Qianyuan Hall. Side Hall
Consort Ban was reluctant: "Xi Xi, this time I enter the palace, Mother is saying goodbye to you."
Lu Nianfu was stunned: "Goodbye? Where to?"
"Your eldest uncle is gravely ill, and I want to go and see him."
"Eldest uncle, in Lingnan?" Lu Nianfu didn't know what to say for a moment. She had known long ago that her maternal grandparents' family had been exiled to Lingnan, but in the end, she had never even met them, so how could she have any feelings for them, let alone rescue them from their predicament? If Consort Ban hadn't mentioned it, she would have almost forgotten them.
It seemed this matter still needed to be brought up with the Emperor.
She didn't tell Consort Ban, as she didn't know what crime her maternal grandparents' family had committed back then, and whether they could be pardoned was still unknown, so she didn't give Consort Ban any hope.
Consort Ban wiped away her tears: "When I was young, my eldest uncle treated me the best. Now that he is ill, if I don't go, Mother fears I won't even be able to see him one last time. When your maternal grandfather and grandmother passed away, I couldn't even mourn them."
This was also Consort Ban's biggest regret.
Lu Nianfu handed her her handkerchief: "Mother, since there's nothing much going on in the capital, if you want to go, then go. It's fine to stay with your uncles for a few days. By the way, how many children does your uncle's family have? As their cousin, I should prepare some gifts for them."
"Then Mother thanks you on their behalf. Your eldest uncle has no children. Your second uncle has three, two sons and a daughter. Only the youngest son is surnamed Ban."
Under the circumstances back then, Consort Ban was already fortunate that her younger brother Ban had survived. Being taken in as a live-in son-in-law was better than not surviving.
Through Consort Ban's description, Lu Nianfu easily understood the predicament of the Ban brothers. After preparing gifts and sending Consort Ban out of the palace, she hurried to find Situ Yan.
The Ban family was involved in the biggest corruption case in the imperial court back then, and Emperor Changwu himself had passed the sentence. If Situ Yan were to pardon them directly, it might cause backlash, as the Ban family was not the only one implicated. Finally, Meng Changdong offered a suggestion: "The new Emperor has ascended the throne, and there should be a general amnesty. How about..."
"The enthronement ceremony has been over for more than two months, and besides, how can some heinous criminals be released so easily?"
A general amnesty demonstrated the monarch's benevolence, but truly releasing those who had committed heinous crimes would be irresponsible to the common people.
Meng Changdong said: "We can only pardon those who were implicated. But as the Emperor said, have the enthronement and empress investiture ceremonies already ended?"
Situ Yan thought for a moment: "Let's establish the Crown Prince."
It had to be done sooner or later, and pardoning the people during the establishment of the Crown Prince would be quite appropriate.
Therefore, the next day, Situ Yan summoned the Imperial Observatory, calculated an auspicious day, and waited for three days to establish the eldest son, Situ Yao, as the Crown Prince, and at the same time, issue a general amnesty. Of course, only those who were implicated would be pardoned; the principal offenders would all be unpardoned.
Lu Nianfu thought of her son, who understood nothing, and was somewhat annoyed: "Your Majesty, Yao'er is only three years old. Isn't it a bit inappropriate to make him the Crown Prince now?"
"Since ancient times, the legitimate heir is the one born of the Empress and the eldest. Yao'er will have to move to the Eastern Palace sooner or later."
"But what if he is not suited for the throne? We can't have him be like the former Crown Prince, who was Crown Prince for decades before being deposed, can we?" To be honest, on this matter, the former Crown Prince was a pitiable person. As a mother, Lu Nianfu absolutely did not want her son to follow in his footsteps.
"Life is a journey. The path is forged as one walks. I have invited renowned teachers to educate him. If he is truly not suitable, we can discuss it then. He and Xiao Er are of the same father and mother; will they turn against each other because of this matter?" Situ Yan did not take this matter to heart. Circumstances are unpredictable. Who would have thought a few years ago that he would be in this position?
The lives of the two children were already much better than his childhood.
As for who the empire would be handed over to? He would worry about this when he got older. He was not yet thirty, so it was too early to consider this.
Lu Nianfu sighed: "It's my fault for troubling you."
"Don't say such silly things, or I'll be angry." Situ Yan pinched her small face, finding it felt good, and couldn't resist pinching it a bit more. Immediately, a warm kiss landed: "If the Empress really wants to thank me, why not pay with your body?"
The emotion that had just risen in Lu Nianfu's heart was instantly ruined: "Your Majesty, don't be silly, it's not even dark yet."
"I've already finished approving the memorials."
The implication was that all the work was done, and he could do whatever he wanted.
Lu Nianfu: ...