The Empress nodded and coaxed for a while longer before finally handing over the gradually calming prince to the wet nurse. She didn’t let the wet nurse leave, but instead had several people move the prince’s bedding and cradle into her own sleeping chamber.
The Empress wiped away her tears with her sleeve and walked arm-in-arm with Qin Yining to sit on the warm couch by the window.
Qin Yining stood before her, holding the Empress’s hands with both of hers, gently comforting her: “Your Majesty need not blame yourself. Today’s incident serves as a warning—you need only be more careful from now on.”
The Empress shook her head, the golden tassels behind her head swaying with her movement. “Yining, may I call you that?”
Hearing the Empress refer to herself as “I” instead of using the royal “we,” Qin Yining smiled and nodded, relaxing somewhat. “Of course you may.”
The Empress sniffled and had Qin Yining sit on the embroidered stool before her. “These past days I’ve been thinking about what you said that day, and I know you were right. People say that motherhood makes one strong—I understand the principle, but it’s truly difficult to put into practice.
“However, today’s incident is like having reality laid bare before me. Those people, each and every one of them can’t stand seeing me in this position. I admit that I’ve aged and lost my beauty. I was fortunate to have a son at this age, but I probably won’t have any other children in the future.
“I’ve been filial to my mother-in-law, kind to my sister-in-law, and tolerant of the concubines, yet they want to harm my only son.” The Empress’s tears began flowing again as she reached this point. “I’ve retreated time and again, yet they won’t let me and my child live in peace!”
Seeing the Empress cry so sorrowfully, Qin Yining couldn’t help but feel her own nose sting. She accepted a handkerchief from a palace maid and presented it to the Empress with both hands.
“Your Majesty, as you know, your constant retreating will only make these petty people more arrogant.” Qin Yining lowered her voice. “Someone like Consort Yun is actually the easiest to deal with. She acts impulsively without thinking. But Princess Tana of the Tatars is coming soon, and next year brings the grand selection. In the future, there will be more and more young and beautiful concubines in the palace, with all sorts of temperaments and backgrounds. Your Majesty must also be strong and find ways to protect yourself and safeguard the prince.”
The Empress nodded, knowing that every word from Qin Yining came from the heart. She couldn’t help but sigh: “You’re right. From now on, I must become more assertive and make plans for my child. It’s just that I feel… tired, and disheartened.”
“Your Majesty, though we women should support our husbands and educate our children, we cannot place everything on that foundation. Before we devote ourselves to our husbands and children, we must first not forget that we are individuals. We must first love and care for ourselves, live well ourselves, before we have the strength to do other things. Don’t you think so?”
This was the first time the Empress had ever heard such a perspective.
All she had ever seen were women who depended on men for survival, who devoted their entire lives to their husbands and children, who would be mercilessly divorced for committing any of the seven grounds for divorce. Even without committing such offenses, the novelty of marriage lasted only a year or two before husbands would take concubines and accept chamber maids—and if wives objected, they would be labeled as jealous.
No one had ever told her that before revolving around her husband and children, she was first and foremost a person.
This idea struck her as novel, yet also like a revelation.
The woman before her was not yet twenty, yet so intelligent and wise. She had schemes and depth, but was fundamentally kind.
The Empress actually understood the court situation and knew of His Majesty’s wariness toward Pang Xiao. By all rights, it should be very difficult for the two of them to become close.
Yet Qin Yining didn’t care about any of that. She simply judged each matter on its merits. Because she couldn’t bear to see a child suffer, she disregarded the grievances of the previous generation and didn’t worry about offending Consort Yun and the Grand Empress Dowager. When others hadn’t reacted yet, or rather when others didn’t dare to intervene, she extended a helping hand to her child.
The Empress found it hard to imagine what would have happened to her child’s face if Qin Yining hadn’t intervened today. Such a small child—if he had suffered such an injury, would he have developed an infection and fever? Would he have been left with scars?
Actually, Qin Yining could have stood by and watched, keeping herself out of trouble. But she had acted anyway.
The Empress felt deeply moved. Setting aside the grudges between the men, from her perspective, she truly admired and liked Qin Yining.
“You’re right.” The Empress wiped away her tears, her gaze becoming resolute. “Thank you. In every sense of the word.”
“Your Majesty need not say such things. This is what this subject’s wife should do, whether out of loyalty or humanity.”
The two women smiled at each other, seeming to grow closer emotionally.
Though the Empress was more than ten years older than Qin Yining, she had learned much from her and couldn’t help but consult with her: “Sending Consort Yun to the Court of Imperial Clan today—I’m afraid the Grand Empress Dowager won’t let this matter rest once she hears about it.”
Qin Yining nodded. “Indeed. Your Majesty should know that even though Consort Yun has been sent to the Court of Imperial Clan, the final result will be that she’ll be released very quickly.”
After all, the Grand Empress Dowager cared about face, and supporting Consort Yun was originally meant to compete with the Empress. Now that such an inconceivable incident had occurred, the Grand Empress Dowager would naturally protect her. Otherwise, losing one Consort Yun wouldn’t matter much, but if it implicated the Grand Empress Dowager and her family, wouldn’t that be embarrassing?
Hearing this, the Empress sighed silently.
How could she not understand her own mother-in-law after so many years together? Besides releasing Consort Yun, the Grand Empress Dowager would probably turn around and bite back at her, saying she had deliberately framed someone, making her unworthy of being Empress.
The few sparks of ambition that the Empress had just kindled wilted again at the thought of the Grand Empress Dowager, leaving her feeling more exhausted than ever.
What could she do?
As Empress, she didn’t even have the authority to manage the inner palace. In all matters great and small, the Grand Empress Dowager had the final say. Even when she caught someone trying to frame her child, punishing that person would bring unpleasant consequences.
Truly exhausting.
The Empress asked wearily, “In your opinion, what should be done about this matter?”
Qin Yining thought for a moment and smiled. “The outcome of this matter should have been predictable to Your Majesty when you ordered Consort Yun confined to the Court of Imperial Clan. As a mother, standing up for the prince is appropriate. So regardless of the consequences, just accept them. Consort Yun will definitely be protected by the Grand Empress Dowager. As for you, as long as Consort Yun shows remorse and this matter affects only a few people in the inner palace, letting them know your position would be a very good result.”
The Empress lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment. “Would you accompany me later? Let’s take Nanny Gong with us and pay a visit to the Grand Empress Dowager’s palace?”
Qin Yining smiled warmly. “Your Majesty is wise.”
At least doing this would establish an image of being open and honest in Li Qitian’s mind, which would amount to cutting losses in time. Regardless of how this matter should be handled, as long as the result wouldn’t be bad enough to cost lives, it would already be very good.
“How am I wise?” The Empress stood up, once again assuming the dignified elegance befitting an Empress. “It’s because you’re willing to help. Thank you.”
Qin Yining hurriedly rose to bow, repeatedly saying she didn’t dare accept such thanks.
The two women dressed properly and spoke with Nanny Gong for a few moments.
Nanny Gong was a nanny who taught etiquette. She didn’t belong exclusively to any particular palace and had already retired from the palace, only to be summoned back by imperial decree. Her position was detached, so naturally there was no question of favoritism or taking sides. After the Empress’s gentle and detailed explanation, Nanny Gong naturally nodded in agreement for the sake of that adorable child.
The group soon arrived at the Palace of Benevolent Peace.
When the palace attendants announced their arrival, Li Helan was sitting close beside the Grand Empress Dowager, cracking melon seeds and chatting.
Upon hearing that the Empress requested an audience, the Grand Empress Dowager displeasedly threw the half-handful of melon seeds in her hand onto the table with a clattering sound.
“At this hour, what is she coming for? Who came with her?”
“In response to the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress came with Princess Consort Zhongshun.”
Now whenever Li Helan heard Qin Yining’s name, her still-swollen toe would reflexively ache.
“That bitch came too—nothing good will come of this! Mother Empress, last time she made your daughter’s toenail split. You must get revenge for your daughter!”
The Grand Empress Dowager snorted: “Wasn’t that because you were stupid? Who told you to kick people with your own feet? Fool, you have a head on your neck—is it only for breathing?”
As the Grand Empress Dowager scolded Li Helan, she waved her hand, and the palace attendants immediately understood to go outside and invite the Empress in.
Li Helan pursed her lips, sat up straight, and then wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.
The Empress entered with Qin Yining and immediately performed a grand salute.
“This subject’s wife pays respects to Mother Empress.”
“This subject’s wife pays respects to the Grand Empress Dowager. Pays respects to the Princess Imperial.”
“Rise.” The Grand Empress Dowager waved her hand, indicating for the two to stand, and caught sight of Nanny Gong in the crowd behind them from the corner of her eye. The Grand Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows questioningly. “What’s this about? Coming to my place at this hour—is there some matter?”
The Empress said: “Yes. Earlier, Consort Yun was learning etiquette in this subject’s wife’s palace. During a rest period, this subject’s wife had the wet nurse bring Prince Hao over. Consort Yun actually attempted to scratch Prince Hao’s face. This subject’s wife has already ordered people to escort Consort Yun to the Court of Imperial Clan for punishment.”
The Grand Empress Dowager stared in amazement: “What about Prince Hao? How is he?”
Seeing that the Grand Empress Dowager’s first concern was for her own grandson, the Empress secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “Your Majesty may be at ease. Fortunately, Princess Consort Zhongshun discovered it in time and caught Consort Yun in the act. Prince Hao is completely unharmed, though he was frightened and kept crying.”
Hearing this, the Grand Empress Dowager calmed down somewhat.
“Just how brainless must Consort Yun be to actually try to scratch the prince’s face in front of so many people? Even a fool wouldn’t do such a thing.” The Grand Empress Dowager looked at the Empress suspiciously. “You were so hasty to confine Consort Yun—is there perhaps some hidden circumstance here, hmm?”
The heart that the Empress had just begun to settle was raised again by the Grand Empress Dowager’s words.
A thought of “just as expected” suddenly arose in her mind. Qin Yining was right—the Grand Empress Dowager was indeed beginning to favor Consort Yun.
The Empress pressed her lips together. “Does the Grand Empress Dowager suspect that this subject’s wife is using this incident to falsely accuse Consort Yun? So many eyes witnessed it. If the Grand Empress Dowager doesn’t believe it, she may question each person individually. Moreover, this subject’s wife and the Grand Empress Dowager have been mother- and daughter-in-law for so many years—the Grand Empress Dowager should know this subject’s wife’s character. If Consort Yun hadn’t actually moved to harm the prince, how could this subject’s wife say such things?”
The Grand Empress Dowager felt somewhat hesitant. Though this daughter-in-law wasn’t likeable and was like a wooden blockhead, as she said, her character was indeed upright.
Could it really have been Consort Yun’s doing? Actually, Consort Yun was quite capable of doing something so foolish.
The Grand Empress Dowager felt angry inside, but she had finally managed to elevate Consort Yun, and the woman was beautiful and favored by His Majesty—how could she easily abandon her?