!"Li Laotai's eyes reddened. In front of her children and grandchildren, she had to hold it together, but in front of her granddaughter, she could finally complain a few words and shed a few tears.Jia...Over the past few years, my mother has said this countless times, especially recently. It's practically become her catchphrase.

Neither being a woman nor a man was her desire.

Sometimes, she didn't even want to be born a royal.

If she were given the choice, she would want to switch places with that maidservant from the Li family.

Perhaps I lack immense wealth and glory, but I have the love of my family and the most precious freedom.

Under the guise of a princess, she was actually forbidden from seeing her parents. She had to report her desire to visit and receive permission just to catch a glimpse of them and speak a few words.

Leaving the palace is even more difficult!

The princess is just a pretty name, in reality, she's just a bird in a cage.

And to be sandwiched between the Emperor and Empress, enduring endless complaints and grievances.

She sighed inwardly and advised, “Mother Empress, you are the Empress. No one else can be favored more than you.”

“Even if we concede that, in the future, your Majesty... whoever ascends the throne, will still revere you as Empress Dowager. Why must you subject yourself to such hardship, weakening your own body only to allow others to take advantage”

"No, you don't understand!" The Empress waved her hand, cutting off her daughter's words.

"I am the Empress, your father's rightful wife, yet he cast me aside like a worn-out shoe. I cannot swallow this humiliation."

That despicable wretch from Rong Hua Palace has always been able to easily suppress this palace, isn't it just because she gave birth to a prince

"As long as I give birth to a prince, then Tianwu will rightfully be the Crown Prince. When the Crown Prince takes the throne, then my position as Empress Dowager will be secure."

Otherwise, not only will this palace suffer, but your entire family and even you will face dire consequences!

The Third Princess tried to speak, but the Empress was already impatient and shooed her away.

"Go back and learn your manners well. Don't come here often in the future. If you have nothing to do, keep an eye on that vile woman in RongHua Palace for me. Also, go to your father and speak a few kind words for me there. Remind him of me..."

The third princess was heartbroken, thousands of words choked in her throat.

She could only rise and curtsy, then step out.

The night breeze of early autumn carried a hint of coolness. Two palace maids following the Third Princess approached her gently and draped a thin cloak over her shoulders.

One palace maid whispered, "Your Highness, it's cold on an autumn night. Why don't you go back"

"Yes, it's time to go back," said the Third Princess, smoothing her cloak and looking towards the brightly lit splendor of the Rong Hua Palace.

The Consort has always been modest and never vied for favor, even after giving birth to the second prince, she did not become arrogant.

What's going on lately You actually took father to the Rong Hua Palace again and again, which completely angered the empress dowager...

The second day was the grand assembly. The Emperor, perhaps having slept well the previous night, sat upon his throne, smiling benignly at the assembled officials.

Over the past two years, there has been good weather and abundant harvests. Although Tianwu retreated to Jiangnan, the common people have lived comfortably with enough food and clothing. They are no longer as helpless and desperate as they were before.

Especially recently, the autumn harvest has begun again.

Countless corn and potatoes covered the mountains and plains, enough to feed all the people of Tianwu, and even more to fill the national treasury in preparation for a complete recapture of the lost territory in Jiangbei.

>

Overall, the grand assembly was harmonious.

But some people are unwilling to let this harmony continue.

A Fourth Rank Imperial Historian knelt on the ground, loudly pleading to establish a Crown Prince!

Proclaim the crown prince!

The silent court, like a pot of simmering oil suddenly splashed with cold water, erupted in an instant.

With a sizzle and pop, the invisible oil stars burned everyone who wanted to jump up.

It goes without saying that the emperor's health is not good, and there are only two princes in the harem. One is frail, and the other is just over a year old. Neither is a suitable candidate.

The most important thing is that both of these princes were not born to the Empress.

What if a prince was established, and the Empress gave birth to another...

Isn't that sowing the seeds of disaster!

Tian Wu may not even wait to reclaim Jiangbei before starting a civil war!

Immediately, an elder minister spoke up in opposition, rebuking the censor for harboring ulterior motives.

But some people also agreed, saying that establishing the crown prince early would ensure stability for the dynasty.

The court, which was just a moment ago peaceful and harmonious, has now descended into chaos.

Li Lao'er, Wen Yushi, and Liu Zhiheng exchanged glances. With a silent understanding, they all bowed their heads, feigning ignorance.

They are staunch monarchists, carrying out the emperor's every decree.

Now that the emperor hasn't mentioned establishing a crown prince, these people taking the initiative to cause trouble will surely meet a bad end.

As expected, the debate ended with the emperor's furious wrath.

The proposed censor was demoted to be the county magistrate of a small, remote county.

The rest of them huddled back, meek and subdued, as if the ones who had just argued red-faced and breathless were strangers to them...

Once the court session was dismissed, everyone left the palace.

Soon, almost everyone in Xindu knew about the news of establishing a crown prince.

Some people scoffed, some watched with amusement, and others discussed it heatedly.

But some people are troubled by this, namely the empress's family.

One must understand that the honor and disgrace of their entire family rests on the Empress. If the Emperor were to establish a prince at this time, it would be absolutely detrimental to the Empress and even more so to the Jiangning Hou's Mansion!

The Empress's mother, Wu Dafu, immediately presented a plaque and entered the palace.

In Kunning Palace, the incense burner had just been cleaned last night, and now it was time to sweep up the porcelain shards scattered on the floor.

The Empress was furious, like a madman. When she saw her mother, she burst into tears.

"Mother, these officials want to establish a crown prince. They don't even treat me as the Empress!"

While Mrs. Wu felt sympathy for her daughter, she cared more about the future of their family.

She pulled her daughter aside and whispered, “At this point, the only solution is for you to get pregnant as soon as possible. As long as you give birth to a prince, the position of Crown Prince is absolutely secure!”

"Waaaah, Mother, this palace also wants to give birth! I dream about giving birth all the time!" The Empress couldn't help but wipe away tears, angrily punching her stomach, "But I've drunk countless doses of medicine, tried every remedy, and there's still no movement."

"Now the Emperor is bewitched by that wretch in Rong Hua Palace. He doesn't even want to come over on the first and fifteenth days of the month. And when he does come, he just eats a quick meal and leaves."

Mrs. Wu wanted to say that her daughter was useless, but because of her status, she dared not speak it out loud.

She could only say: "You'd better find a way to coax the Emperor back, and try to keep him here for a few more days. The family will also help you think of a way. In short, we must not let the position of Crown Prince fall into the hands of others."

"Alright, mother," The Empress wasn't particularly intelligent. At this moment, she was flustered and lost. With her mother taking charge, she felt much better and her anxiety lessened somewhat.

After exchanging a few more words, Mother Wu left the palace.

Actually, what she had just told her daughter about figuring out ways to help the family was nothing but empty words.

It has already been three years, and if the Empress were able to give birth to a prince, she would have done so by now.

For the sake of our family's prosperity for generations to come, we still need to find a way.

"Crack!" Just as Mrs. Wu was lost in thought, there came a sudden sharp crack from the carriage below.

The coachman quickly stopped the carriage. A guard stepped forward to check and soon walked to the window to report, “Madam, there seems to be a problem with the carriage. Please wait a moment, we will fix it and then you can continue your journey.”

Wu Dafu's wife frowned and replied, "Quickly repair it. Later, we won't be afraid of anything."

The guards and coachmen let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly set about repairing.and eating a banana, not noticing her grandson's strange expression.She nodded, putting the banana in her grandson's hand and smiling proudly, "Come, try this fruit called a banana."“Lao Hei brought t...