My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 125 Not Wanting the Crown Prince Position

Lu Jinshi smiled faintly and said, "No need for formalities, please get up."

The two young ladies still looked flustered, unaware of how much of what they had just said had been taken to heart by Lu Jinshi.

Lu Jinshi entered the hall and bowed to Empress Rong, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty. I am late."

Empress Rong chuckled and held Zhang'er in her arms, saying, "It's not that I'm late, but you've been so busy at the academy these past few days that you might have forgotten something important."

Lu Jinshi looked at Empress Rong and asked, "What is it?"

Empress Rong looked at the little Zhang'er in her arms and said, "Zhang'er's first birthday is coming soon."

Lu Jinshi suddenly realized and said, "Look at me, I was so busy that I forgot about such an important matter."

Xiao Zhang'er's birthday is July 12th, which is only five days away from today.

Empress Rong smiled and said, "I have discussed Zhang'er's first birthday banquet with His Majesty. It should be a grand celebration. I have already prepared the banquet in the palace. However, you parents should not be too busy going to the academy on that day."

Lu Jinshi said, "It's all thanks to Mother for taking care of Zhang'er."

Empress Rong smiled and said, "There's no need to be so polite with Mother."

Lu Jinshi took Xiao Zhang'er from Empress Rong and they went together to the main hall of Fengkun Palace to watch the young ladies compete in needlework, fruit carving, and other events for the Girls' Festival.

The noble ladies who came to Fengkun Palace today are all very beautiful, around fifteen years old, and each of them has their own special skills.

After the competition, Empress Rong also gave each of these noble ladies a reward.

After the luncheon, the ladies took their leave.

Empress Rong said to Lu Jinshi, "Jinshi..."

Lu Jinshi looked at Empress Rong and said, "Mother, do you have any instructions?"

Empress Rong smiled and said, "Today is the Qixi Festival. There are many speculations outside about the girls who have come to the palace to celebrate the festival. They all think that it is to find a concubine for Yi'er. In fact, it is just a custom for celebrating the festival in the palace. If you hear the rumors outside, you don't need to think too much about them."

Lu Jinshi looked at Empress Rong and replied, "Yes, Mother."

Empress Rong said in a low voice, "I've been through this before. Now that Yi'er has promised you that he will not take any concubines or secondary wives, I will naturally not force him. You can rest assured about this matter."

Lu Jinshi chuckled and said, "Thank you, Mother."

Lu Jinshi couldn't help but think that being a royal daughter-in-law wasn't as difficult as she had feared before; her mother-in-law was an extremely reasonable person.

Lu Jinshi looked at Empress Rong and said, "By the way, Mother, I would like to ask you about someone."

Empress Rong asked, "Who is it?"

“Consort Rong,” Lu Jinshi said, “I heard from the Seventh Prince that Consort Rong was demoted and banished from the palace back then?”

Empress Rong nodded and said, "Yes."

Lu Jinshi asked, "What mistake did Consort Rong make that led to her being demoted from the palace?"

Empress Rong said, "Before His Majesty met me, Consort Rong was not Consort Rong, but Consort Rong. Back then, Consort Rong was favored by the emperor. Her father was the late prime minister, and there were many rumors that Consort Rong would become empress. After I entered the palace, Consort Rong targeted me in every way, which led to His Majesty's reprimand and her banishment from the palace. In a way, she was a pitiful person." Empress Rong's face was full of emotion when she spoke of Consort Rong.

Upon hearing this, Lu Jinshi vaguely understood. If Rong Pin was only one step away from becoming Empress but couldn't, then her hatred for Empress Rong was understandable.

After speaking with Empress Rong for a while, Lu Jinshi took Xiao Zhang'er back to the Jade Palace.

Rong Yi had just come from the Zichen Palace. When he saw the toddler Zhang'er, he picked him up and said, "Zhang'er is walking more and more steadily."

Lu Jinshi looked at Rong Yi and said, "I was so busy these past few days that I almost forgot about Xiao Zhang'er's birthday. In a few days, Zhang'er will be one year old."

Rong Yi looked at the giggling little Zhang'er in his arms and said, "That's right, July 12th, that's only five days away."

Rong Yi still remembers the tension and anxiety he felt when Lu Jinshi gave birth to Zhang'er last year, as well as the anticipation of becoming a father for the first time.

Rong Yi put Xiao Zhang'er down and pulled Lu Jinshi into his arms.

Lu Jinshi said, "Let me go quickly. Although it's past the beginning of autumn, it's still hot."

Rong Yi released Lu Jinshi and said, "I remembered the scene when you gave birth to Zhang'er last year... Let's not have any more children. Zhang'er is enough."

Lu Jinshi said, "No, I want a daughter."

Rong Yi held Lu Jinshi's hand tightly and said, "Then let's postpone having the baby for another two years."

Rong Yi still vividly remembers the hardships Lu Jinshi endured when he gave birth to Zhang's child last year; in the blink of an eye, a year has passed.
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The news that the seventh prince, Qi Zhang, will hold a first birthday banquet in the palace has sparked increasing discussions among the public about whether he will become the crown prince.

Inside the Prince of Jin's residence.

Princess Jin reluctantly saw Qi Li off in the carriage to Lingxiao Academy. Then she went to Prince Jin and said, "Your Highness, what should we do? Everyone knows that Father is holding a first birthday banquet for Zhang'er. I'm afraid Father really intends to make Qi Yi the crown prince."

Looking at the anxious appearance of Princess Jin, Prince Jin said, "If Father really wants to make Qi Yi the Crown Prince, neither of us has any other choice but to give the position to Xiao Qi."

Princess Consort of Jin frowned and looked at Prince Jin: "Give up? Your Highness, how can you so easily give up the position of Crown Prince?"

"No, absolutely not. You've served in the court for five years, and during those five years you've done your best to share His Majesty's burdens. Many officials trust you. You were also personally raised by the Empress Dowager. With the Empress Dowager around, it's not impossible for you to compete with Qi Yi for the position of Crown Prince."

Prince Jin said slowly, "Now that Qi Yi is the legitimate son of the Emperor and Empress, he has secured the position of the eldest son. He is much more confident than I am in becoming the Crown Prince. I have seen that he and my seventh brother and sister-in-law take good care of my Li'er. If he becomes the Crown Prince, he will certainly not mistreat our Li'er. Why should I do him this favor?"

Princess Consort Jin felt wronged on behalf of Prince Jin, saying, "Your Highness... but you clearly have the qualities of an heir apparent, and you are also the eldest son..."

Prince Jin grasped Princess Jin's hand and said, "Actually, I never wanted the position of Crown Prince or the throne. I was not favored by my father since I was a child. I thought that my father treated all of us children the same, and Yongjia, being a girl, was not favored by my father either."

To us, the Emperor is not only our father, but also, and more importantly, our emperor.

Until two-year-old Xiaoqi returned to the palace, I saw my father let Xiaoqi ride on his shoulders, treating him like a horse. My father gave Xiaoqi so much love that none of us brothers had ever received.

Princess Jin said indignantly, "That means His Majesty is extremely biased. Your Highness, you've been wronged."

Prince Jin said, “Your Highness, I have told you countless times that I will not take concubines or have secondary wives, because I do not want Li’er to have half-brothers and suffer the same injustice as me.”

If I want to become the crown prince and gain a foothold in the court, I will inevitably have to marry many concubines to balance the power. I have experienced the injustice that an emperor father would do to his children, and I really don't want Li'er to suffer the same pain I did in my childhood.

If Li'er ever has a younger sibling in the future, it will only be you and I who will give Li'er another child... We don't need the position of crown prince then."