Chapter 152: Cold Wind

Chapter 152: Cold Wind

Jiang Hui pinched Nian'er's cheek and smiled, "Not for now. Your eldest imperial sister and second imperial sister both have only one study companion. If Nian'er wants to choose them all, you'll have to find a way to bypass the rules of seniority and order. Otherwise, even if your father, the Emperor agrees, there will always be those who say Nian'er is not following the principles of filial piety and fraternal respect."

Nian'er furrowed his brow in confusion, "But why should others care about how I choose?"

Jiang Hui squatted down to look her son in the eye and said earnestly, "Nian'er, you may not care about how others see you, but you must learn to use these so-called rules. Sometimes, rules restrict you, but other times, they can protect you. Charging headlong into them is the most foolish approach."

"Mother, I don't understand," Nian'er shook his head, puzzled.

Jiang Hui laughed softly, stood up, took Nian'er by the hand to sit beside the window, and pointed to the newly pasted paper-cut on the window, "Look at this window decoration. How is it different from the usual ones in Yaohua Palace?"

Nian'er glanced at it and immediately said, "The previous one was a sheep, but this one is cut in the shape of a monkey."

"Yes, you're so smart," Jiang Hui encouraged gently, "Why is that?"

"Because this year is the Year of the Sheep, and next year will be the Year of the Monkey," Nian'er replied.

"Right," Jiang Hui nodded and asked, "Everyone knows that next year is the Year of the Monkey, so we put up monkey-shaped decorations. If you insist that next year is still the Year of the Sheep and want to put up sheep decorations, can you?"

Nian'er hesitated, then shook his head, "No."

"Not quite," Jiang Hui winked at her son, "If you don't care what others think, you can put up whatever you want. But then, people might call you foolish for not understanding the seasons. If you don't want others to say that but still want to put up sheep, what should you do?"

Nian'er looked up at the lifelike paper-cut and, after a moment of thought, suddenly said, "Have Father Emperor gift me the sheep decoration, then I can put it up."

Hearing this, Jiang Hui laughed, "That's using another rule to achieve your goal. A gift from the Emperor cannot be refused. Do you understand now?"

"I understand," Nian'er's eyes shone, but he soon became troubled again and asked, "But Mother, wouldn't people then talk about Father Emperor?"

Jiang Hui held Nian'er in her arms and spoke softly, "That's why you also need to understand that in your father's position, some rules can be broken."

Nian'er didn't respond immediately, sitting in Jiang Hui's arms for a long time before saying, "Mother, I want to choose Brother Chen."

Chen Qian, although the same age as Nian'er, was born in July, hence Nian'er referred to him as 'brother'.

Jiang Hui stroked his head but said nothing.

There were only a day or two left before the Emperor's New Year's seal, and Jiang Hui planned to review all the matters requiring the Emperor's approval in these two days.

The first matter was the grand promotion of ranks in the imperial harem.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, apart from the mandatory promotions in the inaugural year, promotions in the harem were generally scheduled every five or ten years. This year, the fifth year of Jianzhao, was just the time for this event.

Jiang Hui drafted the promotion list. The positions of Empress and Imperial Consorts remained unchanged, but everyone else was promoted one rank higher.

In the Jianzhang Palace.

Xiao Sheng leaned on the couch, wrapped in a heavy cloak and covered with thick Sichuan blankets, even with a charcoal brazier burning in the room. He glanced at the list and said, "Promote Lady Tang to the rank of Beauty; the rest can follow Hui'er’s suggestions."

His voice was nasal, and he coughed into a handkerchief after speaking. Jiang Hui quickly came forward to pat his back, whispering, "Your Majesty, you should let Physician Li examine you again."

This year's snowfall was exceptionally cold, and His Majesty unfortunately caught a cold. However, with the year-end tasks piling up, he did not rest and continued attending court sessions despite being ill.

"I am fine," Xiao Sheng said, tossing the handkerchief to Sheng An and wiping his hands with the warm towel Jiang Hui handed him. "Li Deqing has already examined me. A couple more doses of medicine will suffice. Hui'er needn’t worry."

Jiang Hui still frowned, stood up, and brought a cup of rock sugar pear soup from the table, spooning it to the Emperor's mouth, "It's cooled down now, Your Majesty. Please drink it. I asked Physician Li, and this soup is good for soothing coughs and nourishing the lungs."

Xiao Sheng, however, didn’t drink immediately, slightly turning his head to avoid the spoon of pear soup, smiling at Jiang Hui, "Just leave it there, I will drink it later."

"You said the same thing just now," Jiang Hui sighed softly, coaxing him, "Third Brother, there isn’t much rock sugar in it; it’s not too sweet."

Hearing this, Xiao Sheng sat up and sipped the soup from the spoon Jiang Hui offered, then took the porcelain cup and finished it in one gulp.

After drinking, he immediately rinsed his mouth with water and said, "Hui'er, you should go back. It’s not good for you to catch my illness, especially with Nian'er and Huayang, the two little ones at home. Later, I’ll ask Physician Liu to visit Fengyi Palace as well."

"Your Majesty, there’s one more thing," Jiang Hui said, "The Fourth Prince is almost one year old, and he still doesn’t have a formal name. Have you thought of one?"

Xiao Sheng smiled at her words, "I have. The Ministry of Rites submitted a report a few days ago. I think the character 'Shuo' is quite good."

All the princes of this generation had names derived from the character 'fire'. Hearing the word 'Shuo', Jiang Hui understood which character it was and adjusted the Sichuan blanket on Xiao Sheng, whispering, "Good, I understand. Your Majesty, please rest early."

Xiao Sheng nodded, but as Jiang Hui stood up, he called out again, "Hui'er, really, another dose of medicine and I'll be much better. No need to bring pear soup tomorrow."

Jiang Hui turned back, her lips curling into a smile. This smile, unlike her usual gentle demeanor, was as radiant as the summer sun, momentarily dazzling Xiao Sheng.

She said, "Alright, then tomorrow it will be brown sugar ginger tea."

Having said that, she left the Emperor's chamber with her attendants.

“……”

Xiao Sheng lay back down on the couch and said to Sheng An, who was trying to suppress a smile, "Stop laughing, go fetch the memorials from the Ministry of Personnel."

"Yes," Sheng An immediately composed himself, sheepishly went to the table, and presented several memorials to the Emperor.