In Fuyao Hall.
The palace maid Hongbi reported to Xie Zhenrong, “Crown Princess, His Highness the Crown Prince has bestowed gifts upon Wen Fengyi again.”
Xie Zhenrong was quite surprised.
She set down the account book in her hand and looked up to ask, “What did he bestow?”
“Your Highness, it was a chess manual, a rare edition from the previous dynasty.”
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Momo, who stood nearby, furrowed her brows tightly.
“Crown Princess, it seems His Highness dotes quite a bit on this Wen Fengyi.”
Xie Zhenrong gently stroked her own belly, her eyes filled with bitterness.
“Nanny, it’s better for His Highness to favor Wen Fengyi than Yang Fengyi. If His Highness’s first child comes from Wen Fengyi’s womb, I might actually feel more at ease.”
Zhuang Momo looked at her forced smile, her face full of heartache.
In the Eastern Palace, only the Crown Princess and the side consorts were qualified to bring their own nannies and maidservants.
There were no side consorts in the Eastern Palace yet.
The nannies and four senior maidservants by Xie Zhenrong’s side had all served her since childhood.
They all knew that the filthy affairs in the Xie family’s inner residence had caused the Crown Princess to suffer an undeserved calamity.
Falling into the lotus pond in the freezing snow had left her with severe cold in her body, making it difficult for her to conceive.
Of course, this news was kept tightly under wraps; otherwise, it would have been uncertain whether Xie Zhenrong could have ascended to the position of Crown Princess.
Xie Zhenrong came from a prominent noble family and had been groomed since childhood to become the Crown Princess.
She had long known that her future husband would inevitably have a harem of consorts.
Thus, she had long been mentally prepared for the Crown Prince’s affection for other women, so there was nothing to grieve over.
What saddened her was her own health. Having married into the Eastern Palace for two years, she had yet to bear a legitimate son for His Highness.
Even if His Highness’s first child were to be brought to her courtyard for her to raise, it would still not be her own flesh and blood.
As she thought about it, her vision grew blurry, and tears uncontrollably slipped from the corners of her eyes.
Seeing Xie Zhenrong’s sorrowful state, Zhuang Momo felt immense heartache.
She personally went to the kitchen and prepared a bowl of dark, bitter medicinal brew.
“Crown Princess, it’s time to take today’s medicine.”
Xie Zhenrong caught a whiff of the scent, and her stomach churned with nausea.
But for the sake of having her own child, she pinched her nose and drank the entire bowl of medicine in one gulp.
After finishing, she rinsed her mouth, changed into palace attire, and led a retinue of servants to Cining Palace.
The Empress was also in Cining Palace, reading a travelogue to the Empress Dowager at that moment.
The Empress was the Empress Dowager’s niece from her maternal family, so their relationship was naturally close.
If not for the Empress Dowager’s protection, the unfavored Empress might have long since made way for Yang Guifei.
Xie Zhenrong stepped forward and paid her respects to the two with a curtsy.
The Empress Dowager seemed to like this granddaughter-in-law very much. She patted the spot beside her, inviting Xie Zhenrong to sit there.
When the Empress saw her daughter-in-law arrive, she continued reading the travelogue without stopping.
The Empress Dowager waved her hand and said, “Take a break. Have a cup of tea and rest for a while.”
But the Empress shook her head. “I’m not thirsty. Since I have nothing else to do, I’ll read a few more volumes for you, Aunt.”
Seeing her idle away her time like this, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but feel irritated.
“Day after day, you do nothing proper! Do you think you can hide away in idleness at your aunt’s place forever?!”
Upon hearing this, the Empress remained calm. Still, she closed the travelogue and handed it to a palace maid of Cining Palace.
She herself sat properly, obediently accepting the scolding.
Xie Zhenrong felt slightly awkward witnessing her mother-in-law being reprimanded in front of her.
After a moment’s thought, she quickly changed the subject.
“Your Highness, I’ve heard from the palace attendants that His Majesty is concerned about the Third Prince and Fourth Prince falling behind in their studies. He intends for them to attend the Grand Tutor’s lectures alongside the Crown Prince.”
In the Great Yan Dynasty, before an heir apparent was designated, all princes would study together under great scholars.
But once the Crown Prince was established, he would be separated from the other princes. In addition to studying with great scholars, he would also receive instruction from the Grand Tutor.
The Grand Tutor primarily taught the way of ruling, concerns for the state, and the heavy responsibilities toward the people.
Yang Guifei frequently whispered in the Emperor’s ear, ensuring that her two sons enjoyed privileges equal to—and in some aspects even surpassing—those of the Crown Prince within the strictly hierarchical palace.
Xie Zhenrong was anxious. She and the Crown Prince were husband and wife—their fates were intertwined, sharing both glory and disgrace.
She couldn’t stand by and watch the children of that seductive consort being treated as equals with His Highness!
The Empress Dowager waved her hand dismissively. “Do not worry. This matter is not yet decided. Not only will the civil and military officials oppose it, but I will also prevent it.”
Hearing this, Xie Zhenrong felt somewhat relieved. She bowed to the Empress Dowager and the Empress before taking her leave.
The Empress Dowager turned her gaze to the Empress, who stood as still as a wooden post, and her anger flared up again as she continued to scold her.
“Look, even the Crown Princess knows to be concerned. Can’t you, as his mother, show some care for your own son?!”
The Empress replied calmly, “Aunt, he is not my biological son.”
“But you raised him yourself! As the saying goes, the bond of upbringing is greater than that of birth. That child Xu’er has always regarded you as his own mother. Even if your heart were made of stone, after all these years, it should have warmed up by now!”
The Empress lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers.
Her entire demeanor exuded an air of dejection.
The Empress Dowager clutched her chest, worried she might faint from anger.
“How should I even address you? What man doesn’t favor the new over the old? Especially when he is an emperor. Your most important task is to firmly grasp power, not to mope around in my presence all day! Look at that Yang woman—she’s practically running wild over you!”
The Empress, however, said, “All that power was given to her by the Emperor. How can I take it back? I might as well eat well, drink well, and enjoy a life of leisure and ease.”
The Empress Dowager felt a pain in her chest and pointed at her, unable to speak.
What a calamity! How did the Li family end up raising such a stubborn and inflexible eldest daughter?
Had they known, even sending a concubine-born daughter would have been better than this.
She let out a long sigh and waved her hand dismissively.
“Return to your Fengxiang Palace. I’d rather not see you and be vexed.”
The Empress rose. “Then I shall come again tomorrow. Rest early, Aunt.”
After the Empress left, the head matron of Cining Palace immediately stepped forward to massage the Empress Dowager’s temples.
The Empress Dowager said sorrowfully, “Zhong Yun, do you think I made the wrong decision back then? Forcing such an ill-matched couple together has caused Weiyue to waste her life away in this palace.”
Weiyue was the Empress’s maiden name—the very Li Weiyue who was once renowned throughout the capital for her talent.
Zhong Momo remained silent for a moment before speaking. “Empress Dowager, you are not at fault. The true misfortune lies in the Empress being born in the wrong era. What she seeks is something no woman in this world dares to aspire to—a lifetime with one devoted partner. What an extravagant hope that is. Thus, whether the Empress had married into the palace, into another noble family, or even married beneath her station to an ordinary commoner, she would have struggled to fulfill her wish. It would merely be a different form of hardship.”
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager felt her words made sense.
Here in the palace, at least she had someone to protect her.
Had she married elsewhere, she might have suffered even greater hardships.
Women in this world have never had it easy. To live well, they need not only sufficient ability, magnanimity, and grace, but also the capacity to endure and the courage to act.
To endure what ordinary people cannot, and to dare what ordinary people dare not.
As for Wei Yue, though she is talented, she is ultimately too aloof and proud.
Her unbending nature might earn her praise for her integrity from the world, but men tend to prefer those who are more accommodating and flattering.
It can only be said that fate has played a cruel trick.
…