The Empress's Probe
The empress dismissed everyone, then let out a long sigh and looked at her.
"Qingyu, you know about how your second imperial brother and the others escorted grain and supplies for disaster relief some days ago. The day before yesterday, His Majesty issued another decree ordering them to make the escort again. I'm still shaken by what happened last time. Tell me, is there any room to change things?"
All these years, the second prince had been Empress Zhang's only legitimate son. It was said that giving birth to the seventh princess had damaged the empress's health, leaving her unfit to bear more children, so she naturally cherished him.
"Mother Empress, in this matter, I am merely a princess. What insight could I possibly have? Besides, Father Emperor has already issued the decree. Surely he cannot... take back his command now." Di Qingyu's brows twitched slightly, her smile flawless.
The empress's expression stiffened. If she had a way, she would not have asked her. But Di Qingyu was now greatly favored and had no maternal clan or faction backing her, making her the ideal person to ask for help.
The empress concealed the glimmer in her eyes and smiled gently. Taking something from her sleeve, she pressed it straight into Di Qingyu's hand.
"Qingyu, I know you're clever. Think again. There might be a way." The last time the news had come, she had been badly shaken. Fortunately, her son had been unharmed, but she truly could not set her mind at ease.
Feeling a piece of fine jade in her hand, Di Qingyu curled her lips slightly without looking down and accepted it. "Mother Empress, you flatter me. But since you have such faith in me, I will naturally think of a way. Please hear me out. First, four princes are going this time, and Father Emperor naturally knows what happened before. If anything happens again, Father Emperor will surely be more reluctant than anyone to send my four imperial brothers into danger. The fate of the realm is at stake."
"Second, disaster relief is an excellent opportunity to soothe the people's hearts. If Second Imperial Brother can leave a good impression on the people and establish his authority during the relief efforts, wouldn't that be a good thing?"
"Third, Father Emperor's decree has already been issued. If you find a way to stop Second Imperial Brother from going, Father Emperor may come to doubt his ability to handle affairs, making it harder to entrust him with important responsibilities in the future. So not only must you not stop him, you should strongly support him going and let him appear before the people more often. If you're truly worried, you can send a few highly skilled guards to follow him in secret."
Di Qingyu appealed to her feelings and reasoned with her. The three reasons made Empress Zhang pause, and after thinking it over herself, she felt that perhaps her concern had indeed clouded her judgment.
Seeing that she was somewhat moved, Di Qingyu added one more point, her voice cool and resolute.
"Moreover, Mother Empress, I dare guarantee with my life that there will be no more trouble with mountain bandits this time. My four imperial brothers will surely return safe and sound."
"You..."
Hearing those words, Empress Zhang looked startled. Did she truly dare make such a guarantee, or did she know something?
Seeing Di Qingyu's calm, assured expression, Empress Zhang felt the unease in her heart gradually subside. At last, she let out a long breath, the great stone on her chest lifting a little, and did not ask why she was so certain.
She merely patted the back of Di Qingyu's hand. "Qingyu, with those words of yours, Mother Empress can sleep a little easier."
"Mother Empress, please take care of your health above all else." Di Qingyu nodded.
With the worry in her heart settled, the empress turned her concern to Di Qingyu, smiling kindly.
"Qingyu, Mother Empress knows you have a mind of your own and don't like others telling you what to do. But a young woman must marry eventually, and you are a princess besides. If there's someone you like, let Mother Empress and Father Emperor know early. We can choose a prince consort for you, and you can leave the palace and establish your own residence sooner, so there won't be any misunderstandings later from the wrong mandarin ducks being paired together."
"Thank you, Mother Empress." Di Qingyu's expression was indifferent. "But I truly have no interest in matters of love right now. I only want to stay by Father Emperor and Mother Empress's sides and fulfill my filial duty. When I do find someone I like, I will certainly tell you both."
"That's good." Hearing this, the empress could only nod and drop the subject. "All right, you've kept me company for quite a while. Go back and rest. I recently obtained quite a few precious medicinal herbs. Take them back with you in a little while."
Di Qingyu nodded. "Yes. Thank you, Mother Empress."
She then rose, bowed properly, and took her leave.
The empress watched Di Qingyu's retreating figure, the smile fading from her face as her expression grew deeply thoughtful.
After leaving the empress's palace, Di Qingyu had just passed an intersection in her sedan chair when a palace maid blocked her path.
"Greetings, Sixth Princess. Her Highness the Noble Consort wishes to invite you to her palace for a visit."
Hearing this, Di Qingyu nodded faintly, her face expressionless, as though she were merely obeying an order.
"Then let's go."
The party changed direction and headed for Noble Consort Gao's palace.
"You've finally come! Quick, I had the brazier lit as soon as I got back. Come and have some hot soup to drive away the chill."
Noble Consort Gao, who had just been aloof and silent toward everyone in the empress's palace, had her eyes light up the moment she saw Di Qingyu. She rose at once to greet her.
Di Qingyu was no longer as proper as she had been in the empress's palace. Instead, she shrugged and walked over with a lazy look on her face.
"I couldn't help it. The empress caught me and talked at me for ages." She took the hot soup from Noble Consort Gao and hesitantly sipped a little, not daring to swallow it, yet still gave it a serious appraisal.
"Mm, apart from the bitter, astringent taste mixed with sourness and sweetness, everything about this soup is quite good." Well done. Don't make it again.
"Not bad, is it? This is a new dish I came up with. It can drive away the cold and warm the stomach."
Noble Consort Gao had selectively heard only the last sentence.
She led Di Qingyu to sit on the soft couch, beside a blazing brazier. With practiced movements, she removed Di Qingyu's fur cloak and handed it to a palace maid to put away, then sat down beside her.
Di Qingyu seized the chance to quickly hand the bowl of hot soup to Chunzhi, telling her to take it as far away as possible.
"What did the empress want with you? Surely she wasn't trying to play matchmaker for you too? Isn't she afraid of that mouth of yours?" Noble Consort Gao, who was usually arrogant and pampered in the harem, actually removed her nail guards, peeled a lychee herself, and held it to Di Qingyu's lips.
Noble Consort Gao's name was Gao Miling. She was only twenty, still at the age of a naive young woman, but she had already been in the palace for three years. Her father was the current grand preceptor, Gao Qian, of Principal First Rank. He had once been Di Yunqian's teacher in his youth and now assisted him with affairs of state.
Both in her previous life and this one, Di Qingyu had studied under Gao Qian.
Di Qingyu sprawled lazily across the consort's couch, waiting for Gao Miling to feed her. Eating the lychee, she chuckled. "She didn't dare play matchmaker, but she did ask if there was someone I liked. She said she was afraid Father Emperor would pair the wrong mandarin ducks for me later."
"Hmph, how is that concern? She was clearly probing for a weakness, hoping to use someone you like to control you and get you out of the palace at the same time, so you wouldn't challenge her authority as mistress of a palace day after day." Gao Miling sneered, her bright, beautiful face full of scorn. "Still, you should have named someone. Then you could have passed the false off as true and put her more at ease about you."
"Don't." Di Qingyu immediately waved a hand. "I don't want her actually finding me some prince consort when the time comes. I'm in no mood to deal with rotten peach blossoms."
"Tsk, true enough. In all the Xiling Dynasty, there really isn't a man worthy of you." Gao Miling clicked her tongue.
She had entered the palace three years ago, while Di Qingyu had come out of the Cold Palace and gained favor a year ago. They had had no contact before that. Later, Di Qingyu became her father's disciple, and only then did they meet and feel like old friends at first sight. Though six years apart, Di Qingyu's maturity and intelligence always inspired her admiration, and she felt no mother-daughter barrier between them.
Each addressed the other on her own terms. In public, Di Qingyu called her "Mother Consort," and they pretended not to be close. In private, they were as close as sisters, practically sharing a pair of pants.
"I just got some wine. Want a taste?" Gao Miling hooked an arm around Di Qingyu's shoulders and waggled her eyebrows.
"Why not?" Di Qingyu was immediately tempted.
And so, outside, the autumn wind blew bleakly and a light rain began to fall again. Inside, the two had drunk too much and abandoned the consort's couch, sitting directly on the floor and lifting the wine pots to drink.
Afraid Di Qingyu would catch cold, Gao Miling even pulled off her own outer robe and spread it on the floor. Still worried, she had someone bring a fur to lay beneath them as well.
Both had drunk a little too much. Gao Miling's charming face was flushed, and her eyes grew drowsy.
"Tell me, wouldn't it be wonderful if you were a man? Why would I have entered the imperial palace? I'd have married you instead!" With that, she hooked an arm around Di Qingyu's shoulders and took another swig from the pot.
"I think of you as a kindred spirit, yet you want to marry me." Di Qingyu dealt her a sharp-tongued blow. "And you're six years older than me. We're not suited."
Gao Miling felt a pang in her chest and cried, "Age isn't a problem! You know, even your being a woman wouldn't necessarily stop us. I've heard that in the Sangnan Dynasty, not only are there men who favor men, but women marry women too. When I go there someday, I'll see it for myself and tell you all about it when I return!"
She knew Di Qingyu also liked hearing strange stories and gossip.
Hearing this, Di Qingyu drew her brows together slightly and pondered for a moment, then answered with a light laugh.
"All right." She agreed readily.
In truth, both understood that once one entered the palace gates, the palace was as deep as the sea. What was more, Gao Miling now held the position of noble consort and was someone the emperor used to keep the empress's faction in check. Caught in the struggle for imperial power, she would probably never have another chance to leave Xiling.