Despite his young age, Wei Ying explained the situation clearly. When asked about the Emperor’s condition, his eyes reddened as he said softly: “In the past few days, only the Crown Prince has taken care of the Emperor. I never had a chance to see my father. Yesterday, I was able to serve him half a bowl of medicine. If only we had a mother to oversee things, we younger princes and princesses would have a backbone.”
His words exposed the recent controversy around caring for the Emperor, causing Mei Shu to lose face and eliciting sympathy from some previously neutral officials. They wondered why the Crown Prince was preventing his brothers from attending to their father. The Fifth Prince posed no threat, raising questions about the Crown Prince’s intentions, especially as he blocked the empress selection.
Before the court dispersed, the Crown Prince’s faction was defeated, and the empress selection was finalized. Gu Lianchang calmly remarked, “His Majesty’s health is delicate. This matter must be prepared quickly to comfort His Majesty.”
The Yikun Palace was bustling. Female officials were measuring for tailoring while embroiderers selected materials. While formal robes followed strict regulations, inner garments, shoes, and socks all needed to be newly made.
The Inner Palace Bureau was brightly lit day and night, with everyone rushing to earn credit before the new empress, not daring to show any negligence.
The coronation ceremony was set for the sixth day, and with the emperor’s health failing, everything was being expedited. Gu Lianchang was busy and only on the fifth day did he bring Wei Ying to meet Ruan Ning alone.
“Go and see your mother,” Gu Lianchang said to Wei Ying.
Wei Ying knelt to kowtow but was stopped by Ruan Ning, still unaccustomed to the etiquette. Wei Ying smiled charmingly: “Son greets Mother, wishing her eternal youth and longevity.”
“Go,” Gu Lianchang instructed.
After Wei Ying left, Gu Lianchang sat beside Ruan Ning and softly said, “After the coronation, you will announce that you will raise the Fifth Prince as your own. His mother has passed away, and he will treat you as his biological mother.”
“Is he reliable?” Ruan Ning understood he was referring to the new emperor.
