Mentioning Lin Wan, the Empress Dowager also thought of Ye Shi and said to the Emperor: "Xiu Xin is a meritorious subject of our Great Qin, you must treat her well."

  "The son knows, she has already been granted the title of Guizi, the first rank of the fifth grade." When Tuoba Hong mentioned Ye Shi, he still held Lin's hand in his palm. In fact, Ye Xiu was also a very good girl, gentle and considerate, with a decent appearance. But among the many outstanding women in the harem, compared to Lin, Ye seemed to have shrunk into a corner, invisible.

  She doesn't have any other advantages to rely on like Empress Dowager Bian did. Even if she gave birth to a crown prince, her position in Emperor Xiaoming's heart would still be mediocre, neither high nor low.

  Not too high or low in status, just a fifth-rank noble lady.

  The Empress Dowager listened and pouted: "It's just a princess, it can't be considered high. It's just that her mother's official position is placed there, if the reward is too excessive, it's not appropriate." She said, thinking slightly, finally saying: "So let's do this, promote her father to the fifth-grade Jiedong Prefecture Governor."

  "En, the empress dowager's words are indeed correct." Tuoba Hong nodded in agreement. However, it was only a fifth-grade official position, not an important one, and Tuoba Hong was happy to grant this favor. Ye Shi's father was a pedantic person with no great abilities, but he had been loyal and diligent, never corrupt. To reward Ye Shi, her father was promoted, which was quite reasonable.

  "By the way, shouldn't Huisheng's father also be promoted?" Empress Dowager suggested with a smile.

  Lin Wan was shocked as soon as she heard this, how did it get dragged onto her?

  Her parents were originally from the Lin family... Ah, she remembered that her father was a clerk in Huaiyang County, which meant he was responsible for writing documents and organizing case files for the county magistrate. It's like in modern courts where the judge bangs his gavel and makes judgments, while there is usually someone sitting in the corner, diligently recording the case with their head down. Lin Yu's father was in such a position.

  Her mother, who seemed to have a higher social status, was the daughter of an official who had retired from Beijing. However, her maternal family wasn't of high rank either. Due to her poor health and inability to bear children, she was looked down upon by sons of prominent families and ended up marrying a low-ranking official.

  After all these years, he had only one daughter, Lin Yuan.

  The only daughter was also selected into the palace because of her beauty and soon died from torture, after which Lin Yin crossed over and replaced her soul...

  Alas, the parents of this child are also very pitiful.

  Looking at the Empress Dowager's benevolent face, Lin Yu hastily waved her hand and said: "My father is an unremarkable official, really not worthy of Your Majesty's kindness. Moreover, as a concubine born into a humble family, I have already received the Emperor and Empress Dowager's favor, it would be difficult to repay this kindness in three lifetimes, let alone receive even more rewards, heaven itself would not allow it."

  "You're just too honest, child." The empress dowager grasped Lin Wan's hand, her face full of sincerity. She really thought Lin Wan was honest, although this child was clever and had insight, but their cleverness was different from that of the Shen family. Being honest didn't mean being foolish, Lin Wan knew how to stay in her place and repay kindness!

  "Yu'er, no matter what, I have decided to let your father go to Luyi County as the Long History." For these small officials in local areas, Emperor Taizong of Tang was not very concerned. Since his family had a brilliant and glorious daughter, it was proper for him to promote her father. For an emperor, this was just a matter of lifting his hand.

  The Changshi is one rank higher than the county magistrate, but it's an idle job, under the governor. Luoyang and Huaiyang are adjacent to each other, both are big cities.

  Lin Wan looked at the Emperor and had already thought of an official position, and no longer declined. She knelt on the ground and paid her respects to thank him for his kindness on behalf of her father.

  "Has the foster mother of the fifth prince been selected?" The empress dowager and the emperor chatted idly, not forgetting the main matter. Her face still smiled, but her expression had already turned solemn.

  Lin Wan lowered her head and didn't dare to interrupt, fiddling with the tassels on her clothes. Ye Shi was indeed pitiful, she herself held a noble position and could openly raise children, but Ye Shi had to let others take away her child. As a mother, this was a painful thing, but in the eyes of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, it was only natural.

  She has been in production for six or seven days now. The fifth prince was taken away by Tuoba Hong and shown off in front of the civil and military officials of the previous dynasty, and then he was taken to the Chang Le Palace to receive the favor of the empress dowager. This mother, except for the moment when she just gave birth, couldn't see him at all afterwards.

  Tuoba Hong said to the Empress Dowager, "There's no hurry. If Mother likes him, let him stay in the Chang Le Palace for a few more days. When Mother gets tired of his noise, I'll take him away."

  Tuoba Hong spoke vaguely, and the Empress Dowager's eyebrows furrowed, saying: "Guo'er is your most favored child, absolutely cannot be neglected. Although Changle Palace is good, he needs a nanny the most, you must hurry to select a suitable person, absolutely cannot delay."

  "The empress smiled and said, 'Even if we find a noble concubine, how can she compare to the honor of Chang Le Palace?' Emperor Taizong of Northern Wei was unmoved: 'If there really isn't anyone suitable, let the empress personally raise Zhen'er; what's wrong with that?'"

  Tuoba Hong always felt guilty towards Empress Dowager, feeling that he had not been filial and had also dragged her down to labor for him. The empress dowager's eldest son, his own older brother, had died young, and later Duan Yang had also died tragically - these events were a huge blow to the empress dowager. Later, after he himself ascended the throne, his sons had difficulties...

  In short, the Empress Dowager's descendants were shallow and did not enjoy much family joy. Now that there is a fifth prince, why not give this child to the Empress Dowager? If this child has great success in the future... will the Empress Dowager not be even more glorious? He also worried that the future crown prince would fight with the Empress Dowager for power and cause trouble.

  The Empress Dowager looked at Tuoba Hong and sighed.

  "After a long while, she said: 'We are the imperial family and cannot be too emotional. The Empress knows that this is your filial piety, but it's for the sake of the Fifth Prince's future, you should find him a good wet nurse.'"

  Tuoba Hong did not speak.

  The Empress Dowager continued: "I'm not worried about anything else. You know, I'm 54 this year, and my body has never been strong. I'm afraid I won't be able to protect this child..."

  "Empress Dowager!" Touba Hong was suddenly shocked.

  Lin Wan stood beside her, unmoved, and knelt down to grab the Empress Dowager's hand: "Why does Your Majesty say such things."

  The Empress Dowager did not finish speaking, but everyone understood. If it was according to the Empress Dowager's intention - if she only had five or six years of life left, when she passed away, the Fifth Prince would not have grown up yet... At that time, what should be done? Without a mother, the child would soon be overwhelmed by the open and secret struggles in the palace.

  At that time, if he were to find a foster mother for him again - it would be like Zhao Wang and Wen Gui Bin, just a cooperative relationship, unable to interact with each other. The fifth prince is the one who wants to seize the throne, how can he not have good help?

  The Empress Dowager's body was indeed not very good. Tuoba Hong fell silent, this was a fact he had to face, even if he was the Emperor, he couldn't win against heaven.

  The Empress Dowager personally helped Lin Yuan up from her kneeling position, smiled and said: "Look at you all being so solemn. Never mind, let's not talk about this, it's time for lunch, let's have a meal together first."

  Lin Wan finished her meal in Chang Le Palace and then took her leave. She could tell that the Emperor had many things he wanted to discuss with the Empress Dowager.

  She shook her head and sighed softly as she left the Chang Le Palace. Even if she had obtained that highest position, the days of the Empress Dowager were not happy at all.

  At first, she was competing with Concubine Li, and she suffered a lot of small torments. When her eldest son was seriously ill, she knelt in front of the emperor's bedroom for a whole day and night, wanting to ask the emperor to allow the child who had contracted smallpox to recover from his illness in the palace, rather than being thrown out of the palace. But at that time, the emperor was "bathing together" with Concubine Li in the "Huaqing Pool".

  Her youngest son died and she contracted rheumatism.

  Now she's old, and her physical ailments are even more severe. The imperial physician is not a god, and even with the highest power, no one can save her - let alone bring back her dead son and daughter.

  Lin Wan thought to herself, her hands clasped tightly together - Ah, I mustn't be too hard on myself! I have to eat well, drink well, sleep well, and in the future when I have power, I'll also have a life of luxury.

  She didn't walk far, and from the inner room of Chang Le Palace came the faint whispers of the Emperor and Empress: "Wang Shu's appearance is mediocre and can't capture your heart, but Zhao Shu is also possible, just absolutely cannot be Jing Fei..."

  "The situation in the harem is different from usual... Jing Fei seems to have a tendency to dominate..."

  nb***

  Returning to Hongyan Building, Lin Wan found that the people in front of the palace had already sent her Butterfly Orchid.

  Apart from "Mantianhong" such luxurious varieties, the rarest is Feicuihu. Lin Wan is not good at raising flowers, and butterfly orchids are even more delicate and difficult to raise, but fortunately, there are capable people under her palace.

  She reached out to touch the delicate petals of the jade-green flower, and praised: "It's indeed worthy of being a tribute from the Western Regions' Great Moon Country! This flower is truly unique, with white petals and green stamens... Ah, things from the Western Regions suit my taste. Chun Tao, you go to the Imperial Workshop later and bring back the Floating Light Brocade and the Jia Lan Rouge for me."

  Chu Taoqiang hesitated for a moment before saying: "Your Ladyship has already gone to fetch the rouge this month..."

  "Go get it! Just say I want to use it, would the people of Shang Gong Bureau dare to say half a 'no'?" Lin Yan didn't even lift her head, her eyebrows slightly raised: "Life is short, I like to enjoy the things I like. Moreover, the Empress Dowager likes things from Jiangnan, and is not interested in tributes from Xiyu, as long as I don't displease the Empress Dowager, what does it matter what others think!"

  Chu Tao only wants to say that apart from the Empress Dowager, Jing Fei and many of the nine concubines below her also like the rouge and silk from Western Regions. Master, you alone took a clean one, what about others... Especially Jing Fei, she has always liked Jialan.

  The last peach finally listened and went underground.

  Lin Wan does things with a sense of propriety, she won't overstep the bounds and give others a handle to grab onto. Within the permitted scope, she will try her best to make herself happy. Just like that peony, she likes it, but can't be greedy for it. The butterfly orchid is precious, but it's a different story from the peony.

  The station visit address is: nbnb

  Download address:

  Mobile phone:

  Publishing book reviews:

  For your convenience, you can bookmark this page (Chapter 64: The Fifth Prince (4)) so that you can easily find it next time. Please recommend this book to your friends (via QQ, blog, WeChat, etc.)! Thank you for your support, Little Sakura of Ailuomi!!