Chapter 64: The Empress

Proofread By : Mim

The Marquis of Changxing awoke from his stupor, quickly standing up and accepting the imperial decree, hands trembling slightly as he held the dragon-embroidered document. When the heavy decree was placed in his hands, he finally grasped the reality of the situation.

 

His daughter was going to become the Crown Princess!

 

The eunuch smiled at the Marquis and said, “Congratulations, Marquis of Changxing. You’ve raised a daughter destined for great fortune.”

 

The atmosphere in the main hall erupted with shock as everyone turned to look at Chu Jinyao. Quick-thinking servants, grinning widely, hurried over to congratulate her.

 

“Congratulations, Crown Princess. I always knew Fifth Young Lady was truly extraordinary.”

 

“Fifth Young Lady…”

 

Linglong’s smile was so wide that it could hardly be contained. She rushed over to support Chu Jinyao’s arm, exclaiming, “Congratulations, Miss.”

 

Momo Gong was also beaming with joy. All the servants of Chaoyun Courtyard gathered around Chu Jinyao, and others quickly stepped aside, watching with envy.

 

Chu Jinyao still felt dizzy. Was she really going to marry the Crown Prince? And as the primary consort {main wife}?

 

She almost felt like she was dreaming. No, not even in her dreams had she ever imagined something like this.

 

The eunuch avoided the crowd trying to curry favor and walked directly toward Chu Jinyao. Seeing him approach, everyone quickly made way. He reached Chu Jinyao without obstruction, his smile unchanging as he bowed deeply. “This servant pays respects to the Crown Princess.”

 

Startled, Chu Jinyao snapped out of her surreal daze and quickly responded with a cautious curtsy. “Eunuch, please don’t. I haven’t married yet and am not deserving of such courtesy.”

 

“How can you not be?” The eunuch’s smile remained, but there was little warmth behind it. “The imperial decree has been made public, and though the formal consort ceremony has yet to take place, you are already the Crown Princess in name. In the future, I hope the Crown Princess will look after me.”

 

Chu Jinyao hurriedly replied that she dared not accept such compliments. Seeing this, the Marquis of Changxing quickly stepped forward to exchange pleasantries with the eunuch and instructed the servants to prepare generous gifts of thanks. The eunuch weighed the gifts in his sleeves, and finally, his smile became more genuine.

 

With his hands tucked into his sleeves, the eunuch turned to Chu Jinyao and said, “Fifth Young Lady, this imperial decree was personally requested by the Crown Prince himself. When the Empress heard, she was overjoyed. Her Majesty, knowing how rare it is for the Crown Prince to take a liking to someone, specifically sent me to see what kind of wonderful person the future Crown Princess is, so I could report back to her.”

 

Although Chu Jinyao had never lived in the palace, she understood that it was never a good thing for an unmarried girl to be known as someone the Crown Prince fancied. This statement sobered her up instantly, as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her. She replied carefully, “Eunuch, your words are too kind. How could a humble girl like me possibly be favored by His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress? I am deeply honored to be chosen as consort and am filled with trepidation. It is only thanks to their kindness that I am here.” She then bowed deeply. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s immense grace.”

 

The eunuch’s smile remained unchanged, but since Chu Jinyao had deflected her response to the Emperor’s favor, he could not continue pressing the matter. He half-turned and proceeded to deliver the second part of the Empress’s message. “Her Majesty the Empress has long awaited the Crown Prince’s marriage. She looks forward to having someone accompany her in the palace, as it can be quite lonely there. After hearing the news, the Empress was thrilled and personally sent her most trusted Momos to teach the Crown Princess palace etiquette, ensuring she will be well-prepared for life in the palace.”

 

As soon as the eunuch finished speaking, two stern-faced Momos, who had been standing in the background, stepped forward and greeted Chu Jinyao with a stiff bow. “Greetings to the Crown Princess.”

 

Shocked, Chu Jinyao quickly moved to help them up. “Momos, there’s no need for this. I haven’t… formally received the title yet and am not worthy of being called Crown Princess. Please don’t address me that way.”

 

“Yes, Fifth Young Lady,” the Momos replied in unison, their voices cold and emotionless.

 

Chu Jinyao couldn’t help but sigh internally. What on earth was happening? She hadn’t even had time to feel like a true Crown Princess, and already the Empress’s subtle pressure was bearing down on her. While receiving an opportunity like this seemed like a blessing, it was hard to tell whether it would ultimately bring fortune or disaster.

 

—

 

The departure of the Changxing Marquis’s family was abrupt, leaving some guests at the governer’s banquet curious, some indifferent, and others surprised.

 

The Princess Consort of Prince Huailing was among the indifferent ones. Glancing coldly at Madam Zhao’s retreating figure, she asked dismissively, “What’s got her in such a hurry? How rude.”

 

“I don’t know,” another lady responded. “Perhaps something urgent came up at home. I overheard something about their Old Madam Chu saying that someone had arrived from the capital.”

 

The Princess Consort nodded, quickly losing interest in the topic. The surrounding ladies, noticing her disinterest in the Chu family, wisely avoided mentioning them again.

 

A while later, a maid came to the Princess Consort, whispering something into her ear. Her face darkened visibly as the maid informed her that the heir apparent had gone to the garden, where Chu Jinyao was also present. Enraged, the Princess Consort muttered angrily, “Out of line!”

 

The ladies at the banquet pretended not to hear, continuing their conversations about jewelry and their children. However, their internal amusement at the Princess Consort’s irritation was clear. Just as they were about to revel in their self-satissfaction, a maid from the governer mansion came rushing in, frantically announcing, “Madam, there’s been big news!”

 

“What’s going on?” the governer’s madam asked, confused.

 

“A message came from town just now—an imperial eunuch from the capital visited the Marquis of Changxing’s residence to announce a decree, appointing their Fifth Young Lady as the Crown Princess!”

 

“What?!”

 

It was as if a thunderbolt had struck. Not only was the governer’s madam shocked, but all the other ladies present gasped in astonishment. The Princess Consort’s face turned especially sour as she snapped in disbelief, “Impossible! How dare you spread such nonsense? Are you not afraid of biting your own tongue?”

 

“It’s true! The Marquis’s family has already started setting off firecrackers on the streets.”

 

The Princess Consort froze, a wave of cold dread washing over her. The other ladies could no longer sit still and sent their own servants to investigate the news.

 

One by one, their messengers returned, all reporting the same thing: The Fifth Young Lady of the Changxing Marquis’s residence had indeed been appointed as the Crown Princess. The news spread rapidly, from the courts to the common folk.

 

The Princess Consort hastily took her daughter, the County Princess, home, sending messengers to the capital overnight. How could this have happened? Wasn’t the Crown Princess supposed to be her daughter? Had there been some kind of mistake?

 

Meanwhile, the capital had long been abuzz with the news. Noble families, especially those with daughters of marriageable age, were stunned. For years, they had eagerly eyed the coveted position of Crown Princess, only for it to be granted to an unknown young lady from a provincial marquis’s family? Even though Chu Jinyao’s noble birth made her eligible for the title, there were countless eligible noblewomen in the capital. Why her?

 

The Princess Consort of Prince Huailing immediately sent her most trusted servant to the capital to investigate. When the servant returned with the latest news, the Princess Consort collapsed into a chair in defeat. It was over. For so long, they had believed the position of Crown Princess was theirs for the taking, with everyone treating Lin Baozhu as if she were the future Crown Princess. But in the end, the title had gone to someone else.

 

And of all people, it had gone to Chu Jinyao! They had even rejected Chu Jinyao’s marriage proposal, considering her as nothing more than a potential concubine. But now, in the blink of an eye, Chu Jinyao had become the Crown Princess.

 

The Princess Consort refused to accept this reality, while the County Princess cried for days on end, smashing porcelain vases in her frustration. Chu Jinyao had once been her reading companion, and she had confidently boasted in front of other noblewomen that she would become the Empress. Now, the very person she had looked down on had overtaken her.

 

The Old Princess Consort also aged overnight, distressed by the outcome. However, the decree had been issued, and there was no reversing it. As she thought about all the favors her family had done for others to secure the Crown Princess title, she seethed with anger. But those who had benefited from their favors—like the Zhenbei Marquis’s family—had given them no warning that things had changed. Not only did they fail to provide any explanation, but they didn’t even send a single message to prepare them.

 

Yet, what could she do against the Zhenbei Marquis’s family? The Old Princess Consort was so enraged that she was bedridden for several days. But someone in the family had to clean up the mess. The Princess Consort was furious, the County Princess who had been treated as the future Crown Princess, only added to the chaos with her complaints. The Old Princess Consort, already weakened, could only endure their bitterness and eventually decided to send a heavy gift to the Changxing Marquis’s residence—an unspoken plea for reconciliation.

 

However, the tables had turned. Now, the Marquis of Changxing’s residence was bustling with visitors, and the household was filled with joy. When the steward announced that the Prince Huailing’s family had sent a gift, the Old Madam Chu of the Chu family merely chuckled, not even bothering to look at it. She instructed the servants to store it away in the treasury.

 

Where once the Old Princess Consort had looked down on her, now her own granddaughter had secured the coveted position of Crown Princess. The Old Madam Chu couldn’t be more pleased. Every night, she dreamed of her good fortune and was filled with satisfaction that Chu Jinyao had taken the place of the County Princess, thoroughly humiliating the Lin family. She could hardly contain her joy.

 

As for whether it was moral to snatch someone else’s position? The Old Madam Chu reasoned that it wasn’t her family’s fault that the Crown Prince had chosen her granddaughter over the County Princess. Besides, how could this be considered “snatching”? The Crown Prince had made his decision, and the County Princess simply wasn’t in the running.

 

While the Chu family was ecstatic, some parts of the household were filled with resentment and anger.

 

Chu Jinmiao was both terrified and furious. Ever since the imperial decree had arrived, she had been in a foul mood, frequently lashing out at the servants. No one dared to approach her now. She cried in frustration, wondering how things had turned out this way. If Chu Jinyao hadn’t returned, wouldn’t she, Chu Jinmiao, have become the Crown Princess? She had originally been the second daughter of the Marquis of Changxing!

 

Chu Jinmiao couldn’t stop thinking about how everything would have been hers if Chu Jinyao hadn’t survived her time with the Su family. Why had Chu Jinyao returned at all? Since her return, Chu Jinmiao had lost her status as the legitimate daughter, her standing in the household, and now, Chu Jinyao had even stolen the position of Crown Princess from her!

 

In another courtyard, a maid stood anxiously, bowing her head as she observed her own young mistress. Sixth Young Lady Chu, known for her deep scheming, usually kept up a facade of weakness and innocence. Today, however, her face was dark with rage, her usually hidden emotions now on full display.

 

Sixth Young Lady Chu stared coldly at one spot, her expression filled with venomous hatred. She suddenly struck out, smashing a teacup to the ground. Overcome with frustration, she shouted, her voice trembling with anger, “I am the real Fifth Young Lady! Why has she stolen my title and taken everything good for herself?”

 

Before Chu Jinyao returned, Sixth Young Lady had been the Fifth Young Lady of the Changxing Marquis’s residence for thirteen years. When Chu Jinyao was found, the other daughters had to move down in rank, forcing Sixth Young Lady to become the “Sixth.” Seeing the decree, which named “the fifth daughter of the Chu family” as the Crown Princess, filled her with despair.

 

In truth, she was the Fifth Young Lady.

 

Unfortunately, the decree was explicit, naming “Chu Jinyao, the fifth daughter of the Chu family.” Even if Sixth Young Lady wanted to dispute the ranking, there was nothing she could do. Qin Yi knew all too well the complex dynamics within the Chu family due to the previous mix-up at birth. To avoid any attempts at substitution or confusion, he had ensured that the decree included Chu Jinyao’s rank, identity, and name, making it impossible for anyone to manipulate the situation.

 

In the Marquis’s residence, there were many emotions—joy, frustration, and hidden plots. But none of this mattered much to Chu Jinyao, as she no longer had time to concern herself with outside affairs.

 

With a sharp crack, the rattan stick struck Chu Jinyao’s back. One of the thin, rigid Momos said emotionlessly, “Miss, you are the future Crown Princess. Your posture and demeanor must be flawless. We were sent by Her Majesty the Empress to teach you, and it’s all for your own good. Do you understand?”

 

“I understand,” Chu Jinyao said, wincing in pain. She tried her best not to cry out, her face pale as she responded, “Please continue, Momo.”

 

The Momos nodded in satisfaction. “As long as you understand. Now, your posture is perfect, so please maintain this position for a quarter of an hour.”

 

A quarter of an hour! Linglong and Dingxiang were on the verge of jumping up in protest. Maintaining a half-bowed position for that long—was this etiquette training or pure torture? But these Momos were from the Empress’s palace. Even the Old Madam Chu of the Chu family wouldn’t dare to object, let alone lowly maids. Linglong, seething with anger, kept her head down and her mouth shut, fearing that if she spoke out, she would only bring more trouble upon Chu Jinyao.

 

Linglong finally snapped out of the euphoria of her mistress becoming the Crown Princess. She now realized what kind of world Chu Jinyao was about to enter.

 

Chu Jinyao knew well enough that this was the Empress’s way of asserting control. Among young noble ladies, Chu Jinyao’s physical constitution was already considered quite strong. Even so, after holding the position for half a quarter of an hour, her legs were trembling, and her back ached. She swayed slightly, but the sharp-eyed Momo instantly struck her with the stick again.

 

“Hold still. Don’t move,” the tall and thin, sharp-faced Momo said coldly. “Do you plan on wobbling like that in front of the nobility in the palace? When you meet important figures, you must remain absolutely still until you are given permission to rise. Even the slightest movement would be seen as disrespect! Her Majesty the Empress is kind and wouldn’t punish a junior, but if you were to show such disrespect in front of the Emperor, that would be a grave offense.”

 

Disrespect in front of the Emperor could range from a minor offense to a serious one. For court officials, it could result in losing their position or being punished. But for Chu Jinyao, the Crown Princess-to-be with no powerful family backing, even the smallest misstep could lead to disaster.

 

The stick hurt terribly. It inflicted pain beneath the skin without leaving visible marks—a truly cruel form of punishment. Despite the pain, Chu Jinyao bit her lip and silently maintained her posture, enduring the soreness in her body without a word of complaint.

 

The Momos found several more excuses to strike her with the stick, each blow harder than the last. Chu Jinyao gritted her teeth and endured the entire quarter-hour. When the time was finally up, she was trembling all over and could barely stand. Momo Gong seized the opportunity to escort the two Momos outside, while Linglong and the other maids rushed to support Chu Jinyao, asking anxiously, “Miss, are you alright? Perhaps we should ask the Momos to give you a break before continuing?”

 

Chu Jinyao’s face was pale, her hair damp with sweat and sticking to her temples. Supported by Linglong, she took a few deep breaths before shaking her head and saying, “I’m fine. I’ve rested enough. Let’s continue.”

 

“Miss!” The maids were heartbroken at the sight. Even the usually quiet and docile Dingxiang said, “Miss, they’re clearly doing this on purpose to torment you.”

 

“What else can we do?” Chu Jinyao replied softly. “If they’ve set their minds to this, we can’t avoid it now or in the future. It’s better to endure it now and suffer less later.”

 

Jiegeng stomped her foot in frustration. “Miss, you’ve never been treated like this before. The beatings are so harsh, it hurts just to watch. They’re clearly doing this on purpose!”

 

“Jiegeng, don’t slander the Momos from the palace,” Chu Jinyao said firmly, her expression serious. “If you continue speaking like this, I won’t be able to protect you.”

 

Jiegeng fell silent, though her face still showed signs of defiance. Linglong sighed. Becoming engaged to the Crown Prince was both a blessing and a risk for Chu Jinyao, as it meant her family would be of little help to her. In the palace, the Chu family would barely have a voice.

 

Fortunately, the two Momos were now being entertained outside, allowing Chu Jinyao some time to rest. She whispered a few instructions to Linglong and the others, but before she could finish, the Momos returned. “Fifth Young Lady, have you rested enough?”

 

Chu Jinyao swallowed her words and replied, “Yes, I’m ready.”

 

In just a few days, Chu Jinyao had lost a noticeable amount of weight. When she went to pay her respects to the Old Madam Chu, everyone in the room was shocked. “Fifth Young Lady, why have you gotten so thin?”

 

Chu Jinyao said nothing, and seeing the Momos standing behind her, everyone quickly understood.

 

The Old Madam Chu sighed. She had heard rumors about the strained relationship between the Empress and the Crown Prince, but she hadn’t realized just how bad it was. The Crown Prince, as the heir to the throne, was untouchable.

 

The Empress couldn’t harm him directly, so she was venting her frustrations on the Crown Princess instead. If Chu Jinyao’s family were more powerful, the Empress might have held back. But with Chu Jinyao being from a provincial marquis’s family with little influence, the Empress was free to mold her as she pleased. And this was only the beginning. As the Empress’s daughter-in-law, Chu Jinyao would face many more trials in the palace, where the rules were strict and the Emperor’s favoured empress Xiao Qi, held great sway.

 

The others, who had once envied Chu Jinyao for receiving such an incredible match, now felt a twinge of sympathy. It seemed that even a good marriage came with its own set of hardships.

 

The Old Madam Chu wanted to keep Chu Jinyao longer, giving her some time to catch her breath. With this in mind, she said slowly, “Fifth Young Lady, the governer will be hosting a banquet in a few days to welcome the Crown Prince. We’ve received an invitation. Take some time to prepare. You’ll want to make a good impression.”

 

The Old Madam Chu had deliberately suggested that Chu Jinyao attend, hoping to show off to those who had once looked down on her. After all, Chu Jinyao was now the Crown Princess, and even ten of those noble families combined wouldn’t be able to match her. The Old Madam Chu especially relished the thought of flaunting this in front of the Prince Huailing’s family.

 

It was truly satisfying. The Lin family had once tried to force Chu Jinyao into becoming a concubine. Now, the Old Madam Chu couldn’t be more grateful that they hadn’t succeeded.

 

But before Chu Jinyao could respond, the two Momos cut in on her behalf. “That won’t do. Unmarried couples are not allowed to meet before the wedding. Since the Crown Prince will be attending, Fifth Young Lady cannot go.”

 

This left no room for negotiation, and the Old Madam Chu had no choice but to relent. Chu Jinyao quickly added, “It’s alright. I’m engaged now, so I shouldn’t be going out. Please, take my sisters along instead.”

 

The Old Madam Chu sighed inwardly and had no choice but to agree. She discreetly signaled to Momo Gu, who understood and ushered the Momos out to enjoy tea and snacks. The Momos politely declined but eventually followed her out.

 

Once they were alone, the Old Madam Chu turned to Chu Jinyao and said, “I never expected that you would end up engaged to royalty. You’re truly blessed. If I had arranged a match for you earlier, it would have been a waste of your fate. The Crown Prince is four years older than you, and now that he’s of an age to consider children, I suspect the wedding will happen soon. We need to prepare, and that includes your older sisters. As for your second brother, his marriage is the most important of all.”

 

According to tradition, younger siblings could not marry before their older siblings. Since the Crown Prince was older and the wedding was imminent, the Old Madam Chu needed to hurry and marry off Chu Jinyao’s older sisters. But even more important was the second young master’s marriage. As the heir to the Marquis’s title and the future brother-in-law of the Crown Prince, his wife had to be chosen carefully.

 

Chu Jinyao remained silent about her siblings’ marriages, saying only, “I’ll leave everything to you, Grandmother.”

 

The Old Madam Chu was pleased with this response, appreciating Chu Jinyao’s level-headedness. Even after being appointed as the future Crown Princess, she hadn’t let it go to her head. Suddenly, the Old Madam Chu changed the subject. “Fifth Young Lady, do you remember the girl you met at the governer’s party a few days ago? The one wearing a bright red dress, with square features and a slightly taller frame?”

 

Chu Jinyao thought for a moment and quickly recalled the young woman. Of course, she remembered her—this was the girl who had spoken up for her when the County Princess had caused a scene. Her surname was Duan.

 

“I remember, Grandmother. Why do you ask?”

 

“She’s the daughter of the Provincial Commissioner’s family, named Duan Yinghua. I’ve heard she’s very skilled at managing household affairs, and she’s been helping her family since she was twelve. We would never have dared to hope for a match with such a prominent family in the past, but now that your status has changed, it’s time for us to find a capable sister-in-law for you. What do you think about proposing her as a match for your second brother?”

 

So she was the daughter of the Provincial Commissioner. No wonder she had dared to speak up against the County Princess. Chu Jinyao had a good impression of Duan Yinghua. Learning that she was also capable and virtuous only increased her admiration. If Duan Yinghua became her sister-in-law, Chu Jinyao would be more than happy. However, it wasn’t her place to decide her brother’s marriage.

 

“I like Sister Duan very much, but since this is about my second brother’s marriage, we should ask for his opinion.”

 

The Old Madam Chu smiled, pleased that Chu Jinyao agreed. She hadn’t really cared about Chu Jinyao’s opinion, but now that she was going to be the Crown Princess, even the Old Madam Chu couldn’t afford to ignore her. The second young master was not only the heir to the marquisate but also Chu Jinyao’s legitimate brother and the future brother-in-law of the Crown Prince. His marriage had to be handled with care, and there was no way the Old Madam Chu would go behind Chu Jinyao’s back. Hearing that Chu Jinyao was in favor of the match, the Old Madam Chu was reassured. As for the second young master’s own feelings, the Old Madam Chu didn’t think they mattered much.

 

Madam Zhao, Chu Jinyao’s mother, sat quietly, feeling bitter. The Old Madam Chu had bypassed her entirely, asking for Chu Jinyao’s opinion instead. It was clear that the Old Madam Chu no longer saw her as an important figure in the household. After so many years as the marquis’s wife, had her position really become a joke?

 

With the issue of Duan Yinghua settled, the Old Madam Chu felt a weight lifted from her shoulders. She had originally planned to ask Chu Jinyao how she wanted to deal with Chu Jinmiao, but seeing Madam Zhao sitting nearby, she hesitated. Bringing up such a matter in front of Chu Jinyao’s mother could create tension, so the Old Madam Chu decided to handle it herself.

 

Even if the Old Madam Chu had asked, Chu Jinyao wouldn’t have said much in front of her mother. Any punishment for Chu Jinmiao, whether light or severe, would create a rift between Chu Jinyao and Madam Zhao. It was better not to mention it and let the Old Madam Chu decide how to proceed.

 

With a plan in mind, the Old Madam Chu checked the time and didn’t dare to keep Chu Jinyao any longer, lest the Empress’s Momos grow displeased. She said, “We’ve discussed everything important. You should go back and attend to your duties. I won’t keep you. In a few days, we’ll attend the banquet at the governer’s mansion. Although you won’t be able to join us, remember that this is a blessing. Don’t be upset, and don’t hold it against the Momos.”

 

“I understand,” Chu Jinyao replied.

 

A few days later, the governer held a grand banquet to welcome the Crown Prince. The entire city’s noblewomen attended, eager to catch a glimpse of the legendary future Crown Princess. However, when they arrived, they found that while the other daughters of the Changxing Marquis’s family were present in full regalia, the future Crown Princess was absent. Upon inquiry, they learned that Fifth Young Lady was busy learning palace etiquette from the Empress’s Momos and wouldn’t be attending any events before the wedding.

 

The noblewomen sighed. They couldn’t decide whether they were envious or sympathetic. Marrying into the royal family clearly came with its hardships, but they were hardships that most of them would gladly endure.

 

After all, it was still a great fortune. No matter how much someone might want it, not everyone was destined for it.

 

At the banquet, much of the conversation revolved around Chu Jinyao, the soon-to-be Crown Princess. Whenever she was mentioned, the ladies couldn’t help but bring up the County Princess with a knowing smile. The Prince Huailing’s family had been humiliated, and Lin Baozhu, once touted as the future Crown Princess, had now become the subject of ridicule among her peers.

 

Qin Yi had initially been reluctant to attend the banquet. His primary reason for coming to Shanxi was to oversee the military handover, and he had intended to return to the capital soon after. Matters in the military could not be delayed, yet Qin Yi had remained in Taiyuan, even going so far as to attend the governer’s banquet. As he watched the proceedings, his expression grew colder. Finally, in a foul mood, he called Xiao Linzi over. “She didn’t come?”

 

Xiao Linzi didn’t know how to respond. Seeing the dark look on Qin Yi’s face, he carefully replied, “Your Highness, unmarried couples aren’t allowed to meet before the wedding. Did you forget?”

 

Qin Yi frowned but said nothing. Xiao Linzi immediately realized that Qin Yi had indeed forgotten. No wonder everyone had been urging him to hurry, yet the Crown Prince had remained in Taiyuan for so long. Now he understood why.