The day after her qin lesson at the Grand Consort Xi’s palace, Si Yunqin returned to her own residence and heard that Grand Consort Xi’s health had also been declining. The imperial physician had advised her to move about more frequently. Grand Consort Xi and Grand Consort Shu were not as young as Shen Yanxin or Consort Chen.
There were still many consorts in the palace who had been taken by the Late Emperor when he was young, and their years were now advanced.
They sounded like they were only in their forties, but the average lifespan in this era was merely fifty or sixty—not as long as in later generations.
Si Yunqin recalled that before she entered the palace, she used to go to the Daoist temple with her mother to offer incense. Over time, she had become acquainted with the Daoist priests there.
From the boxes she had brought from home, she dug out a set of boxing techniques developed over a lifetime by a female Daoist priest in her seventies who lived at the temple.
Strictly speaking, it was more like the Tai Chi she had known in her previous life—not enough to save a life, but certainly effective for loosening the joints and exercising the muscles.
After finding it, Si Yunqin hurriedly sent it to the Grand Consort Xi’s palace.
She hadn’t expected that the moment she stepped through the palace gate, she would sense something off. There were many more people in the palace than usual, most of them unfamiliar faces. Judging by the formation, it looked like the Empress Dowager’s carriage.
Si Yunqin immediately tensed up. Why would the Empress Dowager be at Grand Consort Xi’s palace?
Before she could figure it out, the senior palace maid from Grand Consort Xi’s residence came over. Lin Feng handed her the scroll that Si Yunqin had found. “My lady said this item is beneficial for health. If you practise diligently every morning according to what the scroll says, it will be fine.”
The senior palace maid accepted the scroll and said respectfully to Si Yunqin, “Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is visiting. Her Ladyship is currently brewing tea with Her Majesty. Please wait a moment, and I will announce you.”
Hearing that the Empress Dowager was indeed there, Si Yunqin quickly stopped her. “No need. Since Her Majesty and the Grand Consort have matters to discuss, I won’t disturb them. I’ll come another day.”
“As you command.”
Si Yunqin turned to leave. She simply didn’t like meeting the Empress Dowager; she always felt too much pressure facing her.
But she didn’t escape after all. No sooner had she turned and taken two steps than she heard a somewhat familiar voice: “Empress, please wait.”
Recognising it as Aunt Lan Xi, the Empress Dowager’s attendant, Si Yunqin obediently turned around and put on a sweet smile. “Aunt Lan Xi.”
Lan Xi looked at Si Yunqin with spontaneous goodwill, her smile softening unconsciously. “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests your presence.”
Si Yunqin bit her lip lightly. She was extremely reluctant inside. She truly didn’t like facing the Empress Dowager. She admitted that the Empress Dowager was capable and ambitious, and she admired that—but only from a distance.
It was like reading a character in a storybook. If she could just observe, Si Yunqin would be willing to heap praise upon that character.
But actually interacting with her? Si Yunqin was far less willing. The pressure was immense. Standing before her made Si Yunqin feel that being a slacker was a crime, and it seriously disturbed her mindset of lying low.
Still, since Lan Xi had come to summon her, Si Yunqin had no choice but to follow obediently.
As she entered the back courtyard, she saw the two women sitting opposite each other. The contrast made Si Yunqin deeply aware of the age gap between them.
Grand Consort Xi was indeed much older than the Empress Dowager.
Looking at them, Si Yunqin couldn’t help thinking that the Late Emperor had been a lecherous old man.
At his age, he still took so many young and beautiful consorts. Shameless.
The two sat face to face. Grand Consort Xi appeared dignified and kind, while Shen Yanxin was cool and stern. Si Yunqin suddenly imagined her as a young emperor.
She really did resemble one—in every aspect except gender. And for Si Yunqin, gender didn’t matter; a female emperor was even more exciting.
Too bad that in this era, she couldn’t write a novel about a female emperor.
“Your Subject pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and greets Grand Consort Xi.”
Grand Consort Xi’s eyes crinkled with extra fondness when she saw Si Yunqin. She truly liked this younger generation.
“Yunqin, come and sit quickly.”
Shen Yanxin watched as Grand Consort Xi patted the seat beside herself, then took a small sip of tea. It was obvious that Si Yunqin was deeply favoured by Grand Consort Xi.
Si Yunqin gave Grand Consort Xi a bright smile, but when she looked at Shen Yanxin, her smile dimmed a little.
“Does the Empress visit the Grand Consort often?” Shen Yanxin asked as Si Yunqin sat down.
Grand Consort Xi poured tea for Si Yunqin. Si Yunqin knelt properly, bent her fingers in a gesture of thanks, and murmured a word of gratitude.
“Since Yunqin entered the palace, she has been concerned about us old folks who are halfway into the grave. She often comes to visit and chat to relieve our boredom,” Grand Consort Xi said with a smile.
“The Empress is indeed filial.” Shen Yanxin looked at Si Yunqin and gave her a slight smile.
“It’s only proper,” Si Yunqin replied, sitting there looking obedient and gentle—nothing like the daughter of a general.
But Shen Yanxin knew that this appearance was just an act.
“Regarding what you said earlier, I’ve taken note. I will write a letter to my family and instruct my elder brother to assist the court with disaster relief,” Grand Consort Xi said to Shen Yanxin.
Shen Yanxin clasped her hands in salute. “Then I express my gratitude.”
“It’s the least I can do. It’s all for the people of Zhao.”
Si Yunqin listened from the side, not daring to interrupt, but since they were discussing the Jiangnan flood disaster, she paid close attention.
From their conversation, she learned that the current flood was quite severe—a once-in-a-century calamity. The largest river in the south, the Li River, had flooded backwards, the embankment of the above-ground river had burst, and many prefectures and counties were affected.
But as far as Si Yunqin knew, the Zhao Kingdom had only been founded for a little over twenty years. Not only did the local government offices lack grain reserves, but even the central national treasury was not wealthy.
Moreover, the southern kingdoms were watching covetously. Shen Yanxin had been at her wit’s end recently.
“I hear that you intend to send the Sikong to guard the south?” Grand Consort Xi suddenly shifted the topic to Si Yunqin’s family.
Si Yunqin immediately became more alert, listening while brewing tea.
“Yes. The Sikong was a general who followed the Late Emperor in many campaigns, with almost no defeats. He also has experience in naval warfare. Sending the Sikong is the most suitable choice.” Shen Yanxin did not avoid speaking in front of Si Yunqin.
Years ago, Si Yan had been dispatched to fight in the south and had considerable experience with river battles. If the small southern states took advantage of the chaos, he could repel the enemy in time.
Si Yunqin understood this reasoning, but he was still her closest kin, so she couldn’t help worrying.
“The Empress’s elder brother will accompany his father. What does the Empress think?” Shen Yanxin’s intention was also to promote the Si family. Currently, Si Yan was one of the Three Ministries in the court who supported her; the other two considered the Empress Dowager’s intervention in politics a misfortune for the state, while the third was a smiling tiger who never said anything.
But Shen Yanxin did not know that part of the reason Si Yan helped her stabilise the court was thanks to Si Yunqin. Si Yunqin had once asked her father a question.
She asked him whether, when he followed the Late Emperor on campaigns, he had done so merely for the wealth and honour of one family, or for the peace of the world.
Si Yan had then understood. Factional struggles were meaningless; stabilising Zhao was the most important thing. The Late Emperor had paved the way for the young emperor and left many trusted subordinates for Shen Yanxin to use. Currently, she was the best person to stabilise the situation in the court. After many interactions, Si Yan had also recognised Shen Yanxin’s ability.
Earlier, Si Yan had felt that a woman like Shen Yanxin governing was contrary to propriety. Si Yunqin had scolded him for being an old fogey and dragged her mother in to ask him if he looked down on women.
Knowing her father’s temperament, Si Yunqin had said that.
Si Yunqin poured tea for Shen Yanxin and spoke with a slight smile. “I know nothing of these court affairs. Since Your Majesty has arranged it, there must be a reason. Let me first thank Your Majesty on behalf of my father and elder brother.”
Shen Yanxin sighed inwardly. She truly wished Si Yunqin would offer some advice. Now, with the flood ravaging the land and the people displaced, the local gentry’s prestige was even higher than that of the court.
At this moment, looking at Si Yunqin, she felt a sense of frustration—like iron that wouldn’t turn to steel.
“What does the Empress think should be done about the Jiangnan flood?” Shen Yanxin asked directly, not wanting to beat around the bush.
Si Yunqin originally didn’t want to say much, but hearing the anxiety in Shen Yanxin’s words, she hesitated for a moment. “Why doesn’t Your Majesty seek help from the aristocratic clans?”
Shen Yanxin was about to say something, but after a pause, she gestured for Si Yunqin to continue.
“The national treasury is empty, but the clans are not. Our dynasty’s five great clans—Lu, Zhao, Guan, Zheng, and Wen—have been aristocrats for three hundred years. They have been treated favourably in every dynasty, untouched by the hardships of war. Naturally, their accumulated wealth is considerable. If they are willing to lend a hand, why would Your Majesty worry about lacking relief supplies?”
“Easier said than done. Do you know how hard it is to get anything out of them?”
The world had been at war for a hundred years. These five clans had risen during the former Yan Dynasty. After Yan collapsed, the realm fragmented, and the northern barbarians repeatedly invaded the Central Plains, but these five clans always stood at the pinnacle of power. Though they held no real authority, every subsequent dynasty relied on them for their rise, and they produced many talented individuals.
Although the Zhao Kingdom had unified the Central Plains, its political foundation was not yet stable, and the imperial power dared not easily touch the power of these five clans.
Consequently, the strength of the aristocratic clans had grown. The Late Emperor knew this, Shen Yanxin knew it too, but dismantling them would not be easy.
Si Yunqin thought for a moment, then hesitated. “Naturally, asking in the name of the court won’t work. But if we ask in the name of saving the clans themselves, it might.”
“Tomorrow at court, Your Majesty could propose settling the refugees in Luzhou. Luzhou is the home territory of the Zhao clan. The Zhao family head, Zhao Sixie, is a disciple of the current Chancellor. My father says this man truly worries about the world. Moreover, the younger generation of the Zhao clan holds no important ministerial posts in the court; their official positions are relatively low. Among the five clans, they are at a time of transition, in need of recognition from the court. It would be mutual assistance.”
Shen Yanxin frowned slightly. “Even so, the Zhao clan might not be willing to directly hand over supplies.”
“That depends on the execution. If we propose placing the refugees on their land, the Zhao clan certainly won’t agree. Accepting refugees is no simple matter.”
Hearing this, Shen Yanxin understood.
The worry in her brows eased somewhat. “The Grand Tutor said that the Empress has brilliance surpassing the age. Today, I have witnessed it.”
Si Yunqin: …
Fine. This one conversation had apparently brought her a lot of trouble.
From now on, it would be hard to just be a slacker. Si Yunqin felt a little melancholy, but her father, elder brother, and even her brother-in-law’s family were already embroiled in this court struggle. She couldn’t stay completely aloof.
If the Si family and the Yun family both fell, her position as empress in the palace would likely become precarious.
Shen Yanxin stood up. “Today’s tea was excellent. I still have government affairs, so I won’t disturb the Empress from keeping the Grand Consort company.”
After Shen Yanxin left, Grand Consort Xi looked at Si Yunqin, seemingly surprised that she had such insight.
Si Yunqin sighed softly, her head aching.
