Those inside the hall wore various expressions, and only Princess of Anren maintained an appearance of anger.
She was genuinely angry.
Empress Luo had not been able to stop her. Lan De had no choice but to steel himself and step in, saying quietly, “Please calm down, Your Highness — speak the matter over properly.”
Princess of Anren still did not soften her expression. “What is there to speak over — she’s already said it all! Can she take back words already spoken? Can she actually do anything else?”
The eunuchs and palace maids dared not breathe a sound. Princess of Anren was not to be trifled with, and they all had to make their living under the Empress. But Su Zhe — she was also not to be trifled with! She appeared to be some kind of strange existence — impervious by reason of her backing, and the Emperor was inclined to heed her grandfather’s words. Regardless of who won this verbal skirmish in the end, it was not something that any of these small persons could afford to provoke.
Su Zhe was taken aback for only a moment before composing herself. She had met Princess of Anren quite a few times before and understood the woman’s temperament, and more clearly understood the current situation. Lan De was continuously making eye signals at her — she saw them too.
Lan De’s thinking was simple: follow Princess of Anren’s lead and smooth this moment over.
But Su Zhe’s position was completely different from Lan De’s. Ask Su Zhe to go along with Princess of Anren? That was not possible!
And she had no power at all over what went on in the Emperor’s private chambers! This wretched Emperor was truly a nuisance! It was said to be a private family matter, yet it absolutely had to be tangled up with “the state.” To bring it out and discuss it openly was quite unseemly, but not to discuss it openly was also not acceptable!
In ordinary people’s houses, who cared about the wives and concubines fighting?
Su Zhe said with perfect calm to Princess of Anren: “Many thanks for your leniency, Your Highness. Since Your Highness knows that there is nothing this official can do, this official is also relieved. If Your Highness has grievances, you may submit a personal petition to His Majesty and inform him that you disapprove of the princes’ birth mothers, finding them unworthy. Matters at court have always been discussed with give and take. If you find it troublesome to write it yourself, you may dictate it and have your Chief Secretary write it on your behalf. Should even the Chief Secretary be unwilling, this official can convey Your Highness’s and the Empress’s wishes in a memorial.”
Lan De’s mind instantly erupted in a great burst of dazzling light!
He rushed to intervene: “No, no, no! Absolutely not! This would damage the Empress’s reputation! Lady Zhao — Lady Zhao…”
Of the three concubines, setting aside the first and the last, Lady Zhao’s birth was of no low standing, and she had to be given appropriate treatment; otherwise Luo Yi would end up with a reputation for jealousy.
Lan De also cast a glance at Princess of Anren — of course, one could also dump this black mark on Princess of Anren to carry.
Su Zhe remained perfectly calm, ignored Lan De, ignored even Princess of Anren, and spoke sincerely to Luo Yi: “I am an outer official, not a noble lady in the inner court. Whom the Emperor courts, whom the Emperor formally honors — those are the Emperor’s own affairs, handled by the Central Secretariat drafting the decree, the Chancellery endorsing it, and the Department of Executive Affairs executing it.”
Princess of Anren said, “An outer official?!”
When they had first met, it had all seemed novel and interesting, but having interacted for some time, looking at Su Zhe — a young woman in appearance — Su Zhe had consistently been responsive and attentive and rather courteous, accommodating reasonable requests as best she could, and so Princess of Anren had come to treat her as ordinary.
Su Zhe felt displeased in her heart, but didn’t show too much of it on her face. She merely said, “I am the vice director of the Ministry of Rites. Your Majesty the Empress, it appears you have no time to attend to this official today. This official will take her leave first — you and the Princess may discuss further, and this official will come again tomorrow.”
Having finished speaking, without forgetting to perform a proper salute, she withdrew from the Eastern Palace.
Lan De was frantic! He could not understand how it was that people from the Zhù household had such big tempers. The Zhù household’s reputation in all of the capital, apart from “peculiar,” bore no ill name. They were courteous to people, neither finicky and cunning nor coarse and overbearing, and they absolutely did not go in for extortion.
He was torn between chasing after Su Zhe to ask what in the world had happened, and staying to observe the aftermath between the grandmother and granddaughter. Both his feet were wavering indecisively.
He said to Luo Yi, “Your Majesty the Empress…”
Lan De in his heart sided with Luo Yi and also hoped that the rear palace would be exclusively dominated by Luo Yi. But seeing Su Zhe’s manner today, this hope seemed unlikely to be realized. People from the Zhù household had a thousand peculiarities, but Zhù Ying had never misjudged a situation or stood on the wrong side.
Lan De thought to advise Luo Yi to accept reality.
Luo Yi looked at her grandmother, and said gently, “Grandmother, let’s not be angry first — talk about the matter at hand.”
Princess of Anren said, “What is there to talk about?! Why are you looking at me like that? I am doing this for you! If you had a Crown Prince in your hands, with the concubines, as long as they’re not bringing ruin to the state, I would let him do as he pleases! You have no son of your own yet, and already they want to formally confer titles on the rear palace concubines on a large scale. Once their hearts are given too much encouragement, what are you going to do?”
Her words made even Luo Yi lower her head.
Lan De said, “Her Majesty the Empress is still young — there is plenty of time. Besides, I have not heard anything about establishing a Crown Prince!”
Princess of Anren said, “That will not do! I am going to see the Empress Dowager! She cannot leave this unattended.”
Luo Yi said, “Grandmother, I fear it would only place the Empress Dowager in a difficult position.”
“And so we should just suffer the insult?” Princess of Anren said. “Wait here — I’m going!”
Lan De also grew agitated, and spread both arms to block her way. “Your Highness, please wait! Whether the rear palace elevates this one or that one — as long as it is not a matter of installing another empress, it all depends on the Emperor’s own wishes. There is no way to stop what the Emperor is willing to confer, and blocking it forcibly will only breed resentment toward the Emperor. Forcing a block will generate grievances against His Majesty.
The present differs from the past. Since it cannot be stopped, it is better to demonstrate Her Majesty the Empress’s magnanimity and generosity. If Her Majesty speaks up, she can press for a lower rank for them, preventing the Emperor from elevating them too highly in a moment of joy.”
One had to say that when eunuchs had their say it really was measured and reasonable. The grandmother and granddaughter had no choice but to reluctantly agree.
Lan De saw that even Princess of Anren did not dare continue to make trouble with the Emperor over this matter, and felt that this particular Princess had met her match.
But he was also somewhat dissatisfied with Su Zhe: why didn’t she tell me in advance, so I could have been prepared?
He heard Princess of Anren murmuring and grumbling in a low voice: “Who asked her to play the good person? Harboring schemes while seeking a good reputation! All that fawning before, and now stabbing us in the back — truly a girl with no sense at all! And she can hold office in court? What has become of this court, to abandon all propriety…”
After hearing this, Lan De found her even more disagreeable. When Princess of Anren had finished her complaints and left, he said to Luo Yi: “Your Majesty the Empress, you are the Empress — you cannot let your grandmother dictate everything.”
“I know her temperament is not always pleasant, but she is my grandmother,” Luo Yi said to Lan De with sincerity.
Lan De was stung by her gaze and lowered his head, saying, “For the sake of your filial heart, it would be better to spare the old lady some worry. She cannot walk the road ahead for you — you still have to deal with the people of this palace on your own. Moreover, you know how Vice Director Su has conducted herself these past days. She also did not deliberately mean to cause difficulties for you. Having the Princess push away a court official like this — that is likely also not proper.”
Luo Yi said, “Go to the Yongping residence.”
“Yes.”
Setting aside Lan De’s journey to the Yongping Princess’s residence, let us speak of Su Zhe, who returned to the Zhù residence that evening and waited steadily until Zhù Ying had finished seeing today’s visitors, then slowly made her way to the outside of the study.
Zhù Biao smiled and said, “Little sister is here?”
Su Zhe nodded. “Is A’Weng still busy?”
Zhù Biao knocked on the door. “Master, it’s little sister.”
Zhù Ying said, “Come in.”
Su Zhe stepped over the threshold. She saw Zhù Ying sitting before the writing desk with some documents spread before her. She walked to the front of the desk and knelt down on the floor. “A’Weng, I gave offense to someone today.”
Zhù Ying looked at her and asked, “Princess of Anren? Or some member of the Mu family?”
Su Zhe said, “Princess of Anren. It was about the relocation of the palace chambers — everything at the Empress Dowager’s side went smoothly, the Empress herself raised no objections, and coordinating with Chief Eunuch Lan was sufficient. For the Empress to move, the Emperor’s rear palace also could not remain in the Eastern Palace — they should move together at most one after the other…”
She recounted everything — how she had first gone to the Empress Dowager to ask the Empress Dowager to raise the matter with the Emperor, then how at the Eastern Palace she had been questioned by Princess of Anren, and how she had responded — and repeated it all.
Then she explained: “I wanted to handle the matter completely myself, to avoid having to go to all the trouble again after the Empress moved, and having to petition His Majesty at the last moment.
The one who has the final word in the palace is first the Emperor, second the Empress Dowager, and third the Empress. It was more appropriate to raise this matter with the Empress Dowager. Having already sought the Empress Dowager’s guidance and then informing the Empress — what could the Empress do about it? She also could not hold me in any good regard. And there is also a Princess of Anren mixed into the middle of it, jumping up and down and calling the shots.
The Empress and the Princess are very difficult to pry apart. A father and son need not be of one body, but an Empress and her maternal family are. Without the resolve to do so, it is impossible for an Empress to abandon and suppress her own maternal family. If the Empress does not separate from Princess of Anren, then whatever I do is wasted effort.
If the Empress herself had real capabilities to show, it would be one thing — even without suppressing the maternal family, she could stand firm on her own, and helping her one step would be fine.
But she has shown no abilities, nor made clear her intentions or position. As an outer official, I cannot put in the work of prying apart her relationship with her maternal family — it is difficult to act on. And to serve her, while also having to serve all those useless members of her maternal family — why on earth would I?!”
The more she spoke, the more she fumed: “The Emperor’s family affairs, mixed up with personal interests and private affections — it is sickening. Women confined to the palace chambers — even the greatest palace is nothing but a cage. It has locked up their minds until they are completely muddled! They are truly awful!”
Zhù Ying said, “You’ve thought it all through clearly — then why are you still kneeling?”
Su Zhe climbed to her feet. “A’Weng has always gotten along well with people. I… I brought trouble on A’Weng. Princess of Anren has such a temperament — whenever she catches sight of anyone from our household, she is liable to jab at them. I — I brought trouble on everyone.”
“How is it possible to never give offense to anyone? Just as long as you don’t give offense to everyone all at once,” Zhù Ying said with little concern. “Getting along well with people before was precisely for moments like these, when one need not put up with being wronged. As for this task at the Ministry of Rites…”
Su Zhe said quickly, “I came to admit my fault in bringing this trouble to you — I am not trying to shirk the task! I can handle this task! It’s not because of me — if it were someone else, a man, and he had spoken of conferring titles on the rear palace concubines to either the palace or to His Majesty, would he not also be resented by Princess of Anren? I am not afraid of her!
I just fear she might give you a hard time… that — I have already kowtowed to you just now.
This is the first proper task I’ve been given at the Ministry of Rites. I must see it through to hold my ground! A’Weng is very good to me, but I cannot expect everyone in the world to be like A’Weng! I must do this myself.”
Zhù Ying looked steadily at her and said, “Is that so?”
Su Zhe said with sincerity, “Yes! I am a woman, and not born with the same standing as a man as a matter of course! The family estate — it was A’Mah and you who gave it to me. The official post — you gave it to me. I came through ‘expedient measures,’ and I don’t want the only thing people ever bring up about me to be ‘expedient measures’! The moment another person comes along, I’ll no longer be needed.
I have already grown up. You and A’Mah cannot protect me for a lifetime.
I do not wish to become a person like the Empress — it looks like loving care, but it is in fact raising someone useless. I like that you brought me from Wuzhou to the capital, and from the capital to the north! In the north, I was not allowed to kill enemies like Qingjun — I didn’t like that.
When people speak of me, they must at least be able to say: she did well. I am a woman, and my abilities are what qualify me to stand here! Only then can I be worthy to take over the Asu family! Only then will I not have fallen short of you and A’Mah.
In the future, I will be the one leading the Asu family to compete with men for a foothold using my real capabilities.”
Zhù Ying said, “Did I say anything about having you resign your post? Since you’ve started, keep going! The road you’ve chosen for yourself — walk it to the end. Princess of Anren — we need not concern ourselves with her now.”
Su Zhe was overjoyed and immediately full of spirit. “Yes!”
Zhù Ying went over more documents for a while, and not until Zhù Wen came to remind her that the hour was late did she return to her room to rest.
She sat before her dressing table and took a letter out of the vanity case — Zhang Xiangu’s handwriting. She had read it many times, yet could not resist reading it one more time.
She raised her head, and the mirror reflected her face back at her.
Su Zhe was excellent. The years of effort spent nurturing her had not been in vain.
What a pity — a “barbarian” female chief, forever an “expedient measure,” forever a “special case.”
If one truly wished for the world to recognize that women were fully capable of standing in court, Su Zhe — was not enough.