Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Using the investiture of the Crown Prince as my pretext, I brought up a general promotion of the inner palace to His Majesty. At present, there were hardly any high-ranking consorts, and the few who had borne imperial children deserved to have their ranks raised as well.

“The Empress has considered everything thoroughly.”

His Majesty had never been inclined to refuse me in matters like these, and I had already drafted the new ranks. Consort Kang was promoted to Jieyu, while Consort Xiang and Consort Wen were both promoted to Wanyi. Attendant Bai was promoted to Beauty. As for the rest, since they had no merit in bearing children, they merely received rewards.

As for Lady Xue, above Noble Consort and below Empress, there was only Imperial Noble Consort. That rank, I feared, would only be granted to her when she was on her deathbed.

Of course, His Majesty had always favored her. Since her rank in the harem could not be touched, he rewarded her family in the outer court instead.

Once the decree was issued, the consorts came one after another to express their gratitude. Only, I had not expected Lady Xue to come as well. The moment she arrived, she made her displeasure known. “I gave Your Highness and the Crown Prince such a generous gift, and yet Your Highness turns around and stabs me in the heart.”

“That is His Majesty. Three palaces and six courtyards are only proper for an emperor,” I said calmly. Whenever she was unhappy, she liked to speak in barbs. I knew that well enough. Besides, what she said was not wrong. Regardless of whether His Majesty had intended to name the Crown Prince in his heart, at the very least, Lady Xue had spoken in his favor before everyone.

“Your Highness is far too partial.”

“No matter what, none of them can surpass you. How could His Majesty not feel for you? Look at the ranks of Zhaoyi and Consort now-both are still empty. Is that not to keep you happier?”

“They cannot remain empty forever.”

“Drink today’s wine today, worry about tomorrow’s sorrow tomorrow. You simply think too much.”

“I cannot change that.”

Ever since Tun’er moved to Xian’an Palace, my own residence seemed to empty out all at once. All this time, it had been just the two of us, mother and son, relying on each other. Now I was the only one left.

Tun’er was clever, but he was still young, and I could not fully set my mind at ease. Among the people who followed him to Xian’an Palace were some I had given special instructions to. It could not be called watching him; I only hoped he would be well.

For fear that this might one day drive a wedge between mother and son, I even told Tun’er about it specifically.

Only, I did not expect those people to prove useful so quickly. Within a few months, they came to tell me that Tun’er was studying late into the night by candlelight every day. No wonder I had thought he seemed listless lately. As his mother, I was happy that he was diligent, but it would not be worth it if he ruined his health.

I spoke to him about it, but after much hesitation, he finally told me that one of his study companions was extraordinarily bright and could speak at length about poetry and prose without pause. Tun’er felt that, as the Crown Prince, he ought to be able to do the same.

I laughed. “You said it yourself-you are the Crown Prince. Why compete with them? They study the arts of letters and war so that they may sell their talents to the imperial house. Is all they learn not for the sake of winning the emperor’s favor?” You are the one who will become emperor, and their knowledge and talent exist to serve you.

Tun’er nodded thoughtfully. “I understand. But I still hope I am the one the Grand Tutor praises.”

“Look at your Imperial Father. In essays, can he compare to the Grand Tutor? In martial skill, can he defeat a general? Every craft has its own specialist. The ones you should compare yourself to are your younger brothers, not outsiders.”

No matter how outstanding an outsider might be, His Majesty would not lose his senses and make that person his heir. But if those princes were too outstanding, His Majesty might inevitably begin to entertain other thoughts. That was why I had always hoped Tun’er could be a very good elder brother-close to his younger siblings from childhood, earning their trust early, and then ascending smoothly without bloodshed.

Of course, that was the best plan. If it failed, there were lesser plans as well.

“Lately, Imperial Father especially likes Fourth Brother,” Tun’er said.

“Why do you say that?”

“When I went to Lady Xue’s palace, I saw Imperial Father holding Fourth Brother. Imperial Father has never held me.” Tun’er sounded a little unhappy.

“He has held you. You were just too young then to remember.” Tun’er was His Majesty’s first child. Even if His Majesty’s affection for me could not compare to his affection for Lady Xue, he had loved Tun’er plenty back then.

A newborn’s body was soft and fragile. At the time, I had just become a mother and hardly dared to pick him up. His Majesty was different. He held him like an expert and even deliberately showed off to me, saying he had learned well, unlike me, all stiff and cautious.

Later, after more practice, I grew used to holding Tun’er too. Even so, I still liked to let Tun’er stay close to His Majesty.

“Empress Mother is not lying to me?”

“What would I lie to you about?” I said with a smile.

Later, when I casually mentioned to His Majesty that Tun’er had been jealous, His Majesty laughed as well. He even made a point of picking up the already-grown Tun’er and lifting him high into the air, embarrassing Tun’er so much that he kept burying his face away.