguo Mansion, just across the wall, was so loud that it had long reached Grandmother Jia's ears.

"Grandma, the master has ascended the throne." Lin Zhixiao's wife entered Rongqing Hall. The smile on her wrinkled face was as warm and pleasant as the spring breeze.

The pinewood cane in Grandmother Jia's hand pounded the wooden floor of Rongqing Hall. She could not hide her excitement in her voice and kept saying, "Good, good."

Heng'er's secret residence is in the Ning and Rong mansions, and he is almost of the same lineage as the Jia family. In the future, the Jia family will probably become relatives of the country.

Lin Zhixiao smiled and responded softly, "Old lady, the prince has now become the emperor and has ascended the throne."

At this moment, everyone in Rongqing Hall heard this and a look of joy appeared on their faces.

Li Wan was now sitting not far away, holding her own son Jia Fan and Cao. A hint of reserved joy seemed to appear on the beautiful woman's warm and gentle face.

Fengjie's gorgeous face paused for a moment, and she also showed some joy.

Now that Brother Heng has become the emperor, doesn't that mean she has to enter the palace as a concubine?

Then her son should be able to be crowned prince in the future, right?
At this moment, Fengjie's heart was filled with various hopes for her own child to be made a vassal of the royal family.

In other words, it’s hard not to fantasize after having a child.

Because Jia Heng was not from the Jia clan, but his surname was Su. Now that he had become the emperor, he could naturally bring Feng Ji into the palace and make her his concubine.

Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "Brother Heng has become the emperor. I said back then that Brother Heng is not an ordinary person. He looks like a dragon among men. Now he has indeed become the emperor who rules the world."

Then, he turned his head to look at Madam Wang, who was holding a string of Buddhist beads in her hand and looking very happy, and said, "Now that Heng has become the emperor, the eldest and third girls should also enter the palace and be appointed as concubines."

As Jia Heng resumed his original surname, Su, his original marriages with Yuanchun and Tanchun were no longer unacceptable to the secular world.

Madam Wang nodded and said, "The eldest girl has been following Hengge'er without any status, so it's time for her to get married."

It would be totally unjustifiable not to make the eldest girl a concubine at that time.

And there is Baoyu, who will be the emperor's uncle in the future.

Grandmother Jia said, "At this time, Brother Heng should not come back."

"I have just ascended the throne, and there are so many things to do in the future." Sister Feng said with bright and shining eyes under her two dark eyebrows.

Grandmother Jia said, "For such a big matter, why didn't you send a palace maid back to tell us in advance?"

"The Second Master hasn't gone to the mansion yet. Let's wait until he comes over." Feng Ji's gorgeous oval face showed a flourishing smile as she spoke in a low voice.

Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "Baoyu's father should be able to become a Nine Ministers now."

Today, Jia Zheng has become the Minister of Six Ministries, a second-rank official, and has basically fulfilled Jia Heng’s original promise to Mrs. Wang.

Lady Jia, the second wives of Xing and Wang, and the brightly dressed maids around them all had an inexplicable look on their kind and gentle smiles.

At this moment, Yuanyang's oval face with a few freckles was full of bright smiles, and she said, "Madam, the second master is back."

Grandmother Jia smiled eagerly and said, "Zheng'er is back. Please come over here and have a good chat."

After a while, Master Zheng walked into the side room, bowed to Lady Jia, and said, "My son greets you, mother."

At this moment, Jia Zheng was in great spirits, and a smile could not be concealed on his elegant and fair face.

Grandmother Jia asked, "Zheng'er, what's going on in the palace?"

Jia Zheng smiled and said, "Zi Yu has ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor with the support of all the ministers. He has established the Xia Dynasty and changed the era name to Shengding. Today, he is conferring titles on all the ministers."

Grandmother Jia had a smile on her kind face as she asked, "Have you appointed any concubines? How do you plan to place the eldest and third girls?"

When talking about his eldest daughter and third daughter, Jia Zheng's elegant and fair face showed some discomfort.

At the beginning, after knowing that his daughter was in love with Jia Heng, Jia Zheng was still very surprised for a while.

At that time, Jia Zheng thought about it and still felt that he should trust Jia Heng's arrangement.

There must be a deep meaning behind Zi Yu's action!

Sure enough, it was later reported that Prince Wei was not a member of the Jia family, but was actually a general under the command of the former deposed crown prince. Then, within a year or two, he ascended the throne of emperor.

As expected, the Jia family cannot produce such outstanding people?
Grandmother Jia's kind and gentle face seemed to be filled with anticipation, and she said, "Did Brother Heng say how to reward the concubines?"

Jia Zheng said: "Zi Yu first rewarded the meritorious officials, but did not mention rewarding the harem."

Grandmother Jia said, "Zheng'er, now that Heng'er is the emperor, you can no longer address him by his name."

Well, to put it bluntly, this is a crime of disrespect.

You should address him as the present emperor.

Jia Zheng suddenly came to his senses and said, "If the old lady hadn't told me earlier, I would have almost forgotten it."

Grandmother Jia smiled and said softly, "But we are all family, and Heng is a man of great generosity, so he won't hold on to this etiquette."

Jia Zheng nodded and said, "That's right, old lady."

Grandmother Jia said, "I think the matter of rewarding the concubines in the harem will be in these few days."

I don't know what title Heng Ge'er will give to the eldest girl, a concubine or a noble concubine? And I don't know what official title Baoyu will be given.

Baoyu is the emperor's uncle after all, and now that Heng has become the emperor, the titles of the Ning and Rong mansions should return to the Jia family.

Grandmother Jia sighed and said, "It's been a few years."

In fact, fifteen years have passed since the fourteenth year of Chongping. Time is merciless, and Lady Jia's facial expression has also become somewhat old.