The Empress, still radiating her usual grace and elegance, smiled warmly at Lu Nianfu, her eyes crinkling. "It's been over a month since you've been away, and you're finally back. Were you tired from the journey? You look so thin. You must eat well to recover."
Lu Nianfu replied demurely, "It was actually alright. I had my maids with me, and they took good care of me. I didn't have to worry about myself."
"Being away from home is not the same as being at home. Even with attendants, no one can shield you from the bumps and jolts. Azhen, fetch the hundred-year-old ginseng the Crown Prince sent the other day for the Ruì Royal Consort."
Lu Nianfu quickly waved her hand. "Your Majesty, that ginseng was from Eldest Brother Crown Prince as a filial offering to you. How could I possibly accept it? Please keep it for yourself."
"Does Your Majesty lack a single ginseng? Take it. You must replenish your body so that you can expand the Sitù family lineage," the Empress said with a perfectly valid reason. "Since it is for the sake of imperial heirs, I, as your mother, should naturally contribute."
Tsk, royalty truly had a way with words. Presenting a ginseng was accompanied by such a well-rehearsed speech.
Lu Nianfu found it hard to refuse such kindness and finally accepted the ginseng.
She thought a brief chat would suffice, but to her surprise, the Empress, full of enthusiasm, launched into a new topic. "You've been away for over a month, and you probably don't know, but ever since the new imperial consorts entered the palace, it's been quite lively."
"Did they disturb Your Majesty?"
"Not at all. They are all well-educated and well-behaved young ladies. You'll meet them shortly."
Lu Nianfu tilted her head, appearing innocently bewildered. "They are all His Majesty's women. Why would this daughter-in-law need to see them?"
The Empress smiled kindly. "Ah, you are still too young and don't understand the ways of the world. The purpose of selecting imperial consorts is twofold: to fill the harem and, secondly, to facilitate the Emperor's bestowal of marriages. You don't even have a single concubine in your household yet. The Emperor will surely bestow several secondary consorts upon your residence. Rather than letting the Emperor randomly assign them, it's more appropriate for you to choose first."
So, today, she was expected to help Gu Yanchen pick out a suitable concubine to bring back?
Lu Nianfu had to admit, she felt a pang of jealousy.
The jealousy almost made her smile falter.
Observing her expression, the Empress's smile widened, resembling that of a loving elder. She took Lu Nianfu's hand and said, "Nianfu, are you unhappy? I understand that you and your husband are happy together and wouldn't want a third person interfering. But Gu Yanchen is a prince now. No man of the imperial family is ever faithful, so choosing a concubine is also a skill. Come, Your Majesty will take you to see them and teach you how to pick a concubine that suits your liking."
Lu Nianfu calmly withdrew her hand. "Your Majesty, the concubine will be serving the Prince, so she should naturally suit his preferences. This daughter-in-law shall not interfere with this matter."
"Nonsense. If you choose based on his preferences, what if he favors the concubine over his wife later?"
The Empress, feigning concern, lectured Lu Nianfu at length. The gist of her advice was how to assess from various angles whether a woman was genuinely honest or merely pretending to be.
Lu Nianfu felt helpless. She couldn't directly tell the Empress she didn't want to listen. By the time she left Changning Palace, her ears were still buzzing. The annoyance of having to pick concubines for Gu Yanchen had even somewhat dissipated.
In the imperial study, Emperor Changwu, after exchanging pleasantries with his son, whom he hadn't seen for over a month, also brought up the matter of taking secondary consorts. His preparations were far more thorough than the Empress's. Li Furui directly presented a stack of portraits for him to choose from.
Emperor Changwu was particularly generous in this regard. "Take a look and see which one you like. If you can't decide, there's no harm in taking several."
"Take what?"
"Secondary consorts. This selection of imperial consorts is to find suitable secondary consorts for you, so naturally, you should choose first."
Such immense imperial grace!
Gu Yanchen shivered, a pathetic reaction. With a pained expression, he flipped through the portraits, contemplating countermeasures. His wife appeared gentle and dignified, but deep down, she was more resolute than anyone. If he brought back a concubine now, his life wouldn't be peaceful.
Besides, too many women would easily lead to discord in the household. He didn't want Lu Nianfu to be sad, nor did he want her to become a ruthless woman like the Madam of Guangling Bo.