Part 2
The flower branches blocked some of the sunlight, hiding He Xunfang’s face in the shadows, half-bright and half-dark, creating a quiet atmosphere. Her eyes swept lightly, seeing that the surrounding palace servants were far away, before she whispered, “Second Sister… offended Her Majesty the Empress yesterday over some matters, causing Aunt to want to punish Her Majesty. His Majesty was furious because of this.”
“What happened?” He Mingshou became even more anxious.
He Xunfang said, “She… she caught a wind-cold a few days ago. Aunt kept the imperial physician who is best at treating wind-cold at Shicui Palace. Who knew Her Majesty the Empress also fell ill, and was thus delayed. Second Sister ran to Jiaofang Palace to apologize yesterday. Her Majesty didn’t want to see her, so she knelt and fainted outside Jiaofang Palace, and Aunt…”
She quickly recounted the events, glancing at the palace servants beside her from time to time, afraid of being overheard.
Not long after, the attendant who had gone in to report came out and invited He Mingshou inside.
The Empress Dowager’s face was very ugly, and there were faint water stains on the floor tiles; evidently, she had just lost her temper.
“Why did Brother have time to come?” The Empress Dowager suppressed her anger and asked as pleasantly as possible.
He Mingshou said, “This subject just entered the palace to see His Majesty. Thinking that I haven’t visited Your Highness for a long time, and coincidentally Xunfang is also in Your Highness’s palace, I thought to come and pay my respects.”
The Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows slightly: “Did Brother come from Zichen Palace?”
Stunned by her urgent attitude, He Mingshou said, “Yes, this subject just came from Zichen Palace.”
The Empress Dowager hurriedly asked, “In that case, did Brother see Xunling just now?”
“Mm.” He Mingshou nodded.
The Empress Dowager didn’t hide anything and said angrily, “Brother, look at the Emperor. He is so ruthless now that he actually made Xunling kneel outside as punishment!”
“She just fainted outside Jiaofang Palace yesterday, and today again… Besides, with people coming and going, how can she bear it?”
He Mingshou asked, “Xunling fainted yesterday? What happened?”
Having finally caught someone, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but pour out her bitterness to him, recounting the events of the past few days like pouring beans.
He Mingshou was forced to listen to it again, showing no reluctance on his face, only nodding occasionally in agreement.
“He told Xunling to apologize to him yesterday, and Xunling went early this morning. Seeing she was gone for so long, Aijia thought it was settled.” At this point, the Empress Dowager’s face changed abruptly, and she said angrily, “Only now do I know that Xunling didn’t even enter the palace door and was actually punished to kneel outside!”
“Tell me, tell me, what kind of thing is this?”
He Mingshou’s eyelid twitched. After she finished speaking, he said, “Your Highness, in this subject’s opinion, let the younger generation solve their own problems. If Your Highness, as an elder, intervenes, the nature of the matter changes.”
“What can Aijia do?” The Empress Dowager couldn’t help frowning and said angrily, “Yesterday, Xunling looked so pitiful… sigh, you didn’t see it. My sister advised Aijia to save face for the Empress, but her acting like this is clearly showing dissatisfaction with Aijia.”
He Mingshou said warmly, “Her Majesty the Empress hadn’t blamed her yet, but Xunling ran to apologize herself, insisting on seeing her. It was as if Her Majesty had already condemned her. Wouldn’t that annoy Her Majesty?”
“Moreover, Your Highness also said that Her Majesty the Empress also caught a wind-cold. Since that is the case, where would she have the extra energy to see her?” His voice was unhurried, like a clear breeze. “This is the first point.”
The Empress Dowager froze, her lips moving a few times, a trace of confusion flashing in her eyes.
“She forced herself to kneel outside Jiaofang Palace, pressuring the Empress over trivial matters, breaking the rules.” He Mingshou continued, “This is the second point.”
The Empress Dowager frowned: “It’s not that serious; Brother, you are exaggerating.”
“The Empress ordered her to leave but she refused, insisting on kneeling before Suzhang Gate. This is no different from ruining the Empress’s reputation. This is the third point.”
After speaking, He Mingshou said, “Whether intentional or unintentional, true or false, in short, this matter was mishandled by the girl Xunling, and she was the one who provoked it first.”
“Brother, you…” The Empress Dowager couldn’t think of a rebuttal and looked at the desk glumly. “Xunling fainted yesterday; could she abuse her own body like this?”
Several rays of light scattered in, reflecting off the water in the tea cup, refracting pale golden light.
He Mingshou stared at the flickering light and whispered, “Intentional or not, she committed a fault. Does an unintentional fault not count? Besides, Your Highness has been in the palace for many years and should know that the human heart is unpredictable. What is abusing one’s own body? Does Your Highness know that in the previous dynasty, corvée labor was heavy, and many people would rather break their own legs than serve?”
“Not to mention the previous dynasty, even in our Great Chu, where treatment of subordinates is generous and rewards for military merit are abundant, there are still people who maim themselves to avoid conscription.”
A look of astonishment flashed across the Empress Dowager’s face. She stroked her arm with lingering fear, staring blankly at the pale pink peach blossoms outside the window, silent.
He Mingshou wasn’t in a hurry, just lowering his head to drink his tea, leaning comfortably against the armrest, waiting patiently.
“Brother, she’s just a little girl; surely she wouldn’t go that far?” the Empress Dowager asked somewhat uncertainly.
He Mingshou nodded: “This subject also feels it shouldn’t go that far.” Seeing the Empress Dowager’s expression change again, he smiled faintly, “This subject just came out of Zichen Palace and saw that Xunling’s body seemed healthy enough. Your Highness can rest assured.”
Since she fainted yesterday and just recovered from a wind-cold, her body should be weaker. Yet her body was not weak, but healthier, kneeling steadily on the green bricks. It forced one to think more.
The Empress Dowager also fell into this emotion, looking increasingly confused.
He Mingshou sighed and said helplessly, “Your Highness is at the age to enjoy life. His Majesty is now diligent and wise, and has his own plans. Your Highness should let go. Why bother with these idle matters…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but the Empress Dowager understood. She said in a muffled voice, “Brother, Aijia should also enjoy old age, but the Emperor… he still has no heir, and rarely goes to the harem. How can Aijia not be anxious?”
“His Majesty is in his prime, and the situation in the court is complex. His Majesty’s heart is full of government affairs; how can he think of those things?” Thinking of this, He Mingshou was full of sighs. “Children are a matter of fate, destined by heaven; one cannot force it.”
He didn’t believe in fate before and had tried countless methods to defy the heavens, but later he had to admit it.
“This subject has many children, but only Xunfang survived.” He Mingshou once had seven or eight children, both legitimate and illegitimate, but in the end, only this one legitimate daughter survived. A shadow crossed his brows, and he shook his head and smiled, “When it’s time to have them, they will naturally come. Your Highness need not worry about this.”
Thinking of those nieces and nephews who died young, the Empress Dowager also sighed and comforted him with a few words.
Just then, a palace servant came in to report: “Your Highness, His Majesty ordered Miss He to return. She has been sent to Shicui Palace.”
Calculating carefully, she had knelt for nearly two hours.
The Empress Dowager looked panicked and wanted to get up upon hearing this. He Mingshou’s eyelid twitched, almost vomiting a mouthful of blood.
So everything I said was in vain?
He hurriedly said, “Your Highness, the Consort Dowager is managing this, and there are so many palace servants serving. You should worry less!”
“But…” The Empress Dowager hesitated.
He Mingshou had a headache and said helplessly, “Let the younger generation toss and turn about their own affairs. His Majesty just ordered her to kneel. If Your Highness goes to visit immediately, isn’t that slapping His Majesty in the face?”
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