Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

In the Daming Palace, Emperor Ningkang was also pondering how to reward Prince Teng after his return to the capital.

Wang Ziteng was an important minister during the reign of the retired emperor. Although he did not oppose Wang Ziteng during the struggle for the throne, he also did not show him any goodwill.

Therefore, in his mind, Prince Teng was just an ordinary subject.

Even because the four major families represented by Wang Ziteng had a bad impression on him, he also had some instinctive resentment towards Wang Ziteng.

This is one of the reasons why he didn't want to use Jia Lian that year, even though Lin Ruhai recommended him.

Some of the four kings and eight dukes, and some of the founding marquises back then, really didn't have very good judgment!

The position of Military Governor of the Capital Garrison is of paramount importance, concerning the safety of the capital. Since it has already been taken from Prince Teng, Emperor Ningkang will naturally not return it to him.

However, Wang Ziteng's border patrol was all merits and no demerits, so the lack of rewards was not enough to convince the people.

"The Empress Dowager requests Your Majesty's presence at Weiyang Palace."

Suddenly, a eunuch from the Eastern Palace came to deliver a message, which slightly surprised Emperor Ningkang.

Although Empress Dowager Bai had already entered the palace when he was still Prince Chang, and was his legal mother by law and etiquette.

Ultimately, due to their age difference, they didn't have much interaction.

Even now that he has become the emperor, he still needs to go to the Eastern Palace every three days to pay his respects to the retired emperor and empress dowager. It is nothing more than exchanging greetings through the heavy curtain to fulfill the proper etiquette.

It was rare for the Empress Dowager to summon him in such a special way.

Therefore, not daring to delay, he hurriedly ordered the carriage to be prepared for the journey to Weiyang Palace.

After the retired emperor decided to step down, he designated a large portion of the eastern part of the palace to rebuild the palace buildings and establish a front court and rear palace.

This is Chonghua Palace, commonly known as the East Palace, where the retired emperor and his concubines reside.

In the first two years after Emperor Ningkang ascended the throne, the veteran officials even moved state affairs to Chonghua Palace for the retired emperor to handle, making Chonghua Palace virtually the court within the court.

Those two years were also the most difficult two years for Emperor Ningkang.

Fortunately, the retired emperor seemed to have come to a complete understanding and issued an edict forbidding his ministers from bothering him with state affairs. He decreed that important matters of state should be discussed and dealt with by the emperor and the cabinet.

It was from that time onward that Emperor Ningkang was considered a true emperor.

Upon entering Chonghua Palace and arriving at Weiyang Hall, Emperor Ningkang dismounted from his imperial carriage at the palace gate and entered the hall with only a few attendants.

"This humble servant greets Your Majesty."

As soon as they entered the hall, a beautiful concubine dressed in a blue palace gown, along with several palace maids, came to greet them.

Emperor Ningkang frowned and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Your Majesty, I came to listen to the Empress Dowager's teachings, and upon hearing of Your Majesty's arrival, I came to welcome you."

Emperor Ningkang naturally recognized his newly appointed concubine. He thought that since this person was someone who served his birth mother, the Dowager Consort, she should have no connection with the Empress Dowager. Why would she suddenly appear in the Empress Dowager's palace? The female official next to him explained, "The Empress Dowager heard that Consort Jia's zither skills are superb, so she specially invited Consort Jia to come and talk to her about the art of the zither."

Emperor Ningkang narrowed his eyes. Based on his experience, he subconsciously felt that anything unusual was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

But he still nodded and said, "Since the Empress Dowager has summoned you, you should serve her well and not be arrogant or negligent."

"Your Majesty, I obey."

So Emperor Ningkang ignored Yuanchun and strode into the palace.

"It's inconvenient to talk through the curtain, please come in."

As the Empress Dowager spoke, the palace servants on both sides lifted the beaded curtains, revealing the dazzling gold and glittering furnishings inside.

Emperor Ningkang remained calm and composed. After entering, he first bowed to the Empress Dowager at the head of the table and said, "Your subject greets the Empress Dowager."

"Please sit down."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

After expressing his gratitude, Emperor Ningkang sat down on a golden nanmu chair next to him.

谷犲

After a brief pause, he bowed and asked, "May I ask why the Empress Dowager has summoned me here?"

The Empress Dowager also glanced at Emperor Ningkang.

The princes who were relatively early in the order of birth were all much older than her, so it was inevitable that they would feel a little awkward when they met.

Therefore, she avoids meeting people unless absolutely necessary.

"It's nothing major. I summoned you here because I want you to reward someone. Are you willing?"

Emperor Ningkang was somewhat surprised when he heard the Empress Dowager's straightforward words, and he looked up at Yuan Chun.

In this situation, he naturally assumed that Yuan Chun had won the Empress Dowager's favor and wanted him to bestow more favor upon her.

"Since the Empress Dowager has given her order, I will naturally obey. There is no question of whether I am willing or not. Please tell me, Your Majesty, who you wish me to reward?"

Emperor Ningkang spoke very sincerely.

The Empress Dowager has no heir and has lived a peaceful and uneventful life for so many years. If one could win her favor, let alone get her to reward a concubine, even the most difficult task would be worth trying.

"Oh, then I will speak frankly. The person I wish to commend is Jia Lian, the Second-Class General of Zhenyuan."

The Empress Dowager spoke calmly.

This……

Upon hearing that it was Jia Lian, not Yuan Chun, the emperor instinctively showed a look of doubt, but then, remembering something, he felt relieved.

"I wonder how Your Majesty wishes to reward him?"

"If I had known, I wouldn't have bothered you. He is your subject, so you should be the one to decide his rewards and punishments."

The Empress Dowager spoke casually, but Emperor Ningkang found it particularly pleasing.

The emperor has the right to decide on the rewards and punishments of his subjects; this is the most core power of an emperor.

Although the Empress Dowager seemed to have said it unintentionally, it was enough to show that she had no intention of interfering in politics.

He then replied with a smile, "Your Majesty, how about I have the Imperial Household Department prepare a generous gift and send it to his residence?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager said, "If that's the case, I can make the decision myself. Although my Weiyang Palace may lack other things, the various New Year's and festival gifts sent up by my servants are countless."

Seeing this, Emperor Ningkang finally realized that things were getting a bit tricky.

Since the Empress Dowager did not want to reward Jia Lian with money, the most effective reward for a subject would probably be official rank and title.

Official titles and ranks are important national instruments, something Emperor Ningkang valued highly, and he was unwilling to make exceptions lightly.

Of course, it was rare for the Empress Dowager to ask him for a favor, so he couldn't refuse.

He then explained, "Your Majesty, it is not that I am unwilling to bestow extra honors upon him, but Jia Lian is only of legal age, yet he has already assumed the position of Commander of the Military Command."

Moreover, he recently inherited the family title, making him the most prominent figure at the time.

Under such circumstances, even I, your son, would find it difficult to extend further favors without sufficient justification…

The Empress Dowager said, "No reason? Does saving me not count as a reason?"

"Your subject wouldn't dare!"

Seeing that the Empress Dowager's expression was not good, Emperor Ningkang quickly stood up.

The Emperor Emeritus's favor towards the Empress Dowager had lasted for nearly twenty years without waning, and for those at the center of power, it had become commonplace.

Therefore, even if the Empress Dowager occasionally did something out of line, no one dared to criticize her.

For example, the last time the Empress Dowager mingled among the maids of Zhaoyang Palace and went out of the city for a stroll, others might not have known, but he, the emperor, was naturally not kept in the dark.

To him, such an empress dowager was entirely harmless. Therefore, he naturally did not interfere, but instead pretended not to know, and simply instructed the crown prince to send a large number of troops to protect her.

Who knew that the Crown Prince was so incompetent that he almost caused trouble for the Empress Dowager.

Fortunately, nothing bad happened in the end, otherwise even he couldn't have predicted the consequences.