Chapter 159: The Grand Empress Dowager’s Delight
Chapter 159: The Grand Empress Dowager’s Delight
Clearly, the Grand Empress Dowager believed Fang Jifan’s words completely.
Only Emperor Hongzhi knew, after hearing the Grand Empress Dowager’s words, he felt like strangling Fang Jifan.
Still, he calmly replied, “Your Grandson Subject understands.”
The Grand Empress Dowager pursed her lips and continued, “In that case, this old one will decide. This matter is approved. Instruct the Taoist Registry Department to add Fang Jifan to the daoist registration, but allow him to remain active in the secular world. Child, you are good. This old one misjudged you before.”
Fang Jifan waved his hand. “This subject has long been accustomed to misunderstandings.”
Hearing this, the Grand Empress Dowager felt a pang of regret. Indeed, back then how many had called Fang Jifan worthless? Hardly anyone had a good word about him. If it weren’t for Puji Zhenren’s strong recommendation, if she hadn’t known he was Wei Dayou’s closing disciple, if the Emperor hadn’t revealed the truth, who knows what she’d still be thinking of him.
It truly showed how detestable those gossipers behind people’s backs were.
The Grand Empress Dowager nodded contentedly, a kind smile on her face. “Since you came to offer birthday wishes, did you bring a gift?”
“I brought one.” At the mention of the gift, Fang Jifan’s eyes lit up. “How could this subject come empty-handed for Your Highness’s birthday?”
“Well, this old one… is quite looking forward to it.” The Grand Empress Dowager smiled again but didn’t press further. She would find out soon enough when the gifts were presented.
This young man seemed honest; a meek fellow often bullied, insulted, and slandered, yet never one to hold a grudge. Honestly, whether he brought a gift was unimportant anyway.
Before long, the sky darkened. A eunuch entered, reporting that the Mingfu (a title for officials’ wives) had arrived at the Meridian Gate. The Grand Empress Dowager summoned them into the palace.
At the Golden Water Bridge, guided by eunuchs, a long, serpentine procession wound its way forward. Surprisingly, few First Rank Shuren were visible at the front.
Women granted the title of First Rank Shuren were incredibly rare in Great Ming. Apart from princesses, they were as scarce as phoenix feathers. Most of these women were elderly and preferred letting the younger ones take the spotlight.
The Second Rank Mingfu followed, comprising a larger number.
Lady Mu and Fang-shi of the Duke of Wei’s Residence, holding the titles of Shuren and Anren respectively, trailed behind the Second Rank Mingfu, benefiting from the Duke of Wei’s prestige.
Lady Mu had visited the Imperial Palace several times. As a young girl, she had even accompanied her father, the Duke of Qian, into the palace. Thus, much of the scenery felt familiar.
Fang-shi, however, seemed awkward and uneasy. This was her first time entering the palace, and nervousness was unavoidable.
Lady Mu shot her a cold glance and whispered sharply, “Stop gawking about. So uncultured. Don’t shame the Xu Family.”
Fang-shi kept silent, obediently trailing behind Lady Mu.
Upon reaching Renshou Palace, the ordinary Mingfu stopped. Only a few dozen, no more than a hundred, were permitted inside. Even though the Grand Empress Dowager enjoyed liveliness, not just anyone was allowed into Renshou Palace to offer birthday congratulations.
For commoners, kneeling outside Renshou Palace to offer distant blessings was already considered a great favor.
This group of less than a hundred Mingfu filed into the main hall. Lady Mu remembered visiting Renshou Palace years ago to pay respects to the Grand Empress Dowager. Returning now stirred a sense of long separation within her. Thinking her sister-in-law had likely never witnessed such grandeur, she straightened her posture even more. Upon entering the hall, she performed the ritual flawlessly with the other Mingfu, kowtowing deeply.
“Your humble servants wish the Grand Empress Dowager peace and fortune as boundless as the East Sea! Longevity as enduring as the South Mountains!”
Fang-shi panicked, hurriedly prostrating herself and forgetting the words.
Luckily, lost in the crowd, no one seemed to notice.
Lady Mu, beside her, however, saw everything clearly and inwardly sneered at her lack of decorum and worldliness.
The Grand Empress Dowager said delightedly, “Rise, all of you. This old one recognizes you all. Lift your heads.”
The Mingfu looked up. Fang-shi felt even more anxious, but as she lifted her eyes, she caught sight of a figure seated not far from the Grand Empress Dowager. The figure was overwhelmingly familiar, causing Fang-shi to freeze in shock.
Jifan…
How… how was he here?
Hadn’t she heard the Grand Empress Dowager bore a grudge against him?
Yet there sat Fang Jifan, obediently positioned beneath the Crown Prince, astonishingly close to the Grand Empress Dowager. Such an honour was hardly ordinary!
It seemed… Fang Jifan had also spotted Fang-shi. He winked playfully in her direction.
Fang-shi blinked, bewildered. Before she could grasp it, the Grand Empress Dowager spoke again, “Be at ease. Do not be reserved. You are all here to keep this old woman company today. Attendants, provide seats.”
The Mingfu bowed deeply again before rising. They moved to take their assigned seats.
Only Fang-shi, already tense and now utterly astonished at seeing Fang Jifan, felt her mind muddled. She simply didn’t know what to do.
This fluster led to a blunder. She forgot the required bow, scrambled to her feet haphazardly, and frantically scanned the room, unable to find her seat. Flushing crimson with panic, she nearly burst into tears.
She never imagined such a blunder would happen today. Her father-in-law’s careful planning had likely all gone to waste.
Seeing this, some Mingfu smiled faintly; others, less kind, openly snickered.
This reaction only heightened Fang-shi’s panic. Her slight frame trembled, and fat tears finally welled up in the corners of her eyes.
Zhu Houzhao saw this, clapped a hand over his stomach as if finding it hilarious, preparing to laugh out loud.
Abruptly, Fang Jifan gave him a sharp pinch on the waist.
Zhu Houzhao choked back his laughter and glared at Fang Jifan.
Fang Jifan shook his head sternly. Remembering the importance of the day, Zhu Houzhao managed to suppress his mirth.
The Grand Empress Dowager’s gaze was penetrating, her expression unreadable. She said coolly, “Whose daughter-in-law is this? Attendants, guide her to a seat.”
An eunuch promptly guided Fang-shi to sit in an obscure corner.
Fang-shi remained deeply agitated. Despair washed over her as she realized she had ruined everything. Returning home, she would surely face greater disdain from Lady Mu. And if word reached Nanjing…
Being a daughter-in-law was hardest. Above her were demanding parents-in-law; beside her, a husband in this era held absolute authority; while alongside her, a sister-in-law watched like a hawk.
When the Grand Empress Dowager asked whose daughter-in-law she was, silence fell across the room.
It was Lady Mu who stepped forward gracefully, bowed, and replied smilingly, “Your humble subject reports, Your Highness, Fang-shi is the secondary daughter-in-law of the Xu Family. She is unfamiliar with proper etiquette. This subject beseeches Your Highness’s forgiveness.”
On the surface, these words seemed like an apology for Fang-shi. But she could have simply said that Fang-shi was overwhelmed and flustered in Her Highness’s presence, which might have excused the lapse.
Instead, by saying “unfamiliar with proper etiquette,” she subtly implied much more.
As a Mingfu, why would she alone be oblivious? Others clearly knew the rules.
This inevitably pointed to a lack of effort. Everyone started ignorant of the rules; that was forgivable. But hadn’t anyone taught her? The Duke of Wei’s Residence was a prestigious Great Ming household; such a family surely provided tutors. Yet she still wasn’t “familiar with etiquette”? Neglecting the palace rules showed an attitude problem.
The Grand Empress Dowager frowned slightly, visibly displeased.
Lady Mu glanced up at her and continued, “If Your Highness deigns to punish her… then the blame falls entirely to this humble subject. As the senior lady of the Xu Family, allowing such mockery to occur is this subject’s failing.”
With that, she performed the ritual flawlessly: bowing deeply and kowtowing with formal reverence. “This humble subject beseeches Your Highness’s punishment.”
She bowed, kowtowed, performed three full bows, finished the rites, and remained kneeling.
Her words were remarkably pleasant to hear. The Grand Empress Dowager regarded Lady Mu with new appreciation. “This old one finds you familiar.”
Lady Mu replied respectfully, “This humble subject accompanied the Late King into the palace years ago and had the honour of meeting Your Highness.”
At the words “Late King,” the Grand Empress Dowager and Emperor Hongzhi exchanged a look of understanding.
So she was a daughter of the Mu Family of Yunnan! The Mu Family of Yunnan was renowned for generations of loyal service, guarding that frontier province flawlessly for the imperial court, a cornerstone the court deeply relied on.
The “Late King” Lady Mu referred to was actually the Duke of Qian, Mu Sheng. After his death, the imperial court posthumously honoured him as King Dingyuan, bestowing the posthumous title “Loyal and Reverent.”
Therefore, though the family held the title of Duke, Mu Sheng was always respectfully referred to as the “Late King.”
The Grand Empress Dowager’s eyes softened with affection. “So you are the brave daughter of a military house! When you entered the palace you must have been very young. This old one… has forgotten. Lift your face. Truly a sensible child! That rascally son of the Xu Family… who knows how much good karma he accumulated in past lives to marry such as you!”
Receiving such praise, Lady Mu’s heart soared triumphantly, but her demeanor remained modest. “If any member of the Xu Family errs, this eldest daughter-in-law bears the blame. This subject earnestly requests to bear the punishment on behalf of my sister-in-law, to avoid tarnishing the palace’s dignity with her lapse.”
The other Mingfu listened, inwardly sighing. This Lady Mu… was very skilled in navigating the situation.
Yet precisely this quality made her endearing to elders. The Grand Empress Dowager dismissed it entirely. “This old one does not blame you. Fang-shi… committed no grievous error. You need not bear the guilt. Rise. Approach this old one.”
Being the daughter of the King Dingyuan—albeit a secondary daughter—was enough to greatly favour her in the Grand Empress Dowager’s eyes.
Summoned forward, Lady Mu maintained poise. With bent head and dainty steps, she hurried forward with small steps, radiating respectful humility.
Sitting in her corner, Fang-shi felt bleakness settle within her. She both admired and feared her sister-in-law’s skill: privileged birth, adept at handling situations, words unfailingly impeccable, always dazzling wherever she went.
Her anxiety blended into self-pity. This all happened because she, indeed, knew no decorum. Yet… why was her nephew here? That part remained utterly bewildering.
Lady Mu drew near. The Grand Empress Dowager remained seated but reached out to take Lady Mu’s slender jade-like hands, smiling warmly. “Good, good…”
Two words of praise, spoken affectionately.
Inside, Lady Mu was ecstatic. She had heard many rumours since arriving from Nanjing.
Thinking Fang-shi truly ignorant of palace etiquette, she was grateful she, herself, had won the Grand Empress Dowager’s favour. Otherwise, wouldn’t Fang-shi have dragged the entire Xu Family down?
She also recalled that Fang Family lad had offended the Zhou Family, surely causing the Grand Empress Dowager some resentment. Perhaps she could even…