CHAPTER 1578: CHAPTER 1578 DECENTRALIZATION

Time flies quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the sweltering summer is reduced to its tail end. News from the palace has spread that the Empress is ill and needs to recuperate. Recuperate means she cannot worry, so someone else must manage the power of the harem.

Zhulan listened to her daughter talk about the situation in the palace, clicking her tongue twice, truly fascinating.

Xue Han was quite annoyed, "Everyone in the palace knows that our Qin Prince Residence has face before Mother. Every time I enter the palace, I encounter the concubines of the harem, sigh, they all hope I can say a few words for them. They are too impatient."

Zhulan played with the fan in her hand, "They have no choice but to be impatient. After all, that’s the palace’s power. The harem has been under the Empress’s control for many years. Without saying the entire harem is the Empress’s people, it’s quite close. As the Empress cannot manage the harem, they naturally want to use this opportunity to place their own people. No one wants to fall behind; whoever is behind is passive."

Xue Han sneered, "From my years of interaction with the Empress, I have about sixty to seventy percent understanding of her. If the Empress dares to release the palace’s power, she must have some confidence. Who knows if this is the Empress using her illness to clean up the harem."

Zhulan’s eyes slightly moved, "What you said is very likely. The Empress’s health is not good, and now every day of her life is planning for the Crown Prince. Cleaning up the harem is inevitable. Now, whoever jumps the highest, the Empress will remember in her heart."

Back when the Empress was the Crown Princess Consort, she demonstrated excellent skills. Now, having been Empress for so many years, her means must be even more formidable. It is indeed possible that the Empress directed and performed this herself.

Xue Han was shocked, "I was just guessing."

"I’m guessing it’s not far from the truth. Just wait, there will be results sooner or later."

The Empress’s release of her palace authority might be intended to achieve two goals: recuperation and cleaning up the harem.

The fruit in Xue Han’s hand no longer tasted sweet, she wiped her hands with a cloth, drank a few sips of warm water, and then said, "These past few days."

Zhulan looked up, "Hmm? What’s wrong? Is Xiaxia feeling unwell?"

Xue Han shook her head, "All the children at home are fine. This year, the Prince is not busy, he spends every day playing with the children, they’re happy every day!"

Zhulan also smiled. Since the Emperor ascended the throne, Rongchuan became extraordinarily busy, helping the Emperor consolidate imperial power in the early years, and later assisting the Emperor in gathering imperial authority, which was very laborious. The children rarely saw Rongchuan, but now he spends every day with the children, and the children seldom visit the Hou Residence anymore.

Xue Han lowered her voice even more while speaking, "Recently the little princess has been staying beside Mother for care. The Empress hasn’t seen the little princess for some days."

Zhulan understood in her heart that the Empress had regrets. The more one faces life and death, the more contradictory one’s feelings become. Though she might say she’s not afraid of death, knowing she doesn’t have long to live might make her reluctant to part. Especially for the Empress, she’s the mother of the nation, has the Crown Prince, and a family, each of which is difficult to let go of. Coupled with concerns about the Crown Prince’s future ability to inherit, the Empress might not seem to be angry with the little princess, but she currently doesn’t want to see the little princess more frequently.

Xue Han noticed a faint expression on her mother’s face, knowing she understood what she was about to say, "I heard from Mother that when the Emperor visits Mother, he spends a while with the little princess."

Zhulan curled her lips, "That’s quite good."

At least there’s a reliable father. The Emperor certainly doesn’t agree with the Empress’s approach; he’s so busy but still can spend time with the little princess, which reflects his attitude. In the Emperor’s heart, the Empress’s situation today is entirely the result of the Empress’s own actions, unrelated to the children.

Xue Han said, "The Emperor is especially kind to the two princesses."

Zhulan thought about how scarcity increases value. If there were more princesses, no matter how much he loves daughters, they wouldn’t be as precious. The two princesses had chosen the right timing to be born; one is the eldest princess, who the Emperor has indulged for years, and the other is the legitimate-born little princess. The youngest daughter holds a special place in his heart, and the Emperor playing with the little princess shows her status in his heart.

In the capital’s teahouse, Yu Die and Liu Yuanbo had an appointment. Yu Die loved the lively atmosphere and recently, there were some good stories that have become quite popular in the teahouse. Yu Die wanted to listen, and coincidentally Liu Yuanbo invited her, so she arranged to meet at the teahouse.

Yu Die was engrossed in listening, her eyes fixed on the storyteller, while enjoying peeled grapes.

Liu Yuanbo looked at his fiancée, his hands peeling grapes swiftly. Seeing Yu Die’s frown, "Is it too sweet? Have some tea."

Yu Die shook her head, "It’s nothing. I think I saw the Second Prince. Take a look to see if it’s the Second Prince?"

Being familiar with the Second Prince, Liu Yuanbo recognized him. As the Princes have grown, their appearances in the capital have increased, making them familiar among the young nobles. Upon closer inspection, "Yes, it’s indeed the Second Prince."

Though the young lady beside the Second Prince, he wanted to ask his fiancée if she was from the Li family.

Yu Die was no longer listening to the storytelling, squinting her eyes at the young lady, clicked her tongue twice. The Second Prince’s fiancée is a Li family young lady known for being gentle and quiet, but the person by the Second Prince is evidently not, with a bright and lively demeanor.

Liu Yuanbo pushed the fully peeled grapes towards his fiancée, "All peeled."

Upon hearing this, Yu Die blushed, "You haven’t eaten and just kept peeling skins?"

Liu Yuanbo’s eyes held a smile, "Yes."

Yu Die’s two close maidservants were quite speechless. Young Master Liu had left them no opportunity to be useful as he took all the tasks.

Yu Die glared, "You eat too."

Liu Yuanbo enjoyed the vivacity in Yu Die. Every time he accompanied her, he felt great joy, "Alright."

The two exchanged a glance, and Yu Die glared at her fiancé again, "Still looking, hurry and eat."

Liu Yuanbo dared not annoy Yu Die and began eating, finding it truly sweet. Alas, it’s difficult to arrange meetings with his fiancée.

There was a commotion below. Yu Die saw it was the Third Prince approaching the Second Prince; not sure what was said, but the Second Prince’s expression turned somewhat cold.

Yu Die rubbed her chin, "This capital is getting more lively."

Liu Yuanbo also noticed, but since it wasn’t related to the Liu family, "Heard the Third Prince is supposed to get engaged?"

Yu Die was surprised, "Where did you hear the news?"

Liu Yuanbo smiled without replying. With his elder brother not in the capital, many family affairs have fallen into his hands. The more engagements he dealt with, the more he knew.

In the afternoon, Zhulan asked her granddaughter, "Did you enjoy listening to the stories today?"

Yu Die answered boldly, "Yes, I enjoyed them. Yuan Bo not only took me to hear the stories, but we also took a boat ride."

Zhulan curled her lips, "Seeing the two of you have a good relationship, Grandma is at ease."

Yu Die’s face turned a little red, and then she talked about what she encountered today, "Grandma, I heard from Yuanbo that the Third Prince is going to get engaged? Do you know this news?"

Zhulan genuinely didn’t know, "Haven’t heard your grandpa mention it."

Yu Die was quite curious, "I wonder from which family the Third Prince will choose a young lady. By the way, the young lady with the Second Prince today wasn’t Miss Li."

Zhulan wasn’t surprised, "The Second Prince isn’t fond of Miss Li."

Miss Li’s background is decent, barely sufficient for the status of a Prince’s Consort, but the Li family isn’t strong, belonging to the clear stream; if the Second Prince were satisfied, it would be strange.

Just being caught by the Third Prince is quite interesting.