Marrying the Crown Prince

It's going to rain, and my mother is going to get married.

Li Ziyan eventually accepted the idea that the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager would move to the Bixiao Palace.

Of course, as the two of them began to instruct the palace servants to pack their luggage, Prince Chong'an and Prince Xuanping on the other side could no longer sit still.

The two princes, Prince Chong'an and Prince Xuanping, submitted a memorial in the Golden Palace, saying that they wanted to bring their mothers, Consort Chen and Consort Mei, to their residences to live out their old age.

Li Ziyan didn't make the decision himself, but instead asked Zhou Zhou to go over.

Zhou Zhou first went to see Consort Chen.

"It seems the weather is nice today." Consort Chen smiled gently as she looked at Zhou Zhou, who had appeared in her palace.

That's really good, otherwise why would Zhou Zhou be here?

Zhou Zhou laughed along, "Indeed, I feel the wind here is much cooler today than yesterday."

Consort Chen waved her hand, and Xingyun left the room.

Zhou Zhou knew that she had gone out to make tea.

"I heard that the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager have moved to the temporary palace for a short stay?" Consort Chen broke the silence first.

She wanted to know if Zhou Zhou was planning to invite her to the imperial palace as well.

“I’ve heard that the imperial palace is picturesque, but no matter how elegant it is, it can’t compare to this palace,” Zhou Zhou frowned. “But the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager still…”

Speaking of herself, she took out a handkerchief and wiped away the non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes.

Upon seeing this, Consort Chen quickly followed suit, saying, "The Empress's filial piety is evident to all, and the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager certainly understand it."

At this moment, Xingyun came over with tea and some snacks.

She arranged the items neatly, then bowed and withdrew.

Consort Chen picked up her teacup and gestured to Zhou Zhou, "Your Majesty, please have a taste. This is a pre-rain Longjing tea that we obtained a few days ago."

Zhou Zhou nodded, took a small sip, and then revealed the purpose of his visit: "Prince Chong'an has submitted a memorial, saying that he wants to take you out of the palace to retire."

Consort Chen's brow twitched slightly.

She smiled kindly at Zhou Zhou, "It is all thanks to His Majesty's diligent teaching that my son is so filial and benevolent."

At this point, Consort Chen paused for a moment before continuing, "I remember there's an auspicious day in a few days?"

"The Noble Consort has a good memory, that's certainly true." Zhou Zhou understood and replied with a smile.

In fact, she had no idea whether there would be an auspicious day in a few days, and of course, the same was true for Consort Chen.

After leaving Consort Chen's place, they went to Consort Mei's place.

Consort Mei was Zhou Zhou's aunt, so the two were naturally closer.

Compared to the back-and-forth exchanges with Consort Chen, talking to Consort Mei was much easier.

Zhou Zhou got straight to the point and explained the situation.

"I wonder what they said over there?" Consort Mei did not give a direct answer.

"In a few days, it will be an auspicious day, suitable for all activities."

"That's good."

The aunt and niece smiled at each other.

After leaving Consort Mei's side, Zhou Zhou turned around and went to Consort Lin's side.

Li Zixu, born to Consort Lin, is already over three years old, a time when he is very active and mischievous.

Therefore, Consort Lin asked her wet nurse to take him out to play. She sat on a chaise longue, ate chilled fruits, blew on the ice, and had two singing girls beside her, one playing the zither and the other dancing. She was very happy.

Zhou Zhou paused for a moment, then pulled his foot back from inside the house, looked at the doorway, and reconfirmed—yes, he hadn't gone to the wrong place.

"Your Majesty, come here quickly!" Consort Lin saw Zhou Zhou coming and hurriedly invited her in to enjoy herself.

After leaving Kangning Palace, Zhou Zhou felt completely dizzy.

Upon seeing this, Li Ziyan couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's wrong?"

Zhou Zhou glanced at the stacks of folds and ledgers on his desk, and the image of Consort Lin listening to a tune on the breeze involuntarily came to mind.

She rubbed her temples and replied, "It's nothing, I just feel like I haven't been out and about for many years."

Yes, from the summer four years ago when the imperial concubines plotted a rebellion and the border regions were in turmoil, until now, they have been extremely busy.

"There will be time." Li Ziyan hugged Zhou Zhou.

Li Ziyan was not one to make empty promises; once he had an idea, he put it into action.

Upon hearing the news that the Emperor was going to Chengming Palace to escape the summer heat and also to go on an autumn hunt, the court officials were moved to tears.

It wasn't because I was sad, but because we could finally take a vacation.

You know, Li Ziyan and Zhou Zhou are both people who get up earlier than the chickens and go to bed later than the dogs. With these two masters around, how could they, as subordinates, have time to slack off?

Although they were willing to sacrifice their lives for the country, they did not want to die from exhaustion in the imperial court.

And so, the decision to go to escape the summer heat was made.

Since there were few concubines in the harem, Li Ziyan brought the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubines with him, including the Grand Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager hesitated when she heard that she was going out for a trip.

When Emperor Chenze was alive, the Empress Dowager was wary of her power, and in order to protect herself, she could only stay at home and not concern herself with anything.

Now, the powerful figures behind him, those ministers, have either become loyal subjects or have already retired...

She rubbed her temples, finding it somewhat amusing—she had already chosen to leave the palace and retire to a temporary palace, so why was she worrying about such a trivial matter?

Therefore, the Empress Dowager decided to travel with the main group.

Once the time was chosen, Li Ziyan issued the decree.

The main force marched out of Kyoto in a grand procession, while Li Ziyan and Zhou Zhou, leading a group of people, rode ahead on fast horses.

I remember many years ago, they also rode fast horses through forest paths, with their brothers and sisters, as well as relatives and friends by their side.

Now, as they walked, only the two of them remained.

Zhou Zhou and Li Ziyan pulled hard on the reins, and the horse gradually slowed down.

The two horses walked side by side, step by step, slowly moving forward.

Li Ziyan's gaze was deep as he looked into the distance, as if he could see scenes from the past through the scenery before him.

Complex emotions gradually welled up in his heart.

A gust of wind blew, swirling up fallen leaves from the grass, which met those falling from the trees, merging together and intertwining.

Zhou Zhou tightened his grip on the saddle and moved closer to Li Ziyan.

He turned his gaze away and looked at Zhou Zhou.

Zhou Zhou stretched out her hand, her eyes like lake water under the warm sun, clear and bright, revealing both gentleness and determination.

Li Ziyan looked at Zhou Zhou quietly, then curled the corners of her lips and gently extended her hand.

Their fingers were clasped tightly together, their hands intertwined and interlocked.

The two exchanged a smile, a thousand words unspoken.

Historical records indicate that under the rule of the fourth and fifth emperors, Emperor Chenze and Emperor Hengjing, the Chen Kingdom experienced rapid economic and cultural development, a period known as the "Rule of Zejing".

During this period, the imperial court reduced taxes and levies, the political environment was clear and efficient, society was relatively stable, and military training was unified and strengthened, laying the foundation for the future "Great Chen Dynasty".

During this period of development, social attitudes gradually changed, and women's status was elevated.

Traditional ideas that once bound women were gradually broken down, and women were no longer confined to the inner quarters of the home.

More and more women are able to step out of their homes and pursue their careers and dreams.

(End of text)