Chapter 164 Exorbitant Demands
Madam Chu hesitated, clearly wanting to say something more.
But Chu Yunjin's mind was made up: "Mother, I will unconditionally support whatever decision the Emperor makes. This is between him and me. Go back and tell Father that he doesn't need to interfere."
"Your father said that the ministers of the previous dynasty and the emperor have been deadlocked." Madam Chu frowned. "The emperor has just ascended the throne. If you, as the empress, are not virtuous and leave a good impression on the ministers, how will you be able to serve as a model for the country and women of the world?"
Chu Yunjin smiled casually: "If any woman in the world feels that I am not qualified to be this role model, she can ask the Emperor to depose me."
Chu Yunren's expression changed, and she suddenly stood up, as if she wanted to rebuke her. However, when the words were about to come out, she suddenly remembered that Chu Yunjin's status was no longer what it used to be, and she had no right to rebuke her, otherwise it would be a great disrespect.
Madam Chu sat down awkwardly and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, you may not know this, but His Majesty's decision violates ancestral rules. It is reasonable for the ministers to oppose it. At this time, whether as a wife or as the Empress, Your Majesty should perform the duty of advising, instead of letting the Emperor dote on you. Otherwise, how are you any different from a favored concubine?"
Adele brought Chu Yunjin a cup of milk.
Chu Yunjin took a sip quietly before slowly saying, "What should an empress be like? What should a favored concubine be like? I've never done either, but I can try. The Emperor has promised that I will be the only one in the harem, so I can be an empress and a favored concubine. Mother, you don't need to worry about this."
Madam Chu looked at her in disbelief.
What is she saying?
"Husband and wife are one body," Chu Yunjin said calmly. "If a virtuous empress is someone who opposes the emperor at every turn to show off her status as the mother of the nation, then I would rather not be a virtuous empress. Let the world say whatever they want, as long as it doesn't reach the ears of the emperor and me. Otherwise, speaking ill of the royal family is a capital offense, and no one can save them."
Madam Chu's face stiffened, and she couldn't utter a single word.
What else could she say?
For every word she said, Chu Yunjin had ten more to say. Her attitude was tough and provocative, as if she were declaring war on her, flaunting the Emperor's favor towards her. What could she say?
If she continued, she would become the sinner who spoke ill of the royal family.
Madam Chu had no choice but to pick up her teacup and take a small sip.
With the Empress moving into Fengyi Palace, it won't be so easy for the mother and daughter to meet again. When Chu Yunjin was in the Yan Prince's Mansion, she was unwilling to go home often. Now that she lives in the palace, unless the Empress is willing to summon her, there will be no chance for her to see her.
Madam Chu wanted to seize this opportunity to find a job for her son and a good marriage for Chu Yunshan.
She finished her tea before carefully speaking, "Your Majesty, Yunshan is not yet engaged. I wonder if Your Majesty could find her a suitable husband? And Mingxiu..."
Madam Chu seemed somewhat hesitant to speak, yet she spoke with such an air of matter-of-fact certainty: "Mingxiu has nothing to do at home all day; this can't go on..."
"Children's marriages should be arranged by their parents and matchmakers." Chu Yunjin frowned slightly. "She was not satisfied with the marriage that Father arranged for her before, so how could I know what kind of man she likes? As for my elder brother... If Mother wants my elder brother to have something to do, it is not too late to urge him to study after returning home. If he studies for ten or eight years and takes the civil service exam, no matter whether he can reach a high position like Father in the future, at least he will have something to do."
He paused for a moment, then said, "Even if I want to give him a promotion, he at least has to give me a reason to do so."
Madam Chu's expression stiffened.
Should we make him start studying now and study for ten or eight years?
If Chu Yunjin's expression hadn't been so serious, she would have thought it was almost blatant mockery, implying that Chu Mingxiu was a good-for-nothing—in fact, Chu Yunjin was indeed mocking him.
The tone was just too serious and earnest, making it hard to tell if it was sarcasm.
She looked at her mother, who was making outrageous demands.
Just now they were telling her to be a virtuous empress, but then they turned around and asked her to choose a suitable husband for Chu Yunshan. It's obvious they just want her to use her status as empress to give her a better marriage.
But is Chu Yunshan a good match for a young master from a prestigious family?
And then there's Chu Mingxiu, that good-for-nothing. If he were given an official position, the first thing he'd probably do is abuse his power, bully men and women, and then use his status as the Empress's brother to amass wealth.
She would never let that happen.
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