The Ci'an Palace was quiet and peaceful as usual. Granny Sun, who was beside the Empress Dowager, heard that Chu Shaoling had arrived and came out early to greet him. As she helped Chu Shaoling get off the sedan chair, she smiled and said, "It's such a cold day, yet the Crown Prince still comes so early."

It seems that he often comes here usually. Chu Shaoling felt a little relieved. Granny Sun lowered her voice and said, "The Empress Dowager didn't sleep well last night. She must be thinking about the Empress again. Your Highness, please persuade her later. The Empress Dowager's health is not good to begin with. If this continues..."

Chu Shaoling nodded, "Don't worry, Granny."

Granny Sun directly ushered Chu Shaoling into the inner palace. Inside, the Empress Dowager was wearing casual clothes and leaning on the noble consort couch. Seeing Chu Shaoling coming, she quickly reached out to let him come over. Chu Shaoling performed the ceremonial kowtow. The Empress Dowager chuckled lightly, "Get up quickly and come sit beside me."

The Empress Dowager sat up and let Chu Shaoling sit beside her. She carefully looked at Chu Shaoling's expression and nodded, "It's good. It's getting colder these past few days. Is it still warm in Bitao Palace? Without floor heating, it's a bit colder after all. Why don't you and Yang'er move here to accompany me? You can move back after the coldest days of winter pass."

Chu Shaoling quickly bowed his head and declined, "I dare not disturb the peace of the Imperial Grandmother. Although Bitao Palace is not as warm as Ci'an Palace, it's not cold either. The charcoal fire is quite sufficient."

The Empress Dowager naturally wouldn't ask her grandson to move to Ci'an Palace just because she was afraid he would be cold. Although the prince's residence didn't have floor heating, with the incense burner and charcoal basin burning, it could be considered as warm as spring. It's just that recently, people in the palace were becoming increasingly disrespectful to the two legitimate sons left by Empress Ling.

Moreover, it was approaching the anniversary of Empress Ling's death. The Empress Dowager wanted to establish authority for him in the palace. Chu Shaoling naturally understood all this.

Looking at the Empress Dowager's kind eyes, Chu Shaoling felt warmth in his heart. In his previous life, the Empress Dowager also doted on him very much. Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager passed away early. Now that everything was starting anew, the Empress Dowager's love would undoubtedly become a great help to him.

As the grandmother and grandson were talking, Granny Sun came in to announce, "Your Majesty, Noble Consort Li, Consort Shu, and the concubines from various palaces have come to pay their respects."

Hearing this, Chu Shaoling stood up. Before he could kneel and greet them, the Empress Dowager said first, "Ling'er, you don't need to leave. They are just here to say a few words. There will be Eight Treasure Duck that you love for lunch. Stay here and accompany me today."

Chu Shaoling nodded, feeling puzzled in his heart. When did Consort Li become a noble consort? In his previous life, he had always suppressed her. In the end, in order to save Chu Shaoyang's life, he had no choice but to help Consort Li ascend to the empress position. In between, Consort Li had never been a noble consort!

The Empress Dowager looked at Granny Sun. Granny Sun understood and turned to usher the consorts and concubines in. They didn't know Chu Shaoling was also inside. After greeting each other, they sat down. Chu Shaoling was still sitting beside the Empress Dowager.

"The Empress Dowager's palace is indeed warm. The narcissus here blooms better than in my palace." Noble Consort Li sat in the first position on the left below the Empress Dowager. She lightly touched the coral flower hairpin beside her temple and smiled, "After all, Ci'an Palace has the best feng shui."

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager chuckled lightly, "My palace is just a bit warmer. I was just telling Ling'er to move here and live with me. It's cold in the twelfth lunar month. This child has been delicate since he was young, suffering from minor illnesses and pains. I can only feel at ease if he's under my own watch."

The consorts and concubines below were all stunned upon hearing this. What did the Empress Dowager mean?

Chu Shaoling looked at everyone's expressions together with the Empress Dowager. Noble Consort Li's face turned a bit ugly.

Chu Shaoling sneered in his heart. When Empress Ling was alive, Consort Li was the most favored concubine. Relying on the emperor's favor, she had stolen quite a bit of limelight from Empress Ling, always wanting to suppress the empress in everything. If it weren't for the empress's dignified and restrained manner, who knows how many laughingstocks she would have caused.

The Empress Dowager was Empress Ling's aunt, so naturally she had long been disgusted with her. It was only because Consort Li had given birth to the Second Prince Chu Shaoruan and was very much loved by the emperor that she tolerated her. But now that Empress Ling had passed away for a year, these consorts and concubines were becoming more and more restless.

At this time, Noble Consort Li's foundation was not yet stable. With the Empress Dowager's support, this woman must never be allowed to ascend to the empress position again. Chu Shaoling sneered in his heart. His mother's position was never fit for Consort Li to sit on.

Among the high-ranking consorts and concubines present, besides Noble Consort Li, there was also Consort Shu. Consort Shu had both a son and a daughter. The eldest princess had married off the year before last, and the Fifth Prince was only seven years old. Consort Shu's maternal family was lowly, so she was very content with her lot and never coveted things that didn't belong to her. Chu Shaoling didn't pay much attention to her.

Looking further back, Noble Lady Ning, who was sitting in the last position, raised her eyebrows and secretly nodded at Chu Shaoling. Noble Lady Ning used to be just a palace maid in charge of cleaning in Chengqian Palace. She was suddenly favored and granted the title of noble lady, but the emperor quickly lost interest in her.

Without the support of a powerful maternal family, a small noble lady who had lost favor would find it very difficult to survive in the palace. At that time, Noble Lady Ning suffered all kinds of bullying from the consorts and concubines in the palace. Fortunately, Empress Ling took care of her and saved her life. Later, she even gave the emperor a princess, which allowed her to gain a foothold in the palace.

Noble Lady Ning had always been grateful for Empress Ling's kindness and served the empress very diligently. After Empress Ling passed away, she remained respectful to Chu Shaoling and Chu Shaoyang. Chu Shaoling was quite assured about her.

Chu Shaoling's mind was filled with thoughts. The Empress Dowager swept her gaze over everyone, taking in their expressions, and slowly said, "It's just that this child is most particular about etiquette and propriety. He's afraid of disturbing me and refuses to come." The Empress Dowager gently stroked Chu Shaoling's back and said dotingly, "After all, he is the empress's legitimate son, most understanding of boundaries."

Consort Shu had served in the palace for many years and naturally understood what the Empress Dowager wanted to say. Hearing this, she echoed with a smile, "That's right. I'm not saying this in front of you, but among the princes, the Crown Prince, as the eldest legitimate son, has even more of the imperial family's bearing in his conduct and demeanor. I often tell Sui'er to take his elder brother as a role model, so he can also gain some insight and ambition."

Chu Shaosui was the Fifth Prince born to Consort Shu. The child was also very much liked by the Empress Dowager usually. The Empress Dowager smiled, "Sui'er is still young. How would he understand these things?"

Noble Consort Li felt a bit uncomfortable. The pearl-colored fingernail pressed into the handkerchief. Her Second Prince, Chu Shaoruan, lost out because of the two words "legitimate" and "eldest." But after the emperor ascended the throne, her maternal family, the Zhen clan, had also gradually gained a foothold in the court. After Empress Ling passed away, she was even promoted to noble consort and given the authority to manage the harem in the empress's stead. She alone held power in the inner palace.

Noble Consort Li appeared calm on the surface but sneered coldly in her heart. As long as she ascended to the empress position, her Chu Shaoruan would also become a legitimate son. Although he wouldn't have the noble status of the previous empress's legitimate son, he would have a better chance of becoming the crown prince than Chu Shaoling, who had lost his birth mother.

Noble Consort Li Li laughed lightly, "Speaking of this, I just remembered something. Yesterday, the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs asked me how to allocate this year's tribute of agarwood."

"Because the Empress Dowager doesn't like incense, in previous years this incense was only sent to the Empress's Phoenix Palace. But now, alas..." Noble Consort Li lowered her head, her eyes reddening. She shook her head, "Last year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs didn't dare to allocate the agarwood. This year, I'm in charge of these things, but I don't dare to act without authorization. I specifically came to ask for your opinion, Empress Dowager. Should we keep it in the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the future Empress to use, or allocate it to someone else first?"

Consort Shu closed her teacup and laughed lightly, "Sister, what do you mean by this? Allocate it to someone else? Agarwood has always been for the use of the Empress. Who else could it be allocated to? Yourself?"

"Sister, you jest. I only listen to the Empress Dowager's wishes." Noble Consort Li's true intentions were guessed by Consort Shu, but she didn't get angry. She now had countless privileges in the palace, and only lacked a title. What did it matter if she used the agarwood in advance? She wanted the entire palace to know who was now in charge of the phoenix seal. Noble Consort Li laughed lightly, "I just feel that since the position of Empress is currently vacant, it would be a pity to let this precious incense, offered year after year, go to waste."

The Empress Dowager watched the back-and-forth between Noble Consort Li and Consort Shu with cold eyes, and slowly said, "Agarwood is not only dignified and elegant in fragrance, but also a very rare medicinal material. Regular use is extremely beneficial for the body."

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She turned to Chu Shaoling with a smile and said, "The incense you're wearing today is this very one. Where did you get it from?"

Chu Shaoling lowered his head, "How could I obtain it? This is what my late mother left me. There's not much left. Whenever I miss my mother, I burn some. Last night I lit some, so the scent still lingers on me."

The Empress Dowager sighed and said slowly, "Yesterday was your mother's memorial day. You must have been missing her. You are a filial son. This is also the loving heart your late mother had for you back then. Since that's the case, Noble Consort Li, tell the Ministry of Internal Affairs to send all future tributes of agarwood to the Bitao Palace. Firstly, it will fulfill his longing for the Empress. Secondly, regularly burning this incense is beneficial for Shaoling's health. When the Emperor establishes a new Empress, I will make other arrangements."

Noble Consort Li never expected this outcome. She was stunned for a moment, then forced a smile and said, "This incense has always been exclusively enjoyed by the Empress. Giving it to the Crown Prince now may not be in line with the rules."

"Isn't that what you said?" The Empress Dowager slowly fiddled with the pure silver engraved hand warmer in her hand. "It would be a pity to let this go to waste. Since there is no Empress, and the Crown Prince is accustomed to using it, what's wrong with giving it to him?"

Noble Consort Li naturally didn't dare to argue with the Empress Dowager. She quickly lowered her head, smiled and said, "If that's the case, it's very good. The Empress Dowager has thought it through. I will go back and inform them."

Chu Shaoling knelt down to express his gratitude. The Empress Dowager smiled, helped him up, her face still kind and gentle.

A minor storm was easily resolved by the Empress Dowager in Ci'an Palace. The Empress Dowager was old, but her mind was still as clear as a mirror. The Emperor's favor had given some people ideas they shouldn't have. The Empress Dowager looked at Noble Consort Li's submissive smile and sneered in her heart. Wishful thinking.

With the Empress Dowager's overt and covert support, Chu Shaoling felt even more confident. He had lunch with the Empress Dowager at noon and chatted with the old lady for a while before leaving Ci'an Palace. His close attendant asked if Chu Shaoling wanted to go to Chengqian Palace to pay his respects to the Emperor. Chu Shaoling didn't say anything and ordered to return to the palace. There was still an important person he hadn't met.

After returning to Bitao Palace, it was not yet the hour of the Monkey. The sky was hazy and it began to snow. Wancui advised Chu Shaoling to take a nap, but Chu Shaoling shook his head. He took an umbrella and slowly walked to the main entrance of Bitao Palace, silently looking outside the corridor.

Chu Shaoling only said he was admiring the snow, and stood for two hours until the hour of the Rooster. A person came through the snow, still looking the same as in his memory, only much younger, not yet fully grown, only about thirteen or fourteen years old. His face was delicate and pure. Seeing Chu Shaoling at the main entrance, he quickly approached and knelt down.

At that moment, Chu Shaoling's hand holding the umbrella handle trembled slightly. He asked hoarsely, "What's your name?"

The young guard never expected the Crown Prince to speak to him. His heart was pounding like a drum. He calmed himself and bowed his head, saying, "Wei Ji. Wei as in guard, Ji as in halberd."

Chu Shaoling closed his eyes, "Wei Ji, good name."

The young Wei Ji looked up at Chu Shaoling with some confusion. Chu Shaoling's expression was calm as he slowly said, "Promote Wei Ji to third-rank personal guard."

Wei Ji never expected this. Being young and simple-minded, he knelt on the ground, not knowing how to express his gratitude. He looked up at Chu Shaoling foolishly. Chu Shaoling looked into Wei Ji's ink-colored eyes, and his restless heart instantly calmed down.