I just want to live a happy life

A year later, at a grand court meeting, Hongli announced in front of all the ministers that Prince Rui Yongqi would be given the title of Prince Rui.

Yongqi knelt down calmly to thank the Emperor.

All the ministers in the court also knelt down and said: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Prince Rui."

The ministers in the court also noticed that Hongli's health was getting worse, so they paid more attention to Prince Rui. Yongqi could also clearly see the ministers' respect for him, and he was now getting things done more and more smoothly.

Not long after Yongqi was conferred the title of Prince, Hongli's health deteriorated. He would be out of breath after walking for a distance and needed someone to support him.

With half a year left in Hongli's second year of life, Chen Wanyin was also named Imperial Noble Consort and was promoted to the Yellow Banner, the upper three flags of the Manchu army.

He also severely punished some ministers who relied on their seniority and were incompetent, and assigned some capable and loyal people to the side of Prince Rui.

Now, everyone understood that this was Hongli's preparation for Prince Rui to ascend the throne.

After doing all this, Hongli could no longer hold on.

One day, Hongli was unconscious. After taking his pulse, the imperial physician shook his head heavily at the Empress Dowager and Chen Wanyin.

Chen Wanyin understood what the imperial physician meant and immediately wiped her eyes sadly with a handkerchief.

The concubines in the harem also received the news and hurried over to check on Hongli. Prince Rui received the news, handled all the matters, and also came with the princes and princesses.

When they arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, many royal family members and important officials of the court were already standing in the courtyard.

In the evening, Hongli finally opened his eyes under the treatment of the imperial physician. He now felt that his time was up. Chen Wanyin had been taking care of him. When she saw Hongli wake up, she said in surprise: "Your Majesty, you are awake."

Hongli heard the sobbing outside, and a knowing smile appeared on his face, with a hint of reluctance: "It seems that I am really dying."

Hearing this, Chen Wanyin immediately burst into tears. She held Hongli's hand and said, "Your Majesty, what are you talking about? The imperial physician will definitely cure you."

Hongli knew that what she said was just to coax him. He was dying, and it would be too late if he didn't say anything. So Hongli patted Chen Wanyin's hand and said, "Go and bring Yongqi and the people outside in."

He still had a lot of things to explain clearly and could not delay any longer, so when Yongqi and clan relatives and court officials came in, he said nothing surprising: "Yongqi is named Crown Prince and will ascend the throne today. The Imperial Noble Consort will be the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager will be the Grand Empress Dowager." In addition, Hongli also appointed a senior official as regent.

After saying this, Hongli felt that he was having difficulty breathing and could no longer speak. In the end, he could only close his eyes unwillingly.

"emperor!"

"Huang Ama!"

Chen Wanyin burst into tears, the Empress Dowager's eyes also turned red, Yongqi knelt in front of Hongli's bed, held Hongli's hand, and burst into tears.

The other concubines, princes and princesses, clan relatives and ministers all knelt on the ground and began to cry.

. . . .

After Hongli's death, Yongqi ascended the throne at the constant request of court officials.

And Chen Wanyin also became the rightful empress dowager.

Yongqi was extremely filial to her. As the Empress Dowager was still alive, he did not want his mother to live in Shoukang Palace or Shou'an Palace in misery, so he built another palace for Chen Wanyin to live in.

The newly built palace is truly magnificent and covers a large area. It contains gardens, pavilions, towers, a stage, and a study. Every detail is exquisite, and even the furnishings and decorations in the rooms are top-notch pieces.

Yongqi would be the first to bring all the good things that were offered as tribute from various places to Chen Wanyin and let her choose first.

Yongqi also treated his only brother, Yongheng, who grew up with the same mother, well. He was granted the title of a prince at a young age, and would be granted the title of prince as soon as Yongheng got married. It can be imagined that Yongheng's future would be good, and would definitely be better than when Hongli was in power.

After Chen Wanyin’s new residence was built, she picked an auspicious day and moved in.

On the second day after moving in, Yongqi brought the queen and some of his concubines to pay their respects to Chen Wanyin.

Chen Wanyin was dressed in her best today, sitting on the highest throne and watching them kowtow to her. To be honest, this feeling was different from the feeling when others paid homage to her when she was still a noble concubine.

Now she just feels completely relaxed and happy both physically and mentally.

Because of Yongqi's ascension to the throne, the Empress Dowager no longer cared about it at all and had no intention of causing trouble in Yongqi's harem. After all, Yongqi was not her adopted son, and he was not as easy to fool as Hongli.

If she really dared to cause trouble, although on the surface they were grandparents and Yongqi would not do anything for the sake of filial piety, but in private Yongqi would do a lot.

The Empress Dowager knew her own limitations, and after Yongqi came to power, she retired. She would not come out unless there was something important to do. Therefore, Chen Wanyin was still the most powerful person in the harem.

After paying their respects, Yongqi's concubines all left, leaving only Yongqi and the queen.

Yongqi helped Chen Wanyin sit on a couch not far away: "Mother, how do you feel about the newly built palace? If you feel uncomfortable, I will ask the craftsmen to renovate it."

Chen Wanyin patted his hands and motioned for them to sit down. "Everything is fine, don't worry. As for you, I know you are busy with government affairs, but don't forget to take care of yourself."

Yongqi smiled and said, "Don't worry, mother. I understand."

The Queen also followed up: "Don't worry, mother. I will take good care of the Emperor."

Chen Wanyin nodded: "That's good." The queen was virtuous and dignified, and handled things in an orderly manner. Besides, she was Yongqi's first wife, and they had lived in harmony since their marriage. Yongqi would more or less listen to the queen's words.

Not long after, after the Queen got the hang of handling palace affairs, Chen Wanyin handed everything over to her. Now she had nothing to do and her mind was filled with only enjoyment.

After talking to Yongqi, Chen Wanyin took her people to the Old Summer Palace.

It's quiet there, without any disturbance, and it's a great place to play.

Of course, she was not the only one who went, but also some concubines of the previous emperor.

Ever since Chen Wanyin decided to live in the Old Summer Palace for a while, the news was soon known to Concubine Chungui and Concubine Ying and some others. They also didn't want to stay in the palace all the time, so after they came to her palace and told her about it, Chen Wanyin agreed without much hesitation.

There was no deep hatred between them, and Chen Wanyin would not refuse as long as their request was not excessive. Most of them were not very old, and if they had to stay in a corner of the palace for the next half of their lives and could not go anywhere, as women, Chen Wanyin could not bear to see them wither like a flower.

After Chen Wanyin became the empress dowager, she enjoyed her life every day. No matter where she was, there were always people serving her, the things she used were always the most exquisite, and she didn't have to be trapped in the palace every day.

In addition to visiting the Old Summer Palace and learning horse riding and archery from a master, you can also follow Yongqi when he leaves the palace to inspect the country and see the prosperity and peace under Yongqi's rule.