Empress Dowager Lu had been thoroughly frightened by now. She was extremely cautious in everything she did, wishing she could simply be invisible from beginning to end. Princess Rongcheng glanced at the two children, then looked at her mother. In her heart she couldn’t help feeling sorrowful, but what use was sorrow? Their own father didn’t even care for them. That they could reach this point was already their great fortune.
She took Zhou Weiyin by the hand, though her face remained turned toward Empress Dowager Lu, her voice kept gentle, fearing Empress Dowager Lu would become anxious and agitated: “Prince Su still has no heir to this day. Father Emperor’s intention is to have both Yin’er and Yang’er adopted by Prince Su.”
Prince Su did have children, but somehow just couldn’t produce sons. He had six or seven daughters in succession, all girls without a single boy. It was also because of this point that he couldn’t compare with Prince Duan and had become increasingly docile.
This time, before Emperor Jianzhang awakened and they spoke of selecting someone to act as emperor, these two had both kept their heads down without stepping forward. Emperor Jianzhang was very satisfied with this point. After all, they were all his sons. Having the bad ones made these two seem all the better by comparison, so his thoughts turned to Prince Su.
Empress Dowager Lu indeed frowned, but when the word “no” reached her lips, she swallowed it back down. Actually, it wasn’t bad at all. Prince Gong was their biological father, but where did he act like a real father? When he rebelled, he never once thought about how difficult the two children’s circumstances would be. Since she couldn’t say it was bad, seeing Zhou Weiyin’s eyes widen looking like he was about to cry, she instead rallied her spirits to console him: “Your Prince Su is also a good person—” Speaking to this point she already realized something was wrong and immediately corrected herself, patiently instructing him with utmost patience: “I know you’re a clever child, so I won’t hide things from you anymore. Your prince father is a treasonous rebel who everyone is justified in condemning. Now that you’ve severed relations with him, being confined behind high walls for life would normally be common.” She grasped Zhou Weiyin’s hand, her expression extremely solemn: “Back then, your father was spoiled by me. In this lifetime, the most failed thing Grandmother did was being self-righteous and doting on your father too much, spoiling him until everything was turned upside down. So once he wasn’t treated as well as before, he felt he had suffered hardship and tribulation, and could even commit such terrible wrongs. You absolutely must not follow in his footsteps. Your Prince Su is an honest man, and that is also excellent.”
Zhou Weiyin understood some but not all, yet knew that since Emperor Jianzhang had issued the decree, they had no choice but to accept. Tears in his eyes, he nodded heavily.
It was Princess Rongcheng who led him out and taught him many principles. Finally squatting down to straighten his collar: “Don’t think this is because your Imperial Grandfather doesn’t care for you. On the contrary, it’s precisely because he cares for you that he does this. Think about it—won’t you still call him Imperial Grandfather in the future?”
Seeing Zhou Weiyin’s tearful eyes, she personally took a handkerchief to wipe his tears: “Your Prince Su has no sons. Having you two, he’ll be too delighted to contain himself and will certainly treat you well. In the future when Prince Su returns to his fiefdom, you, as Crown Prince, will by rights be able to remain in the capital. You can still stay by our side. Quickly wipe away your tears and cry no more.”
Zhou Weiyin indeed wiped his tears and said softly, “Thank you, Auntie.” Princess Rongcheng pressed her lips together, personally leading him back to the palace hall. After instructing the wet nurse and others to attend to him well, only then did she head to Mingcui Palace.
Crown Princess Lu was busy examining the ceremonial robes to be worn at the Crown Princess investiture ceremony sent by people from the Ministry of Rites. Seeing her arrive, her eyes curved in a smile as she beckoned her over: “I was just saying I should go invite you and Twelfth Lady, and here you are.”
Princess Rongcheng stepped forward for a glance and smiled in praise, hearing her words and raising an eyebrow: “Invite us for what?”
“Old Madam Cui of the Cui residence has taken a liking to your brother-in-law and wants to sound out your opinion, asking me to serve as matchmaker.” Crown Princess Lu’s gloom had swept away. These days she was truly happy. Though there was no longer affection between her and the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince’s ability to be sensible and stay peacefully in place was already a great help to Zhou Weizhao. Zhou Weizhao’s investiture ceremony was also approaching. In this lifetime she only hoped for her son’s wellbeing—how could there be any reason not to be happy?
Instead, the pearl Princess Rongcheng held in her hands rolled and fell to the ground. Xiangling and the others hurriedly scrambled to pick it up. She didn’t quite react, turning her head to look at Crown Princess Lu, her eyes wide with astonishment: “You’re saying Old Madam Cui has taken a liking to Jingchuan?” After finishing, she was somewhat stunned again: “So she’s taken a liking to Jingchuan and wants to match him with whom?”
Her own brother-in-law was an excellent person. For birth he had birth, for ability he had ability. Most rare was that his family’s conduct was proper. Having reached this age, he didn’t even have a single concubine by his side, and the family had a rule forbidding taking concubines. He was also sincere and honest. But there was one problem—he was too rigid. For so long, the only one he truly held in his heart was Song Chuyi alone. The Princess Consort of Zhennan was so worried over this matter she was nearly turning her hair white. If not for the fact that right now she was more worried about Prince Zhennan’s life and safety, she would probably still be busy looking everywhere for a wife for Ye Jingchuan.
Crown Princess Lu felt Princess Rongcheng was playing dumb, glancing at her somewhat strangely: “I’m looking for you and Twelfth Lady—who do you think she wants to match him with? This would be a well-matched union.”
Princess Rongcheng listened as Crown Princess Lu spoke of Old Madam Cui’s praise for Ye Jingchuan, then heard Crown Princess Lu speak of Cui Hualuan’s good qualities, and hurriedly waved her hands: “You mustn’t say these things to me…” After finishing she sighed again: “The Prince Consort’s brother is a stubborn person…” Speaking to this point she didn’t know what more to say. She could hardly say that he was still thinking about your daughter-in-law and had no mind for marriage discussions, could she? She could only pause before continuing: “Right now Father is far away in Xibei with his life and death unknown. How could there be any mood to bring up this matter? Moreover, isn’t the Prince Consort still in Hubei and not yet returned? If you ask me, it’s better to set it aside for now… It won’t be too late to discuss this matter again later.”
Crown Princess Lu nodded along with her words: “Old Madam also understands this point. She just feels the two children are well-matched, so she only asked me to mention it. Whether it succeeds or not, the two families can have a mutual understanding in their hearts and discuss it properly in the future.”
Since the conversation had reached this point, Princess Rongcheng could only smile bitterly: “Since that’s the case, when I return I’ll first ask Mother’s opinion, then have the Prince Consort ask Jingchuan…” In her heart, though, she felt this matter absolutely could not succeed. Ye Jingchuan might seem even-tempered, but he was stubborn. If he weren’t stubborn, he couldn’t possibly have run all the way to Fujian to endure hardship.
Crown Princess Lu nodded, then heard Princess Rongcheng speak of Emperor Jianzhang’s desire to have Zhou Weiyin and Zhou Weiyang adopted by Prince Su. She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again: “This way Mother will also be at ease. It truly is a good thing.”