Chapter 616: Family Matters and State Affairs (Part 2)

Rushi walked briskly toward the inner palace, in high spirits. She felt fortunate to have married such a good husband—not because Li Qing’an held supreme power, but because of his love for her and her sister. Unlike other powerful men who treated women as commodities, using them for novelty before discarding or giving them away, Li Qing’an was different. Even after nearly ten years with him, he still cherished them without the slightest disdain. This filled Rushi with both gratitude and happiness. Tonight, she was determined to serve her husband wholeheartedly.

Mingyue’s room was located in the center of the inner palace, in its own separate courtyard. Though large, it was simply furnished—no exotic flowers, ponds, rockeries, or pavilions. It consisted of just two layers of courtyards, and her daily expenses were similar to those of an ordinary family. Her jewelry and cosmetics were bought from the Western Market, not the Eastern Market where luxury goods were sold.

All the ministers’ wives who came to visit her felt ashamed—some admired her, while others mocked her for imitating Wang Mang’s wife. But Rushi knew Mingyue best. She understood that Mingyue wasn’t naturally frugal; she was also the daughter of a wealthy family, born into nobility. She imposed strict discipline on herself deliberately. Even in Anxi, she lived simply and treated her family well. She sewed Li Qing’an’s clothes by hand and, every winter, led the women and families in Anxi to sew shoes and socks for the soldiers, earning their deep affection.

If Mingyue did this on purpose, it wasn’t wrong—she wanted to become the empress who could rule the country and a virtuous partner to Li Qing’an.

But Rushi also understood that though Mingyue treated her servants, military families, and the people kindly, she had a very firm personality. Her ultimate bottom line was not allowing anyone to threaten her status as the legitimate wife. Rushi still remembered the dispute between Mingyue and Wuyi over Yu Nu—that was because they couldn’t agree on who should decide Yu Nu’s marriage. Eventually, Wuyi admitted fault, and Mingyue agreed to match Yu Nu with Lei Wanchun.

That was Mingyue’s principle: as long as no one crossed her bottom line, she was tolerant and easy to deal with. But once crossed, she would never back down. Pei Wan’er was a prime example. In that case, Rushi firmly stood by Mingyue, believing the Pei family had gone too far—just by sending their daughter over, they tried to take away her position as the legitimate wife. What kind of behavior was that?

As Ruoshi thought this, she entered Mingyue’s courtyard. Two maids quickly bowed and said, “Fourth Madam has arrived!”
“Is our mistress here?”
“Yes, she’s in the side room talking with Miss Rong.”
Ruoshi nodded and headed toward the side room. As long as Mingyue wasn’t in the bedroom, Ruoshi usually didn’t need to report her arrival. The side room consisted of two chambers; the inner one was lit. Due to her heavy body and tendency to get tired easily, Mingyue usually went to bed early. But these past few days, since Li Qing’an had returned, she had forced herself to stay up later.
Ruoshi entered the outer chamber and was about to push the door open when she heard Mingyue asking, “Are you sure the prince hid that woman in Luoyang?”
Ruoshi was shocked and pulled her hand back. She then heard the female guard Li Rong say, “I also heard it from the prince’s personal soldiers. Last time he went to Luoyang, he took that woman there and hid her there.”
Ruoshi’s mind raced. Could it be referring to Yang Guifei? At that moment, she heard Mingyue sigh softly from inside the room, “How can he do this!”
Li Rong added, “Madam, maybe we should take advantage of the prince’s departure to Jiangnan to go to Luoyang and kill that woman, putting an end to it once and for all.”
Ruoshi was shocked and inwardly cried, “No!”
She heard Mingyue sigh again, “Let me think about this. You go first!”
“Yes!”
Li Rong turned and left. Ruoshi quickly hid behind a screen. After a while, when Li Rong was far away, she stepped out to calm herself down. She knocked on the door and said, “Sister, it’s me!”
“It’s Ruoshi. Come in!”
Ruoshi pushed the door open and saw Mingyue sitting in a folding chair, lost in thought. When she saw Ruoshi enter, she seemed dazed as well. Ruoshi stepped forward and sat down, saying, “Sister, I overheard your conversation just now.”
“Sigh!” Mingyue sighed. “Ruoshi, tell me, he’s only been home for a few days and already wants to rush off on a campaign. Is it really that urgent? I suspect he can’t let go of that woman in Luoyang, that’s why he’s in such a hurry to leave.”
“Sister, I think that woman is pitiful too. She’s alone, and almost all of the Yang family is dead. Since Eldest Brother really likes her, why not let her come in?”
Mingyue shook her head. “You’re really silly for saying such foolish things. I could let any other woman come in, but who is this woman? Yang Guifei! If I really let her in, it would be strange if Eldest Brother wasn’t drowned in the scorn of scholars everywhere. Sigh! I’ve been racking my brains over his reputation, but he just can’t control himself. Men!”
After a silence, Ruoshi finally mustered up the courage to ask, “Sister, you really won’t let Li Rong…”

“It’s not that serious. If I really killed her and Dalang found out, you know how bad-tempered he is—he would definitely divorce me. I’m not that stupid. Besides, I’m pregnant; killing people carelessly would bring sin upon the children. I just advised Dalang not to act too openly for now. Thinking he can parade that woman around the city in Luoyang—maybe once he really becomes the emperor, there will be a way.”

Rushi felt quite sorry for Yang Yuhuan. Hearing Mingyue say not to kill Yang Yuhuan, she felt relieved. But Mingyue’s last words piqued her curiosity, so she asked, “Why would there be a way once he becomes the emperor?”

“That’s some dirty palace business. Don’t ask.”

Like a child, Rushi shook Mingyue’s arm and pleaded with a smile, “Sis, please tell me! I’m curious!”

Mingyue, unable to resist her, smiled and said, “Alright! I’ll tell you, but don’t tell anyone else.”

“Don’t worry! I can keep a secret!”

After thinking for a while, Mingyue said, “Actually, I read it in a wild history note. It says that after Emperor Taizong brought Empress Xiao of Emperor Yang of Sui back from the Turks, she was kept in the palace. Taizong often went to visit her. The book says that although Empress Xiao was over fifty, she was still extremely charming and beautiful. Taizong had long admired her even when he was still a subject of the Sui dynasty. The so-called ‘keeping her in the palace for old age’ was just to cover up things…”

Rushi immediately covered her mouth, her eyes filled with a suggestive smile. “Sis, that can’t be true!”

“Who knows? Although it’s wild history, I believe it’s true. Just like Dalang—Yang Yuhuan is several years older than him and was once a noble concubine. Isn’t he still completely obsessed with her?”

“Sis, didn’t you say to treat Yang Yuhuan the same way…”

Mingyue nodded helplessly. “What else can we do? That’s the only option. In the future, keep Empress Yang in the palace for old age. If he wants to visit her, let him. Outsiders won’t dare say anything. I care about my reputation. If she’s kept outside, I can’t afford to lose face.”

After talking for a while, Rushi suddenly remembered the important matter and quickly said with a smile, “Look at my memory! I forgot the important thing.”

“What is it?”

“Dalang said he’s going on a campaign in three days and wants to celebrate the children’s birthdays together before leaving. He asked me to discuss with you how to do it.”

“Hmm! This guy still remembers his children. He has some conscience after all. Alright! Let’s discuss this together tomorrow. I’m really tired and want to sleep. I’ll leave Dalang to you.”

Rushi quickly called in Mingyue’s maid to serve them. Worrying about boiling water for Li Qing’an, she hurried off.
…
Since Li Qing’an had decided to set out on an expedition in three days, he began to get busy. He got up before dawn and headed to the military camp outside the city. Not long after dawn, Mingyue gathered the family in the living room to discuss celebrating the birthdays of their three children together.
It was Li Qing’an who suggested celebrating birthdays, and at first everyone found it strange. But over time, they got used to it and started celebrating birthdays together. The dates couldn’t be changed casually, though everyone knew it was a temporary solution and didn’t mind.
“Listen to me. I checked the dates early this morning. The day after tomorrow is an auspicious day. Let’s set it for the day after tomorrow—it happens to be Duoduo’s birthday too. There are still two days left, so please make extra efforts and celebrate the children’s birthdays as we did last year.”
Mingyue’s proposal was unanimously approved. Wuyi, who was celebrating her daughter’s birthday for the first time, was especially dedicated. She smiled and said, “Since we’re doing this for all three children, let’s prepare more cakes and give one to each household in the neighborhood, just like we did in Suiye before. Does that sound good, Eldest Sister?”
Mingyue thought for a moment and said, “That’s possible. I’m just worried that if word gets out, many ministers will come to bring gifts, and then it won’t be fun anymore.”
“Then hang a sign at the door saying ‘No gifts please!’”
…
As everyone was discussing, a maid came in and reported, “Madam, Old Lady Pei is here at the door!”
Old Lady Pei was Mingyue’s mother. Mingyue was surprised. What could her mother want? She quickly instructed the maid to bring her mother to the back house. Mingzhu also wanted to go, but Mingyue stopped her, smiling, “You have plenty of work to do here. Stay behind.”
She then said to everyone, “Let’s do it as we did last year. Rushi, go find the list. Everyone, get to work! Let’s make this year’s celebration as lively as possible.”
After giving those instructions, Mingyue escorted the maid to the back house…
In the back house, Old Lady Pei was sipping tea, lost in thought. She had come to see her daughter today for two matters, both of which were tricky.
“Mother, why have you come today?”
Mingyue appeared at the door. Old Lady Pei quickly stood up to support her daughter and smiled, “I came to see you! Since you’re about to give birth, I plan to move here to take care of you.”
“It would be great if you could come. Ugh! This pregnancy is more tiring than the last. I feel like it’s another boy.”

Madam Pei helped her daughter sit down slowly and said with a smile, “It would be best if it’s a boy. Your eldest son has only one child; give him two sons, and you’ll be a hero to the Li family. Then no one will be able to threaten your position.”
Mingyue sat down with difficulty. At that moment, Madam Pei’s expression turned serious. “Your uncle came to see me yesterday because of Wan’er.”
Mingyue smiled and said, “What’s wrong with Wan’er? It’s worth troubling your uncle?”
“Your uncle explained that it was Pei Zunqing who framed your father last time. Wan’er knew nothing about it, nor did she have such intentions. You’ve wronged her. Your uncle asks you to treat her kindly.”
Mingyue’s expression darkened. After a long while, she said coldly, “It sounds like I’m abusing her. Mother, please convey to my uncle that I treat all my sisters equally. I’ll naturally handle matters within my family. Since she’s already married into the Li family, I hope her family won’t interfere too much in their affairs, as that will only deepen misunderstandings.”
Madam Pei sighed and said, “It’s hard for an honest official to resolve family matters. Your uncle too… Sigh! I won’t get involved in this anymore. But there’s one more thing—you must listen to your mother.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about your sister. Her age really won’t allow her to wait any longer…”