Chapter 5: The Empress with a Stirring Heart

Empress Xiang held the prince in her arms, listening to the child cry and call her "Mother Empress," feeling his warmth.

That heart, which had long been dead, seemed to be quietly stirred, regaining its vitality.

Yan Shouqin, who had been observing Empress Xiang from behind, saw this scene and his heart suddenly raced.

He knew it.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

If he couldn't seize this opportunity, he wouldn't be able to survive in the palace anymore.

So, Yan Shouqin took a deep breath and then bowed to Empress Dowager Gao and Empress Xiang, congratulating them: "The pure filial heart of the Prince of Yan'an is rare in ancient times. I congratulate Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, and I congratulate the Emperor!"

He then faced the direction of the Fuying Hall and bowed again: "I also congratulate everyone!"

Empress Xiang, upon hearing Yan Shouqin's words, was overjoyed and couldn't help but tighten her hold on the prince in her arms.

"Amitabha!" Empress Xiang softly recited a prayer, looking at Empress Dowager Gao and saying, "May our ancestors protect us! The Song Dynasty has an heir!"

Empress Dowager Gao was initially taken aback, then she also recited a prayer: "Amitabha!"

"Indeed, our ancestors have protected us!"

However, she did not say, "The Song Dynasty has an heir," as Empress Xiang had.

This made Empress Xiang tighten her hold on the prince even more.

The eunuchs and palace maids in the hall, upon hearing Empress Dowager Gao's words, even the most dull-witted among them realized what was happening.

They all followed Yan Shouqin's example and congratulated the Empress Dowager and Empress Xiang.

Emperor Zhao Xu didn't need to do anything.

He only needed to play his role well.

A filial, sensible, and affectionate prince to his stepmother.

So, he just held Empress Xiang, sobbing and choking, until he was too tired to cry and naturally fell asleep in her arms.

Empress Xiang, after Zhao Xu fell asleep, noticed this.

Her heart felt as if it had been filled with honey.

She carried the prince to the bed, gently laid him down, and personally covered him with a blanket.

Then she looked at the sleeping prince.

His pale, tender little face still had tear marks.

His small, delicate nose was very cute.

He truly was a good child!

Empress Xiang recalled the feeling of the child tightly hugging her just now.

Her latent maternal instincts were awakened.

So, she sat gently by the bed, reaching out to touch the prince's face, as if caressing a rare treasure, carefully and lovingly.

Empress Dowager Gao, standing behind her, watched quietly and couldn't help but recite a prayer.

But at the same time, she still had doubts.

She waited until Empress Xiang's emotions had calmed down before saying, "Empress, stay here today and take care of the Prince of Yan'an!"

"I will return to the Fuying Hall to see the Emperor and also to ask Liang Congzheng and Chen Yijian..."

Empress Xiang stood up, came to Empress Dowager Gao's side, and said softly, "I will see Your Majesty off!"

She then tried to personally support Empress Dowager Gao.

Empress Dowager Gao laughed and said to Empress Xiang, "Empress, you don't need to see me off. Take good care of the Prince of Yan'an!"

Empress Xiang wouldn't agree.

She insisted on supporting Empress Dowager Gao and saw her off to the gate of the Qingning Palace.

There, she bowed deeply, "I respectfully see Your Majesty off!"

Empress Dowager Gao nodded slightly and instructed, "The wind outside is strong. Empress, quickly return to the room!"

"Thank you for Your Majesty's concern!"

Empress Xiang watched as Empress Dowager Gao's entourage disappeared from sight.

She then sighed, turned around, and led her people back to the Qingning Palace.

Entering the inner chamber, Empress Xiang sat by the bed where the prince was sleeping.

She looked at the sleeping little prince, recalling everything that had happened, her maternal love overflowing, and a smile involuntarily spread across her lips, her heart feeling as if it had been filled with honey.

But...

Empress Xiang thought of something, her brows slightly furrowed, and her face darkened.

She reached out and gently held the sleeping prince's small hand, softly caressing it.

Yan Shouqin, who was serving by her side, could roughly guess why the Empress was troubled.

The Prince of Yan'an had a birth mother.

His mother, Lady Zhu, had been promoted to Consort De last year by the Emperor.

However, Consort De came from a humble background, which couldn't compare to Empress Xiang's noble lineage.

Empress Xiang was a descendant of Chancellor Xiang Wenjian from the Zhenzong era.

The Xiang family had been a family of officials for generations, enjoying continuous favor.

As a eunuch, Yan Shouqin knew some things about Consort De.

So, he turned his eyes and had an idea.

He leaned close to Empress Xiang and whispered, "Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate."

Empress Xiang, who was troubled, said somewhat displeased, "If you have something to say, just say it!"

"Your Majesty, I once heard someone privately discuss Consort De's background..."

"According to what I heard, Consort De's original surname was Cui. Because her father died early, her mother remarried, and she was entrusted to Ren Shiqing in Bianjing for upbringing..."

Empress Xiang understood what Yan Shouqin was saying upon hearing this.

It was well-known that the Song Dynasty did not advocate slavery.

The imperial family set an example, so the eunuchs and palace maids in the palace were not slaves but officials and female officers.

They had their own ranks and promotion systems.

The same was true in the civilian world. At least in Bianjing, there were no traditional slaves or serfs, only adopted children or hired servants.

So, when Yan Shouqin said that Consort De's mother entrusted her to Ren Shiqing for upbringing, it actually meant she was sold to Ren Shiqing, who was likely a person in Bianjing who specialized in such business.

"Your meaning is?" Empress Xiang's heart raced.

Yan Shouqin lowered his head and said, "I am willing to serve Your Majesty with all my loyalty!"

Consort De's background meant she would have little ability or determination to resist the Empress's authority.

If Consort De could be persuaded, then the Empress's wish could be fulfilled!

The Empress raising the prince had a precedent in the Song Dynasty.

When Empress Li Chen gave birth to Emperor Renzong, Empress Zhangxian Mingsu raised Emperor Renzong as if he were her own, protecting and supporting him, which became a famous story.

Now, although Consort De was still alive and had been raising the Prince of Yan'an, she also had a princess and another prince.

Yan Shouqin felt that persuading Consort De would not be difficult.

Moreover, Consort De would not suffer any loss!

The fact that the Prince of Yan'an was born to Consort De would not change.

Empress Xiang, as the Empress, personally raising and protecting the Prince of Yan'an was a matter of propriety!

To put it bluntly, even if Empress Xiang did not consult Consort De and forcibly took the Prince of Yan'an under her care, Consort De would have no way to stop her!

Empress Xiang looked at Yan Shouqin, struggling internally for a long time before asking, "Would this...?" She looked at the sleeping prince on the bed, though she desperately wanted to place the custody of this child under her name, she was still cautious.

She was concerned that the prince might grow up and resent her, which could affect the Xiang family, especially since she had heard about the incident when Emperor Renzong learned of his true parentage.

She was also concerned about public opinion, especially the comments of the censors.

After all, if the censors went crazy, they wouldn't even give the Emperor face, let alone the Empress.

Yan Shouqin, seeing Empress Xiang's expression, knew that she was already willing.

He lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. I will handle this matter to ensure that it meets Your Majesty's wishes and leaves no future worries for Your Majesty, the Prince, and Consort De!"

Yan Shouqin had been in the palace for over ten years.

He was familiar with the affairs inside and outside the palace.

He had already thoroughly investigated Consort De's family situation.

Currently, Consort De's stepfather, Zhu Shian, and adoptive father, Ren Shiqing, had both passed away.

However, the court's favor only extended to her stepfather, Zhu Shian, and he was only granted the low rank of Deputy Supply Officer.

In the Song Dynasty's system of favoring the imperial family, the rank of Deputy Supply Officer was the lowest.

Anything lower would be unacceptable!

As for Consort De's biological father and adoptive father, they received no favor or benefits.

This clearly indicated that the Cui, Zhu, and Ren families were all from humble backgrounds and had no significant influence in Bianjing.

Dealing with such families was something Yan Shouqin was experienced in.

He knew that if he approached these people, offering them small favors, promising them official positions, and explaining the consequences, they would be easily persuaded.

Once the outer family was dealt with, Consort De would be easier to handle.

Empress Xiang, after hearing Yan Shouqin's words, finally put aside her last concerns and said to him, "I entrust this matter to you, my trusted minister!"

"If you succeed, I will reward you greatly!"

Yan Shouqin, upon hearing this, bowed deeply, "I am loyal to Your Majesty, how could I expect a reward?"

But in his heart, he was overjoyed.

His current rank was Inner Attendant Hall Head.

At this level, further promotion was not easy.

Each step was extremely difficult.

Because, at this level, the eunuchs faced the same issue: external appointments.

This was a system established by the ancestors, which even the Emperor could not change.

High-ranking eunuchs must have experience in external appointments to be promoted.

Eunuchs on external appointments could serve as supervisors or traveling inspectors.

Their external appointments were generally managed by the Secretariat, the Ministry of Personnel, and supervised by the Chief and Deputy of the Inner Attendant Hall.

Without a strong patron,

Eunuchs on external appointments could easily encounter difficulties.

They could spend years in remote regions, even being sent to Jingnan, Guangnan, or Lingnan.

Conversely, if a eunuch successfully navigated the challenges of external appointments and returned,

He would have the opportunity to break free from the constraints of being a eunuch and enter the realm of true officials.

Yan Shouqin understood that if he pleased the Empress and left a good impression,

His external appointment would be smooth and free of obstacles.

A word from the Empress, and the Inner Attendant Hall would not dare to make things difficult for him. The Secretariat and the Ministry of Personnel would not dare to send him to remote regions.

They would have to give him a safe and comfortable position to enhance his status.

Moreover, in the current situation, pleasing the Empress would also mean pleasing the Prince of Yan'an.

When the Prince of Yan'an grew up, would Yan Shouqin not have a bright future?

...

Note: In the Song Dynasty, eunuchs referred to the Emperor as "Everyone," a term of endearment.

Note: Eunuchs who reached the rank of Eastern Head of the Palace Attendants generally had to transfer out and become military officials to continue their promotions.

Of course, most eunuchs were already on external appointments by the time they reached the rank of Hall Head. There were a few exceptions who remained in the palace but continued to advance, known as "hidden transfers" or "nominal ranks." These were theoretically illegal and not recognized by the Ministry of Personnel and the Secretariat, but they still enjoyed the corresponding benefits and salaries.

(End of Chapter)