Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

Chapter 456: Conferring the Crown Prince

In the bedroom, Princess Mingzhu was wiping away tears as she looked at her son with heartache. Empress Dowager Li angrily rebuked her, "As a father, what duty could be more important than a child's life? How pitiful my great-grandson, my Mingzhu! Mingzhu, don't cry. The Empress Dowager will make the decision for you. Just let the prince consort kneel down! It's impossible for me to see you and the child at this time!"

At this time, the voice of Emperor Shenwu rang out: "What is impossible!"

Princess Mingzhu was stunned for a moment. Empress Dowager Li looked towards the door in surprise, only to see a group of palace maids escorting Emperor Shenwu and Lan Qingwu in. The palace maid who had made the announcement stood aside with her head lowered, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead imperceptibly.

Just as Empress Dowager Li was about to speak, she discovered that the eldest son-in-law respectfully walked in with the emperor and empress.

Emperor Shenwu, along with Lan Qingwu and the Grand Prince Consort, bowed. Princess Mingzhu also reacted and wiped her red eyes while bowing and saying, "My daughter pays respects to my father, the Emperor, and my mother, the Empress!"

Emperor Shenwu frowned and said, "Rise! I just came back and heard about this. How is the child?"

Princess Mingzhu couldn't help crying, "We just got out of danger. The imperial physician said You'an was born weak, so he caught a cold and developed a high fever. This is all Mingzhu's fault. Mingzhu shouldn't have been so willful."

Lan Qingwu took a few steps forward to look at the sleeping baby. The child was thin and small, like a cat. This reminded Lan Qingwu of the Seventh Prince's birth. She worried day and night that her son would suddenly stop breathing, even in her arms, she would constantly check his breathing. Regardless, such a young child was innocent. Lan Qingwu sighed and said, "The child is innocent, Your Majesty. When Xiaoqi was a child, he had two imperial physicians who were well-versed in various childhood illnesses. Your Majesty, please see..."

Emperor Shenwu carefully observed Lan Qingwu's expression before speaking, "Pass on my decree. Have the pediatric gurus, Imperial Physicians Xu and Xu, take turns guarding the Princess's residence. Although this child is weak, if he is well cared for, he will grow up."

Princess Mingzhu and the eldest son-in-law showed a flash of joy on their faces when they heard this. The eldest son-in-law was really happy that his son had received the attention of the emperor. He thought that even if he was born weak, he would grow up well. The eldest princess understood that she had finally passed this difficult hurdle, and her father would never treat her as nothing again.

They both knelt on the ground and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

Empress Dowager Li was also satisfied, but when she saw the eldest son-in-law, she still said, "You were too unreasonable before! You'an was seriously ill, but you still put official duties first... You haven't been seen for so many days!"

The eldest son-in-law was indeed feeling guilty and was busy apologizing again, but the Emperor Shenwu waved his hand and said, "Forget it. I sent the eldest son-in-law out on this errand, and the Queen Mother has punished him. Let them take good care of the children from now on!"

Empress Dowager Li then let the matter go. Princess Mingzhu took the initiative to pull the sleeve of the prince consort, and they both looked at the sleeping baby on the bed.

When Lan Qingwu returned to Fengqi Palace, she was already exhausted. The palace servants helped her wash up and put on a pure white nightgown. Then she got into bed. The Emperor Shenwu was already waiting for her. He stretched out his arms and took her into his arms: "Are you very tired? I will accompany you to rest."

Lan Qingwu nodded: "Your Majesty must be tired too!"

Emperor Shenwu stroked Lan Qingwu's long black hair and said, "I still feel wronged, weakling."

"How could Ruo Ruo care about a newborn baby! Brother Heng, as long as I can be with you in peace and quiet, nothing else matters."

Blood ties are not so easily severed! Moreover, so many eyes from the former and harems are staring at the emperor. In order not to embarrass the Shenwu Emperor, Lan Qingwu still has to do his best.

Emperor Shenwu was pleased and said, "Wei Ruo is really well behaved! The day of enthroning the crown prince will come in a few days. Take a good rest these days. Tomorrow I will let Mingzhu leave the palace. I also understand your thoughts. Our prince marries a principal wife for the sake of the country. He cannot do whatever he wants. However, he can choose concubines as he likes. The prince is of noble status, and there is no woman he cannot get!"

Lan Qingwu was stunned for a moment, then realized that this was the norm for the royal family. It was abnormal for her to get along with the Emperor Shenwu like this. She silently leaned into the Emperor Shenwu's arms and hugged his waist tightly. The Emperor Shenwu patted Lan Qingwu again and again, coaxing her gently: "Go to sleep!"

The ninth day of the sixth lunar month is the day for enthroning the crown prince, and the next heir to the throne of the Dasheng Dynasty is finally decided.

On the day of the crown prince's enthronement, the relevant departments will first establish the seats of the emperor, the crown prince, and civil and military officials in a designated special palace, and arrange the ceremonial guards and palace guards.

In the early morning, the crown prince wore a Yuanyou crown, which was similar in shape to the Tongtian crown, with a golden Boshan in front, pearls and nine cicadas on the crown, a black hatband, jade, and a rhinoceros horn hairpin. Zhou Chengchen wore a crimson gauze robe and arrived at the enthronement palace in advance in a carriage, escorted by the three teachers, three tutors and other officials of the crown prince.

At sunrise, Emperor Shenwu, wearing the imperial robes and crown, arrived at the palace where the Crown Prince was enthroned, accompanied by ceremonial guards, bodyguards, and drums and music. He sat on the throne facing south.

The Crown Prince and all officials paid homage to Emperor Shenwu.

Emperor Shenwu issued an edict, announcing the appointment of his legitimate son, the sixth prince Zhou Chengchen, as the crown prince. The deputy assistant read the edict on his behalf. The crown prince bowed to express his gratitude, stepped forward to accept the edict of appointment, and returned to his original position to hand it over to the crown prince's ministers for safekeeping.

Then the Second Assistant presented the Crown Prince with the seal and sash. The Crown Prince bowed to express his gratitude, stepped forward to accept the seal and sash, and then returned to his original position.

The Crown Prince first performed the ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows to Emperor Shenwu alone, and then led the Crown Prince's officials and all civil and military officials to pay tribute to Emperor Shenwu.

After admonishing the Crown Prince, Emperor Shenwu returned to the palace. Civil and military officials paid their respects to the Crown Prince and presented him with congratulations. The Crown Prince then visited the Imperial Ancestral Temple and paid homage to the Empress.