Once Yanyu and Prince Qin left, the consorts who had come to pay respects also dispersed, and Empress Zheng departed with Wei Ruxuan.
The Empress Dowager slowly closed her eyes. She was truly old now, her hair white, sustained only by sheer willpower.
Nanny Zhao massaged her head: “Your Majesty, would you like to rest on the bed for a while?”
The Empress Dowager said: “This Wen girl is truly remarkable. She reminds me of myself when I was young.”
Nanny Zhao replied: “We’ve already inquired. During her years in the Marquis Anqing’s household, everyone liked her. She was indeed raised by the old madam and further taught by Madam Jiang, wife of Third Master Shao, who treated her as her own daughter.”
The Empress Dowager said: “Uncles often dote on nieces, but how many aunts do? With no parents, yet so many people caring for her—this girl’s methods are not ordinary. Her words and manners are flawless. The Fifth Prince has truly disappointed me.”
Nanny Zhao sighed: “The Fifth Prince is simple and weak in nature. He needs a clever, capable principal wife to guide him.”
And indeed, Wen Yanyu was the most suitable candidate. First, her beauty—since the Fifth Prince adored pretty women, he would at least listen to one. Second, her composure—her speech was proper, her demeanor balanced. On her very first palace visit, with both the Empress and Empress Dowager present, how many could remain so calm and unyielding?
Consort Luo had deliberately tried to embarrass her, yet Yanyu had countered with sharp wit.
With such a Princess Consort, the Fifth Prince’s weaknesses could be covered.
But now the Emperor had intervened, placing her in Prince Qin’s household instead. The more the Empress Dowager thought of it, the more she hated it.
“Prince Qin acts swiftly and domineeringly, bold and forceful—truly a man fit for great deeds. His only flaw is being too harsh, too blunt, and offending too many. But with a clever, eloquent Princess Consort to smooth things over, he will be like a tiger with wings.”
Nanny Zhao helped the Empress Dowager rise.
“Such a woman must not remain. She must be eliminated quickly.”
“Yes.”
Meanwhile, Empress Zheng and Wei Ruxuan were returning to their palace.
That day, Wei Ruxuan wore a light blue gown, her hair adorned with only a few simple ornaments, her makeup very plain.
It was clear that Empress Zheng was pleased with her appearance.
Wei Ruxuan did not like this old-fashioned style of dress, but she had no choice—Empress Zheng was her mother-in-law, and whatever the Empress liked, she had to follow.
Empress Zheng had always despised women like Yanyu. Meeting the Princess Consort Qin for the first time today left her displeased. By contrast, Wei Ruxuan suited her taste far better.
Empress Zheng glanced at her. Fortunately, the Fifth Prince had married a daughter of the Wei family. Yanyu looked like a temptress, a bringer of misfortune. If such a woman entered the Fifth Prince’s household, would he still listen to his mother? He would likely devote himself entirely to her.
“You must serve the Fifth Prince well and bear him a son as soon as possible—make sure it happens before the Princess Consort Qin,” Empress Zheng said calmly. “As long as you give birth to a child, I will see to it that the Emperor elevates you to principal consort of the Fifth Prince.”
Wei Ruxuan’s eyes lit up instantly. The position of principal consort was very attractive to her. At present, she was not valued in the palace. Other consorts ignored her; the Empress Dowager paid her no attention, all because she was only a secondary consort. If one day she were elevated to principal consort, her status would change immediately.
Wei Ruxuan nodded repeatedly: “Mother Empress, rest assured. I will serve the Fifth Prince well, serve you well, and always obey your words. I will accompany the Fifth Prince smoothly all the way to the throne.”
Empress Zheng’s greatest wish in life was for the Fifth Prince to become Crown Prince and then Emperor. But the Empress Dowager never allowed anyone to mention it—it was forbidden even to speak of.
Hearing Wei Ruxuan say it aloud made Empress Zheng feel much more at ease. To be honest, between Yanyu and Wei Ruxuan, Empress Zheng preferred Wei Ruxuan.
The Wen girl looked like a fox spirit, sharp-tongued, able to twist words until black became white—truly irritating.
Wei Ruxuan had none of those tricks to seduce men. Her words were auspicious and pleasing, warming the heart.
Empress Zheng held Wei Ruxuan’s hand and led her forward: “Xuan’er, be obedient. In the future, everything you should have—you will have.”
…
The Shao family also had the Marquis Anqing’s residence in the capital, granted by the Emperor. At first, when they returned with Yanyu, they cleaned up Duke Zhen’s residence and stayed there.
Since the Emperor wanted Shao Junliang and Shao Junshou, the two brothers, to remain in the capital, the Shao family had tidied the Marquis’s residence, planning to move back there after Yanyu’s return visit.
That day, Yanyu was to return to her family. Madam Jiang had the household cleaned early and ordered the kitchen to prepare a variety of dishes, ready to welcome the young lady and her husband.
Shao Hong, seeing her busy, couldn’t help but say: “Prince Qin is unlikely to accompany her. He is always proud. If our girl comes back alone, there’s no need to prepare so much.”
“What does it matter if she comes alone? Even if she comes by herself, we must be thorough,” Madam Jiang sighed. “We’ve raised her for ten years—she’s no different from our own daughter. I don’t want her to suffer any grievance. If Yan’er hadn’t come to our family, I might never have had children. She brought us fortune.”
Shao Hong didn’t care much for such superstitions, but since Madam Jiang repeated them often, he never argued.
Madam Jiang said: “Have you written to Ling City? You must bring Junliang and Junshou’s wives and children here.”
Normally, if two young masters stayed in the capital, their wives would remain at home to serve their parents-in-law. But for a family like the Shaos, social connections outside were more important.
With Shao Junliang and Shao Junshou newly arrived in the capital and climbing the ranks in officialdom, their wives also needed to be here to build networks among households.
Shao Hong nodded: “I’ve already written. The old master and old madam should have seen it.”
As they spoke, a maid came to announce that Prince Qin had returned together with the young lady.
Shao Hong hadn’t expected the Prince to actually come. He quickly summoned Shao Junliang and Shao Junshou.
Shao Hong and the two juniors hurried to greet Prince Qin with proper courtesies, then accompanied him for a walk in the garden.
Meanwhile, Madam Jiang took Yanyu’s hand and led her inside to talk.