After recovering from her illness, Wei Yu did not become haggard. Instead, because she had given up some things, she became more vibrant. Her gentleness was mixed with a touch of arrogance, making her as beautiful as a butterfly.
In the morning, snowflakes drifted down from the sky, piling up in a thick layer on the ground. Wei Yu walked to the entrance of the palace with delight, reaching out her hand. She hadn't seen such light, fluttering snowflakes for many years. She ran down from the steps, the snowflakes like willow catkins or goose feathers, instantly covering her body. Looking around, the jade palace in the snow was piled up in a flawless white, a vast expanse of pure white.
The air in the East Warm Pavilion was filled with the scent of sandalwood. Emperor Xuande and Prince Rui, Ying Tianfang, were discussing opening border markets when he suddenly caught sight of something. His face relaxed, then he frowned again. "Gao Qing, give the Empress that lynx cloak." Turning back, he saw Tianfang looking at him with interest before turning his gaze to Wei Yu in the square in front of the palace. Her silver-red soft jacket accentuated her delicate features, making her look extremely charming. Emperor Xuande coughed and said, "Take your eyes off her and get down to business."
Tian Fang chuckled. A suspicious dark red glint flashed across Emperor Xuande's face as he glanced at him sideways. Tian Fang pulled back his lips and chuckled. Someone was probably angry and wanted to settle a personal score.
"Tianfang, I want you to serve as the acting military governor of the Northeast Commandery."
Oh, karma's coming so quickly," Ying Tianfang raised an eyebrow.
"The Northeast has the largest horse farms, a grain distribution center, and a sizable fleet of ships and caravans, especially Shang Qingtao. My intention in opening up trade is not only to make money from various countries and acquire good craftsmanship, but also to gain control and monopolize the logistics of various countries. However, horses, boatmen, and most importantly, firearms must be strictly controlled. Any such cases must be eradicated. Recently, due to the expansion of trade, the Embroidered Uniform Guard reported to the Protectorate General that it was not up to the task. Various countries were getting restless, and spies had infiltrated. Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrested a number of them, I think they are not willing to give up. Tian Jinian cannot shoulder this heavy responsibility. You go, and you also take charge of the Northeast military camps and carry out a comprehensive rectification. I will feel more at ease then."
"Your Majesty, aren't you afraid that I'll form cliques and plot treason by giving me so much power?" Ying Tianfang joked. There were always a few ministers who were wary of him and would submit memorials every now and then, saying that Emperor Xuande had not yet established an heir and that it was not appropriate to give this younger brother too much power.
"Can you do it?" Emperor Xuande had no doubt about his judgment.
"I don't know." Ying Tianfang answered honestly, which was rare for him. Emperor Xuande gave him a cold, bored look. He protested, "Brother, I'm doing this for your own good!" In private, he often didn't distinguish between "you" and "me."
Emperor Xuande, however, was serious. “If I never have a legitimate son, then you will inherit the throne. Neither of the other two is suitable candidates; one is dissolute and the other is too honest.”
Ying Tianfang's face was solemn, but his heart was filled with emotion. He had been exceptionally talented since childhood, but he did not know how to conceal his brilliance. He was arrogant and unruly, which overshadowed his elder brother, who was still the crown prince at the time. Others advised him against it, but he believed that he was close to his elder brother and was open and selfless. His elder brother also treated him exceptionally well among all his brothers. When the Zhou family was in power, he offended the Zhou family several times. The Zhou family wanted to kill him, but his elder brother took him with him everywhere. The Zhou family was afraid of harming him, so they stopped. He helped his elder brother regain power. At that time, everyone thought that Emperor Xuande would discard him after he had served his purpose, but on the contrary, his elder brother gave him more trust and power.
He was a little damp. "Nonsense." He turned around and looked at the square. There were several more figures in the square, holding brooms and hoes. He couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Emperor Xuande followed his gaze, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Let's go see what the Consort is doing," he said, stepping out first. "Brother, are you daydreaming?" he shouted. Gao Qing glared at him, but Ying Tianfang smiled with satisfaction. He shrugged. Good thing, his brother and those around him were becoming more and more human, less cold.
"Go to the kitchen and get two small, round coal briquettes." A slender finger pointed at Emperor Xuande without turning her head. Emperor Xuande took her jade-like hand in his; it was icy cold. He rubbed it in his palm. "Aren't you cold?" He pulled her close, and without speaking, she looked up at him coquettishly. Unable to break free, she slapped his hand away. "Oh dear, don't mess around. I'll build you a snowman. You go and do your business."
Emperor Xuande indeed loosened his grip. Ying Tianfang and Wei Yu had met a few times and had heard about his brother's affection for her, but witnessing it firsthand still shocked him greatly. His brother was truly head over heels in love. Building a snowman in the solemn and dignified Qianqing Gate Square, he laughed again, attracting the attention of the emperor and concubines.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Highness, the Noble Consort." He bowed deeply.
"He is Prince Rui, Ying Tianfang. Come and meet him." Wei Yu was somewhat embarrassed. Emperor Xuande glared at him, so he had no choice but to suppress his smile.
"Why doesn't Your Majesty just make the Consort Empress? There are no objections now, and she's living in the Qianqing Palace. What else do you have to worry about?" Ying Tianfang asked as he returned to the East Warm Pavilion.
Emperor Xuande looked at the snow falling outside the window. "She has something on her mind, something she keeps very deep inside. I don't know what's holding her back." There was a strong sense of rejection about Wei Yu. She had wrapped herself up in a thick cocoon, and even he didn't dare to break through it, for fear of getting into a stalemate.
On the night of the Double Ninth Festival, Ying Tianfang was not in the capital. He had been ordered to Bohai County to oversee the construction of new types of warships and secretly manufacture a batch of firearms. He had only returned to the capital a few days ago. He had vaguely heard from others that the Imperial Concubine was seriously ill, the Xue family's property had been confiscated, the Empress Dowager had moved the palace, the Consort De had been imprisoned, and the Emperor was furious for his beloved. Seeing the desolation on his elder brother's face, he realized that even the Emperor loved so painfully, and he felt like she was about to shed a tear. He quickly changed the subject, "You just mentioned Shang Qingtao. He's getting married soon, on the 26th of December before the New Year."
"I know, but it's a pity. I had planned to marry Jinyun to him in two years."
Ying Tianfang exaggerated slightly, "No way, Your Majesty, Jinyun will only be fifteen in two years. You're letting the thirty-year-old Shang Qingtao marry the princess? It's like an old ox swallowing tender grass. Luckily, he's getting married soon, and my lovely little niece escaped a disaster." Jinyun is the eldest daughter of Emperor Xuande, only thirteen this year. Her mother died early, and Emperor Xuande was indifferent. Several concubines had tried to raise her, but none were satisfactory. Consort Geng couldn't stand it anymore, so her son intervened, and Emperor Xuande agreed to let her be raised in Shou Kang Palace. Ying Tianfang especially doted on this little niece.
Emperor Xuande glanced at him, indicating that this was the end of it, and handed him a drawing. He looked at it with a solemn expression.
"This is an improved shipbuilding blueprint. You are an expert, so take a look and see if there is anything wrong with it. After you arrive in the Northeast, you can find a few reliable candidates to help them expand their business and scale. The Shang family can certainly be among them. I have read Ji Zhonglian's secret report, which caused a lot of internal strife. However, Shang Qingtao is a business genius, and we must make him work for us. You can handle the whole matter. Be careful with the other candidates. The family cannot be a mixed bag, so as to avoid leaks."
Ying Tianfang carefully examined the drawings and put them away properly. "Your Majesty, I will consider them carefully."
"Also, the Embroidered Uniform Guard reported that Xu Guo has been making frequent moves recently. First, he wanted to offer his daughter to the palace, and then he inquired about your marriage. The Empress Dowager refused. Be careful. I'm sending Liu Chuang out of the capital with you, firstly to protect you, and secondly to let him gain experience. You should train him more and see if he can be competent for important tasks within a year or two. You can't stay in the Northeast for long. I can't do without you. I'll be much more tired without you. Your safety must be ensured. Go to Pei Zhendong and choose a few guards yourself."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand." Ying Tianfang replied.
"Alright, you can leave the capital after the New Year. It'll only be a few days. Stay in the palace and spend more time with the Dowager Consort, so she won't complain that I'm making you do all sorts of things for her," Emperor Xuande said.
"Does Mother Consort have such audacity?" Ying Tianfang didn't believe it. Although his mother was a bit shrewish, she wouldn't dare to provoke his elder brother.
"She will tell the Consort." Emperor Xuande's tone was somewhat annoyed. After her illness, Weiyu often went for walks in the Imperial Garden. Several times she ran into Consort Geng and Jinyun and had some conversations. The warm and generous Consort Geng often sent people to invite Weiyu to have tea, which he was happy to see. However, Weiyu's temper fluctuated after her illness, and he did not want to interrupt the beautiful moment. Going out for a walk could distract her from her worries. But recently, she stayed in Shou Kang Palace for longer and longer periods of time, so long that he had to send someone to pick her up.
Ying Tianfang chuckled. After he returned, his mother praised the Consort's gentleness and thoughtfulness, complaining that he was still unmarried and needed to find a good wife to keep her company. This caused him to flee back to the palace in a panic. It turned out that his elder brother was also a victim, and he felt jealous.
"Go ahead, the Dowager Consort has prepared a whole bunch of portraits of noble ladies for you." Emperor Xuande retaliated against the smile on his face, saying gloatingly, "Yesterday she told the Noble Consort to tell me not to keep you for too long. Gao Qing, send someone to escort Prince Rui there."
Ying Tianfang was incredulous that his elder brother was actually teasing him. Gao Qing saw his dazed expression, chuckled a few times, and pushed him out the door. After a long while, Emperor Xuande heard him squawking and looking at Wei Yu in the square. He was reluctant to deprive her of her happiness, but the ministers were already waiting outside the Qianqing Gate and called out, "Gao Qing, please invite the Consort to the West Warm Pavilion and call the ministers in."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Gao Qing replied.
During the Lunar New Year, the entire palace was bustling with activity.
Just like in the countryside, besides being cleaned and tidied, the east and west sides of the palace were decorated with a festive atmosphere. People worshipped the God of Wealth and paid homage to their ancestors on New Year's Eve. Firecrackers were set off, making it a lively and festive occasion. Whether the people in the palace liked it, were jealous, or felt helpless, they all had their own thoughts and celebrated the New Year in a lively and festive manner.
From the first to the fifteenth of the lunar month, there were banquets of all sizes, court audiences, and noblewomen coming and going. Families from all the palaces could enter to offer New Year's greetings, creating a bustling and lively atmosphere. For Wei Yu, it was a mix of novelty and longing. Although the elaborate rituals and constant requests for audiences and New Year's greetings distracted her from her sorrow, she still felt sadness. After the splendor came endless loneliness. She felt guilty for rarely thinking of her uncle. Recalling her school days, only half a year had passed, yet they already felt distant and blurry. One night, in a dream, she wandered downstairs at her uncle's house, unable to find the door. Startled awake, she wept uncontrollably. Emperor Xuande embraced her, showering her with tenderness. She felt a pang of regret, guilty for not being able to fully reciprocate his affections. She often thought: "I am already very lucky to have the affection of such an excellent man. What does it matter if he is the emperor? I shouldn't use that as an excuse." Tormented by these conflicting emotions, she often felt anxious and uncertain, sometimes even spending half a day alone in Chengqian Palace. Emperor Xuande felt heartbroken seeing this, but dared not ask her why she was so burdened, and he too felt troubled.
When Ying Tianfang left the capital to take his leave, Emperor Xuande saw his brother off at the Qianqing Gate and sighed, "The Consort always seems to have something on her mind. I really don't know how to handle her temper."
Ying Tian stayed in the palace for a few days. Perhaps it was because he was an outsider that he could see things more clearly. His elder brother had indeed had a hard time falling in love with such a gentle and indifferent woman. He said to his elder brother in a subtle way, "A balance of tension and relaxation is necessary. Let the Consort have her own way and do what she wants. Perhaps it will be easier for her." Emperor Xuande remained silent.
After Liu Chuang left the capital, Emperor Xuande transferred his personal guards. Although Tian Fang's words were still ringing in his ears, one time was enough on the night of the Double Ninth Festival.
Wei Yu suddenly felt free. She returned to Chengqian Palace and went to Shou Kang Palace for tea, and Emperor Xuande no longer stopped her. Once, she even tentatively suggested that she and Consort Geng go to Jiyun Temple outside the city to offer incense. Emperor Xuande readily agreed, but he sent out the magnificent imperial entourage, which caused a huge crowd. On her second spring outing, because she disliked being ostentatious, Emperor Xuande smiled and allowed her to leave the palace incognito. It seemed that the emperor was indulging her as much as possible.
So her heart softened, her gaze became gentle, and she indulged her emotions. Emperor Xuande cherished her even more. In the spring, she had a healthy rosy complexion. Every morning, she would go to the Imperial Garden to break off a plum branch, take out the auspicious snow stored up during the New Year, mix it with pine nuts, brew a cup of tea, and have Gao Qing deliver it to the East Warm Pavilion. The palace would be refreshed and invigorated that day.
The ministers noticed that Emperor Xuande was in high spirits, interacting more with his officials during court assemblies, recruiting talented individuals, and responding more readily to the advice of the censors. He adopted a policy of appeasement towards the tribes of the southwestern highlands, building fortified cities on the plains to await their arrival, preserving the original appearance of the highlands, and continuing to treat them as hereditary fiefdoms for their leaders. He encouraged the aristocratic families of the highlands to migrate and settle there using the fertile lands of the capital. The various tribes of the southwestern highlands finally began to differentiate. The southwestern highlands, which had always been mainly suppressed but had always been difficult to control, were finally completely resolved in the spring of the twenty-first year of Emperor Xuande's reign. Several major tribal leaders came to court, received titles from the court, and moved to the capital, which was celebrated by the court and the public.
"The Imperial Concubine deserves credit for this." The Emperor's close advisors all felt this way. Sometimes His Majesty was already furious, but the Imperial Concubine would send someone to deliver homemade pastries or say that she had written down some good words for His Majesty to correct. At first, the advisors had some complaints, but soon they realized that this was an excellent way to smooth things over. His Majesty's anger would gradually subside, and then he would calmly summon the important advisors again to discuss state affairs.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
A few sparse stars stretch across the distant Milky Way, a crescent moon shines through the empty window.
A sheet of snow-white paper was laid out on the table, and the elegant calligraphy was written by Wei Yu. Emperor Xuande praised, "Fine calligraphy, fine poem."
With more time and access to the finest writing materials in the world, Wei Yu's calligraphy gradually improved. During the New Year, Ying Tianfang happened to see it in the East Warm Pavilion and was greatly surprised. He commented that the Imperial Concubine's calligraphy already had the style of Ji Yuanwu, elegant and timeless. He shamelessly managed to get a few pieces to hang in Shou Kang Palace. Jin Yun was extremely envious and eagerly waited for Wei Yu to come to Cheng Qian Palace and Shou Kang Palace to beg her to teach her.
"Have you finished reading your memorial?" Wei Yu put down her pen, turned around, and glanced at the hourglass. It was still early.