Chapter 722: The Fu Sisters

In the imperial harem, the number of halls, terraces, and towers was not small—a legacy inherited from previous dynasties. Since the Han, not a single hall or tower had been added to the palace grounds. As for the Qionglin Garden, that too had been built only for reviewing the naval forces of Jinming Pool.

Yilan Hall was a bedchamber newly prepared for the entry of Consort Guo Ning into the palace, named by the Emperor himself. In the night, palace candles burned bright, and colored silks were hung everywhere, creating a festive atmosphere.

Liu Chengyou strolled over, his face showing little sign of intoxication. On this spring night, he had no desire to drink much, and no one dared urge him to. Entering Yilan Hall, he performed the nuptial cup ceremony, and the palace attendants gradually withdrew.

When only a man and a woman remained in attendance within the room, the atmosphere naturally turned intimate...

Liu Chengyou turned sideways to appraise Guo Ning—an eighteen-year-old maiden brimming with youthful vitality, clad in wedding garments that added further beauty. Guo Ning's appearance was not of the sort that topples cities and kingdoms, but it could still be described as lovely, perhaps owing to the influence of Guo Wei's genes. Her complexion was not overly fair, but it looked healthy. Her bosom could be held in one hand, yet for her age, she had developed quite well...

How could the young lady endure Liu Chengyou's wolf-like scrutinizing gaze? Involuntarily lowering her head, her tender face flushing, she shyly called out in a soft voice: "His Majesty!"

"I still remember when I saw you at the Guo residence back then—you were still a little girl with yellow hair. Now you've grown up and become my imperial consort!" Liu Chengyou remarked with emotion. "The scenes of those days still float vaguely in my mind!"

Hearing Liu Chengyou say this, Guo Ning also managed to suppress the shyness in her heart and looked up at Liu Chengyou. This was the first time that night she had gazed directly at him. Looking at his face, she could not help but say: "His Majesty has not changed much compared to before, except..."

"Except what?" Liu Chengyou asked.

"Except your beard has grown thicker!" Guo Ning said.

Hearing this, he subconsciously touched his lips, then chuckled. The young lady was indeed endearing. His gaze shifted, and with a teasing look in his eyes, he asked: "Do you know what we should do tonight?"

"Ah—" Guo Ning, hearing the question, seemed to recall something. Her gaze shyly shifted away, then she cautiously stole a glance at Liu Chengyou, and finally, blushing, nodded.

This reaction stirred Liu Chengyou's desire even more, bringing a sense of novelty. He rose, stood before the young lady, and spread his arms. What came next required no initiative on his part... Sometimes, even inexperience had its charm—clumsiness had its own kind of pleasure.

While Liu Chengyou enjoyed his spring night with his Consort Ning, the palace lanterns in Kunming Hall remained unextinguished, their dim light seeming to mirror the loneliness of the deep palace.

Empress Fu sat to one side, looking after the infant Prince Wei with a face full of maternal tenderness. Her mood was calm, and her voice gentle: "It's so late—return to your chambers and rest!"

Seated beside her was the younger Lady Fu, the Worthy Consort. Her delicate features now bore a trace of grievance and unwillingness. Hearing the elder Lady Fu's hint to leave, she could not help saying: "Sister, now that there's another Consort Guo Ning in the palace, aren't you the least bit anxious?"

Seeing her unwilling look, the elder Lady Fu finally turned her head and countered: "What should I do? Show jealousy and compete for favor, oppose His Majesty taking her in?"

"Do you know what the consequences of that would be? It would not only displease His Majesty but also offend the Guo clan..." The elder Lady Fu sighed. Amidst her dignified bearing, there was unavoidable melancholy. If one said that Empress Fu's side had no thoughts at all about Liu Chengyou taking Guo Ning, that would be unrealistic.

Hearing the elder Lady Fu's words, the younger Lady Fu slightly furrowed her delicate brows, with a hint of explanation in her tone: "I'm not jealous—I'm worried for you, sister, and concerned for the Fu family!"

Seeing that Empress Fu remained perpetually calm, the younger Lady Fu simply spoke plainly: "Sister, you know the situation in this palace well enough. You are the Empress and I am the Worthy Consort, but His Majesty's favor toward Lady Gao and Lady Zhe has never diminished. Their two families have never lacked influence at court—especially Noble Consort Gao, who has always competed with you for favor.

Among His Majesty's sons, Lady Gao has borne Liu Xi, Lady Zhe has Liu Fang and Liu Yun, and now she is pregnant again. There is also the eldest imperial son left by Lady Geng. Though His Majesty has bestowed the jade ruyi, he has still never established the Crown Prince."

Glancing at the infant Prince Wei still being cared for by the Empress, the Worthy Consort continued: "Last year he also had Liu Min adopted into Prince Wei's line—this is too unfair to you..."

"Enough!" Seeing the younger Lady Fu's words growing more and more explicit, the elder Lady Fu could not help cutting her off. Taking a deep breath, her phoenix eyes glaring with authority: "Look at you, full of grievances. I'm not anxious, so why must you be so indignant on my behalf? These words should not be spoken by you! If they were to spread, do you know what impact they would have?"

"Sister!" After this rebuke from Empress Fu, the younger Lady Fu's face finally lost some of its resentful coloring. Biting her red lips, she lowered her voice: "The palace already has the Gao and Zhe families, and now the Guo family is added. You know the Guo clan's power at court—it's even greater than Gao and Zhe. If Consort Guo Ning also bears a child, I fear it might truly threaten your position..."

After hearing the younger Lady Fu's words, Empress Fu's willow brows knit tightly together. She regarded her younger sister with a serious gaze, inwardly puzzled—this was normally a clever person; how could she be so restless when it came to the Emperor and competing for favor?

Perhaps because the elder Lady Fu seemed too calm, under her gaze the younger Lady Fu could not help but lower her head guiltily, gradually calming herself. Looking at her, the elder Lady Fu suddenly asked: "In your view, then, how should I eliminate the threat and secure my position as Empress?"

Hearing the question, the younger Lady Fu was startled: "This..."

When actually pressed to offer a practical solution, she could not produce one at once. Hesitating for a moment, she said in a low voice: "We should find a way to have His Majesty establish Liu Yang as Crown Prince!"

Hearing this, the elder Lady Fu immediately shook her head with indifference, her tone somewhat stern toward the younger Lady Fu: "The matter of establishing an heir concerns the rivers and mountains of the realm, the succession of the imperial enterprise. How could we, women of the deep palace, interfere in such affairs? His Majesty has always had his own judgment—how could he be manipulated by others? I tell you, if we waste words and scheme on this matter, it will only arouse His Majesty's disgust and suspicion!"

"You've been in the palace for several years now! You've served His Majesty this long, borne children—why do you still not understand His Majesty's temperament at all?" Staring at the younger Lady Fu, the elder Lady Fu's tone carried a sense of frustration at her lack of progress. She said solemnly: "Have you thought about why His Majesty took Guo Ning? Have you thought about why His Majesty increasingly favors the Noble Consort and the Worthy Consort?"

"Their families have great power—he's winning them over!" the younger Lady Fu said.

The elder Lady Fu smiled peacefully and said: "Winning them over is one reason—but checking the Fu family is also a reason!"

"In recent years, the Prince of Linqing died of illness, and the Duke of Dai is also gravely ill. The Gao and Zhe families' influence at court has declined; the Zhe family's renown now extends only to the northwest. In comparison, the Fu family, as the empress's clan, grows ever more prominent. What do you think His Majesty thinks of that?"

Hearing her sister say this, the younger Lady Fu's jade-like countenance finally turned several degrees more serious.

"Take my advice: from now on, have less of a competitive heart, calm your mind, serve His Majesty well, and raise your children. His Majesty's burden in governing the realm is already heavy enough—we must not add trouble to the harem and disturb his heart! Do this, and His Majesty's favor will not be lacking. Also, though we come from the Fu family, once we enter the palace, we are consorts—members of the Liu family. From now on, do not keep the Fu family on your lips. That too easily gives others ammunition! The words you spoke here tonight—you are not to speak them again in the future!" The elder Lady Fu added this admonition.

"Yes!" The younger Lady Fu finally bowed her head.

"Go back now! I should also retire for the night!" The elder Lady Fu waved her hand.

"Your younger sister takes her leave!"

Only after the younger Lady Fu, with a wronged expression, twisted her delicate figure and departed with graceful steps did the elder Lady Fu heave a heavy sigh. Waves surged in her eyes, her emotions somewhat complex. It was a long while before she regained her composure.

Having been husband and wife with Liu Chengyou for many years, she understood him fairly well. She had always felt that since Guo Wei returned to court, Liu Chengyou's favor and kindness toward the Guo family had been somewhat excessive. Now he had taken Guo Ning as well—as Empress, she too felt a sense of dread in her heart. How could Liu Chengyou fail to perceive the impropriety in this?

She felt that Liu Chengyou must have follow-up moves planned, only she could not guess what he would do. If he intended to deal with the Guo family, then this kindness did not seem feigned...