MYUFPC CHAPTER 43
Do you know that you have committed a taboo.
Emperor Zhanghe had ascended the throne at the tender age of twenty, and fifteen years had passed since then. Fifteen years of blooming and bearing fruit, his lap was now full of children. However, for a father, perhaps every legitimate son held a unique place in his heart.
Jiashan was his first child and the Empress's firstborn. This daughter was born intelligent and possessed a refreshingly clear mind. With Jiashan as a shining example, Emperor Zhanghe naturally had higher expectations for his second child with Empress Pei. However, to his great dismay, fate played a cruel trick on him, and his only legitimate prince was born with a disability.
A blind man could not become emperor. When it became undeniably clear that the legitimate had lost his right to inheritance, the balance between legitimate and illegitimate was bound to be disrupted. The palace, a place where the wind could easily change direction, was filled with unseen undercurrents and murky depths. Only by taking one step at a time could one truly understand the complexities.
Emperor Zhanghe sat upright, his black dragon-patterned robe as deep as ink.
Jiashan bowed slightly, her lips moving gently, "I really dare not to hide from Father Emperor. Last night, when Yuan Kang and I were staying up to see the New Year in, Yuan Kang's eyes seemed to have regained their sight for a brief moment."
Emperor Zhanghe was slightly taken aback, his expression momentarily faltering.
Jiashan continued, "Youcheng is now fifteen years old. I hear that Father Emperor and Zhuang fei niangniang have been considering a wife for him. According to the customs of our dynasty, a prince can begin to participate in court affairs after his wedding."
"All these years, because Yuan Kang cannot see, Youcheng has been shouldering the title of the eldest son. He is undoubtedly the heir apparent that Father Emperor favors most." Jiashan's tone was soft, and even the slight frown between her brows had smoothed out. She said gently, "But if Yuan Kang can regain his sight, he will have the natural status of a legitimate son, and Youcheng and Zhuang fei will inevitably find themselves in an awkward situation."
Emperor Zhanghe tapped his knee with his index finger, a faint smile playing on his lips that revealed neither joy nor anger. His dark eyes scanned Jiashan.
"Do you know that you have committed a taboo?" Emperor Zhanghe said calmly, "The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics. Even if your mother were still alive, she would not dare to so blatantly inquire about the future heir."
Jiashan replied meekly, "I know."
"I merely feel that no father would wish to see his children involved in a fraternal struggle." Jiashan's eyes were dark and clear, and when the corners of her eyes turned up, she bore a striking resemblance to Emperor Zhanghe.
She turned her head and said softly, "In the past, during the prosperous Tang Dynasty, even the wise Emperor Taizong could not prevent the tragic events at the Xuanwu Gate, which led to the division between the legitimate and illegitimate children of the Li family for three generations, causing great pain and the fragmentation of their familial ties."
"I believe that Emperor Taizong would not have wanted to see such a thing happen." Jiashan gently touched her forehead to the cold brick floor. "In my heart, Father Emperor is as wise as Emperor Taizong, and I doubt you would want to see your own flesh and blood turn against each other."
Both father and daughter were intelligent people, and certain things were never spoken too explicitly. For someone of Jiashan's status, speaking to this extent was already a significant overstep. After all, she was the emperor's daughter, not a minister.
After hearing this, Emperor Zhanghe remained silent for a long time.
Although Jiashan's expression remained calm, the brows that had just relaxed, gathered together once more without her noticing at some point.
Emperor Zhanghe's gaze turned cold as he looked down at her. After a long silence, he gently placed the teacup on the nearby table.
Leaning back slightly, he casually rested one hand on the pearwood chair back and said softly, "You've been kneeling for so long. Get up and speak."
Jiashan's heart settled slightly, but she dared not show it on her face. She simply replied, "Yes."
The charcoal fire in the inner chamber was ample, causing Jiashan to break out in a sweat without even realizing it. Her cheeks were slightly flushed as she quietly awaited Emperor Zhanghe's words.
Emperor Zhanghe's gaze never left Jiashan. He said, "Sometimes, I regret that you are not a man. If your mother had given birth to a son back then, perhaps—"
Emperor Zhanghe paused, his gaze sharp, "I would not be so torn."
Jiashan smiled, her voice light and graceful, "Father Emperor is truly flattering me."
"If I were a man, Father Emperor might have had other worries," Jiashan's smile turned slightly heavy, her tone gentle and calm. "If I were Yuan Kang's elder brother, my relationship with Yuan Kang would certainly not be as close and harmonious as it is now. As a father, perhaps you would still have cause for concern."
Emperor Zhanghe smiled. He slowly exhaled a sigh and mused, "When will that Kong Lihui come to the palace again? Since he has been so effective in treating Yuan Kang, I should meet him."
Hearing her father say this, Jiashan's palms involuntarily became sweaty. She raised her eyes slightly and smiled faintly, saying, "He will come with my maternal aunt on the fifth day of the first lunar month, and I will have him pay his respects to Father Emperor."
Emperor Zhanghe nodded lightly. He suppressed his smile and fixed his gaze on Jiashan.
After a moment of silence, he raised his eyebrows and said, "If Yuan Kang can demonstrate the bearing and demeanor befitting a legitimate son, I will naturally grant him the respect he deserves."
"In the past, I didn't want him to involve himself in politics, but it was also a way of protecting him," Emperor Zhanghe's tone was low. "You and your mother are both very intelligent. I hope he can be like you."
Jiashan offered a slight smile and stepped forward to refill Emperor Zhanghe's teacup. She said cheerfully, "Not only does he look like us, but Yuan Kang is also Father Emperor's child and bears a strong resemblance to you."
Emperor Zhanghe smiled and took a sip of tea. He said leisurely, "I hope so."
On the fifth day of the lunar month, as promised, Madam Pei brought Kong Lihui into the palace. However, this time, Jiashan instructed people to take Kong Lihui directly to the Qianqing Palace to meet the emperor.
In recent days, Zhao Youze's eyes could only perceive light for a brief moment in extremely bright conditions. The rest of the time, it was still pitch black and he could not see anything.
After meeting Emperor Zhanghe, Kong Lihui prescribed several new formulas based on the current condition of Zhao Youze's eyes.
Fortunately, neither Zhao Youze nor Jiashan appeared overly anxious.
After more than ten years, if there was truly a glimmer of hope this time, there was no need to rush. In any case, the day after Kong Lihui met the emperor, news spread throughout the palace that "the Fourth Prince's eyes are expected to recover."
Perhaps it was not Jiashan who should be anxious.
Time flew by, and on the ninth day of the first lunar month, Madam Pei visited the palace again and met with Jiashan.
"The Zhan family will be sending people to formally propose marriage tomorrow. In two days, the Emperor will host a banquet to entertain them. Have you memorized all the members of the Duke of Anguo mansion?" Madam Pei was worried about Jiashan and said anxiously, "I've been so worried about Yuan Kang recently that I forgot to ask you about this. Don't make any mistakes before you're even married."
According to custom, the day after the formal proposal, the emperor would host a banquet in the palace for the groom and his family. As for the female members of his family, they would attend a banquet at the Cining Palace, which would naturally be hosted by the Empress Dowager or the Empress.
Jiashan had lived in the Duke of Anguo mansion for nine years in her previous life, so even if she hadn't eaten pork, she had seen pigs run. She could easily recognize most of the members of the Duke of Anguo family.
Moreover, Emperor Zhanghe had already sent Eunuch Chen to give her a detailed account of the Duke of Anguo family.
Jiashan nodded and said softly, "Aunt, please don't worry. I won't make any mistakes."
Madam Pei held Jiashan's hand and still asked uneasily, "Who has the Emperor chosen to host the banquet at the Cining Palace? Is it Jing fei niangniang?"
Mentioning this, Jiashan couldn't help but smile and said, "Yes, it's Jing fei niangniang. Several of my aunts will also be entering the palace."
Hearing that the Chengqian Palace was not involved, Madam Pei felt somewhat reassured.
Jiashan smiled leisurely and pointed a slender finger in the direction of the Chengqian Palace. She smiled softly and said, "They have no interest in interfering with my affairs."
"Zhao Youcheng will be getting married in two years. Now that news about Yuan Kang's eyes has spread throughout the palace, families with daughters are all carefully observing the situation, and no one dares to easily marry their daughter to Zhao Youcheng."
"She has this one trump card, so she'll have a headache," Jiashan leaned intimately against Madam Pei and said cheerfully, "Aunt, don't worry about it."
With Zhao Youze's eyes showing increasing signs of improvement, naturally, some people would become more anxious. Madam Pei's brows were serene as she gently hugged Jiashan and took out an embroidered golden horse-faced skirt for Jiashan to try on.
On the eleventh day of the first month, the second day after the formal proposal.
A banquet was held at the Cining Palace at the hour of the setting sun. Zhan Yue and the other male guests went to the Baohe Hall for the banquet, while Zhang shi, along with other female members of the Duke of Anguo mansion, went to pay their respects to Jing fei and the various princesses.
Fir many years, the harem had been without an Empress, and it was well-known throughout the court that Jing fei and Zhuang fei jointly managed the six palaces.
Although the matter of Zhang shi being slapped had not been made public, the old matriarch, the Duke Anguo, and Zhan Tai were all aware of it.
Although Old Lady Wen had given Zhan Yue a suitable punishment, Zhan Tai had privately scolded Zhang shi severely.
Before attending the banquet that day, Zhan Tai had specifically instructed Zhang shi, "Remember your identity. When you go out, you represent the Duke of Anguo mansion. Don't make a fool of yourself in front of the Niangniang and the princesses. When you see the princes, be polite to her. Do you understand?"
Zhang shi agreed on the surface, but when she saw Jiashan in private, she still felt something was amiss.
Although Zhang shi was a lady of high rank, she had never met Jiashan before entering the palace. This was her first time meeting her, and seeing the eldest princess's eyes as bright as pearls and her face as beautiful as a painting, Zhang shi felt both sour and resentful.
Such a noble status, such a beautiful girl, why did she end up marrying Zhan Yue? How wonderful it would have been if she could have been her daughter-in-law.
With Old Lady Wen absent and the Duke of Anguo not having remarried, Zhang shi was now the head of the female members of the Duke of Anguo Mansion.
Feeling both nervous and complicated, Zhang shi stepped forward and greeted Jiashan with a smile, "Greetings to the Eldest Princess."
When Zhang shi arrived, Jiashan was talking to Song shi, the wife of Fu Xiao.
She hadn't expected that her father would actually invite the Fu family!
In terms of closeness, the Fu family was Zhan Yue's maternal uncle's family and was in disgrace, so they could not compare to the Duke of Anguo Mansion.
Jiashan noticed a woman she didn't recognize at the banquet and went over to greet her. To her surprise, she learned that this woman was the sister of the Deputy Censor of Shaanxi and had married Fu Xiao, the only remaining son of the Fu family, a few years ago.
By this connection, Zhan Yue would have to address her as "maternal aunt." A Deputy Censor was no small official.
Seeing Zhang shi, Jiashan nodded and intentionally said in a soft voice, "The Song family is truly noble for upholding the marriage promise with the Fu family even after the Fu family's downfall. It's truly admirable."
Song shi smiled and echoed Jiashan, "Lord Fu was a man of his word all his life. Naturally, we could not be so petty and betray our trust."
"You are also very noble, maternal aunt."
Following Zhan Yue's generation, Jiashan addressed Song shi as "maternal aunt."
Song shi quickly declined the title, but Jiashan said, "We will be family soon. Are you so formal even at home?"
Song shi smiled, and when she looked at Jiashan again, her eyes were no longer distant and official but filled with warmth and kindness. She had accepted the title of "maternal aunt."
After exchanging pleasantries with Song shi, Jiashan finally turned her attention to Zhang shi beside her.
The phrases "petty" and "betrayal" that Jiashan and Song shi had exchanged might not have been understood by others, but Zhang shi understood perfectly.
After the Fu family's downfall, the Duke Anguo had abandoned the marriage agreement with the Fu family and married the daughter of the Wu Chongbo instead. Wasn't that precisely a case of being petty and betraying one's trust when faced with the downfall of the Fu family?
Zhang shi forced a smile, and at that moment, she realized just how unfriendly the princess was towards them. Why marry into such a family if this was the case?
Zhang shi stiffly said politely, "My fourth brother has had a difficult life. Princess, you must take good care of him in the future."
Jiashan's face was as white and plump as snow. Her complexion was exceptionally delicate in the setting sun. She looked at Zhang shi without blinking and said softly, "Of course."
"With me by his side for the rest of his life, he will surely have a bright future," Jiashan raised her eyes and asked brightly, "Wouldn't you agree, Shizi Furen?"