Chapter 100
From their wedding on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month through the third day of the first lunar month, not a single day had been free.
The Emperor even complained to Cui Lanyin, “I’m worked like an ox.”
Thinking back to his days as Prince Wei, he had only needed to go to the Ministry of War in the mornings. At noon, without fail, he would return for lunch; in the afternoons, he would curl up on the arhat couch in his study to nap or meditate. Those had been days fit for an immortal.
Now, however, apart from a brief rest at noon, the Emperor had to rise at the fourth watch and spend every day in the West Pavilion reading memorials and meeting ministers until the beginning of the evening watch.
Compared with that, leaving for work before sunrise and returning only when the sun had set truly did make the Emperor seem like a plow ox.
The more Cui Lanyin thought about it, the more she wanted to laugh. Not entirely sincerely, she consoled him, “You already have it far better than most. I heard the Grand Empress Dowager say that Emperor Gaozong often reviewed memorials until midnight. Consort Dowager Shu also said that the late Emperor was the same.”
The Emperor was not comforted in the least. “An emperor like that isn’t worth being.”
Fair enough. The Emperor’s brilliant mind was beyond ordinary comparison; he had every right to look down on others.
Seeing Cui Lanyin’s eyes curve with laughter, the Emperor pulled her closer and said to her stomach, “I don’t think six is too young to begin governing the realm.”
The Emperor had said such things many times before. Knowing his tendency to dare what no one else dared, Cui Lanyin’s smile abruptly vanished. “You mean that?”
“If the child takes after me...” the Emperor said seriously, “then from now on, I’ll bring back a few memorials each day to read aloud, and explain some matters of state.”
Cui Lanyin looked at her still-flat stomach. Physician Cao had said that the child was only about the size of a peach at this point, yet its father was already thinking of teaching it how to work?
She shoved him away. “Stop frightening the baby. Hurry up and go to work.”
After the Emperor left, Cui Lanyin tidied herself up and went to Fengyi Palace as well.
Usually, after the Emperor returned at the second morning watch for breakfast, the two of them went about their respective duties. He went to the West Pavilion of Yan Hua Palace to attend to state affairs, while she went to Fengyi Palace to manage the inner palace.
Now that the Emperor had only her, many of the palace halls stood empty. Palace affairs were therefore not overly complicated, and with Qi An, Aunt Xia, and Leping helping her, everything could be dealt with in a single morning.
At noon, she returned to Yan Hua Palace for lunch and an afternoon rest. The time after she awoke was her own.
Cui Lanyin thought that once things settled down over the next few days, she would retain control only over the broader direction of palace affairs and leave the daily matters to Qi An and the other two. The Bureau of Commercial Affairs was what she truly needed to focus on.
On the fifth day of the first lunar month, not long after she arrived at Fengyi Palace, Buyu came to tell her that the Emperor had promoted members of her natal family again.
Cui Sheng was promoted one rank to become a fifth-rank Director in the Ministry of Works. He was already the Earl of Xuanping; while this was the lowest rank entitled to attend court assemblies, it allowed him to stand near the front.
Her second uncle, Cui Fang, was transferred from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to the Ministry of Revenue, promoted from a seventh-rank Registrar at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to a sixth-rank Secretary in the Ministry of Revenue.
Her uncle Jiang Cong'an had been promoted even more dramatically, leaping from sixth rank to fourth rank. The Emperor assigned him to the Censorate, where he took over Di Nian’s former position as an Assistant Censor-in-Chief.
To everyone’s surprise, Di Nian was promoted to Right Deputy Censor-in-Chief, third rank, while the former Right Deputy Censor-in-Chief filled the vacant post of Left Censor-in-Chief that Wan Shan had left behind.
Of the three—Cui Sheng, his brother, and Jiang Cong'an—the highest rank was only fourth. The court officials assumed that, since the Emperor had not previously bestowed a residence upon the Cui family, he was merely granting the Empress’s relatives modest promotions. Instead, all their attention was fixed on Di Nian.
With Di Nian’s promotion, the emperor subsequently demoted or dismissed a number of officials whose evaluations were poor and whose abilities were lacking. Although many of them had been among those who knelt at Duan Gate alongside Wan Shan, their removal caused little disturbance at court.
The demotion and dismissal of so many officials left a great number of vacancies. The emperor announced that examinations would be held to fill them, and that both students of the Imperial Academy and those who had earned the juren degree could take part. This was what truly affected the court officials’ interests. They were all too busy returning home to coach their sons and grandsons for the examinations to pay attention to anything else.
Court affairs proceeded much more smoothly, and the emperor could occasionally return to the rear palace before nightfall.
Though they had agreed in principle, the Dong family truly doted on their daughter. On the third day of the New Year, they had Lady Dong meet with Jiang Shi. Only after Lady Dong gave her approval did they settle the engagement with the Jiang family.
Both families were straightforward, and the two young people truly could not afford to delay any longer. Within a few days, they had even settled on a wedding date.
At a time like this, Jiang Cong’an had been promoted, while Jiang Shi could take the examination to obtain an official post. The Dong family was so delighted that they felt their daughter’s fortunes had finally turned around. They did not use any of the dowry they had previously reclaimed from the second branch of the Cui family, instead preparing Lady Dong an even more lavish dowry from scratch.
Jiang Cong’an and Madam Gu did not want to continue living so close to the Cui family’s main branch. As luck would have it, a household to the north, next to the Cui residence, found that its home was too small and planned to sell it and move somewhere larger. After learning of the Jiang couple’s intentions, they took the initiative to approach them.
The price they offered was very reasonable—slightly lower than the market rate. Since Jiang Cong’an and his wife had only two sons, there would be more than enough room for two daughters-in-law after they married. Thus, they bought the house.
After purchasing the residence and providing the betrothal gifts to the Dong family, nearly all of the Jiang couple’s savings from many years were gone.
When Cui Lanyin learned of this, she sent Buyu to take three thousand taels in banknotes to Lady Jiang. Buyu told Lady Jiang about the business idea Cui Lanyin had come up with. Lady Jiang brought Cui Lanzhi along, and the mother and daughter excitedly took the money to see Madam Gu.
After hearing Lady Jiang out, Madam Gu immediately saw the promise in the idea. She readily accepted the money and made all the necessary arrangements for Jiang Shi’s wedding. Then, together with Lady Jiang and Cui Lanzhi, she began discussing the matter of opening a clothing shop.
Ever since Cui Lanyin had moved into Prince Wei’s residence, the main branch of the Cui family had begun socializing with people outside the household, and many had started asking about the clothing designs Lady Jiang had come up with.
If not for Cui Ermeng’s formidable reputation, no one would have dared press the matter, and there would probably have been plenty of people coming to Lady Jiang every day to ask for her designs.
Fifth Madam Yao had once suggested that she and Lady Jiang open a clothing shop together. But since Lady Jiang could not freely associate with outsiders without first consulting Cui Lanyin, she had asked Cui Lanyin for an excuse and turned the proposal down.
Now that she could open a shop together with her sister-in-law and eldest daughter, Lady Jiang was delighted from the bottom of her heart. In high spirits, she found it easier than ever to draw her clothing designs.
There had still been no further word regarding Cui Lanting’s marriage. Lady Chang was furious that the main branch had actually managed to arrange Lady Dong’s marriage to Jiang Shi, and she had consequently developed a grudge against Lady Jiang. After returning from the palace, she no longer came to the main branch two or three times a day as she once had.
Once Cui Fang was promoted as well—transferring from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to the Ministry of Revenue—only Cui Mian remained stuck in his idle post at the Five Military Command, without the slightest change. Lady Chang found the situation even more difficult to swallow.
While the family was having dinner, she complained to Cui Mian, “Your second and third brothers don’t even have you, their elder brother, in their eyes.”
“Yin’er has become Empress, yet our second branch of the family has gained nothing from it. Since that is the case, why should we make way for Kaiyang to return home?”
Cui Mian immediately sensed something was amiss. “You’ve been in contact with that unfilial wretch?”
Lady Chang’s eyes shifted uneasily. “He is still flesh of my flesh. He came to me to admit his mistakes, crying so miserably that I…”
Cui Lanting, standing to one side, added, “Eldest Brother even went and sabotaged Eldest Sister-in-law’s marriage arrangements.”
Cui Fu followed suit. “Outside, Eldest Brother may as well paste a notice on his forehead saying, ‘I’m the Empress’s brother-in-law.’ Everyone is afraid he might truly be allowed back into the family, so no one dares offend him. Commander Meng wanted to deal with him, but those around him persuaded him otherwise.”
Meeting Lady Chang’s warning look, Cui Lanting suddenly no longer wished to hold back. She simply said everything. “When we entered the palace that day, Princess Yongjia asked about the marriage match she had proposed for me. After Mother refused Princess Yongjia, she turned around and asked Second Sister whether Prince Ping ought to be considering marriage.”
Cui Mian’s face turned livid at once. Pointing at Lady Chang, he roared, “You ignorant fool! Not only did you meet that unfilial wretch behind my back, you even dared meddle in Prince Ping’s marriage. You want to become Prince Ping’s mother-in-law? I certainly do not dare accept such an honor. It is precisely because you are greedy enough to covet anything that the Empress keeps her distance from you, and His Majesty refuses to employ me.”
Only then did Lady Chang regret that her actions had implicated Cui Mian. “Then I’ll go and apologize to the Empress.”
Cui Mian had already had enough of her. He said decisively, “From now on, you are to stay at home and not take a single step outside. Nor are you to go and trouble your second and third sisters-in-law. If you refuse to listen, I will have your family come and take you away.”
Lady Chang was frightened. Shrinking in on herself, she agreed.
Cui Mian turned to Cui Lanting. “Later, I’ll speak with your Third Uncle. From now on, let your Third Uncle and Third Aunt arrange your marriage.”
“I’ll do as Father says,” Cui Lanting replied, embarrassed.
Whenever something happened, Cui Lanting would tell Cui Lanzhi, and this time was no exception. Cui Lanyin also sent people home every few days to inquire after matters, and before long she learned what had happened in the second branch.
Cui Mian’s change of heart showed that Cui Fu was not a fool either, and Cui Lanyin found herself approving of them a little more.
She summoned Cui Su. “Go find Meng Huaizong and have Cui Chang transferred somewhere farther away. Best if he is sent back to Shanxi. From now on, let him settle there for good.”
Cui Su had long wanted to do exactly that. “I’ve wanted to act for some time, but I was afraid people would say I was driving my own brother to ruin over a trifling matter, and that it would damage your reputation.”
Cui Lanyin gave a mocking laugh. “What reputation do I need? Don’t burden yourself with such worries either. No matter what happens, the important thing is that we do not have to swallow our grievances.”
Having received her approval, Cui Su immediately began rubbing his hands together in anticipation. “Before I send him packing, I need to beat him senseless first and get this anger out of my system.”
After learning that the Emperor could perceive her thoughts at any time, Cui Lanyin changed the way she did things. Whenever anything happened, she would tell the Emperor.
In truth, it had been much the same back when they lived at the prince’s residence. To encourage him to speak more, she had told him about matters great and small.
Only a few days had passed, yet she already felt as though the two of them had returned to those days at the prince’s residence, when uncle and niece kept each other company.
This time was no different. When the Emperor returned for lunch, Cui Lanyin told him, as casually as if she were chatting about everyday gossip, everything that had recently happened between the two branches of the Cui family, as well as how she had instructed Cui Su to seek out Meng Huaizong.
The Emperor said, “For such matters, you may freely instruct Brother Su to handle them.”
At this, he gave a laugh. “We can’t keep calling him Brother Su forever. It wouldn’t look very good for our Assistant Commander Cui.”
Cui Lanyin thought it over. “But a man may only take a courtesy name when he comes of age at twenty. He will not even be eighteen until after the New Year.”
The Emperor was unconcerned. “That is for ordinary people. He is already a fourth-rank official; he is more than qualified to take one early. The character *su* means ‘to rise.’ As the *Zuo Commentary*, twenty-fourth year of Duke Xiang, says: ‘The highest is to possess virtue; next is to establish merit; next is to establish words.’ Let his courtesy name be *Liyan*—‘Establishing Words.’”
“It rolls easily off the tongue and carries a fine meaning. Brother Su will certainly like it.”
The Emperor drew her into his arms. “Your family can make do with their current quarters for a while. Don’t rush to buy a residence; I have arrangements in mind.”
With a smile, Cui Lanyin covered his mouth with her hand. “Uncle, you have already done more than enough for my family. Let us forget about the house. Now that I am married, their home is quite spacious. There would still be room enough even when Brother Su marries.”
The Emperor persisted. “Just remember—not to buy a house.”
Thinking it must concern matters of state, Cui Lanyin hurriedly replied, “I will remember.”
She had been considering whether, if a residence near the Cui family’s main branch came up for sale, she might purchase it with her own money to give her family more room. But since the Emperor had said this, she could only wait for now.
As they spoke, Buyan led Chief Court Physician Cao inside.
The Emperor helped Cui Lanyin sit properly. “Chief Court Physician Cao is particularly skilled in matters of pregnancy. Once a pregnancy has passed three months, he can determine whether the child is a boy or a girl. Let him examine you. Then you will know what clothing and other things to prepare for the child.”
Cui Lanyin had not expected Chief Court Physician Cao to possess such skill. If they knew the child’s sex in advance, then, just as the Emperor had said, they could prepare everything beforehand.
Chief Court Physician Cao first took her pulse at the right wrist. After a long while, he checked her left wrist as well. He examined both for the better part of a quarter-hour, then glanced at the Emperor. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, “Your Majesty, Your Highness… from what I can tell, it is a little… princess.”
Cui Lanyin had always had a feeling, and now that her wish had come true, she could not contain her delight. “It truly is a little princess?” Forgetting herself, she seized the Emperor’s hand. “Then you are not allowed to read memorials to her anymore.”
She knew that all sides were waiting in secret for an opportunity to make their move, while her control over affairs within and beyond the palace was still far too weak. She was terribly afraid that she would be unable to protect the child.
If the outside world knew she was carrying a girl, those people presumably would not act. After all, the manpower and effort they had painstakingly arranged had to be used where it mattered most.
All she wanted was for the child to be healthy and safe. Whether it was a boy or a girl, she would leave it to fate—and love the child to the depths of her soul.
Her thinking was simple: if it were a boy, she would strive to become stronger and protect him until he became the next Emperor.
If it were a girl, she would gather as many of the Emperor’s finest things as she could for her daughter, so that she might become the freest and most carefree princess.
Seeing that Cui Lanyin was not disappointed but instead overjoyed at the prospect of a princess, Chief Court Physician Cao breathed a sigh of relief.
The Emperor, too, was delighted. He enclosed the Empress’s hand in his own, but he did not agree with her. “We agreed already, did we not? A daughter must also help her father bear his burdens. I will still have to read memorials to her.”
And the Emperor’s plans went far beyond that. “Later, speak with Uncle Bai and the others. Besides attending to your duties, begin selecting children of a similar age. Once the princess is three, she must begin her education.”
“You want our daughter to learn martial arts too? Wouldn’t that go against the Black Qilin Guard’s rules?” Cui Lanyin was startled. Weren’t the Black Qilin Guard only supposed to begin selecting children of a similar age once a future crown prince had been chosen?
“Rules are made by people. Now, I’m the one in charge,” the Emperor said dismissively. “The old rules were already broken when I started training with the Black Qilin Guard.”
Although she adored soft, sweet little girls, Cui Lanyin wanted even more for her daughter to grow up unrestrained. If the little princess could master martial arts like the Emperor, then wouldn’t the whole world be hers to roam? No one would ever be able to keep her down.
Cui Lanyin quickly saw the sense in it and accepted the idea.
Let’s turn in early tonight. [Kiss kiss]
