Chapter 257: Part 2

Princess Taihua, who had been playing in a side hall, was brought over. A rosy-cheeked little girl, she looked over curiously. Her features were the spitting image of the Empress’s in her youth, a sight that greatly pleased Madam Chu. After they chatted for a while, Princess Taihua was led away. Only then did the Empress say, “Though she is a princess… the Imperial Physician said that with my health, I’m afraid I won’t be able to conceive a second child. I’m useless.”

“Who can say for sure when it comes to having children? Her Highness is wonderful, and she looks so much like you. How could I not adore her? You shouldn’t say such things again.”

Madam Chu paused, then said slowly, “I’m sure your father feels the same way. He’s always doted on you the most.”

Hearing this, a faint smile graced the Empress’s lips. She began to speak of happier things. “Taihua gets along very well with her two older brothers. Xie Zhao is especially attentive to her, and she is also dearly loved by the Emperor.”

Her long lashes intertwined, veiling the light in her eyes.

“Since entering the palace, I’ve had my share of happy moments, but many unhappy ones too. Most of the time, I’m neither happy nor sad. I only fear letting my family down, fear disappointing my parents,” the Empress said, her expression serene. “Now that I am a mother myself, I have no other extravagant wishes. I only hope for my daughter to grow up safe and sound. Mother, did you feel the same?”

Tears welled in Madam Chu’s eyes as she nodded forcefully.

—————–

After escorting Madam Chu out of the palace, the Empress removed her makeup, let down her hair, and lay down to rest. Having seen her mother, many of her worries were put to ease, and for once, she enjoyed a long afternoon nap.

When she awoke, the Empress instructed Fu Jin, “Go and invite the Emperor to Jianzhang Palace for the evening meal.”

There was still some time before the evening meal, yet the Emperor arrived within half an hour. It was clear that he had set out for Jianzhang Palace the moment Fu Jin arrived at Qiankun Palace.

“I see your color has improved, Empress,” the Emperor said. But upon closer inspection, he noticed the faint traces of tears in her eyes. He frowned and turned to Fu Jin. “Who did the Empress see today?”

Fu Jin did not dare to conceal anything and immediately answered truthfully.

Visits from a noblewoman to the harem were trivial matters in the Emperor’s eyes; he never asked about them, nor did anyone bother to report them to him. He wracked his brain for a moment. ‘Did something happen to the Chu Family? No…’ “If someone has upset you, Empress, then you need not see them again. If it is inconvenient for you to say so, just say that I forbid it.”

Hearing this, Fu Jin couldn’t help but feel a small sense of relief.

‘No matter how favored the Pure Consort is, the Emperor always values the Empress. His first thought is to back her up. He’s just not very good at comforting people. The Emperor has the most straightforward way of thinking: it’s best if there are no problems, but if there is one, don’t hide it—just say it and solve it.’

‘The ancients placed great importance on filial piety. No matter how difficult parents were, for a child to refuse to see them was a serious offense. Even for a noble as the Empress, such an act would invite criticism. At the same time, a married woman was to obey her husband, and the Emperor’s authority superseded a father’s. If her husband, the Emperor, forbade her from seeing her family, she could then be “forced” to comply, avoiding any moral blackmail. He would be the one to play the villain.’

‘After all, the last concubine who was too close with her mother’s family had them all wiped out in one fell swoop.’

‘A few more incidents like that, and it would be time to start purging the imperial in-laws.’

“Your Majesty misunderstands. I was merely overcome with emotion and shed a few tears after seeing my mother, something I rarely have the chance to do,” the Empress said, unable to suppress a small smile.

“Oh,” the Emperor said, sitting down with an imposing air and taking two sips of tea. “What was there to be so sad about? If you’re homesick, Empress, a formal visit home is out of the question, but you can certainly summon her to the palace more often to talk and relieve your boredom. Whether a noblewoman can enter or not is entirely up to you.”

The status and palace authority that the Six Palace Concubines pursued came with endless benefits.

One such benefit was being able to send messages or meet with one’s family without having to mind the expressions of others. The Empress chuckled at his words. “The Imperial Physician has been advising me to rest and recuperate. I always felt I couldn’t set aside or avoid palace affairs, but now that I think about it, rather than having everyone worry about my fluctuating health, it might be better to entrust all palace duties to someone reliable. I should focus on properly recovering. Perhaps then my health will return.”

Surprise flickered across the Emperor’s face upon hearing this, but he quickly understood.

They had been husband and wife since their youth, partners before his ascension to the throne; they knew each other’s temperaments all too well. The Empress was simply not the type to hoard power or jockey for position. The only reason she had insisted on personally managing every major festival and ceremony despite being plagued by illness since the birth of Princess Taihua was because she feared outsiders would perceive her position as Empress to be unstable, which would in turn affect her family.

The Emperor understood her sense of responsibility toward her maternal family and had never criticized her for it or accused her of clinging to power.

If the Empress had truly been given a choice, she would have retreated behind the scenes long ago.