Sitting down in the Qin Zheng Hall, Empress Dowager Lu said solemnly, "The greatest responsibility of the imperial concubines is to produce offspring for Your Majesty."

"But this Noble Consort Shu has been in the palace for many years, yet she has not given birth to a single child for Your Majesty. How can such qualifications convince the masses?"

"Once this matter spreads, let alone this old woman, the entire Da Wei imperial family will not agree!"

"This old woman believes that whoever gives birth to the dragon's son for Your Majesty first should be made Empress!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the ministers present showed their approval.

This Noble Consort Shu could be considered to have received the most favor in the six palaces, but she had never shown any signs of pregnancy, which made them very worried.

If they were to choose an empress who was unable to bear children, wouldn't they become a laughingstock?

Jiang Chen tapped the imperial table impatiently. He was already working hard at it, but the matter of having children couldn't be controlled by humans!

He was determined to make Noble Consort Shu the empress, as this was his promise, but the reason Lu Wangshu gave was really hard to refute.

Since it concerned the imperial heir, even he, the emperor, couldn't suppress the crowd.

"Empress Dowager, it has been so long since I ascended the throne, and the position of empress has always been vacant. It is not appropriate that no one is managing the harem."

"Why don't we each take a step back? I will first establish an empress, and then I will work hard to make Noble Consort Shu pregnant with an imperial heir."

Jiang Chen smiled apologetically. This Empress Dowager Lu was taking advantage of her status as an elder, and with so many people watching, he still had to give her some face.

A look of sorrow appeared in Empress Dowager Lu's eyes, and she sighed, "Your Majesty, you should listen to this old woman on this matter. This old woman will not harm you!"

"If you don't have a son, Da Wei's country will not be stable for even a day. You can't be confused on such important matters!"

"Think about the late emperor, think about the ancestors of the royal family. Can you face them by doing this?"

As she spoke, tears welled up in Empress Dowager Lu's eyes, and she said with tears, "If this old woman doesn't stop you, how will I have the face to see the late emperor in the afterlife!"

The ministers were moved by what they heard.

Some loyal and upright ministers with more impulsive personalities were even infected and followed suit, advising Jiang Chen.

Seeing that the situation was about to get out of hand, Jiang Chen had no choice but to compromise temporarily, no matter how tough he was.

"Silence!"

"You all step down. I want to have a good chat with the Empress Dowager. The matter of establishing an empress can be discussed later."

"Yes!" The ministers accepted the order and withdrew from the Qin Zheng Hall.

Only when the room was completely quiet again did Jiang Chen soften his expression and say:

"Empress Dowager, I don't want to beat around the bush with you. I'll just say some things straight."

"In my heart, only Noble Consort Shu is worthy of the position of empress. If you and the ministers all think that she is not worthy of being empress without an heir, then I can patiently wait until she has a son before conferring the title."

"At that time, if the Empress Dowager still wants to object... then don't blame me for being impolite!"

Hearing this, Empress Dowager Lu's pretty face stiffened, and a hint of fear flashed in her beautiful eyes, but it was quickly hidden.

"Your Majesty, do you think that this old woman is interfering too much?"

"But this old woman watched you grow up since you were a child, and the matter of establishing an empress concerns Da Wei's country, so this old woman was forced to intervene."

"If you are suspicious of this old woman and think that this old woman has the intention of seizing power... then, then please abolish this old woman's title and demote this old woman to the Cold Palace!"

After saying that, two lines of clear tears slid down Empress Dowager Lu's beautiful face, making her look so pitiful and lovable.

Jiang Chen had a headache and couldn't do anything about the woman in front of him.

This Lu Wangshu was, after all, his elder, and if he were to strip her of her title as Empress Dowager because of this trivial matter, the royal family would definitely not agree.

As long as this woman didn't make any mistakes in principle, the title of Empress Dowager was equivalent to a death-exemption token, and it could be used repeatedly.

"Empress Dowager, I didn't mean that, I was just discussing it with you in advance." Jiang Chen softened his expression and said.

Although he was a little suspicious of Lu Wangshu, he had no evidence after all, so it was better to get along peacefully for the time being, so as not to wrong an innocent person.

"Well, it's good that Your Majesty can understand this old woman's painstaking efforts."

Empress Dowager Lu raised the corners of her mouth, and a look of relief appeared in her eyes, "This old woman is doing this for the sake of Da Wei's country and for Your Majesty's sake."

"The greatest responsibility of the concubines in the harem is to produce offspring. Your Majesty's lack of children is their dereliction of duty!"

Jiang Chen didn't completely agree with this statement, but since the general environment was like this, he didn't say anything to refute it.

Seeing him obediently listening to her instructions, Empress Dowager Lu's eyes flickered as she tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, this old woman thinks that the women from those aristocratic families are all very outstanding. Are you really not going to let them enter the palace?"

Jiang Chen frowned, "There's no need for the Empress Dowager to worry about this matter. I don't plan to take in any more concubines for the time being. Mei Ruoying and Xu Jiaying are still on the run, and I don't want to see these aristocratic women who have been carefully cultivated."

Empress Dowager Lu sighed, "Alright, since Your Majesty doesn't like it, let's drop the matter."

As she said this, she changed the subject, "Your Majesty, the women from the collateral branches of the aristocratic families are also very outstanding. What do you think about taking them in?"

She was determined to stuff people into his harem!

Jiang Chen raised his eyebrows and thought for a few breaths before saying, "That's fine, as long as they're not from the direct line of the aristocratic families, but the Empress Dowager won't force me to visit them, right?"

Empress Dowager Lu raised a gentle smile, and her eyes were as soft as water, "What are you saying, Your Majesty? How could this old woman interfere in your private affairs?"

"However, even if they are from the collateral bloodline, they are still from the aristocratic families after all. I hope that Your Majesty will not be too cold to those women in the future."

"After all, after they enter the palace, they will be members of the royal family, which can greatly ease the relationship between Your Majesty and the aristocratic families in various places and stabilize the country."

"The opportunity is rare, Your Majesty, don't let down this old woman's painstaking efforts."

Jiang Chen nodded, he had also agreed to let that group of women enter the palace because of this consideration.

Five hundred thousand taels was not a small amount, and even if the aristocratic families in various places could come up with this money, they would definitely be badly hurt.

In order to avoid these guys from harboring too much resentment, he, the emperor, also had to make some gestures and give a signal of reconciliation.

Taking in women from aristocratic families into the palace was a good choice.

Thinking of this, Jiang Chen looked at Empress Dowager Lu deeply, and his heart wavered a little.

She was considering things so thoughtfully, could it be that she really had no other intentions and was just purely concerned about him?

Empress Dowager Lu didn't pay attention to Jiang Chen's scrutiny. She had already gotten the result she wanted and could leave with peace of mind.

"Your Majesty, then this old woman will take her leave first and not delay you from handling government affairs."

As she said that, she slowly got up.

Every move she made exuded the charm of a mature woman, stirring people's hearts.

Jiang Chen nodded and watched her leave, his eyes full of appreciation.

Time seemed to be especially kind to the woman in front of him, not only did it not change her appearance, but it also gave her an extra alluring charm.

"No wonder my father made you a Noble Imperial Concubine. Just this charm alone is enough to bear the title of being the most beautiful among all the women."

Jiang Chen murmured in a low voice, but what appeared in his mind was the snowy white he had glimpsed in the Chang Le Palace that day.

The scale was astonishing, full and smooth, and seemed so delicate that it would break with a touch.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced himself to take back his distracting thoughts.

Suddenly, he seemed to have remembered something.

He suddenly turned his head and shouted, "Empress Dowager..."