Everyone looked toward Tuoba Zhen and was momentarily stunned. Over these years, Tuoba Zhen had kept a low profile in the court, never participating in any disputes. On the surface, he appeared the most law-abiding, yet who could have imagined that today’s matter would actually implicate him.

Tuoba Zhen looked at Li Weiyang. Li Weiyang merely smiled at him. Pulling up the radish brings out the mud? Well, this was truly a very interesting metaphor. She now felt it was indeed very apt.

Tuoba Zhen rose to his full height. His face showed not a trace of surprise, but instead he laughed heartily and said, “Congratulations to Father Emperor, felicitations to Father Emperor!”

The Emperor’s expression was displeased. He thought to himself that on such a fine day, the Crown Prince had summoned this woman, pouring a basin of cold water that gave him a massive headache. What was there to congratulate? He said angrily, “What joy is there!”

Tuoba Zhen’s face wore a composed smile as he said, “This Leng woman spoke a few careless words, spreading rumors and slandering Consort Lian. This was deliberate confusion of right and wrong with treacherous intentions. The Crown Prince was momentarily negligent and taken advantage of, which is indeed a transgression. Now that the truth has been completely revealed, the chief culprit is this rumor-mongering woman. She first used honeyed words to deceive me, then deceived the Crown Prince, and now acts so arrogantly and disrespectfully in the great hall. Fortunately, Seventh Brother’s keen discernment allowed him to find evidence first, which proved Consort Lian’s innocence. However, the Crown Prince is truly innocent, merely deceived by her. For such a woman full of nonsense, Father Emperor should immediately execute her to settle Consort Lian’s grievance! As for the Crown Prince, please, Father Emperor, consider the bond of flesh and blood, reconcile with the Crown Prince, and let bygones be bygones.”

Li Weiyang couldn’t help but look at him and smile. Tuoba Zhen, oh Tuoba Zhen, you are truly formidable. In just a few words, you seem to be pleading and defending for others, but actually you’re telling everyone that the Crown Prince was the mastermind behind all this! You acted on his instructions to buy off this woman! Yet to the Empress and Crown Prince, it seems like you’re so loyal, still thinking of them at this point. But to the Emperor’s ears, it sounds completely different…

Ultimately, Tuoba Zhen wanted to force the Emperor to make a choice—the Crown Prince and Empress, or Consort Lian.

The Empress felt she should seize the opportunity and quickly left her seat to help Consort Lian up: “Sister, please rise. All this was because the Crown Prince was too trusting and nearly wronged you! You’re six months pregnant—this is a time to take care. The ground is so cold—you mustn’t keep kneeling!”

Consort Lian’s face was full of grievance as she looked at the Emperor. The Emperor nodded at her, and only then did she rise with the momentum, wipe her tears, and return to her seat. But before she could settle into it, she felt her belly violently contract. She cried out in alarm, and a female official beside her quickly said, “Your Majesty, the Consort’s condition seems poor. Please permit the Consort to withdraw!” Seeing something was wrong, the Emperor quickly said, “Go quickly!” The female officials hurriedly called people to help Consort Lian, whose forehead was beaded with large drops of sweat, withdraw. Knowing these were symptoms of impending labor, the Empress’s expression became even uglier, though she could only maintain a smile. To outsiders, that smile looked truly twisted.

Li Weiyang carefully observed the Empress and saw her complexion was extremely poor, with a grayish-blue color beneath her eyes. Surrounded by a large circle of young and beautiful palace maids, she appeared even more aged. Thick powder couldn’t conceal her sickly appearance—she looked as if her lamp oil was running dry. Knowing her condition had not improved and that her days were certainly numbered, Li Weiyang couldn’t help but curve her lips and lower her head. In her previous life at this time, the Empress had already died, but in this life, she had lingered on for half a year longer. For the situation, this was truly an unpredictable variable. But no matter how much thousand-year ginseng was used to sustain her life, the Empress couldn’t hold on much longer. Once she died, would the relationship between the Crown Prince and Tuoba Zhen remain so stable?

Seeing Consort Lian had withdrawn but the case before them remained unjudged, the Emperor looked at the Empress Dowager: “What does Mother Empress think?”

The Empress Dowager looked at the Crown Prince, Tuoba Zhen, and Tuoba Yu, remaining silent. These three children were all her biological grandsons. Yet the Crown Prince was dull-witted, Tuoba Yu stood out like a tree in the forest, and Tuoba Zhen’s scheming was unfathomable… A struggle was clearly about to erupt before her eyes… She truly didn’t know how to stop these successive imperial family conflicts. In the past, she had supported the Emperor as he defeated his other brothers step by step to ascend the throne. Now, she had to watch helplessly as her grandsons slaughtered each other. This was the fate of the imperial family. No one could refuse that position of power over all under heaven… She sighed, “The Crown Prince acted impetuously, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and was thus deceived by treacherous people, leading to today’s events. This Empress Dowager believes that although the Crown Prince had no intentional wrongdoing, he bears the suspicion of indulgence. He should be fined one hundred taels as a contribution to disaster relief. Does Your Majesty think this appropriate?”

The Emperor said, “This Empress Dowager has commanded, and I naturally comply. Let’s do this—the Crown Prince and Third Prince shall each contribute five hundred gold pieces to the state treasury and forfeit one year’s stipend.” From beginning to end, they didn’t mention that woman—not because they had forgotten her, but because she was already a dead person.

The Crown Prince breathed a sigh of relief, but Tuoba Zhen’s expression turned slightly pale. He knew the Emperor didn’t believe his earlier words. Clearly, the Emperor also saw him as one of the chief culprits in this matter. But why—

At this moment, Tuoba Zhen didn’t know that Li Weiyang and Consort Lian had set up the matter with Beauty Zhang in advance, causing the Emperor’s trust in them to plummet to freezing point. No matter what they said today, the Emperor would already assume they had plotted everything to murder Consort Lian. Moreover, the Crown Prince’s collusion with Beauty Zhang wasn’t just about dallying with a stepmother—it might also involve other intentions, such as using Beauty Zhang to spy on the Emperor… All this was intolerable to the Emperor. One could imagine what his view was of these two princes who had formed a faction. In other words, the more Tuoba Zhen appeared to help the Crown Prince now, the more the Emperor believed they were jealous of Tuoba Yu, and the more he pitied the Seventh Prince’s isolation and loneliness.

Li Weiyang understood the Emperor too well. When one son’s power appeared very strong while another son appeared lonely, he would show comfort, sympathy, and even covert support to the lonely one, while giving terrible suppression to the powerful one. This was like in common families—the so-called treating sons with a level bowl was simply impossible to achieve. Most parents would see which one was poorer and would rob the wealthy son to help him. This was “robbing the rich to aid the poor” within families.

The guards led away the ceaselessly weeping woman and the two children. Li Weiyang watched the two children trembling and slightly closed her eyes, as if the candlelight made them sting. Sun Yanjun sighed, “The children are innocent.”

Li Weiyang opened her eyes and said softly, “Their mother shouldn’t have come to the capital, and even more so shouldn’t have let gold and silver objects confuse her mind. The family was living well together, yet she insisted on believing Tuoba Zhen’s words and coming to testify. Whether successful or not, she could hardly escape death.”

Tuoba Zhen had never planned to spare this family, because accusing Consort Lian was after all not a glorious matter. He wouldn’t leave this handle in others’ hands. Even if he succeeded today, in the future he would still find an opportunity to kill this entire family. Therefore, this woman should never have come to the capital, and even more so should never have trusted a demon wearing human skin.

The banquet continued. Li Weiyang looked at each composed face around her, wondering what they were all thinking. Clearly such a terrible thing had just happened before their eyes, yet everyone could act as if nothing had occurred, as if nothing had happened. Probably all those who accompanied the ruler had to be even more ruthless and merciless than others… For instance, herself—wasn’t she the same…

Suddenly she heard commotion outside. Li Weiyang raised her head and saw two palace maids enter the hall with joyful expressions. In their arms, they conspicuously held a baby. The maids bowed to the Emperor and said, “Great joy for Your Majesty. Consort Lian has just given birth to a prince for Your Majesty.”

The appearance of this baby seemed to instantly melt the originally awkward atmosphere. The Crown Prince was the first to stand, laughing loudly as he congratulated the Emperor. Then everyone successively congratulated the Emperor and Empress Dowager. The great hall, which had been somber for so long, became filled with talk and laughter.

Everyone’s attention was immediately drawn to this country’s thirteenth prince. Everyone seemed to have forgotten that this country had previously seen the birth of twelve princes, but among them, only four had survived to the present. Moreover, apart from the Eighth Prince who had not yet matured, the others had already fallen into life-and-death struggles.

The Emperor looked happily at his son. He had once had many sons, but this child’s significance was quite different. He was already so old—in the future he might not have more offspring. This one… was very likely to be his youngest son. The Empress Dowager smiled beside him. The Emperor handed the child to the Empress Dowager, saying, “Please bestow blessings upon the Thirteenth Prince, Empress Dowager.”

The Empress Dowager held the baby. The warmth and softness came from close contact. Though just born, the child didn’t cry. His eyes hadn’t even opened, yet the corners of his mouth seemed to carry a smile as he slept sweetly. The Empress Dowager felt both love and pity. She gently stroked the child’s cheek, her gaze serene, and sighed, “Let him be called Tuoba Xu.”

Upon hearing this, everyone was momentarily stunned. Tuoba Xu… and bestowed by the Empress Dowager herself. They couldn’t help but congratulate the Thirteenth Prince one after another.

Yet amidst all this excitement, Tuoba Zhen looked at Li Weiyang and curved his lips. So that was it. Consort Lian originally had half a month before giving birth. How could she have suddenly gone into labor and delivered early—she must have used labor-inducing substances. Through the Thirteenth Prince’s tender face, Tuoba Zhen seemed to see Li Weiyang and Consort Lian’s conspiracy. Thinking of this, he glanced at the Empress Dowager’s expression. Her face was completely filled with joy, without a trace of hesitation. He knew that today’s performance had been in vain. Because Li Weiyang had already seen through his true intentions. What he wanted wasn’t a public judgment, but suspicion behind the scenes. Once the Emperor and Empress Dowager both became suspicious of Consort Lian, they would soon drag down Tuoba Yu as well. A prince colluding with an inner palace consort—what a grave crime that was…

However, Li Weiyang had arranged for this child to be born early, and born on the Empress Dowager’s birthday—sharing the same birthday as the Empress Dowager. From now on, every time the Empress Dowager saw this child, she would remember this point. Not only that, but in the future the Emperor would also regard this child differently. And the Empress Dowager had just bestowed a name on this child—though only three short characters, it had formally drawn a conclusion to today’s events, while completely sweeping away the shadow hanging over Consort Lian… She and this child had gained the Empress Dowager’s recognition. No, one could say it was a form of protection.

He glanced at the Crown Prince, whose face wore a forced smile, and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Tuoba Xu… these three characters sent Consort Lian to heaven while simultaneously casting the Crown Prince into hell. Unfortunately, the Crown Prince hadn’t yet realized this. In the future, he would understand what changes this child’s appearance would bring to this struggle.

The Crown Prince stood among a group of congratulating ministers, looking at the Emperor’s smiling face and the Empress Dowager’s gratified expression. He felt lonely—an indescribable, inexpressible loneliness. At this moment, he still didn’t know that everything had changed tonight. Although the Emperor hadn’t punished him, he had already decided to depose this heir apparent. The only ones who perceived this, apart from the Empress Dowager, were Li Weiyang, who had been silently watching all of this, and of course, one other person—the lawful wife who had shared the Emperor’s bed for many years, the Empress. She secretly watched all this, her mind racing rapidly, trying to find an opportunity to turn defeat into victory.

After the palace maids carried the child away, the Empress Dowager already felt fatigued. She smiled and stood up, saying, “This Empress Dowager is truly tired and wants to walk in the garden.”

Everyone hurriedly rose to accompany her, but the Empress Dowager shook her head and said, “Ninth Princess, you come.” The Ninth Princess quickly walked over and accompanied the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager thought for a moment and suddenly said, “Weiyang, you come too.”

Everyone was greatly shocked, including Li Xiaoran’s face, which showed an expression of disbelief. That the Empress Dowager favored the Ninth Princess, who was moreover of noble birth, made her companionship unsurprising. But what was Li Weiyang? Just a minister’s daughter, and moreover a concubine-born one… Immediately, many noble ladies and young misses’ faces showed unconcealed jealousy. Although they tried hard to suppress this jealousy, they still couldn’t help it. They couldn’t help it—as soon as they thought that Li Weiyang’s birth mother was merely a lowly foot-washing maid, they couldn’t forgive her.

People often say that in this world there is no love without reason, nor hatred without reason. In fact, the love and hatred in this world are always so without reason, so groundless. Jealousy is enough to explain everything. Although they also knew that Li Weiyang had the Empress Dowager’s favor entirely through her own efforts, at this moment, who would still remember all that? They would only be jealous—why wasn’t it themselves who had the qualification to stand beside the Empress Dowager…

Li Weiyang was equally surprised, but she didn’t show this surprise. Instead, she rose calmly and silently followed the Empress Dowager, leaving under everyone’s gaze. The group left the great hall and came to the garden. Behind the Empress Dowager, only the Ninth Princess and Li Weiyang followed, while a crowd of palace maids holding parasols and fans followed far behind.

The Ninth Princess looked at the Empress Dowager and said quietly to Li Weiyang, “Sister Weiyang, the Empress Dowager has something to say to you!”

Li Weiyang naturally knew the Empress Dowager had something to say, but she didn’t know what she wanted to say. The Empress Dowager walked to a rose bush, suddenly stopped, turned to look at Li Weiyang, and a trace of a smile appeared on her stern face as she said, “Weiyang, come here.”

Li Weiyang walked over, her expression slightly reserved. She knew that those in positions of power all liked such reservation, because it represented reverence and propriety.

The Empress Dowager looked at her delicate face and smiled slightly, saying, “Weiyang, Yu’er has told this Empress Dowager everything. He said that the idea to burn the five hundred thousand troops was told to him by you.”

Li Weiyang’s brows furrowed slightly. She hadn’t expected Tuoba Yu would actually reveal this matter, but at the same time, she had anticipated his approach. She knelt before the Empress Dowager and said softly, “This subject is guilty.”

The Empress Dowager personally helped her up and smiled, “You spared millions of common people on the Great Li border from the calamity of war. What guilt is there? It’s too late to reward you.”

The Empress Dowager wanted to reward her—Li Weiyang’s heart tightened slightly as she smiled, “Empress Dowager, if you truly wish to reward Weiyang, please grant my mother the position of equal wife.”

The Empress Dowager was shocked and said, “Weiyang, won’t you seek a reward for yourself? Yu’er, he—”

Li Weiyang smiled and said, “Empress Dowager, after Consort De passed away, the Seventh Prince has been too lonely. If the Empress Dowager pities him, you should choose a good match for him soon.”

The Empress Dowager was completely stunned. Tuoba Yu had revealed everything and asked the Empress Dowager to decide, to marry Li Weiyang to him. Moreover, he wanted the position of principal consort. Originally, the Empress Dowager also felt Li Weiyang’s status couldn’t make her a principal consort, but since she had rendered such great merit, making an exception wasn’t impossible. Furthermore, she also felt that Li Weiyang was a smart and good girl who, after marrying Tuoba Yu, would certainly assist her husband well. Ultimately, the Empress Dowager was far more discerning than Consort De. She greatly appreciated Li Weiyang and had the heart to elevate her. If Tuoba Yu could go further in the future, then this young girl before her might have even greater fortune—all of this would depend on herself.

However, she hadn’t expected that Li Weiyang would tactfully refuse. She would rather fight for her mother’s position as an equal wife—rather than becoming Tuoba Yu’s principal consort. She even reminded the Empress Dowager that she should select a consort for Tuoba Yu. Why? The Empress Dowager understood Tuoba Yu. He wasn’t a rash person. He always did things after deep consideration. Since he had already proposed it, the Empress Dowager assumed that at least he and Li Weiyang already had mutual affection. But looking at it now, everything was Tuoba Yu’s wishful thinking.

The Empress Dowager was somewhat angry. The first time she played matchmaker, someone actually refused. Her voice carried a slight chill: “Why?” Could there be some unspeakable difficulty, or was she being coy?

The Ninth Princess’s eyes widened as she watched Li Weiyang actually refuse such a tremendously fortunate matter. She almost suspected Li Weiyang had gone mad. Marrying her Seventh Brother was something so many daughters of noble families dreamed of day and night, yet she had flatly refused with one word.

Li Weiyang merely said slowly, “Empress Dowager, Weiyang simply is unwilling.”

The Empress Dowager looked at her, several strange colors flickering in her eyes. For a long time, she couldn’t say a word. Unwilling—there was actually someone in the world who dared to tell the current Empress Dowager she was unwilling, and said it so resolutely and solemnly. She almost wanted to laugh out loud.

Once upon a time, when she married, she had also said these words: I am unwilling. When she was still a young girl, she thought everything in this world belonged to her. Her father was rising steadily in rank. Although they couldn’t compare to the imperial family, she was still heaven’s favored daughter. Back then, her mother always said that with my daughter’s character and family background, what kind of person couldn’t she marry in the future—she must choose the best. At that time, she thought the same way. But in the end? She married into the palace gates, married the supreme ruler. There was no man in this world more distinguished than him. But she was unwilling to enter the palace, because she already had someone in her heart.

In the Empress Dowager’s mind floated that person’s appearance from years ago. When she inadvertently fell because her clothing was caught by a tree branch, those hands supported her. A handsome face imprinted itself in her eyes as that person gently called her name, his smile warm and pleasant.

At that time, she inexplicably suddenly had a strange feeling toward this cousin, a blush appearing on her face. She had thought that with the friendship between their two families, with her parents’ doting on her, this husband would certainly be hers. They had already agreed, after all—unfortunately, when she said she was unwilling to enter the palace, her father, who had always doted on her, gave her a slap.

She stopped at nothing, attempting to arrange an elopement with that person. Throughout the land, there is no soil that is not the king’s—this was true, but once they left the Great Li border, what did the Emperor’s edict matter! No one could do anything to them! But that night, that person didn’t come. She resented him for breaking his promise. In a fit of anger, she married into the palace. Although wealthy and worry-free, high and mighty, this life was hopeless, let alone any talk of happiness. However, more than ten years later, she learned he had never married and died in melancholy. That night, that person didn’t come—not because he didn’t want to, but because when he opened his door, he saw his biological parents and several hundred people from his household kneeling before him, begging him not to commit such a catastrophic blunder. Yes, abducting the Emperor’s designated consort—they could run, but what about those two clans? How could these several hundred people run? So he couldn’t come, could never come—

Later, she ascended step by step to the Empress Dowager’s throne. Only then did she understand that in this world, there was no such thing as “you are unwilling.” If you’re unwilling, you still must be willing, and must agree with delight. Because this was the imperial family’s grace. Unwilling? Simply laughable!

She hadn’t expected that after so many years, there would be a young girl kneeling before her, clearly saying these four words: I am unwilling. Even the Emperor’s beloved Ninth Princess, facing a marriage she was unwilling to accept, didn’t dare to say these four words. Li Weiyang—how did she dare!

The Empress Dowager stared at her and said slowly, “Do you know what you’re saying?” She had originally wanted to bestow the marriage in the great hall, but felt she should give advance notice so Li Weiyang wouldn’t lose her composure with joy in the hall. She never expected someone would actually dare to refuse!

Li Weiyang raised her head, looking directly at her, saying word by word, “Weiyang understands what I’m saying, but Weiyang is not thinking of myself, but of the Seventh Prince.”

The Empress Dowager’s eyebrows rose meaningfully as she drew out her voice in an “oh,” still remaining impassive. Li Weiyang knew the Empress Dowager was evaluating her. If she said the wrong thing, she might very likely face being cast into hell in one moment. However, unwilling was unwilling. If she married Tuoba Yu, what difference would it be from marrying Tuoba Zhen back then? Going through the path to Empress again? She knew Tuoba Yu truly liked her, but how long could this kind of liking last? She didn’t want to experience the past again.

She steeled her heart—置之死地而后生 (placing herself in a deadly position to survive afterward). She absolutely would not marry any member of the Tuoba family again!

“Empress Dowager, what the Seventh Prince needs is a woman of noble birth who can assist his great undertakings, because he has the ability to compete with the Crown Prince. If he marries Weiyang, apart from making him a laughingstock, it would serve no other purpose. If the Empress Dowager truly cares for the Seventh Prince, you cannot do this!”

The palace maids stood far away, not knowing what was being said here, but they saw both the Empress Dowager and Ninth Princess change color simultaneously. A certain heavy威严 (imposing authority) in the air suddenly pressed down, like an arrow on a bowstring, ready to be released at any moment.

Her thoughts had already been seen through by this girl… The Empress Dowager’s face suddenly darkened, becoming overcast. The Crown Prince, Tuoba Zhen, Tuoba Yu—they were all her grandsons. Her bloodline continued through them. Among them, Tuoba Yu was most beloved by the Empress Dowager. Originally, the Crown Prince could have gained her support, because when the Crown Prince was born, the Empress Dowager had taken him to her side to raise, but very soon the Empress found ways to take him back. This way, the Crown Prince naturally had the Empress backing him and was slightly distant from his grandmother. As for Tuoba Zhen, this child, although always modest and prudent, in the Empress Dowager’s view, at such a young age he was already deeply scheming, neither close nor affectionate with anyone. Although Consort De wasn’t good at reading people, she was good at pleasing people. She always used the excuse of being busy managing palace affairs to send Tuoba Yu to the Empress Dowager’s side every few days. In fact, affection needed to be cultivated from childhood. Tuoba Yu had grown up in her palace since childhood, allowing her to feel long-lost happiness in the twilight of her life.

One could imagine that although appearing to treat all equally, even consistently helping the Crown Prince, the Empress Dowager’s true favorite child in her bones was Tuoba Yu. She had heard too many stories of brothers killing each other. She worried such tragedy would repeat itself among her grandsons. Especially after Consort De’s death, she felt she had become Tuoba Yu’s only guardian deity. She even hoped Consort De would disappear sooner, because she always felt Consort De only had small cleverness, not great wisdom. These years, without the Empress Dowager’s protection, Tuoba Yu couldn’t have grown up safely to this point.

However, she couldn’t protect him forever. She was already old and didn’t know how much longer she could live. Soon Tuoba Yu would have to protect himself. She wasn’t worried the Emperor would make things difficult for Tuoba Yu, because she knew the Emperor also very much liked this son. What she worried about was that the Crown Prince and Tuoba Zhen would be unfavorable to Tuoba Yu. Moreover, to protect her only son, the Empress would inevitably clear away all who could pose a threat to the throne. Tuoba Yu might suffer the Empress’s deadly hand because of this.

Li Weiyang deeply understood the Empress Dowager’s thoughts, because over all these years, she had long seen that the Empress Dowager had been secretly helping Tuoba Yu all along. Moreover, in the Empress Dowager’s view, the best way to protect oneself was to hold military forces in one’s own hands. Because in the court, the Li family and Jiang family had always been secretly struggling, but on one point they were consistent—in their attitude toward Duke Luoguo, they were unanimously exclusionary. And the Crown Prince and Tuoba Zhen, who had been plotting for a long time, similarly wouldn’t let Tuoba Yu interfere in government affairs. Therefore, the Empress Dowager would certainly find ways to let Tuoba Yu obtain more troops.

The greatest difference between the military and the court was that no matter what background you had, you still had to rely on military merit to speak. High military merit meant high prestige. Tuoba Yu could rely on his royal status and the Empress Dowager’s support to gain command, but he couldn’t rely on these to conquer the hearts of millions of soldiers. To conquer the hearts of millions of soldiers, he could only rely on one victorious battle after another. This Northern Desert great victory had made Tuoba Yu famous throughout the land. Having seized control of the Northern Desert border, combined with Duke Luoguo’s two hundred thousand men, he now had a full four hundred thousand troops. Regardless of who sat on the emperor’s throne, if they wanted to move against him, they would have to consider carefully.

The Empress Dowager’s face showed shifting emotions. For an instant, killing intent flashed through. She was even thinking that in a moment, she could secretly execute Li Weiyang and merely say she unfortunately contracted an急病 (acute illness) and died, or just say she violated palace禁 (prohibitions) and was directly executed…

“The Li family now dominates the court alone. Even though Weiyang is concubine-born, the Crown Prince and Third Prince won’t watch Weiyang marry the Seventh Prince. This would be equivalent to making the Li family stand on the Seventh Prince’s side—occupying both civil and military positions. For the Seventh Prince at present, this would instead be more dangerous. For the Empress Dowager to plan for the Seventh Prince, you should select another suitable match and not prematurely push him to the forefront of the storm.” Li Weiyang seemed unable to see the Empress Dowager’s thoughts, her expression calm as she spoke.

The Empress Dowager couldn’t make a decision for a long time. Her gaze met Li Weiyang’s eyes, not saying a word. Finally, she gazed at the young girl kneeling on the ground and suddenly smiled.

Once she smiled, the Ninth Princess felt the pressure suddenly decrease and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. She knew this grandmother of hers—ordinarily she appeared kind and benevolent, but when she actually killed people, she didn’t blink an eye. Just now when Li Weiyang opened her mouth to refuse, she had almost thought the Empress Dowager would order her dragged out the palace gates to be beheaded.

So dangerous… Weiyang had just taken a turn around the gates of hell.

The Empress Dowager smiled briefly: “Oh, so you’re wholeheartedly thinking of my grandson.”

“This is precisely so, which is why this subject dares to speak truthfully.”

The Empress Dowager’s gaze flickered, then she said coolly, “No one has ever violated this Empress Dowager’s decree. What makes you think you can? What you said just now about doing this for Yu’er was merely high-sounding words. This Empress Dowager wants to hear the truth.”

Li Weiyang was quiet for a moment, then continued, “What this subject said was all from the heart. Perhaps it’s presumptuous and bold, perhaps it will offend the Empress Dowager, but it must be said. First,承蒙 (receiving) the Empress Dowager’s favor, if this subject were to be enfeoffed as the Seventh Prince’s consort, to outsiders it would appear infinitely glorious, like a carp leaping through the dragon gate. But for this subject, it would not be a good thing. Now the Seventh Prince regards this subject with special favor, even coming to ask the Empress Dowager to bestow this marriage, which certainly comes from sincere heart. But the Empress Dowager’s consent is only because this subject is skilled in策略 (strategy and tactics) and in the future can assist her husband. But such things, this subject can do from outside the residence. Once married into the Seventh Prince’s residence, I would only整日里沉沦于 (day after day sink into) wife-concubine disputes, legitimate-concubine disputes, and would no longer have余力 (remaining energy) to help my husband. Moreover, this subject’s personality isn’t温婉 (gentle and soft) enough, my handling of affairs isn’t considerate enough, and even my appearance isn’t particularly outstanding. As time goes on, the Prince’s feelings of love will eventually fade, and he’ll favor others. Continuing like this, this subject will become narrow-minded and harsh toward others. I fear the position of principal consort the Empress Dowager bestows also won’t be able to fill the寂寥与愤恨 (loneliness and resentment) in this subject’s heart. This subject and the Seventh Prince are now friends. This kind of relationship is already very good. I truly don’t希望 (hope) that one day in the future I can only receive his hatred. Please, Empress Dowager, grant this.”

The Empress Dowager stared at Li Weiyang. She knew all of the other party’s concerns were genuine. Tuoba Yu currently loved Li Weiyang, but the most crucial point was that he couldn’t have her. All princes generally had nothing they couldn’t obtain, which is why he was particularly persistent about Li Weiyang. But once he married her home, if Li Weiyang remained this cold and indifferent, one day his love would be worn flat. The principal consort couldn’t provide equivalent love. He was a man surrounded by beauties, so he would certainly turn to other consorts seeking solace. But Li Weiyang was still the principal consort. She might not love Tuoba Yu, but she would certainly bear offspring. To protect her son’s position, she would be forced to strike at other consorts… By then, wouldn’t the Seventh Prince’s residence, which had always been peaceful, completely become a battlefield? This was completely contrary to the Empress Dowager’s original idea of making her Tuoba Yu’s strategist.

Li Weiyang was right. On the surface she appeared very cold, but the Empress Dowager could see that in her bones, her domineering nature and possessiveness were stronger than anyone else’s.

Li Weiyang raised her head, gazing very intently at the Empress Dowager, that clear gaze gripping the Empress Dowager’s heart: “If after hearing these words, the Empress Dowager still insists on having her way, this subject can only comply.”

The Ninth Princess listened in stunned amazement, thinking to herself, Weiyang, you really dare to speak! Li Weiyang’s meaning was very clear—regardless of who wanted to marry her, it must come from the heart. Moreover, even if she didn’t love the other party, if that person married her, she also couldn’t tolerate the slightest betrayal. Either wholehearted love without a trace of impurity, or get as far away as possible and don’t provoke her.

Truly arrogant and domineering enough, yet it left people unable to say half a word of disapproval. The Ninth Princess vaguely felt that Li Weiyang, this Princess Anping, lived much more freely than she, a princess, did. Just by daring to say these things before the Empress Dowager, this courage alone was something she didn’t have…

Li Weiyang’s voice was word by word distant, sentence by sentence clear. The Empress Dowager gently closed her eyes and turned her head: “The wind outside has picked up. Let’s return.”

The group returned to the banquet. The Ninth Princess had been too frightened to make a sound the whole time. Looking at Li Weiyang’s calm expression, she almost didn’t know what to say.

Returning to the great hall, everyone was enjoying song and dance. A group of musicians were playing, while more than ten beautiful young women danced翩翩 (gracefully) in the hall. They all wore修长的 (long and elegant) dance costumes with long sleeves飘飘 (floating and waving), dancing in the wind like soft feathers. Their dance steps were light yet rhythmic—clearly this was the Soft Wave Dance that Consort Lian had previously rehearsed for them.

Seeing the Empress Dowager return, everyone quickly rose to greet her. The Empress Dowager waved to stop the song and dance and suddenly said loudly, “This Empress Dowager has something to announce. Weiyang, come to this Empress Dowager’s side.”

Li Weiyang’s heart sank. Had those words just now failed to dispel the Empress Dowager’s念头 (intention)? A trace of a smile appeared on Tuoba Yu’s face. He knew Li Weiyang was unwilling to marry him. Previously he had been willing to wait, wait until she was willing, but now he wasn’t prepared to wait anymore, because he knew that waiting further would only result in disappointment. Previously, Weiyang had said that whatever one wanted, one should take it with one’s own hands. Now, what he wanted was her, and only her.

The Empress Dowager said, “Weiyang has frequently entered the palace these days to accompany this Empress Dowager, caring for me more attentively than anyone else. This Empress Dowager wants to properly reward you once.”

Tuoba Yu’s smile deepened. He knew what the Empress Dowager was going to reward Li Weiyang—the identity of the Seventh Prince’s principal consort.

Because the hour had passed midnight, some people were somewhat drowsy, but now hearing the Empress Dowager was going to reward Li Weiyang, they couldn’t help but become alert, quickly rallying their spirits to hear what the Empress Dowager would say. Actually, rewarding a minister’s daughter was nothing more than some gold, silver, and jade objects. But if that were the case, the Empress Dowager wouldn’t be so solemn. There was probably something unusual about this. Puzzled expressions appeared on everyone’s faces, including even the Emperor’s.

The Empress smiled and said, “Empress Dowager, I wonder what you’re going to reward Princess Anping?”

The Empress Dowager said, “This Empress Dowager has heard that your birth mother’s status is not high, which is truly regrettable. Therefore, today I will grant her the status of equal wife. Prime Minister Li, you may thank me on her behalf.”

Tuoba Yu wasn’t discouraged. He kept his eyes fixed on the Empress Dowager, wanting to know what else she would say next. Although Li Xiaoran was surprised, in this situation he naturally had to come out and give thanks. He glanced at the calm-faced Li Weiyang and Jiang Yuelan beside her. The two of them together kowtowed and said, “Thank the Empress Dowager for this grace.”

Upon hearing this, everyone present showed envious expressions on their faces. Equal wife—in the previous dynasty, this was actually a saying that circulated among commoners. Some merchants doing business had a wife at home, then being away from home continuously, they would marry another wife in the place where they did business. However, if they met with the previous wife, one would be the legitimate wife and one would be a concubine, unless they never met. Therefore, in the previous dynasty’s laws, there was no such thing as equal wife. Usually the one married later wouldn’t return to the ancestral home for life, wouldn’t enter the clan. To be recognized and return home meant performing concubine rites. To enter the family registry also meant only being a concubine, with children only recorded as concubine-born.

However, in the current dynasty, the court’s control over legitimate wives and equal wives had relaxed somewhat. More and more households adopted the practice of having both a legitimate wife and an equal wife, both of high status. But when legitimate wife and equal wife, legitimate and concubine weren’t distinguished, in great clans and礼义之家 (families that valued propriety and righteousness) concerned with reputation, this was very looked down upon as败坏门风 (corrupting family tradition) behavior. Therefore, ordinary families wouldn’t do this. Now that the Empress Dowager personally granted Tan Shi equal wife status, the situation was vastly different. This was recognition by the imperial family—an upright and proper Lady. Completely worlds apart from equal wives married by families who didn’t understand propriety. Moreover, since the current Lady Li, Jiang Yuelan’s birth wasn’t particularly高 (elevated), Tan Shi suddenly becoming the Empress Dowager’s personally enfeoffed equal wife of the Li residence immediately surpassed her.

This was an unprecedented grace in the current dynasty. So when the Empress Dowager spoke, everyone stared at Li Weiyang with envious and jealous eyes. Her birth mother had been elevated to equal wife, which meant she was now a legitimate daughter—then everyone looked at Jiang Yuelan, as if wanting to see something on her face. Unfortunately, the expression on her face was even more composed than Li Xiaoran’s, as if she shared in the glory.

The Empress smiled and said, “So that’s it. I imagine the Princess’s mother will be extremely delighted when she learns of this.”

The Empress Dowager smiled slightly and said, “Naturally. This Empress Dowager has taken away someone’s daughter, so of course I must give her some compensation.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire assembly was shocked. The Emperor couldn’t help but say, “Empress Dowager, why do you say this?”

The Empress Dowager said, “This Empress Dowager has already decided to take Li Weiyang as this Empress Dowager’s adopted daughter. Therefore, she is now not Princess Anping, but Princess Imperial Anping.”