RPAGF Chapter 379 Su Nuannuan's Plans
Chapter 379 Su Nuannuan's Plans
After learning that Canglan Jingyao was pregnant, Su Nuannuan decided to stay in Huiyang City for the time being.
At the same time, Su Nuannuan also wrote a letter to the Empress Dowager, informing her of Canglan Jingyao's pregnancy. As for the matter of the memorial, Qu Jing was entrusted with handling it.
As for how Qu Jing would write this memorial, Su Nuannuan didn't interfere much. However, to Su Nuannuan's surprise, Qu Jing actually complained extensively in the memorial! Even more unexpectedly, the Emperor not only didn't blame Qu Jing, but also expressed understanding for his complaints, and even sent someone to deliver a reward.
Su Nuannuan learned of this from the eunuch who came to deliver the imperial decree. It turned out that the decree was specifically for Canglan Jingyao's unborn child. The decree clearly stated that if Canglan Jingyao gave birth to a girl, the child would be granted the title of Princess Tingyu.
However, the imperial edict did not mention what should be done if Canglan Jingyao gave birth to a boy.
After the eunuch Li Desheng, who was sent to deliver the imperial decree to the capital, left, Su Nuannuan quickly grabbed Canglan Jingyao's hand and comforted her, "That's good too. If it's a girl, she'll have the status of a county princess from birth, and she won't be bullied in the future."
“Yes, I understand. Your Majesty is so generous; this is not just an empty title of county princess, but a real fiefdom.” Canglan Jingyao said with a joyful smile.
She lowered her head and gently stroked her still flat belly, saying thoughtfully, "I just don't know if this baby will be a boy or a girl. It's still early in the pregnancy, so it's hard to tell right now. But in two more months, when the fetus is bigger, we can know more clearly by taking its pulse."
Seeing this, Qu Jing quickly chimed in, "What my wife says is absolutely right. Boys and girls are the same; they are both our precious treasures."
Upon hearing this, Canglan Jingyao couldn't help but smile. She turned to Qu Jing and teased him playfully, "Lord Qu, now that you've received the imperial edict, shouldn't you be busy with your official duties?"
Upon hearing this, Qu Jing was taken aback at first, but then he quickly realized what was going on and replied with a smile, "My wife is right. I'll go and get back to work now." With that, he bowed to Su Nuannuan, then turned and strode out of the mansion to handle official business at the government office.
After Qu Jing left, Canglan Jingyao and Su Nuannuan returned to the house and sat down together.
Canglan Jingyao suggested, "Mother, why don't you move in with us? You're always traveling back and forth like this, how can your body take it?"
Su Nuannuan smiled slightly, gently patted Canglan Jingyao's hand, and comforted her, "The distance between the two residences isn't far, and Mother Consort doesn't come every day. Besides, what would it mean if Mother Consort came to stay?"
Canglan Jingyao seemed to want to say something more, but before she could speak, Su Nuannuan stopped her.
"Jianping, your mother knows you have a filial heart, and she also knows that Qujing is a filial person. Your filial piety is seen and remembered by your mother." Su Nuannuan said slowly, her tone very gentle.
Then, she changed the subject and continued, "But there's really no need for us to live together. Neither now nor in the future will your mother live with you or your brother."
Su Nuannuan paused for a moment, then continued, "When we return to the capital, I will still live in Cuiwei Palace. If I wish to leave the palace, I will stay at your residences for a while. When I get tired of it, I will return to the palace. This way, I will not disturb your lives or annoy you."
Canglan Jingyao quickly said, "Mother, what are you saying? How could we possibly dislike you?"
Su Nuannuan smiled slightly and said, "Jianping, you need to know that whether it's between a mother and son or a mother and daughter, once the children get married, the mother needs to maintain a proper balance. If she doesn't maintain this balance, over time, conflicts will inevitably arise between you two."
She paused briefly, then continued, "Once these conflicts accumulate, the family will fall apart. You're in a slightly better position, since Qu Jing is unlikely to take a concubine. But the situation is less certain for your brother."
As a prince, according to court regulations, he could marry one principal wife, three secondary wives, and four concubines, as well as an unlimited number of concubines.
"My mother doesn't want to spend all her time facing those chattering beauties in his backyard," Su Nuannuan said with considerable disdain.
"Mother, you're thinking too far ahead! Maybe my brother is only in love with one person!" Canglan Jingyao retorted with a smile.
“Jianping, a man who does not plan for the future will have trouble in the present. It’s never a bad thing for your mother to think things through. Even if your brother is truly devoted to only one person, the Emperor may not agree. After all, the Emperor needs someone to help him balance the ministers in court,” Su Nuannuan explained earnestly.
"Why can't my brother just take it into the harem himself? Why do we have to drag my brother into this?" Canglan Jingyao muttered unhappily.
“Jianping, this is not a simple matter. Apart from the women who enter the palace through the imperial selection, other people cannot enter the harem so easily. Moreover, it's not just your brother, but also your second, third, and fourth brothers, as well as your younger brothers. None of them can escape this fate.”
"In the royal family, it's incredibly difficult to find one person for life. Unless your brother has sufficiently strong methods and determination, his harem will never consist of only the Empress." Su Nuannuan's words revealed a sense of helplessness and bitterness.
"Don't be fooled by the fact that the court officials are relatively quiet now. That's because the Empress has given birth to the eldest son of the Empress, who was immediately named Crown Prince by the Emperor. This is a momentous occasion, as the Emperor is overjoyed to have a worthy successor, and the court officials are relieved."
Moreover, the crown prince was only recently born, and they need time to calm down. Once things have calmed down, they will naturally take action.
Canglan Jingyao sighed deeply and then said, "I really hope that my brother can withstand the pressure and not take in any concubines. That way, when he truly falls in love with only one person in the future, he won't be troubled by those ministers."
"Then we'll see if your elder brother can hold on. However, according to your third uncle, your elder brother is like a Pixiu, only taking in and never giving out."
Canglan Jingyao couldn't help but laugh out loud, and asked curiously, "Did my third uncle really say that? Wasn't my brother angry?"
Su Nuannuan shook her head and replied with a smile, "Your brother isn't angry. After all, from Mother's perspective, he's his third maternal uncle. That's a good thing about your brother; he's quite tolerant of any elder he acknowledges."