As soon as the Countess of Pengcheng saw her, she grasped Old Madam Guo’s hand and sighed, saying, “Look at you! You came to the capital but didn’t come sit at my place. How many of our old sisters from back then are still alive? You still have too strong a temperament, too lofty a spirit—if you drink someone’s bowl of water, you have to find a way to return it. There’s a saying, what is it—Sage Confucius said it—something about when people reach seventy, they can do whatever they want. How does that saying go again? My memory isn’t good…”

She pondered, and a woman dressed in a pink vest with a married woman’s appearance stepped forward two paces and said, “After seventy, one may follow one’s heart’s desires without transgressing propriety.”

This woman’s voice was gentle and graceful. Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but glance at her.

The woman was only about seventeen or eighteen years old, tall and full-figured, with an oval face, phoenix eyes, a prominent nose, full red lips, and fine white skin. Although her posture was modest, her eyes were bright and spirited, occasionally flashing with a hint of sharpness, like a sword hidden in its sheath, making people not dare to take her lightly.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart trembled.

In her previous life, she had seen this woman.

By that time she had reached the prime of her youth, often wearing clothes in intense colors like bright red and deep purple. When she walked, her posture was ramrod straight, her gaze never wandering, emanating authority throughout her bearing. Every appearance would cause the outer-court noblewomen to whisper among themselves.

Her maiden family name was Qiu. In her hometown of Taiyuan, they had considerable reputation. She was the legitimate wife of the Earl of Pengcheng’s household’s heir grandson, daughter of the former Deputy Director of the Court of Imperial Stud. In the twenty-fourth year of Zhide, when the Earl of Pengcheng passed away and the heir inherited the title, she was enfeoffed as the Heir’s Wife. A few months later, her mother-in-law passed away. Her father-in-law favored a concubine in the household and decided not to remarry, handing over the household management of the Earl of Pengcheng’s mansion to her. The next year, her father-in-law died, and that concubine was caught in adultery. The Earl of Pengcheng’s household, fearing this would damage their family reputation, sent the concubine to the authorities, and she died suddenly shortly after. The two sons she had borne also died of illness one after another not long after.

The noble ladies of the capital all privately discussed this, saying it was Madam Qiu’s doing, that when her father-in-law was alive, that concubine had whispered in his ear quite a bit. If her father-in-law hadn’t died early, who knows who would have inherited the heir’s position!

Yet the two children that concubine had borne were still small and understood nothing. Her actions were too ruthless.

Everyone was quite wary of her and unwilling to have much contact with her.

Zhou Shaojin had heard this rumor during the few times she had entered the palace to pay respects.

She hadn’t expected that the first time she met people from the Earl of Pengcheng’s household, she would encounter this Madam Qiu.

These thoughts turned over and over in Zhou Shaojin’s mind. The Countess of Pengcheng had already laughed loudly, saying, “That’s the saying! That’s the saying! My granddaughter-in-law is still clever—she’s an educated person after all.” Then she introduced her to Old Madam Guo: “This is my eldest grandson’s wife, surnamed Qiu—Qiu as in autumn. Her father was a two-time examination graduate. Her natal family in Taiyuan is very famous—their ancestors produced great scholars. She has an older brother who is already a recommended man!”

Clearly, she took pride in Madam Qiu’s scholarly family background.

Madam Qiu quickly stepped forward to pay respects to Old Madam Guo, saying warmly, “Grandmother is too kind—I’ve embarrassed myself before Old Madam.”

Her speech and manner were very proper.

Old Madam Guo’s eyes showed approval as she introduced Zhou Shaojin to the Peng family.

The Countess of Pengcheng looked Zhou Shaojin up and down and said to Old Madam Guo, “Ah Shen, your daughter-in-law is truly beautiful. It’s just that her frame is too delicate—I’m afraid she won’t bear children easily… But we scholarly families like to find daughters-in-law like this. Look at your eldest and second sons’ wives—also delicate, which is why they don’t have many descendants…”

Zhou Shaojin’s face turned completely red, only now learning that Old Madam Guo’s given name was “Shen.”

Old Madam Guo chuckled, grasped Zhou Shaojin’s hand and patted her hand back, the comfort very evident, smiling as she said, “This is also a matter of individual fate. It cannot be forced.”

The Countess of Pengcheng disagreed and was about to say something more when Madam Qiu, very perceptively, smiled before the Countess could speak: “Grandmother, it’s getting late. We should hurry into the palace! Perhaps the Countess of Cheng’en has already arrived.”

The current Empress was not His Majesty’s original consort.

His Majesty’s original consort was surnamed Xu and was the Crown Prince’s birth mother. She had passed away when the Crown Prince was seven years old. The Xu family was enfeoffed as the Marquisate of Cheng’en. The current Empress Peng had been promoted from the rank of Noble Consort Yi. When she was a consort, she had given birth to a daughter who died before reaching her first birthday. After that she had never borne children, which was one of the important reasons she could become Empress.

The Countess of Pengcheng always felt somewhat uncomfortable in front of the Xu family, saying, “Did the Empress also invite people from the Marquis of Cheng’en’s household?”

Madam Qiu reminded the Countess of Pengcheng, “Tomorrow is the Crown Prince’s birthday.”

The Countess of Pengcheng suddenly understood, feeling somewhat guilty, saying, “I, I temporarily forgot about this.”

Madam Qiu smiled without speaking.

Zhou Shaojin committed this date to memory.

Since Old Madam Guo had already told her about palace matters before entering, Old Madam Guo wasn’t worried that Zhou Shaojin would say the wrong thing. The group chatted softly as they headed into the palace.

After all, it was the depths of winter, and the wind cutting against their bodies was bone-chillingly cold. Fortunately they all wore fur cloaks with fur hand warmers, so they weren’t very cold. After walking for a while, they gradually warmed up.

Fortunately everyone was experienced and didn’t walk urgently. By the time they reached Changchun Palace where the Empress resided, their bodies were warm without having broken into a sweat and developed an unpleasant odor.

The aunt who came to greet them was someone Zhou Shaojin recognized—Aunt Song, who had great standing beside the Empress. In her previous life when she had entered the palace to pay respects, she had seen her from afar. But while she recognized the woman, the woman didn’t recognize her. Moreover, at that time Aunt Song’s expression had been solemn, unlike now when she was all smiles, looking amiable and kind. She looked warmly at Zhou Shaojin and said to Old Madam Guo, “Is this the daughter-in-law you’ve newly married in? She’s truly beautiful! You are truly blessed, Old Madam.”

“You’re too kind, Aunt!” Old Madam Guo exchanged pleasantries humbly with Aunt Song as they entered the rear hall of Changchun Palace.

The Empress was also in her early fifties this year. Her hair was jet black, her face round and fair with a gentle expression. She wore a casual sapphire blue embroidered vest, her hair in a coiled style with kingfisher feather hairpins, green emerald earrings and mutton-fat jade bracelets. When she extended her hands, they were as delicate and smooth as a young girl’s.

She sat alone on the large kang by the window. Aside from those serving beside her, no one else could be seen.

After smiling and watching Zhou Shaojin and Madam Qiu pay their respects, she instructed palace maids to bring in padded stools for them.

Old Madam Guo quickly said, “She’s so young and understands nothing. She doesn’t dare accept such favor from Your Majesty.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.” The Empress smiled and said, “She’s only two or three years older than the Crown Prince’s grandson—a budding flower of a person, and so delicately formed. I find her very pleasing.”

Zhou Shaojin blushed as she expressed her thanks.

The Empress liked her even more upon seeing this.

She was surrounded by shrewd people; Zhou Shaojin’s shyness easily made people feel close to her.

Everyone sat down around the large kang by the window.

The Empress smiled and asked Zhou Shaojin, “I only heard you had married a wife, but I didn’t expect her to be so young. She’s quite well-formed though.”

“Your Majesty is too kind!” Old Madam Guo smiled respectfully and said, “This girl is one I watched grow up from childhood. She was originally a marriage connection from the fourth branch in Jiuru Alley. She’s even of a different generation from our Fourth Son! I saw she was obedient and lovable, so I had her stay by my side to help copy scriptures and do needlework and such. At that time I thought, who knows which family would have the good fortune to marry her. Who could have known our family would split from the Jinling branch. This child’s older sister married into the capital, and she came with her stepmother to care for her sister during her confinement. We just happened to meet. I thought rather than raising this child with such effort only to have her become someone else’s daughter-in-law, I might as well keep her in our family. That’s how I got this idea and had Fourth Son marry her…”

Zhou Shaojin was stunned.

Old Madam Guo was clearly vindicating herself!

And this was before the Empress!

Zhou Shaojin felt so guilty she didn’t dare raise her head.

The Empress, however, chuckled, very interested as she said, “I heard from the Countess of Pengcheng that your Fourth Son is currently at the Grand Canal Administrator’s Office?”

Old Madam Guo nodded, saying apologetically, “Some time ago there was a mishap, but fortunately His Majesty was merciful and allowed him to atone through merit. Only then did my heart finally settle.”

The Empress smiled and said, “What kind of mishap is that? The Crown Prince said that those who do nothing make no mistakes—those who do more are more likely to make errors.”

“Thank you for the Crown Prince’s and the Empress’s favor.” Old Madam Guo expressed her thanks.

The Empress then reminisced with Old Madam Guo about old times: “…Back then Lady Fengsheng liked you very much, often saying you handled matters steadily, grandly, and decisively. At that time I wanted to meet you. Later when Lady Fengsheng’s brother-in-law favored his concubine over his wife, everyone was calling for his head, but only you gently and carefully told Lady Fengsheng’s older sister how to deal with that little concubine. I admired that very much at the time… It’s a pity Grand Master Cheng passed away early, otherwise you could often enter the palace to chat with me!”

Mentioning the deceased Cheng Xun, Old Madam Guo’s eyes seemed somewhat moist. She took out a handkerchief to dab at the corners of her eyes.

Seeing this, the Empress quickly changed the subject, bringing up Cheng Jing: “…Now he’s already a Grand Secretary. That fulfills Grand Master Cheng’s wishes.”

“Indeed!” Old Madam Guo smiled and said, “This child is also quite filial. I’m currently living at Fourth Son’s home—with Fourth Son away and Zhou Shi and Fourth Son newly married, I must watch over them a bit. Eldest Son and his wife can only come every day to pay me their respects. If I didn’t stop them, in this heavy wind and snow, waking so early to pay respects before going to court—wouldn’t that freeze people! He’s about to marry a wife too!”

Old Madam could really talk!

And she really dared to say such things!

But this way, Old Madam Guo wouldn’t fear those censors’ impeachments for living at Chaoyangmen in the future, would she?

Zhou Shaojin thought of what Old Madam Guo had just said about herself and vaguely felt that Old Madam Guo’s palace visit this time was not merely to reminisce about old times.

She admired Old Madam Guo tremendously!

“That’s good!” The Empress had complete faith in Old Madam Guo’s words and brought up the Cheng family matters: “…I heard the clan split and money was paid out. What exactly happened with that?”

Old Madam Guo sighed and said, “It takes two to tango! The old ancestor of the second household desperately wanted Fourth Son to help manage household affairs, but Fourth Son has loved studying since childhood. His father passed away early, and he was determined to achieve imperial examination success like his father and elder brothers. He stubbornly passed the imperial examination in the fifteenth year of Zhide. How could he be willing to help manage household affairs? But our family’s population is sparse, and I couldn’t bear to have this child confined at home like that. Gritting my teeth, I split from the second household!”