advance and retreat
"Mother?"
Li Qingping came back to his senses and met the worried gaze of Cui, the wife of Prince Hua. Before his wedding to Xuan, he had left the palace to establish his own residence and was granted the title of Prince Hua.
On the first day of every month, Princess Hua went to the palace to pay her respects to Li Qingping as usual.
Li Qingping was a little absent-minded today. It was because yesterday Emperor Yongping issued an edict to promote Concubine Rong to Noble Concubine Rong and Concubine Wan to Concubine Wan.
Ever since the passing of the Grand Empress Dowager, both the Empress Dowager and Empress Li were ill, and it had been the Ding Guifei of Yonghe Palace who had been in charge of the affairs of the six palaces, with the four concubines assisting.
In the 13th year of Yongping, Empress Li felt a little better and managed to get up to handle some matters. However, these matters referred to trivial matters outside the palace, and she was relieved to continue to hand over the palace affairs to Li Qingping.
Li Qingping still remembered the day when Queen Li called her over to talk.
——
The bitter taste of the medicine in Kunning Palace could not be masked. Empress Li was pale, still wrapped in a thick fox fur cloak despite the late spring warmth. She was as thin as a sheet of paper, leaning against the heated kang with her eyes closed. If it weren't for the still rising and falling of her chest, Li Qingping would have almost thought she was dead.
"Your Majesty—"
Queen Li heard the sound and opened her eyes to look at the person who came. She smiled faintly and said, "You are here, Qingping."
As soon as Li Qingping sat down, she heard Queen Li's weak and dull cough. She was startled and hurriedly stood up to call someone to summon the imperial physician, but was stopped by Queen Li.
"Actually, my body was already severely damaged after giving birth to Hehuang, and I haven't had a good rest in these years. Now I'm almost at the end of my strength." At this moment, Empress Li found that these things were not difficult to talk about, and she didn't even have any emotions. She took a deep breath and said, "So, Imperial Noble Consort Minyi and Consort Jin were so sick before they left."
Li Qingping's face turned pale and tears blurred her eyes. She couldn't accept from the bottom of her heart that a loved one was about to leave her.
Queen Li smiled and told her not to cry. After Li Qingping calmed down a little, she slowly and firmly told her the real matter she had come to inform her of.
"Although we have been relatively safe in the harem these years, the Li family outside the palace has actually been secretly suppressed by the emperor. The emperor has always been wary of relatives from outside the palace. In the past, it was the Yang family, and now it is the Li family." Queen Li looked at the pomegranate tree sprouting new buds outside the window and whispered, "Two years ago, a nephew of the Li family wanted to fill a vacant position in the Ministry of Revenue, but in the blink of an eye, someone from the Wang family took it. The emperor is afraid--"
"Besides, our children are all grown up. The families of the Crown Princess, the Princess of Dun County, and the Princess of Hua County are also leaning towards us. Several large families gathered together are too conspicuous and intimidating."
Queen Li's voice was so soft, but it hit Li Qingping's heart like a heavy hammer.
"The Emperor is worried that the Li family's roots are too deep and they might have thoughts they shouldn't have. He's even more worried... that my sisters will unite with the imperial relatives in the harem and undermine his imperial power."
Li Qingping clenched his sleeves, his knuckles turning white. "But the Li family has never had second thoughts! If it weren't for our family's secret efforts when the emperor was fighting for the throne..."
"It's a different time now." Empress Li shook her head gently, and the coughing began again, this time even more urgent than before. She paused for a long moment before continuing, "The emperor's mind is the coldest of all."
"From ancient times to the present, there have been many examples of people who followed the emperor but ultimately died because of the emperor's suspicion. While there is still time, the Li family must step down."
She reached under her pillow and pulled out a brocade box, handing it to Li Qingping. "Several of our uncles have reached retirement age and are returning home. These land deeds all belong to houses in the Li family's ancestral home. Let them go back there first to lay a solid foundation. After the second batch of us brothers retire, the Li family will at least be able to live a carefree and happy life in their own land. Warn them not to interfere in the affairs of the court after they retire."
Li Qingping opened the brocade box. The deeds inside were neatly stacked, the luster of gold and silver particularly dazzling in the dim room. She looked up at Empress Li, tears streaming down her face. "Your Majesty, you've made all the arrangements. What about you?"
"Me?" Empress Li smiled, her smile full of fatigue. "I can't hold on for much longer. After I'm gone, the Emperor will definitely give the Li family some empty positions and favors to silence the world's gossip. You must not take it seriously. Tell the people in the clan to be more reserved, especially the younger ones. Stop interfering in court affairs and just live peacefully as rich and noble young men."
She paused, her gaze falling on Li Qingping, her tone suddenly becoming serious: "There is also the harem. After I leave, the emperor will never let you continue to control the affairs of the six palaces alone. One of the four concubines will definitely be promoted."
Concubine Ke, also of the Li clan, had absolutely no chance. Concubine Jia, possessing only seniority but lacking the wherewithal to challenge Li Qingping, was unlikely to be her. Of the remaining two, Concubine Rong, childless yet of noble birth, and Concubine An, with her own son, were unassuming. Comparing the two, Concubine Rong clearly had a greater chance of advancement.
"The Emperor wants Concubine Rong to suppress you. Concubine Rong has no children, and she will definitely use the power of the aristocratic family to fight for power." Queen Li stopped and coughed rapidly. Li Qingping was stopped from calling the imperial physician, and could only rub her back and pour water for her over and over again.
"If Concubine Rong wants to argue, you don't have to argue, nor do you have to give in." Empress Li took two sips of water, her voice becoming clearer. "Regarding daily routine matters, you can have the Imperial Household Department draft the regulations according to the old rules. If Concubine Rong really wants to make a fuss about it in the future, you can have the Imperial Household Department copy the changes into a book and present it to the Emperor. People from aristocratic families are most particular about 'rules'. If she makes changes arbitrarily, the Emperor will definitely think she is eager for quick success and instant benefits."
"Anyway, just do your job well. I have confidence in your abilities. If you behave properly and leave no room for fault, you'll stay firmly on the right track."
Li Qingping felt a sinking feeling in his heart: "My Lady, these are all groundless things."
Queen Li sighed, "In fact, it can already be seen."
"In this palace, every step you take without thinking about the next one will lead to a dead end." Queen Li's voice was filled with self-mockery. "I have protected you and Qingyan for so many years. I can't let you be bullied after I leave."
Speaking of Concubine Ke, Empress Li sighed again, "Qingyan...she has a simple nature. She should stay out of the harem affairs and stay in her Chengqian Palace peacefully. The Li family already has you and me in the harem. If she gets involved again, it will only make the Emperor more wary."
Li Qingping suddenly thought of something that had been weighing on his mind: "At that time at Prince Gong's residence..."
"Yes, I deliberately suppressed it so that you would notice the clues. The purpose was to increase your weight in the emperor's heart. Let the emperor know that you are doing this for his own good."
At this point, Empress Li suddenly grasped Li Qingping's hand, her palm cold but full of strength. "Qingping, remember, from now on in the palace, don't mention the 'Li family' anymore. You are the Emperor's Imperial Consort Ding, the Empress of Yonghe Palace, and the mother of Yuxi, Hexun, and Hechang. Be a member of the imperial family first, and then protect the Li family. Only in this way can you protect everything you want to protect."
Li Qingping could no longer hold back her tears, which rolled down her cheeks: "...Sister, I will listen to you. But I can't bear to leave you..."
"Qingping, once you enter the imperial family, it's like stepping into an abyss. My biggest regret in this life is that I didn't firmly oppose the concubines, and let you and Qingyan also enter this cannibalistic place. But now it's too late." Queen Li raised her hand to wipe away her tears. The coolness of her fingertips made Li Qingping shudder. "But if you can arrange everything before you close your eyes, I won't have to worry about anything down there."
Empress Li said firmly, "I deliberately didn't keep this a secret. The Emperor must have noticed something. But the Li family isn't rebelling or plotting a rebellion. We simply seek a stable future. Furthermore, I'm seriously ill and have one foot in the grave. As long as I retreat far enough, the Emperor won't punish me."
"In this way, the Li family will be safe."
"When I really can't hold on any longer, I will ask to see the emperor." Queen Li held Li Qingping's hand: "Then I will ensure that you, Qingyan, and your children will be fine."
Later, Queen Li fell into a coma, and Li Qingping returned to Yonghe Palace in a daze with the brocade box containing the land deed.
——
Unexpectedly, not long after, what Queen Li said at the time really came true.
Li Qingping took the hot towel Yun Su handed him, wiped his face, and regained some energy. "When you return home, have He Xuan contact the elders of the clan as soon as possible and take care of the ancestral home according to the Queen's wishes. Also, except for necessary festivals, try to stay out of the capital on weekdays."
Princess Hua agreed to all of them.
She was still worried when she saw Li Qingping's tired look: "Mother..."
"Noble Concubine Rong is so arrogant right now. She lavished gifts on Jingren Palace as soon as the imperial edict came down yesterday. And now, seeing someone she's not happy with, she's taking action against the Ministry of Internal Affairs." Li Qingping lowered his eyes and twirled the necklace on his chest. "It's only natural that I'm feeling a little sad right now."
"When the Emperor fought for the throne, he used retreat as a means of advancement. Now it seems that this is indeed a very effective method. After the people who are currently supporting the Li family retreat, there will be so many vacancies. No family will sit idly by. The more they advance, the more we will be seen as retreating even if we stand still."
Li Qingping's tone was as calm as a deep pool of water. "Go back and tell He Xuan to take sick leave for the next few days and not go to the Ministry of Revenue. Just say... I caught a cold last night and have a bad cough. I'm afraid I might pass my illness on to the Emperor and the other officials."
Princess Hua was taken aback: "But the prince just finished discussing the Northwest Army pay at the Ministry of War yesterday..."
"That's why it's so important to treat illness in time," Li Qingping said calmly. "The Emperor just promoted Rong Guifei, and now his son is sick. Since he's seriously ill, he naturally can't attend court or go to the government office. If the Emperor is truly concerned, he'll send a royal physician to see him. If not, we can avoid being in the spotlight and use this as an excuse to temporarily step aside."
Princess Hua understood. This was a sign of weakness from Yonghe Palace.
Become a member of the royal family first, then do the Li family's business...So whoever the emperor wants to promote, Yonghe Palace will not be an obstacle. Li Qingping's mind echoed with Queen Li's words.
"But if the imperial physician really comes, and the prince is not ill, then..." Princess Hua's face turned pale. That would be the crime of deceiving the emperor.
Still too young.
Li Qingping looked at his daughter-in-law and sighed, "The emperor only wants our attitude. Even the imperial physician cherishes his life. Wen Yi, you still have a lot to learn."
After Princess Hua left, Li Qingping stared blankly at the vermilion palace wall outside the window, feeling deeply powerless.
Even after being married for decades, Empress Li still had to retreat in order to protect her mother's family amid the emperor's growing suspicion, let alone her.
No wonder, no wonder. Before the Empress Dowager died, Empress Li said that sacrificing one person was enough to save the Li family.
Only when Empress Li was gone, the Li family lost its head of the harem, and Li Qingping, as a noble concubine, had Noble Concubine Rong to check and balance her, would Emperor Yongping feel at ease about the Li family, who had retreated far away from their ancestral home.
The Heavenly Family is ruthless.
Li Qingping saw it.
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