Chapter 904

Pan Yun smiled as she saw Empress Wang's hesitation. "There are precedents for redeeming slaves—Emperor Taizu himself redeemed slaves with grain and money more than once, releasing them to be granted land."

Empress Wang turned to the lady-in-waiting beside her.

The lady-in-waiting bowed and said, "The State Master speaks truly. In the fifth year of Hongwu, Emperor Taizu issued an edict that impoverished civilians forced to pawn or sell their children due to famine would have their children redeemed by the imperial court and restored as free subjects; in the nineteenth year of Hongwu, the Henan Provincial Administration Commissioner used 1,960 taels of treasure notes to redeem 274 civilians, restoring them as free subjects."

Do not underestimate the palace ladies-in-waiting; each of them has read the classics thoroughly and serves as the Empress's assistant.

Whatever the Empress knows, they must know; whatever the Empress does not know, they must know too.

They are essentially the Empress's walking textbooks, equivalent to the Hanlin scholars beside the Emperor.

As soon as the lady-in-waiting recited the precedents, Empress Wang could not help but smile with delight, glancing at Empress Qian and raising her brow—this matter could be done!

Empress Qian smiled faintly and gave her a slight nod.

The two of them reached an agreement.

Pan Yun stayed with them until evening, promising to help the two Empresses find suitable locations for workshops and to provide design blueprints.

As the sun set and the Emperor was due to return, Empress Wang ordered the lady-in-waiting to escort Pan Yun out, then personally saw Empress Qian to the gate after she left.

Seeing Empress Qian's foot still limped slightly, she took her hand and asked, "Sister-in-law, have you used the medicine I gave you? It's a spirit remedy from Pan Yun's hands. Though she claims she excels in crafting artifacts but not in pill-making, Mount Sanqing is rooted in Daoist medicine—her spirit remedies are certainly not inferior."

Empress Qian whispered, "I've been using it. My injury is in the bone, so recovery is slow, but the pain has already subsided—I believe I'll be fully healed in a little while."

The lady-in-waiting beside her added, "The Imperial Physicians have examined Her Highness and said her recovery is excellent; two more jars of medicine should suffice."

Empress Wang immediately said, "I'll ask Pan Yun for two more jars next time I see her."

Empress Qian opened her mouth as if to speak, then fell silent.

Empress Wang squeezed her hand. "Sister-in-law, say what's on your mind—we have no need for such formalities between us."

Empress Qian sighed. "She is the State Master. It's not proper for you to call her by her given name."

She added, "She is still a Daoist Priest. To appoint a Daoist Priest as State Master—now that the court is newly stabilized, officials dare not speak out, but over time, it may damage the Emperor's reputation. If you can advise the Emperor, you should also advise her. Keep some distance from her."

Empress Wang pressed her lips together. "I once held the same view as you—I thought the Emperor was bewitched by a rogue Daoist. But after meeting her several times, I realized she is not like that."

Pan Yun said, "I believe she is right: good and evil should not be judged by status, but by actions. Right and wrong lie within the heart; merit and fault will be judged by posterity. For now, as long as one acts without shame to one's conscience, that is enough."

Empress Qian stared at Empress Wang in stunned silence.

Empress Wang, embarrassed by the gaze, lowered her head shyly. "Sister-in-law, these are just my own idle thoughts. My family never taught me how to be an Empress. Empress Dowager Wu never managed affairs, and Empress Dowager Sun now devotes herself entirely to prayer—no one taught me. So I just thought what she said was right."

Empress Qian's lips trembled. After a long while, she murmured, "I… perhaps she is right."

Empress Qian turned away blankly. Empress Wang watched her leave, worried.

The lady-in-waiting supported Empress Qian, her face filled with concern. "Your Highness…"

Empress Qian walked all the way back to the Xigong. Only when she saw the plaque above the gate did she stop, raising her head to stare blankly at it.

"Your Highness…"

"I was always a failed Empress. The late Emperor also…" Empress Qian murmured. "So she shouldn't learn from me. Perhaps the State Master is right."

Meanwhile, the lady-in-waiting advised Empress Wang: "When Empress Qian was present, you followed precedent. If you wish to emulate her, simply follow precedent—it will never lead you astray."

Empress Wang glared at the lady-in-waiting. "Following precedent certainly won't lead to error—but what if there is no precedent? For example, releasing this many palace maids at once—is there any precedent in the palace? Has any precedent ended in tragedy?"

The lady-in-waiting bowed her head.

Empress Wang said, "And I didn't bring Sister-in-law along merely to learn how to be a good Empress."

She paused, then sighed. "She is only one year older than I am. Must she spend the rest of her life locked in the Xigong, like Empress Dowager Sun, praying and worshipping?"

The ladies-in-waiting had served this Empress for three months and had long seen she was compassionate and upright, yet utterly without guile.

Fortunately, the new Emperor had a gentle nature, was newly enthroned, flustered and wholly absorbed in state affairs—if another Emperor had taken the throne, this Empress might have…

Empress Wang genuinely pitied Empress Qian and held nothing but goodwill toward her.

When the late Emperor was captured, Empress Dowager Sun issued an edict to install Prince Jing as Emperor, yet demanded court ministers agree to name the late Emperor's nonexistent eldest son as Crown Prince—during that time, it was Empress Qian who traveled the capital raising funds to redeem the Emperor. All the noble families and meritorious officials avoided Empress Qian—only Empress Wang gave her part of her dowry.

After the late Emperor's death, Empress Qian moved to the Xigong. Empress Wang feared palace servants would look down on her and mistreat her, so she often visited, bringing medicine and money.

Had Empress Wang sought reputation, she could have flattered Empress Dowager Sun. But she was so upright it bordered on stubbornness: she believed that as long as Empress Dowager Sun was well, daily greetings were enough—no further gestures. Her pity lay solely with the more suffering Empress Qian.

The polished ladies-in-waiting were often left speechless by this unyielding Empress.

Empress Dowager Sun disliked Empress Qian.

She had once liked her.

But since the late Emperor's death, Empress Dowager Sun could not bear to see Empress Qian; each time she did, she stared at her with dark, brooding eyes.

Yet Empress Qian was just as stubborn—since Empress Dowager Sun disliked her, she still went daily to pay her respects.

Each morning she was made to stand outside the gate for an hour, until a lady-in-waiting finally came out and told her to leave.

Finally, Empress Wang could no longer bear it and rolled up her sleeves ready to confront her—when Pan Xiaohei, who had watched the spectacle for half a month, couldn't help but scratch Pan Yun. Pan Yun then appeared silently on the path to the Xigong and said to both Empresses, "Empress Dowager Sun is pitiful. She must endure the voice of someone she hates every day, unable to escape it, yet unable to plainly say, 'Don't come.'"

Empress Qian's face turned instantly pale.

Pan Yun's expression remained unchanged. "Your Highnesses—even silver is regarded as filth by some, evoking revulsion. How much more so with people? Being disliked is normal. Do not look at those who dislike you; look instead at those who love and care for you. For instance, look to your left—see Empress Wang."

Empress Qian turned her head blankly toward Empress Wang.

Empress Wang's face instantly shifted from anger to shyness.

From that day on, the three began occasionally gathering to speak. Empress Qian ceased her daily visits to Empress Dowager Sun, visiting only on the first and fifteenth of each month. The rest of the time, she either embroidered or visited Empress Wang—and the gloom on her face gradually lifted.

Indeed, one should be with those who love you.

Perhaps Pan Yun's words were so profound they won over Empress Wang, who was desperate to be a good Empress. From then on, Empress Wang grew even fonder of seeking out Pan Yun.

The imperial couple began frequently seeking out Pan Yun for conversation, their habits aligning; even when lying under the same quilt at night, they now had more to discuss, and their marital bond improved considerably.