在皇后鞋裡散步 A walk in the empress shoes Zài huánghòu xié lǐ sànbù

CHAPTER SIX

On this fine day, the atmosphere was delightfully mild as two young maidservants adorned themselves in light summer attire. A glistening layer of perspiration gently graced their brows, a testament to their diligent efforts. In their hands, they carefully cradled the evening feast, destined for the esteemed Princess Royal Fu. This princess, known as the sibling of the revered Emperor, held a unique position as a concubine-born aristocrat. Eventually, she was wedded to the head of the Minister of Rights household. However, tragedy struck when her husband passed away, leaving her to raise their son, who had recently celebrated his fourteenth year of life.

After the passing of her husband,  the responsibility of managing their vast estate fell upon Princess Fangsu. With efficiency and grace, she diligently oversaw the affairs of the household, even tending to the needs of the other women residing in the sprawling backyard. Fortunately, these ladies only bore daughters, relieving Princess Fangsu of the task of finding suitable matches for sons. Instead, she focused on marrying them off, one by one, ensuring their happiness and prosperity. Before marriag,  Princess Fangsu's elder brother was banished to a distant state in the north. The anguish it caused their imperial mother shattered her heart, forever changing her. Accused of plotting against the emperor's heir, her imperial mother was cast away into the desolate cold palace, where she ultimately succumbed to her sorrow. In an attempt to secure her future and mend political alliances, the emperor with the Empress's suggestion, arranged for her to be married off.Despite the Empress's careful planning and manipulation to secure power for her son, the crown prince, her calculations did not unfold as anticipated. The Sung clan, a formidable presence at court, remained influential, much to the Empress's chagrin. Unbeknownst to her, the man to whom she married off Princess Fangsu possessed strong ties to the Sung clan, which further strengthened their position. However, the unexpected demise of the husband, which came sooner than anyone could have predicted, threw a wrench in the Empress's plans. The Sung clan, grieving the loss of their ally, remained vigilant and determined to maintain their influence within the court. The Empress was taken aback by this turn of events, as she had not foreseen the consequences of her actions leading to the husband's untimely passing. Now, Princess Fangsu found herself caught in the midst of political machinations, her fate uncertain. The Sung clan, ever watchful, continued to exert their power, paving the way for their own interests and potentially altering the course of events in ways the Empress had not anticipated.even though the crown prince  became emperor after the late emperor past and Princess Fangsu had been separated from her imperial brother, for more than two decades. Despite their attempts to distance themselves from the royal family affairs, her uncle, a powerful minister at court, continued to fight and gather alliances on behalf of Fangsu's son. Fangsu's son had proven himself to be exceptionally talented and capable. He had successfully suppressed bandits that posed a threat at the capital's borders. Recognizing his achievements, the Emperor was compelled to issue an edict conferring him a title. This sudden rise in status for Fangsu's son has the empress dawger the emperor's mother remained suspicious of the influence and loyalty of Fangsu and her mother's maiden family, despite their attempts to lead a quiet life away from the royal court. With the support of her uncle and the growing prominence of her son, Fangsu found herself caught in the midst of a delicate political landscape. The Sung clan, still a force to be reckoned with, continued to observe and strategize, ensuring their interests were protected and potentially altering the balance of power within the royal family.
Despite the newfound titles and recognition bestowed upon Princess Fangsu's son, she found it difficult to find solace in his elevated status. Her son, now known as the imperial prince of virtue, had been granted the title of duke, but this only added to Fangsu's worries. One of the ministers, Fu, had been renamed the duke of Chandi, and Fangsu's son had been given the title of wangye, a prince with a sword hanging over his head. This indicated that while he held a position of power, there were still potential threats and dangers surrounding him. Fangsu's concerns were deepened by the history of her mother's maternal family. They had a long-standing tradition of producing empresses from their clan, but this lineage came to an end when Fangsu's mother was married off as an imperial concubine. Her mother's subsequent death only added to the tragedy and loss that Fangsu carried within her. With her son's rise to prominence, Fangsu found herself grappling with a mix of pride and fear. The weight of her family's past and the uncertain future of her son's position in the royal court weighed heavily on her heart, leaving her restless and plagued by sleepless nights.

Princess Fangsu let out a heavy sigh, realizing that they needed to establish deeper alliances if they were to navigate the challenges ahead. As she pondered on the uncertain future, Fangsu couldn't help but feel a sense of distance between herself and her son. He remained as stoic and enigmatic as ever, often leaving her in the dark about his intentions and actions. It had been over three months since he had departed for the border, and she had no clue when he would return. Fangsu continued her daily routine, finding solace in small moments of leisure. As a younger yahuan held a basin for her, she washed her hands slowly and indulged in a sip of bird nest soup. Setting the bowl aside, she delicately wiped the corners of her mouth and turned her attention elsewhere. Deep in thought, Fangsu contemplated the next steps she needed to take to secure her family's future. The weight of her responsibilities as a mother and protector weighed heavily on her, but she knew she had to remain composed and strategic in the face of uncertainty.After Amah had returned, Assistant Chen had already gone back to the Fu. Ama yu, who was standing a few steps away from Amah, forced a smile upon hearing her mistress's question and replied, "Princess, since you were taking your afternoon nap, I didn't want to disturb you. Assistant Chen returned to the Fu an hour ago." The princess nodded in understanding and said, "That's alright. Send someone over to bring him here." Among the princess's entourage of servants, only Amah and Ama yu were her dowry maids. Ama yu held the higher rank because she had been with the princess since she was a baby, serving as her wet nurse. Everything concerning the princess in the Fu went through her. Fangsu accepted the warm tea to rinse her mouth and waved her hand, dismissing the other maids. At the same time, she got up and walked to the kang in the main hall, making herself comfortable.

Assistant Fung arrived shortly after, and Ama guided him into the inner hall. As she played with the longevity bangle on her wrist, she turned and stared at Assistant Chen. He had hurried over after being summoned, and sweat was on his forehead. He wiped it with his sleeve. "Princess, this servant has something to report," he said, waiting for the princess to give him permission before speaking further. Fangsu leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes. Her body felt lazy now that she was full, and the air outside was getting cooler. Later, she planned to let Amah accompany her on a small walk in the garden.Assistant Chen raised his head and recounted what he overheard in the men's parlor when he went to pick up the garments the princess had ordered for Wangye. "They were being quite secretive about it, but I clearly heard them say that the son of General Ying was going through a change," he said, his voice filled with concern. "Princess, they were whispering, but I heard them clear as day."

Inside General Fu's residence, Xui Ying sipped on a cup of tea as he listened to Old Shu recount the events that had happened that morning in the tailor shop. Old Shu had brought his two sons with him and instructed them to enter the tailor shop when they saw the princess's royal assistant arrive. He had told them to ensure that what they said could only be heard by the assistant, and it had worked like a charm. The man had left the shop in a hurry, undoubtedly bringing the news of what he had heard back to the Duke's residence.

Xui ying acknowledged Old Shu's assurance with a nod, attentively absorbing his words. "So, you are certain that every necessary measure has been implemented to ensure that this matter remains within the confines of the duke's Fu?" he inquired. Radiating confidence, Old Shu firmly believed that the information would only disseminate to the extent he desired. "Indeed, young master. I can assure you that assistant Chen is undeniably the princess's most reliable confidant," he affirmed. As Xui ying gently placed the lid on his untouched tea cup, it became evident that his lack of appetite was a direct consequence of his unsettling realization.Xui ying dismissed Old Shu, signaling for him to depart. As the old man left the room, Xui ying began to gently rub his temples, feeling the onset of familiar symptoms that he had experienced in his previous life.

The first sign was always a throbbing headache, soon followed by a persistent fever. He could sense his body temperature rising, knowing that in just a few days, he would be in the throes of the impending change. Xui ying had already done everything within his power to prepare for this inevitable event. The news he had just received would expedite matters on the duke's end, serving as a means to delay his father's departure from the capital. This was crucial to ensure that their involvement in the upcoming event remained concealed. If the princess made her move within the next few days, it would effectively postpone the talks of his father's journey.