Chapter 4

The court finally fell silent, and all the civil and military officials gazed intently at the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister calmly rose and performed a long bow, saying, "I had originally prepared several lists here, but it seems that even if I were to present them, they would be of no benefit to Your Majesty. Our Great Yin has always placed great importance on lineage and character when selecting a consort. Therefore, I must not shy away from recommending my own daughter. She is currently fourteen years old, has been educated by me since childhood, possesses modest talents, and has a decent appearance. She aspires to elevate herself by marrying Your Majesty. I wonder what Your Majesty's thoughts are on this matter?"

Although this Empress Dowager is not her biological mother, she is wholeheartedly devoted to her. However, over the years, Fu Wei has harbored a secret and has not dared to get too close to her, yet there is still a bond of affection between them

The court was in a heated argument, with voices raised and no resolution in sight. Fu Wei realized that deciding her lifelong affair was not as easy as she had thought. She furrowed her brows and remained silent for a while, then turned to look at the Prime Minister, who stood with his hands tucked away, calm and composed, adhering to his old rule of not speaking unless absolutely necessary

The Empress Dowager spoke with a hint of a smile on her face, as if that person were still sitting there. The inner servant then followed her lead and said, "I have entered the Eastern Palace several times to attend to matters, and I have seen Your Majesty sitting in the same manner; Your Majesty truly resembles the late Emperor."

The Empress Dowager nodded and said, "At that time, I was always worried, fearing that A Ying would have a difficult path ahead. Now, I have set aside half of that concern; once the Empress enters the palace, the political situation will largely be settled."

Fu Wei never expected that in the end, she would take a significant turn, finding herself in a dilemma. Even if the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Rites spoke at length, their recommendations were merely for someone else's daughter, which could not compare to the Chancellor's deep and personal involvement.

Empress Liang is a dignified and amiable person, merely smiling, "I have heard that Your Highness has proposed the enfeoffment of the Changqiu Palace, and I have come specifically to inquire of Your Majesty, is it indeed true?"

No one dared to speak privately, their gazes drifting between the Young Emperor and the Chancellor. Since the Chancellor was providing careful guidance, how could one speak of mediocre talent? Even the daughter of ten Huangyue would pale in comparison. The Chancellor is the true power player in this court; even if he were to recommend the daughter of a seventh-rank official, her standing would outweigh that of others, let alone his own beloved daughter

Fu Wei naturally remembers this, and also recalls how, as a child, she was reluctant to study. The Prime Minister illustrated the stories of how emperors throughout history diligently governed their realms in paintings to teach her. Looking back now, there is still a strange feeling surging in her heart, which is difficult to articulate.

The Empress Dowager stood up to greet him, her eyes filled with satisfaction. The Young Emperor, from a distance, clasped his hands together and said, "If Mother wishes to summon me, she could simply send someone to inform me; why come in person?"

"Master Xiang," she called out, "I wonder what insights you might have?"

This statement left everyone astonished, yet it was not a moment of silence in the hall; even the drop of a needle would have caused a tremendous uproar.

She pressed the loose soil under her feet firmly, stood up, brushed her hands, and said, "Please wait a moment, Empress Dowager, I will change my clothes and be right there."

Indeed, even the most malevolent individuals possess a benevolent side. For instance, the innocent and naive drawings he created reflect a certain thoughtfulness on his part, despite his authoritarian nature. The general consensus in the court regarding him is largely unfavorable, yet Fu Wei seems indifferent to this; whether they acknowledge it or not, they are essentially of the same ilk. The Chancellor is cold and ruthless, leaving no room for compromise. As for her, she wears a feeble expression while harboring hidden fangs.

If one had foreseen that love would become so intense, would one still be willing to waste seven years? The Empress Dowager speaks of this with a hint of sorrow, "The hardest thing to see through in this world is oneself. Do not make things difficult for yourself out of stubbornness, for otherwise, it will be too late for regrets. Your Majesty is about to marry, and I am very happy for you. At that time, I did not understand what it meant to 'use gentle virtue to tame the hearts of dragons and tigers.' The way of husband and wife does not lie in who is strong or weak, but in being of one heart and one mind. I wish the new Empress and Your Majesty to be harmonious; to repel external threats, one must first ensure internal stability. I need not speak of this principle, for Your Majesty understands it as well." At that time, I did not understand what it meant to 'use gentle virtue to tame the hearts of dragons and tigers.' The way of husband and wife does not lie in who is strong or weak, but in being of one heart and one mind. I wish the new Empress and Your Majesty to be harmonious; to repel external threats, one must first ensure internal stability. I need not speak of this principle, for Your Majesty understands it as well.

Two days later, during the court assembly, as expected, the discussion centered around the significant matters following the selection of the young emperor

Empress Dowager Liang fell silent, ultimately letting out a long sigh

I have discussed with the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Rites, but it is still undecided who it will be, so please have them look for candidates for me. Mother, do not worry; once the selection is made, I will report back immediately. She smiled, took the tea sent by the Yellow Gate attendant, and respectfully presented it to the Empress Dowager. The Minister of Works is from an external family, so fortunately, Mother did not assign him. If he were to confront the Chancellor directly, it might implicate the Liang family. Currently, there are no disturbances in the court, and I believe there will be no opposition to the establishment of the Empress. However, I still have some reservations, fearing that in the end, the Chancellor may not comply, and we would have to rely on him.

Her relationship with the Chancellor is not as tense as outsiders perceive; it is merely a matter of differing positions, which inevitably creates an illusion of hostility. The Chancellor has controlled the court for a full decade, and she has indeed endured him for ten years. However, she possesses great magnanimity and believes that a life-and-death struggle is unnecessary; as long as she regains power, everything will be resolved smoothly. As for the Chancellor... how should I put it? No matter how overbearing he is, she has never truly hated him. Instead, she is curious about what a toothless tiger might be like. Long-term suppression can give rise to peculiar thoughts; she admires his show of strength and looks forward to seeing how he appears once subdued. If you like someone, merely trying to please them and showing weakness will never capture their attention. It is essential to become strong enough to be on equal footing with them; only then will they truly regard you.

As he spoke, someone approached from the middle of the road, with a slender figure and bright features. The youthful exuberance of the young man indeed served as the finest adornment. Wearing the dark robe, he no longer appeared frail; the child who had been watched grow up had finally matured into a generation's emperor

I have little connection with the late emperor; I only remember that I was conferred a title in this very palace of the capital.

The Lecheng Hall is the main hall of the Eastern Palace, where the emperor usually meets with his officials. This hall is built high and deep, and as summer approaches, the four sides of the windows are fully opened, allowing the wind to blow through. Under the ornate canopy, the golden and silver cords clink against each other, producing a crisp sound. The Empress Dowager squints slightly, feeling a sense of nostalgia for the past. More than a decade ago, she had visited this place; although her stay was brief, it remains a precious memory. Now that the emperor has changed, she still holds a special affection for this Eastern Palace.

The Empress Dowager sat comfortably in the Lecheng Palace, waiting with considerable impatience

Such a good thing, there is no need for Your Majesty to speak of it. The Empress Dowager inclined her body and sat down, saying, "A few days ago, I was still thinking that Your Majesty will soon turn sixteen, the age at which one should marry. I wonder what the Duke and the ministers in court are planning. I am in the palace and unable to learn about the previous court's news. I once thought of asking the Minister of the Interior to bring it up in court, but I feared that doing so might displease the Duke... Now it is good, since it is his intention, I can rest easy. I am in the palace and unable to learn about the previous court's news. I once thought of asking the Minister of the Interior to bring it up in court, but I feared that doing so might displease the Duke... Now it is good, since it is his intention, I can rest easy. So, has a candidate been decided? Whose daughter is it?

When the messenger reported, it was said that when the Empress Dowager visited His Majesty, Fu Wei was squatting under the peach blossom tree burying her monthly necessities. In front of the Zhangde Hall, there was a large flowerbed, which was originally tended by Empress Zhenhui, the wife of Emperor Wen, who had planted this peach blossom tree. The years in the imperial court were quite dull; aside from reading and practicing martial arts, Fu Wei had no other way to pass the time, and occasionally she would come to the flowerbed to weed and plant flowers. The hobbies and habits she had developed in the past were now solving her major troubles. The leftover items were inconvenient to clean, so they could only be buried. The Yellow Gate officials and the attendants in front of the Emperor were accustomed to seeing her there, so they would not have any suspicions.

The Grand Tutor smiled and said, "This statement is incorrect. Huang Yue is a military general; does that mean his daughter cannot be a consort? What we are discussing is the daughter of the Huang family, not Huang Yue himself. What does this have to do with whether he is a military general or not?" He then bowed his hands again and continued, "I have long heard that the Huang family possesses virtue, conducts themselves with respect and propriety, and is humble and unpretentious. To be a match for my lord is indeed a union made in heaven."

The young emperor shyly nodded and said, "Indeed, I originally intended to wait until after the court session tomorrow to personally report to my mother at Yong'an Palace, but I did not expect that you had already received the news."

There is a kind of regret called missing out. The story of the Empress Dowager and the late Emperor was once casually mentioned by an old palace maid to Fu Wei. In the grand dynasty, marriages typically took place between the royal family and prominent families. When the Empress Dowager married the late Emperor, he had just been granted the title of king, and the noble lady and the prince had incompatible temperaments, making their married life akin to being at odds with each other. For nine years of marriage, they were in opposition for seven years, viewing each other as thorns in their sides. The Empress Dowager never expected that after he ascended the throne, he would show great mercy by welcoming her into the Changqiu Palace. For nine years of marriage, they were in opposition for seven years, viewing each other as thorns in their sides. The Empress Dowager never expected that after he ascended the throne, he would show great mercy by welcoming her into the Changqiu Palace

In the palace, secrets abound, yet they are also impossible to conceal. If a matter is not deliberately avoided or hidden, it will hardly take half a day before it becomes known to all within the imperial court

The Grand Tutor and the Minister of Rites, influenced by Fu Wei's suggestion, successively recommended Huang Yue's daughter. However, the court officials expressed dissent, stating, "Our dynasty governs the world with benevolence and filial piety; the Empress must possess both virtue and grace to be established. Huang Yue is merely a man of martial prowess, and there may be shortcomings in his family management."

The young emperor on the throne let out a long sigh, just as he was about to respond, the Grand Historian countered: "In the past, when the Sage Emperor subdued the Rouran, the Huang family was merely a surrendering general. After joining the Sage Emperor's camp, they turned their weapons against the Wang court, which was disloyal to their former lord; this is one point. Secondly, Huang Yue has been stationed in Jingzhou and has recently been closely associated with various lords, raising concerns about his intentions, which is unjust to the new lord. For such a disloyal and unjust person, the Grand Tutor actually wishes to recommend his daughter as empress; could it be that the Grand Tutor harbors dissatisfaction with the court and with Your Majesty?"

The Grand Tutor and the Minister of Rites displayed expressions of disappointment, fully aware that the situation had turned against them, feeling deeply remorseful towards their lord. Their plans ultimately could not keep pace with the changes orchestrated by the Chancellor. The cunning of the Yan family seems to extend not only to the court but also to the inner palace, escaping none of his grasp.

The Great Yin has not held any joyous events for ten years. This time, the Young Emperor's marriage to the Empress is truly worthy of a grand celebration throughout the nation.

Empress Liang listened with a sense of melancholy, "Your Majesty is too kind-hearted, which is why you are often bullied. It is easy to seize power but difficult to relinquish it; human desires are endless. If you grant him a city today, he will want a prefecture tomorrow, and the day after, he will desire the entire realm. You must also be cautious, for the establishment of a consort may merely serve to temporarily silence the voices of the masses. If this is the case, we must still think of a solution..." As she spoke, she paused, noticing the worry on the young emperor's face, and then comforted him, "I am merely expressing a thought; it may not necessarily be the case. In any event, this is a joyful occasion, so Your Majesty should be a bit happier. I still remember when you were young under his tutelage; he painted pictures to teach you knowledge—'If strength is insufficient, one must borrow strength.' The three dukes and nine ministers in the court cannot assist, but when absolutely necessary, there are still various feudal lords. The late emperor once told you, 'If there is a way to relax and balance, then the world can be stabilized.' Your Majesty remembers this saying, does you not?"

She was astonished in her heart, yet her face remained impassive. "Are you jesting, Prime Minister? I recall that you are still unmarried; where could such a large daughter come from?" While she spoke these words, her mind was racing with a myriad of thoughts. The more she thought, the more terrifying it became. Could she be an illegitimate daughter? He may have the title of a bachelor, but could he actually be supporting a string of children outside? It is indeed possible; at twenty-eight or twenty-nine, having a daughter in her teens is quite common. What is the situation now? Has the Prime Minister grown weary of his position and decided to take on a national father-in-law role?

She pointed to the eastern end of the throne and asked the inner minister: "Do you still remember when the late emperor ascended the throne to meet the officials, he liked to lean against that armrest the most?"

"I have never dared to forget the teachings of the late emperor," she said with a smile. "My mother is just like me... What does this palace remind you of?"

The Empress Dowager sat for a while before leaving, but Wei continued to ponder that statement. With the virtue of gentleness and grace, one can tame the hearts of dragons and tigers; this is the strategy of a woman. But what if it were applied to her? It would likely require the ferocity of a wolf to subdue the hearts of tigers and leopards