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Qi Xiuyuan lowered his head. His eyes were a little misty, as if he was recalling something. “Although I don’t really remember what the Empress Dowager looked like, I always remember how she personally cooked green bean soup for me on hot days. At that time, as Prince Rong wasn’t even born yet, she could still carry me around in the veranda during the summer. Until now, I can only remember her smile.”

Qi Xiuyuan’s expression was slightly solemn. “The posthumous title of my late mother should indeed be decided upon. Minister Chen, I’ll hand this matter over to you. The Ministry of Rites should try its best to come up with a charter.

Chen Fang stepped forward and bowed.

“What else do you have to report?”

Entrusted by the Wu family, that old minister hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and continuing, “Your Majesty, since discussion for the posthumous title of your late mother have begun, the placement of Madam Wu should also be put on the agenda. I wonder how Your Majesty plans to place Madam Wu?”

Chen Fang was silent for a moment before stepping out and saying, Your Majesty, Second Master Qi and Third Master Qi have yet to be conferred titles because we were busy with state affairs previously. Since we’re bringing up Madam Wu’s issue today, why don’t we discuss the royal family’s conferment together to calm the hearts of the people?”

From Chen Fang’s point of view, the Emperor had already made his stance clear by dragging the matter out for so long. It was enough. The Emperor might as well settle the matter now, lest the people and ministers spread bad rumors about him.

Qi Xiuyuan had also considered this, so this time, he did not refuse under the excuse that he was busy with state affairs. He had already reiterated just now that his mother was Madam Zhu, not Madam Wu.

“What do the ministers think I should do with them?”

After looking around, the old minister realized that no one was speaking. Though furious, he had no choice but to say with a bow, “Your Majesty, I reckon you should welcome Madam Wu into the palace. Now that there’s no one in charge of the harem, you can let the Empress Dowager manage it for a while.”

Qi Xiuyuan chuckled and lowered his head to look at the old minister. He was an old Hanlin Bachelor. Qi Xiuyuan remembered his resume-this guy had passed the Imperial Examination at 27 years old and was now 48 years old, but he was still just a HanlinO Scholar who had only climbed from Grade 7 to Grade 5 in 21 years. Qi Xiuyuan finally knew why.

Chen Fang, the Minister of Rites, was seated way in the front, so he could not turn around to take a closer look at the fool.

He lowered his head and secretly rolled his eyes. Then, he continued to stare at his toes without saying anything.

However, Qi Haoran was furious. Almost as soon as the old Hanlin finished speaking, he jumped out and said, “What kind of Empress Dowager is Madam Wu? She’s just a concubine and hasn’t been conferred by the Emperor, but you keep calling her ‘Empress Dowager¹. Could it be that you took some benefits from her?”

The old Hanlin blushed and said angrily, “Your Highness, be careful with your words. There has always been no objections to the Empress Dowager s conferment. Madam Wu is the second wife of Grand Duke Qi, which makes her His Majesty’s legitimate stepmother. Isn’t it only right for her to be the Empress Dowager?”

Qi Haoran sneered. “Who said she’s our stepmother? The document in the government office states that a noble concubine is still a concubine.” Stunned, the old Hanlin asked, “Why is she a concubine? Hasn’t the Qi family always regarded her as the mistress of the family?”

Qi Haoran looked at him in disdain and said, “That’s because my father acknowledged her contribution in giving birth to two sons and made the servants in the residence call her that. My mother’s family, the Zhu clan, doesn’t acknowledge it.”

Strictly speaking, there were very stringent conditions for a concubine to be promoted to the first wife. First and foremost, she needed to obtain the approval of the first wife’s family. With the approval, her husband’s family could then go to the government office to verify this and only then would the clan acknowledge her status.

Marriage was a union of two families. Under normal circumstances, as long as the man paid a certain price, the deceased woman’s family would mostly agree to write an agreement in order not to become enemies with them.

Back then, because the Zhu family still had two nephews in the Qi family, even though they were sad, they wanted to write a letter of agreement, hoping that the Qi family would treat Qi Xiuyuan and Qi Haoran well on this account. It was Qi Xiuyuan who asked his uncles not to write the letter of approval.

Qi Xiuyuan could remember things from a long time ago. Although he was not even six years old at that time, he remembered that although his mother was weak after giving birth to his younger brother, she was still alive then. He knew that his mother was angered to death by his father and Madam Wu.

Since his mother had never wanted Madam Wu to be a co-wife when she was alive, how could he let Madam Wu openly become his legitimate stepmother after she died?

Therefore, bracing the risk that he and his brother might be abused, Qi Xiuyuan still insisted on not letting the Zhu family write an agreement. Then, the Zhu family and the Qi family became enemies and the Qi family cut off all contact with the Zhu family for more than ten years.

His and his younger brother’s lives were indeed greatly affected thereafter. Fortunately, Madam Xia lived in the capital and brought them over to stay at her residence from time to time, on top of visiting them often. It was only for fear of being impeached by the imperial censors that Qi Feng restrained the servants slightly, sparing Qi Xiuyuan and Qi Haoran from suffering too badly. However, Qi Xiuyuan would never forget that kind of life where there was no charcoal in the winter and no ice in the summer. The food was either cold or overnight.

Qi Xiuyuan dazedly looked at his furious younger brother. Actually, he could tolerate all of this. No matter how bad the Qi family was, it was still his family. He had never thought of leaving this home, even as he almost broke off ties with his father later on.

Even if he had to go hungry sometimes, he still had feelings for that father. However, they should never have laid their hands on Qi Haoran.

Qi Xiuyuan had already forgotten his mother’s face, but he had not forgotten how his baby brother had laid on the ground with injuries all over his body. Madam Xia often came to visit them or brought them to the Fan Residence to stay for a period of time, but it would definitely not exceed five days. After all, the Qi family was still around, so Madam Xia could not go overboard. Otherwise, the two children would suffer in the end.

It was only after Qi Haoran’s wet nurse abused Qi Haoran that Qi Haoran started living in the Fan Residence permanently.

At that time, Qi Xiuyuan was young. Although he doted on his younger brother, his energy and experience were limited. In addition, he had to study during the day, so he could only visit him often. In his impression, his younger brother loved to cry. Seeing the barely month-old child cry loudly all day and night, Qi Xiuyuan’s heart ached, but he could not help but feel frustrated sometimes. However, considering how young his baby brother was, he could not blame him at all and could only coax him.

There was once when Qi Xiuyuan’s teacher had something to do and he came back from school early. Qi Xiuyuan would always remember that day. He excitedly bought a rattle drum and ran back. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he heard his brother crying, but there was no servant in the courtyard.

Little Qi Xiuyuan only frowned and hurriedly walked in. When he reached the door and saw the scene inside, he felt his blood flow backward and his body turn cold. He even found it difficult to breathe.

The little Qi Haoran was stripped clean and left lying on the ground by himself, his fair arms and waist bruised. Meanwhile, his wet nurse was sitting at the side drinking tea, frowning as she looked at the wailing tiny person on the ground. At that time, Qi Xiuyuan’s mind turned blank. When he came back to his senses, the wet nurse had already been smashed to death by him with a stool.

That was Qi Xiuyuan’s first time killing someone. He was only six years old. Right away, one of Madam Zhu’s people secretly ran out of the residence to inform Madam Xia. It was also because of this that Qi Haoran could stay in the Fan Residence permanently. After that day, the Qi Residence became just a place where he would occasionally stay briefly.