Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Shortly after the investiture of the Empress, I conferred the title of Noble Consort upon Liu Zhiwei.

It was a debt I owed her.

During those years in my princely residence, I was so suppressed by the other princes that I could hardly breathe. She was the one who stayed by my side through the darkest nights. She used to grind ink for me under the lamp, and when I was rebuked by the late Emperor, she would wait an entire night with cold food for my return. After I ascended the throne, I could not give her the phoenix throne, so I could only bestow my favoritism upon her more flagrantly.

On the day of her investiture, I did not even consider Song Yunshu’s dignity.

The Ministry of Rites had originally intended to postpone the Noble Consort’s investiture ceremony by three months to avoid overshadowing the newly established Empress. However, with a single sentence-“The Noble Consort has followed me for many years and should not wait any longer”-I forced the date to be set just seven days after the Empress’s coronation.

That day, Song Yunshu sat atop the vermilion dais, receiving the homage of the civil and military officials, while watching me personally hand the golden scroll and jade seal-symbols of honor and favor-to another woman.

The entire palace knew that I frequently stayed at Changle Palace.

Meanwhile, the Empress lived in Qiwu Palace, the place closest to me, yet also the furthest.

Song Yunshu never questioned where I went, nor did she ask whom I favored each night. When the concubines grew jealous and petty, she could suppress them with a single word. When the Empress Dowager found Liu Zhiwei disagreeable, it was Song Yunshu who protected her, saying calmly, “The Noble Consort is of delicate health and should not kneel for long,” shielding her from the entire punishment.

When I heard of these things, I only thought she was being sensible.

After a family feast, I even praised her to an internal attendant: “The Empress is very sensible.”

When those words eventually reached Qiwu Palace, she merely smiled.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, the palace was decorated with lanterns and streamers. According to custom, the Emperor and Empress were supposed to ascend the city gates together to enjoy the lanterns with the officials. I had already reached the gates of Qiwu Palace when I heard that Liu Zhiwei’s old ailment had flared up; she was afraid of the fireworks and was coughing severely in the night.

I turned and left immediately.

Before I departed, Song Yunshu stood beneath the palace gates to see me off, the wind lightly fluttering her wide sleeves. She did not stop me, only saying softly, “The Noble Consort is sensitive to the cold. Your Majesty should remember to give her a cloak.”

In that moment, I truly did not know if she was being magnanimous or if she simply did not care.

Later, cheers erupted from the city walls as the lights of the entire city turned the night sky red. I sat with Liu Zhiwei in the warm pavilion and heard from the Palace Attendants that the Empress had ascended the city gates alone. She had received the homage of the officials in my stead and bestowed blessings upon the people of the realm on my behalf.

I let out a short laugh and said, “She is the Empress, after all.”

Yet for some reason, even though I was physically in Changle Palace that night, I kept thinking of Song Yunshu standing in the wind.

It wasn’t a look of grievance or resentment.

She was simply too calm.

So calm that it felt as if whether I went to her or not had nothing to do with her at all.

I was still young then, believing that a woman who did not make a scene was simply virtuous. Only later did I understand that a person who truly remains silent and calm does so not because they aren’t hurting, but because they stopped hoping long ago.