Although the back garden of the East Palace is not as exquisite and beautiful as the Imperial Garden, as the Prince's East Palace, all the furnishings are among the best in the Qin Empire.
Even in this cold winter with heavy snowfall, winter plum blossoms are still in full bloom, and snowflakes fall in pieces, pressing on the branches of winter plum blossoms. The pale pink of winter plum blossoms looks particularly beautiful and refined amid the plain white.
Walking in the garden, Li Chen followed Zhao Rui half a body behind him, and more than ten steps behind, followed by the serving maid from a distance.
"Your Highness, it's freezing outside. Put on your cloak to avoid catching a cold."
Zhao Rui took Li Chen's snow fox fur cloak from the palace maid, put it on Li Chen carefully, and said.
"I'm determined."
Li Chen walked Zhao Rui in the garden and said casually: "In a few days, the Spring Festival will be over. Logically speaking, this day is the day for family reunion. At that time, I will send you to your parents' home."
Let’s stay with them for a year.”
Zhao Rui was stunned when he heard this, then bit his lip and whispered: "I am already His Highness's concubine. Naturally, I will stay with His Highness during the New Year."
"You are still afraid that this palace will become deserted."
Li Chen smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, you and I have a long life, and there will be a lot of opportunities and time in the future. This year, I will go and spend it with your parents."
Seeing Li Chen's insistence, Zhao Rui's face showed a hint of complexity and said: "Is Your Highness worried about the safety of my concubine?"
After glancing at Zhao Rui, Li Chen said: "As long as this palace falls, the gate and wall of the East Palace will always be there. No one in the world dares to do anything against you under my eyes. But in the harem fight, there is great righteousness there.
I don’t want to interfere too much in the affairs of the harem. If the queen has any intention of quarreling with you, you won’t be able to prevent her."
Zhao Rui said sadly: "This concubine will just listen to His Highness."
"Although you were reunited with your parents in the past, you also represented the face of the East Palace. After that, I will arrange for you and take care of all the expenses. If you need anything else, you can just go to the warehouse to get it.
Although the current situation is difficult, these things for my parents’ family are indispensable, so there is no need to save them.”
Li Chen said, taking out an imperial edict that had been prepared long ago.
Zhao Rui was stunned for a moment, took it with both hands respectfully, opened it, and immediately blushed with excitement.
"This can be considered a gift from me to your family."
This imperial edict was to confer Zhao Rui's mother and Zhao Heshan's wife as the fifth-grade imperial concubine.
Madam Gaoming is not an official position at all, it is an honorary title at most. It is mostly given to the mothers of concubines in the harem and the wives of important officials in the court, to show the magnanimity of God's grace and the court's favor.
However, the emperors of the Qin Dynasty have never been fond of conferring imperial titles. They felt that it was of no practical significance and would easily cause trouble. Therefore, there were only three wives of imperial titles still alive in the dynasty.
And this one is for the fourth person.
The rank of fifth-grade imperial concubine is not high, but Zhao Rui is only the crown prince's concubine, so it is already a great honor.
"As a concubine, I would like to thank Your Highness for your kindness as a mother." Zhao Rui said excitedly.
This imperial position does not have any real power, but it has great symbolic significance. It can at least let everyone in the world know that her Zhao family is a family that the prince values highly.
With a chuckle, Li Chen pulled up Zhao Rui, who was kneeling on the snow, and said in her ear: "Is this just a thank you? It doesn't seem very sincere."
Zhao Ruixia fluttered her cheeks and said in a low voice: "Then...what does Your Highness want? All my concubines and concubines will be treated like Your Highness."
