A thin facial appearance usually indicates a lack of good fortune in physiognomy.
By commenting on Dou Ming’s thin face in front of everyone, the Empress Dowager had given her an unfavorable reputation. It would have been better not to summon her at all.
Dou Ming was filled with resentment, but the Empress Dowager had commented on her thin face. Even if the Empress Dowager said such things about the Emperor, he could only listen with a smile. How could Dou Ming dare show any impatience?
She could only lower her head submissively.
The Empress Dowager, accustomed to having her way in the inner palace, felt free to say anything. To her, commenting on a mere noblewoman was doing her a favor.
So after meeting Dou Ming, she began discussing facial features with the Empress: “…Why are all the beauties in historical portraits depicted with oval faces? That’s because true noble ladies were kept secluded, and those miscellaneous scholars couldn’t see them, so they used lower-class women as models. What’s so good about an oval face?” The Empress Dowager touched her cheeks as she spoke. “Heaven is round and Earth is square. The forehead represents blessings, wealth, longevity, and joy. If the face tapers from top to bottom without anything to support it, it can’t retain good fortune. But look at the portraits of empresses and empress dowagers enshrined in Fengxian Hall – aren’t they all around here, with faces like full moons? They look so blessed, able to hold onto all fortune and prosperity. So women should be plump and round.”
What kind of theory was this?!
Dou Ming had to resist touching her pointed chin.
Had the Empress Dowager summoned her just to humiliate her like this?
Dou Ming felt as if her heart was stuffed with cotton.
But who in this great hall would dare say the Empress Dowager was wrong?
No one!
Not only that, but Marchioness Changxing immediately leaned in with a face full of smiles, saying, “I had no idea Your Majesty understood such things. Please look at me – would you say my face is like a full moon?”
She was over 40 years old. Even if she had once had an oval or heart-shaped face, it had now sagged into a round shape.
The Empress Dowager laughed and pointed at the space between Marchioness Changxing’s eyebrows. “Stop trying to fool me. When you first married into the Marquis Changxing’s family and came to pay respects to me, I often discussed you with Imperial Consort Shi. We both thought you looked good, especially your bright, spirited eyes. Don’t think that just because I’m old, I’ve forgotten things from the past.”
Imperial Consort Shi had never given birth after entering the palace, so she was especially close with the Empress Dowager.
The Duchess of Xingguo, who was usually silent among the noblewomen, now seemed like a different person. She chimed in with a smile: “Everyone inside and outside the palace knows Your Majesty has an excellent memory! Last time I came to pay my respects, you asked why I didn’t bring young Master Teng, and said that if I found him too heavy to carry, I should bring the wet nurse along too. When I went home and told my husband the Duke, he teased me.
He said that when Your Majesty was in charge of the Six Palaces years ago, and he received orders to campaign with the old Duke of Ying, Your Majesty casually rewarded him with two boxes of medicine. When he opened them, there were even two purple-gold pills inside. He said those of us who married in later don’t know how wise and virtuous Your Majesty truly is.”
Young Master Teng was the eldest legitimate son of the Xingguo Duke’s heir. He was only three years old this year, born weighing over 9 jin. He ate and slept well, and was a chubby little boy.
The Duke of Xingguo tended to suffer from internal heat, and purple-gold pills were an excellent remedy for reducing heat. The Duke therefore kept them on hand year-round.
The Empress Dowager chuckled and beckoned Dou Zhao over. She had palace maids bring a small stool and place it in front of her couch, then took Dou Zhao’s hand as she chatted with the group: “You don’t know the half of it. The late Emperor was determined to emulate Emperor Wu of Han and promote the glory of our Han people. He showed no mercy to the barbarians in the West. In his 12 years on the throne, we fought for 9 years.
Not only did it empty the national treasury, but even the private silver from the inner coffers was all used up. Sometimes when he wanted to reward ministers, he couldn’t produce anything. I had no choice but to scrape together what I could to help the late Emperor out of his difficulties. No wonder both the late Emperor and the current Emperor are so grateful to the old Duke of Ying! As soon as the late Emperor bestowed gifts, the old Duke would turn around and offer even more lavish tributes, until the Duke of Ying’s estate was also dragged down.”
At this point, the Empress Dowager’s expression became solemn. “When the current Emperor ascended the throne and peace was restored, he returned the Duke of Ying’s tributes. Yet some people, fearing the world was too peaceful, claimed the Emperor showed excessive favor to the old Duke of Ying. Don’t they realize the status of the Duke of Ying’s estate? The previous Duke of Ying was the adopted son of the founding Emperor – he was the Emperor’s clan brother!”
The mood in the great hall suddenly became rather delicate as she brought up such a serious matter.
Dou Zhao felt that if things continued to develop this way, what should have been a joyous Dragon Boat Festival audience could turn into a settling of accounts. The Duke of Ying’s estate had been unexpectedly thrust into a precarious position, and who knew how many people they might offend?
“I had no idea about this,” Dou Zhao said with a smile. “This is the first time I’ve heard of it! The young Duke never mentions such things at home. When I was still with my natal family, I remember my grandfather lamenting that although those years were difficult for the court, the ruler and ministers were of one mind. He said many loyal ministers and righteous gentlemen emerged then, and that if the history books were written, it could be called a ‘resurgent era.’ My grandfather even regretted retiring so early.”
The Duchess of Xingguo secretly approved.
The Duke of Ying might be muddleheaded, but he had chosen a daughter-in-law who knew what was what.
Smart people like to deal with other smart people, and she was no exception. Hearing Dou Zhao speak this way, she felt inclined to lend her a hand. She smiled and chimed in: “Indeed when my father-in-law was still alive, he often spoke to the younger generation about the late Emperor’s civil and military accomplishments. Otherwise, why would that boy of mine insist on going to the Northwestern Army Camp at such a young age?”
The heir of the Duke of Xingguo was now a garrison commander in the Northwestern Army Camp.
The Empress also came to her senses.
Among the meritorious families in the hall, for every family with sons who died loyally on the battlefield, there was another that feared death and didn’t want military power. While those who died in battle received rich rewards, not all of those who feared death had their property confiscated and were exiled. The Empress Dowager became angry whenever she thought of it, and took the opportunity to criticize those families to feel better. If the discussion continued, it might turn into a settling of accounts again.
She smiled and said to the Empress Dowager: “In the end, Your Majesty is still the wisest – if you hadn’t decreed for Lady Ping to go tend to her husband’s illness, how would we have young Master Teng now?”
The heir of the Duke of Xingguo was often away guarding the borders, while his wife remained in the capital. After ten years of marriage, they still had no legitimate son. Once when the Duchess of Xingguo came to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, she mentioned her son had caught a cold. The Empress Dowager smiled and decreed that Lady Ping should go to the northwest to care for her husband’s illness. Only then did the main branch of the Duke of Xingguo’s family produce a legitimate heir.
The Duchess of Xingguo immediately picked up the thread, sighing: “This just shows how wise Your Majesty is! You think of everything, big and small, more thoroughly than we can. If I wasn’t afraid of disturbing Your Majesty’s peaceful retirement, I would come to the palace every day just to chat with you.”
How could the Marchioness of Changxing let the Duchess of Xingguo steal the spotlight?
When the topic of keeping the Empress Dowager company came up, she smiled and said: “A few days ago, the Imperial Consort sent me a message asking me to check on the thousand-year-old ginkgo tree behind Daxiangguo Temple, and to remember to ask for some of the nuts when they bear fruit.”
Every year, the Marquis of Changxing’s household would send people to Daxiangguo Temple to pick some ginkgo nuts to offer to the Empress Dowager.
Hearing the Marchioness of Changxing mention this, the Empress Dowager thought of Imperial Consort Shi.
Normally, an imperial consort shouldn’t appear on such an occasion, but if the Empress Dowager spoke up, even improper things could become a sign of favor.
She instructed a palace maid: “Call Imperial Consort Shi over to join the festivities. Usually, she keeps me company; it’s not right to leave her alone at a time like this.”
Hearing this, the Marchioness of Changxing hurriedly kowtowed in gratitude.
The Empress Dowager laughed, “What are you kowtowing for? Quickly get up!”
The Marchioness of Changxing smiled as if entertaining the elderly: “I’m just happy for the Imperial Consort!”
Amid the chatter and laughter, Princess Ningde and the Third Princess arrived.
The Empress Dowager was also on good terms with Princess Ningde, so she quickly had palace maids announce them and bring them in to join the lively gathering.
Soon after, Imperial Consort Shi arrived.
She was skilled at livening up the mood, and her status spoke for itself. The atmosphere in the great hall soon reached a small crescendo.
Then the Crown Princess and several princes’ consorts also arrived.
The great hall became even more lively.
Dou Zhao had successfully changed the topic, so she quietly sat with her hand held by the Empress Dowager, listening to the older ladies chat.
The Duchess of Xingguo was in a similar position.
The two women exchanged smiles.
Dou Ming had long been forgotten.
Earlier when she responded, she had stood in the middle of the great hall. When the Marchioness of Changxing approached, she blocked Dou Ming’s view. When Princess Ningde and the Third Princess entered, Dou Ming hurriedly moved to one side. As the Marchioness of Changxing, Baroness Dongping, and others came forward to greet Princess Ningde and the Third Princess, Dou Ming was squeezed to the side by the curtains.
But she still had to maintain a straight posture and keep her eyes lowered in a humble attitude.
The Empress Dowager and Empress might not see, but there were countless eunuchs and palace maids in the great hall. Who knew what would happen if she showed even a moment of carelessness?
She couldn’t help but glance at Dou Zhao.
Princess Ningde was pressing Dou Zhao, who had been about to stand and curtsy, back onto her brocade stool, whispering something to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager’s gaze fell on Dou Zhao’s belly, her face full of smiles as she nodded. She then beckoned the Crown Princess over, granted her a seat, and chatted with the two of them.
Those ladies who usually looked down on others were now carefully and respectfully clustered around Dou Zhao and the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess had her back to Dou Ming, so she couldn’t see her expression.
But Dou Zhao was facing her.
Dou Zhao’s rosy face and radiant smile, her graceful ease among those illustrious nobles and ladies, was like the midday summer sun, almost painful to Dou Ming’s eyes.
Why?!
Dou Ming’s face was frosty.
Why was she left alone and ignored here, while Dou Zhao stood in the spotlight, receiving everyone’s envious gazes?
Didn’t Dou Zhao often boast about being a good elder sister?
Is this how a good elder sister treats her younger sister?
Enjoying everyone’s favor while forgetting she had a sister standing in a lonely corner who couldn’t even lean against something to rest!
Dou Ming glared fiercely at Dou Zhao.
A young eunuch standing near Dou Ming shuddered at the sight.
No wonder Old Wang often said the more beautiful a flower, the more poisonous it is – the prettier a woman, the more vicious her heart.
The Duchess of Jining and the wife of the Duke of Ying’s heir were sisters!
No wonder people said this Duchess of Jining had a bad character… Should he mention this to Old Wang later?