Chapter 10: Hard to Prevail

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Gao Yang had been absent for a long time, which displeased Empress Dowager Lou. Being away so long, she suspected he had secretly gone drinking. Gao Yan and Gao Zhan comforted her for a while, eventually coaxing her into a better mood. She then took to doting on her grandchildren with candies and sweets, offering hearty encouragement to the older children like Gao Yin, who was over ten years old.

“Oh my, you’re still so frail. You must eat more so you grow stronger,” the Empress Dowager said, pinching Gao Yin’s arm gently, occasionally sighing, “Has your father disciplined you recently?”

The question cast a slight awkwardness over the room. Gao Yin hurriedly shook his head, replying with measured politeness, “Thunder and rain are blessings from heaven. A father’s discipline, a monarch’s demands—these are all natural. We accept them with respect.”

The Crown Prince’s response was apt and earned nods and affirmations from the gathered company.

Empress Dowager Lou seemed pleased with the answer and glanced at Gao Zhan. “Look at you—your demeanor can’t compare to your nephew’s steadiness. In the future, as you serve your brother, you must show him more respect!”

Gao Zhan quickly forced a smile. The Empress Dowager beckoned Hulü Wudu over. “Come here. It’s been a while. Although Wudu is only three years older than you, he is still your uncle.”

Gao Yin promptly performed the junior’s courtesy. Hulü Wudu smiled, “It’s truly fortunate to be tied by royal kinship. Now that we are family, Crown Prince, I expect you to look after me a little!”

Gao Yin felt some displeasure at Hulü Wudu’s overbearing tone. “Since we are family, it is all the more important that we serve our Father with diligence and assist in state affairs.”

Wudu hadn’t anticipated such formal words and quickly corrected himself, “Yes, yes, of course!”

He glanced at Empress Dowager Lou with a shrug, feeling he had made a fool of himself.

His wife, Princess Yining Gao Yongxin, was just a year older than Gao Yin and was his paternal aunt, though they had grown up as childhood playmates, almost like childhood sweethearts. Now a married woman, the two shared much sentimentality.

“By the way, has Yin’er been betrothed yet?” Duan Huaxiu inquired, stirring both interest and some dissatisfaction.

Li Zuo’e cared deeply about her eldest son’s marriage prospects. As Crown Prince, Gao Yin’s in-laws would be the future external relatives of the throne, potentially either augmenting or hindering her influence. This outcome was crucial to Li Zuo’e, so she chose a wife for Gao Yin who would be highly advantageous to her own power.

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The dissatisfaction came from Empress Dowager Lou, who deliberately avoided discussing Gao Yin’s marriage, hoping to prevent him from gaining external support. Families like the Hulü clan, the Duan family, or others would only strengthen Gao Yin’s position as Crown Prince, giving him more leverage in the future. Therefore, Lou Zhaojun preferred to wait until matters had settled before arranging a match for Gao Yin.

This “settling” referred to the death of the second son and the succession of the third son, Gao Yan. If Gao Yin succeeded the second son, there would be no need to trouble over his marriage.

As Empress Dowager Lou pondered this, Li Zuo’e said, “Coincidentally, my eldest sister and niece are both in the palace today. I have them waiting outside. Why not have my niece come in for everyone to see if she is a suitable match for Yin’er?”

As Empress, Li Zuo’e’s wishes were rarely denied—except by the Empress Dowager.

Fearing only the elder woman, Li Zuo’e beamed when the Empress Dowager slightly nodded and clapped her hands. “Then let them come in!”

They did not make the guests wait long. At the summons of attendants, a beautiful woman entered the court, escorting a young girl.

Compared to the palace consorts, their attire was simple, even less ornate than some favored maids, yet their bearing was remarkable. The woman was striking, her slightly exotic beauty paired with an elegant, incense-like grace, like fireworks burning atop wine, igniting the hearts of the men.

Gao Yan glanced twice, then looked away. Gao Zhan was less composed; a bit of drool escaped his mouth until Gao Yan kicked him, snapping him back to attention. He wiped his face with his sleeve.

Hulü Wudu, still young, was captivated by the mature woman’s aura. His gaze swept over her like a spotlight. Princess Yining quietly withdrew, making Wudu look more dazed. Empress Dowager Lou was so annoyed she struck him with her cane, jolting him awake. Gao Yan roughly dragged him back to Princess Yining’s side, and Wudu felt a shiver of fear.

The beautiful woman was Li Zuoyi, Li Zuo’e’s eldest sister. She had once been the wife of Prince Le’an Yuan Ang but was now a widow. She became widowed mainly because Gao Yang desired her. After a few encounters with him, Gao Yang found her agreeable and cruelly murdered her husband, Yuan Ang, intending to take Li Zuoyi as a consort. Li Zuo’e, the Empress, was so distressed she stopped eating and wept constantly, even suggesting giving her position to her elder sister. Empress Dowager Lou had to intervene and counsel Gao Yang, who then abandoned the matter.

This flower, though beautiful, was too dangerous to pluck, lest the emperor’s vengeance be severe.

It was clear the Empress had gone all out this time, even bringing her elder sister and niece into the palace. Perhaps sisterly bonds were no match for maternal ones. One could only wonder how much Li Zuo’e’s mindset had changed since her days of tearful despair.

The girl Li Zuoyi brought was Li Nansheng. In another life, she had indeed become Crown Princess, then Empress upon Gao Yin’s ascension, and later downgraded to Princess of Jinan after Gao Yin’s deposition. Following the Qianming coup, Gao Yin’s line would not continue in Qi, so Li Nansheng bore no children. After Gao Yin was killed by Gao Yan, Li Nansheng entered Miaosheng Temple, shaved her head as a nun, and died ten years later at just twenty-two, buried with monastic rites.

At this time, Li Nansheng was only nine years old, unaware of the complexities of the grown-up world or her unknown fate.

She was still a child, only told that her second aunt had summoned her to the palace. Her family quickly prepared new clothes for her. Though young, Li Nansheng was not naïve. From the adults’ scattered words, she guessed she might soon have a husband. Though she did not understand the term fully, her cheeks flushed with a small, budding excitement.

Upon entering the palace, she and her eldest aunt wandered the gardens outside. Her aunt said nothing, and Li Nansheng gradually forgot the reason for coming, delighting in the flowers and butterflies. To her, the palace was a fairyland; if she could live here, how joyful that would be.

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It was only when an attendant arrived that Li Zuoyi reluctantly led the hesitant Li Nansheng into the palace from which laughter occasionally echoed.

Li Nansheng had long been curious about this place. Suddenly remembering her purpose, she quickly tidied her hair, brushed off petals and sweat, and followed her aunt’s example as they entered the grand hall.

The resplendent chamber was like a celestial mansion, filled not only with rare treasures and decorations but also adorned by people of extraordinary dignity, far removed from the common folk.

Yet it was also like a haunted house. From the moment she stepped inside, Li Nansheng felt an immense, indescribable pressure, as if invisible immortals were stationed throughout the room, scrutinizing her every move. Any sign of disrespect would drag her into the netherworld. She became extremely restrained, her breathing faint and fragile, as if the slightest sound would condemn her.

Under this heavy weight, she struggled forward to a group of people, likely the true immortals. Her second aunt was among them. The emperor was the Son of Heaven; the empress was the celestial maiden. Those who could stay near the celestial maiden were no ordinary mortals.

Her second aunt beckoned slightly, and Li Nansheng felt as if she had received a divine blessing. Clouds seemed to form beneath her feet, and she floated forward lightly. Yet all eyes were fixed upon her, burning as if to penetrate her soul. Trembling and fearful, she broke into a cold sweat as she timidly approached her aunt and greeted, “Greetings, Second Aunt.”

Her mind was nearly blank. After speaking, she recalled her eldest aunt had taught her to address the empress properly, not to use family titles, and most importantly, to first pay respect to the eldest lady present.

Hearing a sigh from her eldest aunt, Li Nansheng’s unease deepened. She felt as though the floor tiles were falling away beneath her, leaving her nowhere to hide—perhaps she had been wrong from the start.

“Well, well!” Li Zuo’e swept her into a warm embrace, smiling as she gently stroked the girl’s head. Children were children; though she had misspoken, she was still a child, and she had greeted her first, which pleased Li Zuo’e greatly.

She comforted Li Nansheng and then addressed the Empress Dowager, “This is my niece, named Nansheng. What does Your Majesty think?”

Empress Dowager Lou closed her eyes and before she could answer, someone else spoke for her, “Grandmother finds it difficult to respond, as the proper rites have not yet been observed.”