"Cough, cough." Huiyin coughed a few times. Her cold had improved considerably, but the coughing was unavoidable.Madam Ji pushed the small celadon porcelain cup on the table toward her, indicating, "Here, have some pear soup. I got up early this morning and made it for you myself. It moistens the lungs and promotes fluid production, and can also relieve dry coughing."It had been a long time since she'd had pear soup. In her previous life, a year after she entered the household, her menstrual cramps became so severe each time that the bleeding wouldn't stop, and she could no longer enjoy cold foods like pears.Now, of course, she drank a bowl without restraint—sweet and refreshing.After watching her daughter finish the soup, Madam Ji continued, "Your eldest sister made a pair of knee pads for your father with her own hands, and he was very pleased. Clearly, your grandmother had already paved the way for her long ago—she wanted her to excel in everything: music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and needlework. I just don't understand—she's a granddaughter too, so why is she so partial? Then again, it's all my fault.""Mother, I've actually always wanted to ask you—what exactly happened in this matter? I've heard some gossip before, but whenever I asked, you always brushed me off with 'don't pry into adults' affairs.' But I truly want to know—how did you marry Father?" In her previous life, Huiyin only remembered that when she was young, she always heard people around Grand Dowager Xu pointing and whispering, as if saying her mother was some kind of fox spirit.This was also why, after Huiyin became the Empress Dowager and learned that her elder sister had become a widow, she specifically wanted to invite her to the capital to bestow favor upon her.Madam Ji glanced at her daughter and finally nodded readily: "Alright, I'll tell you.""Back then, after I divorced your eldest brother Pei Shuo's father, I lived at your maternal grandfather's home. After living there for a long time, your aunts-in-law inevitably started saying things like 'eating free meals.' How could I endure that? So your maternal grandfather posted a notice seeking a son-in-law. At that time, it was during the Lu Ji Rebellion. Lu Ji was killed by your father, and his former subordinates were pursuing your father and the others. Your father fled in panic with Madam Xu, and they happened to pass through our Pingyang Commandery. To avoid the pursuit, Madam Xu came up with a clever idea."At this point, Madam Ji's tone carried a hint of sarcasm.Huiyin couldn't help but ask, "What clever idea?"Madam Ji replied, "Madam Xu had your father tear down the notice and come to be our son-in-law, so that she could protect her entire clan, young and old. I didn't understand at first, but when your maternal grandfather praised your father as brave and robust, with great masculine spirit, I came out to meet him and indeed found him impressive, so I agreed. But I never expected that before the wedding, Madam Xu came to me and revealed her entire plan. She said your father was only willing to marry me to escape the pursuit, and hoped we could be a fake couple—that once the matter was settled in the future, they would set me free.""Despicable." Huiyin thought to herself that this Madam Xu was truly vile—she wanted to use the Ji family to help them escape disaster, and even after the wedding had already begun, she made her intention to burn the bridge after crossing it so blatantly obvious.Madam Ji smiled. "I was already a divorced woman. If I were to be cast aside again, where in this vast world would I have a place to stand? So I kept a calm exterior, but secretly had my father say that he had learned your father was already married, and therefore was unwilling to consent to the match. At that point, if Madam Xu had backed down, that would have been the end of it. Your father also said they should just flee together that very night. But Madam Xu, seeing how submissive I was toward her, treated me completely like a concubine. She had your father pretend to divorce her as a way to stall for time.""This letter of divorce she thought was just a temporary measure, but I took it to the authorities and had it officially registered, making her truly cast out. I married your father with the full rites of betrothal and wedding. Your father and I were wed through proper matchmaking, and I no longer had to live under someone else's roof. Xu Shi outsmarted herself and lost both the battle and the war—who is there to blame?""You crossed the bridge after crossing the river, trying to kill the donkey once the mill is done," Madam Ji simply turned the false into the true, overtaking her from behind.Huiyin thought to herself, so that's how it was. She then asked, "And Father? What did Father think?"Madam Ji smiled. "When I was young, I valued love above all else. Later, I realized most men in the world are like that, so since that was the case, I might as well find someone to rely on. Coincidentally, your father was brave and skilled in battle—at least when fleeing for his life, he was willing to bring his wife and children along. That was enough for me."So that was the whole story. Because Madam Ji was not entirely blameless in the matter, she did not dwell on it. Xu Shi, thinking herself clever, was completely out of the game, falling from the position of legitimate wife to a cast-out one."Mother, even though you schemed your way back later, Xu Shi must have been unwilling to accept it, right?" Huiyin asked.Madam Ji nodded and looked at her daughter with affection. "Yes, she was unwilling at first, and she had your grandmother backing her—after all, she was your grandmother's niece. She found fault with me at every turn. She thought I would never bear a child, and I only wanted a place for myself and your elder brother, so I endured as much as I could. A strong dragon cannot crush a local snake. But unexpectedly, you were born, and then your younger brother came along, and my position as the legitimate wife became secure. No matter how dissatisfied your grandmother was, your father and I had a good relationship, so I naturally held my ground. She then started sulking and threatening to become a nun, but I wasn't about to indulge her. Your father had a favored concubine at the time, so how could he bother with her?"After Madam Ji finished speaking, Huiyin said, "I've never heard you speak of these things before, Mother. I didn't realize your days were so difficult.""Whose days aren't difficult? This world is survival of the fittest." Madam Ji patted her daughter's head.Huiyin thought to herself that she truly was her mother's daughter—she too had been schemed against, and in the end, she had turned the tables and struck back. Crown Prince Li Heng's beloved was none other than Chancellor Lyu's daughter, Lu Xiao, but he himself needed to clear obstacles from his path, so he cold-shouldered Lu Xiao and doted on Huiyin instead, deliberately letting the Zheng family help him eliminate the Lyu family.At the same time, he had specially given her a contraceptive decoction, also called Cooling Medicine. It sounded bitter, but it tasted sweet, like honey water. Had it not been for the fact that after entering the palace, her menstrual cramps were agonizing, and despite receiving his favor many times, she never conceived, which made her wary—she might truly have been deceived by Li Heng.She knew that if she became pregnant, the child would likely be disposed of as well, so she deliberately refrained from taking the medicine before Li Heng went on campaign, and sure enough, she conceived.Then the Zheng family helped Li Heng eliminate the Lyu family. Huiyin had originally planned to tell the Crown Princess, Lu Xiao, hoping to use her as a blade to kill—letting her directly assassinate Li Heng, since he truly loved her and would not be on guard against her. But unexpectedly, Lu Xiao was so useless that she committed suicide instead.With no other choice, Huiyin had to pretend she knew nothing. She first slipped poison into Li Heng's achyranthes bone broth in two doses—the first time in front of his father, when Li Heng drank it directly to show his favor, and the second time, after which he dropped dead on the spot.When she did this, her heart was pounding with fear, because if she failed, she might lose her own life. However, Li Heng was too arrogant—he looked down on her, a mere woman, and believed he had everything under control. Little did he expect that he would end up dying suddenly.
Chapter 4
Rebirth of the Empress