Professional Ethics of a Concubine

The empress's birthday was celebrated with great fanfare. It is no exaggeration to say that it was a celebration for the whole country.

On the birthday, there was a lot of activity from morning to night, with so many celebrations that Ye Qingzhi was overwhelmed.

Among them, the birthday gifts presented to the empress by important figures in various regions need to be displayed, which is also the so-called singing ceremony session.

This process is also very interesting and can be called a treasure appraisal conference, which is eye-opening.

Prince Xie Jin naturally had to present a gift as well, and the birthday gift he presented was the one that everyone paid the most attention to, was the most curious about, and wanted to see the most.

So, when he presented the gift, everyone at the scene stretched their necks to look at him and the object in his hand.

The object didn't look big. It was held up by both hands and covered with a red cloth. Everyone guessed that it might be some rare treasure or jade.

However, after Xie Jin finished his congratulations to the empress with a smile and opened the red cloth, everyone realized that the tray he had just carried contained a gift list, not a single gift.

The gift list was particularly thick, and every item in it was a treasure. As the ceremonial officer read out the items on the gift list, exclamations of admiration could be heard from time to time among the guests.

It took a full quarter of an hour to finish reading the gift list.

The ceremonial officer's voice was a little sore from chanting.

The other guests also praised Da Zhao's generosity. The gift list they gave was enough to empty several warehouses.

In fact, it is indeed similar.

Most of the gifts on this list were prepared by the Emperor, which almost emptied most of the Emperor's private storehouse, and they were all treasures of the best quality.

Xie Jin naturally would not stop him. If the emperor is willing to give it, then give it.

He would not interfere with whatever the old couple wanted to do.

When the ceremonial officer finished reading, the empress was tired of listening, mainly because she was a little bored, so she simply waved her hand to stop the next part from reading.

The empress said that she really had no shortage of rare treasures, but what she lacked was a capable son.

No matter how much things Old Man Xie (Emperor Zhao) gives, it cannot cover up the fact that he has taken a huge advantage.

After my birthday, my son and his family will leave, and I don’t know when we will see each other again.

I feel depressed when I think about it.

So, while everyone else was happily celebrating the empress's birthday, the empress herself only had a faint smile on her face and was actually not in a good mood all day.

After the Empress' birthday celebration, Xie Jin and the others were indeed preparing to leave.

The empress asked them to stay and play for a while longer. Before that, she had been helping to deal with government affairs, and the prince had no time to go out for a stroll.

Xie Jin also knew about this separation, and it might be another four or five years before the mother and son would meet again.

But my mother is old, she only has four or five years left.

The chances for them to meet each other in this life are very few, and it makes her sad just thinking about it.

Therefore, Xie Jin had no interest in strolling around and did not smile at all.

Both mother and son had sullen faces, and the atmosphere was extremely low.

The Fifth Prince, who had been so arrogant these past few days, has become visibly more obedient and no longer chatters nonstop.

He no longer liked to stay close to the Queen Mother and his elder brother. He preferred to chat with Master Ye.

Moreover, he now calls Ye Qingzhi instead of Ye Taifu. He feels that this is too distant and cannot express his gratitude.

He always calls him Master, who is his life mentor.

"Master, if I have any difficulties in teaching in the future, can I write to you and ask for your advice?"

The fifth prince asked Ye Qingzhi.

This religious affairs refers to the affairs of Zoroastrianism. When it comes to playing tricks on gods, the Fifth Prince only recognizes the ability of his master.

With her as a guiding light, he would feel more confident.

Ye Qingzhi smiled and nodded in response, "Of course, but I don't know much about the specific matters, so the suggestions I give may be a bit outrageous."

"It doesn't matter. The more outrageous the better. How can we follow the rules when it comes to God's affairs?" The Fifth Prince said as a matter of course.

Ye Qingzhi,...

That’s very well said!

She didn't know how to refute.

The low pressure before departure made the children behave themselves a lot, and they didn’t go out to play much during the two days of packing their luggage.

Seeing the state of her leader Xie Jin, Ye Qingzhi suppressed her thoughts of staying here.

Forget it, she also missed her beautiful mother and the others. She would be away for several months, and by the time she returned, the two children might be able to walk by themselves.

She bought so many fun and interesting things, it would be fun to give them to them personally.

Just like that, another day passed, and Xie Jin, Ye Qingzhi and others set out on their return journey.

Before leaving, the third prince Yuchi Yongning did not forget to add some drama to himself.

"Mother Queen, I am leaving soon. Please don't miss me too much. I..."

"Alright, that's enough." The fifth prince interrupted his sentimentality.

"The Queen Mother is thinking about her son, not you. Stop being so sentimental!"

Yuchi Yongning,...

You really know how to stab me in the heart!

I hate you!

You charlatan!

"Haha, the only thing I'm glad about returning to Da Zhao is that I don't have to look at your annoying face every day!"

Yuchi Yongning calmed himself down and sneered back.

"If you envy me for being the Pope, just say it!" The fifth prince smiled at him smugly.

The empress looked at the two of them fighting cocks, seeming to be thinking about something.

Xie Jin also glanced at the two of them, but he felt very used to it, so he turned his head and said to the empress,

"Mother, I will write to you often when I return. Please take good care of yourself."

"Yes. I am in good health, you don't have to worry." The empress smiled and instructed Xie Jin,

"You go over there and take care of Xiao San. Let him stay with you and gain experience for two years."

"Okay, mother, I understand." Xie Jin agreed.

"…Mother Queen, I don't quite understand."

Yuchi Yongning's heart trembled, as if a pie had fallen from the sky.

But he didn't quite dare to believe it.

"You're so lucky!" The fifth prince snorted immediately.

The Queen Mother wants the third son to be the heir!

Their eldest brother, the crown prince, is really no good. He is not on the same page with the queen mother and them.

Although he hated the third brother very much, he knew that he listened to the queen mother and had no intention of killing him.

If he were to sit on the throne in the future, a charlatan like me wouldn't be too worried that he would try to kill me.

"You will stay in Da Zhao for another two or three years, then come back and follow me in handling government affairs."

The empress said to Yuchi Yongning,

"I have seen your growth and progress over the past six months. You actually have great potential. Moreover, you have a close relationship with the Great Zhao. It would be most appropriate for you to take over the Western Region in the future."

Yuchi Yongning's eyes widened in surprise and his heart was pounding with excitement.

Oh my, why is it so sudden? There was no signal in advance. Aren’t you too casual, mother? But... he really likes it so casually!

Yuchi Yongning immediately knelt down, patted his chest, and expressed his loyalty to the empress with a sincere face.

"Mother Queen, don't worry. I will study hard with my cousin the Crown Prince in Da Zhao. When I return after three years, I will definitely impress you."

The empress smiled and nodded with satisfaction, "That's good to have such a resolution. Okay, get up quickly."

Yuchi Yongning kowtowed three times before getting up from the ground, grinning foolishly.

Hehehehe, hehehehe.

The Fifth Prince looked at him with disdain and turned away, not knowing that he had behaved in the same foolish way when he first played the role of God's messenger.

There always comes an end to farewell, no matter how reluctant you are, you have to leave.

Xie Jin and the others got on the carriage. At this time, Xie Niankang suddenly said, "I haven't given my blessing to His Majesty yet."

"...What kind of blessing do you plan to give?" Xie Jin asked.

"I just wish that Your Majesty can conquer all directions and unify the Western Regions as soon as possible." Xie Niankang straightened his back, "My blessing is mighty and majestic, isn't it?"

"Wow, Brother Kang said it well. The Empress Dowager will definitely like it. Let's go downstairs and talk about it together." Mingyu said in a particularly supportive manner.

Xie Jin, "...wait a moment."

He wanted to know how much merit was needed to support such a great blessing, and if the merit was not enough when it was realized, how much backlash would he suffer.

He was panicked.

"Your Highness, don't worry, it's okay!" Xie Niankang patted his chest.

"This is just the icing on the cake. Your Majesty is implementing benevolent policies, and his merits are enormous."

Xie Jin felt more relieved after hearing this. He waved his hand and asked the three children to go down together.

The empress saw the three children running to her again, and she couldn't help but squat down and look at them with a smile.

"Are you reluctant to leave? Then how about staying with the Imperial Grandmother?"

"Grandmother, we are here to give you our blessings." Mingyu said with a smile.

"Oh? What blessing?" the empress asked with a smile.

"I wish Your Majesty to sweep across the four directions and unify the Western Regions as soon as possible." Xie Niankang said seriously.

"Not only will the people of the Western Regions remember your majesty's merits and kindness, you will also be remembered by the world and become an emperor through the ages."

The empress couldn't help but laugh when she heard this, and reached out to touch his head.

"You have such a sweet mouth, just like your aunt. Thank you for your blessing, I am very happy and hope I can do it."

Ming Yan said, "Grandmother, you will definitely do it! You are the most amazing woman I have ever seen. I will learn from you in the future!"

"So Mingyan also wants to be the empress?" The empress touched her head and asked with a smile.

"I don't know. This question is too far away." Mingyan shook her head.

“What I want to express is that I want to learn from my grandmother, your character, thoughts, vision and ambition.

I have to make achievements within my ability, instead of just being a boudoir girl managing the inner house like before, which seems too boring. "

The empress was surprised when she heard this. "You usually look quiet, gentle and well-behaved. I didn't expect you to have such thoughts in your heart. Do your father and mother know about it?"

"I haven't told them officially yet." Mingyan shook her head, her pretty face shining.

"This trip to the Western Regions has given me so many shocks. I have flown out of the cage and seen the outside world. It is hard for me to continue to behave like a caged bird."

Xie Niankang couldn't help but turn his head to look at Mingyan, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.