In the first month, visiting elders to pay New Year's greetings is an ancient custom. Even if I don't like this uncle, hiding is no use - however, before going to the Qiu manor, there was still a Thousand Autumns Festival on the fifth day of the first month.

  Empress Su, although born into a wealthy family, advocated for frugality. Since her birthday fell during the busiest and most leisurely time of the year, she never wanted to hold grand celebrations and only set up a few tables in the Weiyang Palace for a simple family feast.

  Although there were not many people, it was not necessarily calm - soon after the opening of the banquet, Princess Dai Guo mentioned that Zhao Wang would enter the court in the coming year: "Why doesn't Emperor brother let Wei Wang help you share some worries? He may not be as noble as Zhao Wang, but he is a few years older and has always been sensible and filial. If you are worried, send a few capable ministers to teach him, I will give you a guarantee: he will not lose your face!"

  "Otherwise, King Zhao's younger brother has already entered the court, and King Wei, as the elder brother, is idle all day long. Your Majesty, how can he justify himself? My sister-in-law, the empress dowager, also loses face!"

  "What's the point of bringing this up on a good day for the empress?" Although Princess Dai Guo repeatedly dragged out the topic of Prince Zhao, Empress Su only smiled elegantly and turned to talk to Concubine Jiang Xian, as if she hadn't heard anything. After all, Prince Wei's entry into the court posed the most direct threat to the crown prince, but the current Eastern Palace wasn't even the empress's own biological son!

  "This will be stopped by the eldest princess of Jin State," "Today is a family banquet, if you want to talk about official business, wait until after the New Year's Day and let your brother-in-law submit a memorial for you!"

  The Empress Dowager wasn't doing this for the Crown Prince, she was worried about her younger brother Emperor Xian of Jin, and didn't want him to be troubled during these two days when he could finally rest.

  Even so, the prince and princess still cast her a grateful glance.

  But the Empress Dowager was not pleased: "Imperial sister, when Xing'er was being stubborn and I helped search for her throughout the city, what did you say to me? Are you allowed to dote on your daughter but I'm not allowed to dote on my son-in-law? And besides, Xing'er is only your adopted daughter! Nan Zhen is my own flesh and blood!"

  Before she had even finished speaking, Nie Wu Xian, who was already out of place in the current scene, stiffened up!

  "Now that you're all here for the family banquet, of course, they're all our own people!" The eldest princess of Jin State looked clearly and saw a flash of anger on her face. She said coldly, "What are you talking about, adopted daughter or biological daughter? In my opinion, everyone who calls me 'mother' is my flesh and blood, not to mention adopted daughters, even daughters-in-law are the same!"

  The princess's goal was not achieved, and she didn't have the heart to argue with her. She only said: "I spoke wrongly, please forgive me, elder sister - but since you treat even your daughter-in-law as your own flesh and blood, shouldn't I also be concerned about my son's future? Can it be that all the children on your lap are treasures, while all the children on my lap are just weeds?"

  He turned to Emperor Xian of Han, who was silent and drinking, and said, "Brother, you tell me, isn't this the truth? I have only one son and one daughter with Empress He, and it's fine that Zhen Fu hasn't had a proper assignment yet. But Wei Wang is not only my son-in-law, he's also your descendant. You can't treat him unfairly!"

  Xian Jia Emperor's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and he seemed to be somewhat worried. However, his tone was still very gentle when speaking with his sister: "Zi Fu indeed should have an assignment, but I don't know where you want him to go?"

  The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment, then said: "I was thinking of letting him enter officialdom to temper himself, but the Emperor says he is still too frivolous and probably cannot bear great responsibility!"

  Xian Jia Emperor only mentioned Ji Zi Fu but not Wei Wang, already had the intention of politely declining Wei Wang's entry into the court. If by any chance he gave Ji Zi Fu a high position, it would be a clear and obvious favor, and even if she were to become the Princess of Dai Guo, she wouldn't be able to cause trouble anymore! It wasn't that she didn't want her son to have a high position and great power, but if the new emperor weren't Wei Wang, then no matter how wealthy and glorious the Ji family became, it would ultimately be an empty honor.

  Her husband, Ji Wei Guan, stood beside her in silence, apparently acquiescing to his wife's words.

  Xian Jia Emperor was about to speak, but Ji Zifu suddenly stood up and said: "Imperial Uncle, although nephew is not capable of handling major tasks, he thinks he can still handle some minor matters. Please give nephew a chance!"

  This move was unexpected by everyone, Song Yi Xiao still thought it was the meaning of the princess of Dai Guo, and subconsciously looked at her, but saw that this aunt was also surprised - Emperor Xian Jia was condescending, with a particularly clear vision, seeing the situation with great interest asked: "What does Zi Fu want to do?"

  "His nephew heard that Ah Xū has been very busy lately, and wants to go to the Ministry of War to lend him a hand." Ji Zǐ Fú's words made the Crown Prince slightly change color: he had just sealed off the previous year's seal, letting He Wén Qiáng take the position of Minister of War, and hadn't even had time to drive out Zhao Wáng's relatives' troops yet, was Wèi Wáng planning to openly stir up trouble?

  He subconsciously looked up at the top.

  The emperor Xian of Jin stroked his belly on the golden wine vessel for a moment, and smiled slightly: "You have a deep affection for each other, how can we, as your elders, not make this convenient for you?"

  He asked the prince, "What are the current vacancies in the Ministry of War?"

  "Returning to the Emperor, He Wenqiong was originally the Left Servant of the Ministry of War. Now that he has been promoted to Minister, the position of Left Servant is naturally vacant." The Crown Prince's heart was slightly settled upon seeing this, as Emperor Xianjing had indeed agreed to let Ji Zifu enter the Ministry of War, but first asked himself - apparently reminding everyone of the existence of the Crown Prince.

  He stood up and said calmly, "As for other vacancies, none of them are suitable for Brother Jie."

  "Zi Fu is now at this age, serving as a left servant may not be able to hold his footing." Emperor Xian heard this and did not wait for the national long princess's husband and wife to decline on behalf of their son. He said, "In that case, let's take a look at the three departments of the Ministry of Personnel, the Imperial Carriage, and the Arsenal. Are there any deputy ministers who have enough seniority to be promoted to servant? If so, we can promote one of them, and the vacant position will be given to Zi Fu."

  The Princess of Jin State nodded first and said: "They are about the same age, they should be at the same level!"

  Frowning slightly, "Enough of official business for now. Today is supposed to be a celebration of the Empress's birthday, yet we've been discussing the children's futures endlessly - what's the point of that?"

  Although this remark was meant to help Emperor Xiaojing, Empress Su found herself in an awkward position: if she went along with Princess Chang of Jin State, it would be a slight to Princess Chang of Dai State. How could the overbearing and arrogant Princess Chang of Dai State let her off easily? If she said that she didn't mind, then she would be trampling on Princess Chang of Jin State's kind words for her!

  The Empress Dowager was a woman of great cunning and had already thought of a plan, but before she could speak, an imperial attendant rushed in and reported: "Your Majesty, the Empress is suddenly suffering from severe abdominal pain, and the midwife says it looks like...it seems to be a miscarriage!"

  "What?!". Empress Su was shocked, Emperor Xian's face also changed slightly, but quickly returned to calm, picking up the wine cup and quietly sipping from it. The entire hall was caught off guard by this sudden bad news, in the midst of a stunned silence, the empress angrily shouted, "Has the imperial physician been summoned?!"

  The eunuch said: "Someone has already been sent to invite, but Lanqiugong has no master seat, and Pinglangge has no one who can preside over the matter. The slaves dare not take liberties!"

  "How dare you act arbitrarily?" Empress Su heard the ominous tone beneath these four words - if it weren't for the emergency, even if the imperial physician had taken a look, that would have been enough; why was it necessary to have someone who could make decisions present? She took a cold breath and turned her head towards Emperor Xian of Jin, "Your Majesty, I..."

  "Today is your birthday, what's the matter, how can you be called to work?" Emperor Xian Jia understood her meaning, but shook his head and said, "I really don't feel at ease, sending a palace maid to take a look is just fine. It's just a quiet person, how can it spoil the festive atmosphere of Qiujiu Festival?"

  Nianzhen was the maiden name of Empress Su.

  Xian Jia Emperor shouted out in front of a group of younger generations, although affectionate, but somewhat unconventional.

  Song Yixiao and others who were not very familiar with the emperor thought nothing of it, thinking that the emperor and empress were just being affectionate, and Emperor Xian momentarily forgot to correct himself.

  But others, including the Empress Dowager who had been quiet all along, and the two Shu Princesses, could see that Emperor Xian of Jing was distracted and made such a mistake, and they were all secretly shocked!

  "What's going on, Fang Yu? Go and take a look!" Empress Su hesitated for a moment before instructing a tall palace maid behind her, "Remember, prioritize the safety of Lady Nuan and her child above all else!"

  The imperial harem of the Great Wisdom completely followed the previous Yong, from the lowest rank 8 pin jia li to the highest super pin Huang Hou, in between from low to high are Yu Qi, Niang Zi, Cai Nu, Xiao Yi, Shu Ren, Bao Lin, Cai Ren, Mei Ren, Pin, Bi Yu, Jiu Pin, Fei, Fu Ren, Gui Shu Xian De four fei, a total of 16 levels.

  Although there are many ranks, from Concubine onwards, they can be considered as the legitimate mistress, live in the main hall, follow the Empress to Qingxi Hall to pay respects to the Empress Dowager - today at this Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet, they also have a place!

  But this matter of the imperial concubine, who was only a fifth-rank lady-in-waiting and belonged to the lower echelons of the palace, still managed to affect the atmosphere despite Emperor Xian's insistence that it not disrupt the Mid-Autumn Festival.

  Successive generations of emperors and princes all knew better than to mention the matter of Prince Wei entering the court again.

  Song Yixiao saw the music start again, and she turned her head to ask her husband if they should send something to comfort that warm and gentle person. However, she saw Jian Yu holding up his chin with one hand, playing with an empty golden wine jug with a beast's mouth and red ears, his eyebrows slightly furrowed as if he had encountered some troublesome matter.

  "Since the Empress Dowager has set her sights on the Ministry of War, if not for your brother, there must be others!" Song Yi thought he was worried about Ji Zifu volunteering to enter the Ministry of War, so she quickly pushed Nuan Shu aside and comforted him in a low voice, "You've said before that Brother Ji is not very sophisticated, although his status is noble, but isn't he easier to deal with than those cunning old officials?"

  Jian Yu Bai was taken aback for a moment before responding somewhat unnaturally: "Yes."

  "Don't worry about it then, after all, it's His Majesty's personal promise. The crown prince didn't say anything, and you're frowning, if people see it, they'll make a big deal out of it!" Song Yi said with a smile, nodding slightly in the direction diagonally opposite - where their host for tomorrow's New Year's visit, Qiu Xixia, was sitting.

  Jian Yu Bai didn't go to see that annoying uncle, instead he rubbed the rim of his cup, beckoned to the palace maid waiting by his side, and after drinking it all in one gulp, as if he had made up his mind about something, he said in a low voice to his wife: "Nuan Shu Ren... since we've managed to catch up with this matter, you'll send some gifts to the palace later!"

  Song Yi Xiao responded with a smile, saying: "When the time comes, I'll go ask Big Sister for advice and see if we can find out what kind of person Nuan Shu is!"

  "It's not necessary!" Jian Yu Bai said without hesitation, "Just pick a few things from the stuff I brought back from Wuhuan in our storage room!"

  "Uighur?" Song Yi smiled thoughtfully, suddenly thinking of something, and leaned into her husband's ear, whispering, "Could it be that this Wenshu person... is related to the Uighur princess who entered the palace at the beginning of the year?"

  Jian Yu's expression was complex, and after a long time, he said: "It is indeed the daughter of the king of Wuhuan, Princess Fei Nuan!"