Chapter 137: Offspring

In the third year of the Jinghe era, a lot could change in three years. For instance, the imperial prince, who was once as frail as a kitten at birth, had grown older and begun to exhibit a formidable level of destructiveness. The retired emperor, who was resting in the Western Inner Palace, had gradually come to terms with reality and now lived a life focused entirely on pleasure. Meanwhile, the Great Yan Dynasty, which had suffered a severe blow at the end of the Jianxing era, had, after three years of recovery, gave a crushing defeat to the Wara in early summer this year, achieving a great victory. The entire nation was now cheering for the emperor’s wisdom and decisiveness. Some even submitted memorials to the court, praising Qin Yi for his literary and military accomplishments and for reviving the Great Yan, comparing him to the founding emperor of the dynasty.

Of course, whether these praises were genuine or mere flattery was up for debate.

Because of the victory at the border, the Great Yan Dynasty had finally released the pent-up frustration of the previous emperor’s capture at the end of the Jianxing era. The court was filled with joy, and the atmosphere in the Inner Palace was equally lively. Over the past three years, Chu Jinyao had gradually released many palace maids from service. Qin Yi had also made significant cuts to redundant court officials and utilized capable ministers to implement new policies. The national treasury was becoming increasingly prosperous, and the burden of the harem was lessening. Both the court and the inner palace displayed a spirit of vigor and progress.

With morale running high among the officials, Qin Yi decided to hold a banquet in the court to reward the soldiers who had fought in battle. Similarly, Chu Jinyao hosted a palace banquet in the harem, inviting the wives of these heroes. Additionally, all noblewomen ranked third-class and above were invited.

The banquet was meant to be a joyous occasion, so Chu Jinyao did not want the attendees to feel too restrained. She set the banquet in the gardens adjacent to the Imperial Garden. From the banquet hall, guests could step directly into the garden, where pavilions were equipped with tea service and palace attendants bustled about, ensuring a well-considered arrangement. Before the banquet officially began, the close family members of the court officials arrived early to chat with Chu Jinyao.

Just as Duan Yinghua entered, the little Crown Prince unexpectedly ran into her. “Ouch,” she cried, quickly steadying herself and the prince.  “Crown Prince, you must be careful not to run so fast.”

“It’s Second sister-in-law!” said Chu Jinyan, who was seated in the inner chamber with Chu Jinxian. Upon hearing the commotion, Chu Jinxian stood up to greet Duan Yinghua, while Chu Jinyao remained seated.

Seeing the child being brought in, Chu Jinyao couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. “Qin Hongyan, you’ve run into your aunt. Aren’t you going to apologize?”

Duan Yinghua would never dare accept an apology from the prince. The Crown Prince was the only child in the palace, and as the empress’s legitimate firstborn, discussions of establishing him as the Crown Prince would naturally begin in a few years if everything went smoothly. Duan Yinghua hurriedly said, “Empress, how can you say such a thing? It’s lucky the Crown Prince wasn’t hurt. I’m a grown woman; it’s no big deal. Crown Prince, are you alright?”

Qin Hongyan had been born prematurely and was quite frail at first, so both Chu Jinyao and Qin Yi doted on him, which inevitably led to some pampering. Fortunately, the child seemed to have inherited Qin Yi’s constitution, and as he grew older, not only did his health improve, but his ability to cause trouble increased significantly. As long as he was in the palace, there was never a moment of peace in Chu Jinyao’s quarters. The palace staff catered to his every whim, and even the elders on both sides granted his every request. With this indulgence, Qin Hongyan became bolder and bolder in his mischief. Realizing this couldn’t continue, Chu Jinyao began to strictly discipline him. Like now, she sternly fixed her gaze on him and, in a voice that brooked no argument, said, “How many times have I taught you? You bumped into your elder, and you’re not going to apologize?”

Seeing his mother’s face darken, Qin Hongyan immediately straightened up and obediently apologized to Duan Yinghua: “Auntie, I’m sorry.”

Duan Yinghua quickly waved it off, saying, “It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Empress, you’re very strict with the Crown Prince. It’s really no big deal. No need to make things hard on him; don’t frighten him.”

“Frighten him?” Chu Jinyao gave Qin Hongyan a sideways glance. “Don’t underestimate him. He’s clever and knows exactly who’ll cater to him and who won’t. In front of his father, would you dare act this way?”

Chu Jinxian smiled at this and said, “He’s still young. There will be time for him to study under the tutor and face the hardships of learning. We, his aunts and uncles, should spoil him while we can. Crown Prince, in the future, slow down when you run. Everyone here is older than you, so if you bump into an adult, it’s no big deal. But if you hit something sharp, like a vase or table, it’s you who’ll get hurt. Do you understand?”

Pouting, Qin Hongyan nodded and said, “I understand. Thank you, Auntie.”

He then sneakily glanced at Chu Jinyao’s expression and, with a pitiful look, tugged at her sleeve, saying, “Mother, I was wrong. Please don’t be angry.”

Qin Hongyan was still so young, with fair skin and a handsome face. His pitiful plea for forgiveness instantly melted the hearts of the women around him. Chu Jinyao’s earlier scolding had been mostly for educational purposes, so seeing him like this, her anger quickly dissipated. She gently tapped his forehead and said with exasperation, “You! We all saw what happened just now. Who are you trying to fool?”

Qin Hongyan clung to her sleeve and, tilting his head, playfully pleaded for her forgiveness. Chu Jinyao could only sigh and scoop him up into her arms. Children who are showered with parental affection seem to instinctively know how to act coy, and Qin Hongyan was a master at it. The women around them smiled with delight and admiration.

“Crown Prince is so clever. He’s just trying to make the Empress happy,” someone said.

Seeing that his mother was no longer angry, Qin Hongyan’s face brightened. He mischievously glanced around the room until his gaze landed on Chu Jinxian. “Auntie, where’s Lu Ge’er?”

“What do you mean ‘Lu Ge’er’? You need to call him your cousin,” Chu Jinyao said, helplessly. Because they often referred to Zhao Lu as “Lu Ge’er” among themselves, this little troublemaker had picked up the habit as well. Zhao Lu was older than him; he had no right to call him by his nickname.

But Qin Hongyan didn’t care about such things. Children close in age tend to resist calling each other “brother” or “sister.” And with Qin Hongyan being so spoiled, he was even more reluctant. Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinxian were very close sisters, and because of the incident in the western suburbs, Qin Yi treated Chu Jinxian and the Zhao family with great respect. Since Zhao Lu and Qin Hongyan were close in age, Qin Yi had intended for Zhao Lu to be Qin Hongyan’s future study companion. For both families, this arrangement was ideal, and the two children grew closer, practically being raised together.

Hearing Qin Hongyan ask about her son, Chu Jinxian smiled gently and said, “He didn’t sleep well last night, so he was a bit tired when we came to the palace. He’s napping in the side hall now. You can go check on him; he should be awake by now.”

With a cheerful “Okay,” Qin Hongyan hopped down from Chu Jinyao’s lap and dashed out. A group of palace maids and eunuchs, startled, quickly followed him.

Chu Jinyao watched her son until he disappeared from sight, then finally turned her attention back to the conversation.

Duan Yinghua remarked, “The Crown Prince runs so nimbly. He must have great athletic potential in the future. My daughter doesn’t have such strong legs as the Crown Prince.”

Duan Yinghua had given birth to her first child two years ago. Though it was a girl, she was the firstborn in the Marquis Changxing’s household and was adored by all the elders. Both Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinxian, who had no daughters of their own, doted on the little girl whenever they could. Chu Jinxian reassured her, saying, “How can a girl compare to a boy? And besides, your eldest daughter is still so young. She’s more than a year younger than these two. Wait until she’s a bit older; she’ll be running all over the place, and you won’t even be able to keep up.”

Parents always have their concerns, but even with their worries, they find joy in raising their children. Duan Yinghua smiled and said, “I hope your words come true. It’s a pity she’s still so young and can’t be brought into the palace. Otherwise, she could have played with her cousins. She was asking for her brothers last time we returned home.”

Since the crisis with Chu Jinmiao had passed, Duan Yinghua’s relationship with her husband had deepened significantly. While not overly affectionate, they treated each other with mutual respect and care. Duan Yinghua’s intentions were not hard to discern. Though her daughter was still young, she knew that growing up alongside her two cousins—whether Zhao Lu or the Crown Prince—would increase her daughter’s chances of securing a good marriage match in the future. Even if such a marriage didn’t happen, having two influential older brothers would be a blessing in itself.

Since the beginning of spring this year, Old Madam Chu’s health had been steadily declining. She no longer had the sharp and authoritative presence she once commanded as the head of the family, instead showing the fatigue typical of old age. Slowly, she relinquished her control over the household, handing the reins to Duan Yinghua.

Duan Yinghua, known for her strong-willed nature, had always been competitive in her maiden family. After marrying into the Marquis Changxing’s family, she became even more determined to succeed. Now married into one of the most powerful families in the capital, Duan Yinghua refused to be looked down upon and handled everything with utmost precision. The Marquis Changxing had been gradually preparing his second son, Duan Yinghua’s husband, to inherit his title, and the second son, being modest and prudent, had gained a favorable reputation. With Duan Yinghua managing the household affairs, everyone who visited the Marquis’s residence couldn’t help but praise her abilities.

Meanwhile, Madam Zhao had become increasingly melancholic over the years. But when her granddaughter was born, the sight of the soft, delicate child seemed to melt her heart. Perhaps as a way to compensate for past mistakes, Madam Zhao doted on her granddaughter, nearly raising her herself. Many speculated that Madam Zhao’s devotion to her granddaughter was an attempt to atone for her past errors. Having become estranged from Chu Jinyao, Madam Zhao appeared to channel all her guilt into her granddaughter, as though this would make up for her previous wrongdoings. Now entirely focused on raising her granddaughter, Madam Zhao no longer involved herself in household affairs, leaving Duan Yinghua free to manage everything.

Seeing her maiden family on the rise, Chu Jinyao couldn’t help but feel relieved. Just then, she heard the playful voices of Qin Hongyan and Zhao Lu coming from outside, and a smile tugged at her lips. “Children will find their own blessings,” she thought. “Let them handle their own matters.”

“Your Majesty, the wife of the Marquis Fu has arrived with her daughters to pay respects.”

Chu Jinyao returned to the present and smiled. “Please invite them in.”

More and more families came to pay their respects, and when Chu Jinyao saw that it was nearly time, she led the group to the banquet hall. When word came from the front court that Qin Yi had begun the banquet, Chu Jinyao smiled at the crowd and said, “Today, we celebrate the great victory at the border. This is a time of national joy, so let us hold this feast in honor of the heroes who achieved this victory. Ladies, feel free to enjoy yourselves. Let the banquet begin!”

Raising her cup first, she set the tone, and the sound of cups being lifted filled the hall. Accompanied by voices of congratulations, Chu Jinyao drained her cup. After that, the atmosphere grew lively, and the banquet proceeded with great enjoyment. Afterward, Chu Jinyao led the guests to the theater to watch a performance.

Seated in the best spot with her closest companions, Chu Jinyao watched the show unfold. Partway through the performance, a palace attendant hurried to her side and whispered something in her ear.

Chu Jinyao’s brow furrowed ever so slightly.