CHAPTER 1577: CHAPTER 1577: GRAND WEDDING

As July arrived, this year the capital experienced frequent rain, and with the increasing temperatures, the humidity became heavier, so the capital was quite sultry. The rumors about the Empress’s severe illness gradually dissipated.

Though the Empress hadn’t appeared in public, no worse news came out either. People were astute, understanding that the Empress would not die, so no one stirred things up anymore.

Xue Han entered the palace again and returned to her maternal home the next day, bringing Xiaxia along with her.

Zhulan felt sorry for her delicate grandson, holding Xiaxia in her arms, and signaled Qing Xue to remove the ice basin and stop fanning.

Frowning, Zhulan asked, "With the weather so hot, why did you bring Xiaxia?"

Xue Han wiped the sweat from her forehead, "Tomorrow we’re going to stay at the villa in the suburb of the capital to escape the summer heat, so I brought the child to see you before leaving the capital."

Zhulan’s heart was stirred; she also wished to escape the summer heat. But then she sighed, as Shuren couldn’t leave the capital, so she couldn’t go either. The older she got, the more she stuck to Shuren, "It’s good to leave the capital, it’s been so stifling lately."

Xue Han fanned herself with a fan, motioned for the maids to leave, and leaned towards her mother, "I went into the palace yesterday."

"Did you see the Empress?"

Xue Han wasn’t surprised that her mother guessed, "Yes, the Empress has lost a lot of weight. The hall was full of herbal medicine’s smell, and even the incense couldn’t dispel it."

Zhulan asked, "How is her energy and spirit?"

"Her energy and spirit seem alright, I didn’t ask much, just chatted with the Empress for a while and then left."

Xue Han felt a heavy heart. Although the Empress was alright, her body was increasingly frail. In the obviously hot summer days, the Empress still had a thin quilt over her legs and wasn’t even holding the little princess.

Zhulan acknowledged with a sigh; she genuinely hoped the Empress could live a few more years. Seeing Xiaxia sitting quietly and playing, this child was very well-behaved but delicate. The child was precocious, too, so she didn’t want to talk much in front of the child, asked, "Is Ninghou also going to escape the summer heat?"

Xue Han smiled, "With Xiaxia leaving the capital, his third uncle naturally has to go along. His third uncle can’t leave Xiaxia."

Xiaxia lifted his head, saw his grandmother looking at him, and slightly curled his lips, "Grandma."

Zhulan’s heart softened as she listened, "Hey, are you hot?"

Xiaxia shook his head, "Not hot."

Zhulan felt troubled at heart; this child’s health was not good. Looking at her grandson’s thin arms, her heart felt like it was being pricked by needles. He started drinking medicine before he could even drink milk, and his small body had consumed too much herbal medicine. Even his hair wasn’t good, requiring constant shaving.

Xue Han and her son stayed for lunch, and in the afternoon, Rongchuan brought Lin Xi over. The family of five had dinner together before leaving.

The next day at the morning assembly, Zhou Shuren disliked attending the morning assembly in the summer. Getting up made him feel suffocated, and rising early in a bad mood spoiled his whole day, making him impatient at the morning assembly, wishing it would end quickly.

Unexpectedly, just as the morning assembly was about to conclude, a thunderous topic arose, saying the Crown Prince was not young, and that the Crown Prince should be married, among other things.

Zhou Shuren was surprised, turned his head to see who submitted the memorial, and then stayed silent. If his memory serves him right, he had seen Mr. Meng in the palace a few days ago.

This was obviously the Emperor’s intent; why didn’t the Emperor say it himself?

Zhou Shuren figured it out immediately; the Emperor feared if the royal family mentioned it, the ministers would interpret it as the Empress being beyond recovery, pushing for the Crown Prince to marry quickly to prevent the Empress’s death from delaying the Crown Prince’s wedding!

Zhou Shuren bowed his head; he indeed had the Emperor’s trust; perhaps only he was aware of this through Mr. Meng.

Old Master Wen was listening, his eyes brightly aglow with intensity, "This old minister seconds the motion."

The Wen family also feared the Empress’s passing. The Empress’s serious ailment was no falsehood; since her illness, Old Master Wen had appeared much more wan and had only recently started to recuperate somewhat.

Minister Shangguan couldn’t fathom whether the Wen family’s guidance was behind it or someone else’s machinations. The process of the Crown Prince’s marriage was complicated; even if preparations were made, it would still take until next year, with the earliest possible marriage happening next autumn. Preparing now was just in time.

After figuring it out, Minister Shangguan remained silent, as this matter required listening to the Emperor. The Shangguan family had no say from beginning to end.

The Emperor frowned at first, but then his brows gradually relaxed, "Considering it this way, the Crown Prince indeed is of age. At his age, I was already married. The unsettled recent years have indeed delayed him."

Zhou Shuren kept his eyes downcast. Had he been the Empress, he would have stymied the Crown Prince’s marriage, as these past two years were not ideal for marriage. It’s a pity no one foresaw the Empress’s health deteriorating so rapidly; the Empress’s condition worried the Emperor, prompting him to make up his mind about the Crown Prince’s marriage.

In the end, the Emperor merely sighed without making a decision, and then the assembly was dismissed.

Though no final word was given, the Emperor summoned the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to choose a date; the entire court was clear that the Crown Prince indeed was to be married.

Naturally, there were also speculations about the Empress’s health. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any news, until a few days later, the news of the Crown Prince’s marriage was finally confirmed.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau had also chosen the date: October next year—the Crown Prince’s wedding date.

Zhou Shuren couldn’t get any news of the Empress, but he heard about the Retired Emperor. Only then did he know the Crown Prince’s marriage also had the Retired Emperor’s consent, as the Empress’s severe illness had further provoked distress in the Retired Emperor.

The Zhou family and the Shangguan family elders did not interact much, but the younger generation did. Ming Rui and Shangguan Liu had dealings, and Yu Jiao was frequently in contact with Shangguan Li. Yu Jiao had just returned from the Shangguan residence and headed straight to the main courtyard.

Zhulan glanced at the clock, "Why are you back so early today?"

Yu Jiao returned with gossip, her eyes sparkling, "Grandma, guess what I saw at the Shangguan residence?"

After thinking for a moment, Zhulan guessed but feigned ignorance, "I can’t guess."

Yu Jiao spoke mysteriously, "The Empress Dowager’s Female Officer and nanny moved into the Shangguan residence today. They will teach Sister Shangguan before her marriage."

She felt Sister Shangguan’s plight; the Female Officer and nanny would always stay with Sister Shangguan, saying there were many courses to learn for being a better Crown Princess Consort.

Zhulan remarked, "To wear the crown, one must bear its weight."

Thinking of the Crown Princess Consort’s courses, just the thought brought a headache.

Yu Jiao nodded in strong agreement, "That’s why I came back; the Female Officer’s gaze was so severe, Sister Shangguan Li and I didn’t dare speak loudly."

Zhulan poked at her little granddaughter’s nose, "You."

Yu Jiao giggled, "My future husband must pamper me; I wish to live a free life."

Zhulan chided, "You’re so young, yet thinking about a husband, no sense of shame."

Yu Jiao was not afraid of her grandmother; as the youngest granddaughter, she had privileges, shaking her grandmother’s arm, "Grandma, would you allow your beloved granddaughter to suffer?"

Zhulan, feeling dizzy from the shaking, relented, "Alright, alright, don’t shake anymore, Grandma’s hair is all but undone."

Yu Jiao stopped shaking, "Grandma, I’ll consider that as your promise."

Zhulan conceded helplessly, "When the time comes, I’ll help you choose a good one, but don’t speak of it outside."

Yu Jiao nodded, "I know, I definitely won’t speak carelessly."

During dinner, Zhulan mentioned it to Shuren, "Look at the granddaughter you’ve spoiled."

Zhou Shuren had no means of curbing Yu Jiao; being the youngest truly had its perks, additionally being lively and fond of acting coquettishly, she was indeed much pampered, "That girl was scared."

Zhulan agreed, "With only two granddaughters left, we indeed have to carefully choose husbands for them."

In the palace, the Empress served a dish to the Crown Prince, gently coughing, seeing both sons watching her, signaling she was alright, then added, "The Female Officer has already moved into the Shangguan residence."

The Crown Prince understood, "Father instructed me to visit the Shangguan residence in two days."

The Empress coughed again, softly saying, "Alright."