Emperor Delong’s demeanor was no different from his usual attendance at banquets – still appearing calm and dignified. However, he spoke: “Over thirty years ago, when I had just ascended the throne, the border cities were in great chaos. The Western and Northern kingdoms disturbed our Great Zhou, causing much suffering to the people. At that time, the Empress fell gravely ill and barely survived after many trials. I consulted an oracle then, and the divination said that the Empress must remain secluded in the palace for at least thirty years, not to be seen lightly by others, or it would be detrimental to the stability of the realm. I didn’t believe it – I am the True Dragon Son of Heaven and fear no chaos. But the Empress took it deeply to heart. Disregarding my thoughts, she insisted on confining herself. This confinement lasted over thirty years.”

At this point, Qin Shuying already understood Emperor Delong’s meaning. This reason was both dignified and deeply moving.

Emperor Delong’s love of consulting oracles for major matters was known throughout the court.

Sure enough, some ladies quietly wiped away tears, and Madam Wen even choked up saying: “Her Majesty the Empress has truly suffered for the people of Great Zhou!”

Those who could be here were all shrewd as foxes. Several people immediately followed suit: “Her Majesty the Empress has sacrificed much for our Great Zhou. Long live Her Majesty the Empress!”

Then everyone spoke in uneven chorus: “Long live Her Majesty the Empress! Her Majesty the Empress is truly a blessing for the people of Great Zhou!”

Someone else said: “Though Her Majesty the Empress doesn’t see us subjects, every year she organizes women throughout the realm to donate silver and grain for the poor and weak. Such great compassion moves us! Though we don’t see Her Majesty, our hearts yearn toward her!”

“Her Majesty the Empress leads by example in promoting frugality. The silver saved each year is all donated to the border cities. How much effort she has contributed to Great Zhou’s defense against the Western and Northern barbarian bandits!”

…

Emperor Delong watched the ladies’ praise with satisfaction. When everyone had spoken enough, he waved his hand. The ladies quickly stopped discussing and turned to look at Emperor Delong and the smiling Empress Wen.

Empress Wen spoke: “I am the Empress of Great Zhou. I have only done what an empress should do – this is nothing worthy of everyone’s praise. Not only is it unworthy of praise, I should apologize to the realm instead. I have been empress for over thirty years, yet I couldn’t help His Majesty manage the six palaces or share the burden of rear palace affairs. I never helped His Majesty raise children, never comforted families when generals shed blood on battlefields, never encouraged morale during these decades of fierce wars with the Western kingdoms. This is my dereliction of duty. Living alone in the deep palace is easy; facing the subjects of the realm is difficult. I avoided difficulty and sought ease. I deeply blame myself for this, often unable to sleep at night, unable to eat in peace. Fortunately, though there have been repeated crises these thirty-plus years, our Great Zhou has remained safe and sound. Only then did I feel slightly better.”

At this point, Empress Wen raised her sleeve to wipe the corners of her eyes.

Among the ladies present, except for Consort De, Concubine Lian, Qin Shuying, and some old ladies of similar age to Princess Jin’s wife, almost everyone else was seeing Empress Wen for the first time and hearing her voice for the first time. They all stared at Empress Wen in silence.

Princess Jin’s wife gazed at Empress Wen in bewilderment. She was clearly only a few years older than Empress Wen – how could Wen Xiaoqing still be so young? As for Wen Xiaoqing’s appearance, Princess Jin’s wife had vague impressions, but they were no longer clear.

It seemed somewhat like those years, yet also somewhat different.

After thirty-plus years, a person’s appearance would change greatly. Princess Jin’s wife blinked, unable to determine if the Wen Xiaoqing in her memory was really like the person before her eyes.

Several other old noble ladies had the same doubts as Princess Jin’s wife.

They had all seen Wen Xiaoqing back then, but Wen Xiaoqing seemed to be like this, yet also seemed not to be like this.

They naturally knew about the rumors that had circulated this year, but now they truly dared not determine whether the empress before them was Wen Xiaoqing or Lin Yuan.

Thirty-plus years – who could remember that clearly?

Moreover, thirty-plus years was enough time to change a person’s appearance. Weren’t they themselves proof of this?

If it was Lin Yuan, Lin Yuan didn’t seem to be like this. If it was Wen Xiaoqing, it seemed somewhat similar.

Qin Shuying’s eyes flashed slightly. Her Majesty the Empress was truly clever and cunning.

After thirty-plus years, except for Princess Jin’s wife and those three or four old noble ladies, who had ever seen Empress Wen? Now with this makeup, who would dare say she was Lin Yuan?

Qin Shuying looked toward Princess Yongjia.

Princess Yongjia had no particular expression throughout, and if she did, it wasn’t much different from others.

Consort De and Concubine Lian were completely dumbfounded, though they concealed it rather well.

If anyone was somewhat unseemly, it was Princess Fuping. However, except for Qin Shuying, almost no one paid much attention to her.

After the Empress finished speaking, amid everyone’s daze, Madam Wen wiped the corners of her eyes and said: “Why should Your Majesty blame herself? Your Majesty is a model for women throughout the realm. Before father and mother passed away, they both said that Your Majesty prioritizes the great situation of the realm. They were proud of you, and the Wen family is proud of Your Majesty.”

This meant that Empress Wen hadn’t even appeared for her parents’ funerals, yet Grand Tutor Wen and his wife hadn’t blamed Empress Wen.

Immediately, the ladies came to their senses and spoke one after another: “Her Majesty the Empress has the realm in her heart. One cannot have both fish and bear’s paw. If Your Majesty still blames herself, how can we subjects show our faces!”

“Grand Tutor Wen and his wife, knowing this in the afterlife, would surely be proud of Your Majesty’s sincere heart.”

“Your Majesty is our model – we subjects are ashamed of our inadequacy.”

…

Consort De and Concubine Lian also said a few appropriate words.

Emperor Delong listened for quite a while, then waved his hand again. After everyone quieted down, Emperor Delong said: “Two months ago, I had a dream. A golden-armored divine being told me that seven years ago, when I personally led the campaign, I had already resolved that great chaos. After these years of recovery, it was time for the Empress to emerge. Therefore, I issued an edict for the Empress to return to her position. But the Empress said that since she had already endured thirty-plus years and grown accustomed to secluded life, continuing this way wouldn’t matter. Moreover, if chaos arose throughout the realm because of her emergence, wouldn’t she become a calamity for all people?”

Madam Wen excitedly raised her voice: “Your Majesty, His Majesty speaks reasonably – Your Majesty worries too much!”

Then several other noble ladies said: “Your Majesty the Empress, with His Majesty’s true dragon mandate and Your Majesty’s phoenix destiny, those petty villains cannot see the light. Your Majesty need not worry!”

Emperor Delong nodded: “You all speak correctly. I am the True Dragon Son of Heaven – could I not suppress those petty villains? My Empress has already sacrificed too much for the realm. Nearly sixty years old, I absolutely will not permit the Empress to continue living such hardship. Therefore, I issued invitations in the Empress’s name, taking advantage of the approaching Dragon Boat Festival to invite everyone over to chat about family matters, and to let the Empress return to everyone’s sight. The Empress was helpless and couldn’t resist my insistence, which is why we have today’s banquet.”