Chapter 481 — The Elevation

Far to the west of the capital, in the Phoenix Hall of the Western Garden, the Empress sat upright on the arhat bed in the warm chamber, tracing the embroidered phoenixes on her horse-face skirt.

She had never expected Song Tongchun to cover for Song Yan.

If not for Song Tongchun, how could Wang Yuan and Song Yan have slipped through so easily?

When all was said and done, she had been too careless, had failed to take a man like Song Tongchun seriously.

It showed that at a critical moment, even petty men like these could sway the larger game.

She lifted the teacup and took a slow sip.

She thought back to the beginning, when the old Duke of Ying knew his son was a man of no ability and pinned his hopes on his grandson instead. He had searched far and wide before choosing Jiang Huisun as a wife for Song Cen. And because of that, she herself had never regarded Song Cen as worth a second glance. Yet Song Cen was, after all, Song Zhi's father. If a petty man like Song Tongchun could ruin her plans, then surely Song Cen could not be entirely useless!

She spoke softly to the female official beside her: "Send for Xiaoshunzi."

The Song family's affairs—Shi Chuan would have to look into them thoroughly.

Since she could not touch Song Yan openly, she would simply have to act in the shadows.

At the thought, the corners of her lips curved into a pleased expression. She asked the palace maid beside her, "Has the Prince of Liao's birthday gift arrived?"

The maid answered with lowered eyes, meek and deferential: "It has arrived."

"What is the Emperor doing?"

"He is drinking with the Prince of Huainan at the Clear Wind Pavilion."

She considered a moment, then said, "If the Emperor comes tonight, bring the Prince of Liao's birthday gift to me before he arrives."

The maid answered respectfully and withdrew.

By the time the lamps were lit, word came from the Clear Wind Pavilion that the Emperor was on his way to the Phoenix Hall.

The Empress dismissed those around her, then clutched to her breast the lilac-colored straight robe with five-colored dragons arching toward a longevity motif—the birthday gift the Prince of Liao had sent the Emperor—and wept without a sound.

The Emperor saw her and said, somewhat pained, "What are you doing?"

"N-nothing, nothing!" the Empress said hurriedly, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes. She set the garment aside and took the tea a maid held out, offering it to the Emperor.

"Nothing, you say?" The Emperor set the teacup on the small table beside the bed and said, "You have been at my side for nearly thirty years, and now you are mother to the realm. What could you possibly not tell me?"

"Truly, it is nothing." The Empress smiled, embarrassed. "I heard the Prince of Liao's birthday gift had arrived. I feared the boy might be rash and careless and breach the proper forms, so I had them bring it to me first to look over… He was only seventeen when he left. He had just married. Now his eldest son is already five. I could not help myself…"

The Emperor could not help sighing deeply. He drew the Empress down to sit beside him and said, with no little apology, "Of all the children, the Prince of Liao not only looks the most like me, his nature is the most like mine as well—resolute and steadfast, yet open-handed and magnanimous… But the heir to the throne is the foundation of the state and cannot be thrown into disorder… That is why I gave him the fief of Liao… The Crown Prince is generous by nature, and when he ascends the throne, he will surely not treat him poorly. Living off in his own corner, how free and easy he must be…"

Before he could finish, the Empress shot him a glance and said with feigned reproach, "Hearing Your Majesty say that, I feel terribly wronged! You said it yourself—I have been at your side for nearly thirty years. Do you still not know what sort of person I am? I keep your rear palace in order, govern the palace ladies, and raise the princes. But sometimes my heart will lean a little. When I think of the son I carried for ten months and bore in hardship, you cannot expect me to have not even this much longing, can you? If I had none, I would not be human—I would be a clay idol in a temple! How I hate that I have not cultivated myself to that level!"

The Emperor laughed heartily.

This was his Empress—never muddled in great matters, but occasionally selfish.

With her, there was no flattery, and he felt entirely at ease.

"It is my fault!" He soothed the Empress. "When the Prince of Liao's birthday comes, I will reward him handsomely."

"There is no need to reward him," the Empress said with a smile. "If you could let him bring his two sons back to the palace to see me, I could die with my eyes closed."

The moment the words left her mouth, the Emperor was taken aback, and she too seemed to realize she had misspoken and froze.

"Look at me, the more I say the more absurd I become. Just pretend you did not hear it." She said hurriedly, "Where have you come from? I thought you would be resting at Consort Liu's tonight. Have you had your evening meal? I had duck porridge made here today—nothing clears the fire better. Shall I serve you a bowl…"

The summer palace in the Western Garden did not have the strict rules of the forbidden palace. The Empress had brought several cooks with her, and every day they prepared food in ever-changing variety.

The Emperor took the Empress's hand and said in a low voice, "Let me think it over carefully—"

He cut the Empress off.

The Empress's tears fell at once.

Choking back sobs, she said, "While you are here, he can still return to the capital now and then. But if the Crown Prince ascends the throne…"

As a prince enfeoffed in the provinces, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would be watching him day and night!

"I know," the Emperor said, his spirits seeming to flag. "I know."

※※※※※

At the Longevity Festival, not only the princes and the nobles and royal kin, but the provinces too sent congratulatory gifts. Among them, the Seventh Prince's gift—a ten-foot-tall, twelve-panel longevity glass screen that stretched more than twenty feet when unfolded—took first prize.

The Emperor was delighted and rewarded him with three jars of Pear Blossom White.

Dressed in motley to amuse his parent, the prince clamored that the reward was too meager and begged the Emperor to give him the Lotus Sutra from the study in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

The sutra being a thing that urged men toward goodness, the Emperor gladly consented.

The other princes seized the chance to join the clamor, teasing the Emperor into laughter and, in part, meaning to liven the mood.

For a time the great hall was loud with merry noise.

The Empress came over from the western hall, attended by her inner palace women officials and maids.

Everyone hastened to pay their respects to the Empress.

The Empress laughed. "I am just leaving. You carry on."

Everyone roared with laughter.

Naturally, some seized the chance to curry favor before the Emperor.

The Empress gave Song Cen a smile and a nod.

Song Cen hurried forward to make his bow.

The Empress said with a smile, "I see Yantang, but where is Tian'en?"

Song Cen at once shot a look at Song Han, who stood idly in a corner, staring into space.

Song Han came over at a trot, knelt, and kowtowed to the Empress.

The Empress accepted his grand obeisance.

When he rose, she looked him up and down, smiling, and said to Song Cen, "A neat, fine boy." Then she sighed. "Since Lady Jiang passed, no one has brought them into the palace. Girls change greatly as they grow, and why not boys too? If you had not presented him, I would not have known him." She added, "Where is he serving now?"