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| Rebirth: Back to Zero Author: 祎庭沫瞳 (Yi Ting Mo Tong) |
Chapter 07 The Loving Empress Mother (Part 2/3)
"Indeed, Also, when Qiyang checks on your condition, Empress
Mother, you should change to a different kind of incense. I will help you find
some good fragrances." Jun Liche advised.
"I know that you are thoughtful and capable. But just in case,
I will stop using fragrances in the future. Just get me some sandalwood, it is
not only simple but also good for focus and meditation." The Empress smiled
and continued, "I will go and talk to the Emperor in a few days. The
frontline wars have been frequent, and the national treasury is tight. If my
palace can save some money, it will also play a part to help the country."
"That is a very kind and thoughtful gesture, Empress
Mother." Jun Liche responded.
"Yuan'er and Xuan'er are both on the battlefield. Empress
Mother must accumulate some good karma for you. Although Che'er is not deployed in wars, the imperial city is not any less dangerous than the
battlefield. Empress Mother wants to do something to keep all of you
safe." Seeing the sullen and severe faces on her three sons, the Empress
smiled and said, “I know that you are all filial. Having you three here today
makes me very happy. Alright, cut it with those serious expressions." She
smiled and passed some snacks onto her sons' pates.
Thinking that the New Year's Eve is on the next day, all three of
them decided not to cause the Empress more worries. Immediately, they wore
their best smiles and brightened their expressions. It was not too late to
inform the Empress of the other incidents after the New Year's Celebration.
The Empress stroked Mo Yu'er's fur and said, "Do you know why
people in this palace love to fight?" Without waiting for them to respond,
the Empress continued, "Because they are not happy. And because they are
not happy, they are not satisfied. Women fight for the Emperor’s favour. They
think that the Emperor will satisfy all their needs. It's the same when men
fight for the throne. They think that only by sitting in that position, they
can get the happiness they want."
The three of them pondered on her words in silence and felt that
they were indeed wise.
"In fact, there is no happiness in the palace. The court and
the Imperial Harem are mutually restraining. The Emperor's wives and concubines
are here for profit, while we exist only for the Emperor’s benefit. Without
this relationship, the women who enter the palace are either extremely lowly or
fall out of favour, spending the rest of their lives in loneliness."
" Empress Mother ..." Jun Liyuan frowned, not wanting
the Empress to continue.
"It's okay, it is just us here, no one else will hear of
this. I am your mother. If I don't help you to understand this, who will?"
The Empress continued with a melancholic smile, "Even someone desires peace,
there are always ambitious individuals who will rock the ship. As such, fights
and feuds will never end. Even if you don’t wish to fight, you will be drawn in
and forced to defend yourself. Look, now there are more than 200 concubines in
the palace. According to the traditional system, the Emperor will spend more
than half a month with the concubines. Yet, of the children in the palace,
there are only seven princes and four princesses. Those who have children have
a firm place in the palace. What about those with no children. Can they not be
jealous?"
"Deep down, Empress Mother does not wish for any of you to be
the Emperor. Everyone thinks that being the Emperor is the most glamorous. But
in fact, the Emperor is the most unfortunate. Everyone around him is scheming,
trying to gain the status and honour that only he can bestow. Yet, no one cares
about what he needs. Unfortunately, as Emperor, you have to weigh
everything. Your personal needs are secondary."
The Empress took Jun Liche's hand in hers and said to him,
"Although Che'er is not my own son, I've raised you by my side since
birth. Your mother and I are twin sisters. From appearance to nature, we are
alike. Presumably, if she's alive, she will share the same thoughts as
me."
"I understand." Jun Liche responded with a smile. His
mother, Consort Xian, passed away during childbirth, leaving him to her twin
sister, the current Empress. The Empress had always regarded him as her own
son. Even his name followed the naming reserved for the Empress's sons, with
the word "Li".
The Empress patted his hand and sighed. She turned to her two
sons, and continued, "Even though Empress Mother does not want you to be
the Emperor, I cannot stop you from fighting for that position. I understand
that if that position is snatched away by others, all three of you will be in
mortal peril. This is the difference between "Li" and
"Cheng". You are the holders of the name "Li", and are
destined to be mired in this fight. Since birth, you have been a thorn in the
eyes of others, a source of their jealousy."
"Empress Mother, rest assured. We will not let the position
fall into the hands of outsiders." Jun Liyuan said.
"Well, as long as the three of your brothers work together,
I'm sure it will be fine." She nodded in relieve.
"We understand. We brothers will work together as one."
Jun Liche said.
"Yes, I will do my utmost best to help my two elder
brothers." Jun Lixuan also expressed his firm resolve.
"Good, good. I'm relieved that my sons have all grown up
well." It was not that the Empress was a bigot. But, any of her three sons
were the top of the pack. As long as she was alive, the chances of any three of
them securing the position as the heir were not lower than 70%.
After a long chat, the three of them left the Serene Palace and
prepared to return to their homes.
"Indeed, Also, when Qiyang checks on your condition, Empress
Mother, you should change to a different kind of incense. I will help you find
some good fragrances." Jun Liche advised.
"I know that you are thoughtful and capable. But just in case,
I will stop using fragrances in the future. Just get me some sandalwood, it is
not only simple but also good for focus and meditation." The Empress smiled
and continued, "I will go and talk to the Emperor in a few days. The
frontline wars have been frequent, and the national treasury is tight. If my
palace can save some money, it will also play a part to help the country."
"That is a very kind and thoughtful gesture, Empress
Mother." Jun Liche responded.
"Yuan'er and Xuan'er are both on the battlefield. Empress
Mother must accumulate some good karma for you. Although Che'er is not deployed in wars, the imperial city is not any less dangerous than the
battlefield. Empress Mother wants to do something to keep all of you
safe." Seeing the sullen and severe faces on her three sons, the Empress
smiled and said, “I know that you are all filial. Having you three here today
makes me very happy. Alright, cut it with those serious expressions." She
smiled and passed some snacks onto her sons' pates.
Thinking that the New Year's Eve is on the next day, all three of
them decided not to cause the Empress more worries. Immediately, they wore
their best smiles and brightened their expressions. It was not too late to
inform the Empress of the other incidents after the New Year's Celebration.
The Empress stroked Mo Yu'er's fur and said, "Do you know why
people in this palace love to fight?" Without waiting for them to respond,
the Empress continued, "Because they are not happy. And because they are
not happy, they are not satisfied. Women fight for the Emperor’s favour. They
think that the Emperor will satisfy all their needs. It's the same when men
fight for the throne. They think that only by sitting in that position, they
can get the happiness they want."
The three of them pondered on her words in silence and felt that
they were indeed wise.
"In fact, there is no happiness in the palace. The court and
the Imperial Harem are mutually restraining. The Emperor's wives and concubines
are here for profit, while we exist only for the Emperor’s benefit. Without
this relationship, the women who enter the palace are either extremely lowly or
fall out of favour, spending the rest of their lives in loneliness."
" Empress Mother ..." Jun Liyuan frowned, not wanting
the Empress to continue.
"It's okay, it is just us here, no one else will hear of
this. I am your mother. If I don't help you to understand this, who will?"
The Empress continued with a melancholic smile, "Even someone desires peace,
there are always ambitious individuals who will rock the ship. As such, fights
and feuds will never end. Even if you don’t wish to fight, you will be drawn in
and forced to defend yourself. Look, now there are more than 200 concubines in
the palace. According to the traditional system, the Emperor will spend more
than half a month with the concubines. Yet, of the children in the palace,
there are only seven princes and four princesses. Those who have children have
a firm place in the palace. What about those with no children. Can they not be
jealous?"
"Deep down, Empress Mother does not wish for any of you to be
the Emperor. Everyone thinks that being the Emperor is the most glamorous. But
in fact, the Emperor is the most unfortunate. Everyone around him is scheming,
trying to gain the status and honour that only he can bestow. Yet, no one cares
about what he needs. Unfortunately, as Emperor, you have to weigh
everything. Your personal needs are secondary."
The Empress took Jun Liche's hand in hers and said to him,
"Although Che'er is not my own son, I've raised you by my side since
birth. Your mother and I are twin sisters. From appearance to nature, we are
alike. Presumably, if she's alive, she will share the same thoughts as
me."
"I understand." Jun Liche responded with a smile. His
mother, Consort Xian, passed away during childbirth, leaving him to her twin
sister, the current Empress. The Empress had always regarded him as her own
son. Even his name followed the naming reserved for the Empress's sons, with
the word "Li".
The Empress patted his hand and sighed. She turned to her two
sons, and continued, "Even though Empress Mother does not want you to be
the Emperor, I cannot stop you from fighting for that position. I understand
that if that position is snatched away by others, all three of you will be in
mortal peril. This is the difference between "Li" and
"Cheng". You are the holders of the name "Li", and are
destined to be mired in this fight. Since birth, you have been a thorn in the
eyes of others, a source of their jealousy."
"Empress Mother, rest assured. We will not let the position
fall into the hands of outsiders." Jun Liyuan said.
"Well, as long as the three of your brothers work together,
I'm sure it will be fine." She nodded in relieve.
"We understand. We brothers will work together as one."
Jun Liche said.
"Yes, I will do my utmost best to help my two elder
brothers." Jun Lixuan also expressed his firm resolve.
"Good, good. I'm relieved that my sons have all grown up
well." It was not that the Empress was a bigot. But, any of her three sons
were the top of the pack. As long as she was alive, the chances of any three of
them securing the position as the heir were not lower than 70%.
After a long chat, the three of them left the Serene Palace and
prepared to return to their homes.
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