While everyone was in panicked shock, Xiao Furen was the first to react, immediately issuing orders—
“Aqing, prepare court robes and cap with belt for the Master. Niaoniao, stop eating and quickly return to your room to change and dress. Wear that light-colored curved-hem robe with diamond-patterned brocade. Azhu, just put a string of pearl shells and a jade hairpin on Niaoniao.”
“Mother, but that outfit is half-worn! Why not wear the bright red pearl-lustrous satin that Aunt just sent? It makes me look spirited…” Seeing the national leader—shouldn’t one be vigorous and high-spirited? Shaoshang at least had this awareness.
“What do you know? His Majesty reveres simplicity. Besides, you just broke off an engagement. Wearing red and green covered in gold and jade—what would that look like?”
“Niaoniao, listen to your mother. You’ve just lost a good marriage prospect. You need to look even more pitiful than He Zhaojun who lost her entire family. Fortunately, with your looks, dressing plainly will suit the part perfectly!”
Shaoshang: …
Cheng Mother was beyond excited. Supported by Cheng Yang, she chased them all the way to the inner gate, asking joyfully: “Will this palace trip get the marriage back? Will it, will it?”
Cheng Shi stepped onto the footstool and replied somewhat irritably: “Mother, forget about the Lou family. This matter is over. In the future, when anyone comes to propose marriage for Niaoniao, I won’t ask about anything else—I’ll only look at the face, only the face.” He nearly made Cheng Mother fall backward in anger. The three Cheng brothers quickly caught their grandmother’s large frame and watched as the palace envoys accompanying the carriage slowly departed.
Inside the carriage, Shaoshang was nervous, constantly asking what this palace visit was about. Actually, Cheng Shi and his wife were also very tense, equally uncertain about the reason for being summoned to the palace. Xiao Furen could only say vaguely: “Probably related to breaking the engagement with the Lou family. There should be no major problem. We’ve considered the big picture after all—surely His Majesty won’t punish us?”
Shaoshang’s heart eased.
It took a full half-hour from the Cheng residence to reach the palace city gates. Following old habits, Shaoshang lifted the carriage curtain to look outside and immediately became so excited she choked—she saw magnificent, enormous twin tower gates standing on either side of the palace entrance, like the feet of ancient giants planted on the ground. The people passing between them appeared as tiny as ants.
Shaoshang unconsciously stuck her head out the carriage window, nearly bending her neck at a right angle. Only when Xiao Furen’s reproachful voice came did she shrink back. A young eunuch riding alongside smiled and said: “Miss Cheng hasn’t been to the palace city before? No wonder you’re surprised. But these kinds of tower gates—there are over a dozen more from south to north!” Shaoshang was stunned speechless.
Cheng Shi looked outside and was about to help his wife down from the carriage when the young eunuch said again: “Colonel Cheng needn’t get out. His Majesty instructed that female family members walk slowly—who knows how long it would take to reach Yongle Palace. Ride the carriage in first, then switch to a palace sedan at the covered walkway.”
“…We’re going to the Northern Palace? Or to the Empress’s quarters?” Cheng Shi was greatly shocked.
Xiao Furen also frowned in surprise. Shaoshang didn’t know about southern or northern palaces, but knew that Yongle Palace should be where the Empress resided.
The young eunuch politely nodded in confirmation and called for the carriage to continue forward. Along the way, they passed the bright hall’s high towers guarded by light-armored archers and heavy-armored crossbowmen, passed the straight road extending like a dragon soaring through the sky, then circled around the enormous Southern Palace complex, finally arriving at the covered walkway connecting the southern and northern palaces. Xiao Furen and Shaoshang switched to a very dignified, square black palace sedan with upturned eaves. Cheng Shi insisted on getting down to walk with everyone.
Upon reaching the Northern Palace gates, all three Cheng family members began walking on foot—this walk took another small half-hour.
The Southern Palace was not a single palace, nor was the Northern Palace, but rather two expansive architectural complexes of many palace halls, towers, and government offices. Shaoshang saw gate after gate, her eyes overwhelmed. By the end, she couldn’t even remember how many gates and tower buildings they’d passed before arriving at a magnificent, beautiful palace with flying phoenix eaves. Looking up, Shaoshang saw the plaque above the palace gate written in ancient, curved characters: “Yongle.”
The young eunuch quickly announced them to the palace maids guarding the entrance. Then they heard clear, loud announcements echoing layer by layer like reverberations until they could no longer be heard. Shaoshang was shocked, not knowing how deep this palace extended.
Before long, someone came from inside to invite the three Cheng family members in. This time they walked nearly another quarter-hour before reaching a side hall. Shaoshang was somewhat winded from exhaustion. Glancing sideways, she saw Cheng Shi full of energy and Xiao Furen composed—she couldn’t help but secretly admire them.
Looking up, she saw the Emperor she’d met that day at Mount Tugao, dressed in casual clothes, sitting on a couch at the seat of honor. Sharing the couch sat another refined and dignified middle-aged noblewoman. Shaoshang’s heart panicked, unable to determine if this was the Empress or a consort.
Fortunately, Cheng Shi and his wife stepped forward to kowtow, calling out “Your Majesty and Empress.” Shaoshang breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed suit, imitating her parents’ manner of bowing. Watching the girl’s clumsy posture below, the Empress frowned and glanced at the Emperor. The Emperor acted as if he hadn’t seen, smiling as he told the three Cheng family members to rise and granted them soft cushions.
After saying the proper acknowledgments, Cheng Shi bowed his head respectfully: “This subject doesn’t know what matter Your Majesty has summoned us for today.”
The Emperor’s manner was kind: “Minister Cheng, no need for excessive courtesy. Today I wish to commend you, to reward your family for relieving my concerns. Your family voluntarily breaking the engagement with the Lou family has truly caused you grievances.”
Cheng Shi lowered his head and exchanged a glance with Xiao Furen. Both their eyes conveyed “as expected.”
Shaoshang, however, thought this Emperor must have deployed informants everywhere. They’d just broken the engagement and returned home for lunch, and were immediately summoned to the palace—truly information-age speed!
“This subject doesn’t deserve it. General He’s entire family are loyal martyrs who protected the people and served the nation loyally. My entire family admires him greatly—naturally we should fulfill the General’s dying words.” Cheng Shi put on an expression both aggrieved and moved—full marks for acting.
The Emperor smiled: “Minister, you’re too modest. Rewards must still be given. This is your beloved daughter? Come, sit closer so the Empress and I can get a good look at you.”
Cheng Shi shuddered at the words “beloved minister,” a patch of goosebumps rising on his back. Xiao Furen, however, looked at her daughter with concern.
Shaoshang was unexpectedly called upon. Her heart felt timid, but she forced herself to remain calm as she rose and took small steps forward. When rising, she quite nimbly dragged the soft cushion along with her, then spread it out and sat down properly. She considered this series of movements agile and appropriate, light and proper—yet she’d left the two palace maids waiting nearby to serve her standing in place.
Now the Empress didn’t just frown—she looked directly at the Emperor. Seeing this situation, the Cheng couple inwardly cried out in alarm, sweat dripping from both their foreheads. But being before the Emperor, they couldn’t speak up to guide their daughter.
The Emperor’s nerves were strong. He showed he’d neither seen the Empress’s shocked expression nor the Cheng couple’s panicked appearance, remaining kind: “Sit even closer. How can we talk at such a distance?” Shaoshang was just about to rise again when the Emperor said: “Don’t move!” Shaoshang’s rising body stopped midway. She was dazed, not understanding the Emperor’s meaning.
At this moment, the two palace maids finally had their purpose. They quickly stepped forward to fulfill their duties. One gently helped Shaoshang turn and stand gracefully, while the other bent down to pick up the soft cushion and place it three or four steps before the Emperor and Empress, then gently helped Shaoshang sit there.
Having been manipulated like a puppet doll, Shaoshang finally realized her earlier behavior was gravely wrong. Her mind became a Niagara Falls of sweat—primates at the pinnacle of power were truly extraordinary. This display of authority gets full marks from me!
Seeing the little girl’s stunned, bewildered expression, the Emperor smiled at her reassuringly, then looked at the consistently impassive Empress. The Empress looked at the Emperor with some disapproval before opening her mouth with dignity: “Miss Cheng, what is your name?”
Shaoshang quickly snapped out of her daze: “I, uh, this subject… uh, this commoner… uh…” She wanted to spit blood. Why hadn’t anyone trained her in palace etiquette?! “This humble girl’s childhood name is Shaoshang, taken from the meaning of zither strings.”
The Empress paused briefly: “Shaoshang, a good name. How old are you this year?”
Shaoshang was dazed again. Speaking of which, how old was this body exactly? Fortunately, she reacted quickly and remembered casual family conversations, quickly answering: “This humble girl has five… um… six or seven more months until coming of age.”
The Empress’s dignified countenance seemed to crack slightly. The Emperor coughed lightly beside her.
The Cheng couple kneeling behind wanted to stamp their feet and beat their chests. If they’d known their younger daughter would meet the Emperor so quickly, they would have trained her in palace etiquette all night even without eating!
The Emperor felt he must personally intervene and said kindly: “Today you broke the engagement with the Lou clan’s son. Are you sad inside?”
Shaoshang cursed inwardly. This imperial couple was harder to deal with than the last! How was she supposed to answer this question?! Answering “not sad” made her seem too heartless and cold. Answering “very sad,” grief-stricken beyond measure, made it seem the Emperor’s earlier commendation was built on forcing people to do what they didn’t want.
She considered carefully and answered: “In reply to Your Majesty, though my family was unwilling to break our promise, we knew this matter must be done.”
The Emperor smiled and asked: “How so?”
Shaoshang took a breath, trying hard not to let her voice tremble: “This humble girl once read in books ‘Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they regard all things as straw dogs.’ Several months ago, at Hua County where my uncle serves, I also saw the tragic state of people after the devastation of war. This humble girl thinks that precisely because Heaven and Earth are unfeeling, viewing the world with cold indifference, we who are born as humans should all the more embrace benevolence and righteousness, helping and pitying one another. Otherwise, only caring for our own profit while ignoring others’ bleeding—how would we differ from beasts?” Having finished this literary speech, she felt the air in her lungs was insufficient. She quickly lowered her head and sat properly, not daring any superfluous movements.
The Emperor laughed lightly. Instead, the Empress didn’t smile, looking at the little girl with some surprise in her expression.
Xiao Furen closed her eyes and sighed inwardly: We’re finished.
After laughing, the Emperor actually expressed serious satisfaction with this speech, even praising Cheng Shi and Xiao Furen for teaching their daughter well. Cheng Shi joyfully accepted this. Xiao Furen, however, humbly and ashamedly repeated “I dare not.”
After a few more praises, the Emperor had a young eunuch lead the three Cheng family members to a side chamber to rest temporarily.
The Emperor revered simplicity. Though the palace city was built grandly, the interior furnishings weren’t actually extravagant. All decorations emphasized plain dignity. Shaoshang and her parents waited in this simple, clean chamber. For quite a while, no one spoke. Finally, Shaoshang broke the silence with gossip: “Hey, Father, the Empress is even more beautiful than Mother!”
Xiao Furen frowned: “Don’t speak recklessly. How can you casually discuss nobles!”
“But it’s true! Didn’t Father give me some pearls from the seaside a while ago? The Empress is like those sea pearls—dazzling and brilliant, radiant and eye-catching.”
Cheng Shi said irritably: “If you’d had the ability to say that earlier, His Majesty and the Empress might have been so pleased they’d reward you. What use is saying it now?”
Shaoshang pouted: “Saying it to their faces becomes flattery and fawning. I can’t say it out loud…”
Xiao Furen held back for a long time before finally scolding in a low voice: “You only know how to say these useless things. Usually I tell you to read more, but you always have many twisted arguments. Let me tell you, ‘Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they regard all things as straw dogs’ doesn’t mean treating all things like pigs and dogs with cold indifference! It means Heaven and Earth view all things equally, letting everything develop naturally! Do you understand?!”
Shaoshang was greatly shocked: “That’s what this sentence means? But… I wasn’t so far off either! Indeed, Heaven and Earth don’t care for people, so people must help each other!”
Cheng Shi quickly chimed in: “What Niaoniao said isn’t that far-fetched. I’ve heard my third sister-in-law’s brother expound on classics at the Imperial Academy. The words in ancient texts depend on how you interpret them. As long as you can make a self-consistent argument, it’s not necessarily wrong!”
“Father, you’re right!” Shaoshang said happily, tugging on her father’s sleeve.
“Oh, so Colonel Cheng has quite some insight into classical texts,” Xiao Furen’s face went cold. “I won’t make things difficult for you two on anything else. Just tell me—which ancient sage said ‘Heaven and Earth are not benevolent’?”
Cheng Shi immediately got tongue-tied, stammering: “This, this this…”
“Don’t be afraid, Father! I’m here!” Shaoshang confidently patted Old Master Cheng’s shoulder. “Let’s take a guess!”
Cheng Shi didn’t give his daughter any face and undermined her: “Stop showing off. To know is to know; not to know is not to know. Just let your mother laugh a few times.”
“Father, you’re deflating our own prestige!” Shaoshang put her hands on her hips indignantly. “Fine, I’ll say it now. First, I did read this sentence. Naturally, I haven’t read many books—just the important ones among the Hundred Schools of Thought.” Science students also had history and culture elective courses, okay? Cough cough, though she studied them in a muddled mess.
“Confucius spoke of benevolence, Mencius spoke of righteousness, Xunzi believed human nature is evil. ‘Heaven and Earth are not benevolent’ probably wasn’t said by these three. The Legalists discuss profit and loss, the Mohists advocate universal love. The former only cares about worldly gains and losses—where would they find time to explore whether Heaven and Earth are benevolent? The latter thinks Heaven and Earth are extremely benevolent—since Heaven and Earth are so benevolent, how could people not cherish each other? So it’s not them either! Finally, only the Daoist Laozi and Zhuangzi remain…”
Cheng Shi wanted to laugh listening to this. Xiao Furen looked at her daughter, a barely perceptible smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.
Shaoshang delivered the final verdict: “This should have been said by Laozi.”
Xiao Furen smiled slightly: “Why not Zhuangzi?”
“Because among Daoist books, I’ve only read Laozi.” Shaoshang smiled cheerfully. “I haven’t read Zhuangzi at all!”
Except for those few lines in martial arts novels like “breathing wind and drinking dew,” “what joy is there in life,” “Zhuangzi dreaming of butterflies,” plus half a sentence about a fish in the Northern Dark called Kun Peng—she’d never read Zhuangzi’s books at all.
Cheng Shi was dazed for a long time before turning to ask his wife: “Did this girl get it right? Right or not, right or not?” His anxious appearance was identical to Cheng Mother’s earlier.
Xiao Furen glared at her husband and turned aside in tacit acknowledgment.
“She actually guessed right?!” Cheng Shi was overjoyed but didn’t dare laugh loudly. He chuckled softly: “I said our Niaoniao is clever! Cough cough, naturally, it’s all Madam’s credit! Thank you, Madam, for bearing me such a smart and lovely child.” His survival instinct made him change his boasting method midway.
Looking at this smug father-daughter pair, Xiao Furen couldn’t hold it in and finally laughed softly.
…
The Emperor and Empress, standing quietly outside the latticed wooden door, softly walked away. The eunuchs and palace maids behind them all followed in silent silence.
Only after walking to another palace chamber did the Emperor laugh aloud: “I told you—Zisheng would never take a liking to a completely worthless girl. Though this Miss Cheng lacks some refinement, her character is upright, harmonious and cheerful—she’s quite good.”
The Empress smiled and sighed: “Your Majesty, stop pretending. Just the fact that she can make Zisheng look at her differently means everything is wonderful.”
“She even praised the Empress’s beauty earlier, yet you pretend not to care!” The Emperor feigned wide-eyed laughter.
The Empress held back before finally laughing: “When does Your Majesty plan to speak up? Oh yes, you also summoned Wan Songbai earlier. Could it be you want him to act as matchmaker?”
The Emperor waved his hand: “Can’t be too quick—it would seem like Zisheng has been eyeing someone’s fiancée for ages. At least a month would be better.”
The Empress thought inwardly: Isn’t that the truth?
The Emperor felt confident and said comfortably: “Minister Cheng and family should have finished talking. Have someone summon them over. Tonight for the evening meal, let’s have a small family banquet.”