The emperor was in high spirits during the palace banquet, as no outsiders were present. Of course, even if members of the Ying Chuan royal family were there, he would have only offered them insincere concern.
Seeing the young sons brought out and the pregnant consorts, he became even happier.
"The harem is thriving, and the Empress has made great contributions. This cup is for the Empress." His Empress was a woman from a prominent family.
However, she was not the eldest legitimate daughter. She was chosen as Empress because of her good reputation. Indeed, she had taken excellent care of the harem.
"Your Majesty is too kind," the Empress, though not exceptionally beautiful, was gentle and dignified.
She smiled as she raised her cup to the emperor, but her smile did not reach her eyes.
Having come from a noble family and managing the entire harem so efficiently, she was certainly not truly gentle.
Her fairness was merely a result of her upbringing and her lack of affection for the emperor.
"Prince Yan is still on the mountain. I wonder if he is eating well during this festival. Although some food and supplies were sent to him, it's ultimately not as good as being in the capital.
Your Majesty is truly something, not allowing him to return for the New Year. If he becomes thin from hunger, who will feel sorry for him?"
"He is praying for me, and I hold that in my heart. However, since the Empress is so concerned about him, he should show filial piety to you, his stepmother, upon his return."
Zhao Yan Xiang's birth mother had passed away, and he was supposed to observe a three-year mourning period. Although he couldn't say it explicitly, that person had done a lot for him. He couldn't let her cherished son fail to observe filial piety for her.
"I am his stepmother, and this is naturally my concern," the Empress said with a gentle smile.
Beside her, the beautiful Consort's fingers dug deeply into her palm, her neatly trimmed nails drawing blood.
This woman had stolen her lines and her credit. It was she who had raised Prince Yan, and she who had made plans for him. Why did this woman need to play the benevolent role?
Her words were not meant to show how much she cared for these princes, but rather how negligent the person who *should* have been doing these things was!
"Eldest Sister Empress speaks wisely. You have always been so considerate," Consort Shu chimed in, also praising the Empress.
The Consort's gaze towards the Empress turned even more venomous. You're so considerate, so kind? Fine, I'll make your banquet a disaster and see if you can still smile then.
After everyone had left, Zhao Hao on the bed opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the Wang Fei's red-rimmed eyes.
"Mother, don't worry. It's all fake. We've had this happen several times before, why are you still taking it seriously?" Zhao Hao quickly got up, intending to comfort the Wang Fei.
"It's nothing," the Wang Fei wiped the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief. "I just remembered the past. Besides, doesn't this make me more convincing?"
"Mother, I'm really fine now. Yan Ge said that once my body recovers, I'll grow taller soon, and I'll be taller than Mother."
"Mmm, Mother knows." That was why she was even more grateful to Lin Yan. Even if her son fell for him, she couldn't bring herself to do anything.
"Mother, don't worry. I've grown up safely, and I'll live a happy and healthy life." Zhao Hao placed the Wang Fei's hand on his head.
He knew his current complexion looked terrible, even though it was achieved with makeup. The visual effect was very convincing, which was why he asked the Wang Fei to place her hand on his head.
"Mmm!"
"Mother, let's have our New Year's Eve dinner. Although Father isn't here, we as mother and son are reunited."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone quickly brought the food that had already been prepared. It was just a hot pot and some raw vegetables.
"Mother, it's difficult to prepare too many dishes these days. This is a new way of eating in the capital. It's easier to prepare, and Mother probably hasn't had this kind of hot pot before." Zhao Hao got up and pulled the Wang Fei towards the table.
The Wang Fei let him pull her to the table and watched him cook and serve the food for her, feeling quite happy.
Meanwhile, Lin Yan was also gathered around the table, having her New Year's Eve dinner. Three people were seated at the table, with no one serving them. The servants were dining in the front courtyard, as it was the New Year, and they deserved some relaxation.
"Grandmother, Mother, it's New Year's Day today. I specifically had people prepare dishes from our hometown. We haven't had a reunion for many years," Lin Yan served food for her grandmother and mother.
"Alright, don't fuss too much. It's just our family now. Eat your own food. There's no need for so much formality," Old Madam Lin stopped Lin Yan.
"Yes, Yan Ge, sit properly," Mother Lin also said, while serving Lin Yan some food.
"Mmm," Lin Yan sat down as requested.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, Old Madam Lin went back to sleep. She couldn't stand the cold in the north, and even with the heated walls, she still felt cold. Moreover, the north was much drier than the south, which she found uncomfortable, so she didn't plan to stay up late.
Mother Lin didn't stay long either. Since coming to the capital, she had personally seen her daughter interact with her colleagues and the respect others showed her. She finally realized that her daughter was completely different.
She didn't know what else she could say to her besides caring about her health. She was no longer just her daughter; she was a fifth-rank official.
Fifth rank! The highest official she had ever seen was only a county magistrate, and that was only a seventh-rank position.
But even that was the highest official in their area. From the moment she saw Lin Yan in her official uniform and going to court every day, she dared not speak to Lin Yan as she had before.
Lin Yan had even petitioned for noble titles for them. As soon as they arrived in the capital, they received imperial edicts. She was granted the title of Yiren, a fifth-rank lady, and her mother-in-law was exceptionally promoted to the third-rank title of Shuren.
Although they had no real power, they received stipends, something she had never dared to dream of before.
All of this was brought about by her daughter. Having enjoyed all of this, she asked herself, if she were truly to return to the past and have her daughter give up this official status, would she really be willing?
In the future, her daughter would marry a sickly county princess. Oh, according to Ying Chuan Wang Fei, when they married, the emperor would even grant her the title of princess.
Then her daughter would be a princess consort, and no one would doubt her identity. She would then be able to live as a man for the rest of her life.
And she, along with Lin Yan's promotions, would see her status rise higher and higher. She would be the mother-in-law of a princess, and her child would be a high-ranking official.
To reach this point in her life, she should be content. Even if she had given birth to a son, could he have brought all this?
She had brought honor to the ancestors; her child had already achieved this, even becoming the pillar of the entire Lin family.
Mother-in-law was right. Since her daughter had chosen this path, all they could do was not hold her back.
She would remember very diligently that she had given birth to a son, a son who brought honor to the ancestors!