Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 517: With the Empress Dowager here, no one can shake the Empress’s position.
Chapter 517: Chapter 517: With the Empress Dowager here, no one can shake the Empress’s position.
Empress Dowager Qi’s words were straightforward, simply put, for someone of Wang Yingluo’s lowly status, in the matter of the selection of consorts, she didn’t even have the leeway to speak, let alone put forward any opinions.
It made clear her disdain for Wang Yingluo’s status, without the slightest pretense.
Such was the nature of Empress Dowager Qi, who in her earlier years had been a favored consort, although merely a shield for Consort Jing, she had indeed enjoyed glory and favor for most of her life. After the late emperor passed away, as the mother of the Emperor, she naturally became even more proud and haughty.
Initially, she had looked down on Murong Jiu, and now even more so at the farmer’s daughter Wang Yingluo, feeling that the latter exuded a sense of pettiness befitting a lowly household.
Empress Dowager Qi was indifferent to whatever women her son chose to amuse himself with, provided they did not tarnish the Imperial Family’s reputation. Even if her son brought home a widow, she wouldn’t object.
But the great rule of the Imperial Family was also very important. Empress Dowager Qi had looked down on Murong Jiu because of her bad reputation, which was inferior to Murong Man’s, and because it was a marriage in another’s stead, which made Empress Dowager Qi feel as if the Murong Family had tricked her, making it impossible for her to take a liking to Murong Jiu.
Now, things were quite different. Murong Jiu’s biological father was General Fu, and all three of her brothers were outstanding figures with promising futures, useful to the state of Great Yan. Most importantly, General Fu was utterly loyal to Great Yan and could be trusted.
With such a background, and a son who had been established as the Crown Prince early on, Empress Dowager Qi was very pleased with Murong Jiu as the Empress.
There had been a time when the late emperor delayed appointing a Crown Prince, leading to chaos within the court. Establishing a Crown Prince sooner rather than later, to be nurtured as the future ruler, was clearly more favorable for Great Yan.
The twin boys were also lovely and exceptionally smart, and Empress Dowager Qi was particularly biased towards them.
Legitimacy mattered, and this connection of bloodline was indeed very important.
All things considered, Empress Dowager Qi certainly did not want Murong Jiu’s status as the Empress to be affected. The harem of the late emperor had already been disturbed enough; Emperor Jun Yuyan, being clean and upright, did not need too many women. Having a few Flower Solving People, who all came from noble families with both beauty and cultivation, would be for the best.
Empress Dowager Qi didn’t care about Wang Yingluo’s thoughts at all and coldly said:
"Wang Yingluo, I’m giving you some respect because you are the Emperor’s lifesaver. Now you’re well-fed in the palace, and I don’t disdain your crude birth. Once His Majesty returns, I will grant you the rank of a Fifth-Rank Talented Lady. Just behave yourself, and you will have a place in the palace. If you think about whispering any insidious suggestions to the Emperor, let me be upfront with you; while the Emperor might tolerate you, I certainly won’t."
In the presence of the Empress and several Consort Dowagers, Empress Dowager Qi spoke without mercy, her tone thick with warning.
The Empress Dowager was not afraid of Emperor Jun Yuyan finding out, as she vaguely felt that Jun Yuyan didn’t favor Wang Yingluo that much either, wondering why her demeanor was not as protective as it had been towards Murong Jiu before.
Instead, she considered the selection of consorts more important right now and didn’t want her plans disrupted again.
Wang Yingluo pinched her thigh secretly to calm herself down, and said:
"Empress Dowager, I have no objections. Having many heirs is beneficial to the national foundation, and I always remember my place. It is just that, the words spoken by Her Majesty the Empress earlier seemed to use me as a shield."
Empress Dowager Qi frowned and looked towards Murong Jiu.
Murong Jiu’s lips curled into a slight smile, "Miss Wang, you are mistaken. The Empress Dowager is right, the harem is too empty; it’s indeed too quiet. His Majesty works hard and loves his people; if he returns to find not a single woman to add a touch of fragrance to his sleeves, it would be too austere."
Empress Dowager Qi heard the subtext in Murong Jiu’s words. The "touch of fragrance" naturally required a certain level of education and talent. Wang Yingluo, being a commoner, couldn’t even recognize a few characters, let alone be a Flower Solving Person.
It was a veiled mockery toward Wang Yingluo.
She too smiled, picked up her teacup, and slowly savored a sip of the fresh tea.
The harem needed to be balanced against each other, otherwise, it would all be dictated by the Empress alone.
If it hadn’t been for Wang Yingluo’s arrival, could the Empress have agreed to a selection of consorts?
Just let them fight it out.
Sipping her tea, Empress Dowager Qi thought to herself that all she wanted was a few more grandchildren.
It seems there is a show to watch now.
"I am tired, you may all leave," she said.
Wang Yingluo gritted her teeth and was about to leave after completing her courtesy when she noticed that Murong Jiu had yet to stand up, presumably having something to discuss privately with the Empress Dowager.
A cold sneer suddenly escaped her.
Murong Jiu may act indifferent in front of her, but inside, she must be nearly vexed to death.
Indeed, a single person like herself was enough to give her a headache, and if several more young and beautiful women were to come, wouldn’t she be even more distressed?
Wang Yingluo strode out, her heart filled with extreme mockery towards Murong Jiu.
But she was mistaken, for Murong Jiu stayed behind only to tell the Empress Dowager:
"Concerning the selection of consorts, this son doesn’t mind; whether one more or a few more, it’s all the same to me, I don’t wish to compete for anything anymore."
She looked despondent, her cheeks thin and gaunt. The serious illness she had suffered before had significantly emaciated her body, and she had not yet fully recovered.
The Empress Dowager originally had the same line of thinking as Wang Yingluo and thought she would speak of other matters, but she didn’t expect Murong Jiu to appear so indifferent about the whole affair.
"This..."
Seeing her slender figure, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but feel a pang of tenderness.
She advised, "We women should not put all our focus on men. I, in former times, am the best example. I still feel guilty toward the Emperor; in my desire for his favor, I harmed his frail body and owe him much."
This was somewhat surprising to Murong Jiu.
Previously, she was strong-willed and unwilling to admit that she had harmed Jun Yuyan when he was a child, but now she seemed genuinely remorseful.
"His reluctance to confer upon me the title of Empress Dowager, isn’t it because he resents my past actions? How could I not understand? He has amnesia now, but he has only forgotten the events of the past two years. I know that his respectful and filial behavior towards me is just a facade."
Empress Dowager Qi sighed, "Ultimately, it is because I once focused all my attention on men, believing that the late emperor truly favored me, and that we were mutually in love. Thus, I couldn’t stand the sight of other women, fighting with them for favor, afraid to lose everything I had. What was the result? If it weren’t for Yanyan’s determination, maybe by now, I would have been buried in the Imperial Mausoleum along with the late emperor."
Her words were certainly true.
If Jun Yuyan had not become the Emperor and if another prince had taken the throne, consorts like Empress Dowager Qi, who had adult sons, could have easily been suspected and thus summarily sent to the Imperial Mausoleum under the guise of honoring them as favored consorts.
Because Empress Dowager Qi felt a bit of sympathy for Murong Jiu, seeing her own past self in her, she earnestly advised, "As long as I’m here, no one can shake your position as the Empress. No matter how many women come after, you will still be the Central Palace Empress. You must not brood over Yu Yan and bring yourself down. Focus your thoughts on your two children; that is stronger than anything else."
