Ever since Noble Consort Chen gave birth to Princess Zhaoyang, she enjoyed exclusive favor for quite some time.
The Imperial Medical Academy specially prepared high-quality fetus-stabilizing medicine for this purpose, hoping to help Noble Consort Chen conceive another child.
Yet despite taking it all these years, she had not been able to fulfill her wish.
Both Emperor Qianwu and the Empress Dowager had already given up.
Other concubines in the palace whispered privately that Noble Consort Chen was fortunate enough to have given birth to a princess at all, and wanting another child was nothing but a pipe dream.
When these words reached Noble Consort Chen’s ears, she flew into a rage, punishing many palace maids and eunuchs who had gossiped, causing widespread anxiety as everyone feared they might be next.
However, angry as she was, Noble Consort Chen never gave up.
That bowl of bitterly potent fetus-stabilizing medicine carried her lifelong hopes and desires.
If she could bear another child, a son for His Majesty…
Then the vacant position of Empress would undoubtedly fall into her hands.
In the future, if her son ascended the throne, she and Chaoyang would have a secure future.
Her trusted matron immediately said, “It has already been prepared.”
Noble Consort Chen’s fingers, painted with red nail polish, tightened slightly. “Bring it here.”
…
Princess Zhaoyang left Noble Consort Chen’s palace and went straight to Emperor Qianwu’s imperial study.
Without waiting for an announcement, she barged right in.
“Father Emperor!”
Emperor Qianwu was reviewing memorials when Princess Zhaoyang strode in so boldly.
However, the palace attendants serving in the imperial study were already accustomed to this.
This little princess was His Majesty’s only child.
Her status was exceedingly precious!
This was a decree personally granted by His Majesty with his own golden words.
My Princess Zhaoyang may freely enter and leave the palace, even the imperial study!
Seeing his beloved daughter, Emperor Qianwu set down his imperial brush, his expression both affectionate and helpless.
“Why has my Chaoyang come?”
Princess Zhaoyang stepped forward without performing the customary greeting and plopped down on the chair beside Emperor Qianwu.
“Father Emperor, I have taken a liking to that Tanhua. Didn’t you say that I am the most noble princess of the Great Zhou, and that whatever I desire, Father Emperor would surely grant it?”
“I want that Tanhua now!”
“I want him to serve in the princess’s residence!”
Upon hearing this, Fuquan broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead.
He instinctively glanced at Emperor Qianwu’s expression.
This little princess truly knew how to present His Majesty with a difficult problem!
Others might not know the inside story, thinking only that Zhou Mingchong had found some connections.
If only that were the case.
How could the weight of a mere Tanhua compare to His Majesty’s only princess?
But Fuquan knew best—Zhou Mingchong had an exceptionally beautiful younger sister who had caught His Majesty’s eye…
Considering the beauty about to enter the palace, how could His Majesty allow her brother to become a male consort for his own daughter…
Wouldn’t that be absurd if word got out?
Moreover, if that delicate beauty objected, His Majesty would have another headache!
Emperor Qianwu frowned and directly changed the subject. “Where have you been playing these past few days? Why haven’t you paid respects to your imperial grandmother? She misses you.”
Princess Zhaoyang snorted lightly, her demeanor charmingly naive. “Father Emperor is brushing me off!”
“I’m talking to you about that little Tanhua, and you’re telling me Imperial Grandmother misses me!”
“Of course I will pay my respects to Imperial Grandmother.”
The little princess pouted. “But you must promise me—you must assign that Tanhua to me!”
Seeing that he could not fool his daughter, Emperor Qianwu had no choice but to chide her gently. “Nonsense!”
“You, an unmarried young lady, how can you speak so freely about wanting a man?”
“You are the most noble princess in all the land, not some common shrew. Why must you insist on having that Tanhua Zhou?”
Princess Zhaoyang refused to relent. “Father doesn’t love his daughter anymore!”
Emperor Qianwu had no way to handle his only precious darling and said helplessly, “How could I not love you?”
“Who in all the world doesn’t know you are my only child? The most esteemed princess!”
Princess Zhaoyang pouted, feeling smug inside.
“Then bestow that little Tanhua to your daughter!”
In her words, it was as if Zhou Mingchong were not a living person, not a young talent who had become this year’s Tanhua through his own abilities.
But rather an object.
“Our Great Zhou is vast and abundant in resources, blessed with outstanding people. Father is wise and mighty—it’s not as if we lack just one little Tanhua, is it?”
“Your daughter has taken a liking to him and wants him to serve me in the princess’s residence.”
It must be said that Princess Zhaoyang understood her father extremely well.
To the outside world, she was willful and capricious, cruel and vicious. Despite her young age, she was known for debauchery, tyranny, and shamelessness.
Yet in the eyes of Emperor Qianwu and the Empress Dowager, although Chaoyang was somewhat spoiled, she was pure and adorable.
After all, when it came to one’s own child, they always saw the best in her.
Emperor Qianwu truly had no way to deal with her and could only push her toward the Empress Dowager.
Chaoyang stormed off in a huff.
Emperor Qianwu held his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
“Fuquan.”
“Your servant is here.”
Fuquan hurriedly bowed and stepped forward. “Your Majesty.”
“In three days, take some people and personally escort Concubine Jieyu Zhou into the palace.”
Fuquan was taken aback.
Hadn’t it been said that the young lady would be granted the title of Beauty, a fourth-rank position?
How had she become a Jieyu, a third-rank concubine?
Fuquan was very clever; naturally, he would not question the Emperor’s decision.
Even if His Majesty had momentarily misremembered, it would still be Concubine Zhou’s good fortune.
“Yes, your servant obeys.”
…
When Princess Zhaoyang went to the Empress Dowager’s Cining Palace, she became much more restrained.
However, as the only daughter of Emperor Qianwu and the only granddaughter of the Empress Dowager, Princess Zhaoyang still enjoyed considerable favor here as well.
The Empress Dowager’s trusted confidante, Aunt Zhulan, personally led her into the inner hall.
As soon as Princess Zhaoyang entered, she threw herself into the Empress Dowager’s arms.
“Imperial Grandmother, your granddaughter has come to see you!”
“Did you eat well today? Did you miss Chaoyang?”
The Empress Dowager set down her prayer beads, her smile extremely kind.
“Imperial Grandmother must eat well just to spend more time with Chaoyang.”
“Of course I missed you! Imperial Grandmother misses our little Chaoyang every moment!”
Aunt Zhulan seized the opportunity to say, “If Her Highness were to accompany her, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager could even eat an extra bowl of rice!”
Princess Zhaoyang cooed, “Then your granddaughter will come to accompany Imperial Grandmother for meals every day from now on.”
The Empress Dowager looked at Princess Zhaoyang, feeling that this child was pleasing in every way.
Truly worthy of being the Emperor’s daughter and her own granddaughter.
She tapped her granddaughter’s nose, her smile doting. “You little clever one, you said that yourself. When the time comes, Imperial Grandmother will really send someone to fetch you from the princess’s residence.”
Princess Zhaoyang clung to the Empress Dowager’s arm, acting spoiled.
“With just a word from Imperial Grandmother, Chaoyang will definitely come every day.”
“But…”
She paused. “Chaoyang came today to beg Imperial Grandmother for a favor.”
The Empress Dowager’s face was full of affection. “Go on, what has my little girl taken a fancy to this time?”
Princess Zhaoyang immediately replied, “No wonder everyone says your granddaughter is most like Imperial Grandmother. I haven’t even spoken yet, and you’ve already guessed.”
She clung to the Empress Dowager’s arm, her smile sweet and coquettish, and said with great enthusiasm, “Your granddaughter has taken a liking to someone these past few days.”
The Empress Dowager immediately understood the purpose of this girl’s visit.
However, the woman at Hanshan Temple was a matter concerning the Emperor’s heirs, which made it an affair of state.
It absolutely could not go wrong.
The Empress Dowager had originally thought that Chaoyang was merely acting on childish whims, changing her mind as often as the wind.
She might have taken a liking to Zhou Mingchong, but perhaps she would forget about him in a few days.
Moreover, since he was that woman’s brother, she had shown special leniency and ordered Zhou Mingchong to be released.
Even if Chaoyang remembered him later, Zhou Mingchong was, after all, a Tanhua. If she truly fancied him, it wouldn’t be impossible for the Emperor to arrange a marriage for them.
“Oh? My little Chaoyang has grown up.”
“Thinking of getting married?”