"Who do you think would be suitable to care for the Eldest Prince?" Ning Chen asked.
"I believe that Shu Fei and Jing De Fei would be good choices. Both are experienced and have raised children before."
The Empress deliberately mentioned the two highest-ranking consorts in the palace. As for Ye Yun and Yi Shunyuan, they were out of the question. Both already had healthy princes, and they were favored with strong family backgrounds. Giving them another prince would only increase their influence, making it difficult to take him back later.
Even though the Eldest Prince wouldn't be a future heir, keeping him close could still help secure her position. With a prince in her care, the Emperor would visit more often, and with frequent visits, she might have the chance to bear her own child.
Ning Chen thought for a moment and said in a low voice, "Shu Fei's temperament is unsuitable. She's capable of raising daughters, but for a son, someone more stable is needed."
Her tendency to seek advantages might lead to raising the Eldest Prince improperly.
"Jing De Fei is a better option," Ning Chen added, his lips pursed. The Second Prince's good nature reflected well on her parenting abilities.
The Empress quickly nodded, "The Eldest Prince and the Second Prince are close in age, so raising the brothers together would be ideal."
Just as they were about to settle on this decision, a young maid came to report that a message had arrived from Jing De Fei's attendant, Nianzhu.
"What could it be at this hour? Is something the matter?" the Empress asked, frowning.
The maid replied, "Jing De Fei has fallen ill and has sent Nianzhu to inform the Empress that she will be unable to attend morning greetings for some time."
"Let her in," Ning Chen said.
The maid nodded, and moments later, Nianzhu was brought in.
"Nianzhu greets the Emperor and Empress," she said with a bow.
The Empress waved her hand, "At ease. What happened to Jing De Fei? She seemed fine during this morning's greeting."
"Replying to the Empress, Jing De Fei started having some stomach discomfort yesterday. After returning from morning greetings today, she felt dizzy. She took a nap but didn't improve, so she called for an imperial physician. By then, she was running a fever. We thought the fever would subside after taking medicine, but it hasn't, and she's still lying weakly in bed. She feared spreading the illness to Your Majesty, so she sent me to ask for leave instead," Nianwen quickly explained the situation.
Though the timing of this illness seemed somewhat convenient, there were no visible flaws in her explanation. It caught the Empress off guard, but a sense of hope began to rise within her. Since Jing De Fei was sick, she wouldn't have the energy to take care of two children. Perhaps the Eldest Prince could be placed in her care without much trouble.
"Let Jing De Fei rest well then," the Empress instructed. "Suqin, pick some good medicinal herbs from my storage and send them to Xiefang Palace tomorrow."
After finishing her task, Nianzhu didn't linger and quickly left. The room was left with just the Emperor and Empress once again.
The Empress tentatively spoke, "Jing De Fei is too ill to leave her bed. If the Eldest Prince were sent to her now, it might be difficult for her to take care of two children."
Ning Chen furrowed his brows tightly for a moment before letting out a long sigh and speaking in a low voice, "Then, let Hui Zhaorong raise him for the time being. She has been by my side for many years, has a gentle nature, and understands the rules well. The Second Princess has been raised healthy under her care."
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The Enchanting Imperial Concubine (Book 2)
Fiction HistoriqueNote: This is a translated novel by me (Xiao Bai) Title: 贵妃她千娇百媚 Ye Yun was supposed to be the prince's concubine, but due to the sudden death of the late emperor, her entry into the palace was delayed for over a year. She entered the palace with th...
