Fu Gonggong shook his head. “There’s a third reason as well.”
Li Xiaozheng said, “Go on.”
Fu Quan only smiled and refused to elaborate. “This servant dares not speculate on His Majesty’s intentions. Some things you’ll understand once General Li is married. While the border is peaceful, you should hurry and look at some eligible young ladies. The matchmakers must be wearing down the threshold of the Li residence by now. Is there really no one you fancy?”
The conversation circled back to urging him to marry. Li Xiaozheng truly hated how these old palace foxes always spoke only halfway. So what if he did not marry. It was refreshing.
And “you’ll understand once you’re married.” As if marriage could magically make someone enlightened.
Meng Dongting had chosen nine consorts. Had he shown even a hint of enlightenment?
No. Li Xiaozheng left the palace in a huff, went to a teahouse, and called over a waiter of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight. “Are you married?”
The waiter looked sharp and clever and immediately replied that he already had two children.
Satisfied, Li Xiaozheng retold the affairs of the harem with a few changes, stories of concubines competing for favor, framing the principal wife, the principal wife having a lowly background. He made it sound convincing enough.
“Sir, once you put it that way, I get it,” the waiter said. “The old saying goes, ‘Teach the child in the hall, teach the wife at the bedside.’ Even if the principal wife comes from a humble background, as long as the master gives her full respect in front of the concubines, she can deal with them however she wants. As for whether the principal wife is right or wrong, that’s a matter for the couple behind closed doors. Outsiders can’t be allowed to see it.”
Li Xiaozheng looked bewildered. “Is that so?” Why did it make Meng Dongting sound like some sort of devoted lover?
The waiter chuckled. “Of course. When my wife lectures me in public, I don’t dare make a peep.”
Li Xiaozheng shot back sharply. “That’s clearly because you’re afraid of your wife.”
Was Meng Dongting the type to fear women? Absolutely not.
Having convinced himself, Li Xiaozheng felt only the slightest tremor of doubt somewhere deep inside.
The Li family had been generals for generations. Twenty years ago, Old General Li injured both legs on the battlefield, and the family declined somewhat. No one expected that twenty years later, Li Xiaozheng would surpass his predecessor and earn merit by aiding the dragon’s rise.
After losing his legs, Old General Li had been depressed and unfulfilled for half his life. Only when Li Xiaozheng achieved success did the old man regain his fighting spirit, loudly proclaiming, “The door of martial generals must pass on its fire,” and urging Li Xiaozheng to produce a son so he could personally teach his grandson martial arts and military strategy. He was even more anxious than Lady Li.
Li Xiaozheng’s head hurt whenever he saw his father, so he could understand Meng Dongting. His brother truly had it rough, being forced by the Empress Dowager to select consorts.
He glanced around. It was already dinner time, yet he did not see his mother or sister.
“Father, where’s Mother?”
“The Empress Dowager has reached Dongsheng Temple. Your mother took your sister there early to pay her respects.”
The Empress Dowager would stay at Dongsheng Temple for a day, burn incense, eat vegetarian food, and rest the imperial entourage. The day after tomorrow she would enter the capital, and Meng Dongting would go to the city gates to receive her.
Among the entire court, only the Li family had the privilege of accompanying the Empress Dowager to Dongsheng Temple in advance.
Li Xiaozheng responded with an “oh” and did not think much of it.
The Empress Dowager herself had a mild and mediocre temperament. She had been submerged among the late emperor’s vast harem and had offered almost no assistance to Meng Dongting’s ascension. She only belatedly realized, at the time the late emperor passed on the throne, what her son had been doing all these years.
Born ordinary, compliant in nature, and incapable of standing up for her child, Meng Dongting had never spoken up even when he was bullied as a child. Li Xiaozheng understood Meng Dongting’s childhood better than the Empress Dowager did, and he also knew how Meng Dongting came to harbor a blood-deep hatred toward the deposed crown prince.
Very few people could understand why Meng Dongting had exterminated the deposed crown prince’s faction so ruthlessly.
Li Xiaozheng suddenly thought of the Noble Consort. Fu Xinghe was strong, protective, and magnanimous. She avoided every trait Meng Dongting despised. No wonder His Majesty indulged her again and again.
Whoever would bear Meng Dongting’s eldest son in the future would never be weak or incompetently meek, nor someone scheming and petty.
Tsk. Ginger really was spicier the older it got. Fu Gonggong had a sharp eye. Wenhua Hall.
Fu Xinghe’s days were the same as before. She made pastries and exercised.
Because she could not contact anyone, even the system had gone silent. Fu Xinghe was curious how many points were needed before the system would change, but she was not a constable. She could hardly rush to the front lines to save people every day.
Xia Mian poured tea for Fu Xinghe. She was growing fonder of the Noble Consort by the day. Quiet as a maiden when still, swift as a hare when moving, she never complained or scolded the servants, only smiled and called people over to eat pastries.
“Your Highness, the Empress Dowager will return to the capital tomorrow.”
“Mm.” Fu Xinghe nodded. From the moment she arrived, she had heard that the Empress Dowager was returning. She was finally going to see her in person.
Out of nowhere, she now had a nominal mother-in-law. Fu Xinghe’s feelings were complicated, but fortunately she was confined and did not need to attend to her constantly. She was happy to be at ease.
Xia Mian said, “Once the Empress Dowager returns, the harem will take her as its head. Your Highness cannot serve her personally, but others will not miss this opportunity. When they can’t see His Majesty, following the Empress Dowager is still a way to see him.”
Fu Xinghe smiled and shook her head.
What was the point of currying favor with the Empress Dowager. The tyrant’s heart was made of stone.
Perhaps worried she would be bored, the next day Xia Mian vividly described the grand scene of the Empress Dowager’s entry into the capital and the touching reunion between mother and son.
Fu Xinghe looked at Xia Mian. “If you can’t tell stories, then take a break. I can tell you one instead.”
Xia Mian, racking her brains. “…”
At this time, the Empress Dowager should have arrived at Cishou Palace. The commotion of the harem paying respects even drifted into Wenhua Hall through the windows.
Seeing Fu Xinghe look outside, Xia Mian comforted her. “In half a month it will be the Empress Dowager’s fiftieth birthday. His Majesty should grant permission for Your Highness to attend the celebration.”
“Perhaps it won’t take that long,” Fu Xinghe said with a sly smile. “Just wait and see.”
Music drifted through the air. Empress Dowager Cui Xian looked at the many consorts who had come to pay their respects and felt quite satisfied. The harem was lively all at once. She knew her son’s temperament. Being able to select six, seven, or eight women already meant he was giving her considerable face.
In her happiness, she held a grand banquet and called each person forward to speak. Yu Feng and Wang Chanjing, one the second daughter of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, the other the daughter of the Southwest Prince General, both had decent backgrounds. With no empress and no Four Consorts in the palace, these two could be promoted after some time. Their status as future mothers of princes would be presentable.
Cui Xian shared this plan with Meng Dongting. Meng Dongting set down his chopsticks. “I still have matters to attend to.”
Cui Xian watched her son put down his chopsticks and leave, sighed inwardly. No matter how many wives he took, this temperament never changed.
She then noticed the strikingly bright Yan Pianpian and Gao Ni and asked a few questions about their families. Yan Pianpian was from the north. Her father was merely an ordinary officer stationed on the grasslands. Gao Ni’s father was seeking a post in the Court of Judicial Review.
Cui Xian lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment, then softly asked the eunuch beside her, “Are there no daughters of prominent noble houses in the capital?” Couldn’t a few be made consorts?
Yu Feng had sharp ears and immediately smiled as she said, “Your Majesty need not worry. There is a Noble Consort in the palace, the daughter of the current Grand Preceptor. For some reason, however, she did not show herself today.”
Yu Feng deliberately pretended not to know the reason, making the Empress Dowager feel that Fu Xinghe lacked proper etiquette.
Gao Ni hesitated, bit her lip, and said, “The Noble Consort, she…” Gao Ni stopped short. On the surface, His Majesty had not punished the Noble Consort with confinement. She could not rashly pin a label on her.
Although the Empress Dowager did not understand court affairs, she stood firmly on her son’s side. Fu Han had been the deposed crown prince’s mentor. Fu Xinghe, as the chief minister’s daughter, was arrogant and domineering, with no sense of propriety.
“Forget it. If she won’t come to see me, then I’ll go see her,” Cui Xian said, asking, “Where does Miss Fu reside?”
Yu Feng immediately caught the implication in the form of the address “Miss Fu.” A daughter-in-law was supposed to see her mother-in-law. Since Fu Xinghe had not come to pay respects, the Empress Dowager did not acknowledge her as such.
Yu Feng said with envy, “The Noble Consort resides in Wenhua Hall.”
Cui Xian felt a flicker of displeasure. Wenhua Hall was second only to the empress’s palace. When the late emperor was alive, it had housed the Virtuous Consort. Cui Xian had no relationship with her and had rarely set foot in that luxurious hall. The emperor was showing Fu Xinghe such favor, yet Fu Xinghe still acted aloof.
Fu Xinghe was in the middle of making herself a bowl of sweet soup when the doors of Wenhua Hall were suddenly flung open. A large group entered in force. She had not seen the woman at the front before, but one look told her it was the Empress Dowager. Beside her was a young woman Fu Xinghe did not recognize, warmly supporting the Empress Dowager’s arm.
Meng Dongting’s features were sharp and severe. He had not inherited the Empress Dowager’s mild appearance at all.
“This concubine greets the Empress Dowager.”
“All of you, rise,” the Empress Dowager said.
“Elder Sister Fu, it’s been a long time,” the girl beside the Empress Dowager said familiarly. “My mother and I accompanied the Empress Dowager at Dongsheng Temple to copy sutras. The Empress Dowager graciously allowed me to enter the palace to stay with her for a short while. That’s how I finally had the chance to congratulate you, Elder Sister.”
Fu Xinghe had never seen her. After examining her features carefully, she found that she looked a bit like Li Xiaozheng.
This must be Li Xiaojing, Li Xiaozheng’s younger sister. Li Xiaozheng was a favorite at His Majesty’s side, so it made sense that his sister had the qualifications to accompany the Empress Dowager into the palace.
Fu Xinghe remembered Ming Xu mentioning that the original owner had not been close with Li Xiaojing.
“Elder Sister Fu.” What kind of address was that? Before entering the palace, they had not addressed each other as sisters. Now that she had become Noble Consort, she was suddenly an “elder sister.”
Fu Xinghe estimated that Li Xiaojing was very likely interested in Meng Dongting. She did not know why Li Xiaojing had not participated in the selection.
The reason was probably Li Xiaozheng. Li Xiaozheng and Meng Dongting were so close they wore the same trousers. He could clearly tell that Meng Dongting was a cold and scummy man and naturally did not want his sister to enter the palace.
Li Xiaojing, however, had not given up and planned to start with the Empress Dowager.
Li Xiaojing looked around at the furnishings of Wenhua Hall and said coquettishly to the Empress Dowager, “This place is truly beautiful. Elder Sister Fu got Wenhua Hall all to herself as soon as she entered the palace. No wonder she’s so comfortable she doesn’t want to go out.”
Cui Xian frowned slightly at Li Xiaojing’s words. She had been somewhat appeased by Fu Xinghe’s dignified and courteous manner earlier, but now she was more displeased again.
“Wenhua Hall keeps its doors shut all day. Miss Fu, are you closing your doors to guests?”
Fu Xinghe decisively passed the blame upward. “It is His Majesty’s.”
Cui Xian asked, “Why?”
Fu Xinghe answered vaguely. “This concubine dares not speak recklessly.”
Cui Xian was not foolish. She immediately guessed the reason. The emperor was effectively placing Fu Xinghe under house arrest.
Only, the days of this confinement seemed far too comfortable. It was more like raising a daughter for the Fu family.
Thinking of how Fu Han had devoted himself wholeheartedly to the deposed crown prince and ignored Meng Dongting, Cui Xian said, “Which sutras did Jing’er copy at Dongsheng Temple?”
Li Xiaojing answered earnestly, “This subject was only able to copy one volume of the Lotus Sutra. The abbot said that it must be copied by a junior kneeling before the Buddha statue to be sincere. With Your Majesty’s fiftieth birthday approaching, this subject used her free time to copy sutras to offer prayers for your longevity.”
Cui Xian praised her. “You are thoughtful.”
Yu Feng hurriedly said she could do the same.
The others followed suit, expressing their willingness.
Fu Xinghe. “…”
So idle.
Li Xiaojing looked to Fu Xinghe for help. “The abbot said it’s best to finish three sutras in three days. This subject’s knees caught a chill the day before yesterday, and I fear I cannot complete all three. Would Elder Sister Fu be willing to share the burden?”
Cui Xian said, “The harem must be busy with the birthday banquet. I have entrusted Jing’er to oversee things. Since Noble Consort Qian has nothing to do, help Jing’er copy a few scrolls. Sincerity is what matters. Don’t tire yourself.”
The Avatamsaka Sutra ran to eight hundred thousand characters. Even a few scrolls meant tens of thousands of characters, and they had to be copied while kneeling.
Li Xiaojing blinked playfully. “Then I’ll trouble Elder Sister Fu. I’ll come collect them in three days.”
What objections could Fu Xinghe have? She would copy them. She really was idle anyway.
She could copy them standing if she wanted.
Li Xiaojing suddenly asked, “Is there a Buddhist hall set up in Wenhua Hall?”
Cui Xian said, “The late emperor’s Virtuous Consort did not revere Buddhism. Jing’er, arrange a place for her.”
Li Xiaojing said attentively, “There is a small Buddhist hall to the south of Cishou Palace. If Your Highness does not mind, you may set up your brush and ink there.”
Fu Xinghe’s lips twitched slightly. Was this not just a way to supervise whether she would kneel while copying? Li Xiaojing probably knew that the original owner’s handwriting was large and ugly and was doing this on purpose.
These people wanted to seduce Meng Dongting. Then go ahead. Why was she always treated as the imaginary enemy?
Looking at Li Xiaojing standing in the same camp as Yu Feng, Fu Xinghe suddenly smiled and readily agreed.
In the end, the drama of the harem was sung around Meng Dongting. If she lowered her head here, she could leave the stage.
And Meng Dongting. If he did not flip the stage over, he would never know peace.
Fu Xinghe felt a little more balanced. She was annoyed, but the tyrant would only be more annoyed.