Chapter 123
The Empress not only failed to rise and welcome the Emperor, she did not even address him with an honorific. The Emperor was no different. In the Empress’s presence, he did not call himself “I, the Emperor,” but simply spoke to her as “you” and “I.”
Xu Xian and Lady Liang were equally casual with one another in the way they addressed each other. In front of others, Lady Liang still called him “my lord.”
The Emperor and Empress did not even bother putting on an act in public.
Cui Lanyin was also quietly observing how Xu Xian and his wife got along.
Empress Dowager Xu was of merely average appearance. She had once said that she and Xu Su took after their father, while among the three siblings, Xu Xian was the most handsome because he had inherited their mother’s looks.
Now that Cui Lanyin saw him in person, she found it was indeed true. Even after being tempered for twenty years by the bitter cold of the northern frontier, Xu Xian was still as striking as a tall pine. He stood out wherever he went. The refined elegance of men from the south seemed rather thin beside him.
Of course, compared with the Emperor, he still fell short by quite a bit. Cui Lanyin felt that the Emperor always looked as though he were tired, yet she could not think of any man more handsome or more imposing than him.
When Chief Aide Song had spoken of the Xu family before, both she and the Emperor had thought that Xu Xian would have difficulty finding a suitable match after going to the northern frontier. The truth, however, had turned out even better than they had imagined.
Naturally, among the powerful families of Yingcheng, Lady Liang—the daughter of a fur merchant—would not have been considered worthy even of becoming a concubine, relying on nothing but her peerless beauty.
Cui Lanyin did not see it that way. Lady Liang’s beauty was secondary. What was truly rare was the vigorous vitality about her, like a blade of grass thriving against all odds.
After speaking with Lady Liang for only this short while, Cui Lanyin had already developed a natural fondness for her. For Xu Xian, who had been struggling at the time, Lady Liang must have been a healing balm.
For the Xu Xian of those days, Lady Liang had been exactly the right wife.
When Lady Liang and the four Xu siblings first entered, they had all looked nervous and awkward, afraid of revealing their lack of confidence. It was only after Cui Lanyin steered the conversation toward the northern frontier that they gradually relaxed.
Cui Lanyin herself thought Lady Liang and the four Xu siblings were all very fine people, but she could not guarantee that everyone else would think the same.
The others were one thing. What worried her was Xu Xian. Now that he had returned to his former life, would he come to despise Lady Liang?
There were countless men who grew wealthy and powerful only to look down on the wives who had shared their hardships. Xu Xian had been accustomed to privilege from an early age. Would he feel that Lady Liang was not respectable enough?
Cui Lanyin truly did not want to see such a thing happen.
When Xu Xian entered, his first glance went toward Lady Liang and the four Xu siblings—and his very first look was directed at Lady Liang. That gesture reassured Cui Lanyin somewhat.
When the Emperor entered, Lady Liang and the four Xu siblings were startled and immediately became stiff and constrained again.
But once they saw the Emperor settle onto the couch with one leg folded beneath him and say, “Nothing left to talk about…” only to truly fall silent afterward, they relaxed once more.
Xu Xian was a taciturn man as well. He never took the initiative to start a conversation.
Lady Liang was afraid he might offend the Emperor, so she could only step in herself.
At the same time, she worried that she knew too little and might say something wrong. Noticing the swell of the Empress’s belly, she smiled and said, “Your Majesty, your pregnancy looks just like mine did when I was carrying Yi. It must be a little prince.”
Cui Lanyin smiled at her. “Madam, I’m afraid you’re mistaken. The imperial physicians have examined me. It’s a girl.”
Lady Liang stole a glance at the Emperor. Seeing no reaction from him, she turned apologetically toward the Empress. “I’ve always been too outspoken. Please don’t take offense, Your Majesty.”
“What does that have to do with being too outspoken? I like people who say exactly what they think.”
“When Your Majesty puts it that way, I’ll lose my bearings all over again.” Lady Liang sighed. “I’m afraid I’m too blunt and won’t know when to advance or retreat, and that I’ll embarrass our marquis. I was thinking of asking the Empress Dowager to assign me an aunt to instruct me.”
Xu Xian was just about to reach out and pat her when he remembered they were in the palace and withdrew his hand, pretending nothing had happened.
Cui Lanyin happened to catch the gesture. This Xu Xian was quite a good man.
She gave Lady Liang a playful look. “Madam, you and I seem to have hit it off. I’ll impart all of my Cui family wisdom to you.”
Lady Liang took her at face value and asked earnestly, “Please instruct me, Your Majesty.”
Cui Lanyin spoke slowly and gently. “Then remember this well. Behind you stand the Empress Dowager and Marquis Xu, and I’m also on friendly terms with you. You truly needn’t care what anyone else thinks. Whenever you hear someone criticizing or instructing you, simply walk up to her and tell her to shut up. After that happens once or twice, they’ll learn not to provoke you, and they’ll swallow whatever they have to say.”
Wasn’t that even more blunt and aggressive than the way she behaved in the north? Lady Liang sat there in a daze, but she did not dare question the Empress. She could only turn to Xu Xian for help.
“You can ask Marquis Xu, too. He’ll tell you the same thing,” Cui Lanyin continued. “When you have enough power, taking the direct route is better than beating around the bush. If you can win with your fists, don’t waste your breath. If you can win an argument by cursing, don’t bother playing mind games. Once people know you’re not someone they can afford to offend, everything you hear will be praise, and nothing you say or do will ever be considered wrong.”
“Her Majesty is absolutely right.” Xu Xian turned to Lady Liang. “If you conduct yourself as Her Majesty says, I’ll have nothing left to worry about.”
Xu Xian agreed with her too. Lady Liang no longer had any doubts, and her confidence soared. If that was all it took, she was more than capable. She only had to be herself.
“Cui the Second Fierce has even taken on a disciple. What a cause for celebration,” the Emperor suddenly said with a quiet laugh, his eyes half closed.
Cui Lanyin shot him a sideways glance. “You said there was nothing left to talk about, so you left it to me. Now you’re interrupting.”
Xu Xian and Lady Liang exchanged a glance. How familiar this scene was. They bickered in exactly the same way at home. Who would have thought the Emperor and Empress were like this as well?
Xu Xian silently told himself, I’ll keep my mouth shut.
Almost at the same moment, the Emperor said, “I was only trying to support you.”
Xu Xian conceded defeat. The Emperor truly was extraordinary. Even in the way he treated his wife, he surpassed ordinary men.
Xu Xian knew only how to plead for mercy. The Emperor, on the other hand, knew how to flatter.
The Emperor, who was so indifferent that he could barely be bothered to say an extra word to anyone, became an entirely different person in front of the Empress. He joked with her and interrupted her. The Empress, for her part, had no restraints whatsoever in the Emperor’s presence. She dared to say anything at all, without the slightest awareness that accompanying the sovereign was like accompanying a tiger.
This couple completely overturned Xu Xian’s understanding of imperial marriages.
But what did “Cui the Second Fierce” mean?
The Empress quickly answered that question. She said to Lady Liang, “‘Cui the Second Fierce’ was a nickname the people of Yingcheng gave me before I married. You can take it as praise for my willingness to act boldly and take responsibility for what I do.”
Lady Liang nodded repeatedly. By now, she had realized that the Empress was not one to speak of virtuous womanly conduct. She was someone who let her fists do the talking.
Lady Liang had been tempered by the snow and bitter winds of the northern frontier. Was she really going to fear clashing with the delicate young women of the south?
In the blink of an eye, she seemed to have been reborn. The timidity she had shown upon entering was nowhere to be seen, and her speech had regained its usual brisk confidence.
“Then from now on, I’ll follow Your Majesty’s example.”
Cui Lanyin snapped her fingers. “A woman who is natural and unadorned like you is the best—”
She had only gotten halfway through the sentence when the Emperor tugged at her sleeve. “Where did you pick that up this time?”
Cui Lanyin chuckled, a hint of smugness in her eyes. “The other day, I saw Chilin doing it and thought it looked fun, so I learned it from him.”
The Emperor pressed a hand to his forehead. “This is getting out of hand. Give you a little more time, and you’ll truly have the manner of a proper bandit woman.”
Xu Xian struggled to hold back his laughter and added, “A bandit’s wife from the northern mountains still wouldn’t have Your Majesty’s presence.”
Only then did the Emperor look toward Xu Xian. “Aren’t you worried she’ll corrupt your wife?”
“Fourth Young Master Zhao, stop smearing my reputation.” Cui Lanyin pinched the Emperor’s arm.
The Emperor’s face did not change in the slightest, clearly accustomed to such treatment. Xu Xian pretended not to notice and tugged at Lady Liang, who was staring in stunned fascination. Only then did he reply, unhurriedly, “It is our family’s honor that Her Majesty is willing to take my wife under her wing.”
“Is Her Majesty still receiving guests?” a voice called from outside.
Cui Lanyin called toward the door, “Father, come in.”
The emperor followed her off the bed and put on his shoes. When Cui Lanyin tried to rise, he pressed her back down. “You’re not well, and your father is family.”
As they spoke, Cui Sheng entered the inner room. The emperor gestured toward him and said, “This is the Marquis of Pacifying the North and his family.”
“I never thought I would have the honor of witnessing the general’s valor once more.” Cui Sheng stepped forward, deeply moved, and offered an exceedingly respectful bow. “The people of Yancheng still owed the general a bow. Today, I can finally make it on their behalf.” When he raised his head again, there was a faint glimmer of tears in his eyes.
Xu Xian had not expected the Imperial Father-in-Law to be such a passionate man, nor had he expected him to bring up those past events in front of the emperor. Yet the emperor did not seem to mind in the slightest.
Xu Xian hurriedly led Lady Liang and the others in returning the greeting. “Everything in my household has been thanks to the help of the Earl’s wife and your eldest daughter. If anything, it is my wife and I who should be thanking you.”
Once they had taken their seats again, Cui Sheng asked his daughter and son-in-law, “What shall we do about lunch today?”
The emperor looked at Cui Lanyin. “Your father is asking you, not me. It’s not as though I get to make the decisions.”
Cui Lanyin refused to accept that. “You simply can’t be bothered to make decisions. Don’t make it sound as though I’m a tyrant at home.”
She discussed it with Cui Sheng. “Father, I’ll have to trouble you today. I was thinking that we could all go to Funing Palace and invite Empress Dowager Xu and the Marquis Xu family to dine there.”
“If I get to cook for the Marquis Xu, you could ask me to make any number of meals and I wouldn’t need to be asked twice.” Cui Sheng was still overwhelmed with excitement. “Shall we get going, then?”
Xu Xian listened back and forth. He understood every word individually, but somehow had no idea what they meant when put together.
Cui Lanyin explained, “My father enjoys cooking. Since I’ve become picky during my pregnancy, he often comes over to make a few dishes to satisfy my cravings.”
Cui Sheng had been coming to Yan Hua Palace to cook for her quite frequently lately, and some of the court officials had already begun to suspect something.
Cui Sheng had no intention of hiding it, either. As he put it, “I enjoy cooking. It’s no different from those who enjoy collecting bronzes, stones, calligraphy, and paintings. Anyone who laughs at me is simply ignorant.”
The emperor greatly approved of his attitude. “The empress takes after her father. Excellent.”
Cui Lanyin also felt there was nothing unusual about it. She and the emperor had never followed an ordinary path to begin with, so having a father who loved cooking suited their family just fine.
Yan Hua Palace stood right next to Funing Palace, so they arrived after only a few steps.
The emperor and Cui Lanyin had come to invite guests, and the guests in question were Empress Dowager Xu’s younger brother, the meritorious general of Great Yong, and his family. Empress Dowager Chen welcomed them wholeheartedly and was genuinely delighted.
When she learned that Cui Sheng would be personally taking charge of the cooking, she immediately called for Qi An. “How could we leave out our in-laws on such a lively occasion? Hurry and bring the Earl’s wife over. And Zhi as well…”
Aunt Gao reminded her, “The metropolitan examination is only a few days away.”
Grand Empress Dowager Chen quickly changed her mind. “That is an important matter. Then have Zhi properly accompany her husband in his studies.”
By then, Bu Yu had already invited Empress Dowager Xu over. Consort Dowager Shu and Dowager Concubine Wan also followed along without standing on ceremony.
As soon as she entered, Consort Dowager Shu said, “I know His Majesty and the empress are the least concerned with such rigid formalities. Family should naturally spend more time together, so we came without an invitation.”
Cui Lanyin smiled. “I was hesitating just now because I was afraid Consort Dowager Shu and Dowager Concubine Wan might feel it inappropriate, so I didn’t invite you. Now that I know, I certainly won’t leave you out next time.”
Dowager Concubine Wan replied, “I’ve been wanting to taste the Earl’s cooking for ages. At last I have the chance today. I even brought along some digestive pills.”
“I almost don’t want to admit I know you.” Empress Dowager Xu pulled Lady Liang far away from her. “You used to be so graceful and reserved.”
Consort Dowager Shu laughed heartily and spoke up for Dowager Concubine Wan. “There’s no need to pretend anymore. I used to be just the same.”
After the joking was over, Consort Dowager Shu and Dowager Concubine Wan pulled Xu Su and the others over and stuffed them full of gifts. Grand Empress Dowager Chen also gave them a generous number of presents.
Xu Xian never would have dreamed that the women of the Chen, Xu, and Li families—two generations of empress dowagers and consorts—could get along so harmoniously.
Xu Xian looked at the emperor, who was sitting cross-legged some distance away. He had remained nearby to keep him company. Everything before his eyes was simply too incredible; he would need some time to digest it all.
Here I come—[Let me take a look.]
