After that matter was settled, Liu Fuyin changed into a high-collared outfit before following Chen Wanjun to the Empress’s Fengxi Palace.
“Your son/Your subject pays respects to the Empress. May the Empress be blessed with Golden Peace.”
Liu Fuyin stepped slightly behind Chen Wanjun to bow, her every movement flawless.
“Rise, both of you. Be seated.”
The Empress’s gaze swept over Liu Fuyin before finally settling on Chen Wanjun:
“Crown Princess, as the principal wife, you must learn to be dignified and magnanimous. It is your duty to manage the rear courtyard well, select some suitable women for the Crown Prince, and strive to expand the royal family line as soon as possible.”
The Empress had naturally learned about the unconsummated wedding night the very next morning. She had never thought highly of the Crown Princess’s background—the only daughter of a fourth-rank Cishi, with her father deceased, effectively leaving her without maternal family support, rendering her useless to the Crown Prince.
It was only because the Crown Prince seemed bewitched by her that the Empress, unwilling to create a rift with her son over a woman and also seeing it as a way to avoid future interference from maternal relatives, agreed to this marriage.
After all, it was still possible to select concubines from influential families. However, she never expected her son to be so stubborn, as if this woman had fed him some kind of potion—he simply refused to agree.
Unable to persuade the Crown Prince, the Empress had once tried to convince the Crown Princess to take the initiative in selecting concubines. To her surprise, this woman was quite arrogant, repeatedly saying, “Your Highness has said he loves only me. After all, I am His Highness’s savior. How could he accept anyone else? This matter should be discussed directly with the Crown Prince by Your Majesty.” Her subsequent remarks even subtly hinted at the discord between the Empress and the Emperor, implying that since she couldn’t have something, she didn’t want others to have it either.
Since then, the Empress had never shown the Crown Princess a pleasant expression, only putting on an act in front of the Crown Prince.
Having spent so many years in the palace, she understood the flaws of men all too well—the more they couldn’t have something, the more they desired it. The Empress had endured the two of them for two years, and now, for the sake of that position, hadn’t the Crown Prince obediently married a Liangdi?
Once there was a first, there would be a second. Now that the Crown Prince had relented, the rest would be much easier to handle.
The Crown Princess rose and performed a half-bow, deliberately ignoring the latter part about selecting concubines: “Your Majesty, please forgive me. It is not that I am unwilling, but His Highness has said he loves my free-spirited and unrestrained nature, which sets me apart from others.”
“What fine ‘free-spirited and unrestrained’ talk. I only hope that when you stand in my position one day, you will still be able to say such words.” The Empress scoffed disdainfully.
The position of the central palace’s mistress could not be secured by mere free-spiritedness. She had overestimated this Chen woman before—shallow-minded and foolish, after all.
“Your subject certainly will.” Chen Wanjun was confident about this. Not to mention that her father had died saving the Crown Prince, she herself had once been pursued and fallen off a cliff with him to save his life. Having accompanied each other for so many years, such deep affection was something no one else could surpass.
The Empress snorted coldly, clearly angered. Though she was speaking to Liu Fuyin, her displeased gaze was fixed on Chen Wanjun: “Liangdi Liu, why wasn’t the wedding handkerferchief sent over this morning? Was it due to the incompetence of the matron or obstruction by someone lacking in propriety?” The true intent behind these words was obvious.
Although Chen Wanjun was not afraid of being blamed by the Empress, she did not want their relationship to deteriorate further. At this moment, she too stared at Liu Fuyin, curious to see whether she would lodge a complaint or break into tears.
These words ostensibly questioned Chen Wanjun, but in reality, they were a veiled criticism. Liu Fuyin rose gracefully, then timidly knelt down. Her face instantly turned pale, and she wore a worried expression. “Last night, His Highness did not stay. But this cannot be blamed on anyone. After all, the eldest princess is His Highness’s legitimate eldest daughter. When a child falls ill, His Highness would naturally worry and want to visit. After all, the princess is of noble status, far beyond what a humble concubine like me can compare to. If anything, it is only my own misfortune to blame.”
Chen Wanjun glanced at her faintly, as if to say, “You know your place.”
The Empress remained expressionless.
This daughter of the Liu Family was indeed beautiful, but her temperament was far too gentle. The excuse of illness was nothing more than a pretense.
“Rise, Lady Liu. You are the legitimate daughter of the Shizhong. I once considered you for the position of Crown Princess, and now you have been wronged. In the future, if you have any grievances, you may speak to me.” To say this openly was a direct affront to Chen Wanjun’s dignity. What else could Liu Fuyin do but express her gratitude and apprehension?
After speaking, regardless of the Crown Princess’s expression, the Empress continued, “How is the eldest princess?” After all, even if she already knew, the eldest princess was her first grandchild, and she still had to show some concern.
“The princess merely had an upset stomach from eating something cold and is already fine.”
“Since she is fine, His Highness should stay in Liangdi’s chambers tonight. The Crown Princess must advise His Highness well, ensuring he visits his concubines as soon as possible, so that joyful news may soon spread throughout the palace.”
“Mother, you know this is beyond my control! Even taking concubines was something His Highness was unwilling to do. It was only after much persuasion from me that Lady Liu Liangdi was able to enter the Eastern Palace. His Highness was even angry with me over this matter. How can I do anything else to displease him?” Chen Wanjun couldn’t help but roll her eyes inwardly.
This Empress constantly preached about dignity and magnanimity, but in reality, His Majesty did not favor her. If not for raising such a fine son as the Crown Prince, she might not even be able to hold her position securely.
Unable to win her own husband’s affection, she insisted on meddling in others’ affairs!
The Empress held her handkerchief and smiled faintly, her tone growing stern, as if issuing a warning. “I have given this much thought. The Crown Prince’s lack of heirs is ultimately due to having too few women around him. In a few days, I will select more to enter the Eastern Palace. As the principal wife, jealousy is the most unbecoming. If you cannot even accept one Liangdi now, I fear you will be consumed by resentment in the future.”
Chen Wanjun had grown up unrestrained, and since arriving at the Eastern Palace, she had been stifled by all the rules and etiquette. Thus, she refused to suffer any verbal slight, retorting to the Empress at every turn.
“Crash!”
The tea set on the table shattered into pieces on the floor. The Empress was on the verge of fury. “Lady Chen! It seems you have no regard for me as your elder!”
As the Empress erupted in anger, everyone in the room knelt in fear, including Liu Fuyin, who tried her best to minimize her presence, fearing she might be caught in the crossfire.
“Your Highness, please forgive her. The Crown Princess grew up in Jiangzhou and is not like the noble ladies of the capital. She meant no harm.”
Minghua, the Empress’s personal attendant, quickly knelt to plead for mercy. On the surface, she was interceding, but in reality, she was subtly mocking the Crown Princess for her lack of propriety and reminding the Empress not to let this create a rift with the Crown Prince.
In the end, this morning greeting ended unhappily. If not for their mutual considerations, the two might have openly quarreled.
After leaving Fengxi Palace, Chen Wanjun glared at her once more. Seeing this, Liu Fuyin immediately expressed her loyalty: “Crown Princess, rest assured. You are the mistress of this household, and I will surely respect and honor you. Moreover, being assigned to His Highness was not my own wish. When I first met His Highness years ago, I was merely a young girl—what could I have known of love? The rumors circulating in the capital are nothing but exaggerated tales meant to attract attention.”
She knew how to adapt her words to the situation—speaking politely to those who deserved it and dealing shrewdly with those who didn’t. At this moment, she was nothing in the Crown Prince’s eyes, so she would not foolishly claim admiration for him and risk earning the Crown Princess’s resentment.
Chen Wanjun flicked her sleeve dismissively. “You certainly know your place.”
In truth, Chen Wanjun would have preferred if this Liu woman were bold and ambitious enough to compete with her openly. That way, she would have had an excuse to eliminate her outright.
The reason was simple: Liu Fuyin was far too beautiful—so beautiful that it stirred unease in one’s heart.
Even if His Highness did not favor her, Chen Wanjun would never allow such a stunning woman to remain by his side.
While their encounter had been far from pleasant, the Empress, who had been openly challenged by her own daughter-in-law, was even more infuriated.
After everyone had left, the Empress was so enraged she felt as if she might vomit blood. Never in her life had she encountered such an insolent and disrespectful junior!
In her fury, tears even welled up in her eyes. “I am the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister. Since childhood, I have lived a smooth and privileged life. When I first married His Majesty, we treated each other with mutual respect. Even after my beauty faded and His Majesty showered his favor on other consorts, he still granted me the respect befitting my position in public. But ever since Liguifei entered the palace eight years ago, everything changed! In all these years, when has His Majesty ever looked at me properly? How can a mere consort bear the title ‘Li’? What position does His Majesty even place me, the Empress, in?
“I have endured humiliation for years, painstakingly raising the Crown Prince to adulthood and stabilizing my position. But what about the Crown Prince? Not only does he fail to understand my struggles, but now, for the sake of a woman, he even opposes me. I have tolerated the older generation, but must I now endure such a junior as well?”
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince is still young and has been bewitched by that woman. After all, she once saved his life, and with such a debt of gratitude, it is only natural he might be infatuated. Perhaps he has even confused gratitude with love. With the Crown Princess’s temperament, she is bound to suffer greatly and be cast aside sooner or later! Your Highness need not waste your anger on someone so ill-mannered!”
Minghua had been rescued by the Empress as a child and had served by her side ever since. Having weathered the ups and downs of the palace for many years, she held the Empress in higher regard than her own life. Seeing the Empress in distress, she silently added Chen Wanjun to her list of grievances.
“Of course I know all this!”
It was precisely because she knew that she had never intentionally made things difficult for the Crown Princess, often only offering advice. But how did the Crown Princess respond? Time and again, she openly retorted against her. In her anger, the Empress would reprimand her more harshly, only for the Crown Princess to later complain to the Crown Prince.
While the Crown Prince would never directly oppose his mother, over time, such conflicts were bound to create a rift between them.
“I will wait and see just how long this Crown Princess can remain so arrogant. When surrounded by beauties, will Li Yu’an truly remain unmoved?”