Chapter 396: This Isn’t a Matter for Me to Consider

Chapter 396: This Isn’t a Matter for Me to Consider

The fifth Miss Chen, named Chen Wenrui, is the legitimate daughter of the current patriarch, Lord Chen. She is highly favored by the Dowager Countess for often visiting her at the monastery where she resides for her spiritual retreat.

Recently, the Lady of the Dingguo Ducal Mansion and Miss Chen made another visit to the monastery, subtly conveying to the Dowager Countess that Miss Chen had a close and significant relationship with the current Emperor.

The Chen family wished for Miss Chen to enter the palace, but as the Emperor had not yet consented to hold a selection, they hoped that the Dowager Countess would speak on their behalf to the Empress Dowager. Simultaneously, they expressed the dire situation of the Chen family, implying that only Miss Chen's entry into the palace could alleviate their current predicament.

The Dowager Countess, who tends to be easily swayed, was moved by the Lady and Miss Chen's tearful pleas, even though she felt that the matter of the Emperor’s selection was not her place to interfere, she still submitted a request to enter the palace.

The Dowager Countess' personal nursemaid had intended to advise her that, at her advanced age, not relying on the Chen family for support, she need not offend the Empress Dowager and the Emperor on their behalf, as she had already done enough for the Chen family.

However, it was evident that the Dowager Countess was not receptive to such counsel. It must be said that over the years, the Lady and Miss Chen had invested considerable effort in influencing the Dowager Countess.

The master and servant proceeded in silence to Fahua Temple. Before reaching the courtyard where the Dowager Countess resided, the Lady and Miss Chen came to greet her. They took the place of the nursemaid, supporting the Dowager Countess on either side as they entered the courtyard. Once seated in the hall, the Dowager Countess ordered all the servants to leave, leaving only herself, the Lady, and her daughter.

With the matter unresolved, the Dowager Countess sat in silence, unsure of what to say. The Lady and Miss Chen were anxious, yet both maintained their composure, refraining from inquiring eagerly.

Lady Chen cast a glance at Miss Chen, the fifth daughter, who then rose with a smile to pour a cup of tea for the Empress Dowager. “I hope the Grand Empress Dowager is in good health?”

The Empress Dowager nodded, "She is well, always possessing a broad-minded spirit with few worries, thus her health naturally prospers."

Lady Chen and her daughter exchanged a look, puzzled by the Empress Dowager’s words. Were they an implication that the Chen family affairs had been a burden to her?

With a smile still on her face, Lady Chen said, "With the new Emperor being so young, the Grand Empress Dowager must have many concerns indeed."

Lady Chen sighed, "We who are elders never cease to worry for the younger generation. It must be the Grand Empress Dowager’s concerns for the Emperor’s marital matters weighing on her mind."

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, then spoke, “The Grand Empress Dowager says the Emperor is still young; she wants to wait a few more years before discussing the selection of concubines."

"This..."

Although Lady Chen and Miss Chen had roughly anticipated the outcome from the Empress Dowager’s demeanor since her return, hearing it directly from her still left them greatly disappointed.

Tears welled up in Miss Chen’s eyes, while Lady Chen’s handkerchief was nearly torn apart in her grip. After a moment, Lady Chen said, "Fifteen is not that young."

The Empress Dowager let out a sigh, "The Grand Empress Dowager probably fears that the Emperor marrying too early could distract from his governance."

"How could it distract from governance?"

Lady Chen found it hard to accept; she had thought the Grand Empress Dowager, as a grandmother, would surely wish for the Emperor to marry early. Moreover, since the Emperor wasn’t her direct grandson, didn’t she wish to extend her influence through the harem?

Such were her thoughts, but they displeased the Empress Dowager who retorted, "I am but an old Dowager living a retired life away from court; how could I possibly know the Grand Empress Dowager’s thoughts?"

Upon hearing this, Lady Chen quickly replied with a smile, "Look at me, speaking out of turn."

The Empress Dowager cast her eyes down, preferring silence. She had hit a wall with the Grand Empress Dowager and wished to be left alone upon her return. She was about to ask the mother and daughter to leave when Miss Chen said, "What about me, then?"

She too was fifteen this year. While it was acceptable for men to marry at twenty, a girl of sixteen without an engagement would be subject to gossip.

The Empress Dowager, after all, was fond of her and showed a troubled expression upon hearing this. At that moment, Lady Chen wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and said, "Indeed, the Emperor can wait a few more years to select his brides, but my Rui can’t afford to wait!"

The Empress Dowager, brow furrowed in silence, finally suggested, "Then let’s find her a suitable match in the capital."

"That... that would be such a pity!" Lady Chen lamented as she looked at Miss Chen, "Rui is fated to be with the Emperor; entering the palace is the best outcome, and it would also provide support to our family."

The Empress Dowager pressed her lips together, saying nothing, while Miss Chen dabbed at her tears with her handkerchief and said, "I think it's all because Xiao Yuzhu is younger; she doesn't want anyone else entering the palace before her."

Lady Chen cautioned Miss Chen in a hushed tone, "Such words must not be repeated in public," her expression clearly in agreement with her daughter's opinion.

The Grand Empress Dowager Chen spoke with a hint of impatience, "Whatever the reason, neither the Grand Empress Dowager nor the Emperor wishes to hold the selection, and there's nothing I can do about it."

"Perhaps, after some time, you could visit the palace again with Rui-er," Lady Chen suggested. "Upon seeing my Rui-er, the Grand Empress Dowager might just change her mind. It would be even better if they could meet the Emperor."

Grand Consort Chen furrowed her brows in frustration, torn between wanting to refuse due to the hassle and feeling obligated to help her family, as a daughter of the Chen lineage.

"Great-grandmother," Miss Chen pleaded with a cry in her voice, "I wish to enter the palace for the sake of our Chen family!"

Grand Consort Chen, moved by her pitiable look, was about to agree when the voice of the nursemaid rang out, "Grand Consort, it is time for your Buddhist prayers."

Swallowing the words she was about to say, the Grand Consort said, "You both should return first, let me think this over."

As she rose to leave, Lady Chen and her daughter had no choice but to rise and depart with a bow, their faces obviously unhappy. And it wasn't long before the Grand Consort's visit to the palace to persuade the Grand Empress Dowager to hold the selection became a hot topic of gossip.

After a purge in the palace, almost all spies from the upper capital families had been removed, making it nearly impossible for news from inside to get out. Yet the sudden visit of the Grand Consort, who had been in seclusion, followed by the discontented departure of Lady Chen and her daughter from the Grand Consort's retreat at Fahua Temple, led many to speculate. Especially when there were those behind the scenes orchestrating the affair.

Tang Shiyi was, of course, informed at the earliest opportunity and relayed the events to Xiao Yuzhu, then asked with a smile, "What do you think should be done?"

Xiao Yuzhu dismissed the concern, "That is not for me to consider."

"If Li Jingyi cannot withstand even this much, then he should not be the Emperor."

Tang Shiyi's smile widened, "Exactly, it's not our issue to ponder."

That very night, Xiao Yuzhu received a letter from Li Jingyi detailing his day's activities, subtly expressing his longing, and mentioning the Grand Consort's palace visit and the Grand Empress Dowager's refusal.

After reading the letter, Xiao Yuzhu fell asleep with a smile on her face.

In truth, mature as her mind was, she was still but a girl of eleven or twelve, with her own worries and confusion about the future, though she never let it show.