Chapter 306

Chapter 306 The Empress Dowager glanced sideways at Mammy Liu. Mammy Liu steeled herself and continued, "Why not send her to do odd jobs in the courtyard for now, and in a couple of days, find some excuse to replace her?" "Otherwise, with these events happening back to back, people will inevitably start speculating, and rumors will spread that could drive a wedge between Your Majesty and the Emperor." Mammy Liu had risen to become the Empress Dowager's confidante in such a short time precisely because she possessed considerable skill. The Empress Dowager's greatest concern at present was her mother-son bond with the Emperor. The moment she heard Mammy Liu's words, she was immediately persuaded. Mammy Liu then asked softly, "Shall this old servant have them open the main gate and invite the Emperor and Empress in for tea first, and also have someone attend to Your Majesty's grooming..." She added, "Your Majesty is unwell, yet still endures rising to receive the Emperor and Empress's respects. This shows how truly you dote on the Emperor. When the Emperor learns of this, he will surely be even more filial to Your Majesty in the future." These words pleased the Empress Dowager. "Then do as you suggest." The Empress Dowager's current ambition was for the Emperor to be sufficiently filial, allowing her to 'deputize' for the Empress in managing the harem and enjoy the prestige of being mistress of the Six Palaces. The Emperor and Empress did not wait long outside Cining Palace before being welcomed inside. The Empress Dowager deliberately delayed while grooming herself, driving Mammy Liu beside her to distraction with anxiety. After this ordeal, Mammy Liu became convinced that the Empress Dowager of Cining Palace believed in neither heaven, nor ghosts, nor gods—everything had to go according to her own whims. Mammy Liu fretted, fearing that Cining Palace would rarely know peace in the days ahead. The consorts of the Six Palaces, led by the Emperor and Empress, performed the grand morning greeting ceremony to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager sat high in the place of honor, her brows and eyes radiating gentle kindness as she asked the Emperor, "You still have morning court today—why have you come as well?" The Emperor replied, "Today is the great day when the Six Palaces pay respects to Mother. How could your son not come?" "It would not be too late to attend morning court after offering greetings to Mother." The smile on the Empress Dowager's face grew even wider: "I know your filial piety well, but this must be so tiring for you." The Emperor said, "Only today." "State affairs keep me busy; I fear I cannot come to pay my respects to Mother every day from now on." The smile on the Empress Dowager's face stiffened. "Your health must come first." The Empress Dowager had only been making polite conversation, never expecting the Emperor to actually take up her words. The implication was that henceforth, he would only visit Cining Palace once in a while. The Empress Dowager inwardly cursed the Emperor for his lack of filial piety, yet she had to express concern for his health and could say nothing more, lest she contradict herself. Seeing that the Emperor was not playing along, the Empress Dowager shifted her gaze to the Empress: "The Empress's constitution is far too frail." The words were ostensibly solicitous, but coming from the Empress Dowager's mouth, the Empress was filled with wariness, knowing full well that her mother-in-law was about to stir up trouble again. Sure enough. The next moment, the Empress Dowager frowned and said, "I no longer hold hopes of you giving the Emperor a legitimate son. But the Emperor is in the prime of his life, and the harem has only three sons—one of them a fool... This is clearly a failure on your part as the Principal Consort." "They say a virtuous wife brings fewer misfortunes to her husband. Had you been capable, the Emperor's harem would long ago have been teeming with children." The Emperor frowned involuntarily upon hearing these words. He had specifically had the imperial physician examine the boy—the First Prince was somewhat slow in his reactions, but he was no fool. The Empress Dowager called him a fool outright, as if she were not speaking of her own grandson. As a father, how could the Emperor be pleased to hear such words? The Empress maintained a demeanor of utmost respect and compliance: "It is this concubine's inadequacy. Unlike the former Princess Consort Su, who could bear the Emperor a legitimate son, nor can I make the harem flourish with heirs for the Emperor." Hearing the Empress's words, the Emperor was reminded of how the former Princess Consort Su, relying on Prince Su's influence, had meddled in his household and nearly prevented the Sixth Prince from being born. He said coldly, "If Mother wishes to hold a legitimate grandson, shall your son bring Imperial Brother's two sons into the palace to keep you company?" The Empress Dowager secretly fumed at the Empress for poking at a sore spot. Why bring up the Princess Consort Su of all things? Would that not remind the Emperor of what happened back then? It was over the Princess Consort Su's interference in the Emperor's household that a rift had formed between mother and son. Now that old matters were being dredged up again, the Empress Dowager could not help but feel a pang of guilt. The Empress Dowager said, "Why put them through such trouble? They are commoners now. Coming to the palace, they would be bound by all sorts of rules and regulations—their lives would only become harder." Her words expressed sympathy, yet she made no move to plead for Prince Su's two sons. Hearing this, the Emperor felt even more chilled to the bone. The Empress Dowager knew full well that Prince Su's two sons were living difficult lives, yet she had not spoken a single word on their behalf. However restrictive the palace rules might be, life here was still better than living as commoners outside. In the old days, when the Empress Dowager had favored Prince Su, she had doted on his two sons as if they were precious treasures, calling them her heart and soul. Now that Prince Su had fallen from power and the two boys had been reduced to commoners, struggling to live even worse than minor seventh-rank officials—had her heart and soul suddenly stopped aching for them? Had she merely uttered a single word of intercession, the Emperor would not have felt so deeply wounded. The Emperor said, "The Empress committed no fault when she was Princess Consort. Your son is still young; there is no worry about having children." "Moreover, your son has three princesses and three princes—that can hardly be called few offspring." The Empress Dowager instinctively retorted, "The Retired Emperor had eight princes. How can yours not be considered few?" The Emperor grew even more impatient. "Since Mother brings up Imperial Father, it reminds me of something. Mother currently resides in Cining Palace, while Imperial Father is in Anran Residence—the two are quite far apart. Why not have Mother move to Anran Residence to keep Imperial Father company? It wouldn't do to leave Imperial Father in solitude there alone, would it?" The Empress Dowager's face changed instantly. "How can this be?!" She was only fifty, still healthy and vigorous—how could she accompany the Retired Emperor in the cold, lonely Anran Residence, pursuing immortality and the Dao day after day? The Empress Dowager's chest ached with anger. "You only care about protecting the Empress, with not a single thought for me." Though these were scolding words, they carried little real fury. The Empress Dowager remained fearful that the Emperor, in a fit of rage, might actually send her to accompany the Retired Emperor. Seeing her clutching her chest as if truly in discomfort, the Emperor refrained from pressing her further. After settling down, the Empress Dowager realized that with the Emperor present, she could hardly do anything to the Empress. Her gaze shifted, landing on Xie Run, who stood nearby in respectful attendance. Nanny Xu was holding Taotao, who wore a set of festive clothes and was plump and fair-skinned. She beckoned to Nanny Xu, smiling amiably. "Bring the Fifth Prince up for me to see." "It's been a while—this little one seems to have gained a few more pounds." Nanny Xu instinctively looked toward Xie Run. Xie Run gave a slight nod and reached out to straighten Taotao's clothes. "To receive the Empress Dowager's affection is the Fifth Prince's fortune." The Empress Dowager took Taotao from Nanny Xu's arms and held him close. Xie Run glanced at her long nails, dyed red with balsam flower, and her eyes flickered slightly. This dynasty had no custom of wearing nail guards, but women of all ages loved to dye their nails—there had even been nail-beauty contests in the past. They were competitions to see whose dyed nails were the most beautiful. Moreover, since the Retired Emperor was still alive, the Empress Dowager had no need to observe widowhood, and her current appearance was no different from when she had been Noble Consort Rou. The Empress Dowager played with Taotao. Seeing himself held by an unfamiliar person, Taotao was momentarily startled. The next instant, he burst into hearty laughter, a carefree, cheerful soul without a worry in the world. The Empress Dowager smiled. "The Fifth Prince is not only healthy in body, but also lively and cheerful in temperament—truly a good child." "Seeing him laugh makes me feel years younger." The Empress Dowager raised her hand and drew a jade hairpin adorned with an auspicious ruyi pattern from her hair. "Speaking of which, Bright and Pure Consort has rendered meritorious service in bearing a child. It is only fitting that I reward her." "Consider this hairpin a reward for raising the Fifth Prince so well." Xie Run hurriedly bowed in gratitude.