“However, both the Emperor and I place great importance on your marriage. There is no need to rush.”
Princess Chaoyang was taken aback. “Ah! That’s not it!”
“Why are we suddenly talking about your granddaughter’s marriage?”
The Empress Dowager pretended ignorance. “Didn’t you say you’ve taken a liking to someone? Could it be you don’t want to marry him?”
Princess Chaoyang immediately declared haughtily, “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 rather handsome, and your granddaughter wants to have him by my side to serve me.”
The Empress Dowager chided, “Nonsense!”
Princess Chaoyang immediately began to wheedle.
“Imperial Grandmother—! Since childhood, the Emperor and you have always told Chaoyang that she is the most noble princess in this world, and that no matter what Chaoyang wants, you and the Emperor would do your utmost to help her.”
“So why is it that when Chaoyang merely wants a little Tanhua, you and the Emperor are still stopping her?”
“Chaoyang won’t stand for it!”
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 specifically to ask me for him?”
Upon hearing this, Princess Chaoyang was overjoyed. “So, you agree?”
“Then Chaoyang will go tell the Emperor right now that you’ve consented.”
The Empress Dowager sighed helplessly. “Wait!”
“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 isn’t troubling herself!”
“Your granddaughter truly has taken a liking to 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 Lang, a talent personally selected by the Emperor.”
“If you had taken a liking to 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 lip, 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 that serious?”
Princess Chaoyang pouted while observing the Empress Dowager’s expression.
At this glance, her heart sank.
In truth, just as the Empress Dowager understood her granddaughter, Princess Chaoyang had taken a fancy to Zhou Mingchong at first sight in the grand hall, clad in red robes and brimming with vigor.
But she was a princess, doted on since childhood. Whatever she desired, she ultimately obtained.
When human desires are too easily satisfied, once obtained, they no longer seem so precious.
Chaoyang was, by nature, fickle.
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, his words even carrying a tone of admonishment.
Naturally, Chaoyang was furious.
If he was unwilling, she was determined to have him!
As a result, both the Emperor 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 the Emperor and Imperial Grandmother be vilified.”
“If those pedantic historians dare to spout nonsense, your granddaughter will personally discipline them with my whip!”
As she spoke, the whip in her hand cracked sharply.
Though the Empress Dowager chided her for “mischief,” her granddaughter’s defense of their mother and son pleased her greatly.
She helped her precious granddaughter straighten her dress. “Alright, have you gone to see your Emperor since entering the palace?”
“He must miss you. Remember to pay your respects to your Emperor.”
Chaoyang replied, “Of course I remember! How could I forget His Majesty?”
“His Majesty and my imperial grandmother are the best people in the world to Chaoyang!”
Her smile was sweet, her voice sugary.
“And my mother too!”
“Oh, right!” Chaoyang seized the opportunity. “Today when I visited Mother, I saw her drinking that terribly bitter medicinal soup. Tears were streaming down her face, yet she refused to give up.”
“But His Majesty is so mean—he actually asked Consort Rong to help Mother manage the rear palace!”
“Imperial Grandmother—! What do you think His Majesty 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 her mother had been wronged.
Although her mother came from an undistinguished background and was not the Empress, she had borne His Majesty’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—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 learned to care for His Majesty, Her Majesty, and Guifei.”
Chaoyang snorted lightly. “Imperial Grandmother, Mother is truly heartbroken.”
“Mother often says she doesn’t care about palace authority—she only cares whether His Majesty values her.”
Thinking of Consort Chen, who had borne the Emperor’s only heir, and then looking at her granddaughter speaking up for her mother, the Empress Dowager frowned.
She saw nothing wrong with her granddaughter.
Instead, she believed Consort Chen harbored ulterior motives and was using the princess.
“His Majesty has his own judgment regarding matters of the rear palace. You’re just a child—don’t ask too many questions.”
“Consort Rong’s father serves loyally on the frontier, and she serves your Emperor diligently in the rear palace. Isn’t that only right?”
…
Princess Chaoyang spent over half an hour in the Empress Dowager’s chambers but learned nothing useful.
As soon as she stepped out, her expression darkened.
Fuming, she rushed to Consort Chen’s palace.
Consort Chen immediately came out personally to greet her.
“My child! You’re back?”
Princess Chaoyang said angrily, “His Majesty and Imperial Grandmother must be under some spell—neither would help me!”
Now Consort Chen was genuinely surprised.
What exactly had Zhou Mingchong done to make both the Emperor and Empress Dowager protect him like this?
Just then, a palace maid hurried in.
She was Consort Chen’s trusted confidante.
Princess Chaoyang was used to this.
The confidante whispered a few words into Consort Chen’s ear, and Consort Chen’s face abruptly changed.
“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?”
Consort Chen’s expression shifted entirely.
“It must be some seductive fox spirit trying to ensnare your Emperor!”
Princess Chaoyang was unfazed.
“Mother, what are you afraid of?”
“His Majesty has no other heirs. No matter who enters the palace, it won’t affect your position.”
Consort Chen: …
“But… but…”
Consort Chen was consumed with jealousy.
Outsiders believed she had secured her position as Guifei only by the fortunate birth of Princess Chaoyang, but who knew that she deeply loved His Majesty?
When she learned she was carrying His Majesty’s child, how overjoyed she was!
His Majesty had been afflicted with that strange poison, and no woman could conceive his child.
Yet only she could!
Could it be considered that she was His Majesty’s destined one?
She and His Majesty were truly a match made in heaven.