Higher Level Wife

by Usui Takumii

not mine, Kitchennovel. Waiting for the translater to update.

24. 181 to 185

"What should I do then?" Jin Zhenyi was frustrated, but inwardly, he knew that Fu Qiuning made sense. Just as he expected, she calmly responded, "What else can you do? Endure it for now. Perhaps one day, if your father is in a good mood and also sees improvement in your studies when he tests you, even if he doesn't bring your mother back, he might allow you to visit Concubine Xu. That's still a possibility. Once you go there, I will instruct the accompanying people to give a word or two of instructions to the servants in the village. They probably will not dare to bully your mother anymore, especially since Concubine Xu is not a good-natured person. I am even afraid she will actually be even more comfortable there than I was. You are only huffing and puffing over here, but what use is it?"

Jin Zhenyi pondered for a moment and felt that Fu Qiuning's words made sense. Then he heard her continue in a contemplative tone, "Right, with such a big incident happening at home, does your grandfather know about it? Maybe I can plead with your father to let you go back for a visit. Optimistically, we can find a solution that way."

Jin Zhenyi lowered his head and said, "There's no need to count on my grandfather. My grandmother has already passed away many years ago, and the current elder madam in charge of the family hardly speaks with anyone, even my mother. My mother often said that my grandfather is just a Fourth Rank official, and he has made several mistakes in recent years. Thankfully, my father helped cover them up; otherwise, he would have been demoted long ago. Just think about it, under these circumstances, how could he risk offending my father for the sake of my mother? So, we can't count on them."

Giving it some thought, Fu Qiuning also felt it was true. When Jin Fengju banished Concubine Xu to the village, it was impossible for him to not have informed her family. However, even then, he had never mentioned it, which meant that the Xu family hadn't objected. Besides, Concubine Xu truly did make a mistake, so what grounds did her father have to stand on?

With that in mind, she sighed and said, "In that case, you can only rely on yourself. By the looks of it, it is already late summer, and soon it will be early autumn. Make a good showing, impress your teacher until he gives a few words of praise, and I will see if I can find a way to make your father happy and convince him to accompany us to the village for a couple of days. At that time, you can go visit Concubine Xu. However, let me say the bad news first. I have brought this up several times, and every time I did, your father was in a bad mood. I will do my best, but I cannot guarantee success. Do not complain if things do not work out and accuse me of not keeping my word. I will not accept the blame."

Before this, all the adults Jin Zhenyi had interacted with, including his own mother, always treated him with indulgence, but they also maintained a certain level of authority when speaking to him. Yet, at that moment, Fu Qiuning conversed with him as if he were an adult too. Rather than an elder speaking to a junior, it was more like discussing matters as friends would. Indeed, it gave him a strange feeling, but it was also comforting, as it diminished much of the dislike and hatred he held for Qiuning. Hearing her words, his eyes gleamed, and he patted his chest, saying, "Rest assured, if you truly mean it, I will respect your feelings."

Unable to contain her laughter, Fu Qiuning shook her head and said, "Don't pretend to be an adult with me. Respect my feelings? Is there anything in me that requires your respect for my feelings?" As she spoke, she stood up, but then she heard Jin Zhenyi's voice from behind, "That Concubine Huo? Don't get too close to her."

Fu Qiuning couldn't believe he had said such words and couldn't help but turn around in surprise. "You child, what nonsense are you spouting? How would you understand adult matters? You don't need to concern yourself with these things."

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Jin Zhenyi jump off the chair, his face flushed with anger. "Why would I not understand adult matters? That Concubine Huo, on the surface, she and my mother were on the same side, but even my mother says she has been manipulated by her behind the scenes countless times. In front of my mother, she confronts Second Madam head-on, but as soon as my mother's head is turned and no one else is around, just how close she is to Second Madam? I have seen with my own eyes when they were together in the inner court, I can't even describe how harmonious they were."

Fu Qiuning thought that Huo'shi was a slick and shrewd person. Concubine Xu was inferior in comparison, so it wasn't surprising that she tried to please Jiang Wanying behind the scenes. Therefore, she didn't take Jin Zhenyi's words to heart. What made her relieved was that through this conversation, she understood that although that boy still harboured some hostility towards her on the surface, he had already accepted her in his heart as someone who would take care of them.

Jin Fengju only came over when it was time for dinner, and Fu Qiuning brought him the cream rolls brought by Concubine Huo. He smiled and said, "I already ate some at the Old Ancestor's place, but I didn't expect these barbarians' things to be quite this unique. It seems that from now on, we cannot view them with the old standards. In the past, our family looked down on them, thinking that their things were just a result of some clever ideas. But now, when I think about it, they must have their own strengths."

Fu Qiuning finally understood why there were so few Western items in the estate. It turns out the sense of superiority within this family was very strong, and they considered those European countries to be barbarians. This was quite arrogant. So, she smiled and said, "As the saying goes, a foot has places where it is short, and an inch has places where it is long.

Even if they are barbarians, they must have their own strengths. Moreover, I've heard that those people have golden hair and blue eyes, completely different from us. It must be a heritage of thousands of years. How could we dare to say they don't have anything remarkable? Let's not talk about anything else, just the grand self-ringing clock. I find it more useful than our hourglasses. And these snacks, although they cannot compare to the delicate ones made by our chefs, they have a unique taste. Lord Husband, do you think so?"

Jin Fengju nodded and smiled, "Exactly. In a few months, there will be the All Nations Cultural Festival.

The Ministry of Rites has been so busy since last year that their feet don't even touch the ground, and now they have finally selected some talents from various regions after much difficulty. Tomorrow, the Emperor will join the officials to see what unique skills these people have. I heard that several countries from across the sea will also participate this year. Their seafaring technology has been improving. Just in the past six months, we occasionally see men and women with golden hair and blue eyes on the streets. The other day, I even told the Emperor that we should step up our preparations in this regard. We must not let those foreign barbarians surpass us."

Fu Qiuning felt a stir in her heart, realizing that as the era developed, control over the seas would become increasingly important. Although it seemed like a matter of competitiveness on the surface, with Jin Fengju's character, his ability to propose such a suggestion was not simply due to his desire to outdo others. He must have his own insights on the matter. However, not being a modern person and not having experienced the painful history of Greater China, he wouldn't have been able to have a profound understanding of this issue. Nevertheless, the fact that he could see this and make a proposal already demonstrated his far-sightedness.

"Then, what did the Emperor respond with?" Fu Qiuning got up and served a bowl of rice to Jin Zhenyi. Jin Fengju smiled and ruffled Jin Zhenyi's head, saying, "Ever since Yi'er came to you, it seems that he eats more and is not as picky as before."

Fu Qiuning smiled and replied, "Yes, he is right in the growth spurt, so naturally, he eats more." But then she saw Jin Fengju shake his head and say, "The growth spurt is around twelve or thirteen years old.

He is still young." Then he shifted the topic back and said, "The Emperor shares the same idea, so he has already allocated funds. There are two dragon shipyards in Suzhou, and this year, they will build more large-scale shipyards in Yangzhou, Ningbo, and other places. Training of naval forces is also on the agenda at the Ministry of War."

Fu Qiuning stopped asking further. Those were all national affairs, and it was already remarkable that Jin Fengju would discuss such matters with a woman like her. If it were another man, where would he have the patience for it? Although she was curious, she knew that it was enough to know that the Great Ning Dynasty valued maritime affairs at this time. As for the future, whether history would repeat the mistakes of the late Qing Dynasty was not something she could predict or change. Asking more at that point would be fruitless.

After finishing their meal, Yu Jie and Jian Feng instructed the young maids to clean up the dishes. Jin Fengju and Fu Qiuning reclined opposite each other on the couch, and the pair of husband and wife engaged in idle conversation. Jin Fengju asked, "Are Yi'er and Xiunan doing well under your care? Were they naughty? They haven't given you a hard time, have they?"

Fu Qiuning laughed and said, "As the saying goes, 'eat some loss, gain some wisdom'.

This time, the loss that two of them have eaten has given them a valuable lesson that will stay with them for a lifetime. How would they be as reckless as before? Speaking of that, I have something to discuss with you. During these days, both of them have been very well-behaved. As their father, rewarding them should only be proper."

Jin Fengju laughed in reply, "Those belongings of mine are all with you now. You can pick whatever you think is good and give it to the two of them. Won't it do just to simply tell them that it was a gift from me? However, it would also be appropriate to give some items to Feng'er and Jiao'er."

Fu Qiuning gave him a disdainful look and sneered, "Lord Husband is so skilled in socializing outside, you truly can be said to be nimble in all eight directions and able to find resources anywhere. But now that you're with your own children, you suddenly forget how to spare a little more thought for them? What Brother Yi and Third Young Miss looking forward to, are they truly your gifts? When you brought them here, remember what I told you? If they listened to me, to soothe and discipline them, you should give them some sweet rewards to make up for it. Now, what do they desire most? It's none other than Concubine Xu…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Jin Fengju interrupted decisively, "That will not do, hasn't she only been sent to the village for a few days? They have not even learned their lesson yet. Bringing her back so soon? No, just no."

Fu Qiuning smiled and said, "It is not like I am forcing you to bring her back right now. The children simply miss Concubine Xu. We should find an opportunity to let them see her. This shouldn't be too difficult, right? Besides, it doesn't have to be immediate. The weather is getting hotter day by day, and I am concerned about them getting heatstroke. Even if we bring them, we should wait until around the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival when the weather is more suitable."

After hearing her words, Jin Fengju pondered for a moment and felt that it was acceptable. He nodded in agreement. Just then, Yu Jie brought them tea, and Jin Fengju looked at her and said, "Right, Yu Jie must be twenty years old now, right? At her age, it is about time to consider arranging a marriage for her. Jian Feng, Qiu Yu and Qiu Shuang, you can still serve for a few more years. By the time they are married off, these junior maids under them will have grown up. Tomorrow, when the matchmaker comes, you should pick a few more maids and servants for Feng'er and Jiao'er. Look, even Yi'er has quite a few servants by him. The two of them are slowly growing up, and they should be accompanied by a tutor, matron and maids."

Fu Qiuning agreed and said, "Now that Aunt Yu and Zhang San's marriage is harmonious, a load has been lifted off my thoughts. Yu Jie has been with me for so many years. Although officially, we are mistress and servant, since we have gone through hardships together, my heart has long viewed her as a younger sister. I request that Lord Husband be her backer and find a good family for her."

Jin Fengju smiled and said, "Your subordinates must be outstanding. Very well, I will pay attention and make sure Yu Jie is not treated unfairly." After chatting for a while longer, the couple settled down and didn't mention it again.

"Then, what should I do?" Jin Zhenyi was naturally frustrated. He knew what Fu Qiuning said made sense, but could logic ever overpower feelings of being wronged?

"What can you do? You know as well as I do what are the things your father values. Conform and hope for the best. Even if Concubine Xu cannot return, you may still be allowed a visit. You should also know your mother well. Is she the type who would allow others to bully her?"

Jin Zhenyi nodded slowly. In fact, he was already doing all he could to improve his studies and be the son that he knew his father would want. After all, didn't he have a role model in Jin Changfeng? Hadn't his father abandoned all of them for this woman's children? Even the so-called 'cheap seedlings' were favoured due to their 'good behaviour'. Surely, he, as a proper concubine's son, could also gain such favour in the future? Moreover, his father greatly favoured this woman. By following her, he stood a better chance of getting his mother back than, say, following Jin Xiuzhen's mother.

"Speaking of which, does your maternal grandfather know about what happened here? Perhaps you could visit the village with your maternal grandfather./"

Jin Zhenyi lowered his head and said, "There's no need. Grandfather once made several mistakes and Father had to cover for him so that he does not lose his Fourth Rank official position. He would not risk offending Father for a visit to Mother."

He hesitated, "You would also have to plead with my father for this favour, right?"

Fu Qiuning nodded: It looked like this boy had not grown up in vain within a vicious harem. He knows his own limits, though he kept trying to push them through childish frustration. It was only natural after all. Concubine Xu was his mother, what could anyone realistically expect him to do? To immediately embrace this stepmother that his father forced on him after his own blood mother had been banished by said father? He was also shrewd enough to understand that favours needed to be paid, if not by him, then by someone else, and was considerate enough to not put her, this new stepmother, into a difficult position.

With that in mind, she sighed and said, "In that case, you can only rely on yourself. By the looks of it, it is already late summer, and soon it will be early autumn. Make a good showing and impress your teacher. On my side, I shall… entertain your father and appeal for a trip to the village one of these days."

Jin Zhenyi found himself in a unique position where he had to take responsibility for his own actions. Before this, he had relied on his position as 'the son of Jin Fengju' to bully others and trusted his mother to back him up no matter what he did. Today, Fu Qiuning spoke to him seriously, not as a mother or an elder, but as a bystander to his plight. Sympathetic, but not overly so. Fu Qiuning was truly not all interested in his life beyond what she believed was her 'duty' to raise children. What Jin Changfeng got, he was given too. Jin Changfeng was also odd in his own way. Clearly, he honoured and trusted this woman as his mother, but there were no overt signs of indulgence on either side. Jin Changfeng would probably die for this mother of his, but he was not as open with his affections as Jin Changjiao. Then again, Jin Changjiao was a girl, so there was that.

Well, he had nothing against this arrangement. There was no pitfall to following her advice, which was why he patted his chest and made a show of saying loudly, "Rest assured, if you truly mean it, I will respect your feelings." If there was anything he was better than Jin Changfeng, it was expressing his feelings.

Fu Qiuning suddenly laughed, just as he had intended. She shook her head and said, "Don't pretend to be an adult with me. Respect my feelings? Do I need you to respect my feelings?" As she spoke, she stood up, and that was when he took the opportunity to say, "That Concubine Huo? Don't get too close to her."

If this woman had even half a brain in her head, she would already have her guard up against that woman. However, it didn't hurt him to say those words to win some favour from her. Indeed, after a short pause, the woman turned around to say, "You child, what nonsense are you spouting? How would you understand adult matters? You don't need to concern yourself with these things."

On cue, he jumped off his chair, face already flushed red as his mouth ran from him in sudden anger, "Why would I not understand adult matters? That Concubine Huo, on the surface, she and my mother were on the same side, but even my mother says she has been manipulated by her behind the scenes countless times. In front of my mother, she confronts Second Madam head-on, but as soon as my mother's head is turned and no one else is around, just how close she is to Second Madam Ying? I have seen with my own eyes when they were together in the inner court, I can't even describe how harmonious they were."

After that, he ran off.

Jin Fengju only arrived when it was time for dinner, and Fu Qiuning brought him the cream rolls brought by Concubine Huo. He smiled and said, "I already ate some at the Old Ancestor's place, I did not expect these barbarians' things to be quite this unique. It seems that from now on, we cannot view them with the old standards. In the past, our family looked down on them, thinking that their things were just a result of some clever ideas. But now, when I think about it, they must have their own strengths."

Fu Qiuning finally understood why there were so few Western items in the estate. It turns out the sense of superiority within this family was very strong, and they considered those European countries to be barbarians. This was quite arrogant. So, she smiled and said, "As the saying goes, a foot has places where it is short, and an inch has places where it is long.

Even if they are barbarians, they must have their own strengths. Moreover, I've heard that those people have golden hair and blue eyes, completely different from us. It must be a heritage of thousands of years. How could we dare to say they don't have anything remarkable? Leaving everything else aside, the grand self-ringing clock is more useful than our hourglasses. And these snacks, although they cannot compare to the delicate ones made by our chefs, they have a unique taste. Lord Husband, do you think so?"

Jin Fengju nodded and smiled, "Exactly. In a few months, there will be the All Nations Cultural Festival.

The Ministry of Rites has been so busy since last year that their feet don't even touch the ground, and now they have finally selected some talents from various regions after much difficulty. Tomorrow, the Emperor will join the officials to see what unique skills these people have. I heard that several countries from across the sea will also participate this year. Their seafaring technology has been improving. Just in the past six months, we occasionally see men and women with golden hair and blue eyes on the streets. The other day, I even told the Emperor that we should step up our preparations in this regard. We must not let those foreign barbarians surpass us."

Fu Qiuning felt a stir in her heart, realizing that as the era developed, control over the seas would become increasingly important. Although it seemed like a matter of competitiveness on the surface, with Jin Fengju's character, his ability to propose such a suggestion was not simply due to his desire to outdo others. He must have his own insights on the matter. However, not being a modern person and not having experienced the painful history of Greater China, he wouldn't have been able to have a profound understanding of this issue. Nevertheless, the fact that he could see this and make a proposal already demonstrated his far-sightedness.

"Then, what did the Emperor respond with?" Fu Qiuning got up and served a bowl of rice to Jin Zhenyi. Jin Fengju smiled and ruffled Jin Zhenyi's head, saying, "Ever since Yi'er came to you, it seems that he eats more and is not as picky as before."

Fu Qiuning smiled and replied, "Yes, he is right in the growth spurt, so naturally, he eats more." But then she saw Jin Fengju shake his head and say, "The growth spurt is around twelve or thirteen years old.

He is still young." Then he shifted the topic back and said, "The Emperor shares the same idea, so he has already allocated funds. There are two dragon shipyards in Suzhou, and this year, they will build more large-scale shipyards in Yangzhou, Ningbo, and other places. Training of naval forces is also on the agenda at the Ministry of War."

Fu Qiuning stopped asking further. Those were all national affairs, and it was already remarkable that Jin Fengju would discuss such matters with a miserable woman like her. If it were another man, where would he have the patience for it? Although she was curious, she knew that it was enough to know that the Great Ning Dynasty valued maritime affairs at this time. As for the future, whether history would repeat the mistakes of the late Qing Dynasty was not something she could predict or change. Asking more at that point would be fruitless.

After finishing their meal, Yu Jie and Jian Feng instructed the young maids to clear away the dishes. Jin Fengju and Fu Qiuning reclined opposite each other on the couch, and the pair of husband and wife engaged in idle conversation. Jin Fengju asked, "Are Yi'er and Xiunan doing well under your care? Were they naughty? They haven't given you a hard time, have they?"

Fu Qiuning shrugged and said, "As the saying goes, 'eat some loss, gain some wisdom'.

Even so, both of them have been very well-behaved. As their father, rewarding them should only be proper."

Jin Fengju laughed in reply, "Those belongings of mine are all with you now. You can pick whatever you think is good and give it to the two of them. Isn't it a simple thing to just gift them something and tell them it is from me? Give something Feng'er and Jiao'er as well."

Fu Qiuning gave him a disdainful look and sneered, "Lord Husband is so skilled in socializing outside, you truly can be said to be nimble in all eight directions and able to find resources anywhere. But now that you are with your own children, you suddenly forget how to spare a little more thought for them? What Brother Yi and Third Young Miss looking forward to, are they truly your gifts? When you brought them here, remember what I told you? To make them listen to me, you should give them some sweet rewards to make up for their loss. Now, what do they desire most? It is none other than Concubine Xu…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Jin Fengju interrupted decisively, "That will not do, hasn't she only been sent to the village for a few days? The lesson has not even sunk in yet. Bringing her back so soon? No, just no."

Fu Qiuning sighed and said, "It is not like I am forcing you to bring her back right now. The children simply miss Concubine Xu. We should find an opportunity to let them see her. This shouldn't be too difficult, right? Besides, it doesn't have to be immediate. The weather is getting hotter day by day, and I am concerned about them getting heatstroke. Even if we bring them, we should wait until around the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival when the weather is more suitable."

After hearing her words, Jin Fengju pondered for a moment and felt that it was acceptable. He nodded in agreement. Just then, Yu Jie brought them tea, and Jin Fengju looked at her and said, "Right, Yu Jie must be twenty years old now, right? At her age, it is about time to consider arranging a marriage for her. Jian Feng, Qiu Yu and Qiu Shuang, you can still serve for a few more years. By the time they are married off, these junior maids under them will have grown up. Tomorrow, when the matchmaker comes, you should pick a few more maids and servants for Feng'er and Jiao'er. Look, even Yi'er has quite a few servants by him. The two of them are slowly growing up, and they should be accompanied by a tutor, matron and maids."

Fu Qiuning agreed and said, "Now that Aunt Yu and Zhang San's marriage has proven to be harmonious, a load has been lifted off my thoughts. Yu Jie has been with me for so many years. Although officially, we are mistress and servant, since we have gone through hardships together, my heart has long viewed her as a younger sister. I request that Lord Husband be her backer and find a good family for her."

Jin Fengju smiled and said, "Your subordinates must be outstanding. Very well, I will pay attention and make sure Yu Jie is not treated unfairly." After chatting for a while longer, the couple settled down and didn't mention it again.

On the second day, as expected, slave dealers arrived, bringing dozens of men and women with them. The oldest was about fourteen or fifteen years old while the youngest was only about eleven or twelve. Fu Qiuning allowed Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao to choose their own maids. She was pleased to see that her son did not pick the more flirty and charming girls. Perhaps there was hope that this child would not take after his father or other men of this era. Even after making their choices, the twins sought her opinion. By the time the slave dealers were paid and the slave contracts handed over, the sun had reached the middle of the sky.

After lunch, the boys informed Fu Qiuning that they wanted to return to school to learn horseback riding and archery from some martial arts teacher. Since there was no reason to decline, she allowed it, but ordered the attendants to keep an eye on their little masters' safety. As for the girls, Jin Xiunan and Jin Changjiao ended up staying with Fu Qiuning and chatted over some needlework.

Needlework was tiring on the eyes, and with the weather getting warm, everyone eventually felt sleepy. Finally, all three of them lay down on the kang bed for a short nap. Jin Xiunan curled up beside Fu Qiuning. She was the one who had advised Jin Zhenyi to obey this woman, and she had every intention of following her own advice. It was just… she had not expected this woman to treat her and her brother so well. While it was true that Fu Qiuning was not especially affectionate towards them, which was to be expected, to be treated with the same courtesy on the surface as the twins were more than she had hoped for. Moreover, it was exhausting to try and keep up her wariness against retaliation that just… never happened.

Fu Qiuning allowed herself a short catnap before getting up, just in time to greet Jin Yanfang and the Feng family girls when they came over for a chat. A little while later, Jiang Wanying, Huo'shi, Cui'shi, and Lesser Concubine Yue Lan also arrived. Fu Qiuning was truly puzzled, wondering if that day happened to be some 'visit the relative' day that she had missed. Nevertheless, because of them, Elegant Mansion immediately became very lively. Although the women harboured hidden intentions, they were on someone else's territory, and Fu Qiuning was not the type of person to look too deeply into something unless she had to. Therefore, everything appeared superficially peaceful and harmonious, creating a pretty scenery of joy and laughter.

Just as everyone was chattering and laughing happily, hurried footsteps were heard and a young maid exclaimed, "Young Marquis has returned-" However, before she could finish her announcement, the curtain door was parted and in rushed Jin Fengju.

Fu Qiuning could already feel the back of her head going numb. All of this man's women and then some were there; it was the middle of the day, and instead of pretentiously stepping in with his fan flapping like a preening peacock, he had just rushed in. She kneaded her forehead. Just what is happening now…

True to her expectation, Jin Fengju ignored all of his other women to dramatically grab her hands and loudly declare, "Hurry, go freshen up. Follow me to the palace to meet the Empress Dowager and the Emperor."

With this single statement, the faces of the other women in the room immediately changed. Fu Qiuning felt two places in her head throb. "The palace?"

"No time to explain, just know that it is a good thing. Hurry inside and dress up, wear the jewellery that I have sent you. Don't look too plain or the Empress Dowager will accuse me of being stingy and not willing to spare coins for my wife's appearance." He hurriedly pushed her into the inner room before turning around to flash a glance around at all the other women. He smiled and said, "Why is everyone so free today? With all of you here, have you all received an invitation?"

Jiang Wanying's gaze flickered, and for a moment, she felt both anger and hatred. This ball of anger felt like it was stuck in her chest, unable to rise or fall, almost suffocating her. Nevertheless, she still had to force a smile on her face and ask Jin Fengju, "Isn't Lord Husband supposed to be in the palace today? This morning, Elder Madam seemed to have said that all the royal relatives, nobles, and ministers were to go to the palace to watch a performance. Even my uncle went there. Why are you here now?"

Jin Fengju laughed and replied, "You are well-informed indeed. I am in a hurry, let us talk about it another day." With that, he turned his head and called to Fu Qiuning in the inner room, "Are you ready?"

Jian Feng and Yu Jie were helping Fu Qiuning change clothes and picked out a Five Phoenixes Rising Sun hairpin set with beautiful pearls and several pretty pearl flowers to adorn her hair. Fu Qiuning looked at herself in the mirror and couldn't help but self-mockingly say, "Wow, this head of mine has never looked so presentable before. Such a pity that this hairpiece is set upon the head of an ignorant person. I cannot tell whether it looks good or not, only that it is heavy enough to crush me to death."

Both Jian Feng and Yu Jie laughed ingratiatingly, praising their Madam for her exceptional composure.

Fu Qiuning flattened her lips. She already had some inkling of what was to happen. She thought: As expected, that untrustworthy man is here to break another promise. All his claims about lying low are lies. The only reason why he would suddenly rush over must have something to do with the All Nations Cultural Festival. He must want to force me to perform like a monkey so that he can show off his resources and gain even more power for himself.

However, what was she to do? The only things she had of value were her body and her voice. She had rent to pay and children to protect. It looked like just letting him have his way with her body was not enough, and she now had to be paraded before others and sing for them as well. The grim look on her face must have been hidden by the makeup because those who were favourable to her had nothing but good things to say about her looks.

What disturbed her more was Jin Fengju's intense gaze, because it triggered scorn and jealousy in the eyes of his other women. She could certainly do without having Jiang Wanying, Huo'shi and the rest of those women's barely hidden looks of resentment.

"This is so unexpected. Sister-in-law's makeup today has really opened our eyes," Jin Yanfang exclaimed as she clapped her hands, the one beaming face in a room full of piercing gazes. She then turned to Jin Fengju and said, "It's all because of Second Brother. You never let Sister-in-law dress up nicely most days. Are you afraid that someone will snatch her away?"

Jin Fengju laughed and replied, "These words are simply false accusations. Ask your sister-in-law yourself. How many pieces of jewellery have I given her? How many times have I privately pleaded with her to at least give me some face? Just dress up once, what is so bad about it? But she simply refuses. Since you said that, I will delegate this task to you in the future. Get up early every morning and supervise her dressing up. How about that?"

Jin Yanfang chuckled and said, "Second Brother, you are as cunning as ever. You always push your tasks to others. Sister-in-law must serve you before you go to court. Who knows how early she has to wake up every day? I would still be soundly asleep at that time. Why should I come to work for you?"

After a few more teasing phrases, Jin Fengju dragged Fu Qiuning away with a smile. For a while, everyone in the Elegant Mansion was left behind. Then, Jin Yanfang laughed at the Feng sisters and said, "Let us depart too. The main characters have all left. Why are we still frozen here?" As she spoke, she looked at Jiang Wanying and said, "Second Sister-in-law, aren't you going back? It seems like dusk will be upon us soon, and there might still be some family matters for you to handle. Don't you need to be there?"

Jiang Wanying bit her lip, unable to understand why Fu Qiuning would be summoned by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Such a heavenly-spanning amount of face had never even fallen onto her, the granddaughter of the Duke of Lu. How could that inconspicuous woman steal the limelight? She had no idea what sweet words her Lord Husband had said to elevate that woman to such heavenly heights to the point that she could enjoy such privileges. Jiang Wanying didn't know the ins and outs of the situation. She only thought that Jin Fengju's affection for Fu Qiuning and his help in speaking such words of praise for her was what caused her to gain this prominence.

Filled with a mix of resentment, jealousy and unwillingness, and also realising that standing there was pointless, Jiang Wanying glanced at Huo'shi, Cui'shi, and Yue Lan before saying irritably, "Return. Why are we still sitting here? Are we waiting for Second Madam to return and reward us?" With those words, she left in a huff.

Just then, Jin Changfeng and Jin Zhenyi returned. Upon hearing that Fu Qiuning had been dragged away urgently by their old man to meet the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, they couldn't help but worry. Jin Xiunan and Jin Changjiao were also at a loss. What could a few children do? Just as they were anxiously pondering, Jin Zhenyi coughed and said, "Alright, don't worry. Father dotes on Mother so much, he wouldn't let her be dragged to the palace just to be executed."

In reality, he was also filled with apprehension. He intended to comfort Jin Changfeng and his sibling with those words, but unexpectedly, when he actually spoke his words of concern, the feelings did not carry through his original intent. Jin Changfeng glared at him. Jin Changjiao furrowed her brows and scolded in a teary voice, "Pei, you crow's mouth!

Mother will naturally be fine, I know that much. You're just hoping something bad happens to her. Why can't you think for a bit? If something really happened to Mother, you'll be the first one to suffer. At that time, they will send you to Clear Soft Pavilion and let you taste the feeling of being in the hands of another woman."

Jin Zhenyi had originally meant well, but he received such a retort, which instantly made him furious. Just then, the door curtain was lifted, and Jian Feng walked in, smiling and saying, "Why are the young masters and young misses all looking downcast? Be at ease, Master said that Madam was brought into the palace because of good news. No need to be concerned."

Upon hearing that, the younger ones finally felt relieved. Jin Zhenyi grumbled, "I did say there was nothing to worry about, but you still spoke to me like that. Truly, it's like the saying 'a dog bites Lu Dongbin without knowing how good their heart is. Tsk, you pretend to be knowledgeable and reasonable in front of Mother, but without her around, you become this senseless. What 'another woman'? That is also Second Mother, Father's secondary wife. Address her as such."

Only then did Jin Changjiao realise her slip of the tongue. Her pretty face turned red when she realised she had spoken out of turn. Due to several incidents, she held no favourable feelings towards Jiang Wanying. On the surface, she was respectful towards her, but she had never regarded her as family in her heart. In her impatience, she had been impolite. Therefore, despite her sharp tongue, she was rendered speechless by Jin Zhenyi's retort.

When Jin Zhenyi saw his sister choke on her words, even though he knew that Jiang Wanying was just another woman, at this moment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Raising an eyebrow and humming a tune, he left.

Leaving aside the children waiting for their mother to return in the mansion, Fu Qiuning and Jin Fengju, as soon as they stepped out of the courtyard gate, there was a sedan chair waiting for them. After getting into the sedan chair, less than a quarter of an hour later, they passed through the West Corner Gate. At this time, there was already a magnificent Eight Treasure Fragrant Carriage waiting outside the gate. Fu Qiuning and Jin Fengju boarded the carriage, and the carriage started moving, heading straight towards the palace.

The couple sat facing each other, and Jin Fengju carefully observed Fu Qiuning. However, she didn't expect that Fu Qiuning was still angry. Seeing the infatuated look on his face, she couldn't help but snort and say, "What are you looking at? Don't you recognize me anymore? I wish you had never recognized me."

Jin Fengju chuckled, "What are you saying? It's just that I think you look more beautiful than usual. Although you have the demeanor of a scholar, as well as the simplicity of a chrysanthemum, seeing you without any makeup, suddenly dressing up gives off a different charm."

Fu Qiuning sneered, "You really don't know how lucky you are. The Marquis has countless beauties by his side. If we talk about enchanting beauties, aren't there plenty? Lady Wan and the other concubines, they are all one in a hundred. Even if the Marquis wanted to buy a beautiful maid, wouldn't everyone fight over it? But now you say this to me, it seems like you are belittling me, right?"

Jin Fengju opened the folding fan and waved it a few times before smiling, "There's a hidden meaning in those words. What's wrong? Are you angry because I asked you to perform in the palace? I remember telling you before that if the opportunity arose, I would need you to showcase your talents. You didn't object at the time, so why are you angry now?"

Fu Qiuning thought to herself that she had only done it to save her life, and besides, she wasn't his legitimate wife back then. Thinking of this, her anger grew even stronger, and she turned her head coldly and said, "So you also know that this is performing in the palace. What do you think of me? Am I just some lowly street performer?" She said this while silently praying in her heart, thinking that the world has a conscience. My soul from the modern society doesn't look down on performers at all. It's all because of this despicable feudal society that I have to say these things.

But Jin Fengju said strangely, "Performer? Qiuning, you actually have such a self-deprecating view of yourself? No wonder you're so angry with me. So that's how it is." As he spoke, he closed the folding fan and lightly patted his palm while saying with a smile, "What kind of performer? This play you're performing is unprecedented and incomparable to those lowly actors. This pioneering work should be called a masterpiece by you. Moreover, now that we're in front of the Emperor, even a few esteemed old officials from the court, when they have free time and are summoned by the Emperor, during times of joy between monarch and subjects, they might even sing a song or two in front of us. Even the Emperor and Empress, when they are having a good time in front of the Empress Dowager, they might sing a segment. Not to mention how you compare to those esteemed old officials, even compared to me, what difference is there? Unfortunately, I was not blessed with a good singing voice, nor do I know how to sing. Otherwise, I would have sung a few songs in front of the Emperor during my leisure time. I'm afraid I would have received many rewards."

What? Just because it's performing in front of the Emperor and Empress, does it give such a big face? Does it instantly elevate one from a lowly actor to a master? What kind of logic is this? This damn feudal society is too superficial.

Fu Qiuning wondered in her heart, then she remembered that this feudal society was indeed superficial, with extremely strict class distinctions. Everyone regarded the Emperor as the heavens, and in front of him, no matter what you did, receiving praise was a great honor. Otherwise, why would there be so many girls willing to do anything to accompany the Emperor in his carriage? In their eyes, he wasn't an old man, he was the heavens. As long as they could enter the harem, it was a great glory. No wonder during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, even Heshen, who was highly esteemed, often sang for the Emperor, and even had to dress up while singing. It turned out to be for this reason.

Thinking of this, she became even more angry, looking at Jin Fengju with her eyes, only to see him looking at her in confusion. When he saw her gaze, he laughed and said, "Qiuning, you really are unexpected. Do you think performing in front of the Emperor is nothing? It's an honor, a great honor. If you receive the Emperor's praise, the entire Duke's Mansion will be proud, and no one will dare to oppose you in the future. How can you not understand such a simple truth, even a three-year-old child knows?"

Fortunately, in this situation, Fu Qiuning quickly came up with a reasonable excuse and said angrily, "Singing for the Empress Dowager and the Emperor is indeed an honor, but what about afterwards? Now that I'm the only one who knows this type of opera, am I supposed to perform for those barbarians from all over the world like those street performers? Where do you place me?"

Jin Fengju laughed and shook his head, "My god, if it were really like that, how could you think of me as such a worthless scoundrel? Not to mention that you are the only one in my heart and my lifelong beloved, even if I neglected you at that time, just because you are my legitimate wife, there is no reason to let you appear in public, let alone perform in front of people. Even your father and grandfather, if they didn't care about you, they would never let you do such a thing. It's a disgrace to the family, how could it happen? Can you compare those commoners and the Emperor and Empress?"

Fu Qiuning frowned, "If that's the case, then how did you win first place in that cultural convention?"

Jin Fengju smiled, "What's difficult about that? You naturally can't appear in public, but you can personally select some talented individuals from the royal theater and teach them to sing. There are still more than four months until the convention, so during this time, rehearsing one play should be enough. Just this one play is enough to win first place. The Ministry of Rites didn't choose any outstanding talents this year, but many countries want to make a name for themselves at this convention since there hasn't been any war on the borders for many years. If we lose this time, the next convention might be held in the winner's capital. That would be a huge blow to Daning. That's why the Emperor was dissatisfied before and even scolded the officials from the Ministry of Rites. When I saw his worries, I immediately thought of your play and reported it to him. Sure enough, he was delighted and urged me to come back and get you. Look, it's already late afternoon and he couldn't even wait until tomorrow morning. It shows how much he cares about this matter."

Fu Qiuning frowned, "Even so, if I don't appear in public, won't people still know that I'm the one who created this play? What will they say about me?"

Jin Fengju proudly smiled, "Are you worried about what others will say? Who dares to say a word against you? You are the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenjiang and my legitimate wife. Even if you create this opera, everyone will only praise your extraordinary talent. They will think you came down from the heavens. Do you think you're just the daughter of a lowly commoner, allowing those ordinary people to gossip about you over tea? It's a joke. Don't worry, everyone will only admire and respect you, there won't be any rumors. Otherwise, we wouldn't need you. Those esteemed old officials I mentioned earlier, who would dare to look down on them when they sing in front of the Emperor? Including me and several princes, who wouldn't be respectful to them?"

After hearing Jin Fengju's words, Fu Qiuning slowly relaxed. She couldn't blame him for being so cautious and indirect. It was because she had read too many novels about palace intrigues. The fact that she had the knowledge of opera that didn't exist in this era had always been a big burden on her mind. If what Jin Fengju said was true, then this burden could finally be put down.

"How about it? Are you reassured now?" Jin Fengju saw her expression ease and smiled, then sighed, "Speaking of which, that old lady in your village has no luck. Otherwise, she would have enjoyed this glory instead of falling on your head after her death."

Fu Qiuning remained silent but couldn't help rolling her eyes in her heart. What's the big deal? Just singing a couple of plays for the Emperor. She didn't expect Jin Fengju to be so impressive-looking but not much different from ordinary people. He regarded the Emperor so highly. Although she thought this way, she knew that loyalty to the monarch was deeply ingrained in the people of this era. Unless someone had rebellious intentions, they would always prioritize the emperor over their own lives and loved ones. The Jin family had received the Emperor's favor for generations, so it was not surprising that Jin Fengju had such thoughts.

Jin Fengju thought she was considering what repertoire to perform in front of the Emperor and said, after pondering for a moment, "I mean, there's no need to perform both Huangmei opera and Yue opera at once. There will be a World Civilization Convention in the future, and it would be a waste to spread both types of opera right away. For now, you can just sing one type, and in three years, you can make another achievement with the other type. If there are talented individuals by then, it wouldn't hurt to preserve this one type. Who knows, maybe we can use it in a certain year. What do you think?"

Fu Qiuning thought that this kind of thing was naturally up to him to decide, so she agreed. She then heard Jin Fengju say, "Which one should we sing first? It's really hard to choose. What do you think, Qiuning? Should we start with Huangmei opera or Yue opera?"

Fu Qiuning thought: Why is this guy being so annoying? Just pick anything.

Out loud, she said, "Does it even matter? Just pick whichever. However, if you want my opinion, it is better to start with Yue opera songs."

Jin Fengju said, "Yue opera has a lingering charm and is deeply moving. However, I feel that Huangmei opera has a livelier tune. Perhaps the Empress Dowager would enjoy listening to something more charming. Think carefully, which pieces should we begin with?"

Fu Qiuning rolled her eyes, "Why bother asking me if you have already made the decision? I'm sure you also have a song in mind, so stop pretending to ask me for my opinion."

Jin Fengju suddenly clapped his fan against his hand and said sternly, "Just so! I was just thinking that something was missing in your performance. Ah, I had been too foolish, it is the accompanying music! Without music, how can it be considered an opera? In that case, Qiuning, I will have to trouble you to train up a dedicated orchestra…"

Fu Qiuning's foot stomped down against the carriage floor, "Excuse me? Train an orchestra? Lord Husband, please spare me."

She wasn't incapable of writing musical scores, but in order to slowly compose the scores for an entire play by herself, it would take at least a year and a half or more for an amateur like herself. To clarify, not only would she have to write the lyrics, but she would also have to recall or even recompose all the incidental music and transition music anew. Does this scum male even understand what an unbelievable amount of work this is? Not to mention four months, even if she had four years, how many plays could she compose?

Jin Fengju chuckled and said, "Indeed, you have only learned opera singing from that old lady, but did not learn about the musical scores for instruments. Not a problem, there are several exceptionally skilled musicians in the palace. When the time comes, you just need to focus on singing, and they can provide the accompaniment. It should not be too difficult."

This asshole! Fu Qiuning was suddenly reminded of all the horrible bosses and superiors she had suffered under in her entire past life. "You-"

Suddenly, the coachman called from outside, "Young Marquis, we have arrived at the palace gates."

The carriage slowly came to a stop while Fu Qiuning seethed, and Jin Fengju maintained a smug smile. After getting out of the carriage, they had to walk several li past the palace gates. If she had not been powered up by the seething anger, Fu Qiuning would have gotten tired partway through. They walked for close to half an hour before a majestic palace finally appeared in the distance.

Jin Fengju smiled and said, "That would be Clear Jade Palace. I believe the Emperor and the Empress Dowager are already waiting." After saying that, he hurried them through the last few steps. A junior eunuch watching the palace gates had already flown into the palace long ago to report their arrival.

As Jin Fengju and Fu Qiuning stepped through the entrance, the singsong voices of the eunuchs called out, "Announcing Imperial Historian Jin Fengju and his wife, Fu'shi, arriving to pay respects." The voices swelled and ebbed like waves, as though the guards were relaying messages from a distance. It reminded Fu Qiuning of the television dramas she had seen in modern times. However, such scenes would usually take place in the Heaven & Earth Hall or the Imperial Hall of Diligence. She never expected to encounter such a display of the Emperor summoning a minister from beyond the Meridian Gates to happen in an ordinary palace. Fu Qiuning's lips curled as she thought: Being an emperor must be comfortable. Even a simple command requires so many people to relay it. No wonder everyone wants to be an emperor.

After the couple walked through the gates, they still had several hundred steps to go before reaching the grand hall when Fu Qiuning quietly asked Jin Fengju, "You are an Imperial Historian? How did I not know about this? Weren't you just a casual errand runner at the Hanlin Academy?"

Jin Fengju glanced at her and gritted his teeth as he muttered under his breath, "Whenever it comes to anything related to me, you never pay any attention. How could a woman not remember their husband's official position? It is a form of honour. Only you, aside from your children, have nothing and no one else in your eyes. I am afraid that in your heart, you care more about Aunt Yu than me, your own husband. I was promoted to Imperial Historian after the Lunar New Year, and I mentioned it to you before. But now, it seems like you have completely forgotten about it."

Fu Qiuning smiled serenely and said, "Is that so? Perhaps you and I suffer from some sort of memory loss. Sadly, I could not recall anything of my Lord Husband, whilst my poor husband could not recall any of the promises he had made to me."

By the time she was done speaking, they had already arrived in front of the grand palace. For some reason, instead of entering the main hall, Jin Fengju led her around the corridor towards the inner court. Within the exquisite courtyard, there were tall and handsome guards at every three steps. It did not take long for Fu Qiuning to notice that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were in the main hall of the inner court.

Although Fu Qiuning was from the modern era and had even met the Emperor before, her heart still beat like a drum now that she was inside the imperial palace. No matter what, she was still a citizen of China and the thought of meeting the Emperor in his natural setting would only be exciting. She followed Jin Fengju into the room and paid her respects as per etiquette. While she kept her eyes down, a familiar voice said, "No need for such courtesies, this is neither the grand palace nor the study hall, why bother with so many formalities?"

Jin Fengju responded and stood up with Fu Qiuning. Fu Qiuning still kept her eyes on the floor. After all, she had painted herself as a dullard before the Emperor the last time they met, so it only made sense to maintain her character. Aside from the Emperor and Empress Dowager, there were also the 'old ministers' on good terms with the emperor who also sang to entertain their monarch. Privately, she thought: It's like everyone here's to entertain their old father-in-law to win his approval.

A short while later, a gentle voice said, "This is Fengju's official wife? I have only seen his secondary wife before. If I am not mistaken, she was once a girl in the Zhenjiang Palace, yes? I have never seen her in person before. Lift your head, let Us have a look."

Fu Qiuning raised her head gracefully. She used the moment to sweep her eyes around the periphery of the room. To her surprise, she discovered that her grandfather and father were also present. Additionally, the faint breathing and coughing that she could hear from the adjacent hall indicated that others were around, probably from the desperate Ministry of Rites officials that Jin Fengju was planning to show off to.

The Empress Dowager examined her for a moment, then nodded and smiled. "You have a dignified and elegant demeanour, worthy of being with Fengju. I heard that your health used to be poor. How are you now? Have you recovered?"

Fu Qiuning thought to herself: Looks like the mistreatment of the past six or seven years is going to be swept under the rug of 'weak health'. Just how did everyone come to insist on using this same lame excuse? Did they talk about this before? Or is 'weak health' the universal excuse that these noble aristocrats use to excuse all their actions?

Naturally, she did not reveal her thoughts as she lowered her eyes and respectfully replied, "In response to Empress Dowager, this humble woman's body has always been frail. So frail that this humble woman never left the house since marriage. It is only thanks to the Young Marquis' tender care and attention in recent year that colour has finally returned to this weak woman's body."

Jin Fengju smiled bitterly in his heart and thought: Qiuning, ah Qiuning, I have been completely open and honest with you. Why do you have to mock me at a time like this? Do not assume that my face is that thick, because I can blush too, ah.

While feeling wronged, he heard the Emperor chuckle and said, "We have summoned you today for a reason. Your husband must have explained everything to you. Once you have paid respects to your father and grandfather, come and give us a song. Fengju does not praise anyone easily, but he has praised your abilities to the high heavens. The officials from the Ministry of Rites are also in the outer hall. Let them listen as well and see if your play is worthy of being the centrepiece of the All Nations Cultural Festival."

Fu Qiuning lowered her head, thinking: As expected, the reason I am here is because this man could not help but show off. After knowing of my special skill, how much effort has he spent singing and praising my abilities at every opportunity to finally have me dragged out here?

Fortunately, she was not very close to her 'father and grandfather'. The three relatives smiled at each other on the surface. Fu Qiuning maintained her modest and reserved attitude even as the two men showed uneasy smiles.

Fu Qiuning had once aspired to be an opera performer and had even involved herself with a theatre troupe before. She was good, good enough to appear on stage before a large audience, though her role was not very big. Therefore, although she had to appear before royalties to perform, she only had to recall the moment she stepped on stage in her past life to place herself in the correct mindset. She had loved the stage.

Anyone who aspired to learn opera would have a natural love to perform before an audience. Though she had resigned herself to being a teacher, it was the same for her. Thus, as she stood in the centre of the room, she cleared her throat and sang a section of the celestial pairing song, The Couple Returns Home Together.

At the end of the cheerful song, both the Emperor's and the Empress Dowager's eyes were shining brightly. The Empress Dowager clapped her hands and smiled with satisfaction, "I have always loved operas. From childhood till now, I cannot recall just how many I have heard and enjoyed. I even believed that I had heard all the plays in the world, but now, I realise just how lacking my knowledge is. Otherwise, how could I have never heard of such a beautiful song? No wonder Fengju is so full of confidence in his praise. Indeed, what a melodious and delightful song. As the ancients say, it is a performance that lingers in one's mind for three days. Now, I can say that I have personally experienced this sensation."

Fu Qiuning was quick to express her humble thanks, but the Empress Dowager merely waved her hand and said, "I did not speak this for Fengju's face. What does the Emperor think?"

The Emperor smiled and said, "We also find it most excellent to listen to. Such a song should only exist in the heavens, how could it exist in the mortal realm? It is no exaggeration to say that it should certainly perform well in a play." Then he turned to the side hall and asked, "Have all of you dear ministers heard it? What do you think? Can this play trample upon all the other competitors at the All Nations Cultural Festival?"

Beyond the curtains, a background of whispering sounds could be heard. Then, a booming voice spoke up, "In response to the Emperor, this play is melodious and touching. This minister has never heard of it before. Obtaining the top spot at the All Nations Cultural Festival should not be difficult. However, there is one issue. It is really short. If a play is to be performed at the All Nations Cultural Festival, it should last at least half an hour. But currently, it does not last even a quarter of an hour. This minister feels that it is such a pity."

"Woo, that's true," nodded the Emperor. However, Jin Fengju stepped forward and said, "In response to the Emperor, such a short segment naturally cannot be considered a play. That is because it is merely one song of a complete play. Qiuning has merely sung one part of this one song. When the time comes, musicians can be called to provide the musical accompaniment, and the Royal Academy singers can also rehearse the full play. With that, suppressing the competition will not be difficult."

The Emperor's eyes sparkled as he stared at Fu Qiuning and asked, "Fu'shi, is it as your husband said, that this is part of a complete play?" When Fu Qiuning nodded, he smiled and said, "Good, then sing another piece."

Resigned, Fu Qiuning thought: As expected, look at how that man just sold me off. As expected, the selfishness of an ambitious man knows no bounds. Jiang Wanying was once favoured because she was the granddaughter of a duke, but now that the Jin household has become dukes themselves, her status has become inferior. As for myself, although I do not have the bloodline to back me up, I have a mysterious skill which he could exploit and thus further gain him face. No wonder I am so favoured now.

To the people outside, it looked like she was just thinking of which song to sing, but in fact, dark thoughts continued to run through her mind when she reached the line, "To understand astronomy and geography, a man's ambition extends to all directions, to all directions ah…" even as she sang the lines from The Fishermen Reside in the Center of the Water as if it was a perfectly natural thing for her to do.

When the Emperor applauded, cheers could be heard from outside. In that era, men's ambitions and aspirations were highly valued, and the line "ambitions extends to all directions" resonated with the thoughts of all the men present. Fu Qiuning refused to turn around and look at the man who had made use of her talents to further his own ambitions. It was despicable. Especially more so, since he insisted on pretending and imagining himself a virtuous and loving man to the world.

Immediately, the Emperor asked a few questions to the officials from the Ministry of Rites and decided on the grand finale for the All Nations Cultural Festival. Jin Fengju stepped forward again and said, "In that case, as Qiuning's husband, it is this minister's duty from tomorrow to assist the officials from the Ministry of Rites in supervising Qiuning's rehearsal of this play. However, it is almost dusk today, and this minister had hastily brought Qiuning to see Your Majesty. The people at the estate must all be perplexed, so this minister should return and put their minds at ease. Your Majesty, please allow this minister to take his leave."

Before the Emperor could respond, the Empress Dowager laughed and said, "Why the rush? I confess I am simply obsessed with the songs now. We have only heard two pieces of the songs and did not even know what the entire play is about. It's not like the palace is some dragon's pond or tiger's then, is your family afraid that we shall swallow your wife whole? If you wish to go back, then go. Tell them that I will keep Fu'shi for the night, and I simply must listen to the entire play before she leaves."