After standing in a daze for a long while, Shaoshang scratched her cheek, then slowly walked toward Changqiu Palace. Seeing the palace maids and eunuchs coming forward to greet her, she habitually put on a warm and lovable smile—familiar palace halls, different furnishings. Even after all these years, Shaoshang still wasn’t quite accustomed to it. But seeing the imperial family of three sitting in an inverted triangle formation in the center of the inner hall, with no palace maids or eunuchs on either side, and even Cen Anzhi absent, she immediately bristled with alarm, bracing herself for battle.
Emperor Uncle sat in the center, legs spread wide, hands resting on his knees, his left earlobe strangely flushed red. Empress Dowager Yue sat to his right rear, leaning against a table applying rouge to her fingernails. The Third Prince—no, the newly appointed Crown Prince—sat to the Emperor’s left rear, flipping through a bamboo scroll, whether memorial or classic text unclear.
After Shaoshang completed her courtesy, she carefully looked toward this oppressively imposing trio at the head, her gaze finally settling on Empress Dowager Yue—the Grand Empress Dowager had withered like autumn leaves, but Empress Dowager Yue was as plump and lustrous as rippling spring waters, her complexion growing ever more rich and deep.
She felt a bit uncomfortable.
The Emperor smiled and beckoned to her: “Sit closer. We have questions for you.”
Shaoshang felt Emperor Uncle’s smile resembled the wolf grandmother’s, growing even more vigilant in her heart, only daring to move forward half a foot.
The Emperor asked: “How has the Dowager Princess of Huai’an’s health been lately?”
Shaoshang glanced at Empress Dowager Yue: “Reporting to Your Majesty, she’s somewhat better than before the New Year, but still weak in vital energy and frail in body, unable to swallow food… Your subject already told Her Majesty the Empress about this yesterday.”
Although Emperor Uncle was very concerned about his former wife, he ultimately had proper work to do and couldn’t pay attention to everything, so these past years Shaoshang had inevitably reported the Grand Empress Dowager’s condition to Empress Dowager Yue.
Upon these words, Empress Dowager Yue laughed twice, the Crown Prince snorted coldly, and the Emperor stroked his beard: “Did the Grand Empress Dowager say again that her body is like the Grand Duke of Xuan’s?”
Shaoshang sighed: “She says it every time she falls ill, and says that the Grand Duke of Xuan had these same symptoms back then—it’s all your subject’s uselessness, failing to care for the Dowager properly.” Without laboratory testing or CT scans, they couldn’t even determine what the lesion was. Ancient people proceeded very efficiently from illness to death.
“This isn’t your fault. Two years ago during that critical episode, if not for you, she nearly didn’t make it through.” The Emperor waved his hand.
Shaoshang prostrated herself in standard fashion: “Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your understanding.” She found Emperor Uncle’s left earlobe’s redness increasingly strange—she had a bold hypothesis, but didn’t dare ask.
The Emperor wore an expression of brilliant wisdom and sagacity.
Empress Dowager Yue laughed twice again, the Crown Prince followed with a cold snort, and the Emperor ignored them, suddenly changing the subject: “We hear that since the New Year, the Prince of Donghai hasn’t visited the Grand Empress Dowager at Yong’an Palace. What’s this about?”
Shaoshang appeared puzzled: “Has it been that long? Yes, why hasn’t the Prince of Donghai come for over a month?”
The Emperor narrowed his eyes: “In your view, could it be that the Prince of Donghai is in poor spirits…”
“Not at all. Since becoming Prince of Donghai, your subject has observed he seems more at ease than before. Last year when he went to the mountains with the Second Princess and her husband to escape the summer heat, he spent time with a group of idle scholars discussing poetry and prose in misty clouds. When he returned, he had grown content and plump—the robes Her Ladyship made for His Highness had to be altered again.” Shaoshang’s expression was very innocent as she continued rambling.
Empress Dowager Yue grew impatient: “Your Majesty, I can’t apply this rouge well myself. You and Shaoshang take your time talking, I’ll withdraw first.”
The new Crown Prince wore the same expression as his mother: “Father Emperor, if there’s nothing else, this son will take his leave first. There are still many matters…”
“Stop making trouble!” The Emperor waved away his wife and son behind him like shooing flies. “No one is permitted to leave—everyone listen obediently!”
Turning back around, the Emperor glowered and slapped his knee at Shaoshang: “Little girl still trying to fool us! Speak—what did you say to the Prince of Donghai over a month ago that frightened him into rolling down the steps of Yong’an Palace and even splitting his forehead!”
The Crown Prince became interested, holding a bowl of kumiss and looking at the girl: “So elder brother’s head injury was your doing?”
“You pushed Zikun?” Empress Dowager Yue asked in surprise.
“No, no, no, your subject wouldn’t dare!” Shaoshang waved her hands frantically in fright. “Even if you gave your subject a hundred times the courage, your subject couldn’t lay hands on His Highness the Prince of Donghai!”
“You didn’t lay hands on him, you used your mouth!” The Emperor slapped his knee again. “You still won’t tell the truth!”
Helpless, Shaoshang could only squirmingly reveal the facts: “Actually, your subject didn’t say much, just told His Highness that, that since you no longer have a princess consort, why not marry your subject…” She still remembered the expression on the Prince of Donghai’s face at that moment—even encountering demons and monsters wouldn’t compare—truly damned embarrassing!
Before she finished speaking, Empress Dowager Yue had already burst out laughing, and the new Crown Prince nearly sprayed the kumiss in his mouth.
Empress Dowager Yue laughed until she swayed back and forth, pointing at Shaoshang: “Did the Grand Empress Dowager say her health was poor and wanted to see you marry before she passed?”
Shaoshang nodded awkwardly.
The Crown Prince wiped the kumiss from the corner of his mouth, exasperated: “How can you as a mere woman say such things! The moment the Grand Empress Dowager tells you to marry, you turn around and propose to elder brother! Well done, truly decisive and resolute, not the slightest hesitation!”
The Emperor continued waving toward the back: “You two stop talking—we haven’t finished questioning yet… Shaoshang, after you said that, what did Zikun say?”
Shaoshang’s complexion resembled a half-eaten green banana peel: “His Highness the Prince of Donghai didn’t have time to speak—he fell down the steps right then, then covered his forehead and ran off. He didn’t even bid farewell to Her Ladyship, saying he needed to go bandage his wound.”
The Emperor suppressed his laughter: “So do you think Zikun is willing to marry you or not?”
“It seems, apparently, he’s not very willing.” Shaoshang admitted with difficulty. “…But why? His Highness the Prince of Donghai is gentle and indecisive—your subject is just right to make decisions for him. After marriage, your subject could continue caring for Yong’an Palace while also making the Dowager Princess feel at ease about His Highness. Your subject thought this marriage was very suitable!”
“Suitable, what suitable! If elder brother married you, he’d be oppressed by you until he couldn’t even raise his head!” The new Crown Prince nearly spat. “This marriage, this prince does not approve!”
“Your subject won’t oppress the Prince of Donghai! Your subject is a very kind-hearted person—everyone in Yong’an Palace says so!” Shaoshang was indignant.
“You’re even more outrageous than the Sun clan woman. How many bones would elder brother have left by then!”
“Every bone of the Prince of Donghai will be perfectly fine!”
Empress Dowager Yue collapsed laughing onto the table.
“All of you shut your mouths!” The Emperor shouted loudly—he finally understood why ever since having Cheng Shaoshang, his former wife’s voice had grown increasingly loud.
After taking a deep breath, the Emperor said seriously: “Shaoshang, does Yuan Shanjian know about this matter?”
“He knows.” Shaoshang mumbled. “When he heard the Prince of Donghai had injured his forehead falling, he came to ask me, and I told him honestly.”
“He wasn’t angry? Shanjian told us everything.” The Emperor said with interest. “He also said in a few days he’ll go to your house with a marriage proposal.”
“Your subject isn’t angry yet—what’s he angry about?” Shaoshang rolled her eyes internally. “Back then, your subject planned to quietly spend a few years in Yong’an Palace, waiting for things to calm down before making plans. Who knew Yuan Shanjian would make such a commotion with drums and gongs—the entire capital knew he was breaking off his engagement. Though he didn’t mention me explicitly, he ran to my house four times a day. How could the Cai family not know?! This caused my father and mother these past years to walk around anyone surnamed Cai. Alas, pitiful that they’ve been kind to people their whole lives, yet because of me they nearly made enemies with the prestigious Cai clan—under these circumstances, if I dared marry him, it would be brazenly stealing the Cai family’s marriage!”
She couldn’t very well marry happily into a high family while leaving her natal family with a great enemy.
The Emperor smiled: “We also once reproached Shanjian for running to Yong’an Palace all day long, but Shanjian said he feared you wouldn’t wait for him to settle his prior matters and would marry someone else again.”
Shaoshang explained: “Now Young Master Yuan has completely reconciled with the Cai family, but over a month ago they were still like fire and water. Your subject, your subject naturally had to seek another way out…”
“Seems Yuan Shanjian’s worries weren’t mistaken.” The new Crown Prince inserted mockery into the gap.
Empress Dowager Yue continued lying on the table laughing quietly.
“Your subject truly felt this marriage was quite good.” Shaoshang still struggled. “His Highness the Prince of Donghai is too hurtful!”
The Emperor smiled gently: “Shaoshang, let us tell you. The first person Zikun liked was the righteous and self-sacrificing Lady Qu Ling. The second was the Sun clan woman. Which of them do you think you resemble?”
“Lady Qu aside, your subject is at least a bit better than the Sun clan woman…” Shaoshang muttered.
“You’re wrong!” The Emperor said. “Over ten years, how could the Sun clan woman’s behavior not reveal itself at all? That Zikun could tolerate her for ten years—wouldn’t there be some affection involved?”
This was the first time Shaoshang had heard such a theory. Her mouth gaped open: “It can’t be—the Sun clan woman, her character…” She couldn’t continue.
The Emperor said: “Correct. In the world’s eyes, the Sun clan woman’s character is base, shallow, and ignorant, but who can guarantee Zikun didn’t have feelings of compassion for her?”
Shaoshang was surprised into long silence, but thinking carefully, it seemed to make some sense.
“Alright, back to the main point… Aheng, stop laughing, we’re going to discuss serious matters!” The Emperor glared behind him dissatisfied. “Shaoshang, there’s something you must know—Zicheng has achieved great merit at the frontier…”
He found it somewhat difficult to phrase. The new Crown Prince immediately continued: “These past years, Zicheng has exterminated bandits in the northwest, expanded trade routes, pacified several border tribes, quelled rebellions among the vassal states, campaigned across a thousand li—not only saving the court much grain and military provisions, but last month in the battle to recover Shu, he sent surprise troops from Longxi to assist the generals in surrounding the usurper king. His achievements are truly outstanding!”
Shaoshang listened with head bowed, not saying a word.
“If you truly agree to the Yuan family’s marriage proposal, we will immediately transmit this news to the northwest.” The Emperor said. “These years Zicheng has accumulated military merit, long since offsetting his prior crimes. We will naturally reward him greatly. Moreover, he’s not young anymore, and the Huo family has only him left… At that time, we will strictly order Zicheng to choose a wife and marry, establishing branches and spreading leaves. Have you thought this through clearly!”
Shaoshang raised her head and smiled: “So Shu has been pacified—this news hasn’t spread yet. Your subject first congratulates Your Majesty on unifying all under heaven.”
She respectfully kowtowed, then said: “Lord Huo is an eagle in the sky. Once free from past grievances and enmities, he will surely spread his wings and soar high. In the future, rising to the highest positions with prosperous descendants will be nothing difficult. Your subject wonders where Lord Huo’s wedding ceremony will be held. If it’s in the capital, perhaps your subject will attend the banquet together with her husband.”
The Emperor looked directly at the girl: “You’ve truly thought this through?”
“Your Majesty, your subject thought this through five years ago.” Shaoshang kowtowed again.
“Very well, you may withdraw now. These years you’ve served the Dowager Princess of Huai’an very attentively. The day after tomorrow at your father’s birthday banquet, we will bestow fine wine and gold and silk.” The Emperor gave his decree.
Shaoshang bowed respectfully in thanks, then withdrew with lowered head.
Empress Dowager Yue finally stopped laughing and watched the threshold where the girl departed: “Previously the Grand Empress Dowager always said she seemed cunning and cool-hearted but actually had the heart of an innocent child. At the time I didn’t understand, but now I comprehend.”
The new Crown Prince agreed: “Mother Empress speaks truly. After elder brother declined the heir apparent position, the court ministers and aristocratic clans were quite wary. This son wanted to arrange another good marriage for elder brother, but who knew they would all equivocate and procrastinate—truly detestable!”
Empress Dowager Yue rolled her eyes at her son: “Yet just now you mocked Shaoshang.”
The Crown Prince rarely sighed: “Her character is pure and sincere, that’s true, but her actions are truly absurd. How could someone like Yuan Shanjian with his seven-chambered exquisite heart take a liking to her—it’s truly strange!”
“You said the same thing five years ago—stale old rhetoric!” Empress Dowager Yue retorted, then sighed. “Alas, truly a stubborn foolish child. Setting aside the bright and brocaded golden road, she insists on seeking another path, truly…” She was a woman who’d been through this—how could she not understand the reasons?
The Crown Prince sneered once, rustling through his bamboo scroll cylinders with a thoroughly enlightened clever expression: “Mother Empress speaks correctly—Lady Cheng simply doesn’t understand! Someone as talented and handsome as Zicheng—the high-born daughters of the northwest cities flock to him, crying and shouting to lead his horse and serve him! Two years ago when Zicheng presided over the border city’s Shangsi Festival purification ceremony, the young ladies nearly pushed the Marquis Cui and his son into the river. As long as Zicheng nods his head, what kind of beautiful, gentle, virtuous aristocratic young lady can’t he have!”
“Then why hasn’t Zicheng found several beautiful, gentle, virtuous ones?” The Emperor suddenly interjected.
The Crown Prince immediately deflated, sighing helplessly: “…Because Zicheng also doesn’t understand.”
The Emperor and Empress exchanged smiling glances.
Immediately after, the unconvinced and unyielding Crown Prince perked up again: “But this is good now. Today I’ll send military dispatch to the northwest, let Zicheng give up hope and quickly marry and have children! Really, after tormenting for so many years, isn’t that enough… Father Emperor, which family’s young lady do you think Zicheng will choose?”
The Emperor spoke with laughter in his voice: “These years in your correspondence with Marquis Cui, the one you mentioned most often wasn’t that Lady Luo? The one who used to be a study companion for the Fifth Princess—what was her name?”
“Called Luo Jitong, daughter of the former Changshui Colonel Luo Bin.” The Crown Prince sighed. “Speaking of which, the Luo family is also a prestigious aristocratic clan, but unfortunately these past years the clan’s children have been mediocre. To this day I haven’t heard of a single outstanding one. The Huo family is alone and thin—how can Zicheng rely on his wife’s clan in the future? Fortunately, that Luo Jitong is famously a greatly virtuous and worthy woman. Just married one year when she became a widow, yet for years has served her seriously ill and bedridden parents-in-law day after day, earning the husband’s family’s complete praise. Whether in ability or virtue, she’s absolutely top-tier—”
“In short, a hundred times more virtuous than Shaoshang.” The Emperor nodded and smiled at his son. “This entire matter, from beginning to end, has been your idea. You mustn’t regret it in the future.”
The Crown Prince thought for a moment, then said firmly: “Lady Cheng is obstinately single-minded. Rather than have Zicheng waste away year after year, better to part amicably and each find happiness. Whether Yuan Shanjian or Luo Jitong, both are sufficient matches for Lady Cheng and Zicheng. Some matters should be cut through like a sharp knife through tangled hemp—the more you delay, the worse things become!”
“Excellent!” The Emperor smiled and clapped once. “We’ll do as you suggest. We’ll write to the frontier immediately, have Cui You quickly settle Zicheng’s marriage! Originally we set Zicheng’s punishment as seven years garrison duty. When he returns, we want to see the Huo family’s new daughter-in-law and grandchildren!”
The Crown Prince said joyfully: “Father Emperor is wise!”
Empress Dowager Yue looked at her son with pity—she remembered the last person the Emperor smiled at like this, within a year was tricked into the grave. Later she’d need to remind the Emperor—after all, this was their own son, don’t trick him too harshly.
The Crown Prince was about to take his leave when he suddenly turned back: “Father Emperor, this son just noticed—why is your left ear red…”
The Emperor touched his earlobe and coughed lightly twice: “Just now it was somewhat itchy, so we rubbed it a few times.”
The Crown Prince suspected nothing else and said caringly: “Father Emperor should still summon the imperial physician to examine it.”
After the Crown Prince left, the Emperor restrained his smile, touched his ear, and glared at Empress Dowager Yue: “It’s all your fault, not knowing propriety—we were nearly discovered!”
Empress Dowager Yue walked gracefully to the Emperor’s side and half-knelt, her eyes full of affection as she complained: “Your Majesty now loves to speak of propriety. That year Your Majesty was twenty-three and I was only thirteen—how did Your Majesty not know to speak of propriety then? Since you find me distasteful, why not also go find several beautiful, gentle, virtuous aristocratic women?”
The Emperor looked at the amorous charm in Empress Dowager Yue’s eyes and brows, his heart stirring with impulse. He pulled her into his embrace, laughing and cursing through gritted teeth: “We just love the one who bites our ear! Alas, that foolish child Ziduan—this lifetime he probably won’t encounter a woman who’ll bite his ear!”
Empress Dowager Yue laughed delightedly, forcefully pushing the Emperor. His mountain-like towering frame fell backward with the momentum.
Then Empress Dowager Yue lifted her skirts, spread her legs and straddled him, pressing both hands on the Emperor’s chest, arrogantly proclaiming: “This one is the Great Bandit Queen of Golden Horn Mountain. Today while patrolling the mountain, I unexpectedly encountered you, this wild rogue. Though you have a great deal of beard and wrinkles, you still retain a few parts of good looks. Let this Great Queen test your skills—if you’re capable, you’ll come up the mountain and be this Great Queen’s captive husband!”
The Emperor slanted his eyes: “How does the Great Queen wish to test?”
Empress Dowager Yue smiled seductively, then with a growl bit down on the Emperor’s throat.