freenovelworld Chapter 323 Do You Know? Lin Yitang 37
Chapter 323 Do You Know? Lin Yitang 37
Quanzhou received the news immediately, and Lin Jingya sent people to Bianjing to deliver gifts. Unfortunately, the weather was uncooperative, with freezing temperatures. However, it was a lucky coincidence that the gifts were delivered to the Bai family around the same time as the Sheng family's gifts.
The Bai family has received a lot of gifts in the past month or two. Master Bai knows the current situation of the Bai family and who they are relying on, so he dares not keep anything and has transferred it all to Madam Lin and the young prince Zhao Xu.
At Wutong Pavilion, the baby prince's full moon celebration began, and one after another, many officials and relatives related to the Bai family sent gifts.
Inside the main room, the tables and floor were filled with gifts. Among them, one could vaguely see Ding kiln water bottles, black-glazed jade pots, brocade screens, and many gold bracelets and jade kylins, each with a different design.
Lian Yun couldn't suppress her smile as she kept counting the gifts. This was a great haul. Last time, at Princess Fushou's full moon banquet, it was a low-key affair, and neither Lady Lin nor the princess received any heavy gifts.
"Just now, while we were counting, my sister-in-law gave Xu'er a pair of gold necklaces. We'll put them on him later." Lin Yitang turned her gaze from the chessboard to Lian Yun.
“Yes, Madam Lin,” Lian Yun said cheerfully.
Cheng Yue helped Lian Yun count, register, and store these items, which were all for the little prince and should be carefully preserved.
"It's getting late. Xu'er might be awake. Lianyun, go check on him. Chengyue and Xiao Dengzi, hurry up and pack up the things and register them in the warehouse," Lin Yitang said.
The people inside got to work, and in less than half an hour, everything was packed up. Just then, Lian Yun carried Zhao Xu over.
Lin Yitang would play with Zhao Xu occasionally and have the wet nurse feed him when he was hungry. She had already planned to wean Zhao Xu after he turned one year old. In order to prevent Zhao Xu from becoming dependent on the wet nurse, it would be best to wean him before his memory was fully developed.
Like Zhao Huiyue, she was weaned at one year and three months old. After she was weaned, Lin Yitang gave the wet nurse a reward and sent her out of the palace.
The monotonous days passed slowly. In the past six months, Zhao Xu did not suffer from serious illnesses, but he had a few minor illnesses. Lin Yitang was skilled in medicine, and with Physician Wang helping him, Zhao Xu's growth was relatively stable.
The sound of hurried footsteps broke the warm atmosphere of Wutong Pavilion. Lin Yitang gestured to Lian Yun to carry Zhao Xu away to rest.
Xiao Dengzi stepped forward, panting, his eyes filled with surprise, yet his tone was tinged with sorrow, and said, "Madam Lin, Hua Fang Pavilion has summoned many imperial physicians, and all the physicians on duty have gone. I heard it's probably hopeless?"
This is a great joyous occasion. If that person were gone, their Wutong Pavilion would rise to prominence.
Having already guessed it, Lin Yitang smiled with a slightly cold look.
"Good deeds are rewarded and evil deeds are punished."
When Madam Rong attacked Zhao Xu, she should have expected this day to come. She only made a slight move and fanned the flames. The people of Huafang Pavilion saw through the tricks of those villains, so they can't blame her.
"Lianyun, be careful. Put away any festive items. The Emperor will be coming to Wutong Pavilion soon. Don't let a small thing cause a big loss."
"Yes, Madam Lin," everyone replied in unison.
Zhao Zhao did not survive the summer. At the age of three, Zhao Zhao closed his eyes forever. Consort Rong made a huge fuss, and her screams echoed throughout the entire harem.
Because Zhao Zhao died young, and because it was summer, his body could not remain in the palace for too long. After seven days, it was sent to the mausoleum. The emperor was heartbroken that he had lost another child, so he asked a master to perform a ritual for the young prince at a temple for forty-nine days.
Zhao Zhao's funeral is over. The only people who are truly saddened for him are probably the Emperor and Lady Rong. As for the rest, it's good enough if they don't gloat.
Perhaps because another son had passed away, the Emperor visited Wutong Pavilion for several days in a row, spending half an hour with Zhao Xu each time, and eventually staying overnight at Wutong Pavilion.
Two months later, the grief over Zhao Zhao slowly soothed the emperor's heart, and since he already had a son, the emperor gradually let go of his sorrow.
A month later, the eldest son Zhao Fang was posthumously enfeoffed as King of Wei, the second son Zhao Xin as King of Yue, and Zhao Xi as King of Chen. When Zhao Zhao died, he was posthumously enfeoffed as King of Lu.
With the matter of Prince Lu settled, it was not long before Zhao Xu's first birthday banquet. This time, Prince Lu did not stand in Zhao Xu's way, and the Emperor, feeling sorry for the child, did not hold a full-month banquet but issued an edict to hold a grand first birthday banquet.
At the banquet, those ill-intentioned eyes sized up Lin Yitang and Zhao Xu. Zhao Xu, though small, was clever and grabbed a copy of the "Classic of Filial Piety" and a seal, which made the official laugh heartily.
The Empress maintained a composed demeanor, while Consort Zhang, pale-faced and having been ill for some time, still diligently managed the affairs of the inner palace.
Consort Rongde's face turned ashen. Her Zhao Zhao had only been dead for a short time, and now the Emperor was laughing happily for another child. This touched a nerve with Consort Rongde.
Consort Miao appeared gentle and approachable, but as one of only three women who could support Princess Fukang and also held power in the palace, Lin Yitang would not underestimate her.
The other concubines and female relatives of ministers all looked at her with envy. At present, only Lin Yitang has raised two children. How many concubines in the harem are pregnant? Why is Lin Yitang so lucky?
She gracefully accepted the scrutiny of the concubines. Suddenly, the scene fell silent, and the Emperor said with a smile, "Lady Lin has been with me for many years, Zhang Maoze!"
Zhang Maoze took out the imperial edict that he had prepared in advance, while the empress beside him remained dignified, as if everything was within her expectations.
Consort Rongde was greatly alarmed. The Emperor wanted to bestow a title upon Lady Lin, and now only Consort Shu remained among the four consorts. Wouldn't this mean that Lady Lin would be placed above Consort Rongde?
Consort Miao put down her chopsticks, her expression stiff. She was proud that she and the Emperor were childhood sweethearts and that she had given birth to a princess and a prince for him, but she had failed to raise the prince.
Unexpectedly, the Emperor had successively promoted Consort Zhang and Consort Rong to higher ranks than her, and now another woman named Lin had come. She was resentful and dared not look the Emperor in the eye, worried that she would not be able to suppress her distorted expression.
Zhang Maoze loudly read out the imperial edict, bestowing upon the Duke of Kang the title of Prince of Shouchun. The title of Prince of Shouchun was an imperial title in those days, demonstrating the high regard the emperor held for Zhao Xu.
Consort Lin was promoted to the rank of Consort Shu, a first-rank consort, a rank only below the Empress and the Noble Consort.
Lin Yitang stood up generously to express her gratitude, and the wet nurse hugged Zhao Xu to thank her as well.
After the imperial edict was read, the atmosphere at the banquet instantly turned a bit cold. Fortunately, the banquet was already at its final stage, and the emperor paid no attention to the gazes of the ministers and concubines.
The main problem is that he is 41 years old this year and has a difficult time in terms of having offspring. After many years, he only has one son. He has worked hard for many years, and if he can't even pass the throne to his own son, wouldn't it mean that he has worked hard for nothing? How could an emperor be willing to accept that?