chapter 3
chapter 3
Three days later, the Ming family sent me precious medicines, silks, and jewelry.
Among the gifts was a lovers’ knot Father had asked Mother to weave by hand. Warmth filled me as I held it. I was also profoundly grateful to have such a powerful family behind me. Knowing the truth would have meant nothing if I lacked the strength to fight it.
Once my confinement ended, I resumed the harem’s daily greetings.
Pei Yangxi was worried about Wang Chaolu. He came rushing over after court without even changing out of his robes.
Wang Chaolu sat silently in the lowest seat, her face pale. The moment she saw him, tears gathered in her doe-like eyes, as though someone had bullied her.
Pei Yangxi sat beside me, presenting a picture of marital harmony, but his gaze kept straying toward her. When he noticed her distress, tenderness flashed in his eyes.
Then his performance began.
“Wang, if you are ill, you should have asked to be excused. Who are you trying to impress with that half-dead face?”
Wang Chaolu bit her lip and dropped to her knees.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty. The little prince is lively, and I have exhausted myself playing with him these past few days.”
She darted a glance at me. A trace of provocation flashed through her fragile eyes.
Pei Yangxi gave a cold snort. “If Lady Wang is tired, then she should remain in her palace. Spare everyone the sight of that sickly face.”
On the surface, he was chastising and confining her. In truth, he pitied her for caring for their son while still having to humble herself before me every morning.
As I had always done, I pleaded on her behalf.
“Children are often demanding. As a new mother myself, I understand. Your Majesty, please do not blame Sister Wang.”
Only then did Pei Yangxi relent. He turned to her. “Why are you still here? Must I escort you back myself?”
[Hahaha! The leads are playing their parts perfectly. They’ve fooled the supporting woman like she’s an idiot.]
[My heart breaks for Lulu, having to bow and scrape like this. When will my girl finally be promoted?]
[Don’t worry. The empress dowager returns next month. Once she intervenes, the female lead will rise from jieyu to Consort Xian.]
[I can’t wait to watch the female lead soar and become a true heroine!]
My eyes darkened.
Wang Chaolu’s rank was too low for her to raise a child, and Pei Yangxi had built his entire act around disliking her. The only people who could promote her were the empress dowager and me.
If I proposed it, Pei Yangxi would have to refuse. But if the empress dowager demanded it, filial duty would force him to obey.
What an elegant way to pull the rug from under me.
After Wang Chaolu withdrew, Pei Yangxi continued sowing discord between Chu Yingqiu and me. He asked after Yingqiu’s sleep and lavished her with gold and jewels.
“Ah Ci suffered greatly in childbirth. Since the two of you are as close as sisters, you should take the initiative to ease her burden. No shirking as you usually do.”
Chu Yingqiu curtsied gracefully, her eyes alluring.
“It would be my honor to ease Her Majesty’s burden. The question is whether my dear elder sister is willing to let me help.”
She arched a brow at me, openly provocative.
Pei Yangxi kept pressuring me to surrender authority to her because he wanted our conflict to boil over. While the snipe and clam fought, Wang Chaolu would play the fisherman and take the prize.
He saw the anger simmering in my eyes.
“Since my sister is eager to help, she may begin with the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau.”
The bureau oversaw needlework and offered the least opportunity for profit among the Six Bureaus. Giving it to Chu Yingqiu would placate Pei Yangxi without seriously weakening me.
Knowing better than to push, Chu Yingqiu smiled. “Then I thank Your Majesty. I will have Xuanye collect the seal tomorrow.”
“Why wait? I happen to want Sister Chu to read the Analects to the little princess today. You may take the seal when you finish and spare your people another trip.”
Reading a child to sleep was a governess’s task.
It was a small victory, and the message beneath it was plain: refuse to read today, and I might refuse to give her the seal tomorrow.
Chu Yingqiu ground her teeth in silence and obeyed.