A Prince's Endless Indulgence-Chapter 1065 - 99, The End

"What if I keep having daughters?"

"Then you’ll have to be inconvenienced to have a few more!"

Jinnian laughed while lightly hitting Chu Yu, her eyes filled with joy.

The great bell announcing the coronation of the Empress rang out, echoing far and wide.

Inside the prison.

The Yun Family members huddled together, all with disheveled hair and filthy bodies.

The old matriarch of the Yun Family was paralyzed in a corner, but her mind was exceptionally clear.

"Today, the princess is crowned Empress, you’ve got the benefit of some meat to eat!"

A bowl of meat was thrown at the prison cell door.

But no one had the heart to eat.

The princess, wasn’t that Han Jinnian? Han Jinnian had become the Empress...

Han Jinnian, that was once Yun Jinnian.

"Ahhh..."

The old matriarch of the Yun Family screamed.

Why had it come to this? Wasn’t it supposed to be Xu Xinmo? Why did it become Yun Jinnian?

She couldn’t understand, but couldn’t speak, only able to scream "ahh."

No one in the cell paid her any attention.

Some ate meat, some drank porridge; at this point, living one more day was good enough, and they hoped for a general amnesty that might spare them the death sentence. Whatever happened, being alive was better.

But soon a fight broke out in the cell over a piece of meat.

First, a few women started fighting, and later Yun Zhen, Yun Yi, and Yun Xuan joined in.

They too were once the pride of heaven. Although unsuccessful, they never imagined they’d become prisoners one day.

Reaching this point in life is filled with deep regret. Yet all regret is useless, time won’t turn back.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Upon hearing the sound, Yun Chen looked toward the monk outside the cell and suddenly stood up, "Master..."

The monk shook his head, "It seems, my benefactor did not heed the words of this humble monk back then!"

"In life, one must understand courtesy, righteousness, integrity, and shame. If one does not understand even this, how are they different from beasts? Amitabha, how merciful! This trip fulfills the promise I once made to Old Yun!"

He once hinted, but Yun Chen didn’t take it seriously.

Such an end can’t be blamed on others.

Yun Chen remained silent.

Indeed, they were the ones who first harmed Yun Jinnian, and they were the ones who first harmed Mrs. Han, they couldn’t blame anyone else.

No one else...

Looking at the people in the cell, Yun Chen suddenly laughed out loud, "Ahaha, I’ve read so many sages’ books, yet failed to grasp courtesy, righteousness, integrity, and shame thoroughly!"

Chu Yu ascended to the throne as Emperor.

He changed the era name to Jinrui.

He issued several imperial decrees: first, to reform the court, eradicate corrupt officials, treat the people kindly, exempt the commoners from taxes for three years, and guarantee every household possesses three acres of paddy fields and three acres of dry fields; the dry fields can be cultivated for free and remain tax-exempt for three years.

In disaster-stricken areas, grains were sent, and then water was sent; for this, Feng Wushuang and Liao Shijie personally handled it, while Yuwen Ya managed the medicinal ingredients, and Han Tianci took care of the supplies.

For a time, everyone knew these four were the Emperor’s right-hand men.

The commoners were living better days, and naturally didn’t want foreign invaders, so Chu Yu issued another decree that for every man who enlisted from a household, there would be a five-year tax exemption, and if two enlisted, a ten-year exemption would apply.

Though the Great Zhou underwent a change of dynasty, it did not lose much vitality, especially since Chu Yu was well-prepared, with money and grain in hand.

Jinnian also gave all her money to Chu Yu, and the Han Family fully supported him. The court officials, led by Marquess Zhuangyong, aimed to accomplish real work and achievements, which felt more rewarding than relying on sisters entering the palace.

Chu Yu upheld the principle of full trust in those he employed and not suspecting those he did not employ, allotting many tasks.

To say who was the most leisurely in the palace, it had to be the Empress.

She would amuse herself with a few children, even playing hide and seek with them.

A twenty-year-old adult, playing with a few children aged four to five, could spend the whole day in the great hall.

Even after years of marriage, they had not had a child, but the ministers were anxious; they were aware that the current Emperor truly cared for the common people, even though there was a legitimate son, who, although now was considered the Princess’s child, was still the Emperor’s son. If the Empress continued to have no child, this child would be the future son of heaven, perhaps a reason why the Empress loved that child dearly.

Otherwise, why would Princess Jinfeng be so at ease with giving the child to the Empress, leading a group of women and forming a women’s army to achieve merits at the border?

Now, she was a mighty great general.

Many talented women Hidden Guard members came forth from the shadows, fighting on the battlefield without losing to men.

Many from the Wangyue Sect also stepped from the shadows into the light.

All of Chu Yu’s policies could be implemented because the silver and money came from the Wangyue Sect, or should we say it came from Jinnian.

As the children hid, it was not easy to find them; Jinnian searched everywhere but couldn’t find them and began to coax them.

"I can see you all, don’t think I can’t find you, hmm?"

Under the table, under the bed, inside the wardrobe, behind the curtains, no one was there.

Jinnian took a round but still couldn’t find anyone, so she sat on the steps outside Weiyang Palace, wondering where those children hid.

Chu Yu, taking leisure amidst his busyness, came to glance, and seeing Jinnian daydreaming on the steps, "What, still can’t find them?"

"Mm, can’t find them, these kids hide too well!" Jinnian said in frustration.

Chu Yu chuckled, leaning in and whispered to Jinnian, "Be careful, they can move about, otherwise, how else could you not find them!"

After a moment of thought, Jinnian agreed, "Right, that makes sense, I thought the great hall was just this big, with palace maids watching, how could they disappear?"

"Your Majesty, wait for me, I’m going back to find them!"

Jinnian joyfully entered the great hall, this time observing more keenly, she indeed found some little ones moving about and pretended she hadn’t spotted them.

In the great hall, they continued to play again.

Seeing this, Chu Yu smiled knowingly.

No matter how tired, returning to see the ever more innocent and charming Jinnian, his heart was always happy.

Fatigue seemed to disappear significantly.

"Let’s go, we’ll head back to Yangxin Hall and continue handling the noon tasks!"

After Chu Yu went far, Jinnian caught a few children, letting them play by themselves, then left the great hall, casting a glance towards Yangxin Hall with a faint smile.

He wished for her to live without worries, so she lived happily without concerns.

He wished for her to not understand anything, so she didn’t delve deeper.

Together, like this, in earnest, they might remain truly happy and enduring.

In a blink of an eye, the world was settled, the Great Zhou was defeated, forced to cede land and make reparations yearly; only then did the war, lasting seven years, cease.

Jinnian was already twenty-three, Chu Yu twenty-nine, and still, they had no children.

Yet, they seemed unbothered by it.

The ministers, however, were getting anxious, and someone suggested selecting a concubine, to which Chu Yu merely cast a bland glance at that minister, "The matter of my household needs not concern my dear minister!"

After court, returning to Weiyang Palace, he found Jinnian lying asleep on the Chaise Longue, with the frame beside her holding the herb said to be as potent as the Snow Lotus of Tian Mountain in detoxifying all poisons, now in bloom, filling the hall with fragrance.

Chu Yu sat beside the Chaise Longue, looking tenderly at Jinnian.

Though married for years, his love remained profound.

He asked the palace maid to bring over a picture book Jinnian had read, Chu Yu leafed through it, searching for traces of what Jinnian had read between the lines.

When Jinnian awoke, Chu Yu immediately noticed.

Jinnian reached out, holding Chu Yu’s hand, placing it on her abdomen, "Your Majesty!"

"Mm?" Chu Yu didn’t quite get it.

"Tianci came into the palace today, did you know?"

"I knew, he said he wanted to see you, brought some toys that you liked?"

"I liked them!"

"As long as you like them, next time I will take you out of the palace to have fun, where would you like to go?"

"Let’s go to the back mountain of Yingci’an, I remember, back then, you cooked a bowl of longevity noodles for me, it wasn’t very tasty, but..."

"..."

Chu Yu clasped Jinnian’s hand, tears falling at once, "Jinnian..."

"I haven’t recalled everything, just a bit!"

"It’s alright!" Chu Yu wiped his tears away swiftly.

Jinnian smiled, "And there’s one more thing!"

"Hmm, go ahead, I’ll listen to you regardless!"

"Hehe," Jinnian giggled, then couldn’t help but say, "Your Majesty, you’re such a big fool, haven’t you realized by now?"

"What?" Chu Yu asked, cluelessly.

Looking at where his hand was placed, comprehension dawned on him, "Jinjinjin..."

He stuttered, unable to form a complete sentence.

"I..."

"Yes, you’re going to be a father!"

The following year in March, Jinnian gave birth to a son, with the pet name Momo, and the formal name Chu Zhi.

To love you for a lifetime, unwavering and true!