These princes' last hope was completely dashed two months later.

The cause was that many concubines in the harem suddenly experienced a series of discomforts, even nausea and vomiting.

This situation put the entire palace, from concubines to palace maids and eunuchs, in a state of panic, thinking something major had happened.

But when the imperial physicians made their diagnosis, shocking news quickly spread.

Sixteen concubines in the harem were pregnant!

This result made the expectant princes instantly widen their eyes, all in disbelief.

Jiang Chen had been on the throne for several years, and had many concubines before his ascension, yet for nearly a decade, nothing had come of it.

But now, suddenly, sixteen concubines were pregnant.

Not only the princes didn't believe it, but even the ministers were very skeptical.

Could it be that His Majesty released this false news to prevent another Hong Prince incident?

Yuan Buyi, who was far away in Jiangnan compiling books, even wrote a memorial to Jiang Chen, advising him to be realistic and not to create lies to remove some troubles.

After reading Yuan Buyi's memorial, Jiang Chen smiled helplessly.

Why does no one believe this true story?

This era wasn't like later generations, where he could just slap the diagnosis report in the face of those who didn't believe it.

Moreover, these were all concubines, people of noble status who couldn't possibly show their faces in public.

Jiang Chen had no choice but to reply to Yuan Buyi, telling him to wait and see in eight months, and then ignored him.

Yuan Buyi was easy to deal with, but the ministers of the court were not.

"Your Majesty, now that sixteen consorts are with child, this is a blessing for our Great Wei! Such joyous events must be reported to the Imperial Ancestral Temple." A minister of the Ministry of Rites suggested.

This proposal was immediately echoed by most of the ministers.

At the same time, countless eyes were fixed on Jiang Chen, watching his every move.

Jiang Chen found it amusing. The real purpose of this proposal was not to appease the Imperial Ancestral Temple, but to verify whether the news was true.

Generally speaking, only major events or great happy events could be reported to the Imperial Ancestral Temple; it was absolutely forbidden at other times.

If Jiang Chen agreed, it would mean that this matter was real.

If Jiang Chen refused, it would mean it was fake.

Obviously, the ministers had racked their brains to verify the truth of this news.

Although they were playing tricks, even scheming against Jiang Chen, Jiang Chen did not blame these ministers.

It was just too outrageous.

No children for ten years, then suddenly sixteen children; no one would believe it if it happened to them.

It was simply unbelievable!

In order to give these ministers, as well as the princes in various parts of the Great Wei, a definite answer, Jiang Chen nodded, "Since that's the case, then order the princes from all over to come to the capital and appease the Imperial Ancestral Temple with me!"

Hearing Jiang Chen's agreement, there was an uproar in the hall.

Afterwards, the ministers all showed joy.

Excellent!

His Majesty really has offspring!

A month later, on the twentieth day of the third month, Jiang Chen once again led a group of imperial relatives to worship at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Apart from Jiang Chen, the others, especially the princes who had rushed from all over the country, were not very enthusiastic.

Everyone knew what Jiang Chen meant by asking them to come; he was clearly telling them not to wait any longer.

Their last glimmer of hope was gone.

No one would be happy about it.

In contrast to these princes, when the people in various places heard about it, they all felt very happy, and some even celebrated it.

Jiang Chen also went to the various palaces from time to time to instruct the concubines to rest well.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Noble Consort Shu and the other fifteen concubines thanked Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen smiled and returned to the Hall of Diligent Governance to begin reviewing memorials.

When he reviewed the memorial of Zhao Liting, the Minister of Rites, Jiang Chen frowned slightly.

Feng Jin watched carefully from the side, and his heart skipped a beat.

Who was it this time who had no sense of propriety and ruined His Majesty's good mood?

Feng Jin wondered if this memorial would be burned like the last one.

To Feng Jin's surprise, Jiang Chen did not ask Feng Jin to destroy it after reading it, but put it aside without writing any comments on it.

As soon as Feng Jin saw this, he knew that Jiang Chen was going to "retain" this memorial.

So-called retention usually meant that the emperor felt that the memorial of the minister was not suitable for reply at the moment, or felt that the content of the memorial was not to his liking but there was no sufficient reason to refuse, so he would keep the memorial and not reply.

The reason why Feng Jin was so surprised was that this was the first time he had seen Jiang Chen retain a memorial.

For a moment, Feng Jin was extremely curious.

What exactly was written in this memorial? That would make His Majesty retain it, breaking his precedent?

After Jiang Chen finished reviewing the other memorials, he picked up Zhao Liting's memorial again and stared at the contents in a daze.

The content of Zhao Liting's memorial was very simple: to ask Jiang Chen to consider the selection of the Empress.

Since Consort Mei, the overlord of the harem, was driven away, Noble Consort Shu had been managing the harem.

Although Noble Consort Shu did not have the name of Empress, she was no different from one.

In addition, Jiang Chen had no children yet, so the ministers did not urge Jiang Chen to confirm the Empress.

But now it was different. Sixteen concubines were pregnant at the same time!

Although it was a good thing, it was also a troublesome thing.

Because according to custom, the rule of establishing the heir apparent had always been to establish the heir from the Empress rather than the eldest son.

In other words, whoever was the Empress, the prince born to her would be established as the Crown Prince.

In other words, these sixteen concubines all had the opportunity to become the future Empress Dowager!

If Noble Consort Shu had been established as Empress a long time ago, then it would have been a foregone conclusion, and no one would have any ideas.

But now it was different, everyone had ideas about the position of Empress.

What Zhao Liting said in the memorial was to remind Jiang Chen to treat this matter with caution.

Jiang Chen naturally felt what Zhao Liting was talking about.

Before this, all the concubines were respectful to Noble Consort Shu, completely treating her as the Empress.

But in the past few days, Jiang Chen had clearly felt a change in the attitude of these concubines.

Before, no matter if it was windy or rainy, these concubines would go to Noble Consort Shu's Chengqian Palace to pay their respects in the morning.

Of course, their purpose was also very simple, just to let Noble Consort Shu say a few good words about them in front of Jiang Chen.

But since they became pregnant, these behaviors had been interrupted every now and then, and later, no matter whether they were uncomfortable or not, they used being uncomfortable as an excuse to stop this.

The intention was obvious.

They just wanted to compete with Noble Consort Shu!

Jiang Chen shook his head helplessly. What was originally a good thing was now not so pleasing.

However, his decision to make Noble Consort Shu the Empress had not wavered.

Moreover, this matter could not be delayed any longer.

Otherwise, once the princes were born, he would only be able to make the concubine who gave birth to the prince first the Empress.

"Feng Jin, draft an edict," Jiang Chen said in a deep voice.