The harem is too complicated; the empress, a lazy bum, wins by doing nothing.

Chapter 109 Hug
Consort Liang, who was standing to the side, felt a chill run down her spine when she saw this scene.

Emperor Yuanwu held the Third Prince because the Third Prince was born to Consort Xian and raised by Consort Shu.

Whether it was her birth mother or her adoptive mother, she was still a concubine, not to mention that Consort Shu also had the power to assist in managing the six palaces.

The Third Prince was bound to be favored from the moment he was born.

She was just a minor concubine; how could her children compare to the Third Prince?

This child is usually very obedient and well-behaved. What is he trying to do now?
Especially at this moment, the instant Jiang Wenyuan's voice fell, Emperor Yuanwu glanced down at him. His expression was indifferent, and Consort Liang found it difficult to guess what he was thinking from his expression.

But the way he stared intently at Jiang Wenyuan sent a chill down Liang Pin's spine.

“This child…” Consort Liang took two steps toward Jiang Wenyuan with an embarrassed expression, wanting to pull him into her arms.

Emperor Yuanwu spoke up first: "Alright, Father will hug you too."

After saying this, he handed the Third Prince in his arms to Consort Shu and picked up Jiang Wenyuan, who was standing next to him, from the ground.

Jiang Wenyuan had only been held a few times by Emperor Yuanwu when he was just born, and this was the first time he had any memories of this.

Children are naturally innocent. When they saw their father pick them up, they happily wrapped their hands around Emperor Yuanwu's cheeks and gave him a big kiss.

Emperor Yuanwu paused for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.

Consort Liang's expression flashed by like a revolving lantern, and it wasn't until Emperor Yuanwu laughed out loud that her heart, which had been in her throat, slowly returned to her stomach.

“Your Majesty cannot be biased. The younger brothers have all been hugged, so the older brothers and sisters should also be hugged,” Shen Qingwan joked.

Emperor Yuanwu raised an eyebrow, glanced at Shen Qingwan, and put Jiang Wenyuan on the ground: "Since the Empress has said so, let me hold the eldest princess."

The eldest princess was older than the second prince and was a girl. Since Consort Zhen was not favored, she rarely saw Emperor Yuanwu, let alone be held by him face to face like this.

Jiang Wanying buried her head in Emperor Yuanwu's shoulder, her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment, almost as if they were about to bleed.

"Why are you shy when Father Emperor hugs you?" Emperor Yuanwu laughed awkwardly.

What else could it be because of?
It's because he usually doesn't care enough about the children in the harem.

When he first ascended the throne, he was busy with state affairs. Now that his power base is stable, the Empress Dowager nags him about having children all day long. With few people in the harem, things are in constant turmoil.

Even if he is the emperor, a person's energy is limited; if he can take care of one thing, he can't take care of another.

Now that the Empress has changed so much, it's certainly less of a worry for us to have her managing things. It's not just the children; even the relationships between the concubines seem to have improved a lot.

Seeing that it was almost time, Shen Qingwan pulled Jiang Wenlan into her arms: "Your Majesty, please don't forget about the First Prince."

First Prince!
These three words are so sensitive.

Consort Liang and Consort Zhen exchanged a glance. Normally, let alone letting Emperor Yuanwu hold the eldest prince, they would be reprimanded if anyone even mentioned it in front of him.

Even if the Empress had no sense of propriety, how could she dare to say something like asking Emperor Yuanwu to hold Jiang Wenlan?

Has the Empress gone mad?
Shen Qingwan's thoughts were completely different from the others.

She felt that Emperor Yuanwu had never been able to let go of Consort Li's death, always believing that Jiang Wenlan's birth had taken Consort Li away. But now, he could accept Consort Yao, who resembled Consort Li, so how could he not accept Consort Li and his child in his heart? The moment Shen Qingwan finished speaking, Emperor Yuanwu did indeed turn around and glance at Jiang Wenlan. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, but it was only for a brief moment.

Emperor Yuanwu put Jiang Wanying down, looked at Jiang Wenlan who was standing timidly in Shen Qingwan's arms, and reached out to pick him up.

Jiang Wenlan was different from the other children. Now seven years old, he was naturally much heavier than the younger ones. In addition, he was afraid of Emperor Yuanwu from the bottom of his heart. Even when Emperor Yuanwu reached out, he did not dare to wrap his arms around his neck as naturally as the other princes and princesses. He stood up straight, like a pine tree. If Emperor Yuanwu had not been practicing martial arts, he would have almost failed to pick him up.

Shen Qingwan: ...

Everyone:? ? ?
Just then, the imperial kitchen delivered lunch, easing the awkward situation.

Emperor Yuanwu put Jiang Wenlan down, and the group sat together. Just as they started eating, the imperial edict from the Empress Dowager promoting Consort Xian to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort spread throughout the palace.

Consort Liang and Consort Zhen exchanged a glance and looked at Consort Shu. Although Consort Shu did not react much, her eyes still flickered when she heard about this.

Shen Qingwan's reaction was noticeably calmer than the others. She ate by herself, occasionally putting food on Jiang Wenlan's plate.

Emperor Yuanwu originally came to tell her about the matter of establishing Consort Xian, but he did not expect that several of his children were in her palace.

Finished lunch.

Emperor Yuanwu showed no intention of leaving, and Consort Shu and the others could not stay in Kunning Palace any longer, so they each made up an excuse to return to their respective palaces.

Jiang Wenlan was left behind; he wanted to leave, but didn't know how to bring it up.

Although the eldest prince looked much more mature and composed than other children his age, he was still only a seven-year-old child. In addition, Emperor Yuanwu had always been strict with him, so he was too scared to speak and could only hide in a corner by himself.

Seeing the fear in his eyes, Emperor Yuanwu harbored different thoughts.

"Have you memorized all the articles your tutor taught you?" Emperor Yuanwu's words startled Jiang Wenlan.

Shen Qingwan: ...

"Your Majesty...Father?" Jiang Wenlan took a step towards Emperor Yuanwu timidly: "Your subject has already memorized everything."

"Then recite the 'Essentials of Governance in the Zhenguan Era' for me."

Shen Qingwan was speechless. Even if Emperor Yuanwu was just trying to make conversation, he shouldn't be asking his child about their homework on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

However, apart from this, it seems that he, as a father, really has nothing else to say to his son.

I've heard of fathers and sons not getting along, but this is the first time I've seen a father and son who are not familiar with each other.

"In the early years of the Zhenguan era, Emperor Taizong said to his courtiers: 'The way of a ruler is to first care for the people. If one sacrifices the people to benefit oneself, it is like cutting off one's own flesh to feed oneself; the belly will be full, but the body will perish. If one wants to bring peace to the world, one must first rectify oneself…'"

Jiang Wenlan actually memorized it one after another.

From initial trepidation to increasing fluency as I memorized, and finally to a powerful and passionate delivery, my recitation became not only rhythmic and dramatic but also exhilarating.

Emperor Yuanwu seemed quite satisfied and nodded. He then asked Jiang Wenlan about the meaning of some of the words and phrases, to which Jiang Wenlan answered fluently as before.

Looking at his refined and scholarly demeanor, Shen Qingwan recalled the first time she caught fish by the lake in the Imperial Garden, filled with doubt. Could he really be exceptionally talented, able to turn his life around in just half a year? Or was he studying diligently from beginning to end, and catching fish was merely a way to conceal his true abilities and protect himself?

(End of this chapter)