Chapter Twenty-Two: The Confinement Lifted-A rainha acomodada só queria criar os filhos, e o imperador cafajeste chorou até os olhos ficarem vermelhos(Olhando para o oeste, há arroz.)

"Ye'er is so clever and adorable; I am truly delighted to see him. Consort Shu has raised him very well."

Hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Consort Shu rose to respond, "It is all due to the Seventh Prince's own intelligence."

The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction. Although the Seventh Prince had only been sent to Consort Shu’s side recently, she had guided him with great propriety. Looking at the child now, he no longer displayed the unruly and arrogant demeanor he had shown while under the care of the Noble Consort.

The Eighth Prince, born to Consort Li, possessed a mediocre temperament. He appeared dull and uninteresting, remaining an obscure figure among the princes.

Finally, there was Feng Wuchen, dressed in a silk robe adorned with auspicious clouds. He was much smaller in stature than his older siblings. Although Jiang Daiyin had spared no effort in feeding him over the past month, the child remained very thin.

"Grandmother, may you be in good health. Your grandson wishes you a longevity of ten thousand autumns and prays that your days are filled with joy and your blessings ever-abundant."

"Is this Wuchen? Come here quickly and let Grandmother take a good look at you." The Empress Dowager beckoned to Feng Wuchen.

A sense of unease rose in Jiang Daiyin’s heart. Although the Empress Dowager rarely intervened in the affairs of the inner palace, there had been many disturbances of late, and she had surely heard a thing or two. The primary issue was that the original owner of her body had been too cruel; the scars left on Feng Wuchen were deep and would not fade for some time.

The Empress Dowager took Feng Wuchen’s thin, withered hand and pushed up his sleeve. Upon seeing the many scars covering his arms, her expression turned extremely grim.

"Mother, I have already punished the Empress for this matter."

Seeing the Empress Dowager’s icy, malevolent gaze fall upon her, Jiang Daiyin instinctively rose to offer an apology. To her surprise, the Emperor spoke up on her behalf first.

Immediately after, Feng Wuchen tugged gently on the Empress Dowager’s hand. With bright, watery eyes, he spoke softly, "Grandmother, it was all my fault for being disobedient. Please, do not blame the Empress."

Seeing that both the Emperor and the child were shielding the Empress, the Empress Dowager cast a heavy look at Jiang Daiyin.

"Everyone, rise. Today is my birthday; let us not dwell on these unhappy matters."

"Yes."

The concubines, who had been watching the scene unfold, were disappointed to see the Empress escape so easily. Consort Shu was the first to speak up, "It just so happens that several of the children have prepared performances to entertain the Empress Dowager!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction and smiled warmly.

"That is perfect. I shall see how the princes and princesses have progressed this year."

Consort Shu smirked. As far as she knew, the Tenth Prince had received no schooling this year, aside from the abuse he suffered at the hands of the Empress. She was certain that when the Tenth Prince performed poorly, the Empress Dowager would hold the Empress accountable.

The Second Princess, being the eldest, presented the Empress Dowager with a sachet she had embroidered herself, making the Empress Dowager beam with joy. The Third Princess played the zither with such refined, melodic grace that it was hard to believe someone of her age could master such a piece.

"Consort Shu has raised her children well; the Third Princess is truly outstanding!"

"The Third Princess is only eight, yet her skill is so profound; she is indeed a young talent!"

"Consort Shu was once a renowned talent of the capital; it is only natural that her daughter would be equally gifted."

Hearing the praise from the crowd, Consort Shu could not hide her smile.

"Xuan'er will certainly surpass her elders in the future. You have taught her well, Consort Shu," the Empress Dowager remarked again.

"I dare not claim such credit. It is Xuan'er’s own diligence and ambition; I am truly proud of her," Consort Shu replied.

"Without my mother’s strong support, I would not have achieved this level of proficiency. It is all thanks to her guidance," added Feng Lixuan.

The scene of maternal affection was truly moving. Jiang Daiyin nodded silently. Consort Shu was far wiser than Noble Consort Wei; even with only one daughter, she spared no effort in cultivating her, which was rare in this era. She mused that in ancient times, boys were expected to master the Six Arts; Feng Wuchen would eventually need to learn music and archery—though archery could wait until next year.

As she was lost in thought, it became the Fourth Princess's turn. She had also chosen to play the zither. She seemed incredibly nervous, playing cautiously at first, until a string suddenly snapped.

"Grandmother, please forgive me!" she cried, dropping to her knees in terror.

Her demeanor stood in stark contrast to the grace of the Third Princess, and the Empress Dowager was clearly displeased.

"Consort De, did the Fourth Princess’s governess not teach her how a princess should conduct herself with poise? This timid, lowly behavior—is this fit for a child of the royal family?"

"It is all my fault, Your Majesty, please forgive me." Consort De, always cautious, did not know why her daughter had blundered on such an important occasion, so she could only lower her head and admit fault.

The Fourth Princess gritted her teeth, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably as tears welled in her eyes.

"Enough, you may all withdraw," the Empress Dowager waved her hand. Jiang Daiyin noticed that the Fourth Princess’s hand seemed to be bleeding, and she frowned.

This interlude only served to draw further praise from the courtiers for Consort Shu and the Third Princess.

Next, the Fifth Prince presented a Buddhist scripture he had copied by hand. "Grandmother, I heard that copying scriptures brings blessings and peace. I have copied this, hoping it will bring you favor, protect your health, and ensure your long life."

"Empress Dowager, look at this..." the attendant beside the Empress Dowager exclaimed, noticing that the entire scripture was written in red.

"Is this cinnabar?" The Empress Dowager touched the characters, her brows furrowing sharply. "No, this is not cinnabar."

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, this is a 'blood scripture,' copied by the Fifth Prince using his own blood as ink!" the Fifth Prince’s maid suddenly knelt on the floor.

"Heavens, it is a blood scripture! The Fifth Prince’s filial piety toward the Empress Dowager is witnessed by the heavens!"

"I never expected the Fifth Prince to be so filial at such a young age. No wonder he has looked so thin lately."

The Empress Dowager softened as she looked at the Fifth Prince’s frail frame. "I appreciate your filial heart, but you must never harm your own body again."

"Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. It is only because my mother often taught me to be filial toward you that I did not dare to disobey her."

"Oh? Your mother—why have I not seen her today?" The Empress Dowager scanned the seats and did not see Consort Xin.

"My mother committed a great error and is currently confined to her quarters," the Fifth Prince said, bowing his head in disappointment.

"Your mother likely did not intend it. In my view, the fault lies with the Emperor," the Empress Dowager, being quite perceptive, knew exactly what was happening in the inner palace. In her eyes, it was the Emperor’s failure to visit the harem that forced those women to resort to such measures. She cast a reproachful look at the Emperor.

Feng Yu remained calm and replied indifferently, "Then I shall lift Consort Xin’s confinement."

Jiang Daiyin, who had been gloating on the sidelines, could not escape the Empress Dowager’s gaze.

"As the mistress of the palace, the Empress must also advise the Emperor accordingly."

"Yes, I understand."

The smile on Jiang Daiyin’s face vanished. How was she supposed to control whether the Emperor slept with his concubines or not? It made her feel like a madam in a brothel.