Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 46 : Banquet

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Hua Xiangyi was indeed not as old as Qi Zhuyin. She was younger than Qi Zhuyin by two years. Having been kept deep in the inner palace these days, she had thinned down a lot. Realization dawned on her when she saw Qi Shiyu's portrait on the table in front of the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager held her hand and grasped it for a long time before saying, "It's a May-December marriage, but Qi Shiyu will still dote on you."

Hua Xiangyi touched the purple palace robe and laid her head on the Empress Dowager's knee. The Empress Dowager stroked her long hair and said, "There's no need to feel aggrieved. All of Hua Clan's daughters are married away like this. A few years after you marry him, you will become the bonafide mistress of the Qidong Five Commanderies."

After lighting the incense in the palace hall, Matron Liuxiang wordlessly motioned for all the maids and eunuchs to leave.

Hua Xiangyi smiled and said, "I just can't bear to leave you, aunt. Cangjun Commandery is so far away; I'll have to wait a year if I wish to see you again."

"Aunt can't bear to leave you either." The Empress Dowager hugged her gently. Hua Xiangyi snuggled against her like she did when she was little, listening as the Empress Dowager said, "When I married Emperor Guangcheng, I was only fifteen. That year I left Dicheng, the one thing I couldn't bear parting with the most was my family's swing. I liked sitting on it. With each swing in the wind, I could hear the clamor beyond those high walls. My mother coaxed me and told me that after I came to the Imperial Palace of Qudu, the Emperor would build me an identical swing as long as I wanted it."

Hua Xiangyi stayed still and silent.

The Empress Dowager was the person most favored by Emperor Guangcheng, yet what Emperor Guangcheng gave was not what the Empress Dowager wanted. The moment she set foot into Qudu, she discovered that all the doting her husband showered on her was merely fleeting, like the clouds in the sky. She had to vie endlessly with countless women in the harem just for that one moment of joy.

In Qudu, the most worthless thing of all was love.

The Empress Dowager patted Hua Xiangyi's head and said, "Since I came to Qudu, thirty-seven years have already passed by in a blink. Now my little baby niece is also to be wedded. I've really grown old. In Qudu, I realized that men are powerful in this world because they can take the imperial exams and serve as officials to rise in rank; they can also ride horses into battles whilst wielding spears. Us women are taken into lady's chambers and taught virtue and precepts. No matter how talented and intelligent you are with a thirst for knowledge, there will come a time when you have to eventually marry."

The Empress Dowager's eyes were calm.

"When Father taught me, he said that in this world, he and the Emperor would be the sky above my head. How ridiculously funny. Becoming the Empress means that I share the empire equally with the Emperor. Who could be the sky above my head? No one! My brothers at home are all useless and muddleheaded. Generation after generation, the Hua Clan can only rely on marrying off daughters to keep up the appearance of an affluent clan; yet we aren't allowed to make a single complaint. What kind of kinship is this? Since the world wants to differentiate between the strong and weak to determine success and failure, then I, too, can emerge victor."

The Empress Dowager stroked Hua Xiangyi's temples.

"Remember this: this time, it is not Qi Shiyu who chose you but you who chose him. I may be defeated in the days to come, but it certainly won't be now. My baby niece is going to Qidong not because there is no other option, but to bide your time and ready yourself for action. No matter what happens in the future, you may sigh, but you must never wallow in self-resentment and self-pity. In this game of chess with the world at stake, one can only make a move with no regrets. Since we are surrounded and eyed by a pack of wolves with no way of escape, then we shall fight them to the bitter end."