Chapter 95

Chapter 95

◎The Emperor's Brothers◎

In the center of the True Appraisal Hall, a group of dancers from the Shengping Bureau were dancing. They spun gracefully on their toes, their movements elegant and fluid, while the music of string and wind instruments filled the air. Li Cheng was hosting a reception for envoys from various countries. It was also the first time Huiyin had seen so many people of different ethnicities. The envoys from Goryeo and the Southern Barbarians performed the same courtesies as the Han people, and they looked similar. However, people from Zhenla and Sanfoqi had slightly darker skin but striking big eyes and eyebrows.

At this grand occasion, Empress Dowager Huiyin, Xun Jiying, and some noble ladies were in attendance. Some attendees couldn’t help but whisper among themselves that the emperor’s harem only had the Empress, making it seem cold and desolate. But of course, they didn’t dare voice these thoughts aloud.

Even if they had, Huiyin wouldn’t have minded too much.

The most exhausting thing in life is living up to others' expectations. She whispered to Li Cheng, “This dance is beautifully choreographed.”

Li Cheng smiled faintly, “It’s good as long as it looks good.”

Though Li Cheng appeared carefree now, he had secretly learned some Goryeo and Zhenla. Huiyin was quite proud when she heard him casually speak a few words.

“My emperor is extremely wise.”

Li Cheng shook his head, “These are just minor skills. The key is to govern our country well. Only then will foreign states truly respect us.”

Huiyin nodded in agreement. The couple appeared radiant during the banquet, but when they returned to Linde Hall, they both collapsed on the bed, not wanting to get up.

“You have no idea how much my back hurts; I can’t even straighten up. I sat for too long,” Huiyin complained, leaning on a cushion. She disliked the medicinal patches, finding their smell overpowering.

Li Cheng was in a similar state. Having been involved in wars from a young age, he now had to work hard to govern the country. Often sitting for an entire day, his old wounds would flare up, making him uncomfortable. But he only let his guard down and showed his discomfort when alone with Huiyin.

Seeing Huiyin wincing in pain, he couldn’t help but say, “Should I get some medicinal oil and massage it for you?”

“No need. The more you massage, the worse it gets. A couple of days' rest will be fine. But I can rest. What about you?” Huiyin said worriedly, looking at her husband.

Li Cheng grinned, “Don’t worry. With you caring so much about me, I’m already feeling better.”

“Silly,” Huiyin said, calling for someone to bring a hot towel for him. Thinking about how hard Li Cheng had worked as emperor, sacrificing enjoyment for duty, her heart ached.

But if they said they were tired, people outside would surely accuse them of complaining without reason. Li Cheng understood this, so he worked even harder to govern the country well, to leave a foundation for their sons and to ensure the people of this generation would no longer suffer from the horrors of war.

When these delegations arrived, Shangjing became extremely lively. Even the young ladies who usually stayed secluded in their homes came out. Xianjie and Shi Jie from the Guo family went out together. Their relationship had always been good. Xianjie was two or three years older than Shi Jie and frequently visited the Zheng family with Jiang Bipbo. The two were almost like best friends.

“Sister Pei, look over there—someone’s breathing fire!” Shi Jie, though not young, spoke logically.

Being a young girl herself, Xianjie immediately agreed and asked the coachman to head to Kaiguo Temple.

However, their financial situations were different. Jiang Bipbo had grown up in wealth, with money to spare, and after marrying Guo Zhao, she managed to balance the education of a noble lady and a merchant’s daughter for her daughter. To make friends, one had to be generous, especially with Shi Jie, who was a young lady of a thousand gold. She always carried promissory notes worth a thousand taels and had gold beans and pearls in her purse.

In contrast, Xianjie relied solely on her modest monthly allowance of two taels, rarely buying anything on her own, usually depending on her mother, Xin Shi, to get her jewelry.

Seeing Shi Jie spend two hundred taels on jade in an instant, Xianjie couldn’t match that and said she wouldn’t buy anything for now.

When she returned home and saw Xin Shi, Xianjie remained visibly upset.

Xin Shi couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong? You went out to have fun; why are you upset?”

“It’s nothing. There were just too many people today, and I felt a bit suffocated in crowded places,” Xianjie said, not wanting to explain too much to her mother.

But it was easy for Xin Shi to find out what had happened. Back in her room, Xin Shi discreetly questioned the servants who had accompanied Xianjie. Upon learning the reason, she couldn’t help but complain, “You all should have come to me for some money. How could you let our daughter lose face in public?”

Xianjie’s steward said, “Our family is a noble family, and our rules are like this. It wouldn’t be proper for a young lady of a noble family to appear like a nouveau riche. It’s not our girl’s fault.”

Xin Shi lowered her eyes. "In my opinion, the Guo family is currently troubled by the Yuwen family's affairs. I see that Lady Guo is the Empress Dowager's sworn sister. We may allow them to spend time together for now, but in the future, let's not encourage it. Later, I'll send two famous paintings to her. At her age, she should focus more on reading and appreciating art."

Managing money as a head of household is a concern for the future. A young lady is most carefree during her years in the boudoir. Once she becomes a mistress, she'll worry about the household every day. So, while she can play for now, she should enjoy it.

The steward said, "But our young lady and Miss Guo have planned to play polo together in the future."

"We can always decline later. Attending one out of every three invitations should suffice," Xin Shi replied.

Hearing this, the steward felt relieved and left.

Unaware of this, Shi Jie was sharing with Jiang Biqbo, "Those jade pieces were beautiful. It seemed like Xianjie wasn’t very interested, so I bought a few pieces to have carved and given to my parents."

Hearing this, Jiang Biqbo felt uneasy. She thought, as the Empress Dowager's niece, Xianjie's prospects of becoming Crown Princess or a royal consort were likely ruined due to their elopement situation. Originally, she had no desire for such status, being content as a countess with her background. However, since Guo Zhao often mentioned it, she also felt it was a pity.

Shi Jie, as a young lady from a marquis' family, had both looks and talent. With a steward attending to her and being taught household management, she was more than capable of being a royal consort. Marrying someone ordinary would actually be a waste of her talents.

Therefore, Jiang Biqbo thought that compared to the Pei family’s wealth, her daughter's extravagant purchases might come across as flaunting.

"Shi Jie, in the future, you can spend as much as you like, but try not to show off in front of your friends," Jiang Biqbo said.

Shi Jie didn't understand. "Mother, why do you say this?"

Jiang Biqbo chuckled. Indeed, children's interactions shouldn't be restricted by adults; she was becoming overly meticulous.

"Mother is just giving you a casual reminder; you don't have to follow everything I say. By the way, last time we went boating with the Empress Dowager, we went to the palace together. You also entered the palace. How did you find it?"

Asking this, she heard Shi Jie say, "There are indeed too many rules in the palace, aside from other things. The Empress Dowager changed her outfits three times during our visit. If she didn't give the order, the curtains would remain drawn, and no one dared to make noise. I felt really stifled. Also, the banquet—the banquet looked plentiful and elegant, but the sweet cakes were tasteless. We avoided eating the bone-in meats for fear of making noise."

Jiang Biqbo had never considered palace life from her daughter's perspective. Perhaps because of her merchant background, losing her parents young made her feel like a floating weed. She always believed that having power and influence ensured a good life, as wealth alone could easily be taken away.

Thus, she had a psychological dependence on the Empress Dowager. Moreover, the Empress Dowager's conduct was very methodical, and her two sons were intelligent. So, her agreement wasn't entirely due to status, as her husband thought, but because she believed the Empress Dowager would be an excellent mother-in-law.

But she hadn't realized her daughter didn't long for palace life.

"So, you suffered in the palace."

Shi Jie smiled. "We were considered lucky. We only enter the palace a few times a year. Miss Xun Jiying from the Xun family has it worse. The Empress Dowager's health is poor, and she still has to enter the palace like entering a cage."

Jiang Biqbo was stunned.

After the foreign envoys left, Li Cheng didn't go to the Duanning Hall but rested well for two days in the Linde Hall. Huiyin took care of him the whole time, and they ate and slept together, even playing with their child.

Li Cheng couldn't help but say, "You see, after resting for a few days, I feel full of energy. But you, who used to love riding, haven't played polo since your waist injury. It's a pity."

"Look at what you're saying. We have you in the family. Why do you always insist I ride?" Huiyin pinched his nose, finding his words particularly endearing.

In truth, he felt Huiyin should be free-spirited and refreshing. He feared she'd get bored cooped up in the palace, not knowing that Huiyin loved lying down. She was content because she had struggled in her youth, and now she didn't need to make friends through activities like polo.

The couple indulged for a while before going to see the Empress Dowager. Before they entered, they heard a clear voice reciting Buddhist scriptures.

"It should be Miss Xun reciting," Huiyin said.

Li Cheng smiled, and they entered. Xun Jiying's voice stopped as she stood up to greet them. After the imperial couple allowed her to rise, Xun Jiying withdrew.

"How is the Empress Dowager's health?" Li Cheng asked first.

The Empress Dowager was delighted to see Li Cheng come to pay his respects, as the Emperor only visited a few times a month and not often. She hurriedly said, "I am already better, and I must thank the Emperor for your concern."

"It seems that bringing Miss Xun into the palace was the right decision; Your Majesty’s complexion has improved greatly," Huiyin smiled.

Truly, mentioning what shouldn’t be mentioned, the Empress Dowager had caused such a commotion precisely for this reason. However, these tactics were ineffective in Huiyin's eyes. Because Li Cheng, out of respect for the Empress Dowager, had already shown exceptional favor to the Xun family. In the early days of the dynasty, granting them land and salaries came from tax revenues, when the state was in dire need of funds for numerous projects. Yet, the Empress Dowager still wanted perpetual wealth and was never content.

Li Cheng also looked at Huiyin, "Indeed, all her provisions can be compared to those of a county or duchess, treating her as if she were at home in the palace."

Such care for her maternal relatives naturally pleased the Empress Dowager. However, Li Cheng continued, "I plan to take the Empress, Crown Prince, and others on a tour of the capital region, which may last a month. If there is anything you need, Grandmother, just let Qin An know."

This had been decided long ago by Li Cheng. Unlike the Wei King, who enjoyed annual hunts to display his martial prowess, such activities often led to accidents during actual hunts.

Now, the court had established a system for selecting military officials through examinations, eliminating the need for the Emperor to take personal risks. He thought that his children, having grown up in luxury, had no idea how people lived outside the palace, so he wanted to take them out to see the world.

Clearly, the Empress Dowager, nearing her seventies, was not suitable for travel. She sighed, having hoped that bringing Xun Jiying into the palace would give her an advantage, but now the Emperor was planning to leave.

Even Huiyin did not know about the trip until they left the Empress Dowager’s palace. She then said, "We’re really going out to play?"

"Why not? When you were a princess, I took you back to visit my family. Now that you are Empress, should we confine ourselves to the palace every day? This is why I want you to learn to ride," Li Cheng, now as Emperor, found less time to talk with Huiyin, always hoping to maintain their closeness as before.

Huiyin clapped her hands and laughed, "So you were teasing me. I can ride, but only if we ride together."

"Shh, keep it down," Li Cheng whispered guiltily.

Huiyin found it increasingly amusing to tease him, even as Emperor, he could still blush.

When they told Jing'er and Zhan'er about the trip, the two children were almost jumping with joy. Tong'er, not understanding what the trip meant, simply clung to Huiyin, clapping along with her brothers' cheers, as if that was the way to join in.

Jing'er said, "Mother, will Second Brother and I ride horses or take a carriage? I want to ride a horse."

At ten years old, he always felt like he was more mature than his age. On regular days, Li Cheng discussed state affairs with him, making him feel different from other teenagers. However, his idea was immediately rejected by Huiyin: "It's still cold outside, and you shouldn't risk catching a chill. Since this is a trip for fun, you should sit in the carriage and enjoy the scenery. If you ride a horse, many people will have to protect you. What if someone shoots a hidden arrow?"

"Hidden arrow? With so many people protecting me, would there still be hidden arrows?" Jing'er didn't understand.

Huiyin smiled: "That's why they say, 'A child of wealth should avoid danger,' meaning you shouldn’t take unnecessary risks. If you were just an ordinary person, Li Jing, I wouldn't care if you galloped around. In fact, I would be proud of you. But you are the Crown Prince, a child of great worth. If anything happens to you, it’s not just me losing a son—it’s the empire losing its future leader. Your father's kingdom might even be jeopardized."

Even though Jing'er had been studying both civil and military strategies, his parents treated him with great respect. Even the eunuchs and maids in the palace were chosen by him. However, there were times when Huiyin would directly tell him when he was wrong.

Being a sensible child, Jing'er acknowledged his mistake after hearing Huiyin's words: "I understand, mother. Thank you for the reminder."

"Don't mind me for being talkative," Huiyin said, always mindful of her words. Her son was growing up, and she couldn't discipline him like a little child anymore. If she did, it might create opportunities for others to take advantage.

Seeing Zhan'er looking gloomy, Huiyin knew her words might have upset him, but there was nothing that could be done. Unless Jing'er were unusually mediocre and Zhan'er exceptionally talented, the eldest son of the empress would naturally inherit the throne.

Life was full of disappointments. Even Huiyin, despite having everything good now, still suffered from minor aches and pains. Whether it was her period causing discomfort or her legs aching, she kept these issues private.

Maybe sensing what Huiyin was thinking, Jing'er turned to Zhan'er and said, "I remember someone gave me a Khitan saddle, which actually seems more suitable for you. Mom’s right. We can’t ride horses on the journey, but once we get to the summer palace, we can."

Khitan saddles were renowned as the finest in the world. Although they were princes, Huiyin and Li Cheng did not raise their children to be prodigal. They only replaced items when they were broken.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Zhan'er happily said, "Thank you, Crown Prince."

Jing'er patted his younger brother on the shoulder: "Why are you thanking me? I've been wanting to give it to you. I was just looking for a reason. Now it's settled, I can give it to you."

Huiyin was pleased with Jing'er’s thoughtfulness: "You see, your elder brother always thinks of you when he has good things. By the way, I have some frosted preserved cherries here. This morning, I told Nanny Nan to save them for you."

She wasn’t sure how to comfort her younger son, but she knew he’d have to learn to accept such realities as he grew up. Zhan'er was more open-minded than she thought. Although he sometimes got upset by certain words, after eating the cherries, his mood improved, and he even took Tonger out to play. Jing'er followed, and they played together.

He told Li Cheng these thoughts in the evening: "Our second son shows his happiness openly, which is good, but I still feel a bit guilty. Only one of our two sons can have ultimate power, while the other must always be a subordinate. And it just so happens that Zhan'er is smart, not some fool."

Li Cheng had never thought about these issues; he loves both his sons equally. "You're overthinking things, right?"

"No, I'm not overthinking it. There are many things we can’t foresee, even if we prepare ahead of time. What I mean is, if we spoil Zhan'er too much, Jing'er might resent it when he becomes ruler. How many royal brothers actually get along well? But if we favor Jing'er and ignore Zhan'er, that would be too harsh." Huiyin found this dilemma hard to solve.

Li Cheng put his hands behind his head, feeling troubled after listening to her. But then an idea struck him.