“This went on for over ten years. This dowager’s condition would improve and worsen—when good, I was no different from ordinary people and even knew to share the late emperor’s burdens. When bad, I forgot everyone. Walking on thin ice, standing at the edge of an abyss—that describes this dowager’s situation in those years. It was also during those years that this dowager selected Consort De and several others for the late emperor. This dowager couldn’t guarantee the late emperor would always be devoted to this dowager alone, nor could I guarantee whether the imperial son could grow up safely, but this dowager couldn’t delay the late emperor or leave him without heirs.”
Hearing this, Qin Shuying felt deep admiration for the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager had always carried heavy burdens, living with extraordinary hardship that ordinary people could hardly imagine.
“Until eight years ago, he told this dowager he was going to the border city to find a good medicine for this dowager, to completely cure my illness—he was going to personally lead the campaign. Only then did this dowager suddenly realize that the late emperor had given so much to this dowager, yet this dowager had never trusted him. This dowager bid him tearful farewell, saying I would wait for his return. But this dowager almost didn’t get to wait for him. Everyone thought he personally led the campaign for the common people under heaven, but this dowager knew he did it for his ten thousand subjects, and even more for this dowager. He brought back the good medicine and completely cured this dowager’s illness. This dowager decided to fulfill his wish, supporting him in the rear palace and carefully nurturing the imperial son.”
“The imperial son was somewhat weak in constitution from childhood. This dowager couldn’t take proper care of him—he didn’t have Fourth Prince’s cheerfulness, Fifth Prince’s shrewdness, Sixth Prince’s cleverness, or Seventh Prince’s elegance. He was sensitive and benevolent, but due to his physical condition, for many years he could only stay in the Crown Prince’s residence and couldn’t even protect his first wife. But this dowager knew he was a kindhearted good child. What he lacked was the ability to govern the realm. This dowager had already delayed him for over twenty years—this dowager wasn’t a competent mother, and this dowager had to change.”
“So in these years, this dowager used all my strength to assist him, helping him become the crown prince the late emperor was satisfied with, become the heir the late emperor was satisfied with. He’s a clever child, just overlooked because of his parents’ relationship. So he was very dedicated and hardworking. Though he didn’t have great political achievements, he has a heart that broadly accepts wise counsel, with a sea-like broad mind. He also has Fourth Prince and good ministers like Deputy Commander Liang to assist him. He’s earnest and hardworking—he will be a good emperor. This dowager was at ease, and the late emperor was at ease too.”
“Only then did this dowager realize that the late emperor’s lamp oil had long been exhausted, beyond salvation. This dowager had to step forward—this dowager owed him far too much…”
Speaking to this point, Qin Shuying understood.
When Mu Tianxiang entered the palace and was deposed, that was when the Empress Dowager began to act. When Emperor Delong decided to bring Consort De and the others to see the Empress Dowager in front of the Cold Palace, that was a test of the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager had already made up her mind to intervene in rear palace affairs.
“Child, do you understand? Originally, there really is such deep love in this world as the late emperor’s. Because he cherished this dowager, he was willing to give this dowager all the best things under heaven. Empress, Empress Dowager—he wanted to present them all before this dowager. To others, he might not have been a very good emperor, not a good son, not a good husband, not a good father. But to this dowager, he was the best husband, and to the imperial son, he was the best father.”
Speaking to this point, the Empress Dowager’s eyes sparkled with tears, and Nanny Yao watched the Empress Dowager with heartache from the side.
“Child, this dowager awakened a bit too late. If this dowager had understood this principle earlier, Yongjia wouldn’t have had to live like this. This dowager lived very selfishly in this lifetime—this dowager has wronged too many people, but the one this dowager has wronged most is still the late emperor. That Yongjia resents this dowager—this dowager can completely understand. But it’s never too late in life. If you see Yongjia, will you tell her this dowager’s words?”
Qin Shuying nodded solemnly.
“Good child, this dowager’s words today are too heavy for you. However, you needn’t worry—just go live your own life well. You must remember, if you love, then love deeply. Don’t regret, don’t hesitate.”
Qin Shuying’s eyes grew somewhat moist, “Your Majesty, this subject’s wife will remember this deeply.”
The Empress Dowager smiled and said to Nanny Yao, “Bring that pair of pearls to give to Lady Liang.”
Nanny Yao brought over a brocade box. Qin Shuying hurriedly received it—inside was a pair of pearls the size of longan fruits. Qin Shuying was knowledgeable about such things; these items were round, lustrous, and of considerable value.
However, Qin Shuying already possessed quite a few fine things, so she wasn’t shocked to the point of losing composure by what the Empress Dowager had bestowed upon her.
“This is what this dowager bestows upon you. Keep it as a memento. If you have use for it in the future, you may also use it.”
Qin Shuying felt the Empress Dowager’s words were somewhat strange, but didn’t have time to think too much about it and thanked her for the grace.
Afterwards, Nanny Yao said the Empress Dowager was tired and needed to rest. Qin Shuying followed Nanny Yao out to eat, then was personally escorted out of the palace by Nanny Yao.
Just after returning home, Chief Steward Zhao personally came to deliver an invitation, saying it was sent by Dowager Consort Lian.
After the new emperor ascended the throne, except for Consort De and Consort Kang who were confined in the Cold Palace, all of the late emperor’s other consorts were allowed to follow their own wishes—either continuing to remain in the rear palace, or going to live with their sons and daughters, or going to temples to spend their remaining years.
Qin Lianlian requested to go live with Zhou Qin, and the Empress Dowager and new emperor approved. Therefore, the current Dowager Consort Lian lived in the Sixth Prince’s residence.
The Fourth Prince was enfeoffed as a prince of the first rank, while the Sixth Prince remained just the Sixth Prince. The new emperor’s intimacy and distance toward his brothers was evident. Moreover, because Zhou Qin was injured, he had handed over all his duties and was now just an idle prince without power.
Qin Shuying directly refused Dowager Consort Lian’s invitation. She was currently pregnant, and since Dowager Consort Lian had already torn apart all pretenses with Qin Shuying, Qin Shuying wouldn’t go suffer her anger.
Who would have thought that when Dowager Consort Lian saw Qin Shuying wouldn’t come see her, she actually sent Fu Qu to the door to question her, “Dowager Consort says, when Madam went to see the Empress Dowager, what did you say? Did you speak ill of the prince?”
Qin Shuying wouldn’t see Fu Qu, but had Ziteng meet with Fu Qu instead. Ziteng said, “Whom our madam sees and what she says—what standing does Dowager Consort Lian have to inquire? Dowager Consort Lian should first prove whether she’s actually Qin family blood before speaking. If she has no relation to the Qin family, then Dowager Consort Lian has not even the slightest relationship with our madam.”
Fu Qu angrily shouted, “Audacious! Dowager Consort Lian is a dowager consort!”
Ziteng snorted, “The Empress Dowager and His Majesty are benevolent, which is why they permit Dowager Consort to spend her remaining years in the Sixth Prince’s residence. By rights, Dowager Consort should be living in the palace. Since Dowager Consort is uncomfortable living in the prince’s residence, when our madam enters the palace, she should tell the Empress Dowager to receive Dowager Consort back to live in the palace.”
“You…”
“Take care, we won’t see you out!”
Later, Dowager Consort Lian sent Fu Qu to question them several more times, but Qin Shuying directly had people block her at the door. After a few days, Zhou Qin still hadn’t recovered. The imperial physicians said Zhou Qin was permanently disabled and couldn’t be cured.
Since this was the case, Zhou Qin would never be able to interfere in court politics and could only be an idle prince forever.
Only then did Dowager Consort Lian stop causing trouble for Qin Shuying and instead actively sought medical treatment.