Dong Wan’er was taken to a prison car, spending nights exposed to the elements on the way to the Capital of Great Jin, but that won’t be mentioned now.

Now, speaking of the Empress Tuoba of Great Jin, she bore her pregnancy for ten months and finally gave birth to a chubby boy for the Emperor. This was Nangong Jin’s first child, whom he adored more than anything. Upon the child’s birth, he granted amnesty to the world and reduced Lingbei’s taxes and labor duties for three years to celebrate the joy of his eldest son’s arrival.

For Empress Tuoba, who bore him a son, Nangong Jin also gave a considerable reward. Since Empress Tuoba already held the back seat, the highest possible honor, and could not be elevated further, Nangong Jin, following his father’s example, issued an imperial decree inside the harem after the child’s full-month celebration. He declared that in his lifetime, besides Empress Tuoba, he would not take any other woman as a consort.

Such heavenly grace, if given to another woman, would possibly evoke tears of gratitude and utmost obeisance, but Empress Tuoba accepted it with peace of mind, not considering it remarkable at all.

This Empress is quite interesting, entirely different from her mother, Princess Zhao Yun. Princess Zhao Yun was smart and capable, while she is somewhat silly, not truly foolish, just a bit naively cute. She doesn’t take anything to heart, focusing only on living the ’three good’ life—eating well, drinking well, and sleeping well—without the dignity and stability expected of an Empress.

At this moment, the sun was high in the sky, yet the Empress was still nestled in the soft couch, sleeping fragrantly. Her wet nurse, Nanny Chen, looked at the hourglass and couldn’t help stepping forward to urge, "Empress, Your Majesty will finish the morning court session in a while, see if you should get up?"

The Empress lazily grunted, turned over, changed her posture, and continued to sleep.

Nanny Chen sighed helplessly and said, "Ma’am, don’t blame this old servant for being talkative, but I know you are young and at an age to enjoy playing and sleeping. Still, being the Empress of Great Jin, you should be a model for women across the world. Look at you, there’s not a hint of dignity or grace, wisdom or stability. Arguably, when His Majesty leaves for court, you should get up to serve him. Nothing can justify you not getting up; His Majesty has finished court, and yet you still won’t rise. This is far too much; what Empress acts like this?"

The person on the bed twisted their body, and a voice, laden with sleepiness, came over, "Nanny, your old self surely has an easy time speaking. Last night I got up to feed the little ancestor three times, three times! It disturbed my sleep so much, and now I sleep a little longer, and you talk as if you’ve caught a thief or quashed a rebellion, delivering a long lecture. What’s the big deal if I nap a bit more?"

Nanny Chen said, "Empress, it’s not that this old servant is unnecessarily talkative, but if you’re willing to listen to me and hire two wet nurses for the Prince, it wouldn’t be so hard for yourself, would it? As Empress, your primary duty should be to care for the Emperor. As for the Prince, the people below will certainly take great care of him!"

Speaking of the Prince, Nanny Chen was again troubled. The master’s temperament is lazy, like a child who hasn’t grown up, but her stance on the Prince surprises Nanny Chen greatly. She insists on personally feeding him and vows to do so with any other children she has in the future, emulating the Empress Dowager.

Nanny Chen, although she couldn’t understand why she’s doing this, couldn’t refute it given the Empress Dowager’s precedent, so she had to let her be.

As a result, she became lazier and more negligent toward the Emperor. While in the confinement month, the Emperor did not criticize her, for she was in confinement, but now that it has been four or five days since the confinement period ended, she continues as before, eating and sleeping as she likes, without any sense of duty as a wife.

In Nanny Chen’s eyes, her behavior was utterly self-destructive.

However, the Empress seemed completely unaware. She nestled in the bed, lazily saying, "A mother who entrusts her own child to someone else, what sort of mother is she? As for the Emperor, he’s an adult. Even if I don’t serve him, he can take care of himself. Ugh... no more talk; I’m going to continue sleeping. You go look after the Prince, old nanny!"

Nanny Chen was in a dilemma, knowing that the Mistress was being stubborn. Seeing the Emperor about to finish court, and the Empress still lazing in bed, what could be done?