For Zhao Donglin, this day was both joyful and busy. He awoke in the morning to find the Empress nestled in his arms, her delicate, flower-like face pressed close. He bent down to kiss her nose, brushed against her smooth cheek, and rested his hand on her soft, slender waist. Recalling the bliss of last night, his heart swelled with intense emotion. As he had said, he truly adored her, words could never capture the depth of his feelings. All he wished for was to spend a lifetime together, side by side.
He lingered in bed, staring at her for a long while. Outside, Feng Tianbao came by two or three times but did not dare disturb the Emperor’s peaceful rest. Meanwhile, the morning court session would not wait, leaving Zhao Donglin a little troubled. He did not remain worried for long. Rising lightly, he leapt from the bed, dressed, and lifted the curtain to give instructions: “Let the Empress continue sleeping. Serve her meal when she wakes.” The palace attendants nodded. As he walked to wash up, he added, “After breakfast, have the Empress come to the administrative office to see me. Don’t forget.”
The Emperor and Empress shared such deep affection that even a brief separation felt intolerable, and he deliberately reminded for her to visit him. The attendants chuckled quietly, moving briskly, knowing this was when the Emperor was at his happiest. Even if a small mistake occurred in their duties, it would not matter. They only wished for the Emperor to be this joyful every day.
Zhao Donglin’s good mood was well-earned. His recent campaign beyond the border had been highly successful. Among the five thousand men under his command, a few were exceptionally brave and had brought him great honor. He intended to place them in the army; though now they could only serve as low-ranking soldiers, their future prospects were limitless. Jing Wang had grown old, and the second-generation military leaders were mostly indulgent and unfit for real responsibility. When the transitional period came, Zhao Donglin’s men would stand out. As the Empress Dowager had said, “Haste leads to failure, patience brings success”—her words carried truth.
Today, he planned to handle the official matters accumulated during his absence from the capital, reward Tan Ying and others who had accompanied him, and deal with the opportunistic fence-sitters. He had no intention of sweeping everything away, but some of the idle, incompetent officials, the worms of the state, were intolerable. Especially those openly aligned with Jing Wang’s faction. It was one thing that Uncle Jing Wang thought him presumptuous for benefiting from others’ work; those behind merely paraded themselves, picking up crumbs of merit and engaging in factional strife without caution. They should understand that any wrong move could lead to total failure.
Zhao Donglin had a plan. He could not force Uncle Jing Wang into rebellion. Some older ministers suggested “capture the prince first, then the thieves,” claiming that taking Jing Wang directly was more effective than delaying tactics. But he agreed with the Empress: the world had few truly evil people; most were just fence-sitters. Slowly eroding the power of Jing Wang’s faction without bloodshed was ideal. This approach suited Jing Wang’s nature: methodical, slow, and cautious, not daring like the former regent, who had the courage and strategy to imprison the Emperor himself.
After all, Jing Wang was a meritorious contributor to the dynasty; Zhao Donglin did not wish for history to remember him as shameless unless absolutely necessary.
Thinking of the Empress, Zhao Donglin realized it was already late morning. Despite dealing with official matters for hours, she had yet to arrive. Holding a brush mid-signature, he glanced toward the hall doors. Sunlight poured over the polished marble, the palace utterly silent. Feng Tianbao, standing nearby, saw the Emperor’s restlessness and wisely said, “The Empress just finished her meal a short while ago. She went to see the Empress Dowager and will pay respects to Your Majesty shortly.”
Hearing this, Zhao Donglin could not wait. Tossing down his brush, he said, “I haven’t greeted Royal Mother either, let’s go together.” Without hesitation, he strode to the door, Feng Tianbao following with attendants.
The Empress Dowager, elderly and once heavily burdened, was now relieved as everything progressed well. But for someone her age, every winter posed a challenge. The death of Gu Taifei had caused sorrow, and after ten years since the late Emperor’s passing, only a few consorts remained capable of speech. Gu Taifei’s untimely death magnified her dislike for Noble Consort Xu.
Originally, Zhao Donglin, Zhao Jun, and Xu Wan had been childhood friends. Because of Madam Yang, Xu Wan was closer to Zhao Donglin. The commotion caused by Gu Taifei naturally invited suspicion. The Empress Dowager thought: if Noble Consort Xu were truly proper, how could Gu Taifei have made those remarks? The depth of her relationship with Zhao Jun cast doubt, no wonder Gu Taifei clung to it. In truth, this was merely the Empress Dowager’s displaced frustration: she never liked Noble Consort Xu, and Gu Taifei’s death only amplified that dislike.
During these days of convalescence, Noble Consort Xu, like other concubines, was kept away from the court. Fortunately, Princess Yang’a was diligent in visiting Jianjia Palace, or it would have felt utterly desolate.
Zhao Donglin, twenty-one, had only one heir, whose mother was disliked by the Empress Dowager. She naturally fretted. Seeing the Empress, she could not help nagging and advising. Meng Guqing, embarrassed by the rush toward childbearing and the secret pill she had taken, felt apologetic inside.
The Empress Dowager napped leaning against a cushion, a little maid massaging her legs. Slowly, she told the Empress, “You’re young and should focus on this matter. Don’t assume you have plenty of time. Later…” She changed her tone to avoid revealing her own plans: “The late Emperor’s harem had many young beauties, but few could bear children. Such opportunities are rare and must be seized.”
Midway, Zhao Donglin walked straight into this, receiving a reminder from the Empress Dowager. Knowing the young couple were newly married, she refrained from excessive interference, issuing only brief instructions, to which both dutifully responded. Exhausted, she let them leave.
Outside Shoucheng Hall, Zhao Donglin immediately took Meng Guqing’s hand, strolling together. Normally, even with the Emperor and Empress walking, the Empress would lag slightly behind as protocol. But Zhao Donglin never cared and loved holding her hand, interlacing fingers, a gesture recalling last night, their sweaty palms and bodies pressed tightly together. He held her firmly, refusing escape, eyes fully focused. “We just ate; let’s walk a bit. The sun is bright but not hot, and the Imperial Park should be cool and quiet.”
Meng Guqing had intended to return to find him after visiting the Empress Dowager, but he came to her first. “Are you hungry? The Empress Dowager just instructed the imperial kitchen to prepare autumn nourishment—soups, soft foods. Tell me if you want anything else.”
“I’m not hungry yet. Let’s walk first. Before, we were busy training, so I only took you there once. It’s fun. Once I finish handling the pending matters, we’ll visit the Shanglin Palace, just the two of us, no one else.”
Between them, many people and matters always intervened. Whether in heart-to-heart or solitude, it never truly belonged to them. The current joy felt precarious, like a castle in the air. Even with the Empress by his side, his eyes on her, he still felt anxious, a fear of losing her. Zhao Donglin did not want that; he longed to be with her forever.
He rarely opposed the Empress, especially these past days. Meng Guqing had made no special demands, aside from the matter concerning the Xu family, which Princess Yang’a had asked her to manage. Following her lead, Meng Guqing had sent generous gifts to the Xu family. Zhao Donglin, in turn, offered them a substantial reward, a gesture of reassurance. She guessed he still harbored goodwill toward Noble Consort Xu. After years of familiarity, and her refusal to strictly follow the “will,” Zhao Donglin must have felt somewhat relieved. Meng Guqing quietly felt fortunate.
An emperor who was kind and forgiving to his companion was far better than a harsh and merciless one. Even if he eventually disliked her, his character would not force her to a desperate fate. Zhao Donglin treated her well; her Fengyi Palace had become almost ornamental. For half a month, she stayed in Huangji Hall, sharing half his private space, a rare gesture for someone raised amid constant tension. Meng Guqing felt his efforts to draw close, patiently awaiting her heart to open fully. She could not remain unmoved.
That day, their stroll in the Imperial Park was short-lived. Zhao Donglin pulled her slowly toward the gate, noticing her hesitant steps. He stopped and gently asked, “Empress, are you alright? You slept all day, aren’t you rested?”
Fortunately, the palace maids were perceptive and stayed at a distance. Meng Guqing’s face flushed with embarrassment; she wanted to glance at him slyly and tease, “What do you think?” The coquettish tone was too much. She lowered her head, revealing her pink neck and flushed earlobes, whispering, “My legs are sore; I can’t walk anymore.” She did not say how stiff her waist was, or how the traces of last night’s intimacy lingered uncomfortably; she simply wanted to rest.
His face was close, taking in every hint of her flushed beauty, her lips unusually red and moist. He understood instantly and, embarrassed, reflected on being the sole cause of her bloom, feeling both tender and satisfied. He pinched her hand and laughed, “Empress, haven’t you been practicing the Five Animal Exercises in the palace? How are you so weak? I didn’t even satisfy myself last night…”
Meng Guqing’s murderous intent rose. Ignoring rank and protocol, she covered his mouth, glaring as if to warn: say another word, and you’ll be silenced. Zhao Donglin adored this lively side of her, kissing her palm before they returned to the palace to rest.
The next few days were uneventful. Two days later, after bathing, he timidly but eagerly approached her like a youth discovering love. His eyes burned with desire. “Empress, are you well now?” After previous days of impulsiveness, he refrained from mischief, sleeping beneath the covers quietly. Once the restraint was lifted, all his affection became tangible, wishing to be together day after day.
Meng Guqing had long known that he was of a “carnivorous” nature—once or a hundred times made no difference. The only thing she needed to be careful about was that she did not want children, so timing was important. Fortunately, in her previous life, she had been born into a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, giving her a far deeper understanding of such matters than ordinary people. Most of the contraceptive methods and prescriptions she knew were precise and harmless. That particular medicine had been prepared since she married into the palace, though she had assumed she would never have occasion to use it…
As she thought this, the man pressing against her suddenly bumped her heavily, pulling her back from wandering thoughts. Her tear-brimmed eyes blurred with grievance, her cheeks flushed like peach blossoms, which made Zhao Donglin’s body surge with heat. He kissed her impatiently. “Empress, you’re not concentrating…”
At first, she had been focused, even indulged, but he was too vigorous, his advance overwhelming, as if trying to make up for more than a year of absence. Naturally, she could not keep up and retorted, “I’m not… it’s you… making me kneel! It’s tiring…”
“Still making excuses instead of reflecting on your actions? That’s an extra offense, I’ll have to punish you.”
Behind the heavy curtains, faint sobs soon followed, with the storm of his assaults continuing from the first watch into the third.
The next morning, Meng Guqing adamantly refused to stay in the Huangji Hall any longer. He had overstepped his bounds, using his injuries as an excuse to keep her there for half a month. In truth, his injuries were minor; with good food, rest, and top-quality medicine, he had nearly recovered. Yet he shamelessly used it as a reason to have her attend to him, coaxing her to “voluntarily” stay. She saw through his unashamed pretense, packed her things, and moved back to Fengyi Palace.
The Empress had stayed in Huangji Hall for over half a month, a favor even more lavish than what Noble Consort Xu had once received. Historically, the closer one got to the Emperor’s favor, the more others fawned. When Noble Consort Xu had been favored, several members of the Xu family prospered, and a batch of southern officials rose to prominence. Meng Guqing, however, was at a disadvantage; her family was far away. Her father and brother were unfamiliar with southern culture and reluctant to leave home. But it did not matter, she was from the Donghu people, and like the Empress Dowager, she considered her native family. The first to seek her out was Jing Wangfei.
This time, Jing Wangfei brought Madam He’s newborn little princess, a delicate, sparkling child. In the wet nurse’s arms, the girl’s round eyes looked around, and when she noticed Meng Guqing’s jade earrings, she reached out her tiny hands. Light as a feather and drooling, she was lifted into Meng Guqing’s arms.
These past days had been difficult for Jing Wangfei as well. Jing Wang was not in the capital, and the Emperor had been targeted in an assassination attempt. Rumors swirled that Jing Wang had secretly orchestrated it, terrifying her. Fortunately, no evidence implicated him; otherwise, she dared not imagine the consequences for her family.
Today she came to subtly probe the Emperor’s attitude. She first presented Jing Wang’s merits, then mentioned her own children. Even without achievements, their family had contributed in other ways. The Emperor, wise and valorous, surely would not believe baseless rumors. Meng Guqing never involved herself in such matters, yet she was, like Noble Consort Xu, a symbol, a banner of the Donghu faction. Even the Empress Dowager regarded her this way: if she did not protect her own, it would violate reason. Fortunately, the Emperor’s reforms were subtle, allowing both the Empress Dowager and Empress to handle their “own people” with minimal disruption.
Regarding the assassins, it was unclear whether the Emperor truly found nothing or chose to endure for now. Since no evidence pointed to Jing Wang, Jing Wangfei could rest easy. The ambiguous answer was better than bad news, offering reassurance. Relaxing, she handed the little princess to the Empress and smiled: “This tenth daughter hasn’t been given a formal name yet. Though born a princess, it requires the Emperor’s decree. Her mother said her face is round, so her nickname is Yuanyuan. The formal name is naturally for Your Majesty to bestow, it’s a bond between mother and daughter.”
Meng Guqing, realizing that Jing Wangfei had brought Madam He’s daughter, immediately instructed Fusang to prepare a proper gift; this was her goddaughter, after all. She hadn’t expected the Jing household to involve her in naming the child; it was no ordinary closeness. Unprepared and inexperienced in naming children, she hesitated. Jing Wangfei noticed and reassured her that there was no rush.
That evening, Zhao Donglin came over. Seeing her flipping through books, he sat beside her, holding her hand while looking at the pages. “What are you looking up?”
“Jing Wangfei brought Madam He’s newborn into the palace. The little princess doesn’t have a formal name yet, and they asked me to choose one. I have no experience, it’s quite a headache.”
Zhao Donglin held the Empress’s hand, his gaze on her soft face in the flickering candlelight. At first he thought of keeping her away from the Jing household, but then remembered that she had only been forced to visit to help him. He brushed her cheek with his fingertip and said casually, “Call her Taiping. It’s a beautiful meaning; peace in the world, peace at court. That’s all I wish for.”
Indeed, all he sought was peace.
Meng Guqing returned his grip and smiled. “That’s a good name. No blessing is better than the Emperor’s. With this name, the little princess will have a lifetime of peace; I am no longer needed.”
In truth, what Meng Guqing also sought was peace. But whether due to a clash with the palace or because it was inherently a place of disputes, peace was a luxury. Even when nothing happened, someone would stir trouble. The Empress Dowager brought several young ladies destined for the palace to stay within the palace, claiming she was lonely and enjoyed the lively presence of young women. The outward meaning was clear, see the Emperor’s “pitiful” harem; everyone else would understand.
Those in the palace understood well. Long neglected concubines naturally did not seek attention. Noble Consort Xu had the eldest prince and a rising maternal family, so her status was secure. Even if the Emperor no longer treated her as favorably, she maintained face. Meng Guqing drew the most attention. Everyone knew the Emperor now favored the Empress more than he had Noble Consort Xu. She had rested in Huangji Hall for half a month; even when she moved back to Fengyi Palace, he never minded the distance, always visiting her at night.
When a few young ladies suddenly arrived, Meng Guqing was most affected. Caiwei and Fusang panicked, proposing to place them in the northeastern Jingfu Palace, opposite Fengyi Palace. It was the farthest palace from Huangji Hall aside from Fengyi Palace. The Emperor rarely went there, so living there would be more neglected than the original Fengyi Palace. Meng Guqing stopped their wild ideas. “Don’t make decisions on your own. These young ladies are not the Emperor’s concubines, they cannot live in concubine quarters. That’s outrageous.”
Caiwei muttered angrily, “Not now, but eventually! Your Highness, you’re inviting wolves into the house.”
Meng Guqing was speechless. “You’ve read your storybooks well, but don’t misuse idioms. ‘Inviting wolves’ isn’t what’s happening here.” Clearly, the “wolves” were introduced by the Empress Dowager. Her intentions were clear: enrich the harem, secure heirs, and gather officials for the Emperor’s reforms, a mother’s concern for the big picture. In the imperial household, the selection of concubines and their numbers was never purely at the Emperor’s whim, especially one not yet fully in power.
Meng Guqing had read much history and understood each perspective. The reasoning was clear, but her resistance and helplessness could not be easily dismissed. Fusang noticed her disappointment and sympathized. “The Empress Dowager is too hasty. She loves her niece, but why must she involve her when things are going so well between Your Highness and the Emperor? There are so many palace attendants who could arrange quarters, why must it fall on you? It’s really troubling for you…”
Meng Guqing squeezed Fusang’s hand, stopping her. The Empress Dowager’s reasons were obvious: she wanted a virtuous, magnanimous Empress, capable of managing the harem like a mini-court to balance factions. Did she love her niece? Naturally. Otherwise, why choose her as Empress, above all others? She had patiently guided Meng Guqing through her early, unprivileged days in the palace. But the Empress Dowager was not just a relative, she was also the Empress Dowager of a great dynasty, with much to consider.
One Jing Wang dominating previously was not enough; the harem could not belong to a single Empress. Any imbalance would cause trouble. Meng Guqing understood all this clearly. She was tired, a bit regretful for crossing the final boundary with Zhao Donglin, but fortunately, her worst fears had not come true. She had worried that if she grew closer to him, his kindness would make her inevitably fall. Upon reflection, she realized she did like him and enjoyed intimacy, but her affection did not control her. She remained herself, her original desire to leave the palace unchanged.
Compared to his wholehearted devotion, she might seem cold, but she had no choice. Everything around her reminded her that giving in completely would be a path of no return. Seeing clearly, she understood thoroughly. The Empress Dowager had deliberately asked her to handle this matter to gauge her attitude and had been very satisfied. Meng Guqing arranged for the young ladies to stay in the Yuhua Pavilion behind Shoucheng Hall, under the Empress Dowager’s supervision. It was appropriate, close to the Imperial Garden, and allowed easy access to the Emperor. The Empress Dowager’s intentions were fully considered.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager seemed to finally remember her niece and felt a little guilty. When the Empress reported, she held her hand: “Good child, I knew you were sensible. Our Donghu girls are naturally noble. Your father raised a fine daughter; I was not mistaken. I grew up like you and understand your heart, but there’s no way around it. Born into such a family, we must follow these rules. Life always has burdens; if not this, then that. Perfect outcomes exist, but we rarely encounter them.”
When she first arrived in the capital, Meng Guqing had relied heavily on the Empress Dowager, her only close relative, unwilling to go against her. Now, hearing her speak, she found it strangely dull; that natural closeness immediately retreated. She thought to herself: a leader is a leader, anyone who treats a leader like family is bound to end up at a disadvantage.
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