Chapter 156: Keeping a Promise

Chapter 156: Keeping a Promise

Inside and outside the palace, in the front court and the inner harem, Fan Xueyao cautiously yet boldly cultivated loyal confidants, placing them in strategic roles. She didn’t rush to immediately secure a high position and take charge of affairs. Even a minor figure could achieve something significant over time.

These subordinates, when not activated, appeared just like ordinary people. But once set in motion, they could act according to her will. They included not only palace servants, officials, and eunuchs, but also ministers both inside and outside the capital. Even within the imperial guards, she had people.

Once her influence developed, she could do far more than just trivial matters.

In the first two years, Yan Ran and Li Si’s business ventures became increasingly successful. However, in this era, even the best restaurant business could only go so far. Moreover, Fan Xueyao was very eager to learn about the situation overseas. Therefore, she used her connections to have skilled shipbuilders construct a seaworthy vessel, allowing Li Si and a few other trusted subordinates to gather a crew and set sail. The goals were threefold: to trade and earn money, to find crops not available domestically and introduce superior seeds, and to understand the situation abroad, broadening their horizons to recognize gaps and foster a sense of crisis for progress and development. Closing oneself off and clinging to outdated ways was never a good approach. Fan Xueyao was determined not to let history repeat itself as it had in the Qing dynasty. By placing spies abroad, she could gather timely intelligence on foreign nations.

However, when the time came to rely on her subordinates, Fan Xueyao felt she still had too few. It happened that Huapin’s twenty-fifth birthday was approaching. Fan Xueyao held particular affection for Huapin, who had been her devoted maidservant since she entered the palace. So, two days in advance, she instructed the imperial kitchen to prepare two tables of food and drinks, allowing the maidservants to sit together and enjoy themselves.

“So fast, she’s already twenty-five.”

Fan Xueyao sighed, “In the blink of an eye, these years have passed.”

Now serving as the Empress’s head maid, Huapin no longer wore her hair in a ring bun but donned a gauze hat full of pearl flowers and a round-collared robe, looking far more glorious than before.

She continued to serve Fan Xueyao wholeheartedly. Hearing this, she put down the knot she was working on and smiled, “These years seem long when spoken of, but in my eyes, Your Ladyship hasn’t changed much. It’s as if time has passed us by but forgotten you.”

Fan Xueyao laughed and shook her head. How could there be no changes? She was already twenty and couldn’t possibly still be like a fourteen or fifteen-year-old. Just the belly wrap from before, she absolutely couldn’t fit into it anymore. Recently, Chu Nan had taken a liking to it, fondling it daily. Probably in a few more days, she would have to re-embroider a new one.

Not to mention herself, Huapin, Qiaoqiao, Zhuzhu—they had all gone from being sixteen-year-old novice maids to now heading the main maids of a palace. Upon closer inspection, they no longer had the youthful appearance they once did.

Indeed, they were all in their mid-twenties now. Even in the 21st century, this was the typical age for marriage.

Yet she had already borne three children, while they remained unmarried.

Fan Xueyao then said to these maidservants, “It’s time to let you out of the palace.”

Huapin, Qiaoqiao, Zhuzhu, Su’e, Yue Chan, Xiuer—upon hearing this, they were stunned, their eyes immediately turning red and tears streaming down.

“Why are you crying?”

Fan Xueyao sighed, took out a handkerchief, and wiped away their tears, smiling, “I haven’t forgotten my promise to let you go. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”

Huapin shook her head vigorously, her nose red from crying, “I don’t want to leave the palace.”

Fan Xueyao poked her forehead, “Silly girl, what nonsense. There are many who wish to leave but cannot.”

“Your Ladyship has been so kind to us, I really don’t want to leave. If I go, who will serve you as well as I do?” Huapin, in a moment of emotion, reverted to her old title and even forgot her humble self-reference. She thought, who could possibly know Your Ladyship’s preferences and habits as well as she did? The thought of another young maid taking her place, being doted on, and personally taught by Your Ladyship made her even sadder.

Qiaoqiao and the others cried, their eyes and noses red, with their makeup smeared. They had always wanted to leave the palace, but now that Fan Xueyao was about to fulfill her promise and let them go, they were filled with reluctance and fear. They couldn’t quite identify what they were afraid of.

Fan Xueyao called them to her side, sitting shoulder to shoulder together, and gently said, “Silly girls, all good things must come to an end. You’ve spent eight or nine years with me. That’s enough. While you’re still young, I’ll let you go to find a good husband, have children, and live a happy life. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Huapin sniffed, “I can’t bear to leave Your Ladyship…” She had spent more than a decade in the palace. Although she had always wanted to leave, now that the moment had come, she felt a deep sense of loss.

“The future is long. We will meet again someday,” Fan Xueyao said with a meaningful smile.

Releasing maidservants from the palace was neither simple nor difficult. The easy part was releasing a batch; the challenge was doing it year after year.

Indeed, Fan Xueyao didn’t just plan to release Huapin and the other maidservants. She intended to establish it as a regular practice.

To achieve this, she tirelessly lobbied Empress Dowager Wei. Initially worried that the newly appointed Empress might not understand administrative matters, Empress Dowager Wei personally guided her for a while. Later, seeing that she had become proficient in handling matters, Empress Dowager Wei entrusted her with all the affairs of the inner palace.

The suggestions she raised were considered a good idea by Empress Dowager Wei, but she did not wish to involve herself further in palace affairs. To avoid suspicion, she left all matters to Fan Xueyao.

Once Empress Dowager Wei had expressed her stance, things were more or less settled. It would be simpler for Chu Nan.

Fan Xueyao then established a rule that from now on, maidservants who had reached the age of twenty-five could leave the palace and marry freely. Considering that many maidservants were unwilling to leave the palace due to having no place to go, and that a lone, weak woman, even with some silver to her name, would still find it hard to protect herself, whether to leave the palace would be a personal choice.

Those who were expelled from the palace for clumsiness or poor character were handled differently.

Once this regulation was established, the entire palace was filled with praise for the Empress’s kindness.

Many maidservants admired and yearned for the Empress's benevolence and generosity. Since the central palace was going to release many maidservants, including Hua Ping, Qiao Qiao, and the others, many vacancies would be left. Therefore, the younger maidservants were eager to be assigned to the central palace to serve.

During that time, Hua Ping, Qiao Qiao, Zhu Zhu, Su'e, and the others received so many gifts, hoping they would put in a good word with Fan Xueyao to get assigned to the central palace.

Before long, Hua Ping, Qiao Qiao, Zhu Zhu, Su'e, Xiaojin, Xiaohong, Chuntao, Xiaoyue, and Yuegu left the palace together. Before their departure, Fan Xueyao gave each of her personal attendants, such as Hua Ping, Zhu Zhu, and Qiao Qiao, forty taels of silver, while the other maidservants received twenty taels each. In addition, they were allowed to take some non-imperial jewelry and brocade. The monthly wages and reward money they had accumulated over the years, as well as the fabrics and floral ornaments bestowed upon them, were also permitted to be taken as part of their dowry for marriage.

The dozen or so maidservants who had reached the age limit left the palace reluctantly. Before they departed, they knelt before Fan Xueyao to bid farewell, hugging each other and crying. The sadness of parting was so strong that even the young maidservants who witnessed it couldn’t help getting teary-eyed.

Fan Xueyao held the hands of Hua Ping and the others and earnestly instructed them, “After you leave, don’t be extravagant just because you have some money. Keep the money safe. No one else, no matter how close, is as reliable as yourself. Whether you marry or not, it’s important to have something to rely on. Buy some land or engage in small businesses; both are good options. If your family is nearby, you can visit each other for mutual support. Don’t be sisters in the palace and then abandon each other once you leave. You know my maidservant Yan Ran; if you need anything, you can go to her. She can help you with minor matters.”

Hua Ping and the others nodded in agreement, wiping their tears as they left with many farewells.

Once they were gone, Fan Xueyao felt a deep sense of loss as the Pepper House Palace seemed to change just because there were fewer people.

Especially when her daughter, with a childish voice, called out, “Hua Ping, dye my hands.”

Her daughter, only two years old this year and nicknamed Yu Huer, was very fond of beauty despite her young age. Seeing that Fan Xueyao was applying rouge and powder, she also wanted to use them. Since Fan Xueyao was concerned about the health effects of the cosmetics, she refused to let her use them, and Hua Ping would use balsam flowers to dye her nails to please her.

“Hua Ping is gone.”

Her daughter asked, “When will she come back?”

Hearing this, Fan Xueyao sighed softly.

“Mother doesn’t know.”

Her daughter blinked. She was too young to understand what parting meant and thought Hua Ping had just gone to run an errand and would return soon. After not seeing Hua Ping for several days, she kept asking, but the wet nurse and maidservants kept her entertained with play, and after some time, she forgot.

Adults envy children’s quick forgetfulness.

After habitually calling for Hua Ping, Fan Xueyao watched her daughter play carefree with Xue'er on the felt carpet and sighed.

**

Once these senior maidservants left, Fan Xueyao promoted their deputies to fill the vacancies and assigned young maidservants to assist them, instructing them to teach the younger ones.

In the past, the personal maidservants serving the concubines competed fiercely for their mistress’s favor, with senior maidservants often excluding the younger ones to prevent them from rising. The younger maidservants would serve the senior maidservants humbly, as if serving their parents, while secretly keeping an eye out for opportunities to shine or even catch the senior maidservants' mistakes to bring them down.

Since there had been no possibility of leaving the palace previously, the mistress’s favor was particularly important. If the mistress liked them, they would receive more rewards during festivals and holidays, allowing them to save more money for a better life in old age.

But now, things were different. Once they reached the age limit, they could leave the palace, so although they were still somewhat reluctant, it wasn’t as severe as before.

The younger maidservants remained diligent, while the senior maidservants no longer jealously guarded their positions. They needed to train others well so they could leave the palace themselves. Otherwise, if the mistress found the maidservants below incompetent and kept you for a few more years, what would you do? So, they all taught the younger ones how to serve the mistress well with dedication.

As Empress, Fan Xueyao had forty maidservants serving her, not to mention the female court officials and eunuchs assisting her. With so many people, things became complicated, and managing these palace servants was a troublesome task.

Thinking about repeating this process every few years, she felt a sense of dread. Fortunately, from then on, when selecting new palace servants, she would choose from the newly entered young maidservants. This way, after proper training, they could serve for at least ten years.

**

In the morning, after Empress Dowager Wei got up, her maidservants prepared her dressing table and helped her dress.

Looking at her aged face, thinning white hair, and visible scalp in the mirror, she sighed deeply as two more hairs fell from her hand.

"These few strands of hair can't even hold a false hairpiece anymore..." Don't let the remaining strands fall out, too.

"How did I suddenly become so old?" she thought. It feels like her youth was just yesterday. How did she suddenly become so old that she hardly has any hair left?

The attendant, upon hearing this, signaled to the others, and a young maid brought over a tray.

"Empress Dowager, please see this..." The attendant presented the tray to Empress Dowager Wei.

Empress Dowager Wei turned and was stunned.

"What is this...?"

On the tray was a glossy black silk special hairpiece. The uniform jet-black shine clearly wasn't from a horse tail or palm fiber but human hair. The shine suggested it came from one person. Who could possess such thick, lustrous hair?

The attendant responded, "The Empress noticed that you have been troubled by hair loss recently, so she cut her own hair and had this special hairpiece made as an offering for you to wear."

Hearing that the hairpiece was made from the Empress's own hair, Empress Dowager Wei exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, how foolish of her! What kind of person would cut her hair like that? How can she still look beautiful? No wonder she’s been wearing a crown lately, probably to hide her short hair... This child, I'm already so old, it's fine to look ugly..."

The attendant smiled and said, "It's the Empress's filial piety. Cutting her hair is nothing much."

Empress Dowager Wei sighed and touched the hairpiece. It was smooth and silky.

She couldn't help but shake her head and sigh, "Such good hair, why was it cut?" She had always admired Fan Xueyao's thick, jet-black hair. It looked great even with minimal styling and could be styled into a high bun without a false hairpiece.

The attendant advised, "This is the Empress's filial heart. Please try it on, Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Wei nodded and allowed the attendant to help her wear the hairpiece, adorned with many pearls, jade, and gold flowers. She hadn’t dressed up like this in a long time because her hair was too thin to hold it.

When Fan Xueyao and Meng Changniang, along with other concubines, came to greet her, they saw her wearing the special hairpiece, which covered her gray hair and made her look much younger and more spirited. They all praised how well she looked.

Empress Dowager Wei complimented Fan Xueyao repeatedly, and the concubines joined in the praise, creating a harmonious and pleasant atmosphere.

A few days later, Princess Jinping visited Empress Dowager Wei and saw her wearing a beautiful special hairpiece, which she praised repeatedly.

Since Fan Xueyao was crowned Empress, she had been visiting more frequently than before. The companionship between mother and daughter made both Empress Dowager Wei and Princess Jinping livelier, which comforted Chu Nan greatly.

Smiling as she touched her hairpiece, Empress Dowager Wei said, "You'll never guess whose hair this hairpiece is made from."

Upon hearing this, Princess Jinping had a sudden realization and exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be the Empress's?"

Empress Dowager Wei nodded with a smile, "Indeed, that child is truly filial. I only felt a little down a few days ago and didn't say anything, but she noticed. And then this hairpiece was sent to my palace. That child is really something, not saying a word. If I had known, I would never have let her do this."

Princess Jinping couldn't help but admire Fan Xueyao's thoughtfulness and attention to detail.

It wasn't surprising that she could notice Empress Dowager Wei's distress, but what was truly admirable was that she cut her own hair. A woman’s hair is so important, yet she cut it all off. How long would it take to grow such long hair again?

Wasn’t she afraid the emperor would find her unattractive?

She could have easily had a hairpiece made from a woman with beautiful hair, either from the palace or even from the common folk. But she cut her own hair.

"In the past, I always felt guilty for not being able to serve you in your old age. Now that we have the Empress, I can rest easy."

Empress Dowager Wei smiled and said, "Ever since Yao Niang became Empress, my health has improved significantly, probably because I'm happier. Yao Niang is gentle, respectful, virtuous, and extremely kind. Even when I'm gone, I won't worry about your future."

Princess Jinping felt a pang in her heart, lowered her eyes, and sniffed. In the past, Empress Xu had given her a hard time, subtly hinting for her to visit the palace less often and stay secluded in the princess's residence.

Though she didn't say it out loud, it had hurt her deeply. The palace was her home, but returning to the Capital felt like living in someone else's house.

She only refrained from visiting to avoid causing discomfort in the palace. She always reported that everything was fine, even though it wasn't true.

It turns out that the Empress actually knew. No wonder why, when the emperor deposed the Empress, she not only didn’t try to persuade him but also openly expressed her support, regardless of her reputation.

Chapter 157 The End

After becoming the empress, Fan Xueyao began to interact more frequently with the female relatives of the imperial family. Despite not wanting to know, she heard many things about the affairs in their households.

Few of them were truly happy.

After giving birth to a daughter, Fan Xueyao became concerned that her daughter would suffer under the various rules of this era. So, she started planning to elevate women’s status.

Women in this era endured too much. Even imperial women, who had fine clothes and food, weren’t necessarily happy. Consider Princess Jinping. Many princesses found themselves in similar situations.

Although men who married princesses couldn’t hold official positions and fulfill their ambitions, it was reprehensible for them to neglect or even allow their concubines to disrespect the princess. Such men, regardless of their talents, lacked moral integrity.

She didn’t want her daughter to face the same fate as Princess Jinping.

Fan Xueyao didn’t start with a big fanfare, as that would have provoked strong opposition. Instead, she chose to make changes gradually, knowing that raising women’s status couldn’t be done overnight. She possessed the perseverance and patience to see it through.

Upon learning that a certain imperial clanswoman had become a widow, she issued an edict to comfort her and invited her to the palace gardens to relax. When the woman remarried, she bestowed gifts. When someone requested chastity honors for a woman who had been a widow for decades in their village, she responded coldly, only giving some gold and silver but not allowing the erection of a chastity archway. Through these discreet actions, she encouraged widows to remarry.

She also praised and rewarded talented women skilled in poetry, music, and understanding the world, while rarely praising those who excelled only in embroidery and were illiterate. She encouraged women to be knowledgeable and reasonable.

Chu Nan saw these changes and, after ten years of marriage, understood her intentions without her having to voice them. He neither interfered nor opposed but silently supported her reforms. He also cherished their daughter. He only reminded her not to rush, or it might provoke strong opposition.

Seeing his attitude, Fan Xueyao no longer treated him with such caution and revealed more of her true self.

The real her was somewhat domineering and even a little willful, wanting what she wanted and not letting go if she couldn’t get it.

Seeing this side of her, Chu Nan didn’t feel disillusioned but loved her even more. He found this side of her more genuine. What were a little willfulness and domineering? She was the empress, the mother of the nation. What couldn’t he give her? Because of her, he had abandoned his harem, keeping only her in his heart and eyes. Now that she was the rightful empress, he could openly dote on her exclusively!

As the empress, with real power and Chu Nan’s silent approval, Fan Xueyao could pursue her goals, make various arrangements, and manage personnel much more conveniently.

For example, all the outer court matrons had to pay their respects, and she had the authority to summon them.

Initially, she had Yuran and her wet nurse train numerous women, most of whom had entered the emperor’s harem and now were ranked outer court ladies. Some already knew their loyalty, while others didn’t.

Using her mind-reading ability, she could determine their loyalty and gather information about their husbands, the outer court officials.

They couldn’t deceive her.

Officially, Chu Nan ruled the court, but behind the scenes, the extent of her power was known only to her. Even her parents, Yuran, and Hua Ping only knew part of it.

Fan Xueyao orchestrated reforms, watching the once high and mighty imperial relatives lose their former prestige. Their treatment was reduced, and the honor their descendants could inherit was diminished. Even old clan women who had been disrespectful to her based on seniority became obedient after Chu Nan scolded them and reduced their privileges.

The imperial clan and the ministers of the previous court saw that the emperor even consulted with Empress Fan on state affairs. After several admonitions, the emperor personally listed the suggestions and policies Fan had made over the years. Only then did they realize that Fan had been involved in court politics for quite some time. No wonder the emperor’s power had grown recently; they had truly become ministers of assistance, losing the power to resist him.

Realizing the implications and her intelligence and the deep trust the emperor had in her, everyone was shocked. They reassessed Empress Fan, who had risen to her position as a beauty.

Having tasted power, Fan Xueyao realized it wasn’t all that great.

After all, she wasn’t the type to become arrogant and recklessly do as she pleased when in power. The consequence of doing whatever one wanted was the downfall of the nation. To keep the country peaceful and prosperous, she had to exercise restraint and patience.

The emperor was, in fact, the least free person.

Realizing this, Fan Xueyao’s desire for power diminished significantly.

**

Chu Xu was about to come of age, and to pave the way for him, Fan Xueyao had been receiving the married women more frequently lately, often summoning them to the palace for conversations.

The women sitting in her palace were her people. Their titles might not be the highest, but they were her most trusted confidants, knowing each other intimately.

Several of them wore a gold hairpin with carved designs on their heads, with different designs beneath flowers such as peonies, plum blossoms, or begonias. To the uninitiated, these designs would seem like ordinary decorations. Only Fan Xueyao, Yan Ran, and Fan Minghui recognized these designs as codes, which, when converted into text, indicated their identities.

When the titled ladies entered the palace, they all wore the same gold hairpin. With a single glance, Fan Xueyao could identify her allies and their ranks.

Hong Yu sipped her tea and smiled. "My husband is planning a grand ceremony for the Crown Prince's coming-of-age ceremony." Over the years, she had won her husband's heart and enjoyed the favor of the Empress. Now, not only the stepchildren born to the first wife but even her in-laws treated her with respect. No one dared to belittle or humiliate her anymore.

Another woman smiled and said, "It should indeed be a grand ceremony. The Crown Prince has turned fifteen. After the coming-of-age ceremony, he can marry."

In this dynasty, the coming-of-age ceremony was not highly regarded, but the Emperor had proactively proposed holding one for the First Prince to boost the Crown Prince's prestige. This showed how much the emperor doted on and trusted the Crown Prince.

Fan Xueyao smiled and said, "The wedding is something that should happen at his age, but there is still no sign of a crown princess. I am confined to the inner palace and don't know which fine ladies are out there. I will need your help to find suitable candidates."

Hong Yu immediately asked, "What kind of candidate does Your Majesty envision for the crown princess?" She didn't care about what the crown prince wanted in a crown princess; her only concern was the Empress.

"Hmm..."

Fan Xueyao thought about her son's personality. He was a bit like her—intelligent, precocious, and perceptive. Those with deep schemes could not win his heart. The girl would need to be sincere, innocent, but not foolish. After marrying Chu Xu, she would need to be wholeheartedly devoted to him. In this era, such sincerity was hard to find.

"Talent is secondary; character is paramount."

The confidantes listened silently.

Fan Xueyao continued, "The crown prince is the future emperor. He will face many challenges ahead. The role of the Crown Princess extends beyond merely assisting him..."

She reflected and said, "The crown princess does not need to be skilled at needlework, or proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. Even if she is not good at managing the household, I, along with the emperor and the crown prince, will teach her. However, her character must be upright, virtuous, gentle, patient, and calm in the face of adversity."

Hong Yu hesitated. "Young ladies from noble families are often not very gentle. At least, the young ladies I have met are all well-mannered and educated, but most of them are somewhat aloof and proud. I wonder if they would be equally haughty when facing someone as noble as the crown prince."

Fan Xueyao laughed. "What good is a noble background? Can it bring any benefit to the crown prince? His position as crown prince is secure and does not need the embellishment of a high-born crown princess."

"That's true," Hong Yu nodded.

"Finding someone gentle and virtuous shouldn't be difficult," the confidantes began to think of the official family young ladies they had met who fit these character traits.

"I will leave this matter in your capable hands. Be discreet and cautious, and avoid arousing suspicion," Fan Xueyao instructed them to act carefully.

Hong Yu agreed, "We understand."

If news of the Crown Princess selection leaked, outsiders would start preparing, and even with sharp eyes, it would be hard to see the true nature of the young ladies who had prepared in advance.

With these instructions, they naturally put their hearts into the task, using social interactions to discreetly observe the talents, appearances, temperaments, and characters of the young ladies from official families.

They observed very carefully.

After all, the crown princess would be the daughter-in-law of their mistress and the future Empress. This was a lifelong commitment, and choosing the wrong person would certainly cause trouble. They had to be careful.

**

Chu Nan organized a grand ceremony for Chu Xu's coming-of-age ritual, even declaring a general amnesty to celebrate the occasion. The imperial decree also mentioned the Empress, praising her virtues and honorable reputation in the palace, as well as her giving birth to a son like the crown prince, emphasizing his deep affection and respect for both the Empress and their son.

After the coming-of-age ceremony, it was time for Chu Xu's wedding.

The crown princess's background was not very noble. Her father held a sinecure position, and her grandfather was a compiler at the Jixing Hall. Further back, one of her ancestors had been an Empress. So, her family had some old nobility.

After the wedding, Chu Nan began to involve Chu Xu in state affairs, even though he was only sixteen and had just come of age. This edict faced opposition from some ministers. By tradition, even the Crown Prince of the Great Liang Dynasty had no right or duty to discuss state affairs.

The ministers believed that if the crown prince discussed state affairs, it would be akin to a son criticizing his father, which was improper. Even some supporters of the emperor opposed this. They feared that since Chu Nan was still in his prime, allowing the crown prince to get involved in state affairs might cause resentment and suspicion.

However, with Chu Nan's persistence and Fan Xueyao's maneuvering, Chu Xu was successfully brought into the political arena. They had planned this in advance, starting by involving Chu Xu in discussions, then letting him make decisions, and eventually appointing him as the prefect of the Capital to handle the affairs of the prefecture, thereby training him in administrative capabilities.

Fan Xueyao had been quietly arranging small tasks for Chu Xu to handle for the past few years, training him in handling government affairs. As a result, although he was new to participating in politics, he managed everything smoothly and efficiently. Chu Nan was very pleased, feeling that he truly lived up to his parents' wisdom.

Due to Fan Xueyao's vigorous promotion over the years, maritime trade had flourished, bringing great wealth to the national treasury. However, this also made Chu Nan aware of the vulnerabilities in the coastal defenses of the Great Liang due to frequent pirate disturbances. He realized that not only did the coastal defenses need strengthening, but a navy also needed to be trained.

In the prime of his life, with a full treasury, Chu Nan had many ambitions that had yet to be realized. Now, there was potential for further efforts. He imbued his eldest son with all his knowledge, hoping that Chu Xu would inherit his aspirations.

As for whether he was getting old now that his son was grown? Such thoughts never entered his mind with Fan Xueyao beside him. He felt that his life had been fulfilling. Growing old with her was the ultimate happiness.

The emperor and empress were deeply in love and both held great importance to the crown prince. Thus, despite being a young crown prince, Chu Xu's position was secure.

The border was at war, aiming to reclaim two lost prefectures. Noticing how tense and excited Chu Nan was, Fan Xueyao took him to a separate villa to relax. With the help of craftsmen, they built a thatched cottage. Next to it, they cultivated two acres of land.

They spent roughly half of their time there each year. The imperial concubines had long become mere ornaments. Privately, Fan Xueyao asked Chu Nan for a favor to release those who wished to leave the palace. Fortunately, there were precedents for this, so it wasn't difficult to accomplish. Though releasing concubines typically occurred when the emperor was elderly and nearing the end of his life.

But now, with the imperial power stable, and the empress deeply trusted and loved by the emperor, and the crown prince filial to his mother, the ministers could only reluctantly accept the situation despite their objections.

Among the dozens of concubines, some were willing to leave, while many were not.

Over the years, Meng Changniang and others, due to their close relationship with Fan Xueyao, were included in every major imperial promotion. Step by step, they rose to the rank of Nine Consorts and Jie Yu, even without children.

Many concubines thought that leaving the palace would subject them to their family's control. At their age, even if the emperor permitted them to remarry, finding a suitable husband would be difficult. After marriage, they would have to serve their in-laws, and dealing with stepchildren would be troublesome. It was better to remain in the palace, living comfortably without any concerns.

Furthermore, the crown prince had recently petitioned the emperor to abolish the old practice of human sacrifice. This eliminated the greatest concern of the childless concubines, that they would be sacrificed upon Chu Nan's death.

Moreover, Empress Fan Xueyao was very kind and never tormented the concubines. She never reduced their allowances or imposed overly strict regulations. As long as they didn’t engage in excessive drinking, gambling, or other misconduct, they were free to play games like cuju, hammering balls, or even just idly passing time with tooth cards.

Life in the palace was easy and carefree, except for the nighttime loneliness, so many chose to stay.

For those who wished to leave, Fan Xueyao provided them with a generous dowry from her personal funds, ensuring their families treated them well. Whether they remarried was entirely up to them, and their families could not force them into any decisions.

For those who chose to stay, Fan Xueyao continued to treat them as before.

As they reached middle age, the grievances of youth faded. After letting go, spending free time writing poetry, playing cuju, watching plays, and passing the time with tooth cards with a few close friends, their hearts found unexpected peace.

Now, Chu Nan and Fan Xueyao lived like common folk. In their villa, they built a simple courtyard, planted two acres of land, and raised some silkworms. When the mood struck, they would plant some vegetables or weave a piece of cloth. On court days, Chu Nan would put on his silk robes to discuss matters with his ministers.

After court, he would return to the courtyard.

He treated his role as emperor like a job.

"I didn’t know how hard farming was until I worked the two acres myself," Chu Nan sighed, shaking his head and fanning himself with a straw hat, dressed in brown clothes with his feet bare, sitting by a large elm tree on the ridge of the field. Mud still clung to his feet, and his once fair skin had tanned. Every day, he worked for a while, and at over forty years old, Chu Nan still maintained a good physique, his exposed arm strong and firm.

Chu Xu was also exhausted. He was used to horseback riding, cuju, and physical activity, and had been drinking milk since childhood, making him tall and strong. But farming was different from exercise. After a short while, his back felt like it was breaking.

Catching his breath, Chu Xu poured over ten bowls of cold tea from a jar and handed them out to everyone to quench their thirst.

The ministers and farmers accepted gratefully.

An old farmer nearby, who looked to be in his fifties or sixties, appeared much more relaxed than Chu Nan and Chu Xu. After gulping down the tea, he wiped his mouth and said, "We’re not afraid of hard work; we’re just afraid of having no work."

Chu Nan agreed. The people depended on those few acres of land for food. Without work, it meant either the land was gone or it was barren, with no harvest due to natural disasters. It was better to work more and have enough food and clothing.

Chu Nan instructed his eldest son, "Your mother has been looking forward to the rice from these two acres of land. Once it’s dried, grind it into rice quickly and let your mother taste it."

The virtuous crown princess, who had brought tea to the field, nodded agreeably, "Her Ladyship was just saying she wanted to eat fried rice. You could fry some and soak it in chicken soup; it’s very fragrant."

Chu Nan shook his head, "Those chickens she wanted to raise to lay eggs and hatch chicks are too precious to her. She feeds them diligently, more attentively than she eats herself. They haven’t been raised for even a few months or hatched any chicks yet. She is too reluctant to slaughter them."

The ministers who were helping the emperor harvest the rice were sweating profusely and secretly marveled at the scene. This family really lives like a farming family.

Once the rice was harvested, there was nothing left to do in the fields. Fan Xueyao couldn’t stay idle, so she persuaded Chu Nan to play polo with her. She selected the most skilled from the personal guards to form a team and played cuju almost every day. She even joined the games herself, leading her team in matches herself.

Privately, the Crown Princess was amazed and said to Chu Xu, "I didn’t expect the emperor and empress to be so childlike."

Chu Xu smiled, "Mother has always been like this. But Father..." He wanted to say it was unusual, but then thought about how his father, despite his usual dignified and serious demeanor, became quite childish around his mother. He recalled the amusing stories his mother had told him about his father's antics when he was young, like the time he accidentally injured Chu Xu and, afraid she would find out, covered his mouth to prevent him from crying.

Chu Xu shook his head, unable to suppress his laughter.

**

As the saying goes, when those above have a preference, those below will take it to an even greater extreme.

Cuju and polo were already popular, but now they became national pastimes. Rural autumn festivals emerged everywhere. Fan Xueyao funded the creation of a large sports field in the outskirts of the capital, setting up prizes to encourage local competitions in cuju, wrestling, equestrian archery, and the like.

Whenever there were matches, she would drag Chu Nan along to watch.

At first, Chu Nan thought she was just being playful, but gradually, as various competitions became more popular and martial spirit grew among the common people, he saw the benefits and began to actively support them.

Chu Nan had been more scholarly and refined in his younger days, but as he grew older, he became fond of martial activities. Every year, he would go mountain hunting with the empress, the crown prince, and the third prince. Fan Xueyao, observing the guards and the imperial guards, shook her head and said to Chu Nan, "They are all from respectable families, but their martial skills are so mediocre."

Chu Nan frowned. He had been preoccupied with court affairs but had recently taken to practicing riding and archery. When he compared his skills to those of the guards responsible for protecting him, he found that his own were better. Could he rely on them in times of danger?

Fan Xueyao smiled, "With the military campaigns coming up, we can't expect much from our military officers who have inherited their positions through family lines. Without good officers and soldiers, even with a full treasury and abundant supplies, the war won’t be easy."

Chu Nan found her words reasonable. However, he wasn’t very clear about the abilities of the military officers at court. Afterward, he began to frequently host archery banquets and hunting events to test the skills of the military officials. He also started paying attention to the long-discontinued military examinations, hoping to promote talented and brave individuals.

Chu Su led his brother-in-law to the military examination grounds. Ever since the emperor began to emphasize the military examinations, stipulating that they be held every three years like the civil examinations, raising the treatment and status of military officers, and funding military schools everywhere, the enthusiasm for martial arts had grown in the populace. Not only military schools but other academies had started to include martial arts in their curriculum, teaching more than just essays, poetry, and classical texts. More and more people were participating in the military examinations.

"Sister, Brother-in-law..."

Chu Su’s brother-in-law looked at the heavily guarded examination grounds and the burly candidates entering. Though not weak, he still felt uncertain about his own physique.

Chu Su patted him on the shoulder, comforting him, "What’s there to fear? Your skills are not bad. Besides, the military examinations test more than just strength; they also test strategy."

The brother-in-law nodded, mustered his courage, and walked into the crowd.

As Chu Su watched his young brother-in-law enter the examination grounds with trepidation, he felt a sense of nostalgia. He too had been uncertain at the beginning of his journey.

He had worked hard for his career, but he had been fortunate to have a benefactor. After distinguishing himself in a banquet archery event, he was appointed as a personal affairs officer, tasked with espionage and surveillance. With the quiet support of his benefactor, he achieved many successes and gained the emperor’s favor. It wasn’t long before he was promoted to personal guard, responsible for the security of the palace. At the time, he had been curious about who his benefactor was, wondering how she could so easily bestow so many merits upon him.

Later, he learned that his benefactor was the highly favored Imperial Consort Fan. A woman who was even younger than him.

While serving as a personal guard to the emperor, he often saw her. No matter how he looked at her, it was hard to accept that this gentle and quiet woman, who seemed even a little fragile, was the one who had orchestrated his career. She had controlled not just his career but also his fate.

Now, he was the head of the Imperial Palace Commandery, overseeing all its affairs, with direct access to report to the emperor. Though the power wasn’t his alone, for someone so young to achieve such heights was unthinkable just a decade ago.

In the past, his elder brother had overshadowed him, and he couldn’t compete in anything. But now, his brother, who had been given high expectations by their parents, had to rely on him in the court.

All of this, he owed to her.

Over the years, though he had done some things at her request, he had benefited more from her. In the future, having his brother-in-law protect her children would repay some of that debt.

As time passed, the Liang state not only successfully reclaimed the two lost prefectures but also dealt a heavy blow to the grassland tribes, forcing them to submit. The previously neglected military officers began to shine, and the trend of valuing civil over military began to wane.

Some civil officials, dissatisfied with this shift, frequently submitted memorials of impeachment and remonstration. But under the joint suppression of Fan Xueyao and Chu Nan, these barely caused a ripple.

Nowadays, in various parts of the Liang state, martial arts were visible everywhere. Men no longer considered delicate skin and powdered faces beautiful. Even women could step out of their homes, form ball clubs, and play women’s cuju matches. Some even began to practice martial arts.

Seeing that Daliang was moving forward, Chu Xu was about to take over the throne from Chu Nan.He held the power of the world in his hands, and raised four sons and two daughters in his life, all of whom had their own happiness and destiny.

Fan Xueyao felt that in her life, she had nothing to regret.

The author has something to say:

Gone... The End. As those three words were sent out, a sense of emptiness filled my heart.

This book has come to an end, over 700,000 words, which may not sound like much, but it was quite a challenge to write. I didn't expect to be able to persist until now. Fortunately, I finished writing before publishing, and I've been updating daily without fail, not leaving readers hanging, so I'd say it's a satisfactory conclusion.

To the dear ones who have accompanied us along this journey, I truly cannot bear to part with you. If there were more ideas, I would genuinely love to write dozens more chapters.

But it doesn’t matter, I’ll collect the author and see you when I open a new project!

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