Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 479

The mother and son had only recently started meeting, and Empress Zhou did not hide anything from him. She said, “What woman in the world doesn’t want this? In the past, when me and your father married in the countryside, we were really poor at that time. Even if your father had that kind of heart, your grandmother wouldn’t agree, and the family couldn’t afford it.”

Recalling the past, Empress Zhou couldn’t help but touch her lips, giving a gentle smile. However, her smile faded again as she continued, “You were lost later, and I was pregnant with Ah Zhao again. At that time, your father was about to enter the capital. Someone told me that some family wanted to send a girl from their family to your royal father. At that time, I was still resentful, and I didn’t want to worry about those bad things. So we have the present imperial concubine.”

“At that time, me and your father were not in harmony, after that…”

The new dynasty had been established for some time, and there were many people who were tempted to place individuals into the palace.

Empress Zhou had already figured it out; she sighed softly, “You asked, and it is for your sake that I tell you the truth. I know that your father is the Emperor now, and which of the emperors has never had many concubines? Even men from wealthy families have many concubines. As for me, being an Empress, naturally I can’t stop other people from spreading branches and leaves for the royal family. I understand the reason, but now that I think about it, I feel in my heart…Ah Lie, you want to laugh at me, I’m just an ordinary little lady.”

As she spoke, Empress Zhou’s eyes were already full of tears.

Gu Ye hurriedly handed her a handkerchief and said, “Of course, I won’t laugh at you. Don’t cry; it’s my fault. I shouldn’t say these things that make you sad.”

Empress Zhou shook her head. What she had to face would still happen if her son didn’t mention it. She took Gu Ye’s hand and assured, “It’s okay; I’ll make a clear distinction. If your father has others, I will still be the same as now. I won’t consider it, won’t think about it, won’t ask, and try to pretend I don’t know as much as possible. That way, the days will still be the same.” After speaking, Empress Zhou asked about Gu Yin and Wu Qingyi’s marriage, if it was going well and whether he needed her help.

Gu Ye said, “It’s just that my adoptive mother doesn’t have a family. She said it will not be in the way, but I don’t want her to look alone at that time. So I was going to invite Aunt Zhu, Feng Yu’s mother, as a maid of honor. If it is convenient for you…”

“Naturally, it is convenient, and I will also go as a maid of honor.” 

When the mother and son talked about that, they quickly put away their sorrow.

Outside the hall, Emperor Zhengyuan, who had been standing for a while, let out a deep sigh.

 …… 

Gu Ye returned from Kunning Palace to Xiefang Hall after dinner. Feng Yu had coaxed Lu Xu to sleep and was waiting for him in the room. When the two met, they both went in, and then asked Xiao Luzi to guard the door.

Feng Yu asked, “Are things going well?”

Gu Ye nodded, “I asked Xiao Luzi to send a sachet to Eunuch Qian. Eunuch Qian has been wearing it for the past few days. He just accompanied the father today, and I smelled it. So on that day, I asked my mother… My father came over later. Although he looked no different from usual, today he looked at her with a very gentle look, and he was a little more guilty and apologetic than usual. He must have heard all that and took it to heart.”

Gu Ye let out a long breath as he spoke.

The Feng family wanted to place a woman around his father, so he had to solve the problem from the root cause, so that Emperor Zhengyuan would no longer accept new people.

The father and son have been together for these days, and by Gu Ye’s understanding, his father was not a womanizer. As for Concubine Feng, he was angry with his mother on one hand and on the other hand, was persuaded by a group of people.

Afterwards, Concubine Feng quickly gave birth to Lu Xu, who was lively. The mother, due to her son, received countless favors from Emperor Zhengyuan, so she even lifted the Feng family’s name.

At that time,  his mother’s heart was broken like tofu, but because her heart was shackled, she couldn’t express it, and she became more gloomy and introverted. A good person became like that, even if the other party was a good father, Gu Ye wanted to slap him twice.

Therefore, Gu Ye had no burden in his heart of taking advantage of his father’s guilt to make a fuss.

What didn’t disappoint Gu Ye was that Qian Sansi also brought a piece of news later. He mentioned that after Emperor Zhengyuan returned, he flatly rejected several petitions urging him to expand the harem. He mercilessly admonished those ministers, questioning why they dared to intrude into his personal affairs.

These few individuals, who had harbored such thoughts in their early years, now found themselves discouraged from entertaining such notions for the foreseeable future.

“You certainly know how to handle things,” Feng Yu complimented sincerely.

Gu Ye, with his hands folded behind his head, rested against the chair and smiled, “It’s not really difficult. I just keep him occupied. This guy is too preoccupied to bother with their concerns.”