“However, both the Emperor and I take your marriage very seriously. There is no need to rush.”
Princess Zhaoyang was taken aback. “Ah! That’s not it!”
“Why are we suddenly talking about your granddaughter’s marriage?”
The Empress Dowager feigned ignorance. “Didn’t you say you fancied someone? Could it be that you don’t want to marry him?”
Princess Zhaoyang immediately declared with pride, “He’s just a mere Tanhua. How could someone like him be worthy of becoming this princess’s consort?”
“It’s just that he looks quite handsome, and your granddaughter wants to bring him to my side to serve me.”
The Empress Dowager scolded, “Nonsense!”
Princess Zhaoyang immediately began to act coquettishly.
“Imperial Grandmother—! Since I was little, Father and Imperial Grandmother have always told Chaoyang that she is the most noble princess in this world. No matter what Chaoyang wants, you and Father would do your best to help her.”
“So why is it that when Chaoyang simply wants a mere Tanhua, you and Father are still stopping her?”
“Chaoyang won’t accept this!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Aunt Zhulan’s expression changed slightly.
The Empress Dowager, however, remained unfazed.
She gently smoothed her granddaughter’s hair.
“You are the most noble princess under heaven, deserving of the finest things in this world.”
“Is a mere man worth you coming to me specifically to ask for him?”
Upon hearing this, Princess Zhaoyang was overjoyed. “So, you agree?”
“Then Chaoyang will go tell Father right now that you’ve consented.”
The Empress Dowager sighed helplessly. “Wait!”
“You child, why are you still so impatient? Listen to what your Imperial Grandmother has to say first.”
“You are a princess. Is there anything you cannot have? Why trouble yourself over a mere Tanhua?”
Chaoyang pouted. “Your granddaughter is not troubling herself over him!”
“Your granddaughter truly fancies him and wants him to enter the mansion to serve.”
The Empress Dowager said, “Although his status is somewhat low, he is, after all, this year’s Tanhua, a talent personally selected by the Emperor.”
“If you had fancied him before the Palace Examination, I would have had no objections.”
“But now, the Golden List has already been posted. Do you want yourself, me, and the Emperor to be condemned by historians for allowing you to forcibly seize an imperial official?”
Chaoyang curled her lips, playing with the fiery-red twin whips woven with gold thread in her hands.
These were specially bestowed upon his beloved daughter by Emperor Qianwu.
“How could it be so serious?”
Princess Zhaoyang pouted while observing the Empress Dowager’s expression.
At this sight, her heart sank.
In truth, just as the Empress Dowager understood her granddaughter, Princess Zhaoyang had taken a liking to Zhou Mingchong at first sight in the grand hall, clad in red robes and radiating vigor.
But she was a princess, doted on since childhood. Whatever she desired, she would eventually obtain.
When human desires are too easily satisfied, once obtained, they no longer seem so precious.
Chaoyang was, by nature, a fickle person.
If Zhou Mingchong had been someone who curried favor with the powerful, once he entered the princess’s mansion, she would have grown tired of him within a few days.
Yet, Zhou Mingchong not only refused but also rejected her outright, even admonishing her in his words.
Naturally, Chaoyang was furious.
He was unwilling, but she insisted on having him!
As a result, both her father and the Empress Dowager actually sided with him, which made Chaoyang’s desire to possess Zhou Mingchong explode.
But seeing the Empress Dowager’s displeased expression, Chaoyang became very compliant.
She shook the Empress Dowager’s arm. “Alright, alright! Chaoyang understands!”
“Chaoyang would never let Father and Imperial Grandmother be scorned by others.”
“If those pedantic historians dare to talk nonsense, your granddaughter will personally discipline them with her whip!”
As she spoke, the whip in her hand cracked loudly with a “snap-snap” sound.
Though the Empress Dowager chided her for “making mischief,” she was deeply pleased by her granddaughter’s defense of her and her son.
She helped her precious granddaughter straighten her dress. “Alright, have you gone to see your imperial father since entering the palace?”
“He must miss you. Remember to pay your respects to your imperial father.”
Chaoyang replied, “You don’t need to remind me of that. I will definitely remember my imperial father!”
“Imperial Father and Imperial Grandmother are the best people in the world to Chaoyang!”
Her smile was sweet, her voice sugary.
“And Mother Consort!”
“Oh, right!” Chaoyang seized the opportunity to say, “I went to Mother Consort’s place today and saw her drinking that very bitter medicinal soup. Tears were streaming down her face, yet she refused to give up.”
“But Imperial Father is so mean—he actually had Consort Rong help Mother Consort manage the rear palace!”
“Imperial Grandmother—! What do you think Imperial Father means by this?”
The Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianwu were extremely indulgent toward Princess Chaoyang, so the princess rarely concealed her emotions in front of them.
She genuinely felt wronged on behalf of her mother consort.
Although her mother consort was not of prominent birth and was not the empress, she had borne the Emperor’s only child and managed the vast rear palace.
In Princess Chaoyang’s eyes, they were a family of three.
This rear palace belonged to her mother consort—what right did Consort Rong have to interfere?
The Empress Dowager and Aunt Zhulan exchanged a glance.
Aunt Zhulan said with a smile, “Our little Highness has grown up and knows to care for His Majesty, Her Majesty, and Noble Consort Chen.”
Chaoyang snorted lightly. “Imperial Grandmother, Mother Consort is truly heartbroken.”
“Mother Consort often says she doesn’t care about palace authority, only whether Imperial Father cares for her.”
Thinking of Noble Consort Chen, who had borne the Emperor’s only child, and then looking at her granddaughter speaking up for her mother, the Empress Dowager frowned.
She didn’t think there was anything wrong with her granddaughter.
She only believed that Noble Consort Chen had ulterior motives and was using the princess.
“Your imperial father has his own judgment regarding matters of the rear palace. As a child, you shouldn’t ask too many questions.”
“Consort Rong’s father has served the nation loyally on the frontier, and she does her utmost for your imperial father in the rear palace. Isn’t that only right?”
…
Princess Chaoyang spent over half an hour in the Empress Dowager’s palace but gained no useful information.
As soon as she left, her expression darkened.
She stormed angrily to Noble Consort Chen’s palace.
Noble Consort Chen immediately came out personally to greet her.
“My child! You’re back?”
Princess Chaoyang fumed, “Imperial Father and Imperial Grandmother must have been bewitched by something—neither of them would help me!”
Now, Noble Consort Chen was truly surprised.
What exactly had Zhou Mingchong done to make both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager protect him like this?
Just then, a palace servant hurried in.
It was Noble Consort Chen’s trusted confidante.
Princess Chaoyang was used to such scenes.
The confidante whispered a few words into Noble Consort Chen’s ear, and Noble Consort Chen’s expression suddenly changed drastically.
“What?”
“The Empress Dowager and His Majesty brought a woman into the palace from Hanshan Temple?”
Hearing this, Princess Chaoyang couldn’t help but look up.
“What woman?”
Noble Consort Chen’s face had completely changed.
“It must be some seductress trying to lure your imperial father!”
Princess Chaoyang was unfazed.
“Mother Consort, what are you afraid of?”
“Imperial Father has no other heirs. No matter who enters the palace, it won’t affect your position.”
Noble Consort Chen: …
“But… but…”
Noble Consort Chen was burning with jealousy inside.
Outsiders believed she had secured her position as the Noble Consort only by the fortunate birth of Princess Zhaoyang, but who knew that she was deeply in love with His Majesty?
When she learned she was carrying His Majesty’s child, how overjoyed she was!
His Majesty had been afflicted by that strange poison, and no woman could conceive his child.
Yet she alone could!
Could it be that she was destined for His Majesty?
She and His Majesty were truly a match made in heaven.