"You're utterly audacious, daring to recklessly discuss state affairs!"
"Would she?"
"Of course she would. Your aunt isn't someone who monopolizes power."
"But what about the Emperor? How does he think?" After her aunt returned governance to the Emperor, he always suspected she was holding something back. As soon as his wings grew slightly stronger, he restricted her movements. When Prince Qi rebelled, her aunt didn't hesitate to support him as emperor.
But by the time her aunt clearly saw the court situation, she had long lost real power: "After all, the Emperor isn't Aunt's own son."
Madam Song immediately became alert: "Don't think you can fool me. Even if the Emperor isn't, it's not your place to lower your status through marriage to ease the Emperor's suspicions. Even if you marry beneath you, no one marries as low as you're proposing."
Truly unprecedented: "Mother—"
"Don't think about convincing me."
"Mother—"
"Don't call me. I'm leaving." Madam Song stood up directly. Even marrying into humble families should be to someone like the Number One Scholar, not some servant!
That's a servant!
Zhuang Momo also felt it was inappropriate: "Princess, this servant also thinks it's improper…"
"Is that so? To the palace. I want to see the Empress Dowager."
"Princess, Princess, please reconsider."
After careful thought, Song Chuyu didn't find it inappropriate at all. She would handle his affairs, he just needed to live freely as he wished: "Where's my elder brother?"
"Replying to the Princess, the Heir Apparent has gone out."
"Where did he go?"
Zhuang Momo hemmed and hawed.
Song Chuyu took a deep breath. Her elder brother was addicted to gambling his whole life, squandering the family's century-old foundation, feeling no shame but rather taking pride in it: "Bring him back."
"But the Heir Apparent—"
"Bring him back! We're going to the palace to see Aunt." Since she couldn't persuade her mother, she would convince the Empress Dowager.
…
The majestic palace stood solemn and dignified.
The Emperor hadn't yet taken personal control of governance, with the Empress Dowager holding the political power of Great Xia.
The atmosphere in the Empress Dowager's Cian Palace was particularly heavy.
The chief eunuch of Cian Palace had long been waiting outside the hall. Seeing Anguo County Princess's red, swollen eyes, his heart immediately ached: "My little mistress, what happened to you? Why have you been crying?"
Song Chuyu supported herself on Eunuch De's arm: "Just had some words with Mother."
This… Dehai didn't dare to say more.
…
The Empress Dowager looked up from the complicated government affairs and felt her heart sink at the sight. She dismissed the attending eunuchs handling affairs.
As the eunuchs left, they couldn't help glancing at the young Princess. Who had offended the young Princess to make her cry like this?
Song Chuyu had rubbed two chili peppers to achieve such stubborn-looking tears: "Aunt, your niece has something to say."
The Empress Dowager was over fifty but well-maintained. Although she treated the late Emperor's orphaned children well, everyone in the court knew the Empress Dowager doted most on her own niece – more than actual princesses, even bestowing the title Anguo. If "Eldest Princess" wasn't reserved exclusively for the late Emperor's daughters, the Empress Dowager would have conferred her niece as the Eldest County Princess.
Song Chuyu knelt, her expression serious: "Aunt, may I ask you – what kind of woman must I become for you to agree to let me marry whoever I love, regardless of their status?"
The Empress Dowager was momentarily stunned, her movement to help her up halting as she straightened: "The way you ask… I almost thought I had gained another nephew."
"Aunt." Song Chuyu looked at the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager gazed at her niece in confusion. This niece had been willful and arrogant since childhood, quite high-minded. Aside from her excellent appearance, she was just another typical noble lady of Shangjing City.
But today… she seemed different: "Is the man's status very low?"
"Someone even your respect for worthies and appreciation of scholars wouldn't reach."
"Indeed low. Why think of marrying him?"
"I pity his half-life of wasted years, and that someone has wronged him."
"There are plenty of pitiful people—"
"Yes, but few touch your niece's heart, and even fewer are those I wish to shelter by my side."
"Did the other party agree?"
Song Chuyu was taken aback; she hadn't considered this question: "Does the other party need to agree?"
The Empress Dowager thought for a moment: "No." If Chuyu agreed and she agreed, the man's opinion was unimportant.
Song Chuyu disagreed: "It's very important." She had completely overlooked this point—some men would rather break than bend, preferring death to surrender, and would consider living off a woman a disgrace. Lin Qingyuan was likely one of them.
"Unimportant."
"Important."
"Unimportant!" A man whose status was as low as the dust—must they even ask for his opinion? What would that make her niece? "Then do you still want to marry him or not?"
A bright sparkle shone in Song Chuyu's eyes: "If your niece says yes, will Aunt Empress Dowager agree right now?"
The Empress Dowager glanced at her, sidestepping the question: "Dehai, fetch some ointment to rub on her eyes. She doesn't even fear ruining them."
"Is it that Mother doesn't understand your niece, or is it that Aunt is better, unconcerned with worldly opinions and understanding of your niece's thoughts? Here with Aunt, your niece doesn't even have a chance to cry."
"Don't flatter me, and don't expect me to help you outdo your mother. Who is the boy?"
Song Chuyu hesitated. Although she didn't consider Lin Qingyuan's status low, it truly was: "A minor scholar, but his shortcomings, your niece can make up for."
The Empress Dowager returned to her seat, intrigued by this statement. Her niece, who usually only cared for flowers and plants, had suddenly found ambition? "Tell me, how will you make up for it? By entering the court as an official to earn him a lifetime of glory, or by toiling over documents to ensure his name endures forever?"
"If possible, your niece wishes to learn it all. I earnestly beg Aunt to teach me." Song Chuyu clasped her hands, raising them above her head, and bowed solemnly.
In this lifetime, she did not want to grind down her edges, confined to the inner chambers. She wanted to be like her aunt, like Lin Qingyuan—to do all she could to protect a corner of the realm.