She had originally disagreed with Emperor Xuanwen’s decision to establish Lady Liu as Empress. However, Emperor Xuanwen insisted on making her Empress and did not believe it would harm their mother-son relationship, which was why he had agreed to Lady Liu becoming Empress.
Lady Liu was arrogant and overbearing. The harem was in chaos under her management. If it weren't for her support of Noble Consort in counterbalancing Lady Liu, the harem would have long been her sole domain.
Emperor Xuanwen’s offspring were few. There were only five adult princes, and the First and Fourth Princes were not talented enough to bear great responsibilities.
The Second Prince, Chu Chenyi, was intelligent and accomplished in both civil and military arts, making him the best candidate for Crown Prince. It was a pity that he had injured his leg and had been living in seclusion for years.
Although the Fifth Prince was intelligent, he was too young and had been carefully raised by Noble Consort, shielded too much.
The Third Prince, Chu Yanxi, appeared magnanimous and was known as the Virtuous Prince, but in reality, like his mother, he was narrow-minded, suspicious, and distrustful, hardly fit to be a ruler.
Upon careful consideration, there was no one suitable for this important task.
"Emperor, you only have five sons, all of whom are adults. Who do you think is most suitable for the position of heir apparent?"
Feng Jin's eyes tightened. Should she avoid such matters? If she heard too much, would she still have a life?
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, the medicinal soup is still simmering on the stove. This humble daughter will go down and keep an eye on it."
Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing was the best.
"Feng Jin, you may stay and listen," the Empress Dowager said directly.
"Since Mother Empress has spoken, you may stay."
Emperor Xuanwen dared not defy the Empress Dowager and directly asked Feng Jin to remain.
"This humble daughter obeys the decree."
Feng Jin felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles, her heart pounding in her throat.
After listening, would she still have a life to leave the palace alive?
May the Grand Supreme Elder Lord protect her! If this believer escapes this calamity, she will offer more incense and money to your esteemed self.
"Mother Empress, looking at my five sons, only the Third Prince, Chu Yanxi, is capable of handling great responsibilities. Furthermore, he is the legitimate son of the Empress, and he acts with prudence, being known as the Virtuous Prince in the imperial court. I intend to make him Crown Prince after his wedding. What are Mother Empress's thoughts?"
Emperor Xuanwen still had some affection for the Empress from their youthful days, which was why he doted on and valued Chu Yanxi more.
"Virtuous Prince, Emperor, tell me, in what way is he virtuous? He forms factions in the court, using money and beauty to win over officials. More than half of the officials in the court advocate for Chu Yanxi to be made Crown Prince."
Although the Empress Dowager had not been involved in state affairs for many years, she still had her informants in the court.
"The Third Prince has been raised by the Empress to be arrogant and perverse. He appears magnanimous, but in secret, he is narrow-minded and lustful. If such a person ascends to the throne, Nan Chu will not be far from ruin."
"This... Mother Empress..."
Emperor Xuanwen's expression became somewhat unsightly. He had invested a great deal of effort in this son, Chu Yanxi. To have him so belittled by the Empress Dowager made Emperor Xuanwen feel truly uncomfortable.
"Emperor, do not blame Mother Empress for stopping you. Your father left early. On his deathbed, he entrusted Nan Chu and you to me. I truly fear for you. One wrong step, and the empire will be overturned. I fear I will have failed you, and I fear I will face your father with shame after my death..."
"Mother Empress, it is your son who is unfilial and has failed to live up to Mother Empress's kind intentions."
His father had passed away when he was young, and it was Mother Empress alone who had upheld the Nan Chu empire and raised him.
If not for Mother Empress's support, his throne would have been usurped long ago.
When Prince Zhou rebelled, the rebel troops marched directly on the imperial city, and it was Mother Empress who led the army to quell the rebellion.
During the feast for the诸侯反叛 (rebellion of the feudal lords) on the Mid-Autumn Festival, assassins were sent to assassinate him in the palace. It was Mother Empress who shielded him in her arms, and she was injured by an assassin.
Without Mother Empress, he would not have what he has today.
Emperor Xuanwen felt even more heartbroken. Mother Empress cherished him like a treasure, yet he doubted and resented her, truly unfilial.
"Emperor, everything I have done is for you, and for the empire of Nan Chu."
The Empress Dowager spoke earnestly, hoping that Emperor Xuanwen would take her words to heart.
"Your son understands all of Mother Empress's painstaking efforts. Let us postpone the matter of appointing an heir for now. The Third Prince is also of marriageable age; why not let him marry first?"
"Does Emperor have a suitable candidate?"
Emperor Xuanwen pondered for a moment. Chu Yanxi had mentioned marrying Feng Ruoyan as his primary consort more than once, but with the current situation, the position of primary consort might be difficult to secure.
The Empress, however, wanted Chu Yanxi to marry a daughter of the Liu clan as his primary consort.
Currently, he truly had no suitable candidates.
"Does Mother Empress have a suitable person?"
The Empress Dowager sighed and said, "Since Empress wishes for the Third Prince to marry a daughter of the Liu clan, let us grant her wish. It will not be difficult for her to deal with her own niece becoming her daughter-in-law, and the palace can be more peaceful."
The Empress was determined to have a daughter of the Liu clan become the Empress of Nan Chu. It was better to indulge her wishes, and she also wanted to see how much trouble Lady Liu could stir up.
"Then, as Mother Empress suggests, the Third Prince's primary consort will be from the Liu clan. However, I worry that Yanxi might not agree..."
"That is easily resolved. Does he not favor Feng Ruoyan? Her status is more than enough for a secondary consort, and the Prime Minister will have his dignity preserved."
Secondary consort. Did Madam Sun and her daughter not scheme endlessly for Feng Ruoyan to marry Chu Yanxi as his primary consort and become the Empress of Nan Chu? After all the twists and turns, it was merely the position of a secondary consort.
Feng Jin could not help but sigh at the impermanence of life. What is destined to be will be, and what is not, cannot be forced. No matter how much one plans, the outcome is often like this.
"Then, as Mother Empress says, I will immediately issue an imperial decree, letting the primary consort enter first."
"No!" the Empress Dowager interrupted. "Let Feng Ruoyan enter first, so she can learn the rules and how to serve the main wife."
She could see that Feng Ruoyan was restless. By letting her enter first, she was teaching her manners.
"Your son obeys the decree."
"You, as the Father Emperor, should not be too biased. Don't neglect the Third Prince's marriage; remember that the Second Prince does not even have a secondary consort in his household."
As soon as the Empress Dowager uttered these words, Emperor Xuanwen's face instantly turned grim. "Mother Empress, you know the Second Prince's health,朕..."
"Since you know, you should have arranged for him to marry long ago, so there would be someone to attend to him."
"Does Mother Empress have a candidate in mind?"
"The legitimate daughter of Marquis Pingyang's manor. I think she is quite suitable; she is gentle, dignified, and steady. She is the best match for Chen Yi. If Emperor has no objections, then issue the decree. The twenty-eighth of this month is a good day. Let the wedding be set for today!"
Emperor Xuanwen saw that Mother Empress already had a plan, and all that was needed was for him to issue an imperial decree.
"Your son obeys the decree and will immediately instruct the Shangshi Bureau to make arrangements."
After Emperor Xuanwen withdrew, the Empress Dowager began to cough incessantly, her complexion also looking unwell.
"Empress Dowager, please hold this medicine in your mouth."
Feng Jin hurried forward to hand the medicine to the Empress Dowager and helped her take it.
After taking the medicine, she helped the Empress Dowager lean against a soft cushion. "Empress Dowager, your body is frail and requires bed rest. You must not get angry again."
Cardiac arrest is most aggravated by fatigue and extreme emotional fluctuations.
"I know my own body best."