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It had been ten years since the Great Yin dynasty last celebrated a wedding. This time, the young emperor’s marriage to the empress was truly a cause for nationwide jubilation.

In the imperial palace, secrets were everywhere, yet nowhere could they remain hidden. If something wasn’t deliberately concealed or avoided, it would spread throughout the palace within half a day.

When the eunuch reported that the Empress Dowager had come to visit His Majesty, Fu Wei was crouching under a peach tree, burying her menstrual cloth. In front of Zhangde Hall stood a large flower bed. The late Emperor Wen’s virtuous empress had loved tending to plants, and this peach tree was one she had planted herself. Life in the inner court was dull, and aside from studying and practicing martial arts, Fu Wei had little to occupy her time. Occasionally, she would tend to the flower bed, weeding and planting. Her old habits now proved useful in solving a major inconvenience—disposing of items that couldn’t be easily cleaned by burying them. The eunuchs and attendants were accustomed to seeing her there, so no one suspected anything unusual.

After tamping down the loose soil beneath her feet, she stood up and dusted her hands. “Please have the Empress Dowager wait a moment. I’ll change my clothes and be right there.”

The Empress Dowager sat patiently in Lèchéng Hall, waiting with remarkable calm.

Lèchéng Hall was the main hall of the Eastern Palace, where the emperor usually met with his ministers. The hall was vast and imposing, and as summer approached, all the windows were thrown open. A breeze passed through, causing the golden and silver chains hanging from the ceremonial canopy to clink together, producing a crisp, melodic sound. The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes slightly, a wistful expression crossing her face. Over a decade ago, she had visited this place briefly, and though her stay was short, it remained a precious memory. Now, even though the throne had changed hands, she still felt a special affection for the Eastern Palace.

She pointed to the eastern side of the throne and asked the tutor, “Do you remember? When the late emperor held court, he always liked to lean on that armrest.”

As she spoke, a faint smile played on her lips, as if the person she described still sat there. The tutor replied smoothly, “Even after the late emperor’s passing, when I came to the Eastern Palace on official business, I saw His Majesty sitting in the same posture. Truly, they are alike.”

The Empress Dowager nodded. “I used to worry endlessly about whether Aying’s path forward would be difficult. Now, I’ve set half my worries aside. Once the empress enters the palace, the affairs of state will more or less settle into place.”

As they spoke, someone approached from the central pathway. His slender figure and striking features radiated youthful vigor. The young man’s spirited demeanor was indeed the best adornment. The black ceremonial robe he wore added substance to his frame, and the child they had watched grow up had finally become a sovereign ruler.

The Empress Dowager rose to greet him, her eyes filled with pride. From afar, the young emperor clasped his hands in salute. “If Mother wished to see me, sending a messenger would have sufficed. Why did you come in person?”

Empress Dowager Liang was a dignified and gentle woman who simply smiled. “I heard that Lord Jun suggested establishing the Changqiu Palace. I came specifically to ask Your Majesty—is it true?”

The young emperor gave a shy nod. “It’s true. I intended to report to you personally at Yong’an Palace after tomorrow’s court session, but I didn’t expect you to hear the news already.”

“Such good news hardly requires Your Majesty to inform me,” the Empress Dowager said as she gracefully took her seat. “Just a few days ago, I was thinking that Your Majesty is nearing sixteen, the age for marriage. I wondered what Lord Jun and the court officials planned to do. Being confined to the inner palace, I cannot keep up with external affairs. I once considered asking the Minister of the Imperial Household to bring it up in court, but I feared doing so might upset Lord Jun… Now, since it was his suggestion, I can rest easy. Has a candidate been selected? Whose daughter is it?”

Though this Empress Dowager was not her biological mother, she had always supported Fu Wei. However, over the years, Fu Wei had kept her secrets close, avoiding becoming too intimate with her. Still, there was an undeniable bond between them.

“I consulted with the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Rites, but no decision has been made yet. For now, I’ve asked them to help me find a suitable candidate. Rest assured, Mother, once a decision is reached, I will report to you immediately.” She smiled and accepted the tea offered by a eunuch, presenting it respectfully to the Empress Dowager. “The Ministry of the Imperial Household is an external body, fortunately untouched by your instructions. Had you involved them, and they clashed with the Chancellor, it might have implicated the Liang family. Currently, the court remains calm, and I believe no one will oppose the selection of an empress. Still, I harbor some reservations. What if, in the end, the Chancellor objects again? Then we’ll have to let him have his way.”

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager sighed. “Your Majesty is too kind-hearted, which is why others often take advantage of you. It’s easy to seize power but hard to relinquish it. Human desires know no bounds. Give someone a city today, and tomorrow they’ll want a province; the day after, they’ll want the entire world. You must remain vigilant. Perhaps their support for your marriage is merely a temporary measure to silence public criticism. If that’s the case, we’ll need to think of a solution…” She paused, noticing the young emperor’s troubled expression, and quickly reassured him. “I’m just speculating—it may not be true at all. Regardless, this is a joyous occasion, and Your Majesty should be happy. I still remember when you were young and studied under him—he would draw pictures to teach you lessons like, ‘When strength fails, seek assistance.’ If the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers cannot help, there are still the regional lords to rely on in times of desperation. The late emperor once told you that maintaining balance is key to governing the world. Do you remember that?”

Fu Wei certainly remembered. She also recalled how, as a child, she had disliked studying, and the Chancellor had drawn stories of how past emperors worked tirelessly to govern wisely. Thinking back now, she felt a strange, indescribable emotion stirring within her.

Her relationship with the Chancellor was not as tense as outsiders imagined. Their opposing positions naturally created an illusion of enmity. The Chancellor had controlled the court for a full decade, and she had endured him for just as long. But she possessed great magnanimity and believed that a life-or-death struggle was unnecessary. Once she reclaimed power, everything would fall into place. As for the Chancellor… well, no matter how domineering he was, she had never truly hated him. On the contrary, she was curious about what a toothless tiger might look like. Long-term suppression bred peculiar thoughts, and she admired his arrogant demeanor while eagerly anticipating the day he would be subdued. If you want to capture someone’s attention, mere flattery and weakness won’t suffice. Only by becoming strong enough to match them can you truly earn their respect…

Yes, even the most evil people have a good side. Take, for instance, the innocent and childlike drawings he had created. Despite his autocratic nature, which earned him poor evaluations from the court, Fu Wei didn’t judge him harshly. Whether acknowledged or not, they were, in many ways, two sides of the same coin. The Chancellor was cold and ruthless, leaving no room for compromise. As for her? Beneath her seemingly timid exterior lay sharp fangs.

“The late emperor’s teachings are etched in my heart forever,” she said with a smile. “Mother shares this sentiment, I believe… Doesn’t this Lèchéng Hall evoke memories for you?”

The Empress Dowager fell silent, then let out a deep sigh.

“My connection with the late emperor was brief. I only remember being bestowed my title here in Lèchéng Hall.”

There is a kind of regret called missed opportunities. Fu Wei had once overheard an old palace servant recounting the story of the Empress Dowager and the late emperor. Marriages in the Great Yin dynasty were typically arranged between noble families and influential clans. When the Empress Dowager married the late emperor, he had just been granted his princely title. Their temperaments clashed, and their married life could only be described as a stormy relationship. After nine years of marriage, seven were spent in bitter rivalry, each viewing the other as an insufferable thorn. The Empress Dowager had never expected that, upon his ascension to the throne, he would show mercy and welcome her into the Changqiu Palace.

If she had foreseen the depth of love that would eventually blossom, would she have willingly endured those seven wasted years? The Empress Dowager grew melancholic as she spoke. “The hardest thing in this world is to understand oneself. Don’t let stubbornness make life difficult for you; otherwise, regret will follow. I am delighted that Your Majesty is about to marry. Back then, I didn’t grasp the meaning of ‘using gentle virtue to tame the hearts of dragons and tigers.’ The essence of marital harmony isn’t about who is stronger or weaker but about unity and shared purpose. May the new empress and Your Majesty enjoy a harmonious relationship. To pacify the outer realm, one must first stabilize the inner. Though I needn’t explain this, I trust Your Majesty understands.”

The Empress Dowager soon departed, leaving Fu Wei to ponder her words. Using gentle virtue to tame the hearts of dragons and tigers—that was a woman’s strategy. But if applied to her situation? Perhaps it would require adopting the ferocity of a wolf to subdue the heart of a tiger or leopard!

Two days later, during the court session, the matter of the young emperor’s choice of empress was discussed, as expected.

Following Fu Wei’s instructions, the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Rites recommended the daughter of Huang Yue. However, the court officials voiced objections. “Our dynasty governs through benevolence and filial piety. The empress must possess both virtue and beauty to be worthy of selection. Huang Yue is a mere military officer; his household management may be lacking.”

The Grand Tutor chuckled. “This argument is flawed. Just because Huang Yue is a general, does that mean his daughter cannot become empress? We are recommending Miss Huang, not Huang Yue himself. What does his profession have to do with it?” He bowed deeply. “I have long heard that the Huang family is virtuous, their conduct respectful and courteous. They are neither arrogant nor conceited. A union with our lord would be a match made in heaven.”

On the imperial throne, the young emperor let out a prolonged “Uh” as he prepared to respond, but the Imperial Censor interrupted. “During the reign of Emperor Shizong, the Huang family was merely a surrendered clan. Upon joining Shizong’s ranks, they immediately turned their weapons against the royal court. This betrayal makes them disloyal to their former master—point one. Point two: Huang Yue currently governs Jingzhou and has grown increasingly close to the regional lords in recent years, raising suspicions of ulterior motives. Such disloyalty and treachery render him unfit to serve the new emperor. And yet, the Grand Tutor dares to recommend his daughter as empress? Could it be that the Grand Tutor harbors dissatisfaction with the court—or with Your Majesty?”

The hall erupted into heated debate, the tension palpable. Fu Wei realized that deciding her own lifelong fate was far from simple. Furrowing her brow, she remained silent for a long while before turning to the Chancellor, who stood calmly with his hands tucked into his sleeves, adhering to his usual practice of speaking only at critical moments.

“Chancellor,” she called softly. “What insight does the Chancellor offer?”

The court fell silent as all eyes turned to the Chancellor. Rising gracefully, he bowed deeply. “I had initially compiled a list of candidates, but upon reflection, presenting it would offer no benefit to His Majesty. Our dynasty has always placed great importance on lineage and character when selecting an empress. In light of this, I must humbly recommend myself. I have a daughter, fourteen years old, whom I have personally educated. Though her talents are modest, her appearance is passable. If she were to aspire to become the consort of His Majesty, I wonder what His Majesty’s thoughts might be?”

These words left everyone speechless. The hall was so quiet that the drop of a pin would have echoed like thunder.

Fu Wei was utterly unprepared for this twist, which now left her trapped in an impossible position. No matter how much the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Rites argued, their recommendations were for other people’s daughters. How could they compare to the Chancellor’s flesh and blood?

Though outwardly composed, Fu Wei’s mind raced with shock. “Is the Chancellor jesting? I recall that you have never married—where does this daughter come from?” While she spoke these words, her thoughts spiraled wildly. The more she thought, the more alarming it became. Could she be an illegitimate child? Was it possible that behind his facade of bachelorhood, the Chancellor had sired a string of children elsewhere? At twenty-eight or twenty-nine, having a teenage daughter wasn’t uncommon. But what was going on here? Had the Chancellor grown tired of wielding power and decided to become the emperor’s father-in-law instead?

No one dared whisper privately, their gazes darting between the young emperor and the Chancellor. Since the Chancellor had personally educated her, how could her talents be described as mediocre? Even ten daughters of Huang Yue would pale in comparison. The Chancellor was the true powerbroker in the court. Even if he recommended the daughter of a seventh-rank official, her weight would surpass others’—let alone his own beloved daughter!

The Grand Tutor and the Minister of Rites exchanged disappointed glances, realizing that their plans had been overshadowed by the Chancellor’s maneuvering. The cunning Lord Yan had outmaneuvered them once again. It seemed that not only the court but even the inner palace was not beyond his reach.