Entering the palace

A red-lacquered, gold-embroidered carriage with four horses slowly emerged from the Princess's residence. The carriage was regal and majestic, with gilded bells hanging from the four corners of the roof, tinkling as they swayed. Four guards on horseback led the way, accompanied by eight maids and servants, and eight more guards on foot behind them.

Zhao Fanghua couldn't help but be surprised when he saw this. It was just a matter of paying respects to the palace, but there was such a big fuss. Meanwhile, Shuyu was urgently giving Zhao Fanghua extra lessons.

First, Zhao Fanghua was taught some basic court etiquette. Fortunately, the carriage was large enough and the ride was smooth enough, allowing the two of them to move around freely in the carriage.

Then he gave Zhao Fanghua additional information about the original owner.

The late emperor had few children, only a daughter and a son, and the empress dowager had no children. Zhao Fanghua's biological mother was the empress dowager's former maidservant, and the current emperor's biological mother was said to have been a maid in the imperial court. She was favored by the late emperor only once, and was fortunate enough to conceive and give birth to a son. Unfortunately, she died of a severe hemorrhage shortly after giving birth.

Zhao Fanghua, who had read countless stories about palace intrigues, didn't believe a word of the emperor's biological mother dying of postpartum hemorrhage. This clearly showed that they were trying to kill the mother and keep the son. Later, Shuyu said that the emperor had been raised by the empress dowager, just like a biological mother and son, which further confirmed her guess.

Zhao Fanghua thought to himself: This emperor is really cruel. He can be so kind to his mother and filial to his mother, otherwise he would not be able to become emperor. However, compared to a humble palace maid giving birth to a mother, having a noble adoptive mother like the empress dowager would bring him greater benefits.

Zhao Fanghua knew that he was of noble status, and after hearing what Shuyu said, he felt it even more real.

Doesn't that mean she's second to none? No, no, if we exclude the Queen Mother, she's second to none. No, the Queen should also be higher than me, so she's third to none.

Thinking of this, Zhao Fanghua chuckled foolishly.

"Your Highness?" Shuyu asked in confusion when she saw Zhao Fanghua sitting there alone and laughing foolishly.

Zhao Fanghua only realized then that something was wrong. He thought about all the sad things that had happened to him in the short past twenty-two years, but he still couldn't suppress the upward curve of his lips.

This is so happy!

Zhao Fanghua pretended to cough twice and covered her face with a handkerchief, trying to hide her joyful expression so that Shuyu wouldn't notice. "It's okay, just keep talking."

Shuyu breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "The Empress Dowager loves hustle and bustle, especially young people. She'll summon the ladies of honor and their children to the palace every now and then to pay her respects. And Your Highness must come to the palace to pay his respects every first and fifteenth day of the lunar month. As for other days, Your Highness will also visit the Empress Dowager more often. After all, Your Highness is also raised by the Empress Dowager."

Zhao Fanghua asked curiously, "What about my biological mother? She should have been made a concubine now, right?"

Shuyu was silent for a moment before she said, "Your Highness has forgotten that your mother, Concubine Jing, has passed away."

After hearing this, Zhao Fanghua fell silent. She lifted the carriage curtain and looked out the window. The originally bustling downtown had turned into the quiet foot of the imperial city. As expected, whether in her original world or in the other world after traveling through time, she had no fate with her parents.

Zhao Fanghua suddenly had an idea in her mind. She heard from the little maid that Shen Xiujin would be returning to Beijing soon. Did that mean...

"Shuyu, um..." Zhao Fanghua coughed twice, and asked with a hint of embarrassment, "When will Shen Tanhua and I get married?"

Shuyu covered her lips with a handkerchief and smiled softly, saying, "The date has already been set by the Ministry of Rites. We are just waiting for Shen Tanhua to return to the capital."

Zhao Fanghua felt a little uncomfortable. In her original world, she was a pure girl who had never even touched a boy's hand. How come she was about to become a wife as soon as she arrived here?

Shuyu studied Zhao Fanghua's constipated expression, smiled, and gave him a reassurance: "Your Highness, don't worry. Shen Tanhua was personally selected by the Empress Dowager, so he is naturally excellent. After all, he is the Tanhua Lang chosen by the Emperor, with brilliant literary talent and handsome appearance."

When Zhao Fanghua heard that it was the third place winner in the imperial examination, he instantly became excited. Yes, to be chosen as the third place winner, his appearance must be good.

Shuyu said: "Chen Tanhua has won the title of Tanhua in the imperial examination and has returned home in glory. When he returns to the capital, Your Highness will know that what I said is true."

Something flashed through Zhao Fanghua's mind. Just as she was about to think about it carefully, Shuyu's voice brought her back to reality.

"Your Highness, we're here."

The carriage stopped at the side gate of the palace. The maids and guards who accompanied it stayed outside the palace. Only Shuyu followed into the palace.

The palace walls were high and deep, and all I could see were faded dark blood-red walls and yellow glazed tiles. The bluestone bricks on the ground were soaked with the traces of time, and a sense of solemnity came over me. Zhao Fanghua had never been to the Forbidden City, but since they were both palaces, they must be similar.

Zhao Fanghua couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

Seeing this, Shuyu patted Zhao Fanghua's hand soothingly: "Your Highness, the Queen Mother is kind and particularly favors you. You don't have to worry."

Even with Shuyu's comfort, Zhao Fanghua couldn't help but wonder, how could she not be nervous? She had never seen a grand occasion in her life. Never mind the stage speeches and flag-raising speeches reserved for outstanding students. Even the Children's Day performances, which most ordinary people participated in, she was just the most inconspicuous person in the corner.

As she went deeper and deeper into the palace, more and more palace maids and eunuchs passed by. Most of them had serious expressions and were in a hurry, which made Zhao Fanghua sweat in her heart. Even her fingers could not help but tremble. Many famous scenes from palace fighting dramas flashed through her mind, such as the beating of a hundred lashes, kneeling in the snow, and being exiled to the cold palace... She was afraid that if a mere college student revealed her true colors in front of the empress dowager, the champion of the previous palace fighting drama, she would end up in a miserable end.

"Your Highness, we're here." Shuyu reminded.

Zhao Fanghua looked up and saw three large gold-plated characters on the plaque - Shoukang Palace.

Sure enough, what is coming will come sooner or later.

Zhao Fanghua gritted his teeth and stepped in with the support of Shuyu.

To Zhao Fanghua's surprise, Shoukang Palace was even smaller than the courtyard she'd lived in at the Princess's Mansion. The square courtyard, adorned with flowers and greenery, offered a panoramic view. It contained east and west side halls, a main hall, and perhaps a rear hall. The maids and eunuchs lowered their heads, concentrating silently on their work.

Before stepping into the main hall, laughter could be heard from inside the hall. Shuyu was not allowed to enter the hall and had to wait under the eaves outside the main hall. Zhao Fanghua kept mentally preparing himself before he finally mustered up the courage to rush into the main hall.

The furnishings in the palace are luxurious; in comparison, the princess's residence seems a little petty.

The Empress Dowager sat high on a dragon-shaped throne, with a rosewood carved screen of nine phoenixes holding longevity symbols behind her. The Empress Dowager was probably in her thirties or less than forty, and because she took good care of herself, she looked like she was in her early thirties. As Shuyu had said, she had kind eyes and a gentle brow.

In addition to the empress dowager, there was another woman in the hall. She was dressed in the clothes of a noble lady and was about forty or fifty years old. Sitting next to the woman was a delicate and pretty girl about ten years old.

Zhao Fanghua bowed politely, and then a palace maid took out an embroidered stool and placed it aside. Zhao Fanghua sat down politely, and the lady opposite also brought the little girl to pay her respects to Zhao Fanghua.

After another round of exchange of courtesies, both sides sat down.

At this time, Zhao Fanghua's scalp was numbing due to the complicated etiquette in the palace. The Queen Mother did not seem to focus her attention on Zhao Fanghua, but turned around and talked about the previous topic with the ladies, which made Zhao Fanghua feel relieved.

After listening for a long time, Zhao Fanghua had already figured out the origin of this woman. She was the empress dowager's sister-in-law, and was the wife of a duke. The little girl next to her was her granddaughter, who was only eight years old this year.

This noble lady from an aristocratic family is different. She has an extraordinary bearing at the age of eight. Although her words and deeds are still childish, they are also dignified and graceful. Zhao Fanghua thought of herself when she was eight years old, running around all over the mountains and playing in the mud. There is no comparison.

The Duke's wife gently patted the little girl's hand and said distressedly, "Don't look at her quietness now. It's because she admires and respects the Queen Mother! As soon as she left the palace, it was as if she had been put in a magic mirror and immediately revealed her true colors. She acted like a naughty monkey, not at all like a lady from a noble family."

Zhao Fanghua glanced at the little girl when she heard this. No way, let alone that she was already mature enough for her age, so what if she played around a bit? Eight years old was the age for playful behavior. This Duke's wife's request was too high.

The Queen Mother laughed heartily upon hearing this: "All unmarried girls are like this. They'll be fine once they get married." Pointing at Zhao Fanghua, she said, "Look at Fanghua. She's become even calmer after marriage."

How did this get to her? Zhao Fanghua lowered her head like a quail, and was quite dissatisfied with the Queen Mother's words. What do you mean by "just get married"? It's 2025, how can there still be people who think that way? Oh no, this is a real Qing Dynasty person.

"The Queen Mother is praising Linlang too much. How can this little girl compare to the eldest princess who grew up under the Queen Mother's care?" The Duke's wife sighed as she spoke. "I don't know how a lady from an aristocratic family would be interested in Linlang's appearance."

The Queen Mother said, "Sister-in-law, why should you worry so much? Linlang has been well-educated by you. She knows how to behave and when to retreat. What's wrong with her becoming the Empress Dowager?"

Zhao Fanghua was horrified. What kind of shocking news was this? Was the Queen Mother trying to elevate her family by making this little girl the Queen? But according to the generational hierarchy, Zhao Fanghua calculated in his mind that Linlang should be the Emperor's cousin. Wouldn't this mess up the generational hierarchy?