Chapter 288: Old Ginger of the Dong Family
Grand Tutor Dong entered the palace.
The Empress dismissed her attendants.
“Father, are you eating well these days?” The Empress, though ill herself, did not forget to inquire about Grand Tutor Dong’s well-being.
“This old servant is well, Empress, you need not worry. Rather, Empress, you must take care of yourself and not overthink, lest you harm your imperial body.” Grand Tutor Dong’s eyebrows and beard were already snow-white, and his tall frame was slightly stooped, but his imposing presence remained, like a tiger king returning to its mountain in old age, its residual might still evident.
“In a few more days, it will be Mother’s death anniversary. I have already arranged for the memorial rites. Father need not concern himself with any of this. Gang’er also mentioned this matter when he visited the palace yesterday. He is gradually taking charge of household affairs, and it is good for him to gain more experience. Moreover, memorial rites are important matters and cannot be taken lightly.” The Empress couldn’t help but cough twice as she spoke.
“These matters will be handled by them. Empress, you only need to rest and recover. You have always been a worrier since childhood, which can easily harm your health,” Grand Tutor Dong sighed. “Your sister and the others should have arrived by now. It’s not bad for them to go to the north, I’m just worried about Song’er’s health.”
Hearing him mention Ying Song, the Empress’s cough worsened. Chun Ying quickly brought in tea from outside and served it to the Empress. After she drank a few sips, she withdrew.
The Empress, her breathing slightly steadier, said, “Father tells me not to worry, yet you, at your age, are still unwilling to relax.
I have always blamed myself for Tong’er’s affairs. He was raised in the palace, and he shouldn’t have acted so rashly. It’s all my fault for not instructing him properly.”
“Let’s not speak of the past. Learn from your mistakes! Children are a debt that cannot be repaid until death,” Grand Tutor Dong sighed. None of his children possessed exceptional talent.
Sometimes, when he was alone, he often wondered if he had overused his intellect, leading to the birth of such ordinary children.
But no matter what, as long as he was alive, he would do everything in his power to plan for them, ensuring their long-term prosperity and peace.
The Empress, his eldest daughter, was impatient and lacked foresight.
The Imperial Harem should not have become this way, but her jealousy was too great. As soon as any other concubine gave birth to a son, she could not resist eliminating them.
If she hadn’t done this, even if the Crown Prince had perished, she could have simply claimed any prince born to another concubine as her own, and it would have been the same.
The Emperor would not have been so outwardly harmonious yet inwardly distant with her. The fact that they could still treat each other with courtesy was merely due to his own apprehension.
However, if the Empress were to have a peaceful life, it would be best for Ying Tong to become the next Emperor, as the Empress was his maternal aunt.
Thinking of this, Grand Tutor Dong added, “The child of Prince Chu has been brought into the palace. Empress, you must instruct someone to take good care of him. Do not let any gossip spread.
For the next few years, Prince Zhao and the others must lie low. To achieve great things, one must be patient!”
“Father, you should say this more to my sister! If it weren’t for her and her son’s inability to restrain themselves and their repeated blunders, why would we have to worry about them?” the Empress said, displeased.
“She was not raised in our home since childhood, and I always felt I had neglected her,” Grand Tutor Dong sighed. “I suppose after this incident, she will finally learn her lesson.”
“I hope they can get along well with the King of Fenye in the north. It would be best if they could form an alliance,” the Empress said. “I only hope Princess Duanmin won’t cause trouble again then.”
“Princess Duanmin is in the palace now, along with the King of Fenye’s two children. We can choose not to let them return,” Grand Tutor Dong said casually.
“What? Not let them return?” The Empress had never considered this. “Does Father mean to keep them as hostages?”
“It’s not impossible. It’s always good to make the King of Fenye wary,” Grand Tutor Dong said. “We cannot afford to lose again. Do you think Prince Chu isn’t planning while we are? After all, his son has already entered the palace. There will always be people who support them.”
The Empress knew Grand Tutor Dong was right. People’s hearts were never united. Although it seemed most people supported the Dong family, there were always those who would choose differently.
“It would be best if Duanmin could remain in the Capital City. Firstly, she can be used to control the King of Fenye, and secondly, we don’t have to worry about her speaking words of discord to the King of Fenye,” the Empress said. “I always feel she leans more towards Prince Chu in her heart. She has hated the Dong family for so many years.”
“Yes, once this hatred is formed, it is difficult to resolve,” Grand Tutor Dong nodded. “Coincidentally, she is now pregnant. Even if she gives birth, such a young infant is not suitable for long journeys. Within two or three years, we should have accomplished our task.”
He then sighed deeply and said, “I wonder if I will live to see that day?”
His words made the Empress uneasy, and she quickly said, “Father is in good health and will surely live a long life.”
“Alas, old age and early spring cold! Lately, I have been dreaming of your mother frequently,” Grand Tutor Dong said. “For years, I have wanted to retire to the mountains and forests, not for any other reason than to prevent the Dong family’s brilliance from becoming too ostentatious.”
How could Grand Tutor Dong not understand the principle that extreme prosperity leads to decline? Yet, he was reluctant to give up the family’s power and wealth, and he also thought that even a timely retreat might not guarantee complete safety. Now, he was in a situation where it was difficult to dismount from a tiger, and his children were all incompetent.
“Isn’t Mother’s death anniversary approaching? It’s not strange for Father to dream of her,” the Empress did not think of anything else. “Old people often dream, and they love to dream of people and events from the past. I remember Grandmother was like this too. Every day she said she wouldn’t live much longer, yet she lived to be over ninety.”
“How many people in the world can be as long-lived and blessed as your grandmother?” Grand Tutor Dong smiled.
At this moment, an eunuch from the Emperor’s side arrived and conveyed the Emperor’s oral decree: “His Majesty knows that Grand Tutor has entered the palace and has asked this servant to tell Her Ladyship that the Grand Tutor must be kept in the palace for lunch. His Majesty will also come over after he finishes reviewing the memorials from the front.”
The Empress said, “Understood. I will have the imperial kitchen prepare it now.”
After the eunuch who delivered the message left, Grand Tutor Dong said to the Empress, “For lunch today, Your Ladyship, please order someone to summon Ying Shan as well. Treat this child well, and His Majesty will be at ease. His Majesty is busy with court affairs, and everything in the Imperial Harem must be managed by Your Ladyship.”
“Father is right, I was just about to do that,” the Empress said. “However, I have been ill these past few days, so it’s not good to summon that child, lest I pass my illness to him.”
“The servants attending him should receive better treatment than the palace servants attending Your Ladyship, so as to silence the gossip,” Grand Tutor Dong said. “The words of men are fearsome, and we must guard against them.”
As Empress, one must pay attention to her reputation for virtue. Even if the Empress was unaware of previous events and did not participate,
some people might still feel that the Empress was biased towards her own sisters and sympathize with Prince Chu’s family.
This sympathy would gradually become the will of the people, and once it gained momentum, it would be difficult to control.
