Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 381

However, when visiting the palace to read to the prince, he would have the opportunity to meet Emperor Zhengyuan on multiple occasions. If Feng Yu displayed reluctance or misbehavior in front of Emperor Zhengyuan, it could have repercussions for the entire family.

Hence, Mrs. Qin and Concubine Feng were still considering ways to persuade him. Despite their lengthy discussions, Feng Yu remained steadfast and uncooperative.

Concubine Feng also advised Mrs. Qin not to get too upset over family matters and to consider the long-term perspective. At the time, Concubine Feng herself was quite agitated, saying with bitterness, “Mother, you’re right. This Ah Yu really has been poorly influenced by his mother. He’s an ignorant brat!”

Concubine Feng also began to recommend re-marriage to Feng Yuan. Following the re-marriage, the family could naturally have more children. Even without Feng Yu, there would be other cousins and siblings to provide support for her son.

At that moment, an imperial decree from the palace arrived.

The day following Concubine Feng’s return, emissaries from the palace paid a visit. Mrs. Qin, full of anticipation, rose from her bed, dressed herself, and greeted them with a smile. “This must be a token of His Majesty’s favor for you.”

Concubine Feng, equally elated, stood up, holding her maid’s hand, and smiled as well. She remarked, “His Majesty has shown great kindness towards me. He should have just conveyed a message before my departure from the palace. Why the need for an imperial decree? It’s rather conspicuous.”

“This is His Majesty’s way of honoring you—the rarest of favors in the world!” Zheng Mama flattered.

Mother and daughter, both wearing smiles like blooming flowers, proceeded to accept the imperial decree. However, upon reading it, they were left dumbfounded.

Feng Yu was about to enter the palace as a companion for studying with the prince. Yet, to their astonishment, it wasn’t Lu Xu, born to Concubine Feng, who was selected. Instead, it was Lu Lie, the emperor’s eldest son, named Prince Lie.

As Feng Yuan had not returned, the news had not reached them. They were taken completely off guard by the emperor’s sudden decision to have Duke Ying’s family, who had raised the boy, introduce an heir to the imperial family.

“The favor was meant for you? My child, it must have been incredibly challenging for you to keep this a secret from me!”

Concubine Feng felt embarrassed to admit that she had only just learned about it. Despite her earlier boasting of imperial favor, she had been kept entirely in the dark while residing in the palace.

Recalling how smoothly her exit from the palace had been orchestrated, she couldn’t help but feel that Emperor Zhengyuan was actually sending her away.

Feeling out of place and unable to stay there any longer, Concubine Feng refrained from providing further explanations and swiftly returned to the palace.

After her departure, Mrs. Qin lay on her bed in a daze. It dawned on her why she had been scolded by the Empress Dowager in the first month. The boy she had criticized at the theater, cursing him for being the child of the Duke Ying’s family, was now the prince himself.

The more Mrs. Qin pondered this, the more panicked she became, her sweat drenching her like rain.

Later, when Zheng Mama approached, she found Mrs. Qin in a state of unconsciousness.

…

Emperor Zhengyuan and Gu Ye attended court in the morning, and an imperial decree was issued at the court. Subsequently, they conducted a solemn ceremony to offer sacrifices at the imperial temple.

The grand ceremony concluded in the late afternoon. Because Emperor Zhengyuan had been occupied since the early hours of the day, he didn’t detain any ministers, allowing them to return home for some rest. The following day, they were invited to the palace for a banquet.

As Gu Ye was slated to stay in the palace late into the evening, Wu Qingyi left for home early.

Gu Yin and her family had invited Mrs. Wang to watch a rehearsal of the play. Eldest Master Wen’s revisions had progressed at an impressive pace. Gu Yin had furnished him with a reference template, and within two days, he had already drafted a significant portion. Meanwhile, the stage on the fifth floor, which was refurbished first, was ready for use.

Gu Yin wasted no time in delivering the script to Xiao Feng and his group for their rehearsal. However, without a reference material, they struggled to perform adequately, necessitating Gu Yin’s guidance.

While the work might have seemed tedious, Mrs. Wang’s presence, an ardent enthusiast of theater, brought some excitement. Although Mrs. Wang lacked formal education and found some of the more intricate dramas perplexing, she remained eager to attend the rehearsals.

Even though the story of “Kindness” was widely known, Mrs. Wang’s willingness to observe the rehearsals was greatly appreciated.

Just as Gu Yin and her mother-in-law were preparing to leave, Wu Qingyi returned home. Consequently, they ordered a maid to serve him tea and inquired about the situation at the palace.

Suddenly, Mrs. Wang stated, “Oh, I feel a bit lightheaded out of the blue. Darling, I fear I won’t be able to accompany you. Perhaps Qingyi could accompany you instead.”

Mrs. Wang had consistently enjoyed good health. Gu Yin had never seen her experience headaches, and her eyes showed no signs of illness. She claimed to feel unwell but wore a smile, her eyes discreetly monitoring their reactions.

Even a fool could have surmised that she was intentionally creating an opportunity for Gu Yin and Wu Qingyi to be alone.