After ascending the throne, the new emperor focused on diligent governance and reforming existing flaws. The princely brothers were each given the title of imperial envoy, tasked with traveling the empire and promoting the new policies.
Everyone thought the new emperor would find all sorts of ways to suppress the other princes. Unexpectedly, he did not suppress them at all, and even put them to use.
At first, Qi Wang was quite pleased with himself. “See? Even after becoming emperor, Fourth Brother still fears that the brothers won’t accept him. He has to rely on us.”
Half a year later, Qi Wang returned to the capital looking utterly haggard.
He privately met with Jin Wang and Yu Wang to drink.
The three brothers, now all tanned and gaunt, cursed the new emperor together.
“What glorious positions? He just sent us out to make enemies!”
Qi Wang regretted it deeply. Had he known this job would be so hard, he would’ve feigned illness and refused.
He hadn’t seen through the new emperor’s intentions and had stepped right into a trap.
It was rare for the three of them to be so united in scolding someone—but after venting, what could they do? They still had to serve like oxen and horses for the emperor.
After all, they lacked backbone and didn’t dare to go head-to-head with him.
Jin Wang even tried faking illness once, but his own wife exposed him. He was utterly humiliated. Now that his wife had a sister who was the empress, she was truly untouchable. Aside from Side Consort Chen brought in earlier, there wasn’t even a fly in his residence now.
The deposed crown prince dying in a woman’s bed, along with the whole affair with Side Consort Qian, had become a thorn in his heart.
Three years of mourning passed, and the court requested the emperor to select new concubines to fill the harem. At first, the emperor only had an empress. He claimed he was observing mourning for the late emperor, and no amount of petitioning succeeded. Everyone had to patiently wait three years.
Now that mourning had ended, petitions to hold a selection flew to the emperor’s desk like snowflakes.
Before the emperor responded, Yu Wang had already taken in a new side consort. He Wanyi had died of illness a year ago. On her deathbed, she had wanted to see Yu Wang one last time, but Consort Xian suppressed the matter and forbade him to go.
Half a year after the emperor’s passing, the new emperor allowed the dowager consorts to leave the palace and live with their sons. Consort Xian was the first to express her gratitude and leave.
Consorts Zhang and De, rather than spend their days in the palace glaring at the empress dowager, also requested to leave after some hesitation.
Qian Jieyu was made a dowager consort and was happily received by Kang Wang.
The other childless concubines were sent to retirement palaces. Back then, Li Zhaoyi, who had always suppressed Qian Jieyu, now feared she’d be targeted in revenge and fled faster than anyone.
After the former empress committed suicide, her position in the palace became precarious. Seeing Kang Wang gradually gain favor, she no longer dared to cross Qian Jieyu.
Still, currying favor was out of the question. The fact that Qian Jieyu didn’t retaliate was already a blessing— Li Zhaoyi felt she’d narrowly escaped death.
Life in the retirement palace was bitter, but at least it was life.
Once the three-year mourning period ended, Mingxi immediately had people bring Bai Shixi and Xie Muhua back to the capital. The emperor had already cleared their names when he issued a general pardon upon his ascension and allowed them to return to the capital.
The deposed crown prince left behind only one daughter, Princess Ruian. The emperor restored her title and bestowed a residence upon her in the capital.
However, Bai Shixi submitted a memorial, requesting that Princess Ruian observe a three-year mourning period for the late emperor and the deposed crown prince, and asked His Majesty to allow them to return to the capital after those three years.
Mingxi understood—this was for her daughter’s sake. With the reputation of utmost filial piety, her future path would be much smoother.
After her title was restored, they no longer had to live in the imperial estate near the royal tombs. They bought another residence and moved out, living peaceful and quiet days.
With Mingxi’s people secretly taking care of them and a tutor hired to teach Ruian how to read and write, the three of them returned to the capital once the three years had passed.
Mingxi personally went out of the city to welcome them. After years apart, seeing one another again truly felt like a different lifetime.
Holding Bai Shixi’s hand in one and Xie Muhua’s in the other, Mingxi said warmly, “It’s good that you’re back.”
Her gaze then fell on Ruian—she had grown taller, her features resembling Bai Shixi’s, quiet and well-behaved. Mingxi reached out and hugged the child. “Zhiyi was supposed to come with me to meet you today, but she didn’t finish her homework and was punished by her teacher.”
Ruian, initially a bit shy in front of the gentle empress, gradually relaxed and softly said, “Then I’ll do homework with little sister from now on.”
“Good child,” Mingxi praised, then looked at Bai Shixi.
Bai Shixi smiled but said nothing.
Mingxi sighed inwardly. After spending years under the shadow of guilt and punishment, how could there be no lingering effects? If the deposed crown prince hadn’t died in such disgrace, they wouldn’t have had to endure three more years before returning.
Still, she pitied the child.
Then again, knowing Zhiyi’s lively personality, once Ruian spent some time with her, she’d be cheerful in no time.
Everything had already been arranged in the residence. Bai Shixi thanked Mingxi, “Your Majesty, you’ve thought of everything. Thank you for your trouble.”
Xie Muhua nodded in agreement, “Yes, this residence has everything we could need. We truly came back with nothing but feel completely at ease.”
Mingxi chuckled and asked, “Do you have any plans? Shixi has her daughter by her side—what about you?”
Xie Muhua replied with a laugh, “Your Majesty, now that we’re back in the capital, we must manage on our own. We can’t always trouble you. Besides, over these years, the three of us have relied on each other. Ruian is like my own child. Now that my sister will care for her in the residence, I want to revive my business. There’s so much to do, I can’t waste time.”
Mingxi understood. She looked at Xie Muhua and said, “You know the current state of the Xie family, don’t you?”
Xie Muhua nodded. “The bigger the tree, the more branches; when sons grow up, families divide. It’s better this way.”
Though she said that, a trace of disappointment still showed on her face.
During the years at the imperial tombs, the Xie family had changed greatly. Her parents had aged, her brother and sister-in-law were now in charge—it was no longer the Xie family of the past, nor her place of reliance.
The empress had once told her: in the end, one must depend on oneself.
She had talent in business. She would surely earn Ruian a rich dowry, so the girl could marry with dignity. Afterward, she and Bai Shixi could grow old together in peace.
“When the Xie family divided, I made sure to keep a portion of the business for you.”
“What?” Xie Muhua was stunned. “Your Majesty?”
“The Xie family has what it has today thanks to your sacrifices. Of course part of their business should go to you,” Mingxi said coldly. “They thought you’d rot away at the royal tombs for life. Your sister-in-law wanted to swallow your share—I couldn’t let that happen.”
Mingxi pushed a foot-long box in front of her. “Everything is in here—land deeds, property titles, shop ownerships, and banknotes. With this, you’ll have a foundation to rise again.”
Xie Muhua clutched the box and began to cry, rising to kneel.
Mingxi quickly stopped her. “Live well. I told you I wouldn’t let you down.”
Then she turned to Bai Shixi. “As for you, I really have nothing material to give. Duke Zhen got caught up in a corruption case two years ago—he wasn’t too deeply involved, but it was enough to lose the emperor’s favor. He’s been in decline ever since.”
Bai Shixi gave a cold laugh. “What do they have to do with me!”
