Chapter 369: Volume 1 Chapter 369 – The Empress Is a Grand Figure

The next day, Madam Kang indeed entered the palace, first going to Fengyi Palace to pay her respects to the Empress.

Rong Luoge saw Madam Kang, but did not bring up the marriage; she wanted Kang Shufei to discuss it with her mother first, so that if she remained silent, Madam Kang could refuse easily should she disagree.

If she raised the matter before Madam Kang, and Madam Kang truly disliked Rong Yan, she would also find it hard to refuse.

After seeing her daughter, Madam Kang said, "The Empress is truly kind."

Although Kang Shufei had seen her mother at the annual banquet, the distance made a proper conversation difficult; this was their first formal mother‑daughter meeting since she entered the palace.

Kang Shufei had a thousand things to say, yet for a moment she didn't know how to bring them up with her mother.

Madam Kang, noticing her daughter's uneasy expression, grew tense and asked, "Did something happen? Speak up, Mother will handle it for you."

Kang Shufei shook her head, "No, Mother, I have many things to tell you; listen at your leisure, I'll speak slowly."

Madam Kang looked at her daughter skeptically but nodded, "Speak, Mother is listening."

Kang Shufei steadied herself, wondering where to begin.

Well, let's start from when she first entered the palace.

Madam Kang listened to her daughter, her expression shifting several times, and by the end she no longer knew how to express her current feelings.

"…Is everything you said true?"

"Of course."

Madam Kang's mood fluctuated; after a while her emotions seemed to relax, and she lifted a handkerchief to cover her eyes, choking out, "Mother truly didn't expect this, didn't expect it would turn out like this."

"Mother, are you happy or sad?" Kang Shufei couldn't understand either, and felt a little uneasy.

Madam Kang, listening to her daughter, quickly wiped the corner of her eye and said softly, "Mother is happy, though the clan may not be. Still, you needn't worry about that; just tell Mother whether you are willing to leave the palace."

"I'm willing," Kang Shufei said without hesitation. "Mother, you may not know, His Majesty truly loves the Empress. Since we entered the palace, His Majesty has never cast his eyes on any concubine other than the Empress. Moreover, the Empress treats me so well; how could I compete with the Empress? Besides, I can't win such a contest. I don't want to fight; I want a peaceful life."

"Fine, no contest, we'll leave the palace and get married!" Madam Kang said immediately. She had originally opposed sending her daughter into the palace; His Majesty was so kind to the Empress, so what good could entering the palace bring now—just a waste of youth. Yet the family's circumstances then made refusal impossible, and the clan would not allow them to decline. She could only send her daughter into the palace through tears. Fortunately, at that time His Majesty had said some words to her husband, but the couple did not take them seriously, and they never expected His Majesty would actually send someone out of the palace.

"What do you think of the marriage to Lord Yong'an?" Kang Shufei asked her mother, feeling a bit embarrassed to bring up her own marriage.

Madam Kang's mind raced: why would the Empress bring up her daughter's marriage to Lord Yong'an?

Madam Kang thought even more deeply and far‑reachingly: firstly, the Empress valued her daughter; secondly, the Empress probably wanted her to give the clan an explanation.

If the daughter left the palace without becoming a concubine and married elsewhere, those in the clan who clung to benefits would surely object; but what if she married Lord Yong'an?

Lord Yong'an is the Empress's younger brother, and their relations are now close; the Empress herself is acting as matchmaker, so tying the knot through the Empress's connection would be enough to satisfy the clan.

Madam Kang looked at her daughter, "The Empress is truly considerate; I agree to this marriage."

Kang Shufei was startled; she hadn't expected her mother to agree so readily, and felt a bit surprised.

Madam Kang looked at her daughter, patted her hand, and explained the whole situation in detail; only then did Kang Shufei understand.

The mother and daughter locked eyes; Madam Kang smiled at her daughter, "Since the Empress says it can't be announced yet, we'll keep it secret and reveal it when the Empress gives her consent."

"Mother, don't get ahead of yourself; Lord Yong'an hasn't said whether he agrees yet," Kang Shufei hurriedly said.

Madam Kang was startled, "What's there to disagree about? Even though you're marrying as a former concubine, you weren't favored by His Majesty, and you're marrying by imperial decree. Lord Yong'an may now be a lord, but his title only lasts one generation; honestly, you're still a step above him."

"Mother!" Kang Shufei looked at her mother and quickly said, "Please don't say that."

Madam Kang gave a helpless smile, "Understood, Mother only wants to tell you not to feel inferior or timid."

Kang Shufei nodded, her eyes slightly reddening, "Mother, I understand your meaning. The Empress arranging this marriage doesn't look down on me. I'm worried that marrying there might cause trouble for the Empress, since I was once a palace concubine."

Madam Kang: …

So the daughter's relationship with the Empress is this close, all because she's thinking of the Empress?

However, seeing her daughter's current demeanor, Madam Kang felt grateful toward the Empress. After thinking carefully she said, "The Empress has already thought this through thoroughly; since she dares to act, she must be confident. We don't know exactly what the Empress will do, but all we can do is follow her arrangements."

"Since you've agreed, I'll report this to the Empress that way."

"Let's settle it like that."

"Will my father refuse?"

"You don't need to worry about that; I'll speak with your father, and he loves you, so he won't oppose." Madam Kang said with a smile.

Kang Shufei nodded vigorously, feeling a huge weight lift from her heart, as if her life had suddenly taken a broader, spacious road.

"I have another matter I'd like to discuss with you," Kang Shufei said, looking at her mother with a serious expression.

Madam Kang looked at her daughter, smiling, "What is it?"

"Mother, what do you think of the Weaving Workshop the Empress has set up?" Kang Shufei said with a smile.

Madam Kang didn't hold back praise, "Very good; we could never emulate the Empress's style, but it is truly admirable."

"In a few days the Weaving Workshop will be moved to the Glazed Tile Workshop area. You didn't know that the Empress said a market of workshops will be built there, all kinds of workshops. Do you know what that means?"

Madam Kang was momentarily stunned.

Kang Shufei whispered, "Mother, listen to me: have Father allocate our family's funds for this; as long as it's related to the workshops and the Empress intends to sell externally, let Father spend the money to purchase."

What?

Madam Kang looked at her daughter, somewhat worried, and said, "What nonsense are you spouting? Doing business isn't simple."