Nine, Wind Generates Movement

  On the eighth day of April, great auspiciousness. Xuan Ling Shang reported to the Tai Temple, praying for the health and well-being of Empress Dowager Feng, and Emperor Xuan gave her the title "Ren Zhe". Adding this to the three titles previously given by the former emperor on his accession, wedding, and the empress dowager's 50th birthday, her full title became "Zhao Cheng Kang Yi Min Jing Ren Zhe Tai Hou", commonly known as "Empress Dowager Zhao Cheng".

  Simultaneously, the birth mother of King Runan, Yu E, was posthumously honored as Xian Tai Fei with the title "Si Su", and was to be reburied in the imperial mausoleum in June. The various tai feis who were being supported in the palace were also promoted to show respect. Qi Shan Wang's birth mother, Qin Ren Tai Fei, was revered as "Qin Ren Shu Tai Fei" and ranked first among the tai feis in the rear palace; Pingyang Wang's foster mother, Zhuang He Tai Fei, was revered as "Zhuang He De Tai Fei", and his birth mother, Shun Chen Tai Fei, was given additional honors. From afar, Shu Gui Tai Fei, who had already become a nun, was respectfully referred to as Chong Jing Yuan Shi and Jin Ting Jiao Zhu.

  The intention of the King of Runan is to honor his mother as "Guifei", among the four consorts, Gui, Shu, Xian and De, although they are nominally equal, Guifei is actually the most honored. Naturally, Guifei also becomes the first among the consorts. With his mother's noble status, the King of Runan's position naturally becomes even more honorable.

  You are the King of Junan, intentionally making this proposal, mostly because in his youth, due to the favoritism of Empress Shu, his birth mother lost imperial favor, and he himself was not favored by the previous emperor, delayed in being enfeoffed as a king, deeply resentful. Now that he has risen to prominence, he naturally does not want to be seen by the world as having a lower status than the son of Empress Shu, Xuanqing, let alone surpassing the eldest son of the previous emperor, Xuanji. Moreover, Xuanqing is skilled in poetry and literature but has no interest in politics, while Xuanji is mediocre and indulgent, drunk with life and death, exactly what he looks down upon.

  Now, his birth mother was posthumously honored as Xian Tai Fei, first, along with Gui, Shu and De Tai Fei, they were all of the same rank, so it was acceptable in name; secondly, there was Qin Ren Shu Tai Fei above her to suppress her, and Ruo Nan Wang's status could not surpass Qi Shan Wang's dominance; thirdly, Shu Gui Tai Fei was respectfully revered as Chong Jing Yuan Shi, Jin Ting Jiao Zhu, also to appease Ruo Nan Wang —— Shu Gui Tai Fei had already become a person outside the court.

  Just a few titles, but all sorts of taboos and considerations, intertwined and meticulous.

  Three days later, Murong Fei was reinstated as the Huafei. The Murong clan also became more settled because of this.

  I thought the harem would be greatly stirred up because of Empress Hua's reinstatement, but it was only Concubine Tian and Concubine Shen who complained to the palace maids. The rest of the people, from the empress down to Ling Rong and Cao Qin, all acted as if nothing had happened, without mentioning a word.

  That day, the Empress invited me to admire the flowers in the Fengyi Palace. Coincidentally, the imperial edict announcing Huafeng's reinstatement was delivered to the Empress just then. The Empress quietly finished reading the edict and ordered the maid to take it away. She calmly said to me: "It has finally arrived."

  "I just don't know, I said: 'Doesn't the Empress find it unexpected?'"

  The queen smiled and said, "It's just a matter of time." She pointed to the peony flowers blooming under the window and said, "Just like these flowers will bloom sooner or later." After finishing speaking, she ordered Qiu to bring over a small silver scissors. With her slender fingers, she picked up a bright red peony flower in front of her and snipped it off with a crisp sound, handing it to Qiu and saying, "This flower is blooming too showily, get rid of it."

  A surge of movement in my heart, I casually plucked a bright yellow peony and pinned it on the empress's high bun, smiling and saying: "This flower is blooming just right, and it suits Your Majesty's status, looking very good."

  The queen smiled and said: "A woman who is almost thirty, where is she still good-looking?" She paused for a moment, as if unintentionally, "Empress Hua is much younger than me."

  "My humble smile: 'Beauty is not in age, but in demeanor. The queen's majesty is unmatched, and her elegance and nobility cannot be compared to the fleeting beauty of youth. Just as this peony is the king of flowers, no matter how beautiful and delicate a pot of hyacinths may bloom, it cannot be mentioned in the same breath.'"

  The empress pasted a pearl hairpin on the mirror, although she didn't say anything approving, her expression was deeply convinced, and she said slowly: "Noble Concubine is getting better at speaking."

  The queen ordered the maid to re-choose a hairpin and hair clip for her, her fingers lightly stroking the jade pendant on her hand, as if unintentionally, saying: "I heard that your brother's recent reputation is not good, for a woman of loose morals, he has made a big fuss at home."

  I felt a bit embarrassed, twisted the handkerchief with my fingers, and gritted my teeth: "I also heard that it's really a bad thing to spread thousands of miles, such an unseemly thing actually disturbed the empress's peace, it's really my fault."

  The queen turned around and said with a smile, "It's not that serious, your brother is still young, he has achieved success at a young age and doesn't know how to take care of himself. It's inevitable that when he gets excited, he forgets everything else. But it's a pity that your sister-in-law, who is already three months pregnant, still has to worry about this matter."

  My face flushed with anger and I turned away, saying: "I'm so angry that my brother doesn't know how to behave himself. That 'Jia Yi' woman is of such a lowly origin, and yet he insisted on buying her out and setting her up as his concubine despite Father and Mother's opposition, and Eldest Sister being pregnant at the time." I frowned and said: "If it weren't for my parents and Eldest Sister strongly opposing it, I'm afraid she would have been brought into our home as a concubine already."

  "The queen shook her head repeatedly and said: 'This is also unbearable. For the sake of such a woman, one forgets the love between husband and wife, and the nurturing of parents - what kind of thing is this?'"

  I was so angry that I almost shed tears in front of the empress, gritting my teeth and saying: "My brother is infatuated with a seductive woman and refuses to set foot in our home again. I have already ordered someone to go back and inform Father and Mother, absolutely cannot let such a woman enter our door and humiliate the reputation of the Zhen family."

  The Empress said, "Only when both talent and virtue are present can one be considered a good man. Your brother, the noble prince, has the talent of a general with golden armor and iron horse, but in terms of moral character, he is somewhat lacking." She then sighed in dissatisfaction: "It's all because of those people behind Empress Hua that we've become a laughing stock!"

  Returned to the palace and rested for a moment, only to feel extremely tired and weak all over. For days, in order to pursue the title of Imperial Concubine, I had been deliberating with Xuan Ling, carefully considering every detail, which was mentally exhausting. It wasn't until everything was settled and all parties were satisfied that I could finally let out a sigh of relief. But tomorrow's storm would only be more turbulent, and wouldn't be any easier than today.

  Yan Zhen and others also knew that I was overworked and worried, so they burned a furnace of soothing incense to help me sleep, leaving only Liu Zhu by my side to serve.

  Feng Mengmeng was drowsy and about to fall asleep when she heard a soft voice in her ear, "Miss, the empress dowager's palace has sent someone to invite you over for a conversation."

  I heard the two words "Empress Dowager" and suddenly woke up with a start, saying: "What is being said?"

  Liuzhu Dao said: "The eunuch who came to deliver the message didn't say anything, he just asked Miss to go quickly."

  I have always been respectful to the Empress Dowager, so I didn't dare delay for a moment. At the same time, I ordered people to prepare the sedan chair and called someone in to help me wash and dress, and then hastily left.

  In the palace of the empress dowager, there was a tranquil and serene atmosphere like the fragrance of sandalwood, with thin smoke curling up and not dispersing, making one feel as if they were in a world beyond. The midday sun was not overly bright, but rather had a gentle and peaceful quality, like the color of fine porcelain after a light rain, which made people feel calm and serene without reason.

  The hall is quiet, and outside the green window screens, those bustling brilliant spring flowers also have a hint of simplicity and elegance, even the golden sunlight is hazy, like distant mist.

  The Empress Dowager's complexion was still good, leaning on the silver-inlaid carved wooden frame of the noble concubine's long bed by the window, slowly drinking medicine mouthful by mouthful with the help of her granddaughter.

  I made a deep bow and paid my respects, the Empress Dowager casually called me to rise and sit down, saying: "It's been some days since we've had a good talk, what have you been up to lately?"

  "I replied: 'Nothing in particular, just passing time.'"

  The empress dowager didn't even lift her head, saying: "Then let's talk about something to pass the time, I'll listen and it will also help me relax." So I chattered on about some interesting things. The empress dowager had a faint smile that seemed to be there but not quite, as she listened, one hand took over the clear water from her granddaughter's servant girl to rinse her mouth, furrowing her brow saying: "So bitter."

  Before the words had fallen, a blue skirt flashed behind the carved wooden screen with the character for longevity, and out came Mei Zhuang. Mei Zhuang glanced at me, but didn't say much, only holding a white porcelain plate in her hand, on which were placed several pickled hawthorns that had been marinated to a deep red color. With a smile in her eyes, she walked up to the Empress Dowager and said: "This is newly made hawthorn, I ordered people to make it sweeter. It's sour and sweet, and will help with digestion, it's just what Your Majesty needs after taking medicine."

  The empress dowager's face revealed a hint of a smile, saying: "You're a good child to have thought of this." She picked up a candied date and nodded, saying: "Indeed, it's not bad." Zhen Zhuang lowered her head and smiled, her expression humble and dignified, saying: "As long as Your Majesty likes it. I was thinking that medicine is bitter, if one eats something extremely sweet, the mouth will feel uncomfortable, it's better to have a balance of sour and sweet flavors."

  The empress nodded and smiled, showing her approval. She turned to me and asked in a calm tone, "Gwiin Gwibin, do you know your crime?"

  They were chatting harmoniously, enjoying a peaceful and serene atmosphere in the room. Suddenly, they heard such a sentence, their hearts skipped a beat, but they didn't know where they had offended, hastily kneeling down to say: "Your humble servant is terrified and doesn't understand, please enlighten us, Your Majesty."

  The empress's gaze was piercing, forcing me not to dare raise my head casually, feeling anxious and uneasy. The empress narrowed her eyes slightly and coldly threw out a sentence: "You have such a big nerve, daring to interfere with state affairs as just a concubine."

  Mei Zhuang stood on one side, listening to the Empress Dowager's words with a solemn expression. Suddenly, her face turned pale and the ceramic plate in her hand became unstable. The hawthorn fruit in the plate fell out and rolled far away, leaving behind only deep red juice stains all over the floor.

  The empress dowager cast her a sideways glance and said, "I was about to ask her, but you're the one who's flustered first."

  I was so flustered that I didn't know how to respond, and hastily bowed my head to the ground, saying: "Your servant does not know why Your Majesty would say such a thing, it is truly because I do not dare commit such a deadly crime."

  The Empress Dowager sat up straight, her expression solemn and stern, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes making her appear even more severe. She spoke calmly and slowly: "I permit you to speak for yourself; regarding the posthumous title of Imperial Consort, how much were you involved in this matter?"

  I kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty's words make me extremely terrified. I am still young and ignorant, but I also know that the palace ladies are not allowed to interfere with politics, this is the legacy of our ancestors, I absolutely dare not violate it. The Emperor is a wise ruler, the matter of posthumously conferring the title of Imperial Noble Consort has long been decided in his heart, how could I possibly influence it? All I can do is advise the Emperor not to exhaust himself with state affairs and harm his spirit. As for 'participation', it was only when discussing the several titles that had been proposed by the Grand Council for the Imperial Noble Consort, and then submitting them to the Empress and Your Majesty for selection." I looked up at Her Majesty and said, "I am ignorant, thinking that posthumously conferring the title of Imperial Noble Consort is a matter of the palace ladies, so I dared to say a few words. As for state affairs, I absolutely dare not have any involvement." After finishing speaking, I hastily lowered my head.

  The empress dowager hesitated for a moment, her eyes gleaming with a sharp light that seemed to see right through me like I was a crystal, and said slowly: "Even if you have no interest in the great affairs of state, dare you say that you have not the slightest personal motive in this matter?"

  Having just finished speaking, my emotions were slightly calmer. I knew that explaining too much would be counterproductive, so I said: "Your Majesty's discerning eye can see through it. The posthumous title of Imperial Consort doesn't bring any benefits or harm to me or my wife." I paused for a moment and met the Empress Dowager's gaze, saying: "But speaking of personal feelings, I do have some."

  I saw the empress dowager, just listening, without any blame, gradually calming down, said: "The concubine lives deep in the palace, although not hearing external affairs, but there are many rumors in the palace, and some of them have been heard. The emperor is the ruler of a country, always worrying about state affairs, forgetting to sleep and eat. The concubine is fortunate to serve the emperor, only hoping that the emperor can be happy and content, with a smile on his face." I thought for a while, finally still saying: "But sometimes heaven does not follow human wishes."

  The Empress Dowager was the birth mother of Xuan Ling, and had once held power in court. There were some things that didn't need to be hidden from her. The Empress Dowager seemed to have an idea, saying: "It's not that Heaven won't follow human wishes, but rather that someone wants to go against Heaven."

  I knelt in the shadow of the sunlight, with a faintly itchy and uneasy heat on my back. I said softly: "What the Empress Dowager said is absolutely right. But I know that the Emperor is the son of Heaven, and he must be able to receive the blessings of Heaven. I do not dare, nor am I capable of participating in government affairs, I can only pay attention to the Emperor's food and drink, and daily life. If there is any private intention, it is also my humble and unmentionable private intention, which the Empress Dowager asked about today, and I had no choice but to tell the truth. I hope that the Emperor will live forever in peace, and I can also be blessed with a peaceful old age."

  The empress dowager's expression relaxed slightly after hearing my explanation, and she casually tucked a stray hair behind her head, saying with a smile: "This bit of selfishness, which imperial concubine doesn't have? Never mind, you can get up now."

  I smoothed out my clothes and stood up, bowing my head to one side. The Empress Dowager stroked the soft, downy feathers on her embroidered quilt, sighed softly, and said: "Your private thoughts are all the same. Without an Emperor, you wouldn't exist. As long as the Emperor is here, whether it's those who have fallen out of favor or those who are in favor in this palace, they all have something to look forward to, a goal to strive for. But if the Emperor were gone, the Empress would naturally be nothing, and even I, as the Empress Dowager, could rely on my daughter. However, for those like you and Mei'er who don't have children, despite your current glory, in the future, you can only become a lonely and isolated Imperial Consort, not even able to hope for the position of Imperial Concubine. Although you are an Imperial Consort, you will be old and without support, with a bleak later life. In short, it's just waiting for death. So, your hopes are all pinned on the Emperor alone." The Empress Dowager finished speaking, feeling slightly melancholic herself, and turned her head to cough twice.

  Although Mei Zhuang responded with a "yes", she turned her face away, staring blankly out the window as if lost in thought. The Empress Dowager looked at her and said: "Mei'er, you have filial piety towards me, but this mindset should also be applied to the Emperor. Not to mention favoritism, it's not good that even a young girl like Tian Bin is now better than you. At such a young age, she dresses so plainly every day, while I, an old woman, still wear bright colors; yet you're unwilling to do so. Being with me, an old lady, is also meaningless - you should think about your own future."

  Meizhuang's attire was indeed too plain for her status. She wore a silver-gray, narrow-sleeved, cloud-patterned silk dress with a pale blue, unadorned satin skirt that fell just above the ground, without any perfume sachets or jade pendants. On this spring day, all the women in the palace loved to adorn their hair with fresh flowers, but Meizhuang's hair was simply styled into a low bun, without even a single ornate pin or tassel, let alone flowers or silk decorations. Her only ornament was a small, dark red agate bead on her silver hairpin and a pearl embedded in the clasp of her dress. Even the most favored ladies-in-waiting in the empress dowager's palace were more lavishly dressed than she.

  Meizhuang lowered half of her face and said, "Your words make it seem as though I deliberately avoided the emperor. It is not that I do not wish to be close to him, but rather because the emperor's heart's desire is for you to be well, I should show even more filial piety towards you; secondly, my sisters also serve the emperor very well." Meizhuang smiled faintly and continued, "I am not skilled in dressing up, how could I compare with your discerning eye? I only hope that one day when you are free, you will instruct me. I have benefited greatly from being by your side and would not leave even if I were to be chased away."

  The empress dowager smiled and said, "This little girl originally looked steady, now she's even more eloquent. With you accompanying me, and with the medical skills of Dr. Wen, how could my body not be well?"

  Mei Zhuang accompanied with a smile: "This is all the credit of Doctor Wen, I am just serving around, actually there is no use."

  The Empress Dowager said: "Wait until the Marquis of Anping has finished his dinner, and if there's nothing else, you can go back. It's also quite boring to stay here all day."

  Mei Zhuang said, "Wen Taiyi has spoken, after dinner, come over again to take the pulse of Her Majesty. If it's all right, the dosage should be reduced accordingly. I think I'll stay here and listen to what Wen Taiyi has to say, also to remind those little palace maids who are decocting medicine that the Empress Dowager's medicine cannot be neglected."

  The Empress Dowager nodded her head in satisfaction, smiling: "You are always more thoughtful than others." She turned to look at me and said quietly: "I heard from the Emperor that the matter of restoring the title of Huafeng as soon as possible was your idea."

  My heart suddenly felt a chill, I didn't know what the Empress Dowager meant, so I had to force myself to answer: "Yes." As I spoke, I involuntarily glanced at Mei Zhuang, her face changed slightly, her sharp gaze swept across my face, and she already had a few more parts of shocked and angry expression. I lowered my head gloomily, after all, she was going to blame me.

  The empress's eyebrows furrowed into three soft vertical lines as she asked doubtfully, "You're willing to?"

  "I earnestly said: 'The Empress Dowager is wise. The Empress Dowager just mentioned that someone wants to go against the heavens, I may be dull, but I also understand what the Empress Dowager means. Please, Empress Dowager, wisely judge this matter, under the current situation, the previous dynasty needs to calm people's hearts, and the inner palace also does. I cannot let personal grievances affect the overall situation of state affairs.' I knocked my head on the ground and said: 'This matter will inevitably require someone to make concessions, I am willing to bear this concession.'"

  The Empress Dowager was silent for a moment, then smiled with joy and called me over, holding my hand and saying: "Good child, I didn't expect you to have such a noble spirit. No wonder the Emperor dotes on you and allows you to enter the Imperial Study to accompany him."

  I hastily knelt down and said: "Your Majesty's words are too kind. I really don't dare to accept."

  The Empress Dowager ordered me to sit in front of her and said, "I originally heard from the Queen that it was quite proper for you to accompany the Emperor in the Imperial Study. I still don't feel at ease. The Imperial Study is not a place where consorts can enter at will, and you have always been clever and quick-witted. If this cleverness is not used on the right path, or if you are persuading the Emperor to handle state affairs and personnel matters according to his own preferences, becoming a scourge to the country, I absolutely cannot tolerate you."

  "I dare not, your majesty."

  The Empress Dowager said, "I was worried for nothing. Talking to you today, you indeed have a broad mind and vision, the Emperor's eyes are not wrong. The inner attendants of the Imperial Study cannot compare to your ability to understand the Emperor's intentions, so go and accompany the Emperor well - just one thing, do not rashly discuss state affairs, nor can you interfere with politics. Otherwise, I can tolerate you, but our ancestors will not."

  I bit my lip, humbled my expression, and said: "The Empress Dowager's teachings are extremely correct, I will remember them in my heart. But let's not say that I don't have the ability to understand political affairs, with the Empress Dowager above and the civil and military officials below, the Emperor is wise and decisive, how can there be room for me to intervene? I am young and inexperienced, and haven't been through any major events, my actions and words are inevitably not thorough enough, please ask the Empress Dowager and the Empress to teach me more."

  The Empress Dowager slightly raised her eyes and said, "You're young, but you've been in the palace for three years now. After all, you're still an eighteen-year-old girl, and it's not bad that you have such a broad mind. With you by the Emperor's side, I can rest assured. You should serve the Emperor well, and if you can give birth to a child soon, that would be even better."

  I felt slightly relieved and said in a low voice: "Thank you, Empress Dowager."

  The empress dowager looked slightly tired, and leaned back against the soft pillow again. I saw my chance and went to the cabinet at the corner of the hall, opened the lacquered box with a pattern of two dragons inlaid with copper wire, and added half a spoonful of snowflake sugar powder to the empress dowager's water. "Your Majesty has been instructing me for a long time," I said, "take a sip of water to moisten your throat."

  The Empress Dowager smiled and drank, her eyebrows and eyes gentle: "Mei'er's temperament is steady and serious, but you are clever and quick. After the death of the Pure Yuan Emperor's wife, there has never been a trustworthy person by his side. If you can serve him wholeheartedly, not only will the Empress be relieved, but the Emperor will also have no worries."

  Meizhuang stood behind the Empress Dowager, always with an indifferent expression towards me. Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, she smiled and said: "Your Majesty is too kind to this humble concubine."

  The Empress Dowager lay in the sun for half an hour, feeling drowsy, and lazily said: "It's time for me to take a nap. You all go out and have some fun first."

  I hastily stood up and bid farewell with Mei Zhuang. The Empress Dowager closed her eyes for a moment, then slowly called out to me: "The matter of posthumously granting the title of Imperial Consort is handled in this way, which is quite appropriate and takes everything into account. If it were Ah Jia who came up with the idea, it would probably be similar. The Emperor has always been somewhat impulsive and doesn't consider things thoroughly, so someone needs to help him make decisions. However, if this was entirely your own idea, then the idea is a bit too grand."

  I was just thinking about how to explain things to Mei Zhuang after I left, but the Empress Dowager suddenly said this, and my heart felt like it had been hung up again, making me feel anxious. The smile I maintained seemed a bit stiff, and my cheeks felt a bit sore. I said: "I don't understand so much, it's really not possible."

  The empress dowager's smile was tinged with emotion. "An ancient saying goes, 'A woman without talent is virtuous,' but I find this saying unconvincing. Having talent and yet being destined for a short life is truly regrettable. To have talent and know when to advance or retreat, while cultivating one's moral character - that is truly rare. After all, the inner palace is not like ordinary places." The empress dowager spoke with deep meaning: "In this harem, although you are only women, it is a place where a woman's laughter or tears can stir up great waves. Be cautious in every word and deed."

  I nodded silently, savoring the profound meaning behind her words. The Empress Dowager said: "You're a perceptive person, I like that. When you have time, come here often to copy Buddhist scriptures for me."

  I nodded and took my leave. I walked quickly out of the Empress Dowager's Ning Palace, only then feeling that my body and mind were exhausted and couldn't relax for a while. The beads of sweat on my forehead fell, and it wasn't until later that I realized I needed to wipe them away.

  Out of the blue, I saw Baochai welcoming us outside. In a twinkling, I lost sight of Mei's villa and felt anxious in my heart. So I asked: "Have you seen Young Master Meizhuang?"

  "Found it, took the palace maid to the small kitchen to prepare some refreshments for Her Majesty."

  I knew she would be gone for a while, so I took the sedan chair and headed back to Tongli Palace.

  I walked to the west bank of Taiye Pool and happened to see Cao Jieyu accompanied by her maids, holding Wen Yi Emperor's daughter on the Long Bridge over the water, playing with the willow branches and teasing the golden carp in the pool. They were laughing and chatting. When they saw my sedan chair passing by, they hastily stood up and greeted me. I ordered them to get up, and with a smile, I said sideways from the sedan chair: "Jieyu is in high spirits."

  She smiled, looking at Wen Yi's eyes filled with infinite love and affection, "With nothing to do, Wen Yi would shout about going out for a stroll. This mischievous spirit really made the concubine's head ache."

  I smiled: "The good fortune of having a headache every day like Jieyu, others can't even ask for it." I gazed at Wen Yi, who was almost three years old. A three-year-old child with delicate features, painted eyebrows and eyes, chattering non-stop. She had never been familiar with me before, and was a bit shy, but didn't cry or make a fuss, only staring at me curiously with her big round black eyes, very well-behaved and lovely.

  She was originally being held in Cao Jie's arms, seeing me smiling at her with a smile, also knowing that I liked her, suddenly pouting, laughing out loud, opening her arms and asking me to hold her. I was also unexpected, I was originally sitting on the sedan chair, but seeing her so lovely and cute, I also started liking her from the bottom of my heart, so I walked down.

  Cao Jieyu saw Wen Yi stretch out her hand to hug me, and hastily whispered: "Don't be so unruly in front of the empress, it's not proper."

  I smiled: "Little kids aren't afraid of birth, it's more interesting, why does Yu need to say that." As I said this, I wrapped my arms around her and gently stroked the sweat-drenched hair on her forehead. Wen Yi was still young, but she could already tell whether someone truly liked her or not. She was very affectionate towards me, leaning against my shoulder, her soft little face rubbing against my neck, one hand holding onto me, the other hand curiously fiddling with the golden bee and chrysanthemum brooch on my shirt button.

  Cao Jieyu smiled and said from the side, "Wen Yi likes you very much, Your Majesty." She then leaned in close to Wen Yi and said, "Quickly call her 'Mother Gu'!"

  Wen Yi didn't call out, she just lowered her head in shyness, and twisted around me like a sugar cane. Cao Jieyu saw her being coy, so she turned her head and called out to the wet nurse, "Take the princess away, look at how wrinkled your clothes are." She then whispered softly by my ear, "The concubines have been waiting for Your Majesty for quite some time now."

  I understood, knowing she had something to ask me. Pretending nothing was wrong, I let go of Wen Yi, and with one hand, I removed the few golden bee-shaped brooches from my clothes and handed them to the wet nurse, saying: "These inexpensive trinkets are for the princess to play with."

  The wet nurse did not dare to take it for a moment, but looked at Cao Jie's face, saw that she was just smiling, and hurriedly smiled and thanked her.

  "I said: 'The spring scenery is very good, I want to go to the Spring Welcome Garden for a stroll, I'll take a step first.'"

  I walked to the Yingchun Garden, leaving only Xingyue to take a stroll with me. At that time, the spring light was dense and thick, like the early-blooming Yingchun flowers, which had already wilted and scattered, with very few people coming to admire them anymore. It was indeed a quiet place for conversation. Before long, Cao Jieyu arrived alone.

  I pinched two peach blossoms in my hand and played with them carelessly, saying: "Sister Cao, what business do you have that requires an audience with me?"

  She said in a low voice: "The Empress has been restored to her position and yesterday summoned all the concubines to the Hua Xiu Palace."

  I felt a slight stir in my heart, still smiling slightly, and said softly: "That's great. The Empress has always had dealings with you. Now that she's been restored to her position, you should go congratulate her."

  She didn't bat an eyelid, only saying: "The concubine has already sent the congratulatory gift." She looked at me and said: "It's just that this time, Empress Hua summoned the concubine to ask about Your Majesty's actions during her confinement."

  I slightly paused, fiddling with the flowers in my hand, and said leisurely: "Sister Cao is such an intelligent person, naturally she would know how to respond appropriately. Besides, no matter how one responds, it's all up to Sister Cao's own considerations." I subtly turned the conversation, smiling sweetly at her, "Actually, whatever Concubine Hua says, she is still Sister Cao's former mistress, although she was a bit harsh towards you and the princess, but after all, she did promote you, and her status and family background are far above mine. It's only natural for Sister Cao to be close to Concubine Hua, especially now that she has regained her position, and the Emperor is not unfavourable towards her."

  Cao Jieyu's eyebrows slightly moved, and she quickly smiled and said: "Your Majesty doesn't need to play dumb with the concubines. Although the concubine is not clever, she also knows that her current reinstatement and favor are temporary, just like a fleeting summer flower, after all, it's the last resort." She laughed, "The concubine and the princess want to secure their position, naturally they won't take risks."

  I gazed at her for a moment, saying: "Sister Cao is discerning and perceptive, with quick wit, not someone ordinary people can compare to. However, I also don't want you and Empress Hu to become estranged."

  Cao Jieyu smiled, her face as radiant as a spring flower. The golden silk and jade cicada hairpin on her chignon swayed gently with the flowing tassels, "Since the concubine has entrusted herself and the princess to you, Madame, she naturally follows your orders and will not lean towards her again. It's just that Madame's instructions are clear, and the concubine understands them, she won't disappoint Madame."

  I smiled lightly: "Sister Cao is tactful, I naturally have nothing to worry about. Since Empress Hua likes to pry into my affairs, I can only use her own methods against her." I asked again: "This time Empress Hua was reinstated and the Emperor's favor increased, what does she think?"

  Cao Jieyu slightly revealed a slight disdain, and only one sentence summarized: "陶陶然沉醉其间，卻也時常憂心會再度失寵。" She glanced at the wind: "However, because of the previous matter, and also heard about Qin Fangyi and Lu Shunyi's changes after, she was quite wary of Niangniang."

  I didn't think much of it, but there was a hint of malice in her words. "She has long regarded me as an archenemy, not just from now on. Of course, I feel the same way."

  "Your Ladyship naturally has a way to deal with her, and the concubine is just making a slight effort. However, there is one thing, Your Ladyship and the concubine have no direct interests in each other, to put it bluntly, it's just a union of convenience. When the benefit is gone, they can easily part ways. The concubine is lowly and cannot rival Your Ladyship, so she can only fear that she won't be able to assist Your Ladyship wholeheartedly."

  I smiled at her, and our intentions were clear to each other. "Elder sister Cao is straightforward, your concerns are also the concerns of this palace. This palace has no children yet, and Princess Yunyi's daughter Yuxue is lovely. This palace intends to adopt her as a foster daughter after the matter is settled, so that we can rely on each other. What does elder sister Cao think?"

  Cao Jieyu smiled with joy, picked a branch of peach blossoms and tied it to her wrist as a bracelet, saying: "This way we can both be at ease." She turned her head to gaze at the lush green and yellow garden, sparkling like stars, "Your Highness has a boundless future ahead, having such a motherly empress to care for you is the good fortune of Wen Yi."

  I gazed at the golden silk and jade cicada hairpin on her bun, smiling: "This thing looks very familiar, I seem to have seen it once in the Emperor's treasury, is this a new reward from the Emperor for my sister?"

  Cao Jieyu's face showed a slight flush as she said, "Yes. It was just a little game."

  I picked up my clothes and stood up, and when I passed by her side, I smiled quietly, sprinkled the osmanthus in my hand on her palm, grasped her slender fingers, and said: "Sister Cao's hands are really beautiful. It's just that dyeing fingernails with jasmine flowers is only clever, but if you can inlay osmanthus on your fingernails, it must be more to the emperor's liking."

  She smiled brightly and saw me off with a bow of her knees, "Thank you, Your Ladyship, for your guidance."

  I returned to the palace with Qian Xiang, she dismissed everyone and had a worried look on her face. "Cao Jieyu is not worth worrying about, Your Highness can control her. It's just the Empress Dowager..."

  I sat in front of the dresser, taking off the bright pearl and emerald earrings from my ears. Having left Empress Dowager's Ning Palace for a long time, I still had lingering fears, secretly feeling that the Empress Dowager's words and actions were cunning and not something I could withstand alone. The reverence and awe in my heart deepened even further.

  I said quietly, "I am not interfering in politics, the empress dowager also knows this, otherwise I wouldn't have been let off so easily today. The empress dowager's intention is not to blame me, but to remind me not to interfere in political affairs. It is intended to prevent problems before they arise." I sighed, "Although the empress dowager has not heard of politics for a long time and does not intervene in the harem, her intentions are also good and bitter. I'm afraid she is worried that I will follow in the footsteps of Empress Hua and deliberately warned me."

  "Your Majesty has been in the palace for a long time and has experienced many things. You must not offend the Empress Dowager."

  I nodded and said, "Of course."

  "Her Majesty should visit the Empress Dowager more often to pay her respects. It seems that Mei Zhuang's young master has won Her Majesty's favor."

  "She doesn't want to hope for the emperor's pardon for Empress Hua, she's probably trying to win over the empress dowager. Well, having the empress dowager as a backer is more reliable than the emperor."

  At this point, I had some thoughts in mind, but I was afraid of the empress dowager and did not dare to act rashly again on matters of state affairs.