Chapter 4

Chapter 4

There was still so much of life left. There was no need to rush.

Perhaps one day, he would realize that Hu Minrong was a pearl in her own right.

And if he never did, then that was simply my fate.

My wet nurse once said I was gentle by nature, obedient, and sincere. If there was anyone in this world who did not like me, then that person must be blind to true worth; it could never be my fault.

I thought she made excellent sense.

Zhao Ling was afraid I would cling to him, so he agreed to write an inscription on my fan.

He told me to hand the fan to Eunuch Su, and that I could send someone to collect it the next day.

When he asked what words I wanted, I said,

“A single breath of noble spirit; a carefree wind across a thousand miles.”

He gave a soft snort. “The Empress is not very old, yet you sound rather free-spirited.”

I said, “I am not that young either. I came of age last year, and Your Majesty even had Eunuch Su send me a gold hairpin. Have you forgotten?”

“I have.”

He was quite honest about it. Without even glancing at Eunuch Su beside him, he added, “If there is nothing else, go back.”

I left with Cai Juan. Before we went, I did not forget to have her close the palace doors behind us.

“Xiuyi Song is dressed too lightly. Do not let the wind blow on her, or she may catch cold.”

Two days later, Inner Attendant Cui delivered a parrot to Jiaofang Hall.

I put all my attention into teaching it to speak, and actually forgot to send someone to fetch the fan.

When I finally remembered and went to collect it in person, I discovered that Zhao Ling had forgotten as well.

Seeing that I had come to ask for the fan, he finally ordered the palace servants to prepare the ink.

I took the ink stick and ground it with a smile. “Your Majesty, write it properly. You are not allowed to brush me off.”

Zhao Ling glanced at me, his expression calm.

As he set brush to paper, he suddenly asked, “I hear the Empress likes watching acrobatics and often invites the troupe from eastern Luoyang into the palace.”

“Yes. They are amazing at juggling jars. Their old troupe leader can even perform the Seven Plates. Has Your Majesty ever seen a wrestling play? The Yellow Elder of the Eastern Sea, the red blade, the Yue shaman praying against the white tiger…”

I was beaming, talking on and on, and for once, Zhao Ling did not seem impatient. He only said, “That sounds rather interesting.”

“If Your Majesty would like to watch, shall we have Cui He invite them into the palace in a few days?” I said at once.

“No need to go to the trouble.”

“It is no trouble. I have not watched them in quite some time either, so let them come. They can perform another wrestling play. When the time comes, Your Majesty can bring Xiuyi Song to watch with you, and Cairen Wang and Cairen Zheng as well. The more people there are, the livelier it will be.”

I was a tolerant and magnanimous Empress.

In this harem, aside from Song Youshu, Zhao Ling had two other consorts.

But he only liked Song Youshu.

Because Song Youshu was the one he had chosen for himself.

Cairen Zheng and Cairen Wang-one had been sent into the palace by Prince Huai’an, while the other had once been a songstress at Prince Liang’s Mansion.

Neither of them came from a high background, and both knew their positions were sensitive and that Zhao Ling disliked them. Thus, they were always cautious in their behavior and very deferential toward me.

As I gradually came to understand the situation at court, I felt pity for Zhao Ling.

An emperor restrained by others, trapped in a cage for his entire life-if there were a few things he truly liked, I thought I would be willing to help him have them.

But pitying a man is an unfortunate thing.

Zhao Ling began to use me.

When the acrobatic troupe entered the palace, someone slipped in among them to gain an audience with the emperor.

This was within Zhao Ling’s calculations. His every word and action were under Prince Liang’s surveillance.

But no one would suspect the Empress, Hu Minrong.