The empress got a surprise upon hearing that Hua Ling wanted to recite a poem. She was fully aware of the details of Hua Ling’s background; back then when Yang Shi first married into the Kang Le residence, she detested Hua Ling and had approached her for a solution. After discussing for a long time, the both of them came up with the current plan.

When Yang Shi married into the Kang Le residence, Hua Ling was still very young, and he couldn’t yet walk stably or speak in proper sentences. This child was like a blank sheet of paper, why not let her splash ink over it?[1] She thought about the kind of person she wanted him to be when he grew up. He was such a young child, how would he know good from bad? Or possess logical reasoning? What could he possibly know? Even if she said black was white, he would also believe it.

She never scolded or hit him, merely groomed him to become a useless, unaccomplished person. Even if she occasionally rebuked him, she would always justify it by saying that it was for his own good. Not only does he not hate her, he was instead filled with gratitude. Mounting an emotional attack against an enemy could bring about greater harm than a physical one.

By treating Hua Ling in this manner, Yang Shi was able to reap many unimaginable benefits. Now whenever Yang Shi is mentioned, everyone would praise her for being an exemplary stepmother. Moreover, Yang Shi has already moulded Hua Ling into the person she wants him to be. Besides that attractive face, he had no other merits. Also, he is very compliant towards Yang Shi. It wouldn’t be difficult to get him to cede his position as heir to the Duke of Kang Le in the future.

Initially, Yang Shi wanted Hua Ling to become a scoundrel; a tyrant who went around bullying others outside, sleeping around with women and indulging in eating, drinking, gambling and committing evil deeds, and basically digging his own grave. But Yang Shi was worried that as a child, Hua Ling would be highly impressionable, and he might be influenced by someone he met outside and stop listening to her. Thus she hid Hua Ling within the grounds of the residence, which was surrounded by her people that wouldn’t lead Hua Ling astray.

Doing this had its benefits and Hua Ling was more obedient, but the downside was that Hua Ling was cowardly, and did not dare to leave the residence. If he didn’t even dare to leave home, then how would he act like a tyrant?

Naturally, the empress was aware of all these, if not how could she agree to let Hua Ling marry Yan Shi?

Thinking of this, the empress cut in, “Your Majesty, let’s let these newly-weds head back early to rest. They must be tired after having to deal with all those marriage matters.”

“Mother empress, your son[2] is not tired,” in order to show that he truly wasn’t tired, Hua Ling deliberately puffed his chest, “since father emperor wishes to hear my recital, your son wouldn’t be tired no matter what.”

Emperor Chong Jin enjoyed conversing with Hua Ling, naturally he wouldn’t wish to let him leave so soon, “Then go ahead and compose a poem.”

Hua Ling looked around the huge hall and lowered his head for a while, then said slowly, “Palace, palace, it looks so fine.”

After hearing the first sentence, Emperor Chong Jin wore the same look that Yan Shi had last night, he was still caught by surprise when Hua Ling continued, “Of course the empress is the finest.”

The empress wanted to dig a hole in the ground and hide within it, why didn’t she remind her younger sister to not let Hua Ling show off his literary skills.

“Father emperor too looks fine.”

Yan Shi silently mulled in his heart, did he only know how to use fine to describe something beautiful?

“Having seen father emperor and mother empress,”

“My heart is overflowing with happiness.”

Emperor Chong Jin was surprised to the point that he was unable to speak.

“Wishing father emperor and mother empress,”

“Happy and blissful days.”

“And a good mood every day!”

Yan Shi thought, not bad, there are four more lines compared to last night, it deserves praise.

The empress’s face could not get any darker, Emperor Chong Jin was also slowly regaining his senses from the shock. This messy composition could also be considered a poem? Even a seven year old child could probably do better than that. But seeing Hua Ling’s cheerfully smiling face and eyes that were asking for praise, Emperor Chong Jin coughed lightly, “Not bad ah, not bad. The composition of this verse is not bad, it is easy to understand and concise. Wouldn’t you say so, Zi Tong?”

The empress frantically nodded her head, “Not bad really not bad, Wangfei’s poem is truly amazing. It deserves a reward!”

Once again, Hua Ling obtained a lot of rewards.

Hua Ling happily knelt down in thanks, then asked, “Father emperor, then do you think your son can pass the imperial examination?”

The mighty emperor was somewhat caught in a difficult position. It was obvious at a glance that Hua Ling was still like a child, he couldn’t damage a child’s self-confidence, but it wasn’t good to lie to him either.

“Wangye, I heard that there was another missing person case today?” As Emperor Chong Jin was deliberating over what to say, the empress cut in and changed the topic, “I heard a body was discovered in a pond on the west side of the city this morning? Is the deceased the same person who went missing?”

Yan Shi was just about to reply when he heard Hua Ling ask hesitantly, “How did mother empress know there was a dead body discovered in the city’s west side pond? Your son is also aware of this matter, this morning as we were about to leave the residence, a beautiful gentleman came to inform us.”

The empress’s heart thumped once, those belonging in the harem were forbidden from interfering with politics, this was a rule that was in place since ancient times. Just now she was too anxious to change the topic, and accidentally let this matter slip.

Yan Shi naturally would not let go of this opportunity, “That’s right mother empress, your son was also only aware of this matter right before entering the palace. You received news quickly, mother empress.”

The empress flew into a rage in shame, “What are you insinuating!”

“What I just said.”

Emperor Chong Jin placed his cup of tea heavily onto the table, and the two people before him ceased to speak.

“Father, father emperor, what’s wrong?” Hua Ling got a shock and gasped, “Is, is it that your son cannot pass the imperial exam? Then your son won’t apply for the imperial exam anymore. My mother said even if your son doesn’t become a minister, I would still be able to lead a luxurious life.”

As Hua Ling spoke, Emperor Chong Jin’s expression warmed a little. But hearing the latter half of the sentence, Emperor Chong Jin unconsciously wrinkled his brows, “Your mother said even if you don’t become an official, you would still be able to lead a luxurious life?” Then he suddenly recalled what Hua Ling said previously about how “someone with our family’s status shouldn’t compete with those children from humble families for the title of imperial scholar. They are quite pitiful and can only hope to become an official in order to lead a good life.” He asked, “What exactly did your mother tell you about becoming an official?”

The empress was somewhat anxious, “Your Majesty – – “

Emperor Chong Jin said in a low and stern voice, “Zi Tong!”

“My mother said, to become an official is to lead a good life.” Hua Ling replied, “And let myself and my entire family live in luxury and do whatever we please.”

The empress could no longer hold it in, “Wangfei, you can’t speak carelessly. You can be executed for saying the wrong things.”

Hua Ling shrunk his neck, “Your son didn’t speak carelessly. Whatever your son said is the truth, it is what my mother told me. Your son has never lied, if father emperor and mother empress doesn’t believe me, then you can get someone to bring my mother here and let her say it in person.”

“How audacious!” The empress was brimming with anger, her younger sister was a smart person, how could she groom such an idiot? Wasn’t he aware about what should be said and what shouldn’t?

Yan Shi stood on the sidelines and prepared to watch a good show, “Mother empress, have you been shamed into anger? I feel that what Wangfei has proposed is not bad, we can just invite mother-in-law over to clarify things.”

Hua Ling was very distressed, “Mother empress, why are you so angry? Weren’t you fine just now? Your son will be very afraid if you’re like this.”

“Zi Tong, without Zhen’s command, you’re not allowed to speak excessively.” Emperor Chong Jin shot the empress a look, then turned to Hua Ling, “If an official can live in luxury, then what does the court need these officials for?”

“My mother didn’t tell about that,” Hua Ling thought for a while, “Father emperor, your son will go back and ask my mother, then let you know.”

Emperor Chong Jin replied with an “alright” and spoke a bit more with him, then let him and Yan Shi leave.

“Father emperor,” Yan Shi executed a bow, “Your son wishes to see Huo Jia.”

Princess Huo Jia is seventeen years old, and like Yan Shi, she was born from the previous empress. Thus the previous empress only had a son and a daughter.

After Yan Shi was sent out of the inner palace to live in his residence, he couldn’t enter without a token. He hadn’t seen his sister in a long while, but Emperor Chong Jin declined his request saying that princess Huo Jia was busy, he didn’t even bother to come up with an excuse.

Left with no choice, Yan Shi could only quickly leave the hall with Hua Ling. Just now, Hua Ling’s words were truly unfavourable for Prince Zhao’s faction, especially those about the empress involving herself with governmental affairs.

Even though it couldn’t change anything, however all these tiny mistakes would add up and become bigger, like a snowball.

Yan Shi gazed at the white clouds roiling in the sky, it was time for a change in the palace.

He then looked at his little Wangfei, who now seemed more pleasing to the eye.

“Gege, I miss Nanny Ya.” Hua Ling tugged lightly on Yan Shi’s sleeve upon stepping into the Ruiying Wangfu.

“Nanny Ya?” Yan Shi was startled, there was no such person within the residence. Thinking about it, it should be someone Hua Ling brought from the Kang Le residence.

“En,” Hua Ling’s face was a little red and he lowered his head slightly, saying in an embarrassed voice, “Nanny Ya was my mother’s nursemaid. She took care of me after my mother passed away from illness. Even though Nanny Ya doesn’t speak much and can’t read, but she treats me really well. All these years, I have never once been apart from her. From when we got married last night up till now, it is the longest period of time that I’ve been away from her, I really miss her. Gege, do you know where is Nanny Ya?”

Yan Shi really did not know, he called the steward over who went to find Nanny Ya.

“Nanny Ya!” Seeing that Nanny Ya was here, Hua Ling was overjoyed. He spread his arm and ran over seeming as if he wanted to hug her, but yet was conscious of Yan Shi’s presence, so he didn’t.

Yan Shi studied Nanny Ya who looked to be about sixty years old, thin, white haired, with a slightly hunched back. Her eyes carried a trace of a smile when she saw Hua Ling. She grabbed Hua Ling by the shoulders and looked him over, then she gestured a few times like she was asking him something.

These two persons’ behaviour were unlike that of a master and servant, it was more like a grandmother and her grandson. Yan Shi sighed, he himself hadn’t experienced such joys in a long time.

“Qing Ji,” Yan Shi asked the steward standing next to him, “How many maidservants and servant boys did Wangfei bring over as dowry escort?”[3]

Qing Ji replied, “Responding to Wangye, besides Nanny Ya, there are also two maidservants and two servant boys.”

Yan Shi instructed, “Let Nanny Ya serve Wangfei, the rest can help out with the household chores.”

Qing ji naturally understood Yan Shi’s intention and hurried to carry them out.

  

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Translator’s Notes:
[1] Shape him into who she wants him to be
[2] A refresher:儿臣 (Er Chen) is a way of referring to oneself in front of your parents (usually nobles)
[3] 陪嫁 (Pei Jia): Dowry Escort (servants who accompany their mistress into her husband’s household)

  

dreamxx: Hua Ling, *ahem* please s-spare me from your poetry.

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Chapter 6Chapter 8