No matter what the Zhou family members thought, since they had left Changping Earl’s Manor and estimated they wouldn’t return for a while, the couple immediately and without pause nestled back into their hot spring retreat palace.

The capital’s winter was inherently cold. Not to mention An Ning, who was naturally accustomed to being lazy, Shangguan Huai himself was someone who didn’t even want to take a big step outside his door.

Every day, he clung to her, sleeping until the sun was high in the sky. If not for An Ning occasionally taking him to tend flowers, exchange views on calligraphy, painting, and musical arts, and from time to time practicing some health-preserving sword techniques, this man would probably be even more of a layabout.

Overall, compared to the grandfather and grandson pair in the palace who, regardless of harsh winter or scorching summer, unfailingly rose at mao hour (5-7 AM) every day and first practiced martial arts for over half a shichen (an hour), they could simply be described as two completely different models.

This state of affairs even caused the court ministers who were thinking of opportunism and harboring crooked thoughts to fall speechless for a moment. The small flames of ambition that hadn’t fully grown in their hearts were immediately extinguished for the most part.

Especially after learning that, just after spring had passed, before the capital had truly entered the intense summer heat, Prince Yongle and his wife had once again run off to the summer resort in the capital’s outskirts.

Reportedly, every day they enjoyed flowers and boated, having an absolutely marvelous time.

Certain ministers: “…”

Looking up at the current emperor above, who was busy with myriad affairs every day, and then glancing at the Eastern Palace, where it was said over a dozen civil and military masters vied in admiration, and the Crown Prince Heir, who never fell behind even half a step in all her studies, yet still effortlessly helped His Majesty handle official duties while simultaneously winning over people’s hearts.

“Could this be the legendary ‘affection skipping a generation’?”

Secretly comparing, some clever individuals thought of their own useless sons at home. Thinking since this lump of mud couldn’t be propped up no matter what, maybe they should just stop propping it. Marrying off their son early to a smart daughter-in-law to cultivate the next generation as soon as possible might work!

Perhaps the grandson would take after them!

Feeling they still had many good years left to live, the old minister immediately made up his mind.

Unaware they had been made the negative example of unfilial sons and grandsons. In any case, for the next several years, An Ning and her husband mostly shuttled between the palace and the retreat palace.

Of course, throughout the four seasons, winter was severely cold, summer was intensely hot, autumn was somewhat dry, and spring… ahem… outside the estate was precisely when mountain flowers bloomed brilliantly and the scenery was at its finest. If not traveling then, when would be the time?

If not for Shangguan Huai’s health truly being frail, and the need to consider personal safety, the couple might have gotten a sudden whim and truly gone down to Jiangnan for fun.

After all, the shipbuilding industry of this dynasty was currently quite developed. Since the current emperor ascended the throne, he placed even greater emphasis on this path and was not as harsh as the Late Emperor regarding trade and exchanges between various regions.

Especially last year, which was the eleventh year of the current emperor’s reign. Using his own mother’s flower cultivation techniques as a source of inspiration, arranged by the Crown Prince Heir personally assigning personnel and undergoing multiple rounds of experimentation, they finally extended the path of “hybrid breeding” to other economic crops.

Up to now, they had achieved preliminary results in legumes and even rice.

Some fruit trees also showed remarkable effectiveness.

After this battle, not to mention among the common people, even within the court, the Crown Prince Heir’s already stable position in the Eastern Palace became increasingly solid.

Especially since she had just entered the court and swiftly and decisively removed several imperial clan descendants who tried to jump out, as well as some stubborn ministers, making it even harder for anyone to find fault.

Even within the spiritual sea, the system couldn’t help feeling somewhat displeased seeing this:

“Why, host? With your persona in this life and your skill in flower cultivation, wouldn’t it be better to propose this yourself?”

Why insist on transferring the credit to someone else?

Unlike now, although the Crown Prince Heir did declare that these all inherited her own mother, Princess Consort Yongle’s flower cultivation skills. But ultimately, it’s still not the same!

The system couldn’t help but squat in a corner drawing circles.

However, after the words fell, before the clean window sill, An Ning’s hands playing with the flower plant did not pause in the slightest, and her tone did not have the slightest fluctuation. As if speaking of a commonplace matter:

“Because A-Bao, she is first Shangguan Jun, the future emperor, and only lastly my daughter!”

Glancing at the somewhat stunned system, An Ning couldn’t help but smile warmly:

“Since ancient times, the hearts of emperors, especially highly intelligent and capable rulers, have never lacked suspicion and mistrust, even if the object is their own birth parents.

As long as certain boundaries are touched, the moment the emperor’s radar activates, what can even birth parents do?

Why do you think A-Bao would be any exception?”

Facing the system’s suddenly dumbfounded expression, An Ning continued warmly:

“Just because A-Bao is female?”

Because she’s female, you think she would naturally be more emotional? Would not be as cold and ruthless as historical emperors? Or even suspicious?

“No… that’s not it…”

The system instinctively wanted to refute, but the next moment it opened its mouth, it found it had no words to retort…

Realizing its habitual thinking, the system hung its head.

In the third month of spring, when all things revived, appreciating the increasingly bright and splendid sunlight outside the window, An Ning then continued:

“Not to mention emperors, since ancient times, those who can climb to high positions and sit firmly, unless exceptionally gifted or having heaven-defying luck, are mostly absolutely rational, and sufficiently meticulous and ruthless individuals.”

“Even look, in the natural world, under equal conditions, those groups that are sufficiently decisive and rational are also more likely to occupy absolute advantage.”

“Regardless of gender, since stepping onto the field of power, then in this power game, her only identity is one and only one, and that is emperor.”

The system nodded somewhat comprehendingly:

“But… since that’s the case, host, why did you spend double the points to buy the high-grade female pregnancy pill?”

If it were a male, honestly, in this era, the mid-grade would already be sufficient, right?

Just to relax the vigilance of that previous dog emperor, and even that Concubine Yu?

It doesn’t feel worth it!

“Perhaps because it’s truly too difficult?”

Thinking of the rumors heard earlier, An Ning’s tone carried a rare touch of melancholy:

“System, you probably haven’t seen the current emperor infrequently? The former Grand Princess was of awe-inspiring reputation, with countless adherents in the court. Even after the emperor ascended the throne, he was wary of her.

But ask, how were these things obtained?

From ten years of diligence and hardship since childhood.

From exceptional courage forged through dozens of brushes with death, almost rooted in the army since her teens. Even more so, from the composure and determination to take command of the great army at a critical moment for the court, staking everything on one throw.”

Also, knowing full well she was her imperial father’s pawn, even a blade to strike the imperial clan and ministers, yet still willing to face it head-on without the slightest hesitation for the sake of controlling her own destiny in the future.

“But even such a ruthless, smart person was still played by her own birth father in the end! Ultimately missing the imperial throne.”

The key was, she lost to an Imperial Brother who was inferior to her in every aspect, who didn’t even possess one-third of her skill and boldness.

Yet the most tragic thing was, the timing of the Grand Princess’s birth father, that emperor’s move, was precisely when the Grand Princess herself was outside campaigning, facing life and death.

This shows how difficult it is for women to climb upward in this world.

At least when she had a choice, and the success rate was extremely high…

Also, An Ning suddenly laughed:

“System, do you believe that without those knowledge exceeding this generation, with equal strategy and physical qualities, even if given a hundred chances, I would absolutely, absolutely never win against the current emperor, not even once!”

System: “???”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep