From childhood Shaoshang had been sharp and quick-witted. After deciding on her course of action, she quickly ran out of Changqiu Palace, stopping several palace maids and eunuchs along the way to ask which direction Ling Buyi and the Fifth Prince had gone, then ran in one breath to the Upper West Gate, only to discover Ling Buyi and the Fifth Prince had long since left through the palace gate. The guard officers recognized Shaoshang and smiled kindly, but still dutifully indicated that without an imperial decree or exit permit, they couldn’t let people leave the palace at will.
Though the Empress had agreed she could go home, she hadn’t issued the decree before being angered to illness by the Fifth Princess. Shaoshang felt dizzy. So she still wasn’t released from confinement?!
She wanted to ask the guard brothers for some flexibility—normally they greatly respected Ling Buyi. Who knew the guards secretly watching her sent waves of good-natured teasing—one saying “Miss Cheng and Lord Ling quarreled again?”, another saying “What do you mean again? Clearly the anger from last time hasn’t finished yet. Good gracious, Lord Ling who’s usually like a clear breeze and bright moon, such a cold person, actually showed his anger on his face”, and another saying “Nonsense, why would he be cold in front of his bride? He’d be warm before there was time to spare”…
—To hell with the fine sons of the Six Garrisons. Were they selected based on who had the biggest mouth?! Shaoshang’s face flushed red tinged with black. She lowered her head, stamped her foot, turned and ran back toward Changqiu Palace, planning to get the Empress’s decree and then settle accounts with this group of big mouths.
From Changqiu Palace to the Upper West Gate, even taking shortcuts took half an hour. No matter how spirited Shaoshang was, after this back-and-forth jog she was deflated. She could only curse for the Nth time this delicate body that looked good but was useless. If this had been her body from her previous life… Never mind, a good fellow doesn’t mention past valor.
With great difficulty she ran back to Changqiu Palace, only to see Granny Zhai standing at the entrance constantly looking out. Upon seeing Shaoshang, she immediately pulled her inside: “Your Majesty was quite angered. It’s already lunchtime but she can’t eat anything. Usually when Your Majesty sees you she’s happy—quickly go comfort her…”
Shaoshang couldn’t get a word out. She was already gasping for breath from running, her lungs burning like fire. Though today was originally quite cold, she’d actually run until her front and back were covered in hot sweat. But Granny Zhai was too anxious to allow discussion and just dragged her toward the inner sleeping quarters.
“Okay, okay, Granny, use less force, let me catch my breath…”
“Catch your breath inside. I’ll prepare hot cheese drink to soothe your throat. When Your Majesty sees you disheveled like this going to see her, perhaps her heart will soften and she’ll be willing to eat!”
Like a directionless broken kite, Shaoshang was dragged along at a jog by Granny Zhai. In her panic she didn’t even notice the four familiar-faced young eunuchs guarding the entrance to the Empress’s bedchamber, along with the Emperor’s personal eunuch, Eunuch Director Cen Anzhi.
And Cen Anzhi actually didn’t stop Granny Zhai either. So when Shaoshang stepped into the inner quarters, she saw the Emperor dressed in ceremonial robes sitting beside the Empress’s couch speaking gently. She was so frightened she immediately wanted to turn and flee. Usually when nothing was wrong the Emperor would still lecture her—today’s matter ultimately arose because of her. Running into the Emperor now, she was guaranteed a thorough dressing-down.
“Come in! Is I a flood or savage beast that you’re avoiding?!”
The Emperor had sharp eyes. One stern shout dragged Shaoshang back in. Seeing the girl shrinking her head and shoulders, he felt both angry and amused.
Shaoshang knelt before the Emperor and Empress with trepidation, touching her sweat-drenched forehead to the floor in a very respectful bow, inwardly cursing Granny Zhai for being so treacherous. When she got back she’d tell her an absolutely riveting story, then abandon it midway—see if she didn’t turn Granny Zhai’s anticipation into a stomach ulcer!
However, since the Emperor was here, Ling Buyi temporarily wouldn’t make trouble before the Emperor. She wondered what he was doing outside.
“The Empress is unwell, yet where did you run off to? We searched all of Changqiu Palace without finding you!”
Unsurprisingly, Emperor Uncle began his lecture. “The Empress has always treated you with kindness, yet at this critical moment you weren’t at her side to comfort her—what use are you?! Where have all those books on propriety and filial piety been read to?!”
The Empress leaned against cushions, saying softly: “Your Majesty, don’t be so severe. Shaoshang should have been seeing Zicheng off. She didn’t know about my condition—why scold her…”
Shaoshang carefully raised her head: “Reporting to Your Majesty, this concubine ran all the way to the Upper West Gate.”
The Emperor said: “Then why did you come back again? Didn’t the Empress allow you to go home today?”
Shaoshang smiled placatingly: “This concubine also worries about Your Majesty. So I came back. Just now with the Fifth Princess… uh, Your Majesty didn’t look well. How could this concubine selfishly go home…?” Men are men—even emperors. She hadn’t even packed her luggage—what home was there to return to?!
“Mm, if that’s the case, then you do have some heart.” The Emperor’s expression cleared slightly. He turned back to look at the Empress, continuing to persuade: “…What A’Heng said, though unpleasant to hear, also has some truth. We have several children—one more isn’t many, one less isn’t few. Getting yourself this angry over a wicked creature—is it worth it? You’re just too soft-hearted, which is why you’re so hurt. Why bother with that wicked creature?!”
The Empress said in a low voice: “I’m not hurt, but chilled to the heart. Shaoshang suffered mistreatment the other day, pushed into the lake by several young ladies who came to dance. But out of consideration for my birthday, she endured until today to return the favor. Sigh, others know to show consideration, yet my own flesh and blood committed murder and framed people on my birthday, and shows no remorse whatsoever. This… this…”
“That wicked creature isn’t worth treasuring.” The Emperor said coldly. “Shen’an, set your mind at ease and think of the other children. Just now three young princes all rushed to attend your illness. The Crown Prince went to West Camp today with General Wu. Hearing you were ill, he wanted to rush here, but I sent word telling him to come later. The Second Prince and Eldest Princess are outside the palace and got the news slower. Once they know of this matter, they’ll surely fly into the palace to visit.”
The Empress said in a low voice: “The Eldest Princess and Second Prince will have to wait until tomorrow to visit even if they do. The Crown Prince has no great talent, his only strength is his kind heart.”
“A kind heart is the greatest strength. Several great scholars all say the Crown Prince has a benevolent heart and greatly resembles me. I must thank you for bearing me this good son.” The Emperor gently patted the Empress’s hand.
The Empress’s pale face finally showed some smile.
The Emperor nodded and said to Shaoshang below: “Why aren’t you speaking? The Empress was angered to illness, the Fifth Princess was detained for punishment, yet you’re completely unharmed.”
Shaoshang thought inwardly ‘it came after all’ and said wearily: “Your Majesty, this concubine has fault, but this concubine’s fault is the betrothal to Lord Ling. If not for the betrothal to Lord Ling, the Fifth Princess probably wouldn’t even know who this concubine is.”
The Emperor knew this was the truth.
Shaoshang looked at the Empress’s sickly face. Her heart softened and she said with genuine sincerity: “If time could reverse, this concubine would definitely wish for Lord Ling and the Fifth Princess to achieve their happy union. That way Your Majesty wouldn’t have been angered to illness. Your Majesty has always treated this concubine very well. This concubine dares swear to heaven—these words come truly from the heart.”
The Emperor inwardly cursed that this was impossible. Back when Princess Yuchang had impeccable character and he wanted his adopted son to marry her, his adopted son ran off to the border in one breath. If he’d wanted his adopted son to marry his youngest daughter, the adopted son might have fled to Yuezhi or Tianzhu, achieving eternal separation.
However, the Emperor could still hear the genuine sincerity in the girl’s words. He stopped dwelling on this matter and changed the subject: “Earlier the Empress said you suffered mistreatment, so you set up a serial waste bucket trap early this morning. Hmph, you got your revenge, but caused quite a disaster in Consort Yue’s Long Garden.”
This indeed was a big problem. Shaoshang quickly kowtowed to apologize: “This concubine was presumptuous. At the time I single-mindedly wanted to vent my anger, forgetting this act would also ruin Long Garden. I humbly beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness. This concubine will find a way to clean it up afterward.”
The Emperor snorted: “You find a way? Won’t it be Zicheng finding a way?”
Shaoshang, forehead covered in sweat, prostrated herself not daring to talk back.
“Forget it. After all, they started the trouble first. However…”
Shaoshang’s heart lifted again.
“That serial waste bucket trap was quite cleverly designed.” The Emperor said with some interest. “Several ropes, two door bolts, one wooden plank—enough to harm everyone. Where did you learn this? I remember the Empress never taught you the study of mechanisms.”
Shaoshang laughed foolishly: “This concubine, this concubine when young… often, that…”
The Emperor understood and nodded: “Mm, so it was self-taught, practice makes perfect. Fine then, it counts as a skill.”
The Empress snorted with laughter and lightly tapped the Emperor, saying softly: “Your Majesty, really…”
The Emperor, seeing the girl’s embarrassment, laughed heartily.
Shaoshang was covered in sweat, prostrated on the ground not daring to move—very good, very good. All the scoldings she’d avoided for pranks in her previous life were being made up for in this life. Her middle school homeroom teacher must be very gratified.
The Empress laughed: “Your Majesty knows so clearly—did you personally go look? Weren’t you afraid of that smell?”
“How could I not be afraid?” The Emperor deliberately tried to cheer the Empress up, pretending to be angry: “I went to look with a handkerchief covering my face. Even after more than an hour, the stench was still unbearable! Fortunately the Empress didn’t go, otherwise you wouldn’t need to be angry—you’d just be nauseated.” Actually it was Consort Yue’s old habit from her youth acting up—saying something about sharing fortune and misfortune. She herself had been subjected to the stink, so she had to drag him to smell it too.
The Empress indeed laughed until her lips trembled and eyes curved, much of her anger dissipating.
“…Then what does Your Majesty plan to do about punishing those young ladies who pushed Shaoshang into the water?” The Empress smiled. “Though Shaoshang has already taken revenge herself, their audacity was extreme. They must be overbearing in their conduct outside as well.”
The Emperor said indifferently: “The Fifth Princess was fearless because her parents are you and I. They dared harm people in the palace, so they must be relying on their families. In that case, just strip their fathers and brothers of official positions and stipends. Those without official positions will be fined appropriately.”
The Empress pondered for a moment: “This is also good. Let these households properly reflect at home. Living by farming and studying in the future isn’t a bad thing either.”
A chill ran through Shaoshang’s body—this was the supreme couple, this was where power resided.
Her family background wasn’t much different from those girls who’d pushed her into the water. Colonel Cheng and Director Xiao had devoted themselves with dedication, struggling and striving for over ten years to achieve today’s status, even willing to abandon their youngest daughter for it. She’d seen all of this. Just now in casual conversation, the Emperor and Empress had reduced what might be half a lifetime’s struggle to dust, deciding several families’ honor and disgrace as casually as selecting vegetables or drinking broth.
If not for Ling Buyi, in the eyes of the Emperor and Empress, would she be any different from those girls?
“But… Your Majesty, what if among their fathers and brothers there truly are talented ones? Won’t they be implicated?” Shaoshang timidly raised her head. She knew she shouldn’t open this mouth, should even loudly thank them for their grace, but she couldn’t help it.
The Emperor was slightly surprised, looking at the girl: “Failing to educate one’s children properly—this is the consequence. Do you think collective punishment is a joke?”
The Empress looked at the girl gently, explaining: “The former dynasty followed the Qin legal code—eyes gouged and bones scraped at every turn, feet cut off and faces tattooed—far more cruel than now… Sigh, still an ignorant child. That aunt of hers is truly detestable, teaching her nothing.” The latter half was said to the Emperor.
Shaoshang said she understood and bowed in thanks—she might never be able to adapt to this era.
Because the Emperor still had court matters ahead, he couldn’t stay to dine with the Empress and left. At this time Shaoshang didn’t dare mention leaving the palace or anything like that, diligently and conscientiously attending to the Empress—serving porridge and dishes, rubbing shoulders and kneading her back, sometimes smoothing her back to regulate her breathing, sometimes bringing vegetables and porridge to the Empress’s lips in small bites.
A weak person who’d just been angered couldn’t eat much. Shaoshang almost counted rice grains and vegetable threads watching the Empress swallow, feeding while also saying comforting words, such as ‘Every family has at least one naughty child. Look at my family—all the brothers are filial and honest, only I often anger Mother to collapse. What does this have to do with parents? It’s all heaven-ordained. Other families have more than one unfilial child’ and so on.
After the Empress finished her porridge, Granny Zhai directed palace maids to bring a food table for Shaoshang.
Shaoshang ate lunch while keeping the Empress company in idle chat, then afterward served her medicine. The medicinal decoctions of this era were simply biochemical weapons. Watching the Empress drink medicine, Shaoshang’s face was full of sympathy, murmuring: “Heaven and earth, what suffering Your Majesty endures. This medicine really should be sent to the Fifth Princess as well for a bowl…”
The Empress nearly sprayed the medicine, seeing the girl like a young child viewing medicinal decoctions as a mortal enemy.
After finishing all this busyness, Shaoshang looked at the Empress whose complexion had improved slightly, her heart in a daze.
In her previous life she hadn’t even raised a turtle—even cacti could die miserably on her windowsill. Yet in this life she could actually serve people this carefully and properly—environment was the most terrifying force in this world, invincible and omnipotent. No one could avoid compromise.
She wondered what Ling Buyi was doing now. This time he definitely wouldn’t compromise. Was he currently sulking or racking his brain on how to deal with her? She didn’t know if he’d had lunch—even if he was going to deal with his fiancée, he shouldn’t forget to eat.
After taking the medicine, Shaoshang supported the Empress in slowly walking circles around the hall. The Crown Princess finally came to visit the sick.
Strictly speaking, Shaoshang and the Crown Princess had no grievances. But Shaoshang had disliked her since their second meeting.
People often flattered the Crown Princess as being very similar to the Empress—both refined and dignified, both gentle and proper, both possessed of compassionate hearts, exceedingly lenient with subordinates. But Shaoshang believed the Empress was genuine, while the Crown Princess was only a mid-grade knockoff. The Empress’s gentleness and kindness came from her heart, empathetically hoping others would suffer less and be well provided for. As for the Crown Princess… heh.
“Your daughter-in-law said long ago that Fifth Sister continuing like this wouldn’t do. Sigh, look what you’ve been angered into. The Crown Prince will surely be heartbroken when he returns.” The Crown Princess sat beside the Empress’s couch, speaking in a soft, delicate voice. Shaoshang at the side wished she could take out a needle and densely sew together those two thin lips.
“Mother Empress has lived long in the deep palace, unaware of many things. Fifth Sister has taken in many wandering youths. Tsk tsk, the rumors outside are quite unpleasant. The Crown Prince instructed your daughter-in-law not to mention it to Your Majesty. Sigh, but not mentioning it won’t do either. It’s precisely because Mother Empress knew nothing of Fifth Sister’s character that you were angered to illness. If you’d heard earlier, it wouldn’t have come to this today… Your daughter-in-law doesn’t dare interfere with Father Emperor and Mother Empress’s decisions, but your daughter-in-law believes that without severe punishment, remarkable results won’t be seen. Father Emperor has a broad heart and acts decisively. I only hope Mother Empress won’t soften her heart. Know that indulgence brings no benefit—punishment is also for Fifth Sister’s good.”
The Crown Princess spoke volubly, only concerned with her own pleasure, not seeing the Empress’s darkened expression.
Shaoshang was disdainful. Stirring up trouble, adding fuel to fire—what novelty was this? The aunties and ladies of Yuzhang Town were all experts at this. She’d seen plenty since childhood. Though what the Crown Princess just said seemed correct on the surface, Shaoshang knew very clearly she didn’t mean well. So she decided to make trouble unreasonably.
“The Crown Princess speaks too severely. It’s just keeping some people with good skills—for guarding the house and courtyard, unavoidable. The way Your Highness speaks, it’s as if the Fifth Princess is plotting rebellion and creating chaos.”
The Crown Princess frowned: “Those aren’t ordinary house and courtyard guards, but…” She bit her lip. Knowing was one thing, but saying it aloud was another.
Shaoshang looked completely innocent: “But what? Crown Princess, teach me—wandering youths have good skills. Besides guarding house and courtyard, what else can they do?” Right, she wasn’t married, so she didn’t understand anything.
What was rare about princesses keeping male favorites? The difference was only when they kept male favorites. Keeping male favorites after widowhood—that was essential need. Keeping male favorites after bearing children—that also counted as professional ethics. Among the first three married princesses, the Eldest Princess preferred befriending young officials, the Third Princess favored melancholy frustrated scholars. Probably only the Second Princess could guarantee being clean and proper.
However, the Fifth Princess keeping male favorites before marriage like this was indeed going too far. But since that future Fifth Prince Consort was also skilled at wenching, they were well-matched.
The Crown Princess frowned: “Those wandering youths are mostly handsome in appearance and robust in physique. The Princess greatly dotes on them, frequently having groups of men and women feast with music and song at night, hunting and traveling for pleasure. Some families with strict upbringing won’t even let their daughters enter Fifth Sister’s Princess Manor.”
Shaoshang pouted: “If they don’t like going, then don’t go. Some people love liveliness, some love quiet—naturally not everyone gets along well.”
The Crown Princess said resentfully: “How can this do? If we women all learned from the Fifth Princess like this, wouldn’t social mores fall into great chaos?!”
“Your Highness thinks too much. How can a princess be the same as ordinary women? Even different from imperial princes’ consorts and princes’ wives.” Shaoshang said leisurely. “Consorts can be changed, but can children be changed?”
The Crown Princess was instantly silenced.
She stared fixedly at Shaoshang, as if weighing the deep meaning in the girl’s words. Shaoshang also smiled back at her.
Reincarnation was a technical skill! Why didn’t she transmigrate as a princess? Otherwise right now she’d be the one keeping male favorites. Let’s see if Ling Buyi could still confine her in the palace. Sigh, what was he actually doing right now?
The Empress turned her head without speaking, the corners of her mouth slowly curving up.
After this the Crown Princess had nothing more to say. Since she didn’t wish to stay in Changqiu Palace attending the illness, she could only say a few polite words perfunctorily, then used the excuse of not disturbing the Empress’s rest, performed courtesies and withdrew.
Shaoshang watched the Crown Princess’s departing back, slowly sitting back beside the Empress, snorting heavily through her nose.
The Empress tapped her forehead: “Mischievous package.” Then she sighed: “But she’s not wrong either. The Fifth Princess acting this way is rather unfair to the Yue family’s prince consort…”
Shaoshang said helplessly: “Your Majesty, let’s not worry about whether the future Fifth Prince Consort is wronged or not. Let’s worry about the Crown Prince first. With the Crown Princess like this, the Crown Prince is quite wronged… Don’t scold me for being bold and presumptuous—no one is blind.”
“…The Crown Princess has no fault.”
“By Your Majesty’s reasoning, I also have no fault. Lord Ling looks at me daily with disapproval about everything. Logically, the Crown Prince’s consort should be doubly difficult. But now it seems the Crown Princess has it much easier and more comfortable than me. How benevolent and kind the Crown Prince is!” Shaoshang muttered in a low voice.
The Empress smiled helplessly and shook her head.
“Compare with the Second Prince again—the Crown Prince is truly quite wronged.” Shaoshang continued applying eye drops. Regardless of family background, appearance, ability, temperament, or offspring, the Second Prince’s consort beat the Crown Princess by seven or eight horse-lengths—the Crown Princess remained childless to this day.
The Empress fell silent, then sighed: “The betrothal was still set too early back then.”
This was a classic topic: Why could concubine daughters marry far better than legitimate daughters born to the same father?
Because when the legitimate daughter grew up, Father was still a stipend student at the east end of the village, so naturally he could only marry his daughter to the scholar’s son at the west end of the village—a proper match. But when the concubine daughter grew up, the vigorous aging father had already risen to high office, so naturally he could let his daughter marry brilliantly.
Therefore, the conclusion was: for a family in stable condition, children born earlier would be more advantaged because they could grasp resources and discourse power early. But for a family in an ascending period, the situation would be reversed.
When the Crown Prince’s betrothal was arranged, the Emperor’s small court was still precarious day by day. Because they needed to win over local prominent clan forces, they betrothed the eldest son not yet ten years old to the Crown Princess’s family. But afterward, the Emperor’s career rose節 section by section as if injected with adrenaline. By the time the Second Prince grew up, he was already one of the top two separatist forces under heaven, and even the blind could see the trend toward unification. Thus the Second Prince’s mate selection范围 was several grades higher than his elder brother’s.
The Empress sighed again: “A gentleman’s word—four horses can’t chase it back. His Majesty is a man of his word. We cannot break our promise due to changing circumstances. The whole world is watching.”
Shaoshang could only sigh along with her. Actually she’d discovered long ago that Emperor Uncle was wonderful in every way—civil and military prowess, governing heaven and earth, deep affection and heavy sentiment, magnanimous and merciful… he just cared somewhat about reputation.
“Since she was fortunate enough to become Crown Princess, why does she feel wronged all day?” Shaoshang also sighed. “In these months I’ve been at Your Majesty’s side, I haven’t seen the Crown Princess smile even a few times.”
The Empress paused for a moment before saying: “Actually, the Crown Prince once had a sweetheart. That woman’s family background and character were no inferior to the Second Prince’s consort. Unfortunately…” She shook her head.
Shaoshang’s eyes widened. She sympathized with the Crown Prince even more now.
“Then, then, then—is that woman in the Eastern Palace now? Which Lady of Good Deportment is she?” Shaoshang was so excited.
The Empress said: “No. The Crown Prince said she was proud and haughty, so he let her marry someone else.”
“Being a Crown Prince’s Lady of Good Deportment wouldn’t be dishonorable.” Shaoshang felt such a pity. The Crown Princess lived too comfortably precisely because she had no rivals. The Crown Prince’s other concubines had no威慑 power.
The Empress’s gaze was distant, recalling: “That year the Crown Princess was pregnant, but somehow got into an argument with the Crown Prince. In a fit of anger the Crown Prince pushed her. The child in the Crown Princess’s womb was lost just like that. The imperial physicians said she wouldn’t easily conceive again in the future.”
Shaoshang was stunned.
After a long while, she said heavily: “This marriage was originally unsuitable! Sigh, if only the betrothal hadn’t been made back then.”
The Empress found it interesting: “Someone said those words back then too.”
“Who?”
“Zicheng.”
Shaoshang immediately closed her mouth.
The Empress said: “At that time Zicheng was still young, yet he came to me and His Majesty acting old beyond his years, saying this marriage shouldn’t happen and would harm the Crown Prince in the future. His Majesty ignored him, so he ran to advise the Crown Prince, telling him to inform the Crown Princess’s family about having someone in his heart. Best if the Crown Princess’s family would respectfully decline—not saying ‘marrying above one’s station’ or ‘two sides not matching,’ but at least that the Crown Prince had another love he couldn’t abandon. In the future he could properly compensate the Crown Princess’s family elsewhere.”
“Then… did the Crown Prince comply?” Shaoshang asked in a small voice.
“Sigh, the Crown Prince was soft-hearted and gentle in appearance, not daring to disobey His Majesty. It was still Zicheng who privately found someone to inform the Crown Princess of the truth, letting her decide whether to tell her family’s fathers, brothers and uncles.”
“Mm, this method was good.” Shaoshang thought about it and nodded. “What happened after?”
“The wedding date arrived, the marriage proceeded as usual.” The Empress said.
Shaoshang felt she should think better of people, so she asked: “Was it that the Crown Princess’s family was unwilling to give up this marriage?”
The Empress’s smile held some subtlety: “Back when His Majesty could marry into alliance with them, that family’s character was still not bad. It was the Crown Princess—she said nothing to her family.” Presumably from that time, the adopted son had formed an opinion of this future eldest sister-in-law.
Shaoshang shook her head meaningfully: “The Crown Princess wanting to marry into the imperial family can’t be counted as wrong. However, she at least had the opportunity to decline…” If you choose to eat salted fish, you must endure the thirst.
Probably Emperor Uncle was also not very satisfied with this eldest daughter-in-law. After the Crown Prince, he never arranged betrothals for his sons again. The Second Prince was free love, the Third Prince was the non-marriage faction, the Fourth and Fifth Princes were in queue, and the Sixth through Tenth Princes were still developing.
“That’s not right.” Shaoshang suddenly thought. “They say the mountain易改 nature is hard to change. The Crown Prince was born with a good temper—everyone knows this. Why would he quarrel with the Crown Princess?” Children inherit their mother’s traits—the Crown Prince’s temperament was another version of the Empress.
The Empress said worriedly: “I don’t know this either. They both refuse to say. However…” She suddenly showed teasing intent. “Zicheng should know. Hatefully, that rascal’s mouth is very tight. In the future you coax him to tell you, don’t forget to inform me.”
Shaoshang was helpless: “Fine, accepting Your Majesty’s auspicious words. I also hope for the day I can successfully coax Lord Ling. I only hope when that day comes, my hair is still black and my teeth haven’t fallen out.”
The Empress was delighted, laughing until she collapsed against the bed head. After laughing enough, she leaned against Shaoshang’s arm, slowly settling back against the cushions.
“Good. I’ve even told you about the Crown Prince’s private matters. Now it’s your turn. Let me ask you—do you like Zicheng?” The Empress asked gently.
Shaoshang didn’t hesitate: “I like him.”
“What do you think of Zicheng as a person?”
Shaoshang didn’t answer immediately. Her deep thoughts were like water droplets slowly extending along the threads of memory, then the droplets diffused in the depths of her mind, dissolving and disappearing.
After a long while, she said: “At first, I thought Lord Ling was the kind of virtuous ancient gentleman described in the sage books—greatly benevolent and righteous, magnanimous and chivalrous. Above he could assist the sovereign, achieving prosperous eras and grand enterprises. Below he could rescue people from dire straits, eliminating the strong and helping the weak.”
“Now you’ve discovered he’s not that kind of person?” The Empress asked softly.
Shaoshang shook her head: “He’s a good person, but also not entirely a good person.”
“He’s actually very suspicious, but he’s not suspicious about whether his subordinate generals are loyal. He’s suspicious about my feelings for him. My perfectly fine words and actions—he can always think to incomprehensible places, then sulk and make a fuss with me. If it were someone like my father, he probably wouldn’t even think of it.”
Director Xiao initially didn’t love Colonel Cheng either, but didn’t Colonel Cheng happily live day by day? Later as time passed, the couple truly developed feelings. Never mind Mrs. Sang—at the start her heart still held a white moonlight, yet didn’t Third Uncle also play deaf and dumb?
Only Ling Buyi stood out particularly, different from everyone!
“He’s not just suspicious and thoughtful, but also irritable and easily angered. Clearly before others he’s温文 polite and amiable. Even toward an unknown village elder, he can treat them with courtesy and patiently respond.”
Shaoshang raised her head looking forward. “But he disguises it well—no one察觉 these things. Thus everyone praises him as温文 honest, proper and courteous, possessing the manner of ancient gentlemen.”
The Empress quietly watched the girl: “Since he has so many deficiencies, you still say you like him.”
Shaoshang smiled, revealing white, adorable teeth: “I like him. It seems I like him even more than before.”
“Before I liked Lord Ling, I only regarded him as the bright moon hanging high in heaven, the pale snow distant on mountain peaks, those先贤 in books who make one look up to high mountains in admiration. But now, I know he’s a person with sorrow and joy, flesh and blood, just like me.”
She’d once wanted to place him on a high platform as an idol to worship, but he insisted on shattering her plans.
The Empress’s smile deepened.
Shaoshang was the most vivid and bright girl she’d ever seen, always reminding her of the mountain flowers and wild vines she’d seen with her father in the countryside when young—growing wild and free, clean and bright like mountain stream water. You could never guess what she’d say next, what she was thinking… and what trouble she’d cause next.
“Zicheng stayed by my side for several years after all. I know in my heart. He has a knot in his heart. This knot can neither be removed nor spoken of.” The Empress lay平平 back, saying in a low voice: “Back when His Majesty worried Zicheng kept refusing to marry, I worried whether there would ever be someone who could know what kind of person Zicheng really was, or whether no one would ever be able to touch upon these things. Would he just keep pretending with that温文 courteous appearance for a lifetime?”
“Fortunately there’s you. Zicheng didn’t choose wrong.” The Empress slowly closed her eyes, falling into weary sleep.
Shaoshang looked at her sleeping face, carefully covering her with a blanket, then sat on the ground leaning against the bed platform, propping her head with her elbow, closing her eyes to rest.
Perhaps because the deep palace was lonely, the pace of life completely slowed down, she recently had much time to properly contemplate her own issues. Across two lifetimes she’d had two mothers, both shrewd and sharp people who knew how to gain maximum advantage. No matter how poor the initial environment, they could ultimately become life’s winners.
From childhood, she’d very much agreed with this life attitude.
People—if one doesn’t look out for oneself, heaven and earth will destroy them. What do children count for? More can be born later, but one’s own life comes only once. How could one be like her grandmother,守寡 in youth, refusing to remarry for two sons, living a lifetime of hardship and loneliness?
But thinking about it now, neither life attitude could be considered wrong.
The former indeed realized one’s own life value, but was there no compromise method? If Mother Yu pursued a new life, did she necessarily have to prune away her daughter like trimming divergent branches? She didn’t need her birth mother to coddle, accompany and be affectionate with her, but when she most needed life guidance, if only someone had given her a hand, perhaps she could have walked a brighter, smoother path.
The latter indeed buried one’s own life, but becoming such a person’s child was perhaps the world’s greatest happiness.
The Empress as a person—gentle and soft, kind and easily bullied, possessing neither Consort Yue’s clear, calm mind nor Madam Xiao’s decisive, resolute spirit. But Shaoshang would rather be her child. If she were the Empress’s child, she definitely wouldn’t hurt her heart like the Fifth Princess. She would properly show filial piety to the Empress, be a good daughter like the Second Princess.
Unknowingly, Shaoshang also drifted into sleep. Vaguely in her ears was the pitter-patter of rain from small Jiangnan towns, the gentle, detailed nagging of an old woman. But she could never return.
…
Waking with sore waist and aching back, outside the window the daylight had already dimmed. Shaoshang jumped up with an “ai yo,” quickly and gently shaking the Empress. If she slept enough in the afternoon, she’d have insomnia tonight.
Perhaps the medicinal decoction had taken effect, or perhaps she’d tired from chatting with Shaoshang—the Empress had slept especially sweetly and deeply this time. Upon waking she actually showed somewhat spirited vitality. Granny Zhai was beside herself with joy, bustling off to arrange food and drink.
Shaoshang and the Empress were just discussing whether to have hot mutton soup noodles for dinner when Granny Zhai came in looking blank, saying without preamble: “…That young apprentice of Cen Anzhi’s, with the fair face and dimples—Your Majesty knows him, right? Just now he suddenly ran to Changqiu Palace, said something to me, then quickly ran away and disappeared.”
The Empress joked: “Definitely Cen Anzhi sent him to secretly pass a message. What did he say? Could His Majesty be taking a new favorite?”
Granny Zhai said: “No, no. He said Eleventh Lord angered His Majesty. His Majesty wants to severely punish… His Majesty is going to beat Eleventh Lord!”
Shaoshang stood up abruptly, face full of panic.