Didn't the Empress Dowager already agree? Why is she making a fuss at the last minute? But looking at Hongli's calm and unsurprised expression, he seemed to have known all along. Since he didn't care, she didn't need to care either.
However, she couldn't stop the whispers and gossip from the crowd. Su Yushan felt a headache coming on. She herself didn't care, but Hongli was caught in the middle and in a difficult position. She didn't want Hongli to be talked about, so she went to his side and whispered her advice:
"If you are unwilling to go and appease the Empress Dowager, then Consort Rong is willing to go. Let her go in your place. It doesn't matter whether the Empress Dowager comes or not. What matters is that everyone sees your filial piety, and then you will no longer be criticized."
Yu Shan's words made sense, so Hongli didn't stop her anymore and agreed to let Gao Xiuwen go.
Gao Xiuwen did not dare to delay and immediately went to Cining Palace.
Hearing the commotion outside, the Empress Dowager thought it was the Emperor coming to invite her. Only after the person entered did she realize that it was Gao Xiuwen.
Gao Xiuwen curtsied respectfully and said, "Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. Your Majesty has ordered me to invite you to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to attend the ceremony."
For Su Yushan, today was an unparalleled honor, but for the Empress Dowager, it was an extremely frustrating day. She leaned her elbow against the soft pillow and groaned in frustration.
"The Su family has become powerful and my son has repeatedly broken palace rules for her sake. I do not recognize her as an Imperial Noble Consort, and I disdain attending the ceremony!"
Gao Xiuwen thought to herself: If you really don't admit it, you shouldn't have stamped the edict in the first place. The seal has already been affixed, so what's the use of saying these things now?
After muttering a few complaints to herself, Gao Xiuwen patiently advised, "If you don't go, the court officials will gossip about the Emperor and make wild guesses, which will be very detrimental to him. No matter what, he is your only son, and you don't want the Emperor to be talked about behind his back, do you?"
The Empress Dowager's favorite type of woman was virtuous, generous, and unassuming, like Gao Xiuwen. "He is so cold to you, yet you consider his feelings so much. What a good girl! It's just a pity he's blind and can't see your goodness."
Gao Xiuwen smiled politely and virtuously, "I am Your Majesty's woman, and it is my duty to consider Your Majesty's feelings. No matter what Your Majesty's attitude is, I will always remember Your Majesty without complaint or regret."
"A woman who serves the emperor should be selfless and devoted like this; this is exactly the kind of daughter-in-law the Empress Dowager would prefer!" The Empress Dowager praised Gao Xiuwen repeatedly as she looked her over.
"What His Majesty needs most is a virtuous wife like you. I also wanted to give you the title of Imperial Noble Consort, but His Majesty refused. That's why I refused to attend the investiture ceremony in a fit of anger."
In the end, they still didn't get what they wanted, so what's the point of saying all this now? Gao Xiuwen sneered inwardly, but her face remained amiable.
"I appreciate Your Majesty's kindness and am very grateful. However, I understand that there can only be one Imperial Noble Consort in the harem. I am already content that Your Majesty has helped me secure the right to raise Yongcheng. I will not have any extravagant desires, nor will I be jealous. My greatest wish is to take good care of Yongcheng. As for those empty titles, they are really not important. Please do not hold a grudge against the Emperor over this."
"You're the most sensible one!" The Empress Dowager couldn't help but sigh. "Ah! If only you were a Manchu!"
The Empress Dowager said something meaningful, and even though she didn't say it explicitly, Gao Xiuwen could guess what the Empress Dowager meant.
If she were a Manchu, then the Empress Dowager would have a reason to support her in attaining a higher rank, wouldn't she?
The Empress Dowager has given up hope on the Empress and wants to find a more suitable candidate, but unfortunately there is no woman in the harem who meets all her requirements.
Gao Xiuwen also understood that her background was her biggest weakness. Even though her father, Gao Bin, had made great achievements in water management, and even though the Empress Dowager had elevated the Gao family to the Manchu banner, this Manchu identity was ultimately not authentic and could not change the fact that she was not a Manchu. Based on this alone, she could not become the Empress!
Because she understood this, Gao Xiuwen did not aspire to be empress. Her biggest trump card was Yongcheng. As long as Yongcheng could be successful and stand out among the princes, would she have to worry about not having a good life in the future?
Wouldn't it be more carefree to skip the Empress position and directly become Empress Dowager?
Kao Hsiu-wen has a long-term vision, so she doesn't care about short-term gains or losses.
The Empress Dowager was unaware of her scheming mind, and found her increasingly capable, appreciating her even more.
After much persuasion from Gao Xiuwen, the Empress Dowager finally changed her mind and decided to proceed to the Hall of Preserving Harmony.
Upon learning that the Empress Dowager had already departed, Granny Qin hurriedly reported this to the Empress.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has already left the palace. She has already compromised. If you do not attend, the Emperor will surely use this as an excuse to make trouble. Your Majesty, please listen to this old servant's advice and go! This old servant really does not want you to be confined to your quarters again because of this matter and waste your youth! I believe Madam does not want you to suffer such a punishment either."
When Granny Qin suddenly mentioned her mother, Yu Ying couldn't help but recall the year she was chosen for the imperial concubine selection. When she learned that Emperor Yongzheng had betrothed her to the Fourth Prince Hongli, her mother was overjoyed and kept saying that the Bodhisattva had blessed her, saying that she had betrothed the most noble man in the world, the best husband!
At that time, Hongli had not yet been granted the title of Prince, but almost everyone knew that he was the future Crown Prince. Yuying also thought that God had arranged a good husband for her, and that the two of them would live in harmony after marriage, and that she would become the Empress, the envy of all women.
But after entering the prince's residence, she was shocked to discover that Hongli already had someone he loved. His eyes were only on that woman. She tried to convince herself not to be jealous of a princess, as it would be beneath her dignity. She even comforted herself that temporary favor was not important; the position of the principal wife was the most important thing.
However, after so many years, Hongli still doted on Su Shi alone and paid less and less attention to her. Yu Ying couldn't even find a reason to deceive herself anymore.
Yu Ying felt that her life was very pathetic. Her husband gave other women a position of honor, and she was suffering from a heart attack, but she was still forced to attend and bless them. Hongli was really so cruel!
This is probably the best way Su Yushan could think of to humiliate her!
As the empress, even her last shred of dignity was being shattered. Despite her reluctance, she still had to attend the ceremony against her will.
With resentment in her heart, Yu Ying struggled to get up and change her clothes. On the way to the Baohe Hall in the phoenix carriage, her heart felt as if it were being roasted over a raging fire, throbbing with pain.
Apart from the Empress Dowager's cold expression, almost everyone in the Hall of Preserving Harmony was flattering Su Yushan, as if they had all forgotten her existence as the Empress.
Su Yushan smiled sweetly; today, dressed in a gorgeous gown, she was the most dazzling presence in the crowd!
However, the bright yellow she wore was particularly jarring to Yu Ying. This color, which should have belonged to the emperor and empress in their auspicious robes, was now being worn by a Han woman of humble origins.
Witnessing Su Yushan being bowed to and congratulated by princes, ministers and concubines, Yu Ying's heart burned even brighter. She even wondered why Fu Qing had saved Su Yushan that day.
If he hadn't come to his rescue, Su Yushan would have been trampled by the mad horse, resulting in the deaths of both herself and her unborn child, and the palace would have been peaceful from then on!
Bamboo says: The long-awaited second update is here!
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