Xu Rusheng had been in the palace for three days, yet Empress Wen had not once mentioned paying respects to the Empress Dowager.
Since the Empress did not bring it up, she naturally would not mention it either.
Zhou Xi came daily to chat and share meals with her. The days in Fengyi Dian were peaceful and warm, as if in a dream.
"Your mother has sent a letter, saying she will return to Jingcheng before the Dragon Boat Festival."
Empress Wen handed the letter to Xu Rusheng, a faint sorrow in her eyes.
What did being Empress matter? She was still a prisoner within these palace walls.
She could not fulfill her filial duties like her brother, nor could she return home like her younger sister.
"She doesn’t know I’ve brought you into the palace. The letter was likely delivered by your father when he returned to the capital."
Xu Rusheng nodded. Her father would arrive in the capital in a few days.
But what worried her more was that, in her past life, her mother had been ambushed and killed on her way back to the capital.
"Aunt, could Uncle escort Mother back to the capital?"
Xu Rusheng held little hope. The Wen Family’s army was stationed at Qujiang and could not enter the capital without a summons.
Empress Wen did not understand the child’s thoughts but patiently explained, "Your mother will have attendants accompanying her on her return. There’s no need for your uncle to escort her. Besides…" She sighed softly. "Your uncle cannot enter the capital casually."
Seeing Xu Rusheng’s downcast expression, Empress Wen’s heart softened. "However, His Majesty has posthumously honored your grandfather with the title of Grand Preceptor. Your cousin Wen Xu is now fourteen. As the heir to the Duke of Supporting the Nation, he will soon come to the capital to express gratitude and will travel with your mother."
The world only remembered that the Wen Family commanded an army of two hundred thousand, but they forgot that the Wen Family also held a hereditary dukedom.
The knife hanging over Xu Rusheng’s heart temporarily eased. In her past life, her grandfather had not passed away so soon. After visiting her family, her mother had returned to the capital alone, accompanied only by maids, elderly servants, and a coachman, making her an easy target.
This time, with members of the Wen Family traveling alongside her, the situation would be different. Yet, she still felt uneasy.
"Aunt, I want to go meet Mother."
Empress Wen was genuinely puzzled this time. "What’s wrong with you? I know you miss your mother, but you’re just a child. Qujiang is a long journey—how could you possibly go?"
Xu Rusheng shook her head silently in her heart. No, Qujiang was far, but Princess Chunyi did not have such reach. Her mother had died in You Zhou, not far from the capital.
She wanted to tell her aunt that Princess Chunyi would ambush her mother, but the heavens were watching her closely. If she defied fate again, she feared being struck by thunder.
How annoying! Xu Rusheng felt restless, her hands constantly tugging at her sleeves.
"Come with me today to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. We’ll call Xi along later. I’m afraid Song Yi from Chunyi’s household will be there too. If you don’t like her, just ignore her."
Zhou Songyi!
Xu Rusheng suddenly felt enlightened. How could she have forgotten Zhou Songyi? The eldest daughter of the Xu Family, Zhou Heng’s wife. All she needed to do was expose Zhou Songyi’s identity, bring Zhou Songyi and Zhou Heng together, and make Zhou Songyi become the Xu Rusheng of her past life in terms of identity. Then, the Xu Rusheng of this life would be free.
Xu Rusheng’s heart raced wildly, but she forced herself to stay calm. This matter required careful planning—no rush, no rush.
Empress Wen watched Xu Rusheng blinking thoughtfully and found it amusing.
Lu Hui entered and reported calmly, "Your Majesty, several consorts have come to pay their respects."
Empress Wen wiped the smile from her face, replacing it with an expression of weariness. Finally, she took Xu Rusheng’s hand. "Come, accompany me to meet them."
The two arrived at the main hall of Fengyi Dian, where seven or eight consorts dressed in colorful attire hurriedly rose and knelt.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress."
Empress Wen gave a soft "hmm" and said, "All rise."
Xu Rusheng stood beside the empress and curtsied.
"Greetings to all the consorts."
Consort Shu was the first to speak.
"So this is the empress's niece. What a fine appearance, noble and dignified. I have long wished for a lovely daughter, unlike the brat I gave birth to, who is never around."
Xu Rusheng naturally recognized her—Zhou Heng's birth mother, a dog that bites. Before Zhou Heng rose to power, she fawned endlessly. After Zhou Heng was named crown prince, her true nature was revealed: arrogant and presumptuous, she even dared to demand that Xu Rusheng, as the crown princess, kneel before her.
Later, her aunt, to eliminate the threat once and for all, had her hanged with a white silk cord.
The other consorts gritted their teeth in resentment.
Showing off again, showing off again, day after day, as if no one knew she had given birth to a prince.
Min Zhaoyi flicked her handkerchief.
"Er Huangzi cannot compare to the Eldest Prince. I heard the Eldest Prince is already assisting His Majesty with official duties, while Er Huangzi remains idle day after day. Sister Consort Shu, you must teach him properly."
Consort Shu turned to Min Zhaoyi, speaking slowly and softly.
"Er Huangzi is His Majesty's son. His Majesty will naturally teach him well. Unlike you, sister—how long has it been since His Majesty visited Yuxi Palace? The Second Princess hasn't seen Father Emperor in a long time, has she?"
Empress Wen impatiently signaled to Lu Hui with her eyes.
Lu Hui swept a stern glance over the two bickering women and spoke word by word.
"Quarreling and making noise before Her Majesty—silence at once."
The two immediately fell silent, sheepishly returning to their seats. No one spoke, and the others dared not utter a word.
The empress enjoyed His Majesty's deep trust, and no one dared to provoke her.
Only then did Empress Wen speak.
"Consort Shu, if you want a daughter, discuss it with Min Zhaoyi. Let her raise Zhou Heng, and you raise Zhou Han. How about that?"
Upon hearing this, Consort Shu immediately jumped up from her stool, waving her hands repeatedly.
"No, no, Empress Dowager, that is not what I meant." She had only wanted to show off.
Xu Rusheng found it amusing. Consort Shu was exactly this kind of petty person who reveled in temporary power, the same in both lifetimes.
Empress Wen shot her a sharp glance before turning to Min Zhaoyi.
"How long has it been since the Second Princess saw His Majesty? Send her to Fengyi Dian later. It won't do for a child to rarely see her father."
Min Zhaoyi was overjoyed and repeatedly expressed her gratitude.
"Alright, you two accompany me to Cining Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. The others may return."
Consort Shu stood up proudly. Not everyone was permitted to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Min Zhaoyi standing nearby and felt a pang of irritation.
Why was this little wretch so grating to the eyes?
The group arrived at Cining Palace. Before even entering the hall, they heard a soft, honeyed voice.
"Aunt, look, this is what I had someone fetch from outside the palace."
When Xu Rusheng entered the hall, she saw Consort Yang, charming and alluring, smiling like a flower beside Empress Dowager Yang. Zhou Xi stood nearby with a cold expression, only showing a smile when Xu Rusheng entered.
Seeing Empress Wen enter, Consort Yang giggled coyly.
"I came first to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. I hope the empress is not angry."
Empress Wen did not indulge her in the slightest and raised an eyebrow to ask.
"If this empress is angry, how does Consort Yang plan to appease me? Kneel at the entrance of Fengyi Dian, or request a demotion yourself?"
Her blunt words froze the atmosphere in Cining Palace. Empress Dowager Yang had no choice but to step in to smooth things over.
After all, Consort Yang was her family. Foolish as she might be, the Yang Family had no one else to rely on now. They could only hope she would raise the Eldest Prince, Zhou Yan, well. Only when the Eldest Prince ascended the throne could the Yang Family continue their glory.
"She has always been this way, thinking I didn't sleep well and coming early to show her filial piety. Empress, don't hold it against her. Let it be an exception this time."
Empress Wen showed a rare smile toward Empress Dowager Yang.
"Your Majesty is right. I will not take it to heart. I came today to bring my sister's child to pay respects to you."
After speaking, she gently nudged Xu Rusheng forward and whispered,
"Quickly greet Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Xu Rusheng knelt properly and respectfully.
"Your humble subject greets Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Empress Dowager Yang beckoned with a kindly expression.
"Come, come, let me take a look. As I grow older, I adore young girls like you, as lovely as flowers."
She then took out a red-gold peace lock engraved with auspicious blessings and placed it around Xu Rusheng's neck.
"I heard you fell seriously ill when your aunt came to fetch you. Wear this peace lock and grow up safely and soundly."
Empress Dowager Yang was truly a kind-hearted elder. She had endured great hardships in her youth and spent her later years worrying endlessly for her children.
Xu Rusheng touched the exquisitely crafted lock, her emotions complex.
"Your Majesty is biased, keeping such fine things for others and not giving any to my Song Yi."
Princess Chunyi strode into the hall proudly, holding a child of similar age to Xu Rusheng.
Xu Rusheng gathered her spirits and smiled brightly.
Zhou Songyi, it's been a long time!