Chapter One Hundred and Six The Letter of Divorce
After the New Year festival passed, it was the time for the families to visit each other. As the Empress in the central palace, Qu Qing Ju naturally received many notices, but due to her pregnancy, she had just seen the members of the two Empress Dowager's paternal family, Tian Luo shi and others. Today, she needed to meet Ning Wang Fei and Cheng Wang Fei.
"Ning Wang Fei, Cheng Wang Fei, please come in," Huang Yang hurriedly walked out of the door into the rear hall, a wide smile on his face as he performed a greeting to Wei Qing E and Luo Wen Yao before bowing to lead the two people inside.
"Thanks gonggong," Luo Wen Yao smiled politely at Huang Yang. She knew that Huang Yang was someone that the Empress used often, so she treated him extremely courteously.
"Cheng Wang Fei is too polite, please," Huang Yang's attitude became even more humble as he steadily walked inside, "Empress knew that both wang fei were coming and had woken early to wait."
Wei Qing He followed Huang Yang's words with some words expressing her gratefulness. When they reached the door to the room, she didn't speak anymore. Huang Yang announced: "Empress, Ning Wang Fei and Cheng Wang Fei have arrived."
"Quickly come in please," Wei Qing E heard Qu Qing Ju's voice. And when the curtain in front of them was raised, a very familiar looking palace maid coming out, bowing to them and ushered them into the room.
This was the first time Wei Qing E came to this place. At a glance, she saw that much care had been taken with the tasteful furnishings in the room, and there was nothing with corners, since they were worried that those things would harm the pregnant Qu Qing Ju.
She looked at Qu Qing Ju who sat in front. Qu Qing Ju only had a simple hairstyle, a buyao inserted from the side. With her black hair, it expressed an indolent beauty.
"Greetings to Empress," Wei Qing E and Luo Wen Yao simultaneously made a bow, their movements full of deference.
"Us sisters-in-law don't have to be so polite with each other," Qu Qing Ju waved her hand and got the palace maids to bring a carved stool for each of them. Then she said: "It's still snowing today, it must have been trouble to make you two visit ben gong."
"Niangniang's words are taking good fortune from chen fu," Wei Qing E added a smile as she said, "chen fu should have come in before to give thanks, but these last few days were so busy so the visit was delayed. It's lucky that niangniang is kind and hasn't blamed chen fu."
"Da sao's words are too polite," Qu Qing Ju saw that Wei Qing E was attired even more dignified than in the past and sighed inside. There were many women in Ning Wang Fu. Wei Qing E had a di son herself, and must have spent limitless amounts of attention, "Ning Wang Fu had been empty for so long, it's natural to spend time cleaning it up. Originally, ben gong should have sent servants to do so, but the Emperor missed da be and summoned you back to Jing as soon as possible. Your family must have gone to great trouble."
"It's our entire family's good fortune that Emperor missed our wang ye," Wei Qing E smiled, replying, "wang ye frequently mentioned the good of the Emperor and said that even dying won't be enough to repay the kindness of the Emperor."
In the beginning, Wei Qing E hadn't been as antagonistic as Qin Bai Lu who had picked a fight whenever possible with Qu Qing Ju, but she acted as she was the eldest. Now, her words and actions were done to flatter to her, the er dixi. Qu Qing Ju couldn't see any discontent in her actions and couldn't help but sigh again. Such a virtuous wife, and didn't abandon or give up on Ning Wang. Now that Ning Wang returned to Jing, he had taken quite a few women as tongfang. That really wasn't a good thing to do.
"They're brothers, there's no need to speak of kindness," Qu Qing Ju waved her hand, and said to Luo Wen Yao: "Ben gong heard you have some happy news, this really is a happy event."
Luo Wen Yao's face instantly blushed and she lowered her head as she responded: "The taiyi diagnosed it a few days earlier. Chen fu had thought to wait a few days before telling you."
"Such a happy event, you can't conceal it from ben gong," Qu Qing Ju smiled, adding, "ben gong let them prepare some things for pregnancy. When you leave, take it with you. If you are lacking in anything, send someone to tell ben gong, don't restrain yourself."
Wei Qing E listened to the conversation between the Empress and Cheng Wang Fei. She could detect the closeness that the Empress treated Cheng Wang Fei with. It was very different from the politeness that was offered to her. One year ago, no one would have thought that even Cheng Wang would have a change of fortune.
"Actually, ben gong heard yesterday that people were saying that Rui Wang Jun Fei was ill, have you two heard?" Three days ago, she had just attended the year end banquet, and then got sick right after. If the news came out, who would be embarrassed?
"San dimei has always been delicate. Yesterday night, it snowed, maybe she wasn't careful and got sick," Wei Qing E spoke on the subject. She had an idea what the Empress meant and naturally would follow the direction, " But san dimei usually doesn't interact much with chen fu and si dimei, so we also don't know."
Qu Qing Ju nodded, looking rueful: "That's so true, san dimei's personality usually is proud. Even ben gong, she wasn't willing to interact much with. In a while, ben gong will get them to bestow some things down, it will be a token of ben gong's goodwill."
The words appeared to be concerned about Qin Bai Lu but the implication was accusing Qin Bai Lu was discourteous to the Empress. Wei Qing E glanced around the room. There were many palace maids and taijian standing around. If these words were leaked out, everyone would know of Qin Bai Lu's haughtiness.
She dropped her gaze slightly so she would not look at the warm smile on Qu Qing Ju's face. The tone of her voice was assenting: "Empress is kind-hearted and benevolent. Rui Jun Wang Fei's actions are truly somewhat discourteous."
Really kind-hearted and benevolent. Even when a jun wang fei was discourteous to her, she would still let bygones be bygones and bestow gifts down. This entire court, who wouldn't praise her for being virtuous?
"We are all one family, both you and I knew her temperament," Qu Qing Ju displayed a helpless look, "ben gong will just hope that she will recover quickly now."
Luo Wen Yao used a handkerchief to cover her mouth as she agreed: "Empress is right, the best thing would be that san sao recovers."
Wei Qing E felt for a second that the closeness between the Empress and Cheng Wang Fei, perhaps it was because they were strangely similar in some aspects?
"Emperor?" Ming He saw the Emperor walk to the door of the rear hall and then turn to circle back to the front hall, and couldn't help cautiously asking, "Should nucai go in to notify Empress?"
"No need," He Heng waved his hand. He took down a book from the shelves and buried his head down. Ming He took a peek. It was still that "Prescriptions Worth a Thousand in Gold" that the Emperor had read for many days. Ever since the Empress had been found to be pregnant, the Emperor seemed to develop an interest in medical books.
A long time later, just as Ming He assumed that the Emperor would keep reading, an attendant of the Empress came to ask if the Emperor was going to go have a meal together. Then he saw the Emperor throw away the book and stand up.
Looking at the medical book that the Emperor had heartlessly thrown to one side, it wasn't anything. In front of the Empress, it couldn't compare to one hair strand."
In Rui Jun Wang Fu, Qin Bai Lu furiously smashed everything that the palace had sent down before she felt her fury had been somewhat relieved. She hatefully looked at the ginseng, sneering: "Pretending to be so virtuous, like I don't have these things?"
She once hated Qu Yue Su, and after Qu Yue Su died, the one she hated most became Qu Qing Ju. The two sisters of the Qu Family seemed to have been born to be at conflict with her, and disturb her days.
"Wang fei, wang ye is already unhappy that you called in sick to not pay your respects to the Empress. Now, you smashed the Empress' gifts. If wang ye knew, it won't be good," Ru Hua rushed the servants to clean up the room. After the attendants had all left, she urged, "Right now, even for yourself, you have bear it."
"Bear it?" Qin Bai Lu pointed in the direction of the main building, "He only amuses himself everyday and has never thought about me. Even if I tore down this room, he won't care!"
"But if you keep going like this…"
"You don't have to persuade me. In wang ye's eyes, I'm afraid that even a fingernail of the Empress is better than me. Maybe right now he's regretting that he hadn't married the Empress in the beginning rather than me!" Qin Bai Lu was so infuriated that she didn't control her words, "The Empress is so noble, so beautiful, I'm nothing!"
Ru Hua sighed helplessly. She thought about the rumors about wang fei outside. Jealous, not virtuous, arrogant and bad-mannered, disrespectful of the Empress. There were even people that said wang ye was going to divorce wang fei. If wang fei knew of those things, her sadness would be great.
She just didn't understand what great irreconcilable enmity there was between Empress and wang fei that wang fei would hate Empress so. It was clear that the two hadn't interacted much. Was it really because of the rumors about the decree of marriage? But the Empress and Emperor were very well together and wang fei really didn't need to be jealous of the Empress.
Outside the door, He Fu Er stood behind He Yuan, his legs trembling. He hadn't thought that wang fei would say such reckless things. If it passed into the Emperor's ears, wouldn't it cost wang ye his life?
Thinking about the stories of the love between the Imperial Couple, He Fu Er swallowed. It would really cause his death. He was so unfortunate to have heard these words.
Furtively looking at wang ye's expression, He Fu Er's legs grew even weaker. It had been a long time since he had seen wang ye look so terrible. Hearing the continuing complaints of the wang fei inside the room, He Fu Er finally couldn't stand and knelt down hard.
He Yuan didn't look at He Fu Er, and with a grim face, went up to kick open the door. Gazing at Qin Bai Lu who had abruptly froze, he ordered icily: "He Fu Er, bring pen and paper."
"Wang ye!" Qin Bai Lu shrieked, "I'm the wang fei xiandi decreed to you, you can't divorce me."
"So you do know that your words would cause ben wang to divorce you, then why couldn't you control your mouth?" He Yuan looked in disgust at Qin Bai Lu, "Ben wang might only be a jun wang now, but it doesn't mean having to tolerate a wang fei like you."
"Pen and paper!" He Heng's voice grew even more harsh.
Very quickly, someone brought pen and paper. Grinding the ink and laying down the paper, it seemed to have all been done in the blink of an eye in Qin Bai Lu's eyes.
"Wang ye," Qin Bai Lu knelt down. She knew that He Yuan was serious this time and couldn't resist hugging his legs, crying: "You can't treat me this way."
"Get her off!" He Heng didn't even look at Qin Bai Lu. He held up the brush to dip in the ink and fluidly started writing.
"Wang ye, wang ye," Ru Hua knelt down at He Yuan's feet, "wang fei wasn't doing it on purpose, please, forgive her this time, wang ye.'
The two minor taijian saw that wang ye's face darkened even more and went up to drag and pin Ru Hua at one side.
Ru Hua stared as wang ye wrote the entire letter of divorce in one go as though he had finally vented all the emotions he had suppressed for a long time. She suddenly stopped pleading because she felt that, no matter how she and wang fei pleaded, wang ye wouldn't change his mind.
"Take it," He Yuan threw the still wet letter of divorce in front of Qin Bai Lu, coldly gazing down at her kneeling on the ground, "The thing that ben wang regrets the most in this lifetime was marrying you."
Qin Bai Lu's head buzzed as though she couldn't hear anything. She looked dazedly at the man that looked from high up down at her. She suddenly stood, pushing aside He Yuan and was going to throw herself at the wall, before she was pulled back by He Fu Er at the side.
"If you want to die, go back to your Qin Family to die, don't dirty ben wang's place," He Yuan sneered, "Someone come, pack up all of Qin shi's things and send them back along with Qin shi back to the Qin Family."
"Yes," He Fu Er saw that the matter had progressed to this step and didn't dare provoke wang ye so he started to order others to start packing.
He Yuan didn't look again at Qin Bai Lu, he turned and walked away.
The news that the daughter of the Qin Family had been divorced by Rui Jun Wang spread through the entire Jing City by the afternoon. Almost everyone didn't believe that Rui Jun Wang would do it. Right now, Rui Jun Wang didn't have any real power. If he offended the Qin Family, wouldn't his days become more difficult in the future?
There were those that felt the daughter of the Qin Family wasn't worthy of being a wang fei, were moved by Rui Jun Wang who wasn't willing to suffer, and sighed.
On the second day, there was an Imperial Censor who reproached Rui Jun Wang's actions. The main idea was that the daughter of the Qin Family had been declared by xiandi. The fact that Rui Jun Wang had divorced his wife, the daughter of the Qin Family, it was being unfilial to xiandi. It ruined the conduct of Da Long Dynasty. Along the way, he praised the love that the Emperor had for the Empress.
"The Empress is virtuous in her conduct, filial to her elders, attentive to zhen, zhen's love for her is only natural," The boot-licking had been misconstrued. He Heng's face was dark as he continued, "The daughter of the Qin Family dishonorably conducted herself, was of arrogant manner, and no virtues at all. Even in front of zhen and Empress, she was arrogant and disrespectful. Rui Jun Wang is zhen's brother, how can zhen bear for him to be served by such a wang fei?"
The Imperial Censor choked. The terrible reputation of Qin shi had already spread through Jing. It really was somewhat inappropriate for him to compare Qin shi to the Empress. He then knelt down and didn't say another word.
"Zhen thought, as a man, one should be filial to elders, esteem his wife, and love and protect his children. As a woman, one should have proper conduct, esteem her husband, be virtuous and intelligent. Only like this, can husband and wife be harmonious." He Heng furrowed his eyebrows, adding, "Zhen heard that the Great Scholar Lu da ren of Hong Yuan Cabinet has a good daughter of both talent and good appearance. Why don't zhen act as a matchmaker and let Lu xiaojie and zhen's sandi be engaged and will marry by the end of this year."
Lu Jing Hong paused and then forced out a smile as he knelt, replying: "Wei chen thanks the Emperor for decreeing the marriage."
The Emperor was cutting off the Qin Family's retreat. And also pulled his daughter in. But he could not refuse.
He could only hope that Rui Jun Wang would treat his daughter well in the future. He would thank the heavens and earth if it didn't turn out like Qin shi's circumstances.
Chapter One Hundred and Seven Birth of a Son
Lu Yu Rong knelt as she listened to the Ministry of Rites' official finish reciting the Imperial Decree before respectfully kowtowing along with her family. She watched as her father received the Imperial Decree from the official. Her expression wasn't joyful nor angry, and no one was able to see her thoughts regarding the marriage.
After the Rites official left, Lu furen looked worriedly at the Imperial Decree: "Lao ye, what are we going to do, Rui Jun Wang's personality …" Everyone knew what Rui Jun Wang's personality was like. Her daughter marrying that kind of a person, what good days would she have?
Even more, the Emperor wasn't close to Rui Jun Wang. Shu gui taifei was at odds with the two Empress Dowagers and had once even done an idiotic thing as to try to harm the Empress. Their Lu Family becoming connected to Rui Jun Wang, it was a great problem.
"Don't worry, since the Emperor decreed the marriage, it shows that he trusts our Lu Family," Lu Jing Hong sighed, not knowing if he was comforting Lu furen or himself, "Furthermore, Rui Jun Wang has no real power right now. What does the Emperor have to be suspicious of?"
Luo furen knew that the matter was set in stone and there was no benefit in discussing it anymore. She was only feeling sorry for her daughter, marrying a powerless member of the Imperial Family.
"Mother doesn't have to be worried for me," Lu Yu Rong squeezed out a smile, "Rui Jun Wang is still a jun wang. Also, he has no children in his fu. Daughter might be marrying over as the second wife, but the first one was divorced, so I'm not that different from the original. Furthermore, another person might not be better a better match than Rui Jun Wang."
Lu Jing Hong's di son, Lu Zhan, heard his meimei's words and ground his teeth: "Meimei don't worry, gege will be here. If Rui Jun Wang dares to bully you, gege will go accuse him in front of the Emperor to bring you back."
"It's not that scary," The smile on Lu Jing Rong's face became brighter. She looked at the Imperial Decree in Lu Jing Hong's hands, "Life, it's just like that."
Once the words came out, the Lu family became silent. No matter what, they felt they had fallen short for their daughter.
When the peach flowers were in full bloom, He Heng, after the officials begged him three times, finally changed the era name to Jia You, and informed the ancestors to use the first year of Jia You to count the years. At the same time, the world started calling He Heng by Jia You Emperor.
In the fourth month of the first year of Jia You, rain continued to come down for a few days, but what made He Heng feel restless wasn't the fine rain but Qu Qing Ju, who was close to childbirth. As the time grew closer, he became more and more nervous. A woman giving birth, it was like a foot in life and a foot in death. Thinking about the frightening event, he couldn't calm himself.
It was now the end of the fourth month, but due to continuing rainfall for three days, the weather was slightly cold. He Heng finished reading the memorandum in his hands, and prepared to go to the rear palace, when he saw Ming He rush in, and make a sloppy bow.
"Emperor, Empress is giving birth."
"What?!" His expression changed slightly, he stood and took large steps, not even taking the time to change the robe he was wearing, which was stained with drops of ink.
When they came to the rear hall of Tian Qi Palace, the door to the delivery room had been closed. He Heng didn't know that his pale face had frightened all the palace attendants. He looked at the tightly secured door to the delivery room, demanding gravely: "When did the Empress start labor?"
"This morning, the Empress felt her belly hurt and let nubi help her take a bath and then a meal. She walked for a while in the room before entering the delivery room," Jin Zhan bowed as she narrated, "Please, Emperor, don't worry. The midwife mama said that zhuzi's fetus is in a good position and it will be a smooth delivery."
He Heng's brain was a mess. He unconsciously raised a teacup for a drink, "Why not tell zhen earlier?"
"Niangniang said that Emperor had many state affairs and to let nubi inform you when she entered the delivery room," Jin Zhan heard the anger in the Emperor's words and knelt down fearfully in front of He Heng, "Pease, Emperor, don't be angry."
Waving to let the palace maid who'd answered stand, he wasn't in a good mood, but still recognized that the palace maid was one of Qu Qing Ju's personal maids. So he didn't want to lash out at her, and continuously downed tea.
When Empress Dowager Wei and Muhou Empress Dowager rushed over, they saw the black face of the Emperor and a silent room. There wasn't even much sound coming from the delivery room. Their hearts grew cold as they assumed that the Empress wasn't well, and asked urgently, "How's the Empress?"
"Empress Dowager, just now a midwife mama came out to say the Empress was fine and had drank a bowl of ginseng porridge." Jin Zhan carefully answered, 'But His Highness would have to take some more time before being born."
"Childbirth is a hardship for women," Empress Dowager looked worriedly around the room and walked to sit down on a chair. She even forgot to invite Muhou Empress Dowager to sit down as well. Her brows creased as she said to Jin Zhan, "Tell the other servants to be careful. Anything the midwives want, you have to immediately send it in, understand?"
"Nubi will remember," Jin Zhan turned to walk outside the hall and pass the Empress Dowager's decree to the other servants.
Muhou Empress Dowager sat down next to Empress Dowager Wei. She had rarely seen the Empress Dowager Wei be so panicked and could only comfort: "Meimei, don't be too worried. These days, the taiyi and the pregnancy mama all said that the position of the child is very good. Very quickly, you can hug your big grandson."
Empress Dowager forced a smile. Her gaze still fixed on the door to the delivery room, not even noticing the bow He Heng gave her.
He Heng saw the two Empress Dowagers arrive but his mental state didn't calm down much. With a stomachful of tea, he couldn't help standing and started pacing in circles around the room. After a few minutes, sweat dotted his forehead. He didn't know whether it was from nervousness or the heat.
The palace attendants in the room didn't dare to even breathe heavily. Watching as the Emperor becoming more and more jittery, they wished to push their heads down even further in hopes that the Emperor wouldn't see them.
"Ah!"
A shout of pain from Qu Qing Ju finally passed out of the room. He Heng rushed forward a few steps to the door of the delivery room. But after listening, he couldn't hear any more noises and couldn't resist asking: "Why hasn't there been news?"
Ming He looked at the hourglass from the corner of his eye. It had just been half an hour. He might be a taijian but even he knew that it wasn't so easy for most women to give birth the first time.
"Why hasn't the Empress made a sound?" He Heng pointed at a palace maid, "Go take a look."
"The Empress is giving birth, there's nothing for the other people to do," Empress Dowager Wei stood to walk next to He Heng. She restrained the panic in her own heart, "Look at the time. That year that aijia gave birth to you, it took the entire night. Don't panic, no one has come out from inside. That means that the Empress is fine."
He Heng roughly wiped at the sweat on his forehead and paced around the room twice. If it wasn't for the stupid protocols of the Imperial Family and his worry that others would say things about Qing Ju in the future, he would have burst in already, and wouldn't be so frantic outside the door.
The quiet surroundings made him feel it was harder to endure. He didn't know how much time passed when he seemed to have heard the midwife mama inside the room say something. He couldn't resist pressing himself against the door, wanting to see from the crack of the door. But to prevent the wind from entering the delivery room, all the curtains had been shut down. Other than a patch of black, he couldn't see anything else.
An unknown amount of time later, He Heng felt many hours had passed when in reality it had been only one hour, just when he wasn't able to resist trying to push his way in, cries of an infant sounded suddenly from the delivery room. The wailing was so loud it seemed to burst through the roof.
He Heng exhaled greatly and realized that his entire body felt weak, and the tea in his belly was pushing uncomfortably.
"Congratulations Empress Dowagers, Emperor," One of the midwife mamas jubilantly opened the door and walked out, another midwife mama behind her carrying a swaddled infant. Kneeling down in front of the three noble personages, she announced, "Empress gave birth to a healthy imperial son!"
"Reward, great reward," Empress Dowager Wei walked to the doorway and took over the infant from the midwife mama, smiling joyously at the chubby imperial son, "Pretty heavy, good, good, the brows and eyes are like the Emperor, Emperor come …" Empress Dowager Wei looked in the direction that He Heng was standing and then glanced around the room, where was he?
She looked at the half-open door, paused for a beat and then smiled as she shook her head. Together with Muhou Empress Dowager, they smiled as they started to look at their sturdy grandson.
After giving birth, Qu Qing Ju felt as though she had used up all the strength she had in her life. She tiredly gave a yawn and drowsily watched as He Heng pushed aside two of the midwife mamas who'd tried to block him and strode next to the bed. He was a sorry figure with his head full of sweat. She grew suspicious that the person who gave birth was He Heng, not her.
"Emperor, the blood is thick in the delivery room, you cannot enter…" A midwife mama was still trying to stop him but was paralyzed by He Heng's icy glare.
"Zhen is in a good mood today, don't make zhen angry," he uncaringly sat down at the bedside. After shouting away the midwife mama, he loving held Qu Qing Ju's hand, "Thanks for your trouble. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
"Just tired, want to sleep," Qu Qing Ju gave a yawn, "I've used all my energy."
"Aright," He Heng looked around the delivery room. He called for a palace maid to bring a clean blanket and wrapped Qu Qing Ju's hands and feet inside before bending down to lift her entirely with the blanket, "There's too much blood here. I'll take you back to the room to sleep."
The entire room of people watched with gaping mouths as the Emperor just carried the Empress away. Then they recovered and hurried to follow them out.
The midwife mama looked at the gory blanket left on the delivery bed and couldn't help but be moved. She had delivered for many noble families before, but she had never seen a husband be as attentive as the Emperor. Who said that the Imperial Family had no love, the Emperor treated the Empress much better than those gentlemen of the noble families.
Qu Qing Ju's room had already been prepared. After He Heng put her down on the clean bed, he took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat on her forehead for her. In a soft voice, he said: "Muhou had our child carried down to drink milk. Sleep now. Once you wake up, I'll get them to bring him here for you to see."
"Alright," Qu Qing Ju saw that there was still sweat on his forehead and smiled as she suggest, "Emperor should also change."
Who knew when she finished speaking, He Heng's expression changed, as though he was holding something back.
"What is it?" Qu Qing Ju asked in puzzlement.
"Zhen drank too much tea just now," He Heng stood, quickly responding: "Zhen will be back quickly." He headed in the direction of the bucket in the side room.
Qu Qing Ju stilled and then laughed, her mood unspeakably good.
Mu Jin and the others who were attending Qu Qing Ju in the room saw the Empress laugh. Even though they didn't know what the Emperor had just said to her, they followed in laughing. No matter what, as long as the Empress was well, they were well.
After He Heng hurriedly solved his problem in the toilet and came back, he saw Qu Qing Ju had fallen asleep. Looking at her sleeping visage, he tucked in the blanket for her and couldn't help giving a warm smile.
Empress Dowager Wei stood at the doorway. The foot that had been raised went back down. A beat later, she turned and retreated. Looking at the sky that had clearly at some unknown time, she serenely sighed: "This is good."
"Empress Dowager, the sun came out," Ding mama beside her exclaimed in shock, "The sky cleared when Little Highness was born. This is very auspicious."
Empress Dowager Wei peered out at the sun that had came out of the clouds, smiling and declaring: "Aijia's grandson will naturally have a good life."
Ding mama nodded: "Nubi saw that the earlobes of His Highness are big and fleshy, the brow high and clear, the hair black and thick. It is all signs of good fortune."
Empress Dowager Wei smiled, clearly very satisfied with what Ding mama had said.
"The Empress gave birth to an imperial son?" When Jiang Yong Yu finished listening to what Ai Lu said, she gave a faint smile, "Then the clothing I made will be useful."
It had been a very long time since the Emperor had ever come to her palace. Luckily, the Empress treated her well. For her, as long as the Empress remained unshakable in her position, she would have good days. Take for example, the rank she held. If it wasn't for the Empress, what qualifications did she have to be titled a fei in the first place?
"Nubi heard that the Empress had been personally carried by the Emperor out of the delivery room," Ai Lu informed in a small voice, "Emperor treats Empress so well."
"That is good," Jiang Yong Yu finished the sewing on the small undergarment in her hands. Embroidered on it was a chubby infant hugging a gigantic red koi. The size was perfect for an infant a few months old to wear, "The Empress is well, then we will be well."
The news that the Empress had given birth to the Imperial Eldest Son very quickly made its way to the ears of the noble families. It caused a fuss in every family as they wrote congratulatory messages and prepared gifts. Many women were admiring. The Empress had been the only one favored by the Emperor and in one sweep, got a son. This was the good fortune that others could admire but didn't have.
In Rui Jun Wang Fu, He Yuan was tipsy. After hearing He Fu Er's report, he stilled and then ordered: "Send the gifts that ben wang prepared a few days ago to Tian Qi Palace."
He Fu Er paused and hesitated for a beat before asking: "But wang ye, isn't it supposed to be a month before … …"
"Send it, don't be so chatty," He Yuan drank to the bottom of the wine cup, "Ben wang isn't lacking those things."
He Fu Er helplessly complied. He sighed inside. If those things were sent into the palace, he wondered if the Emperor would misunderstand. If he thought that wang ye was trying to use the presents to get back into court, then it would be troublesome.
Oh, he was becoming less able to predict what wang ye thought now.
Yimu means aunt from the maternal side.
Chapter One Hundred and Eight Competing for the Empress' Favor Rather Than The Emperor
His Highness the Eldest Imperial Son was the only heir of the Emperor at present so everyone knew that this Eldest Imperial Son held special meaning. So when the third day "washing ceremony" came, the people who were allowed to attend all prepared auspicious gifts for the basin to express their regard for the Eldest Imperial Son.
Because the Empress was in her confinement period, the Eldest Imperial Son was personally carried out by the two Empress Dowagers. Additionally, the Emperor sat from beginning to end. Everyone could see how much importance was placed on the infant by the three major personages of the palace.
At the washing ceremony, some noblewomen of significant status were fortunate enough to get close to the Eldest Imperial Son. When they left the palace, they kept on praising how well the Eldest Imperial Son looked and how auspicious his features were.
Those that didn't have enough status to be close to the Empress Dowagers also crowded around to praise as though they would offend someone if they said it too late.
More people in Jing started to fawn over the members of the Tian Family, but to their surprise, the Tian Family became more low-key. Even the families that the shu daughters of the Tian Family married into started to be low-key. When the actions of the Tian Family passed into He Heng's ears, it improved his impression of the Tian Family to be even better. After a short while, he would find a chance to bestow some things to the Tian Family to imply that he was very satisfied with the Tian Family's methods.
The Jing City was always a prosperous place and there were naturally people in stalls on the sides of the street. So when one vendor saw a large stallion with a golden-yellow cloth tied around it, he knew that it was a messenger with a decree and chatted about it with his customers.
"After the Empress gave birth to the Eldest Imperial Son, our Jing City has become busier as well," A dumpling vendor chuckled as he wrapped the dumplings in lotus leaves and handed them to the customer in front of him, "We can try to partake in the cheer as well."
Qu Wang Zi had a difficult expression on his face as he stared at the cabbage stuffed buns in his hand. He turned to look at the distant stallion, asking in befuddlement: "That road seems to be Zhong Yi Gong Fu?"
"Yup. The Duke of Zhong Yi is a good official, and also the paternal family of the Empress. For the palace to bestow something to Zhong Yi Gong Fu, isn't that very normal?" The owner placed the prepared buns into the steamer basket, lowering his head to look at the fire in the stove, his face proud as he said, "The empress once brought the stewed eggs that my dai jie sold. Right now, many noble personages go to taste my da jie's stewed eggs. They all say that my da jie's stewed eggs are full of flavor. If this guest is interested, then go buy some for a taste." He pointed at the stewed eggs stall opposite the street, his face full of pride.
Qu Wang Zhi twisted his head to look. As expected, many people were crowded around the stall buying eggs. He had seen some of them people, they were the stewards of some noble families.
"Hey, isn't this Young Master Qu?" A youth wearing the uniform of the Dong Shan Academy sitting on a horse looked down at Qu Wang Zhi with a scornful expression, "What lucky day is this that I'm so fortunate to see Young Master personally buying buns?"
The manservant that held the reins for the youth respectfully raised his hands, uttering: "This one greets Young Master Qu."
Qu Wang Zi recognized that this youth was the Duke of Zhong Yi's shumei's son and instantly felt his face burn. He laughed dryly and raised his hands to greet: "Nice to see Young Master Chen."
"I can't receive Young Master Qu's bow," The youth sat straight on the horse, smiling coldly as he declared, "Your fu is such a noble family that it feels even the Empress is lower than them. Us poor little families cannot receive a bow." That year at the Empress' coming of age ceremony, that was how Liang shi had mocked his mother. When his mother had returned home, she had cried over the matter to the point she became sick. If it wasn't that the Emperor had decreed a marriage for biao jie half a month later, his mother would have remained ill for much longer.
He had never met his yimu but heard from his mother say that his yimu had been very caring of her, and never bullied her because his mother was a shu daughter. So even though it had been a few decades, his mother still sighed when she mentioned yimu.
Thinking about the family of Chang De Gong Fu, he felt slightly disgusted. At the very least, they were a ducal family but they acted worse than any common family. And this Young Master Qu always carried himself arrogantly in the past at the Dong Shan Academy. Every time they met, his nose was pointed at the heavens. Seeing Qu Wang Zhi's lackluster state, he felt it was karma.
"Young Master Chen is joking," Qu Wang Zhi couldn't even force out a smile. He even felt that the eyes of the surrounding vendors become strange as they looked at him. That made him, who was very attentive to his honor, almost not able to stay up. He made a messy bow, "This one still has other matters, and will go first. Young Master Chen, do whatever you want."
Squeezing out of the crowd that had been spectating, he didn't even realize that the buns in his hand had been crushed flat by his hands. His steps grew faster and by the end he was sprinting. Only when no one was looking at him anymore did he find a store selling medicine as he panted. He brought a packet of medicine and then slowly made his way outside the city.
After his father was especially pardoned, because it had been cold in the jail, his knees had worsened. Now, he could only lay in bed all day. Because his jiejie had died, his mother cried all day. His grandmother couldn't endure it and passed away not long ago. The funeral had been done by erjie who gave the silver. Thinking about the mutually-blaming father and mother, he wanted to turn and leave, and never return to the old village house.
"You don't have any right to blame me. That year, it was you that begged for me to marry to the fu. You couldn't teach your daughter properly and blame me for neglecting her, why don't you think of what you did before?!"
"You evil woman. That year, I shouldn't have married you. If it wasn't for you, I would be the Emperor's father-in-law, it's all because of you …"
Hearing the sounds of arguing inside the house, Qu Wang Zhi showed a fed up expression. In the end, he put the buns and the medicine at the doorway, then turned and left the noisy place.
In the rear hall of Tian Qi Palace, Qu Qing Ju finally came out of the confinement. She took a refreshing bath and changed into a beautiful silk dress before sitting at the bed to slowly wave a fan at the deeply asleep son. In the end, she couldn't resist kissing her son's mouth.
Mu Jin saw the Empress' actions and she smiled. Walking next to the bed to look at the imperial son who fisted his hands in sleep, she informed in a small voice: "Niangniang, Heng fei niangniang has come to pay respects."
"Heng fei has come?" Qu Qing Ju moved her gaze away from her son. After ordering the nursemaid to keep a watch over the imperial son, she stood, ordering, "Let's go and see her"
Jiang Yong Yu had been drinking tea as she sat on a chair. Seeing Qu Qing Ju come out, she immediately put down the teacup and rose to give her a greeting.
"Heng fei doesn't have to be so courteous," Qu Qing Ju smiled as she sat down at the front, "Please sit. Now that it's the sixth month, it's so hot. Why did you come over?"
"Pinqie has nothing to do usually, and made some clothing for His Highness, just not sure if they fit," Jiang Yong Yu took a stack of infant clothing from Ai Lu's hands, "Hope that Empress doesn't dislike pinqie's handiwork."
Qu Qing Ju took over the clothing for a look. She sighed in admiration: "Heng fei's skills are so exquisite. What ben gong makes cannot compare to you." She indicated for Mu Jin to put the clothing away, "It must have been great trouble for you to make such eye-straining things in this heat."
Jiang Yong Yu hurriedly responded: "Just some children's things, it doesn't take much effort. Saying something inappropriate here, pinqie has liked His Highness at first sight. Pinqie is happy to make clothing for His Highness."
"Then in the future, da imperial son's clothing will have to trouble his shu mother," Qu Qing Ju's face was happy, "Then ben gong will be much more idle."
Jiang Yong Yu's smile grew wider when she heard Qu Qing Ju's words. But she was very aware of her boundaries and knew that the Emperor might come over at this time. She stood to bid farewell. Her intention was to follow the Empress to live her life. If she met the Emperor, then what would that be?
Mu Jin saw Heng fei off and then, with the other servants, inspected the clothing that Heng fei brought one by one. She concluded: "The materials are the best, and there's nothing wrong with them."
"En," Qu Qing Ju wasn't surprised. She knew that a person like Jiang Yong Yu definitely wouldn't do something disadvantageous to others and to her. She randomly picked up one of the undergarments. The material used was fine satin, smooth and fine to the touch. Even if it was worn in the summer heat, it would feel cool. It was most likely that Heng fei had used the best fabric she had to make these things. Touching the tiger embroidered on the undergarment, she smiled, remarking, "After His Highness takes a bath, put this on him."
Mu Jin hesitated for a second before asking: "Niangniang, why do you treat Heng fei so well?"
"She has never harmed me, and expressed goodwill to me. I won't make it difficult for her," Qu Qing Ju looked at the pile of baby clothes. She didn't know how long it would take to make these clothes that even the threads were cut clean, "We're all women, I don't have to make life difficult for her."
Mu Jin pondered and then understood what the Empress was thinking. Thinking about the usual conduct of Heng fei, she asked in puzzlement: "Heng fei didn't try to take advantage of the opportunity to catch the attention of the Emperor, it's such a surprise."
"She knows what she wants," Qu Qing Ju put down the undergarment in her hand, smiling, "she's a smart person so that's why I dare to treat her so."
When He Heng walked into the inner room of the rear hall of Tian Qi Palace, he saw Qing Ju fiddling with a pile of baby clothes. He walked in front of her and picked up a small shirt, "The bat embroidered on here isn't bad."
"En, Heng fei embroidered it," Qu Qing Ju looked at him, "These clothes are all made well."
Putting down the shirt in his hand, He Heng turned to ask, "Huang'er is still sleeping?"
"Slept for two hours, he might wake soon," Qu Qing Ju pulled him over to the bed to look at her son. Pointing at the askew limbs of her son, she commented, "Like a pig."
"My son sleeps so aggressively," He Heng gave a satisfied smile as he examined his son from head to toe. Along the way, he pulled up the silk blanket on his son's stomach, "Looking at his posture, why don't we name him Tun'er ,[i] a base name makes it easier to raise."
When Qu Qing Ju heard the name, the first she thought about were the cute animals like dolphins and blowfish .[ii] She looked again at the round tummy that was pushing on the silk blanket. He seemed more like a piglet.
"You don't like it?" He Heng saw her face full of doubt and thought she wasn't happy. He pointed to his son's stomach: "Look at that stomach, it's like a pig."
So Tun meant pig. She laughed dryly: "Tun Tun is good, I like it."
Maybe that he was disturbed by his unreliable parents, Tun Tun pouted as he opened his eyes. Smelling the fragrance of his mother, he moaned a few times but didn't cry. Just as He Heng went to lift him, a stream of infant urine landed on He Heng's robes.
The nursemaid on the side was so scared her face changed. But Qu Qing Ju roared with laughter as she pointed at He Heng's dripping robes, "Emperor is very lucky. An infant's urine is good stuff, it can ward off evil. This year, our Da Long will have a good year of good weather."
Tun Tun groaned on his father's body as though he agreed with what his mother said. He Heng helplessly rubbed his son's butt once before handing the child to the nursemaid and let them leave for his son to nurse. Turning, he went to sit down next to Qu Qing Ju.
"Don't come over, you're damp," Qu Qing Ju held a hand out to block but she was pinned down by He Heng on the bed and rubbed against.
"It can't be just me alone that enjoys our infant son's urine. Qing Ju should also ward off spirits," He Heng pinned the other under him, reaching to touch the waist that had recovered very well, "They all say that after a woman gives birth, the waist becomes thick. How come Qing Ju's waist is still so soft?" As he spoke, he placed a kiss on Qu Qing Ju's face.
Qu Qing Ju reached to touch his ticklish spot, but her hand was caught in his. His other hand took advantage of the opportunity and sneaked inside her clothes.
Standing outside, Mu Jin, Qian Chang Xin and the others heard the laughter of the two zhuzi as they played around. They indicated for the people waiting outside to retreat to the outer doors and then dropped their heads to stare on the patterns of the floorboards.
More than an hour later, the Emperor and Empress finally came out. Both had changed, and their moods were pretty good.
Qian Chang Xin and the others quickly served the noon meal up. He looked the Emperor's eagerly attentive state as he personally served the Empress. He thought on the inside, the da ren of the court, would any of them ever think that the Emperor could act like this?
Looking at the Empress that had no qualms about accepting the Emperor's service, he thought that it was hard to find a woman who could treat the Emperor like a normal person. The Empress was also rare in the world.
As the sun set in the west, Yu Ping palace was a flurry of activity. The Emperor and Empress had bestowed down many good things which caused the entire palace to be enveloped in good cheer.
Jiang Yong Yu looked at the valuable objects and smiled as she rewarded some to her servants. Then she let Ai Lu put everything away in her personal stores, her anxious heart finally settled down.
It looked like that the Empress really had accepted her. In the future, it meant that she would have a steady support.
"Didn't think that the Emperor would also bestow so much," Ai Lu said happily, "It seems that the Emperor still has zhuzi in his heart."
"Stupid girl, the Emperor is rewarding me for being tactful," The corner of Jiang Yong Yu's lips went up, "Don't think about those useless things, serve the evening meal now."
Today, the Emperor had gone as far as to send down a decree to let her have her own small kitchen. That represented that she had really become the mistress of a palace.
It didn't matter if it was fated to not compete for the favor of the Emperor, it was better to compete for the favor of the Empress. The days were idle and secure, so why not?
[i]豚 (tun): suckling pig
[ii] Dolphin in Chinese is海豚 (sea pig) and blowfish is 河豚 (river pig)
Chapter One Hundred and Nine The Question of Trust
Qu Qing Ju's recent days were extremely carefree. Everyday, she played with her son and ate delicious food. Her days were both easy and comfortable.
Today, when He Heng came to the rear hall, he saw his son wearing underwear as he struggled to wave his limbs on the bed, his neck toiling to raise itself up slightly before heavily falling down. It caused his mother to laugh out loud.
"What is this?" He Heng sat down at the edge of the bed, watching his son move his limbs like a turtle. The result was that he didn't move an inch. But he didn't throw a tantrum, only resolutely pushing his legs.
"Nothing, just letting him exercise his legs and neck," Qu Qing Ju proficiently flipped her son around, dealing a slap on his butt. Seeing him smile widely at her, she bend down to kiss his cheek. Taking a talcum powder box from Mu Jin's hands, she started to dust the powder to prevent rashes.
"The nursemaids can do this," He Heng poked his son's arms that were like lotus roots, "This brat does have a good temper."
"My son takes after me," Qu Qing Ju pulled out Tun Tun's arms to powder in his armpits, "I can do these things. If I don't care for my one son, why did I give birth to him?"
He Heng felt slightly upset for a bit. He looked with a complicated expression at the grinning fat infant on the bed and for a second, felt that his place in Qing Ju's heart wouldn't even compare to half a finger of his son," Tomorrow is Tun Tun's Hundred Day Ceremony. Do you have anything to add to the schedule I gave to you earlier?"
"It's pretty good," Qu Qing Ju carried Tun Tun into the arms of his nursemaid for her to bring him down to eat. After the nursemaid and others left, she commented, "But isn't it too grand? It's just supposed to just be a hundred day ceremony…"
"He's the Imperial Eldest Son. His status is noble, there's nothing wrong with grand," He Heng understood Qu Qing Ju's misgiving. He gathered the other into his arms, "After our other children are born, we'll make it slightly less than their brother."
"Alright," Qu Qing Ju smiled. She didn't seriously considered the vow-like words He Heng said. She knew that his words were sincere now, but it didn't mean that she would believe the words would always be effective.
The time for the Hundred Day Ceremony of the Eldest Imperial Son had been chosen by the Imperial Astronomers, based on the birthdate characters of the Eldest Imperial Son and the celestial stars of the day. They had even examined the furnishings in the Luan He Hall to guarantee which time was the best time of the day and the most advantageous for the Eldest Imperial Son.
Qu Qing Ju wasn't very knowledgeable about that kind of complicated matters, but from the preparation of Tun Tun's Hundred Day Ceremony, it showed how much importance He Heng placed on the ceremony.
Personally putting her son into the "hundred day" clothes that the Empress Dowager had personally made for Tun Tun, she had heard that the cloth for this clothing had been sought by the Empress Dowager from many prosperous and healthy families. On closer look, it seemed that even the thread had come from more than a hundred families.
Touching the gourd peanuts and other designs embroidered on the hundred day clothes, Qu Qing Ju bent to lift up the still asleep Tun Tun, "Go, to Luan He Hall."
Luan He Hall was the place used by the court only to hold large banquets, such as the coronation of an empress, or the crown prince. To use such a place for holding a Hundred Day Ceremony, it was enough to prove Tun Tun's position.
In Luan He Hall, the people who should have arrived came. Everyone looked towards the entrance as they waited for the Empress to appear with the Eldest Imperial Son. But due to the fact that the Emperor and the two Empress Dowagers were present, their moves were very subtle.
When it was almost at the auspicious time, the guests finally heard the sound of the taijian making the announcement.
"Presenting the Empress, His Highness Imperial Son."
The people rose and then knelt. What they then saw was a procession walk past on the red carpet, the pair of gold slippers walking at the front, embroidered with phoenixes in flight, were astoundingly magnificent.
"Rise!"
Everyone then stood and then saw the Empress carrying His Highness Imperial Son sit down on the right side of the Emperor. She was wearing a heavy phoenix robe, her eyes bright, she was unspeakably beautiful.
Some people said after a woman gave birth, she then becomes a dried plum, sour and bland. But how the Empress looked, did she look as though she just gave birth?
Some people started to sigh. No wonder the Emperor was so infatuated. This kind of woman, placed in any home, was the kind to draw a man's affections.
The Hundred Day Ceremony really wasn't a complicated event. Since the child was still so young, who would invent a large heap of rituals to torture the child?
It was just the Emperor and Empress personally praying to the heavens for the child, and then personally putting on a "long life" lock and bracelet, to represent locking down the child's life expectancy and good fortune. Then it was the two Empress Dowagers putting on the tiger shoes and tiger hat for the child and touching the top of the child's head to represent the good wishes of the elders for the child. That was the end of it.
After the process, Tun Tun was carried down by the nursemaid. The two Empress Dowagers also left with them, leaving He Heng and Qu Qing Ju to partake in the banquet with the other people.
The names of the dishes on the banquet were all ones that were auspicious and good-sounding. The taste came second. But everyone still managed to decipher the significance placed by the Emperor on the Empress and the Eldest Imperial Son from the banquet.
No one dared to force the Emperor to drink, but they gave many compliments about the Eldest Imperial Son to the Emperor and Empress. This caused He Heng to feel good and he couldn't resist drinking a few more cups.
Qu Qing Ju saw his state and was worried that he would get drunk. She got him to drink some soup to suppress the drunkenness, but after seeing how happy He Heng was, she felt that the soup wasn't effective.
"Chen di toasts the Emperor, and wishes for Emperor and Empress to grow old together, and His Highness Imperial Son to be healthy and fortunate," Just as the banquet was coming to an end, He Yuan raised a wine cup as he stood and said to He Heng, "Chen di will drink first."
He Heng looked at He Yuan who had his cup raised high up, and raised up his own wine cup as he slowly stood, giving a small smile as he replied: "Many thanks san di."
The brothers gave each other a smile, and threw their heads back to drink all of the wine.
Qu Qing Ju watched the two people and found that there wasn't much mirth on either of their faces. She looked at the others sitting down under her. There was a height of nine stairs that separated her from the rest of the people and the gap between their places was even further.
As expected, He Heng was somewhat drunk after the banquet. Although his actions were no different from normal, but from his eyes and the tone of his voice, Qu Qing Ju detected that the other wasn't clear-minded.
"Return to the rear hall," When He Heng pulled Qu Qing Ju onto the Imperial Carriage, he didn't forget to order Qian Chang Xin, "Make sure the nursemaid takes good care of the imperial son."
The Imperial Carriage wasn't fast or slow but moved at a very steady pace. Qu Qing Ju could only feel a slight sway. She gazed at the person next to her as she raised two fingers: "Emperor, how many?"
He Heng enclosed the two fingers she raised in his hand, smiling as he responded: "I'm not drunk, don't worry."
The palm of the other's hand was slightly hot. Qu Qing Ju reached to touch his forehead, smiling helplessly as she said: "That's good," No drunk would say that he was drunk, just like those who committed many mistakes wouldn't admit that they were wrong.
"You don't believe me?" He Heng raised his head to look at her, his eyes bright. With a hint of poutiness and discontent, he added, "You always don't believe me."
"I believe you," Qu Qing Ju saw his pout and smiled, reassuring, "You aren't drunk, I didn't say that I didn't believe you, right?"
"Many times, you don't believe me," He Heng leaned his head on Qu Qing Ju's chest, "I said that I would always treat you well, you didn't believe; I said that I will only have you from now, you also didn't believe; I said that in the future, I will only have you to have my children, you still doubt me. Why can't you believe me?"
The hand that Qu Qing Ju had been running down He Heng's back slightly stilled. She looked down at the man complaining to her, smiling gently a second later, declared: "Emperor, you think too much."
"I didn't think too much, I know very well," Both of He Heng's arms wrapped around her waist, tightly embracing her, "We still have decades in the future. One day, you will believe zhen's words."
His voice was already somewhat indistinct. Qu Qing Ju knew he was going to enter sleep soon. Like she comforted Tun Tun, she gently patted his back, murmuring: "There isn't trust that has no reason. If Emperor wants me to believe, then always treat me well. Only time will tell."
The man in her arms mumbled something Qu Qing Ju didn't manage to catch. She only patted the man's back, her expression calm and serene.
Outside the Imperial Carriage, Qian Chang Xin and Ming He didn't seem to have heard the noise from inside. The two didn't even exchange looks but the expression on their faces became much more solemn.
The eighth month was still hot. After He Heng was supported to the bed so he could sleep, Qu Qing Ju got the servants to move away the two ice basins in the room. Drunkenness and too much cold, it was a recipe for pain after waking up.
Taking the handkerchief that Mu Jin handed over to personally wipe He Heng's face and hands, Qu Qing Ju said, "Let someone prepare the sobering tea. If the Emperor wakes up, he needs to drink it."
Yin Liu soundlessly went out. The others also detected that the Empress seemed amiss, but they didn't know what had happened. But no one dared to needlessly ask, putting more care as they served.
When He Heng woke, the sun was setting. He rubbed his aching head as he sat up in the bed. From a look, he recognized that it was Qu Qing Ju's bedroom. After thinking for a long while, he still couldn't recall how he had laid down on the bed.
"Emperor's awake?" A blue and white teacup was held in front of him, "Drink the sobering tea."
He raised his head to look at Qu Qing Ju. The sun's rays pierced through the window to spill onto her body. Due to the backlighting, he couldn't make out the expression of her face, but he was strangely confident that the other was smiling now.
Maybe it was that confidence that had him obediently take the teacup and drain down the entire cup of nasty-tasting sobering tea. After that, he rubbed his throat, asking: "It's already this late?"
"Yes, you drank a bit too much at the banquet," Qu Qing Ju took the empty cup from his hand, "I got the kitchen to prepare some light dishes. Come up and eat some."
He Heng dressed into his robes. He still felt this head was dizzy. He furrowed his brows as he looked around the room, discontentedly barking: "Where did all the servants go? How can they let you stay in the room alone?"
"You don't count as a person?" Qu Qing Ju glared at him, "You were in a deep sleep so I made them all leave, rather than have them disturb you."
He Heng became refreshed once Qu Qing Ju glared at him. Then he thought suspiciously, something wasn't right, were Qing Ju's eyes, as they looked at him, slightly warmer?
Was it that he still wasn't completely awake or did he wake up the wrong way?
Chapter One Hundred and Ten Dance
The scorching summer gradually dissipated. The various zhuzhi in the palace took off their silk clothes, threw away the fans in their hands, their hairpins changed from jade to other types. There were some palace maids that thought to attract the Emperor and put effort into their clothing and ornaments. But as they still had to adhere to the protocols of the palace, they had to put even more effort in. It was a pity that the Emperor's entire heart was on the Empress' body, and no one was able to attract the Emperor's attentions.
Kui Yuan Palace had finished its renovation. The night luminous pearls encrusted in the room had been completely taken off because of the His Highness Imperial Son. Beautiful glass lanterns were put in their place. The whole endeavor had only been due to a careless remark of a certain official of the Ministry of Works who said that it was possible that night luminous pearls were harmful to the body.
Everyone knew that night luminous pearls were rare objects. Many people didn't understand why the Empress didn't use them, so very quickly on the outside many people praised the Empress for being thrifty. Such a beautiful misunderstanding. He Heng felt that he should let it stay beautiful forever.
Even though people knew that the Empress was living in Tian Qi Palace which was slightly inappropriate but the Emperor had said before that the new renovation of Kui Yuan Palace wasn't good for newborns. Since it had already passed the sixth month, the good moving day was in the second month of the next year. So in the end, the day that the Empress was to move to Kui Yuan Palace was finalized on the twenty second of the second year of Jia You.
Since the Emperor himself had already made the decision, there wasn't anyone at court blind enough to argue. Either way, with how strong the love with between Emperor and Empress, they, as outsiders, would stir dislike from the Emperor if they meddled. Furthermore, the Empress Dowagers didn't object, so why would they care?
Qu Qing Ju occasionally would hear some of the rumors from the outside about her. Most of them were about her goddess-like beauty, her generosity, frugalness, and love for the people. Even though she felt that the Empress in the rumors didn't have much of a relation to her, but she knew inside that behind the rumors was He Heng's manipulations in the shadows.
She reaped the benefits of He Heng using such tactics to protect her so she didn't bear to tear down his stage. Occasionally she would use the position of the Empress to reward some of the kind and famous women in the Da Long Dynasty. In the ninth month, after her birthday, she even personally rewarded a twice-married woman that saved a few children in a great fire.
This woman, because of her second marriage, had been the subject of gossip in the village. But after the handkerchief that Qu Qing Ju had embroidered with "As brave as any man", she became the most respected matron in the entire county. No one looked down at her again because she had married twice, but became courteous.
Qu Qing Ju never once thought that she had the power to promote change in history, but she wanted to do the things she could. In this world, if a man had a wife and many concubines, he would be praised as romantic, but why couldn't they tolerate a remarried woman?
Certain scholars in Da Long Dynasty though it was a duty of a woman to not marry twice, but the act of the woman who saved others couldn't be erased. Therefore, not many people jumped out to criticize the Empress' actions as being inappropriate. Even more, what the Empress praised was the woman's act of saving others, not praising her for remarrying. It wouldn't be appropriate for them to object.
So this matter calmly passed away. Qu Qing Ju still acted at the mistress of the hougong. When bored, she would listen to songs, listen to interesting matters outside of court before picking one or two to praise and reward some things down, then play with her son. Her days were very comfortable.
After the Empress Dowager's and Qu Qing Ju's birthdays had passed, it was He Heng's birthday celebration. Because it was the first birthday after He Heng ascended the throne, even if they wished for the birthday celebration to not be grand, it would still become grand.
Disregarding the noble families and officials of the country of Da Long itself, even those small subordinate countries on the borders would send envoys to congratulate the new Emperor and attend his birthday celebration to express their respect and sincerity to the new Emperor.
Since Da Long Dynasty was a strong country, there were many small subordinate countries that relied on Da Long. Qu Qing Ju looked through the tribute that those subordinate countries had sent up to Da Long over the years and instantly felt that Da Long was very awesome.
Something that Qu Qing Ju found interesting was a small subordinate country called Jing. The present ruler of this country was a female one, and the ones coming to give the tribute this time to Da Long were her son and daughter. The reason that she sent both was that she wanted He Heng to decree one of them as the successor to the throne and through her attitude, express the loyalty of the country of Jing to Da Long.
This feeling of the world coming to rest at Da Long's feet really made people feel refreshed all over.
He Heng returned to the rear hall and saw that Qu Qing Ju was still looking at the information of the subordinate countries. When he took a closer took, he found that what she was reading explained some of the customs of the country of Jing. Then he asked: "What's so special about this Jing?"
Qu Qing Ju fanned the papers in her hands: "I heard that Jing's Hou Guo[i] Princess is amazingly beautiful. Coming to Da Long this time, I wonder how many men would she enchant."
"That's just the Jing people's own opinion," He Heng's tone was slightly disapproving, "Jing's territory is high up, so the majority of people's skin are dark colored, so how beautiful could they be? Compared to our Da Long's females, they must be severely lacking. It's all just unfounded rumors to deceive ignorant people."
The corners of Qu Qing Ju's lips jerked. It did seem like that the males of the Da Long Dynasty did prefer women with white and soft skin. So He Heng's attitude, it really … was normal.
"What, you don't like this princess?" He Heng assumed that Qu Qing Ju was worried that he would have an interest in that Jing Country princess and assured, "Don't worry, I have no interest in other women. Even more, this Hou Guo Princess wants to be empress, not our Da Long's feipin."
Qu Qing Ju placed the information on Jing Country to aside and snorted: "Emperor, you're thinking too much."
"En, I was thinking too much, don't be angry." He Heng laughed lightly, holding up another stack of information, "You don't need to waste too much effort on these subordinate countries. Like this Duo Han. A hundred years ago, they frequently robbed and killed our people at the northern border of Da Long. In the end, they were soundly defeated by our Da Long. They got scared and then obediently gave their allegiance.
If they were not obedient, they would get beaten up?
Qu Qing Ju finally realized the attitude Da Long held towards those subordinate countries. The main idea was 'be docile for me, listen to what I say, or I'll beat you up, down into the ground'.
"I was just reading through because I was bored," Qu Qing Ju massaged the back of her neck, "Our Da Long is so strong."
He Heng smiled: "Falling behind means getting beaten up, that was the lesson that the previous dynasty taught us," He Heng reached out a hand to gently massage her neck, "However, has Qing Ju forgotten something that was promised to me?"
"What?" Qu Qing Ju raised an eyebrow. She thought that her recent memory was pretty good and hadn't diminished due to her pregnancy.
"For example … you once said you would dance for me," He Heng reached to grasp that soft waist, "I often wonder what Qing Ju's dancing is like."
"I said that it depended on your performance," Qu Qing Ju smiled, Seeing He Heng's let down expression, she smiled, conceding, "Alright, looking at your good behavior recently, I'll let you see three days later. Wait for ben gong."
He Heng saw that her eyes were suddenly lit up, and his disappointment all dissolved into a smile, "Thanks, Empress for her grace."
"What is this?" In the evening, Mu Jin saw a palace maid come out with a stack of paper that had ink on it, and became worried that this palace maid was taking out something she shouldn't have. She reached to take the papers and casually scanned. Seeing something about the Hou Guo Princess was beautiful and skilled in dancing, her brow furrowed as she asked, "Who let you clean this up?"
"Mu Jin jiejie, it was niangniang who let nubi clean up," The palace maid submissively answered.
Mu Jin saw that the palace maid was quite young and seemed quick-witted so she ripped what was in her hands and rolled it into a ball, "Go and burn it, it's nothing useful." No matter what it was, as long as it was something that came from niangniang's place, she always likes for the others to clean it completely.
"Yes," The young palace maid took over the paper ball and carefully held it in her hands as she left, clearly in a rush to burn it.
"Still too inexperienced." Mu Jin sighed. Clever, yes. But her actions were still immature. She still needed more training.
Entering the room, she saw the Empress was practicing a back bend. She was accustomed to it and went forward, asking: "Niangniang, nubi and Jin Zhan has already picked the fabrics. Jin Zhan's skills are better than nubi so the clothes will be made by her and Yu Zan. Nubi has also prepared what you ask for. Do you want to see?"
"I'm confident in your abilities, there's no need to make trouble," Qu Qing Ju smiled as she replied," You just have to finish decorating the western hall before tomorrow night according to what I ordered."
"Nubi knows," Mu Jin didn't ask why the Empress was preparing those things. As a servant, she was very clear to her position, and knew what to say or not say.
Qu Qing Ju returned to standing but didn't immediately sit down, only wiping the sweat from her eyes as she ordered: "Send some water in, I want to bathe."
After Mu Jin retreated, Qu Qing Ju walked to the window to look at the parasol tree. She sighed. It had been almost two months since that time that He Heng was drunk. Everytime she thought about He Heng's discontent and sorrowful expression, she felt that she might have been too ruthless with He Heng.
But she always was mind over heart. To lose her mind when interacting with a man, that wasn't her style. What she could do was when the other treated her well, she would treat the other well; if the other had no feelings, then she wouldn't offer herself. If a person disappeared from the world, the sun would still rise.
The nights in autumn were cold, but the moon was exceptionally bright. When He Heng finished attending to state matters, he rushed to the rear palace. He still remembered that dance that Qu Qing Ju had promised him. The result was that when he reached the rear hall, he found it empty, even Qu Qing Ju's shadow wasn't seen.
"Emperor, Empress invites you to the western hall of Kui Yuan Palace," Yin Liu was holding a lantern as she bowed at the doorway, "Please."
He Heng didn't get irritated and was in a good mood as he followed Yin Liu. The rear hall wasn't far from Kui Yuan Palace. But what He Heng found unexpected was how exceptionally dark the road was. The only brightness came from the lantern that Yin Liu held. On the lantern was drawn a woman wearing red, flying in the air.
When he reached Kui Yuan Palace, He Heng saw the tightly closed western hall was lit up brightly. At the door, there were two palace maids standing guard. Other than that, he couldn't see anything else.
Qian Chang Xin and the others that had followed after He Heng were curious. What was the Empress up to that was so mysterious?
"Emperor, please." Yin Liu smiled as she ushered the other towards the western hall and then turned back to look at Qian Chang Xin and the others waiting behind.
"You all can wait outside. Other than zhen's decree, you are not allowed to enter," He Heng waved his hands, indicating he didn't need Yin Liu to lead him and headed straight for the doors to the hall. Seeing the two palace maids at the door bow to him before leaving, the curiosity in his heart grew. What kind of dance would the Empress perform for him?
He took a breath and reached to slowly push open the doors to the hall. He only saw that the silk curtains flying in the steam and heat as though it was a paradise. But that wasn't the most attractive thing. The one thing that caught his attention was, on the waters with countless lotus lamps floating in the white jade pool, there was a large flower stage, and in the center of the flower stage, there laid a beauty dressed in an indigo and red dress.
[i]护 国: 护 (hou) protect 国(guo) country