Tie Ci came out dressed, saw the sleeping robes on the ground, and understood. She sighed: “Arrange for someone to comfort her later, and remember to tell her to keep quiet.”

She was truly afraid to face Consort Jing’s tearful eyes. She had been separated from Consort Jing’s side since she was very young. It was said that once when the emperor visited, he saw Consort Jing having nightmares, dreaming of Tie Ci being hunted, and when she woke up she held Tie Ci and cried desperately. But she wouldn’t say why she cried, acting like a riddle that angered the emperor.

The emperor then felt that with Consort Jing’s temperament, she definitely couldn’t raise a noble, magnanimous, and responsible female heir apparent. Later he brought Tie Ci to his side to raise personally.

Tie Ci also felt that with Consort Jing’s quail-like nature – tender leaves that could be broken by a single drop of rain and dew – she was indeed only suitable for protection, not participation.

Dan Shuang didn’t pay much attention either, both thinking that Consort Jing would probably shrink back into her room again and cry for three days and nights. In that case, just telling people to watch over her would be enough.

Neither thought that even quails have moments when their feathers stand on end, and a mother beast’s instinct to protect her young is immeasurable.

Here the bath had caused an unexpected incident, while over there the Empress Dowager had summoned a group of Grand Secretaries and Ministers to indeed discuss matters of training.

The Empress Dowager held meetings in Mingde Hall, an independent palace building between the front court and harem. After all, it was improper for male ministers to discuss matters in the harem, and she was unwilling to place the meeting location in the imperial study – that would be borrowing the emperor’s territory. So she created this independent place, though it still didn’t conform to regulations. But what regulations remained now?

The Empress Dowager’s dress today was rather unique – she wore a thick headband in the warm spring weather. But those who could reach the Cabinet and Six Ministries were all shrewd people. Everyone saw but acted as if they hadn’t, except the Deputy Chief Minister of the Cabinet, the Empress Dowager’s own brother Xiao Liheng, who asked: “Has Your Majesty caught a chill? The weather alternates between warm and cold – please take care of your phoenix body.”

Empress Dowager Xiao held her head, forcing a smile: “I haven’t caught cold, but worrying day and night about children and grandchildren inevitably causes some headaches.”

The siblings exchanged glances, understanding each other perfectly. Grand Secretary Xiao then acted moved and spoke of how his family’s young men had been naughty recently, troubling him, and how nowadays noble children indulged in pleasure and were weak in both culture and martial arts. The Empress Dowager deeply agreed and nodded frequently. Most others watched coldly, waiting to see how these two would scheme.

Naturally there were also Xiao family dependents and disciples echoing and flattering. The newly appointed Grand Secretary of the East Pavilion, also the youngest Grand Secretary Li Shen, expressed that what the Empress Dowager and Deputy Chief Minister said was very true – young people should go to broader worlds to expand their knowledge and strengthen their bodies. This would also reserve future talent for the court, benefiting both present and future generations.

These were all grand rhetoric. Even those present who were wary couldn’t say anything against it. Then the Empress Dowager ordered the Cabinet to first discuss a plan for this matter. Naturally this meant the matter was settled, and next was discussing scope and methods. The Minister of Rites very timely expressed that Great Qian’s royal and noble children had traditions of training in past years, but this dynasty had shelved it for too long.

The Chief Minister Rong Luchuan, who had been drooping his eyes in a half-sleepwalking state, suddenly opened his eyes. Under his heavy eyelids, his pupils burned with sharp light as he said in a deep voice: “Minister Yang speaks truly. Thus, let all royal family members in the capital and children of officials third rank and above, those who are not legitimate heirs or eldest sons, must undergo training of no less than one year before coming of age. Otherwise they will not receive hereditary honors or enter government service.”

As soon as he spoke, several other ministers immediately agreed. Grand Secretary Xiao sneered inwardly, cursing “old fox.”

This seemed agreeable but actually restricted it to male descendants – silently excluding Tie Ci without making a sound.

The Empress Dowager said slowly: “This is very good. But all families’ children are precious – I fear they’ll be perfunctory and loose when the time comes. Not only will they not be trained, but those young men will become even more undisciplined, which wouldn’t be good.”

Grand Secretary Xiao immediately said: “I presume too much. I believe in this matter the royal family should set an example, especially the direct line. Only thus can we avoid ministers’ children being lazy and irresponsible!”

The Empress Dowager then showed a worried expression: “You are loyally serving the country – I understand. But among the royal direct line, only Ci’er remains now. How can I bear to part with her!”

Rong Luchuan immediately said: “The Crown Princess is the nation’s heir apparent, bearing the safety of all under heaven on her shoulders. How can she be included in this category?”

Xiao Liheng said: “Precisely because the Crown Princess is the heir apparent, with Great Qian’s future resting on her alone, she should undergo more training and tempering. Thus, this group of royal and official children training alongside the Crown Princess will eventually enter government service. Having this experience will make them more likely to submit and serve our imperial house. Please consider this carefully, Empress Dowager. Don’t let familial affection delay the Crown Princess’s future…”

He wore an earnest expression, the Empress Dowager looked wistful, one group moved themselves, another group expressed admiration.

No matter their character, imperial family members were all outstanding at acting.

Rong Luchuan ignored their performance, countering that Xiao Liheng’s was treacherous thinking. The heir apparent was the nation’s most important instrument – all lands under heaven belonged to the king, and ministers’ loyalty to the sovereign and dedicating themselves to royal affairs was naturally their duty. Why should she personally participate to curry favor?

Others jumped out to oppose, and for a time it became a chaotic argument.

Xiao Liheng felt somewhat anxious, thinking if this wasn’t settled and the emperor learned of it and rushed over, there would be another round of complications.

But he saw the Empress Dowager remained calm, only glancing toward the palace entrance several times.

Li Gui suddenly quietly entered. He held the position of Chief Eunuch of the Ceremonial Directorate, but before the Empress Dowager and Grand Secretaries he appeared humbly respectful, bending as he entered and whispering a few words to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager’s eyebrows rose slightly, and everyone immediately stopped arguing to look over.

The Empress Dowager accepted the tea Li Gui offered, slowly opening and closing the lid but not drinking, saying with a half-smile: “Then please bring her in.”

Moments later, ornaments jingled. Rong Luchuan’s brow twitched, and recognizing the person as Consort Jing, he felt this was bad.

Important ministers in session – palace consorts could not enter without permission. The Empress Dowager explained to everyone: “This is the Crown Princess’s birth mother – she should have her dignity.”

Everyone rose to make way. Consort Jing kept her head down, gripping her skirt tightly, not daring to look at anyone, only feeling her heart pounding like drums.

She had gone back and cried for a while, then under her palace servants’ persuasion, gathered courage to see the Empress Dowager. But she hadn’t expected so many foreign men here and suddenly felt she couldn’t even walk properly.

The somewhat younger ministers present didn’t know her. Hearing of her identity, they couldn’t help being somewhat curious, all glancing with their peripheral vision. Seeing her timid manner now, they all frowned. Even those among the Six Ministries and Nine Courts who had originally supported Grand Secretary Rong quietly shook their heads.

Rong Luchuan sighed inwardly.

Consort Jing struggled to walk through that section among the crowd, already breaking out in sweat on her back. She vaguely felt today wasn’t the right time to come, and her original intentions had lost most of their courage. But she heard the Empress Dowager’s kind voice above: “Consort Jing, you’re usually well-behaved and rarely come to the front. Is there something today?”

Consort Jing didn’t hear that this implied she wasn’t being well-behaved. She looked up slightly and saw the Empress Dowager’s face. The old woman was already short, and what was called petite and delicate in youth had become squat with age. Every wrinkle on her face hid meanness and shrewdness, but radiating from her eyes was a smile that could barely be called kindly at first glance.

Consort Jing was bewitched by this kindly smile and suddenly knelt before the Empress Dowager’s couch: “My status is lowly – I dare not disturb the ancestor’s meeting. I only come on behalf of the Crown Princess to bring some pastries for the ancestor. The ancestor works day and night – both the Crown Princess and I are very concerned.” She commanded the palace maid behind her to present the porcelain bowl, saying earnestly: “Bird’s nest and pear soup personally prepared by the Crown Princess. She feared her skills weren’t refined enough to suit the ancestor’s taste, but I persuaded her that skill is secondary – just this filial heart toward grandmother, the ancestor would surely love no matter what.”

She had memorized these words thoroughly on the way, thinking she spoke very appropriately with proper consort bearing, looking expectantly at the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager’s eyes moved slightly, and the wrinkles at her eye corners shot out a gentle curve. She ordered Li Gui to accept the porcelain bowl and had Consort Jing rise, saying kindly that they were still in session so wouldn’t keep her, and ordered her escorted out.

Consort Jing’s steps were visibly lighter when leaving.

Rong Luchuan closed his eyes.

The Empress Dowager smiled watching that woman’s graceful figure disappear at the palace entrance. When she turned back, the smile at her eye corners had vanished. She suddenly raised her hand, pointing toward the entrance, asking sternly: “If Tie Ci grew up in that woman’s hands, how could Great Qian have a glorious future?!”

Everyone fell silent, even Rong Luchuan said nothing more.

In the deathly silence, the Empress Dowager’s voice rang out: “It’s decided. Royal children starting from Tie Ci downward will travel for training along with officials’ children. Tie Ci is female to begin with – her temperament inevitably lacks firmness. If she’s further influenced by loving father, weak mother, and luxurious splendor, I fear she’ll be even less likely to achieve greatness!”

Rong Luchuan saw the agreeable expressions on his disciples and colleagues’ faces, knowing the general trend was lost. He said reluctantly: “If so, children’s training has three types. Perhaps…”

The Empress Dowager cut off his words: “Then let them draw lots. This is most fair – don’t you think so, Grand Secretary Rong?”

Rong Luchuan was silent for a moment, then bowed: “This old minister obeys the decree.”

By the time Tie Yan, who had been detained by the Empress Dowager’s people, and Tie Ci, who received the news, arrived, everything was settled.

Tie Yan angrily kicked over an ivory stool. Hearing the Empress Dowager’s order for Tie Ci to draw lots, he had no time to curse and personally accompanied Tie Ci over. On the way he said: “Training isn’t necessarily bad. When drawing lots later, no matter what you draw, say it’s martial study. Your father will find ways to smooth things over for you.”

Tie Ci smiled without speaking.

Once some things began, there was no possibility of stopping halfway.

The old lady had been knocked unconscious by her but forced herself to immediately get up and cause trouble – wasn’t this refusing to give her any room to maneuver?

Her dodder flower-like mother – that was just a trap.

Arriving at the Empress Dowager’s Mingde Hall for meetings, the ministers were all still there. The Empress Dowager beckoned Tie Ci through the pearl curtain. Tie Ci approached graciously. The Empress Dowager pointed to the jade box a servant held up, smiling: “Ci’er, as heir apparent of our Great Qian, you should be a model figure. You know about the training matter. There are three pearls in the box, each representing a different training method. Choose one yourself.”

Tie Ci reached for the box, but the servant moved it away. Tie Ci smiled: “How do I seem to hear sounds of insects crawling in the box?”

The Empress Dowager laughed: “What insects? You child are just mischievous. Otherwise, shall I or your father personally draw lots for you?”

Tie Yan immediately stepped forward. Tie Ci blocked him: “Hey, father, your gambling luck is poor – don’t drag me down with you.”

Tie Yan glared at her with mixed amusement and exasperation. Tie Ci acted completely unconcerned, extending her hand as Dan Shuang behind her produced a silver spoon. Tie Ci said bashfully: “Imperial grandmother, I have claustrophobia – sticking my hand into this box makes me a bit afraid.”

The Empress Dowager’s expression looked somewhat unpleasant, and the ministers outside the curtain all lowered their heads to look at their feet.

Tie Ci never hesitated to display the discord between grandmother and granddaughter to outsiders. A shame cloth covers shame, not poison. Why should she help this old lady cover up?

The entire court knew the Empress Dowager and she were incompatible like fire and water. The Empress Dowager’s actions would have more scruples and constraints, because if anything happened to Tie Ci, the Empress Dowager would be the primary suspect.

Taking another step back – things being as they were, did she still want Tie Ci to cooperate in performing filial grandmother and dutiful granddaughter?

Dream on.

Tie Ci took the jade spoon and rummaged around in the box, rummaging for quite a while. Tie Yan and the ministers outside the curtain heard her scraping noisily, feeling irritated themselves.

Only when the Empress Dowager showed impatience did Tie Ci slowly withdraw the spoon.

Author’s Note: Today there’s a necessary court scene. Perhaps some readers didn’t understand the twists and turns within – there will be explanations later.