Chapter 5
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Wang Zhi’s eyes fluttered open slightly, feeling surprised.
It was the little girl the Emperor had encountered on the boat more than a month ago.
Wang Zhi clearly sensed that when the Emperor, seated in the imperial sedan chair, saw her face, his eyelids twitched subtly, and only after a moment did his expression return to calm.
That night, he hadn’t seen her clearly, but now, the sky was suffused with a warm haze, like blackened orange-yellow glazed tiles. The lingering sunlight was enough to see her features distinctly.
Her almond-shaped eyes, with dark pupils like polished jet, gazed at you as if she were a naive and fragile young beast—one careless moment and she would leap straight into your heart.
A small beauty mark between her brows was like a plum blossom blooming brilliantly on pure white snow, dazzling and unforgettable.
What a striking appearance. Yet, having only recently entered the palace, she still carried a trace of commoner’s air, which slightly dimmed her otherwise near-perfect beauty from nine parts to seven.
Could there be such a woman among the palace maids? Wang Zhi frowned slightly, racking his brain to recall.
The eunuch in charge of selecting palace maids was under his command, but he did not remember anyone mentioning a maid with a beauty mark between her brows.
Just as he was pondering, the little girl blinked twice, showing a puzzled expression. Then, as if nothing had happened, she turned her head back, placed her hand on the food box, hesitated for a moment, lifted the lid slightly, and took out a piece of pastry, stuffing it into her mouth.
“...”
Wang Zhi instinctively looked up, cautiously glancing at the Emperor. The Emperor sat upright in the sedan chair, his long legs naturally crossed, his imperial visage slightly turned to the side. One hand rested on his knee, the other lightly tapped the armrest in a rhythmic manner.
This was his habitual gesture when deep in thought.
Wang Zhi carefully advised, “Master, there is a rockery blocking the view over there. The girl probably hasn’t seen us. I will send someone to call her.”
Not kneeling before the imperial carriage was a grave offense, yet the little girl seemed emboldened by some unknown courage to act so boldly!
Just as he raised his hand to summon a young attendant, the Emperor’s rich voice came softly beside his ear, gentler than usual: “Don’t disturb her.”
The Emperor’s gaze fixed steadily on the slight figure by the shore, watching her eat. For no reason, he was reminded of the squirrel kept in the Empress Dowager’s palace.
That squirrel had been caught during a hunting trip two years ago. Thinking the Empress Dowager might like it, he had brought it back.
The Empress Dowager was delighted and assigned a eunuch to care for it in the palace. Not long ago, when he paid respects at her palace, he happened to see it cracking open a walnut just like the little girl before him.
Perhaps she was hungry, for the girl ate somewhat hastily and nearly choked, covering her mouth and lightly patting her chest.
Clumsy and unrefined, yet endearing.
The Emperor’s tapping hand stopped and slowly withdrew his gaze.
—
“Your Majesty,” the Empress Dowager waved a hand before his eyes and smiled curiously, “What are you thinking about? You’ve been so lost since you came in, I called you several times but you didn’t hear.”
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The Emperor came back to himself, paused, then helped the Empress Dowager sit on the throne, covered with bright yellow cushions and soft pillows. He curved his lips, “Nothing much. I was just thinking how well you’ve been feeding that squirrel.”
The Empress Dowager smiled softly, “That was a gift from you, how could they not take good care of it?”
Pointing around, she said, “Hurry and ask the servants to present your Majesty’s reward.”
The palace staff knelt en masse, chanting auspicious phrases.
The Emperor, knowing this was the Empress Dowager’s way of cheering him, smiled slightly and told them to receive their rewards outside.
After some noise, the servants gradually left, and the hall fell silent.
The incense burner in the hall emitted the scent of osmanthus, mixed with the aroma of Buddha’s hand fruits arranged on the table, filling the air with a sweet fragrance, though the combination was somewhat sharp to the nose.
The Empress Dowager glanced at the Emperor’s expression and then asked, “What do you think about what I just told you?”
The Emperor replied, “Mother, what did you just say?”
She shook her head with a teasing smile, pointing at him with her handkerchief, “Don’t say you weren’t thinking about anything. I was speaking to you, but you didn’t hear a word.”
She didn’t press further about what exactly he had been thinking—likely just troublesome state affairs.
“Earlier, Jing’er came to pay respects and mentioned the Longevity Festival was approaching. She said last year at this time, Father was away at war. As his son, he couldn’t serve you in person—a true filial failing. Now that you have returned, he wants to celebrate the festival with great fanfare.”
The Emperor lifted the handwarmer cup adorned with lotus scroll patterns from the small table. Steam rose, partially obscuring his sharp brows and eyes.
The Empress Dowager said, “After all, it’s your birthday. You must make the decision yourself.”
Seeing no response, she sighed and advised, “The child knows his mistake. He’s young and inexperienced, unlike you who have struggled through perilous times. If he mishandles state affairs, it’s understandable. You must teach him well.”
The Emperor set down the cup, “Mother speaks rightly.”
Knowing he agreed, the Empress Dowager smiled contentedly and called over the senior palace maid Qiutong. “Go and tell your young master that his father agrees to let him host the Longevity Festival. Remind him it must be done well. If not, neither his father nor I will forgive him.”
The royal family of Great Zhou differed from other dynasties. Their founding ancestor rose from humble origins—an orphan who had been a beggar and a monk before becoming emperor. By the time the realm was stable, most of his kin had perished. Thus, they valued family bonds more than others.
The founding emperor lived simply with his wife, speaking casually as equals. The Empress could even address him by his given name.
Perhaps inheriting this bloodline, later generations bore a touch of common vitality, unlike the previous dynasty where royal members cared only for power, not affection.
But this was only on the surface.
Though they called each other father, mother, uncles, and brothers warmly, behind closed doors they schemed against one another, praying for each other’s demise. When seizing the throne, the hand that wielded the dagger did so without hesitation.
If not for this ruthless spirit, their branch would never have ascended the Dragon Throne.
Qiutong left promptly. The Emperor’s dark eyes half-closed. The squirrel in the golden cage behind him finished its walnut and chirped. The Emperor turned slightly, casually covering the cage with his palm. The cage made a soft sound as the light inside was completely blocked.
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The hall fell quiet once more.
Night had deepened, and the Emperor prepared to leave when the Empress Dowager suddenly remembered something and called after him.
“Don’t rush off. There’s one more thing you should know. You’ve been busy these days, and my memory isn’t what it used to be, so I forgot to tell you.”
The Emperor said, “Please tell me.”
The Empress Dowager lightly fanned herself and leaned on the soft pillow. “I had a sister long ago. We were close like handkerchiefs, but later her family fell on hard times, and she married in the south. We lost contact. Earlier this year, your aunt, Lady Chengyi, entered the palace and mentioned her. She said she had passed away. I was heartbroken and asked if there was anyone left in her family. Lady Chengyi said there was a son, now teaching for a living and struggling.”
The Emperor listened quietly without reply.
The Empress Dowager smiled at his expression. “I know our Emperor is wise and would never sell offices or titles. Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to give him a position.”
The Emperor’s face was calm. “You worry too much.”
She didn’t argue. Her son, like the late Emperor, was deep and inscrutable. He seemed approachable but was ruthless when it came to state matters—showing no mercy regardless of who was involved.
She felt comforted. This was how an Emperor should be.
She smiled and continued, “That son has a daughter with his lawful wife. She’s clever and lovely. I liked her when I heard about her and had someone bring her into the palace to meet Jing’er.”
The Emperor had never heard of this before. After a moment’s thought, he said, “If Mother favors her, then she must be a good choice.”
For selecting brides for the Great Zhou princes, apart from the founding era’s high-ranking noblewomen, later generations chose girls from humble households. For example, his own Empress was the daughter of a fifth-rank official from the Ministry of Works—a background modest enough to avoid forming a powerful faction that might threaten the throne.
But this one the Empress Dowager now sought…
The Emperor frowned unconsciously.
A commoner with no title or rank—that background was too low.
“From what you say, I have some understanding,” the Empress Dowager sat upright and stood. Seeing his concerns, she said, “Our Li family values pure lineage above all else. Everything else is secondary.”
Certainly better than being born to a traitor’s daughter.
“This girl has only been here half a year, still being trained by the palace supervisors. Let’s watch for now. If it doesn’t work out by next year, we’ll reconsider.”
Seeing the Emperor nod, the Empress Dowager finally smiled. “After all, she was chosen for Jing’er. Your future daughter-in-law—you must at least meet her.”
Before he could speak, she turned and summoned a palace maid.
“Go to Shouming Hall and bring Miss Shen here. Tell her the Emperor wishes to see her.”