The Succession Struggle in the Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 29: The Empress Dowager's Acting Skills and Marriage Proposal
Empress Dowager Xiaoning verbally said she would heed Empress Dowager Ci'an's instructions, but in reality, she wanted the Empress to disobey Empress Dowager Ci'an. This objection, though worded tactfully, was undeniably a statement of opposition.

This was the first time in decades since Empress Dowager Xiaoning entered the palace that she openly opposed Empress Dowager Ci'an.

These words caused Empress Dowager Ci'an to turn and look at Empress Dowager Xiaoning several times. However, for some unknown reason, Empress Dowager Ci'an, who was usually unable to tolerate being insulted, actually held back and did not say a word.

Not only did he not respond to Empress Dowager Xiaoning's words, but he also did not pursue the matter further regarding the emperor's lenient punishment of Tu Chengyu.

Seeing that everyone's attention was not on him, Tu Chengyu wondered if he should go back now, since it was almost dinner time.

Over the years, Tu Chengyu has been able to handle everything else, but he pays special attention to eating and sleeping.

However, when he looked around, he found that none of the people present had any intention of moving.

Could there be something else? Tu Chengyu sat down next to the Crown Prince with a question in his mind.

As soon as she sat down, Empress Dowager Cixi began to speak:
"Your Majesty, there is another matter I have summoned you here today to discuss."

The emperor, as if he already knew there was something else, replied, "Please give your instructions, Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager then said, "This matter involves Zong Ge'er, and I should not have mentioned it. However, considering that Zong Ge'er is frail and sickly and all alone, I cannot be too concerned. I hope the Emperor will not blame me."

Zongge'er is Tu Yanzong, the only son of the former crown prince. Given his current status, it is indeed inappropriate to mention him here. It's not that the emperor is wary of this nephew, but rather that mentioning this matter would make the retired emperor uncomfortable.

As expected, as soon as Empress Dowager Cixi finished speaking, the Emperor Emeritus snorted coldly, expressing his dissatisfaction. However, he did not speak to stop her, perhaps because the Empress Dowager had already reported the matter to the Emperor Emeritus.

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, the Emperor immediately replied, "Your Majesty is too kind. Zongge'er is also my nephew. There is no need for such consideration. Please speak freely if you have something to say."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager said, "Since the Emperor says so, I will tell you about it. As you all know, Zong Ge'er has been weak since childhood and is now all alone without anyone to take care of him. I am very worried about him, but I am in the palace and cannot visit him often. So I thought of arranging a marriage for Zong Ge'er and finding him a close princess. Once he is married, I will be at ease."

The Empress Dowager went on and on about arranging a marriage for Prince Yixiao. Whenever she brought it up, the Emperor fell silent, the Crown Prince feigned anger, and the Retired Emperor had no desire to get involved.

For a moment, no one spoke to Empress Dowager Cixi. Empress Liu looked around and realized that it was time for her, the daughter-in-law, to step in.

Empress Liu stood up and tactfully asked, "Has Your Majesty found a satisfactory candidate?"

Empress Dowager Cixi was very pleased with the Empress's words. If she weren't the Empress of Tu Laosi, Empress Dowager Cixi would have praised her to her face.

Empress Dowager Cixi said, "I do have a very satisfactory candidate, namely Jia Yuanchun, the eldest daughter of Jia Zheng of the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, a noble family in the capital."

As expected, the emperor fell even more silent after hearing this, while the crown prince became even angrier.

Helpless, the Empress could only continue to represent the two dramatic father and son, saying, "Oh dear, what a coincidence!"

Empress Dowager Cixi feigned ignorance and asked, "Why does the Empress say that?"

Empress Liu replied, "Your Majesty, just the other day, His Majesty privately discussed with me the possibility of arranging a marriage between Jia Yuanchun and the Crown Prince. I never expected that Your Majesty would also take a liking to this Jia family girl. I am now curious about what kind of outstanding girl she is, that she could catch the eye of both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor." Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Cixi feigned surprise and said, "Is there really such a coincidence? Oh dear, I was unaware that His Majesty had such intentions. A couple of days ago, I inadvertently mentioned this matter in casual conversation, and some gossipy eunuch spread it around, and now the whole capital is talking about it. Your Majesty, what should we do?"

Seeing Empress Dowager Cixi putting on an act, the Emperor felt the time was right. He put on a stern face and said, "This matter is not Your Majesty's fault. Besides, this was just something the Empress and I discussed casually in private. We never really intended to do this. Now that Your Majesty wants to marry Jia Yuanchun to Zongge'er, let's do as Your Majesty says."

The more the emperor said this, the more Empress Dowager Cixi felt that she had done the right thing. However, she still wanted to continue her performance. She said, "The Crown Prince is of noble status and cannot be wronged. How about I issue an edict saying that the rumors in the capital are false?"

The emperor immediately stopped her, saying, "Your Majesty, you must not! Since there are already rumors in the capital, the palace must not make any changes at will. Otherwise, it will not only damage the royal family's reputation but also harm the reputation of the Jia family's daughter."

Watching everyone act out their roles, Tu Chengyu couldn't resist joining in. He pretended to be clueless and said, "I see that the Jia family has quite a few daughters. Since Jia Yuanchun said she gave one to Brother Yanzong, why not choose another one for the Crown Prince?"

Upon hearing this, the emperor immediately glared at him and said, "Stop talking nonsense here. I haven't even punished you for your actions yet, and you're already trying to evade responsibility."

Tu Chengyu was just putting on an act; once scolded by the emperor, he immediately obediently went back to sit down.

Empress Dowager Xiaoning was not happy about this and said to the emperor, "Hmph, you can't even keep the daughter-in-law you have your eye on, and you still have the nerve to scold Yu-ge'er. You, as the emperor, only dare to bully your own people."

What could the emperor do when his own mother scolded him? He could only pretend not to hear and sit on his throne, sulking.

Fearing that things might change, Empress Dowager Cixi quickly said, "Since that's the case, the matter of Zong'er is settled. After the old lady of the Jia family enters the palace the day after tomorrow, I will discuss it with her and then ask the Emperor Emeritus to issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage."

The Emperor Emeritus gave a noncommittal "hmm," indicating that Empress Dowager Cixi had indeed convinced him on this matter.

The emperor did not object, and no one else could say anything, so the matter was settled.

After that, Empress Dowager Cixi left with her entourage.

Tu Chengyu then realized that the so-called interrogation was just a pretext. Empress Dowager Cixi only wanted to use this incident to force the emperor to agree to her marriage with Prince Yixiao.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have let it go so easily just because Tu Chengyu offered an apology, without even caring how the emperor would punish him later.

However, Empress Dowager Cixi had no idea that what appeared to be her coercing the emperor to agree was actually the emperor cooperating with her in a performance.

After Empress Dowager Cixi left, the Emperor and Empress took Tu Chengyu back. As for the Crown Prince, Empress Dowager Xiaoning kept him behind to speak with him. After all, in Empress Dowager Xiaoning's eyes, who did not know the truth, her eldest grandson had just had his marriage snatched away, and she wanted to offer him some words of comfort.

Tu Chengyu was genuinely worried for his elder brother. He hoped that the Empress Dowager wouldn't see through his brother's acting skills.

As the emperor and his entourage left the Daming Palace, before they had even left the East Palace, the emperor said to Xia Shouzhong, "Tomorrow, go to the Jia family and convey my imperial edict, saying that the Jia family has been indiscriminately associating with eunuchs. Jia She should be confined to his quarters for a month to reflect on his mistakes. Also, tomorrow, issue another imperial edict to all the nobles in the capital, prohibiting them from using money to support eunuchs in the future."

The emperor hadn't even left the Eastern Palace yet, and he was already issuing an imperial edict in such a hurry. To others, it seemed like he had suffered a loss with Empress Dowager Cixi and was now furious.

(End of this chapter)