Chapter 11: Gentle Refusal

Empress Dowager Lou opened her eyes, somewhat surprised. Li Zu’e could hardly believe that her eldest son would not side with her.

“Li Nansheng, please pay your respects to the Empress Dowager first.”

Gao Yin stepped forward, taking Li Nansheng by the hand and guiding him before Empress Dowager Lou. “Watch me and do the same.”

With that, Gao Yin lifted the hem of his blue robe and knelt on both knees. His black official hat drooped low, a sign of submission, as he bowed steadily and solemnly to the Empress Dowager. The Gao brothers, Gao Yan and Gao Zhan, who stood nearby, instinctively stepped aside.

“Your grandson pays homage to the Empress Dowager, wishing her longevity and endless happiness.”

Following Gao Yin’s example, Li Nansheng repeated the gesture. Empress Dowager Lou’s expression softened considerably. She then said to Li Nansheng, “Turn around and face me.”

Shyly, Li Nansheng turned. Lou Zhaojun proceeded to ask her some questions—what books she had read, who lived in her household. The inquiries were not deep, merely a way to gauge the child’s responses.

Still bashful, Li Nansheng hesitated, unsure how to answer and too timid to look directly at her second aunt. Gao Yin kindly repeated the Empress Dowager’s questions and gently encouraged her. Gradually, Li Nansheng regained her composure and spoke naturally. At heart, she was a simple and lovable girl.

Empress Dowager Lou nodded slightly, smiling now and then, evidently pleased. She called Li Zu Yi forward to offer some praise and ordered the ladies-in-waiting to bestow small gifts before letting Li Zu Yi escort Li Nansheng out.

Duan Huaxiu smiled and asked, “What does the Empress Dowager think?”

“She’s a decent child, just a bit shy,” Lou Zhaojun said, sipping tea and holding everyone’s attention before continuing, “But deciding so soon seems premature—what do you think? Have you fallen for this girl?”

Laughter rippled through the room at the timely remark, including from Gao Yin, who replied with a smile, “I once asked Mr. Xu, the tutor at the Imperial Academy, how he makes his living. He told me that since youth, he has neither lain with beautiful boys nor entered girls’ chambers, devoting himself to books and scriptures. Even as his body ages, he remains unaware.”

“I believe Mr. Xu, who has never married even in old age, surpasses Yan Yuan’s claim of chastity and Liu Xianghui’s virtue amidst temptation.”

Though young, Gao Yin’s words confused most present. Except for a few Han scholars like Yan Zixian, most were women with limited literary knowledge or Xianbei with a basic understanding of human nature. Still, they grasped that Gao Yin was dismissing such matters lightly.

Lou Zhaojun disliked the complexity and indirectness typical of Han speech, sensing hidden barbs and sarcastic undertones.

She laughed, “Empress, it seems the prince is not satisfied. Does he have another choice?”

Li Zu’e resented the old woman’s meddling and felt awkward. She asked Gao Yin, “Nansheng is a rare good girl—gentle in nature, well-read, and courteous.”

Gao Zhan interjected, “Father is indulgent and mother proud, yet the daughter is gentle in character—a strange thing indeed!”

This sparked uproarious laughter.

Li Zu Xun lacked talent and only held office through Li Zu’e’s influence. He and his wife, Lady Cui, regarded this as an honor and sought to leverage her connections for political gain. People spoke of them disdainfully. It was only after Li Zu Xun was dismissed for corruption that they ceased their ambitions.

Gao Zhan’s comment seemed a jest but subtly criticized the Empress’s family’s poor character and hinted at undue influence by the maternal clan. Now that the Empress was recommending her niece, it appeared even more like factional plotting.

Li Zu’e bit her lip in anger, her chest rising and falling. Gao Zhan stole glances while drinking. Duan Huaxiu gently grasped Li Zu’e’s sleeve and patted it in comfort.

“Uncle, that’s not right,” Gao Yin loudly rebutted. “During the Jin dynasty, Shen Chong rebelled with Wang Dun and was executed. Later, his son Shen Jin defended Luoyang alone, was captured, and died unyielding. People called him loyal and righteous. This shows that even father and son can be entirely different men and should not be equated.”

Gao Zhan was momentarily speechless—partly from not fully understanding, partly from the sudden sharpness of his usually taciturn nephew, which unsettled him.

Gao Yin returned to Li Zu’e’s side, then faced his mother. “Mother’s concerns are well-founded. But marriage is a matter of parental consent. Father has yet to consider it, so I dare not decide alone.”

Li Zu’e nodded repeatedly. Yin’er was a bit stubborn by nature but ultimately still sided with her.

At the mention of the emperor, the hall’s atmosphere chilled noticeably. Lou Zhaojun lost interest in further conversation. “In that case, we shall invite the emperor to attend another day and discuss this matter then.”

With that, Lou Zhaojun rose and left the feast, accompanied by her two sons.

A lady-in-waiting approached Gao Yin respectfully. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Empress Dowager has bestowed some gifts. Please send someone to the storeroom to collect them.”

Gao Yin nodded. “I know. Huang Xi, Yao Shuang… never mind, I’ll go myself later.”

The lady-in-waiting bowed. “Very well, I will wait outside.”

After the Empress Dowager’s departure, the atmosphere in the hall relaxed considerably. The attendants aligned with her, like Hulü Wu and others, found excuses to leave. Those remaining mostly belonged to the Empress faction led by Li Zu’e, or rather the Crown Prince’s party.

The men, citing drunkenness, retired to the side chambers to rest. Power is the finest adrenaline; the subtle confrontations just now had stirred them to private talks.

Among them were Yan Zixian, Gao Guiyan, Ke Zhuhun Tianhe, and others—the core of the Crown Prince’s faction.

Yan Zixian had married Princess Huaiyang, the adopted daughter of Gao Huan. Ke Zhuhun Tianhe had wed Princess Dongping, Gao Yang’s biological sister. Both were imperial sons-in-law. Gao Guiyan, a cousin within Gao Huan’s clan and a senior minister, alongside Yan Zixian, historically would have accepted Gao Yang’s will to become Gao Yin’s regents. Now, they all backed the Crown Prince.

Yan Zixian was a robust Confucian scholar, his thinning hair resembling what later generations would call a “bald patch.” He cherished every strand and stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Today, the Empress Dowager seemed displeased with the Crown Prince. If this continues, there may be upheaval.”

They all understood the Empress Dowager’s significance to the Qi state. She was the hidden leader of the Jinyang military. Without her support, the Crown Prince faced disaster. Her attitude today was worrisome. The worst outcome might be that the Crown Prince must fight his own “war to establish the state.”

“Manipulated by Han women, the Empress Dowager is indeed dissatisfied. But to say she obstructs the Crown Prince—that’s unlikely.”

Ke Zhuhun Tianhe took up the thread. He had some talent but largely relied on the political legacy left by his elder brother, Ke Zhuhun Daoyuan.

Ke Zhuhun Daoyuan was a brilliant military leader. He had rejected Yuwen Tai and led his troops east to join Gao Huan, earning the title of Grand General of the Chariots and Cavalry. He fought numerous battles, winning decisive victories and capturing many prisoners. His achievements were monumental, likened to hills and mountains. After Gao Yang established Qi, he was made Prince of Fufeng.

Later, Ke Zhuhun Daoyuan accompanied Gao Yang to subdue the Rouran and Kihu, stabilizing Qi’s borders and expanding its territory.

Because of his brother’s great merits, Gao Yang held high hopes for Ke Zhuhun Tianhe as well. He, along with his brother, served as one of the military leaders within the administration entrusted to Gao Yin. “But as long as the two princes remain, even if the Crown Prince ascends, he will struggle to wield real power. The difficulty of dealing with the two princes remains.”

The other military leader was Gao Guiyan, who spoke last. He was the Prince of Pingqin and also served as Left Deputy Minister of the Secretariat. Along with Yang Yin, he was a chancellor.

“No matter what, the Crown Prince must win the Empress Dowager’s favor to be secure. He did well today—respectful and polite. But I fear the Empress Dowager may have her own preference.”

This was Gao Guiyan’s greatest concern. If it were still the era of Gao Cheng, elder brother of Gao Yang and the Wenxiang Emperor, he would not worry. Gao Cheng was the most legitimate heir, and his descendants, such as Gao Xiaowan, Prince of Hejian, would naturally succeed.

But Gao Cheng was assassinated, Gao Yang took the throne, becoming emperor unexpectedly. Gao Yang’s legitimacy was weak, and thus the Crown Prince’s position wavered.