Chapter 80: Balancing Authority with Kindness
Proofreader : Mim
On a chilly morning, the palace servants of Ciqìng Palace suddenly became unusually diligent. They lifted the curtains and exchanged messages among themselves, “The Crown Princess is back!”
Momo Gong hurried out to greet her: “Your Highness, you’ve returned! It’s cold outside today!”
“Isn’t it?” Linglong, rubbing her hands together, quickly helped Chu Jinyao inside. The palace maids crowded around the entrance, busy with changing out the hand warmers and removing cloaks, filling the room with energy and warmth.
Chu Jinyao stepped inside and, after feeling the warmth from the underfloor heating, gradually felt her body come back to life. It had snowed heavily the night before, and this morning was so cold that even one’s breath would freeze. Chu Jinyao had only gone out for a short while, yet her hands were so cold she could barely move her fingers.
She sat down on the heated brick bed by the window, with the warm sunlight on her back, slowly feeling her body temperature return. Jiegeng sat beside her on a small footstool. Since she hadn’t accompanied Chu Jinyao for the morning greetings today, her hands were still warm, and now she was using her palms to warm up Chu Jinyao’s hands. Momo Gong quietly approached Linglong and asked, “Even with sedan chairs, why are Her Highness’s hands this cold?”
Linglong was rubbing her ears to warm them and replied with her eyes indicating the situation: “Her Highness went to pay her respects this morning and waited outside for almost an hour. Later, Lanyu Gugu came out and said that because of the heavy snow last night, the Empress hadn’t slept well and woke up with a headache from the cold. The Empress needed rest and couldn’t meet anyone in the cold air, so she told the Crown Princess to return.”
Momo Gong felt indignant: “How could they be so inconsiderate? Just because the Empress is afraid of the cold doesn’t mean the Crown Princess isn’t. If they didn’t want to receive guests, they should’ve sent word earlier, instead of making the Crown Princess wait outside in the cold for so long.”
“Enough, stop talking.” Chu Jinyao’s tone was calm as she cut off their conversation. Even though the room was filled with servants from the Changxing Marquis household, the walls had ears. It was best to refrain from saying too much. Chu Jinyao reflected on how she had become more pampered over the past couple of years. Before she returned to the Marquis household, she had endured all sorts of hardships.
Jiegeng quietly added, “The Crown Princess is truly working hard, managing palace affairs while also having to deal with…” Being treated unfairly by the Empress.
Chu Jinyao shot her a glance, and Jiegeng, feeling aggrieved, swallowed the rest of her words. However, what Jiegeng said reminded Chu Jinyao of something. She asked, “How are those two Momos doing now?”
Momo Gong responded, “Last night’s wind and snow really got to them, as there were no heaters in the back courtyard. They’ve been frozen terribly. After you left, as per your instructions, I went to see Momo Liu and told her that Momo Hong had confessed everything. I mentioned that Momo Hong claimed Momo Liu was the one who orchestrated everything, including the stealing and selling of palace items. As expected, Momo Liu flew into a rage and cursed Momo Hong, which led her to admit to many of Momo Hong’s wrongdoings.”
“Oh?” Chu Jinyao showed interest. “What did she say?”
Momo Gong leaned close to Chu Jinyao’s ear and whispered. After listening, Chu Jinyao lightly shook her head: “It’s like a dog-eat-dog fight, both getting dirtier. Bring Momo Hong here.”
Momo Hong had been locked in a vacant room in the back courtyard, a storage room with no signs of life and naturally no heating. She had been locked there for an entire day and night, with no one to talk to and no one checking on her, as if she had been abandoned by the lively and luxurious world of the palace. After a night of heavy snow, Momo Hong was nearly frozen to death, with all her spirit broken.
Now, as she entered the warm and lively main hall, Momo Hong felt as if she were in a dream. A soft and pleasant voice floated through the richly adorned room: “Momo Hong, do you know how to read?”
Momo Hong nodded, still in a daze. She had entered the palace through several rounds of selection, where palace maids and eunuchs were trained to read and write, as even eunuchs had to assist the Emperor with paperwork. Momo Hong had managed to learn to read during those years, albeit not as well as some of the more clever ones, but she could still manage.
“Good,” Chu Jinyao said, passing a piece of paper to Linglong, who then handed it to Momo Hong. “Since you can read, there’s no need for someone to read it to you. Take a look for yourself.”
Confused, Momo Hong accepted the paper and glanced over it briefly. Instantly, she became terrified: “W-what is this?”
“This is Momo Liu’s testimony against you,” Chu Jinyao replied with a gentle smile. “Momo Hong, I had no idea you had done so many things behind the scenes. You’ve been in the palace longer than I have; you tell me, if I were to hand this list over to the Palace Punishment Bureau, what do you think would happen?”
Momo Hong began to tremble. The things she had done weren’t uncommon, just the usual tricks used by seasoned palace staff. As long as they remained hidden, no one would say anything. But once exposed and handed over to the authorities, it would be disastrous. Momo Hong never expected Momo Liu to betray her so ruthlessly just to save her own life.
Falling to her knees, Momo Hong knocked her head on the floor and pleaded, “Your Highness, this is all lies! Momo Liu made this up to save herself!”
“You mean to say that none of this is true?” Chu Jinyao asked.
Momo Hong fell silent. After a moment, she knocked her head harder and begged, “Please, Your Highness, spare me.”
“Spare you?” Chu Jinyao adjusted the folds of her sleeve and spoke slowly, “How should I spare you?”
Momo Hong gritted her teeth and said, “Momo Liu is cunning and deceitful, always betraying her masters. Whoever bribes her, she will reveal everything about her master. Your Highness, how can you trust someone like that? If you don’t believe me, I can prove it!”
“She’ll reveal everything for a bribe?” Chu Jinyao’s gaze sharpened as she stared at Momo Hong. “What has she revealed?”
Caught off guard, Momo Hong stammered, “When Your Highness first entered the palace, the Empress had her people inquire about Your Highness’s temperament and preferences, but after that, there was no further inquiry.”
Chu Jinyao remained silent, her eyes fixed on Momo Hong until the woman began to sweat profusely. Momo Hong didn’t dare be careless and quickly prostrated herself fully on the ground. “Your Highness, I beg for mercy. That time, the people from Kunning Palace came asking, and I didn’t dare say nothing. Besides, when a new bride enters a family, it’s normal for the mother-in-law to inquire about her daughter-in-law’s temperament and likes, just to ensure harmony. The Empress was merely showing her care.”
“Hah, still trying to deceive me with such words?” Chu Jinyao’s voice suddenly grew stern. “Take her away, hand her over to the Palace Punishment Bureau, and silence her by poisoning her throat so she can’t speak again.”
“Your Highness!” Momo Hong was petrified. She forcefully shook off the servants holding her and crawled over to Chu Jinyao’s feet. Too afraid to grab her clothing, she could only hold the hem of her skirt, trembling. “Your Highness, I understand my mistake now. I will never dare to do this again! Next time, no matter who asks, I will never reveal anything about Your Highness.”
Chu Jinyao ignored her and instead calmly picked up a tea cup, as if the tea was too hot, gently blowing on it twice. She didn’t drink it but instead caressed the design on the cup slowly.
In the silence, Momo Hong seemed to grasp the message. Her voice was choked: “Your Highness, you…”
“Momo Hong, since entering the palace, I’ve never sought attention or mingled with the other concubines. All I want is to live quietly. Do you understand?”
Momo Hong finally understood. Chu Jinyao wanted her to pass this message along to the Empress’s people.
But… if the Empress ever found out, wouldn’t that be walking into her own demise?
Just as Momo Hong hesitated, Chu Jinyao continued, “But I wouldn’t use you for nothing. You’ve served me for a while, and though you haven’t achieved much, you’ve worked hard. In a few years, when my sisters in the Changxing Marquis household are ready to be married, would you like to leave the palace and teach them the ways of the palace? If not, I also have a Mansion outside the city. You could retire there peacefully.”
“Your Highness…”
“You entered the palace at 14, so you’ve been here for nearly 30 years, right? Do you not wish to experience the life of an ordinary person outside?”
Once palace women entered, they could never leave except by death. However, a few who gained favor with concubines or noblewomen could be sent to noble households as educators, effectively enjoying a peaceful retirement. If Momo Hong didn’t want to leave for the Marquis household, she could retire to Chu Jinyao’s Mansion and live as an ordinary farmer.
Momo Hong hesitated for a long time, but the lure of freedom was too strong. She knelt deeply and, touching her forehead to the ground, kowtowed earnestly: “Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness. Your Highness is gentle and harmonious, avoiding conflict with others. Such a temperament will surely bring blessings wherever you go.”
“Good that you understand.” Chu Jinyao set down her tea cup and raised her voice slightly. “Dingxiang, help Momo Hong get cleaned up and changed.”
Momo Hong, trembling with gratitude, followed Dingxiang out. Before leaving, she paused and asked, “Your Highness, what about Momo Liu?”
“Momo Liu sold palace goods and sowed discord. Naturally, she’ll be sent to the Palace Punishment Bureau. Don’t you agree?”
“Of course.” Momo Hong agreed quickly, understanding that she needed to ensure Momo Liu wouldn’t have the chance to retaliate or expose their deceit to the Empress.
Once everyone had left, Linglong approached Chu Jinyao to report: “Your Highness, Momo Liu has already been sent to the Palace Punishment Bureau, and I’ve relayed the message. Her crimes of stealing and selling palace items are enough to justify her punishment.”
“Good.”
“Your Highness, why didn’t you take this opportunity to deal with Momo Hong as well?” Linglong asked, still puzzled after thinking about it for some time.
“The Empress is currently busy with the New Year preparations and hasn’t had time to focus on us. Once spring comes, and she has time to look into things, if she finds out that the two Momos she sent are both gone, do you think she’ll let that go? It’s better to extend kindness to Momo Hong, win her over. Momo Hong came from Kunning Palace, and a word from her carries far more weight than anything we could say ourselves. If we try to explain things to the Empress, she won’t believe us. But if Momo Hong confirms it, it’ll be easier. Since we’re of lower rank, confronting the Empress head-on won’t end well for us. The longer we can fly under her radar, the better.”
Linglong felt a pang of sadness: “Your Highness, you’ve had it so hard. Not only do you have to win over the various factions within the Eastern Palace, but you also have to deal with the Empress’s tests and challenges from the outside. Other newlywed wives don’t have to endure this kind of hardship.”
“You said it yourself — other wives, not me.” Chu Jinyao smiled faintly and tapped Linglong’s forehead. “Being a Crown Princess is a First-Rank title, second only to the Empress and Empress Xiao Qi. Do you think that’s just handed out for free?”
“I still feel sorry,” Linglong whispered. “You have to navigate everything so carefully, but the Crown Prince never says anything! Should I maybe drop a hint in front of him?”
“No need.” Chu Jinyao shook her head, her eyes gleaming with confidence. “He knows.”
“Huh?”
“He knows everything — even when I scolded a maid, he knew. You think he doesn’t know how long I spend at Kunning Palace each day? He just doesn’t say anything.”
Linglong was unsure. “Usually, a newlywed husband would stand up for his wife, especially if she’s being treated unfairly by her mother-in-law. If even in the early days he’s so silent, won’t it be a problem later on? And the Empress isn’t even his birth mother.”
“He’s not the type to say these things.” Chu Jinyao seemed strangely certain. “He never expresses what he wants directly, always making people guess.”
Linglong sighed along with her. Indeed, no one had it easy in the palace. At least Chu Jinyao only had to deal with the Empress. No one else dared disrespect her — thanks to the Crown Prince’s accumulated authority. But before they arrived, how did he, having lost his mother at a young age, survive?
Just as Chu Jinyao was about to continue, there was noise outside. She stopped and went to greet Qin Yi.
Today was bitterly cold, and Chu Jinyao, having stood outside for a while, knew exactly how cold it was. Every day, Qin Yi had to attend the early morning court session, standing outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony. He had to be there before dawn, which was brutal in this weather.
Chu Jinyao touched his hand and immediately frowned: “Your hands are freezing.”
She handed her cloak to a maid and passed her own hand warmer to Qin Yi.
Qin Yi held her wrist instead, raising an eyebrow: “What are you doing?”
“Your hands are so cold!” Chu Jinyao glared at him, but when he refused the hand warmer, she sighed, a bit exasperated but also worried, and held his hands to warm them. “Your Highness, attending court every day is too much for you.”
“It’s just the rule, everyone suffers,” Qin Yi replied, as the Crown Prince, he could never miss a court session, always standing at the very front without any shelter from the wind. At least his residence was nearby, while other officials had to leave their homes even earlier to stand in the freezing cold just to be admitted into the palace.
They sat down in the inner room, and Chu Jinyao immediately had hot tea brought, gently blowing on Qin Yi’s fingers to warm them.
Having someone so attentive every day when he returned from court was something Qin Yi had quickly grown fond of. He silently watched her as she warmed his hands, and then, suddenly, he turned his hand to grasp hers.
“What’s wrong?” Chu Jinyao looked up at him, puzzled.
Qin Yi slowly rubbed her delicate fingers, recalling the report from his informants. Early that morning, Chu Jinyao had gone to Kunning Palace, where she had waited outside for an hour, only to be dismissed by the Empress without even being allowed to enter.
He had always been indifferent toward the Empress, thinking of her as shallow, vain, and arrogant. But now, she had successfully stirred his disdain.
Author’s Note:
Scene of the morning court:
In the camera:
The civil and military officials stand in perfect formation, their demeanor stern. The Grand Secretaries appear wise and astute, the Emperor high and dignified, and the Crown Prince is dedicated to his duties. Other ministers focus intently on discussing state affairs.
In reality:
The Emperor (internally): This seat is too high; the wind is so strong…
The Grand Secretaries (internally): This is elder abuse!
The Crown Prince (internally): Seriously, why are we all standing here freezing just to come up with solutions later in the Inner Cabinet?
Other civil and military officials (internally): It’s so cold! Why is the person giving a report talking so much?
The Censorate Officer: I’m not cold! I’ll keep a close watch on who messes up in front of the Emperor! Don’t stop me, I’m not cold!
