Chapter 253: The Grand Finale (Part 2) 02
The new emperor ascended the throne, and the following year changed the era name to Taikang, granting a general amnesty throughout the realm.
In the first month of the first year of Taikang, Cheng Zhao was pregnant again and already seven months along.
She insisted on leaving the palace because her mother-in-law had gone out early that morning.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!” Nanny Li was frantic. “Your belly is already so big. What if you trip or bump into something? It simply isn’t worth the risk.”
“I’ll be careful,” Cheng Zhao said.
“You can’t just leave the palace whenever you please. If the censors hear of it, they’ll lecture you about failing to uphold the dignity of the Empress,” Nanny Li said again.
Nanny Li was the senior matron who had accompanied Cheng Zhao when she married, and she had remained by her side ever since.
Suyue and Qiubai had both become palace ladies, while the other maids who had come with Cheng Zhao had entered the palace with her as well.
“I’ll sneak out. Mother has gone too,” Cheng Zhao said. “The censors won’t find out.”
Nanny Li: “...”
She could not dissuade the Empress, and she certainly could not dissuade the empress dowager.
Qiubai could not help saying, “We’d better hurry. If we wait any longer, we truly won’t be able to get out. The carriage is ready, and His Majesty has given his permission.”
Nanny Li was utterly helpless.
Cheng Zhao changed into a simple everyday outfit and, taking Qiubai and two guards with her, quietly made her way to Prince Zhong’s residence.
Prince Zhong’s residence belonged to Zhou Yuanjin, Zhou Yuanshen’s fourth younger brother. It was not far from Prince Yong’s residence. As for Zhou Yuanqi’s residence, it was the former Duke of Chen’s estate.
When Cheng Zhao married into the Duke of Chen’s household, Zhou Yuanjin was stationed on the frontier. After something happened to his maternal uncle, the realm descended into chaos, and he continued guarding the border.
After Zhou Yuanshen ascended the throne, Zhou Yuanjin remained occupied with affairs along the frontier and had not returned home.
The empress dowager had been hoping he could come back for the New Year.
Then a minor matter delayed him, and he did not return until the first month of the year.
The empress dowager had mentioned him to Cheng Zhao several times. “I haven’t seen him in nearly ten years. I don’t even know what he looks like now. All I can remember is how he looked when he was seven or eight.”
He had arrived only yesterday, and the empress dowager had slipped out early that morning.
Cheng Zhao had risen early to pay her respects at the Palace of Longevity and Blessings. When she heard from the palace maids that the empress dowager had left the palace first thing in the morning, she too grew eager to see what was going on.
When they reached Prince Zhong’s residence, the guards standing watch at the entrance were still the ones the empress dowager had brought from the palace.
Seeing Cheng Zhao, one of them hurriedly bowed. “Her Majesty the empress dowager instructed us to wait here for you.”
Cheng Zhao: “...”
Prince Zhong’s residence had little more than a newly hung plaque. Since Prince Zhong had only just returned to the capital, the household consisted of a few old retainers and aging gatekeepers, as well as his deputy general.
Cheng Zhao was led to the training grounds.
“The empress dowager came to see His Highness, and went straight to the training grounds?” Cheng Zhao asked.
The guard replied, “Yes. When Her Majesty entered the residence, there was already a young lady here.”
Cheng Zhao quickened her pace.
Qiubai did not try to stop her. She followed close behind, knowing that Cheng Zhao had been dreadfully bored these days and was eager for some excitement.
After the new emperor ascended the throne, Cheng Zhao moved into the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, expecting to have plenty to do.
Instead, she discovered that there was almost nothing.
The inner palace was far less complicated than the Duke of Chen’s residence had been when she first married into it. There were fewer matters to manage, and Cheng Zhao’s talent for running a household had no opportunity to shine.
Zhou Yuanshen seemed to notice how bored she was. He often brought memorials back with him, and the two of them would secretly read them and discuss them together.
Cheng Zhao loved reading histories. Ever since she was a child, she had studied maps of the realm in her grandfather’s private library and had developed a deep understanding of politics and statecraft.
These days, Zhou Yuanshen had been attending lessons with his tutors, making up for all the knowledge an emperor was expected to possess. He had studied formally at the Zhou clan school for only two years; everything else, he had learned through his own efforts and insight.
Because of his reserved nature, steady bearing, and handsome appearance, he possessed such an air of an aristocratic gentleman that people often forgot he had risen through the military ranks.
Whenever he failed to understand something his tutors taught him, he would memorize it first and then look it up in books.
But he had discovered that Cheng Zhao understood those things.
Not only did Cheng Zhao help him review his lessons, she also discussed the memorials with him. It was as though he had gained himself an assistant.
These activities were interesting and made Cheng Zhao feel somewhat more fulfilled.
And yet, she was still bored.
Perhaps the six years she had spent amid warfare had left her constantly tense. She simply could not bear to sit idle.
She wanted to see all kinds of excitement.
Following the guards, she arrived at the training grounds and saw her mother-in-law dressed in a short martial tunic, sparring with a woman wielding a spear.
Her mother-in-law had never neglected her spear practice over the years. The other woman’s technique was even more polished; unlike Cheng Zhao, she was no mere showy amateur.
The two of them fought for quite some time without either gaining the upper hand. It was Zhou Yuanjin who noticed Cheng Zhao first.
He strode over.
“Your Majesty.” He dropped to one knee and performed a formal bow.
Cheng Zhao hurriedly told him to rise. “Fourth Brother, I slipped out secretly. Don’t announce my arrival.”
Zhou Yuanjin stood.
He did not dare look at Cheng Zhao, while Cheng Zhao openly studied him.
He had spent too many years on the frontier and had not inherited his mother’s fair complexion, so his skin was rather dark. His features closely resembled Zhou Yuanqi’s.
Meanwhile, the second lady had won her match.
“Your Majesty has an impressive spear technique,” the woman said with a smile, cupping her fists.
Her mother-in-law was delighted. “You were only being generous.”
Cheng Zhao was looking at the woman.
She had a fine figure—tall, slender, and well-proportioned. Her wheat-colored skin was firm, and her eyes were especially bright. Her hair was tied high, giving her a bold and heroic air.
Cheng Zhao was accustomed to seeing refined young ladies. This was the first time she had encountered someone like this, and she could not help staring.
The woman came over to greet her.
Her mother-in-law walked over with a smile and said to Cheng Zhao, “Her name is Xie Yun. Her grandfather once served under your maternal grandfather.”
“So there’s such a connection between you?” Cheng Zhao said with a smile.
Her mother-in-law wiped away her sweat. “Why did you leave the palace too?”
“I was worried about you. And you didn’t even wait for me,” Cheng Zhao replied.
Her mother-in-law smiled. “I only came to take a look, then I was going back.”
“It’s already nearly midday,” Cheng Zhao pointed out.
Her mother-in-law: “...”
As they were talking, a deputy general came over. “General, the imperial edict has arrived at the relay station. They’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Her mother-in-law was slightly taken aback. “His Highness is right here in the residence. What sort of edict would be sent to the relay station?”
Zhou Yuanjin said, “Mother, it isn’t for me...”
“Your Majesty the empress dowager, it is for this subordinate,” Xie Yun said.
Her mother-in-law: “...”
That day, the mother and daughter-in-law left Prince Zhong’s residence and stopped by Prince Yong’s residence as well, inspecting it from top to bottom. They also discussed choosing a princess consort for Prince Yong in a few days’ time.
Zhou Yuanqi saw the two of them completely ignoring him and complained several times in displeasure.
In the days that followed, her mother-in-law would occasionally discuss Xie Yun with Cheng Zhao.
“She has been appointed General Ningyuan and granted a residence.”
“If A-Shen had not ascended the throne, Yuanjin would probably have been made no more than a general. She is actually no less accomplished than him.”
“A-Shen has agreed to arrange their marriage. They’ll wed at the end of the year.”
Cheng Zhao listened with a smile.
She said, “Mother, every daughter-in-law who enters the family has to spar with you first.”
Xie Yun had sparred with her mother-in-law the very first time they met.
Remembering how Cheng Zhao had kicked open the gates on their first meeting, her mother-in-law could not help laughing. “That’s true.”
Then she added, “Why don’t we find Yuanqi a military family’s daughter as well? Once you’ve given birth, the four of us mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law can play polo together.”
“Wouldn’t that leave me as the only loser?” Cheng Zhao laughed. “My riding skills are only so-so. How could I possibly compete with you and General Xie?”
“Then let’s find Yuanqi a girl from a scholarly family. That way, the two of us can form one team, and the other two can form the opposing team,” her mother-in-law suggested.
The more she thought about it, the better the idea seemed. “Those two princess consorts will understand a little about social etiquette, won’t they? Surely they wouldn’t dare beat the empress dowager and the Empress. Zhao-zhao, we’re guaranteed to win.”
Cheng Zhao: “...”
Her mother-in-law had never been one for strong opinions. Whatever Cheng Zhao said was fine with her, so long as Cheng Zhao was happy.
Naturally, she also did not care what Zhou Yuanqi thought.
“Very well, Mother. You choose,” Cheng Zhao said, happy to play along.
Although she said that, she secretly sent Zhou Yuanqi a letter to warn him to be prepared: if there was a young lady he fancied, he should say so early, lest the empress dowager make a match for him on a whim.
Zhou Yuanqi wrote back, saying that a scholar observed proper etiquette and never exchanged private correspondence with young ladies. He did not know anyone at all, so Her Majesty the Empress should not sully his good name.
Cheng Zhao was so exasperated that she laughed.
In mid-March of that year, Cheng Zhao gave birth to a princess.
Her mother-in-law was overjoyed.
“I’ve been hoping for a granddaughter for so long, and now we finally have one.” Her mother-in-law’s eyes reddened as she spoke. “It hasn’t been easy.”
It was not only the granddaughter who had come with such difficulty.
During those years of war, Cheng Zhao had given birth only to Zhou Jing’an. Then, for six long years, everyone had lived amid turmoil and unrest.
Her mother-in-law had barely had enough to eat or wear, yet she and Cheng Zhao had held the family together.
Cheng Zhao still remembered that when she had first married into the Zhou family, she had made a fuss over the smallest matter and threatened to divorce. Her grandfather had told her, “You’ve never gone hungry. That’s why you think every little thing is the end of the world.”
She had not understood him then.
During the war, Cheng Zhao had gone hungry too, and only then did she grasp what her grandfather meant. When one was starving, everything else was a minor matter.
Now that Cheng Zhao was the Empress, she often felt bored. That was because all the people she could rely on had entered the palace, leaving her with an abundance of fiercely loyal servants.
During the war, Cheng Zhao had not only protected them but also kept them from starving to death. The hardships she had endured for them had earned her their unwavering loyalty.
All those years of toil had been worth it.
Even so, looking back still made her break out in a cold sweat.
The birth of the little princess seemed to tell her mother-in-law that the hardships of the past were finally over and that an era of peace and prosperity had begun.
Though all things were still recovering, and life remained somewhat difficult.
Zhou Yuanshen was delighted as well. During the princess’s third-day bathing ceremony, he named her Zhou Yonghua, granted her the title of Princess Shengning, and bestowed a princess’s residence upon her.
Her parents-in-law also prepared gifts for the little princess.
Her father-in-law’s leg ailment had improved considerably under the careful treatment of the palace physicians. He now limped only slightly, which did not hinder him from walking, practicing with his spear, or holding the baby.
The inner palace was filled with joy.
Cheng Zhao did not feel that she was living in the inner palace at all.
The former Chen State Duke’s residence had been nearly as large. The distance between the two palace compounds was about the same as that between Chengming Hall and Jiangyun Court had once been.
It felt much like living at home. In fact, many of the servants attending them had come from the Chen State Duke’s residence. They were still simply a family living together.
While Cheng Zhao was in confinement after giving birth, she heard some news: Prince Jingnan had taken Cheng Ying as his adopted daughter, and the prince’s residence had issued a divorce certificate. Cheng Ying and Zhang Yunqi had divorced.
It was her mother-in-law who told her that Cheng Ying had divorced.
“...Madam Sheng requested permission to enter the palace to visit me and brought it up. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known,” her mother-in-law said.
General Sheng had died in the campaign to quell the rebellion. After Zhou Yuanshen ascended the throne, he rewarded those who had distinguished themselves, and the Sheng family received many honors and gifts. Madam Sheng was granted the rank of First-Rank Lady.
She and the empress dowager had been close friends since their girlhood. Both were candid and unreserved by nature, and Madam Sheng often requested permission to enter the palace, visiting just as she had in the past.
Many of the latest stories from outside the palace came from Madam Sheng. Cheng Zhao’s family, however, was too cautious to bring such things to her.
“My third sister was once famous throughout the capital. She was the most outstanding and accomplished daughter in the Cheng family. Zhang Yunqi’s elopement destroyed her entire reputation.
“If Princess Consort Jingnan hadn’t gone to such lengths to support her, and if every member of the Cheng family hadn’t remained so steady, who knows how badly people would have trampled her. Every now and then, when I think of it, I feel wronged on my third sister’s behalf,” Cheng Zhao said.
There were five sisters in their family, and the third sister had the greatest talent.
Their mother occasionally said that Cheng Zhao was the cleverest and most beautiful, but in Cheng Zhao’s eyes, her third sister was the one who excelled in every way. Cheng Zhao felt she was far inferior to her.
“The Third Young Lady’s situation truly was unfortunate,” her mother-in-law said.
Cheng Zhao continued, “Now that they’re divorced, I suspect it was my third sister’s own choice. Otherwise, the Prince Jingnan’s residence would never have agreed to it.”
The Zhang family would never have dared force Cheng Ying into a divorce.
Zhou Yuanshen was the emperor, and the Wu Commandery Cheng clan had produced its first Empress. The Cheng family’s status had risen dramatically. Besides, with every new emperor came a new group of trusted ministers. Although Prince Jingnan had rendered outstanding military service, he was ultimately a general of the previous dynasty, while Zhou Yuanshen had no shortage of capable men at his disposal.
At a time like this, provoking the Cheng family would have been sheer suicide for the Zhang family. There was only one possibility: Cheng Ying herself had wanted the divorce.
“She lived a quiet, carefree life in a small courtyard at the prince’s residence and cared little for fame or wealth. Why would she suddenly want a divorce?” Cheng Zhao asked.
Her mother-in-law replied, “No matter how comfortable her life was, she was still someone else’s daughter-in-law, not their daughter. Whatever freedom she enjoyed, she was still living within another family’s inner court. If it were me, I’d divorce and leave no matter what.”
“Mother, that’s because you value your freedom above all else,” Cheng Zhao said. “My third sister may not think the same way.”
She then asked, “Does His Majesty intend to deal with Prince Jingnan? Prince Jingnan rendered great service in quelling the rebellion. If he were touched now, it could shake people’s confidence.”
Her mother-in-law already found family matters troublesome enough; political affairs were even more overwhelming.
“How about I go out and make some inquiries for you?” she suggested. “I can go straight to the Cheng family and ask your mother.”
Cheng Zhao: “...”
That would frighten her family half to death.
Cheng Zhao told her mother-in-law to wait and see. She sent an eunuch to the Sheng residence instead, asking Madam Sheng to make inquiries. A few days later, Madam Sheng could return to the palace and share the news during a casual visit.
Madam Sheng failed to discover anything. Cheng Ying herself requested permission to enter the palace.
Cheng Zhao hurriedly sent someone to receive her.
The sisters had not seen each other in quite some time, so Cheng Zhao began with a few polite greetings.
Knowing that her sister was anxious, Cheng Ying asked with a smile, “Have you heard that I’ve divorced?”
“Tell me everything!” Cheng Zhao urged.
Cheng Ying could not help laughing.
“There’s no other reason. Dongbai wants to live with me,” Cheng Ying said.
He had finally developed genuine feelings for Cheng Ying.
Those feelings had disrupted Cheng Ying’s peaceful life.
“...To avoid him, I returned to my parents’ home and even stayed for a while at a temple. Mother told me that I was someone else’s wife, and there were certain duties I had to fulfill. I couldn’t have every advantage without giving anything in return.
“Mother told me to divorce. Given the Cheng family’s current status, it wouldn’t be difficult for me to marry again. Even if I chose not to, my family could establish a separate household for me as a single woman, return all my dowry, and give me additional money, land, and estates.
“Zhang Yunqi treated me poorly in the past, but circumstances have changed so greatly now. Who would dare criticize the Cheng family?” Cheng Ying said with a smile.
There was one more reason she did not mention: back then, she had refused to divorce not only because she enjoyed her comfortable life, but also because she feared that the gossip would affect her younger siblings’ marriages.
At that time, neither Cheng Zhao nor Cheng Chao was married.
Cheng Ying had quietly gone about her duties and never flaunted her contributions. She did not want Cheng Zhao to feel that she had suffered for their sake.
“‘Reputation’ is a matter of luck. When the Grand Madam and Huan-shi died, the Chen State Duke’s residence lost all its prestige. Back then, people mocked us behind our backs.
“I told my mother-in-law that our children would probably have to marry beneath them in the future—or else we would have to arrange marriages with families related to the Chengs by marriage.
“But not long afterward, war broke out. And now, what need does the Zhou family have for the reputation they once possessed? Third Sister, as long as this is what you want, that’s enough,” Cheng Zhao said.
Cheng Ying smiled. “I want to live a quieter life.”
Zhang Yunqi had pressed her too hard. She could hardly breathe.
“I discussed it with my parents-in-law, and naturally they agreed at once. They were worried that I would find life difficult after leaving the Zhang family, so they adopted me as their daughter.
“They returned the betrothal gifts from back then and gave me back my dowry as well. My mother-in-law even gave me an additional twenty thousand taels of silver,” Cheng Ying said.
“That was very generous of them,” Cheng Zhao replied.
Cheng Ying nodded. “They’re good people. If Dongbai never came back and chose to live his own life out there, I wouldn’t have thought of leaving the Zhang family.”
“Sometimes you have to break before you can build anew. Perhaps better days lie ahead,” Cheng Zhao said.
Cheng Ying merely replied, “I’ll be the same wherever I am.”
“Have you finished settling into your residence? Has your independent woman’s household been established?” Cheng Zhao asked.
“The household registration is all sorted out. Mother had the residence arranged before I divorced. Everything was taken care of down to the smallest detail. She had Second Brother handle it—he’s always been the most meticulous.” Cheng Ying smiled.
Back then, it had also been Second Brother who had purchased and furnished Eldest Sister’s residence. He truly had seen to everything.
Raised by their grandfather from childhood, Second Brother possessed an excellent eye for such things. The courtyards he arranged were not only comfortable but elegant as well.
“Oh, by the way, Chao and his wife will be returning to the capital soon,” Cheng Ying added.
“At last.” Cheng Zhao smiled. “I heard His Majesty say that Fourth Brother will be made a duke of the state, and Fourth Sister-in-law will receive the rank of a first-rank noblewoman.”
“They deserve it,” Cheng Ying said.
Cheng Chao had dealt Helian Xuan a grievous wound—the greatest achievement of all.
During the war, Cheng Chao had been trapped in Qinzhou and had nearly missed his wedding to Guo Hanzhang. Guo Hanzhang had taken her dowry and gone to Qinzhou on her own.
The fighting continued for three years. Guo Hanzhang organized the village women in farming and sericulture, providing supplies for the army. After the war ended, Cheng Chao remained there to recover from his injuries, while Guo Hanzhang helped the prefect and the general restore agriculture.
She had earned immense prestige among the local people. With a single call, everyone answered; she had practically become a living goddess of mercy.
For the past several years, she and Cheng Chao had stayed behind to stabilize Qinzhou.
Qinzhou was the fastest region to recover.
The couple’s contributions had been invaluable.
Zhou Yuanshen received memorial after memorial and would show them to Cheng Zhao.
He had said he would reward Guo Hanzhang handsomely.
He intended to grant her the title Lady of Sericulture—not as an appendage to her husband or his family, but as an honor bestowed upon her in her own right.
Cheng Zhao thought the title suited her perfectly.
“...Back then, everyone said Fourth Sister-in-law was fierce and sharp-tongued, that anyone who crossed her would be subjected to her biting sarcasm. Yet they all overlooked how decisive and formidable she truly was.” Cheng Ying smiled.
Then she added, “The Guo family has fallen on hard times these past few years.”
After the Crown Prince’s death and the change of dynasty, the Guo family had already begun to decline during the war.
Guo Hanzhang had relied entirely on herself to carve out a path of her own.
After Cheng Zhao had completed her postpartum confinement, Cheng Chao and Guo Hanzhang returned to the capital, and she summoned them both.
When the siblings saw each other again, their eyes grew slightly damp.
Cheng Zhao had nearly lost Cheng Chao forever. At the time, he had intended to die together with Helian Xuan.
What a fool.
But it was better for him to be a fool.
Compared with a madman, Cheng Zhao was far more relieved that her brother was merely foolish.
Cheng Zhao had the Crown Prince and the little princess brought in so that their uncle and aunt could meet them.
When Cheng Chao saw Cheng Zhao’s two children, he secretly let out a sigh of relief. “They both look like His Majesty.”
His Majesty was handsome, and both children were beautiful.
“What a pity they don’t look like me.”
“What’s there to regret?” Cheng Chao immediately retorted. “You’re annoying enough as it is.”
Cheng Zhao flew into a rage. “That’s slander! I’m perfectly well-behaved and obedient!”
Cheng Chao: “...”
The two of them quarreled at the slightest disagreement, then made peace and clasped hands moments later, leaving Guo Hanzhang utterly stunned.
Their mother-in-law even made a special trip to Kunning Palace to see Guo Hanzhang.
“That unruly Miss Guo from years ago has become such an impressive woman.” The empress dowager sighed.
Cheng Zhao smiled. “She’s still ‘unruly.’ It’s just that when a temperament like hers is put to good use, it benefits both the country and its people.”
“Indeed.” The empress dowager smiled. “Your temperament, too, is perfectly suited to being the Empress.”
Cheng Zhao could not help laughing.
The empress dowager was just as she had always been, convinced that Cheng Zhao was the finest of them all.
In the second year of the Taikang era, sea bandits arose in the east. The trouble dragged on for nearly half a year without any progress.
Afraid that the hard-won stability of the court might be shaken again, and concerned that both the government and the people might lose confidence, Zhou Yuanshen decided to lead the campaign himself.
Before departing, he placed the Crown Prince in charge of the government, with the Empress and the Chancellor assisting him.
The empress dowager was stunned. “He wants you to attend court and listen to state affairs?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that reckless? If you make even one mistake, the ministers will attack you!” the empress dowager said.
Cheng Zhao replied, “Mother, I can learn. Maintaining the people’s confidence is what matters most right now. He must lead the campaign himself. This is the first disturbance since His Majesty ascended the throne. If it cannot be suppressed quickly, others may follow its example.”
For a moment, the empress dowager did not know what to say.
“If those old ministers bully you, tell me. I’ll make a scene in court. I may be old, but I’m still the empress dowager. What can they do to me?” she said.
Cheng Zhao laughed and hurriedly agreed.
This period of court attendance lasted four months.
Cheng Zhao’s understanding of state affairs and her insight into governance astonished the ministers. Her grandfather also supported her at every turn.
The Crown Prince was only eight years old and merely sat nearby to learn. Prince Yong, Zhou Yuanqi, attended court as well. Every opinion Cheng Zhao offered, he would explain further and elevate with his own commentary.
In court, Zhou Yuanqi and her grandfather were worth a hundred men together. Their wholehearted support established Cheng Zhao’s authority without a word being said.
No matter what Cheng Zhao said, Zhou Yuanqi could always smooth it over and make it sound soundly reasoned.
Within the palace, meanwhile, her parents-in-law supported her to the utmost. She did not need to worry about anything else.
After returning victorious from the campaign, Zhou Yuanshen held Cheng Zhao in his arms beneath the bed curtains and asked, “From now on, will you attend court and listen to state affairs with me?”
“The ministers won’t agree,” Cheng Zhao said.
“It would merely be a return to the practices of antiquity. It was only the Helian clan that forbade the Empress and the empress dowager from attending court. In every other dynasty, which Empress or empress dowager did not sit in court?” Zhou Yuanshen replied.
Cheng Zhao: “...”
Beginning in the third year of the Taikang era, Cheng Zhao attended court alongside Zhou Yuanshen.
She was very busy.
Even so, she was happy every time she returned to the inner palace. Her daughter resembled the empress dowager in every way—bright, lively, and sweet-tongued. She worshiped Cheng Zhao and was forever praising her.
Whenever Cheng Zhao was troubled, she only had to sit with the empress dowager and listen to her daughter say a few words before her mood lifted completely.
“...I heard that Fan Xiao asked to marry your Third Sister, but she turned him down,” the empress dowager said to Cheng Zhao.
Cheng Zhao had known for a long time that Fan Xiao loved her Third Sister.
But...
Cheng Zhao felt a little regretful. “Not everyone is suited to marriage. Third Sister has grown accustomed to her freedom. She probably doesn’t want to marry again.”
Because of this, Cheng Zhao had even summoned her Third Sister to ask her about it.
By then, it had been two years since Third Sister’s divorce.
In those two years, had Fan Xiao managed to move her?
Cheng Ying smiled. “Your Majesty, grant me a noble title.”
As the Empress’s elder sister, she was entitled to receive an honor.
“Of course, Third Sister. But you...” Cheng Zhao began.
“I’ve already told Fan Xiao. It isn’t that he’s lacking in any way; I simply don’t wish to fall into the mortal world again. Marriage is not meant for me,” Cheng Ying said. “I hope he finds a suitable match soon.”
However, Fan Xiao never sought another wife, and Cheng Ying never changed her mind. She remained unmarried for the rest of her life.
In private, Cheng Zhao said to the empress dowager, “The saying that ‘no daughter of the Cheng clan of Wu Commandery remarries’—I don’t know whether it has trapped Third Sister.”
“Not necessarily. Your Third Sister has always been like a celestial maiden, untouched by worldly concerns. Whoever she married would have made her suffer.
“When she was a maiden, she didn’t know that. After marrying once, she understood—and she didn’t want to hold anyone else back. She explained herself openly and honestly. That’s a good thing.” The empress dowager replied.
As a daughter and as a daughter-in-law, Third Sister had fulfilled every duty expected of her. Perhaps, for the rest of her life, she simply wanted to live as herself.
The empress dowager was fair-minded rather than blindly partial.
Of course, she was also trying to comfort Cheng Zhao.
Her words eased Cheng Zhao’s heart, and she stopped dwelling on the matter.
As long as it was her own choice, whether Third Sister married or remained single, she could be happy either way.
For many years afterward, whenever a rebellion broke out, Zhou Yuanshen would personally lead the campaign. As his mother-in-law put it, “He’d rather go out and fight than sit in court.”
Zhou Yuanshen was capable of handling state affairs—very capable, in fact—but he was not especially fond of them.
Cheng Zhao agreed completely.
Several years later, the people had recovered and prospered, ushering in an era of peace and abundance. There were no civil wars, resources were plentiful, and the population grew rapidly. By the twentieth year of Taikang’s reign, prosperity had reached its peak.
In the blink of an eye, Cheng Zhao turned fifty. By then, the realm had expanded farther than ever before. Zhou Yuanshen had entrusted the government to Cheng Zhao and the Crown Prince, then conquered the surrounding kingdoms one after another in a series of northern and southern campaigns.
Cheng Zhao had only two children: the Crown Prince and Princess Shengning. But the Crown Prince and the princess each had children of their own, and Cheng Zhao and Zhou Yuanshen were surrounded by grandchildren.
Their love for each other remained as strong as ever.
Zhou Yuanshen no longer went on campaigns, but he had lost interest in court affairs as well. In his free time, he practiced with his spear, chatted with officials from the Ministry of War, and often visited the capital garrison.
Cheng Zhao and the Crown Prince presided over court together. Mother and son were remarkably alike. Not only did they enjoy managing the affairs of the realm, they also loved matching wits with the ministers.
They even divided the roles between them: Cheng Zhao played the villain, decisive and ruthless, while the Crown Prince played the good cop, dispensing favors and winning people over.
Maintaining an established kingdom was no easy task.
Both Cheng Zhao and Zhou Yuanshen wanted to pave the way for the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, wise and precocious, had understood his parents’ intentions from an early age and cooperated with them skillfully.
His first teacher, meanwhile, had been his uncle, Zhou Yuanqi, who personally taught him to read and write, guiding his hand as he practiced his characters.
There was no scholar in the realm more learned than Zhou Yuanqi. The Crown Prince benefited enormously from his instruction.
At the founding of the dynasty, the reason there had been no rivers of blood was that the dynasty’s most illustrious “great general” had been the Emperor himself.
Whenever Cheng Zhao and the Crown Prince could not resolve a matter, he would step in. Once he did, bloodshed and death were inevitable. At such times, Cheng Zhao and the Crown Prince would help plead for mercy.
The three members of the imperial family kept the court firmly under control in both civil and military affairs, and the political situation remained stable.
At fifty, Cheng Zhao had no desire to celebrate her birthday.
“With Father Emperor and Mother Empress still in good health, how could it be my turn to celebrate?” Cheng Zhao said with a laugh.
Zhou Yuanshen was adamant. “Bring out that golden pig.”
Cheng Zhao: “...”
The golden pig was the birthday gift Zhou Yuanqi had given Cheng Zhao when he was eight years old.
Even in his forties, Zhou Yuanqi had not mellowed much. He was still proud and sharp-tongued, and he often found opportunities to make a few sarcastic remarks at Zhou Yuanshen’s expense.
He had even earned a reputation for incorruptibility and fearlessness before imperial authority.
Sometimes, when Cheng Zhao became too overbearing and crushed the ministers too thoroughly, she would be subjected to his mockery as well.
He was the only person he never insulted: the Crown Prince.
The ministers loved watching the imperial family’s antics. It was one of the few pleasures of attending court.
Cheng Zhao and Zhou Yuanshen could not trade insults with him. Mainly because they could never win.
They had to get some of their dignity back!
To put that golden pig on display and let Prince Yong see how mischievous he had been as a child, Cheng Zhao decided to celebrate her birthday after all.
“Mother Empress, where did this golden pig come from?”
“Grandmother, who made this golden pig?”
“What a large golden pig! Why was it made in the shape of a pig? What is it for?”
Amid the chorus of questions, Prince Yong—now the father of four and a great Confucian scholar who could speak eloquently in court—nearly revealed the fury he had felt as a child.
Zhou Yuanqi’s old face flushed red with anger.
Revenge between elder brother and sister-in-law was never too late—even after thirty years.
He hated those two so much!