Pressing herself against the palace door to look inside, everything was quiet within. Through the carved door lattice, she could see the Empress Dowager kneeling on the ground before the incense table, her hair bun already undone, wearing plain clothes.
On that incense table, if Shen Guiyan remembered correctly, was a blank wooden plaque. It was probably for venerating the Late Emperor, but due to regulations, private spirit tablets couldn’t be established, so nothing dared be carved on it.
Shen Guiyan had always felt that Empress Dowager Nian shouldn’t be particularly sorrowful. Even when the Late Emperor passed away and court politics changed, she had been serving in the Northern Palace then and had never seen any special expression from Empress Dowager Nian. So she thought Empress Dowager Nian didn’t have very deep feelings for the Late Emperor. In the palace, amidst the bloody struggles among beauties, when the Emperor had three thousand intimate companions, where could single-minded devotion come from?
Yet now, Empress Dowager Nian knelt before that incense table, all her splendor stripped away. She didn’t look like the dignified and noble Empress Dowager, but rather like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl newly entering the palace—fragile and helpless.
She said: “You selfish person.”
The words were spoken to that wooden plaque, without any form of address, yet Princess Duanwen beside her suddenly reddened her eyes.
“The dead have nothing to fear—it’s always those who live on who suffer. You loved me for a lifetime, and I loved you for a lifetime. Yet in the end, you refused to let me go with you.”
Empress Dowager Nian’s voice was hoarse, murmuring softly, as if back when they were in their prime, she had laughed nestled in his embrace, whispering by his ear.
“How did you know what I wanted was glory and wealth, not you?”
Empress Dowager Nian raised her head, tears streaming down. Her face was grief-stricken as she gazed at that empty wooden plaque, her expression both resentful and pained.
When he left, she wasn’t by his side. Not because she didn’t want to be, but because he wouldn’t let her.
Now her imperial son was strategizing brilliantly, far surpassing him, and had so quickly seized power from Empress Dowager Wen’s hands. Watching from heaven, he should be happy. But what about her? She wasn’t happy. The one she loved was gone, leaving her to grow old alone in the palace. In the dead of night, all she dreamed of were scenes of them together—how could she find peace?
Sobbing sounds passed through the doors and windows, escaping slightly.
Shen Guiyan froze and retreated several steps. Princess Duanwen bit her lip, gripped Shen Guiyan’s hand, turned and dragged her toward the garden.
She had been thoughtless. Mother Empress was grieving—how could she go disturb her?
Princess Duanwen had witnessed many loving moments between the Late Emperor and Empress Dowager Nian when she was young. Recalling them made even her feel somewhat sad. She pulled Shen Guiyan out and stood in the garden for quite a while before catching her breath.
“A day of great joy, yet the harem is so gloomy.” Princess Duanwen pursed her lips: “Shouldn’t everyone be happy for Imperial Brother? He’s officially ruling personally now. From now on, no one in the world will dare look down on him.”
Shen Guiyan nodded: “We should be happy for His Majesty, but with Empress Dowager Wen having a stroke and Empress Dowager Nian so distressed, everyone’s spirits are naturally low. When the foreign envoys come bearing tribute, there will surely be an interesting banquet to dispel the gloom.”
Princess Duanwen’s focus wasn’t on the foreign banquet. Instead, her eyes widened: “Mother Empress Wen had a stroke?”
“Yes.” Shen Guiyan nodded: “Unable to speak, paralyzed in bed.”
Retribution! Those were the only three words in Princess Duanwen’s mind.
Lost her power over court affairs and had a stroke. Leaving aside whether she could recover from the stroke, even if she did, with Imperial Brother’s abilities, the entire world would probably have already changed completely.
Princess Duanwen lightly clapped her hands, even feeling her judgment back then had been quite good—after careful selection, she had actually chosen Gu Chaobei.
Even though he was her own brother.
“With Mother Empress Wen in this state, surely no one will force this princess’s marriage anymore.” Princess Duanwen smiled: “Originally, when the foreign envoys came bearing tribute, Mother Empress Wen intended to find this princess a prince consort.”
Shen Guiyan raised her eyebrows: “The foreign kingdom is thousands of miles from the capital. Now that our nation is prosperous and strong, there’s no need for a marriage alliance, right?”
“There’s no need.” Princess Duanwen snorted lightly: “But if this princess married far away to a foreign land, the military authority in my hands would have to be returned to the Prince of Huainan. Then wouldn’t Imperial Brother’s support be diminished?”
That had been Empress Dowager Wen’s original plan, but Imperial Brother was decisive—capture the leader first to capture the bandits. He dealt with Empress Dowager Wen directly, and all problems ceased to be problems.
Shen Guiyan smiled slightly. Her own husband was so clever—she couldn’t help but feel proud.
“By the way, since Mother Empress Wen is paralyzed and unable to speak, Imperial Brother should make you Empress now, right?” Princess Duanwen said with a smile: “When the time comes for the enthronement ceremony, this princess will personally escort you.”
“It’s still early.” Shen Guiyan shook her head: “We’ll talk about it later.”
With Empress Dowager Wen fallen, her remaining forces hadn’t been appeased yet. Add to that the need to receive the foreign envoys—even if Gu Chaobei had that intention, he should wait until mid-year.
“Looking at your expression, you’re definitely thinking of Imperial Brother.” Princess Duanwen playfully winked: “This princess won’t delay you any longer. Go keep Imperial Brother company. I’ll take care of Mother Empress. Tonight is actually your wedding night with Imperial Brother.”
Her face flushing, Shen Guiyan glared at her reproachfully. That girl Duanwen ran away quickly.
Tonight? Thinking about it, it actually was. After becoming pregnant, the imperial physicians said intimate relations weren’t advisable for the first three months. Gu Chaobei had also been busy scheming constantly. The two of them hadn’t been close for quite a while.
Turning to walk toward Xiuzhuang Palace, Shen Guiyan’s lips curved in a smile, already forming plans in her mind to prepare well.
Gu Chaobei stood in the Eastern Palace, Consort Hua by his side. Scholar Fu and Yuwen Changqing had already come to visit. Both men were silent.
“I will serve Mother Empress well.” Gu Chaobei said with complete seriousness: “Please rest assured, beloved ministers.”
Scholar Fu knew full well this was the Emperor’s doing, but the imperial physicians couldn’t find anything wrong, and he couldn’t catch any evidence either.
“This subject will discuss matters of serving the Empress Dowager with National Uncle Wen and report back to Your Majesty tomorrow.” Scholar Fu bowed, then turned to glance at Yuwen Changqing: “Will General Yuwen leave the palace together with this old subject?”
“Naturally.” Yuwen Changqing lowered his eyes: “Your Majesty, this subject takes his leave.”
“This subject takes his leave.” Scholar Fu bowed along with Yuwen Changqing.
Gu Chaobei nodded, watching the two depart before returning to the Imperial Study with Consort Hua.
“With the Empress Dowager struck down, what should we do?” Scholar Fu’s face was clouded with worry: “National Uncle Wen is thousands of miles away, and National Uncle is incapable of taking charge. General Yuwen, what is your view?”
Yuwen Changqing said seriously: “Before the Empress Dowager recovers, you and I can only manage affairs diligently—there’s no other option. This general will quickly recommend to National Uncle the candidates I discussed with the Empress Dowager last time. Once everyone is promoted and the Empress Dowager recovers, restoring the court to its former state won’t be difficult.”
Scholar Fu stroked his beard, frowning: “When this old subject went to Gu Fu on the Empress Dowager’s behalf to observe Lady Shen, I already felt this woman was extraordinary. Perhaps she truly has a destiny that brings prosperity to her husband.”
She had actually brought the wastrel Gu Chaobei from the mud all the way to becoming Emperor.
A truly powerful Emperor at that.
Yuwen Changqing paused, then chuckled: “A distinguished scholar also believes in marketplace tales?”
“The circumstances make it impossible not to believe.” Scholar Fu narrowed his eyes: “Whether true or false, this subject believes we absolutely cannot let Shen Guiyan become Empress. Empress Dowager Wen has always suppressed her considerably. We should act according to the Empress Dowager’s wishes.”
Old fool remains an old fool, blaming the affairs of the empire entirely on a woman. Yuwen Changqing’s face still wore a smile as he said softly: “Whatever Scholar Fu wishes to do, this general has no objections. As for military matters…”
“This old subject is a civil official, not a military general.” Scholar Fu smiled: “Civil affairs are my concern. Military matters are left to General Yuwen to worry about.”
“Excellent.” Yuwen Changqing pulled out a recommendation letter from his robes, looking at Scholar Fu: “This general’s words alone won’t carry weight with National Uncle. This recommendation letter—I must trouble Scholar Fu to also press your seal on it, so it can be sent out quickly.”
“Easy enough, easy enough.” After working together for so many years, Scholar Fu had no wariness toward Yuwen Changqing. He took the letter and pressed his seal.
“Scholar Fu, please go ahead. This general seems to have left my sword in the Eastern Palace. I must return to fetch it.” Yuwen Changqing carefully stored the letter, stopped walking, and said with a smile.
“Very well.” Scholar Fu’s mind was entirely on worrying about Empress Dowager Wen. Without asking further, he turned and left first.
Yuwen Changqing leisurely strolled toward the Imperial Study.
“You have merit, and I remember it all.” In the study, Gu Chaobei was looking at Consort Hua: “Previously, before ascending the throne, if not for you at the Drunken Flowers Pavilion, I couldn’t have smoothly become Vice Minister of Revenue. Thinking back to those days, I was quite prominent for a while.”
Consort Hua pressed her lips together, her eyes looking at Gu Chaobei: “This concubine did everything willingly.”
“Now the major affairs are settled, with only some minor matters remaining. You and Lady Xi need not continue risking your lives for me. I’m thinking—how about giving each of you a thousand taels of gold and sending you home to live out the rest of your lives? What do you think?”
Consort Hua looked up in surprise: “Your Majesty no longer wants us by your side?”
Gu Chaobei looked somewhat embarrassed: “It’s not that I don’t want to, but the harem isn’t very suitable for you.”
Looking at him with hints of crossing the river and demolishing the bridge, discarding the donkey after grinding—actually, it wasn’t like that. He had no substantial relations with these young women from the Drunken Flowers Pavilion. He simply pitied them and took them in at the pavilion.
The Drunken Flowers Pavilion was essentially his intelligence-gathering establishment. Even now that he’d ascended the throne, that place couldn’t be abandoned. On the contrary, he needed to hear even more from officials’ mouths. He had never forced any of the young women there. It was only because Narcissus and Lily were unwilling to stay that he brought them into the palace.
White Fox was already gone. This harem no longer had Empress Dowager Wen but still had all sorts of women. Gu Chaobei truly remembered their kindness, which was why he wanted to send them out of the palace. Taking gold to live free and easy lives—wouldn’t that be wonderful?
But Consort Hua didn’t think so.
Having witnessed the splendor of the palace, who would be willing to leave? Moreover, of the three who entered the palace, which one hadn’t come because they’d given their hearts to Gu Chaobei?
Consort Zhuang had died, and she and Lady Xi were also deeply grieved. But with their hearts on the Emperor, what did it matter if they took countless gold and fled far away? If they couldn’t reclaim their hearts, they would never have freedom and would pine for him their entire lives.
“This concubine promises not to do anything that would hinder Your Majesty and Consort Yan.” Consort Hua bit her lip: “Please, Your Majesty, show mercy and allow this concubine to remain in the palace.”
Gu Chaobei raised his eyebrows slightly: “I thought you would prefer to leave.”
We prefer you.
This sentence was on her lips, but Consort Hua didn’t dare voice it. She looked up, her eyes full of tears: “Please grant this concubine’s wish, Your Majesty!”
After hesitating for a moment, Gu Chaobei nodded. He wasn’t someone who was single-mindedly devoted. Though he didn’t have the libertine ways he’d pretended, he also didn’t consider having many women around him a sin.