Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1269: National Fortune

Dong Zhan also went back with them this time, not to take part in the imperial examination for children, but because he hadn’t been home for many years and wanted to visit his family.

At the busy Zhou family, the Empress was also busy in the Palace, not to mention placing her own people in her maternal home, and she continuously met with her relatives.

It was said that these relatives entered the Palace in high spirits but came out with many looking pale.

Zhulan knew clearly in her heart, this was a choice made by the Empress, who chose to stand by her husband and son rather than depending entirely on her maternal family and letting their thoughts influence her.

The discord between the Empress and the Emperor was not without the influence of the Wen family. The Emperor used the Crown Prince’s appointment to awaken the Empress.

After that year, the Wen family finally restrained themselves and no longer sent gifts continuously to the Elder Prince.

Thinking of this, Zhulan couldn’t help but smile. The new Emperor strictly managed the Elder Prince, a qualified Crown Prince needed to restrain his emotions, have control, and moderate his preferences. Yet the Wen family, whatever the Elder Prince liked, they sent it, and not just one single item.

The Wen family seemed to want to give all the best to the Elder Prince, wasn’t this hindering the new Emperor?

When Xue Han returned to her maternal home, she whispered, "The Empress has changed, mother says, now she truly resembles an Empress."

Zhulan looked carefully at her daughter, "How come I think you’ve gained quite a bit of weight?"

Touching her face, Xue Han exclaimed, "Oh, mother, you think so too?"

"Who else thinks so?"

Looking displeased, Xue Han said, "Rongchuan ah, I thought he was teasing me, I didn’t take it to heart, but now you say it, seems like I really have gained weight."

After speaking, Xue Han panicked. She was so young, how could she gain weight!

Zhulan examined her daughter carefully and thought of a possibility. Although she knew her daughter didn’t plan on having children consecutively, both daughter and son-in-law were young and healthy, and contraception was not foolproof, there could have been careless moments, "Do you want to see a doctor?"

Xue Han was slow to react, "Ah?"

Zhulan gestured for Qing Xue to find a doctor to take a look first.

Coming back to her senses, Xue Han said, "No, that shouldn’t be right."

In the end, her tone faltered, and she blushed, realizing it really was possible.

The doctor arrived swiftly and after a careful examination, he congratulated with a smile, "Congratulations madam, congratulations Princess Qin, these are joyous pulses, it’s been almost two months."

After the doctor left, Zhulan said, "You didn’t notice at all?"

Somewhat bewildered, Xue Han finally accepted it, then touching her stomach she said, "It’s my first New Year as the Princess Consort, the end of the year was so busy, plus I had to go to the Palace for New Year, I truly didn’t notice."

At that time, she felt some discomfort in her stomach and wondered why her menstrual cycle was irregular, she didn’t think much of it and assumed it was fatigue.

Zhulan counted the days, now that it was nearly over the first lunar month, she felt scared retrospectively, the first three months were the most dangerous, and the two months of her daughter’s pregnancy were the busiest, fortunately, both child and adults were fine, "Don’t be silly now, go spread the good news."

This child was eagerly anticipated by many, if a boy, he would be the eldest son, increasing the likelihood for Rongchuan and his wife to have another legitimate son later.

Ning Xu should be the happiest.

This joyous news quickly became known within the Palace, and then at the Ning Duke Residence.

Inside the Palace, the Empress Dowager joyfully told the female officer, "Hurry and pack the luggage, this palace wants to leave the Palace."

The Retired Emperor mentioned having good fortune and then stopped his wife, "We cannot leave the palace yet, for the Crown Prince will be established in a few days."

The Empress Dowager, realizing the situation, changed her words, "Send everything that could be useful to Princess Qin."

During the New Year, the Empress Dowager and the Retired Emperor had sent a great deal of fine goods.

When the Female Officer left, the Empress Dowager said, "First announce the establishment of the Crown Prince, followed by the ceremony of establishing the Crown Prince. The Emperor must have prepared early."

The Retired Emperor nodded, "The Ministry of Rites already secretly prepared everything during the year, and I had established the rites for the ceremony with them back in the day."

The Empress Dowager, "The new Crown Prince."

The Retired Emperor hummed a response. He wanted to live a few more years, ideally to see the Crown Prince ascend the throne. Thinking of his son and his own heartfelt wishes, he looked deeply hopeful that the Emperor could accomplish this.

Upon hearing the news, Ning Xu stretched out his hand to calculate Rongchuan’s age and then his own. He picked up a mirror to look at his hair and touched his stomach.

He felt that if he took good care of himself and lived another twenty years, this child must definitely be a boy, it just had to be.

Ning Xu called for the steward, "Go and buy some grain and cotton, oh, and some fabrics too."

The steward was puzzled, "Mr. Hou, are you sending these to the Qin Prince Residence?"

Ning Xu glared, "What are you thinking? This is for the temple."

Before his child was born, he wanted to donate more to ensure this child would be a boy, then he could look forward to Rongchuan’s legitimate successor.

The steward understood, "I will definitely pick the best grain and cotton."

As for the fabrics, the choices for the monks were limited.

The steward was also happy; he had to be, for the more children in the Qin Prince Residence, the better their own Hou Residence could carry on, giving these servants of the Hou Residence a foundation.

Three days later, in the grand hall, the Emperor took out the decree for establishing the Crown Prince, which had been written a long time ago, and several princes stood in the hall.

The Emperor personally read the decree, appointing his eldest legitimate son, Zhang Xuhao, as the Crown Prince and setting a date half a month later for the ceremony.

The ministers in the court were well aware that the Emperor had long decided on his eldest legitimate son. In this contest, the Emperor had won decisively.

The other princes were also quite close in age; the youngest legitimate son was already five. Royal children mature early and understood what being the Crown Prince meant.

Zhou Shuren had become the Chief of Staff, standing in a prominent position, but unfortunately, the princes were not tall enough yet to be seen by all, except for the eldest legitimate son kneeling to receive the decree.

Zhou Shuren seldom paid attention to any of the princes and wouldn’t approach them voluntarily upon seeing them in the palace, so his understanding of them was based on hearsay.

There was exaggeration in rumors, especially regarding the legitimate son. In the ambitions for establishing the Crown Prince, endless good names popped up, thankfully none foolish enough to exploit the birthday for purposes.

The eldest legitimate son, no, he should now be called the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, worthy of being the eldest legitimate son, stood up unflinchingly under the watchful eyes and measurements of the court officials. Tall and standing straight, he dared to meet the gazes of the ministers.

The Emperor was pleased; his teachings to his eldest son had been absorbed well, and raising his own son felt indeed satisfying, although he couldn’t afford to spend too much hands-on time educating him because he was too busy.

Zhou Shuren watched the Crown Prince and couldn’t help but think about the national fortune, a good successor signifying prosperous times, which evidently were at hand.

And he reflected further, the royal genetic heritage was indeed impressive.

Today was solely for establishing the Crown Prince, and as the court session ended, the ministers left in small groups. The court of the Crown Prince was stable, and the ministers unrelated to the harem left with light smiles.

Heaven knows, the struggles for establishing the Crown Prince were the hardest for these individuals.