Blossom

A thin face, in physiognomy, usually signifies a lack of good fortune.

The Empress Dowager summoned Dou Ming before everyone, only to give her such a reputation—it would have been better not to see her at all.

Resentment swelled in Dou Ming’s heart, but the one who called her face thin was the Empress Dowager. Even if the Empress Dowager had said such a thing about the Emperor, he could only listen with a smile—how could she dare show any impatience?

She had no choice but to lower her head obediently.

Yet the Empress Dowager, accustomed to wielding power in the inner palace, dared to say anything. To her, a mere outer court noblewoman, being spoken to was already an honor.

After meeting Dou Ming, she began discussing facial features with the Empress:

"...Why are all the beauties in historical portraits depicted with pointed faces? Because true noble ladies were raised deep within the inner chambers, unseen by those vulgar scholars, who could only use lowly women as models. What’s so good about a pointed face?" The Empress Dowager touched her own cheeks. "Heaven is round, earth is square. The forehead governs fortune, prosperity, longevity, and happiness. If the face narrows from top to bottom without any support, good fortune cannot be retained. But look at the portraits of past empresses and dowagers enshrined in the Ancestral Hall—aren’t they all round here, their faces full like the moon? They look blessed, with fortune, prosperity, longevity, and happiness all secured. So it’s better for women to be plump."

What kind of nonsense was this!

Dou Ming barely resisted the urge to touch her own pointed chin.

Had the Empress Dowager summoned her just to humiliate her like this?

Her heart felt stuffed with cotton.

But who in this grand hall would dare say the Empress Dowager was wrong?

No one!

Not only that, Madam Changxing immediately leaned forward, her face wreathed in smiles. "Who knew Her Majesty understood such things? Look at me—do I count as having a face like the full moon?"

A woman past forty, even if she once had a pointed or heart-shaped face, would now have sagged into a round one.

The Empress Dowager laughed and tapped Madam Changxing’s forehead. "Stop your antics. When you first married into the Changxing household and came to pay respects, I often spoke with Shi Taifei about you. We both thought you were lovely, especially your bright, lively eyes. Don’t think I’ve forgotten just because I’m old."

Shi Taifei had never borne children after entering the palace, so she was particularly close to the Empress Dowager.

Madam Yingguo, who usually remained silent among outer court noblewomen, now seemed like a different person, smiling as she chimed in. "Everyone inside and outside the palace knows Your Majesty’s memory is unmatched! Last time I came to pay respects, you asked why I hadn’t brought Teng’er and even suggested I bring his wet nurse if I found him heavy. When I told our Duke about it later, he laughed at me. He said when you presided over the six palaces and he followed the old Duke of England on campaign under imperial decree, you once casually gifted him two boxes of medicinal lozenges. When he opened them, he found two purple-gold pills inside. He said those of us who married into the family later have no idea how wise and generous you truly were."

Teng’er was the eldest son of the Duke of Yingguo’s heir, just three years old. At birth, he weighed nine jin and nine liang, a chubby, hearty child who ate and slept well.

The Duke of Yingguo had a chronic tendency to suffer from internal heat, and purple-gold pills were an excellent remedy for cooling it. Thus, he kept them on hand year-round.The Empress Dowager chuckled and beckoned Dou Zhao over, instructing a palace maid to place a small stool by her couch. Holding Dou Zhao’s hand, she addressed the gathering, “You wouldn’t know this, but the late Emperor was determined to emulate Emperor Wu of Han, to uphold the prestige of our Han people. He showed no mercy to the western bandits, waging war for nine out of his twelve-year reign. Not only did it drain the national treasury, but even the Emperor’s private coffers were exhausted. There were times when rewards for ministers couldn’t even be furnished. I had no choice but to scrape together whatever I could to help the late Emperor out of his difficulties. No wonder both the late Emperor and the current Emperor remember the kindness of the Old Duke of England. No sooner had the late Emperor bestowed gifts than the Old Duke would present even more lavish tributes in return. In the end, even the Duke of England’s Mansion was dragged into the fray.” At this point, the Empress Dowager’s expression grew solemn. “When the Emperor ascended the throne and peace was restored, the Duke of England’s Mansion was repaid in full. Yet there were still those who stirred trouble, claiming the Emperor favored the Old Duke too much. Have they forgotten what the Duke of England’s Mansion represents? The late Duke was the adopted son of Emperor Taizu, the Emperor’s own clansman!”

The sudden shift to such a serious topic cast a subtle tension over the hall.

Dou Zhao sensed that if things continued this way, what should have been a festive Dragon Boat Festival audience might turn into a reckoning. The Duke of England’s Mansion, thrust into the spotlight for no reason, could end up offending many.

“Is that so?” Dou Zhao laughed lightly. “This is the first I’ve heard of it! The Young Lord never mentions such matters at home. When I was still in my maiden home, I once heard my grandfather remark that despite the court’s hardships during those years, the unity between ruler and ministers fostered countless loyal and righteous men. If history were to be written, it could be called a ‘Restoration of Governance.’ My grandfather even regretted retiring too early.”

Madam of the Duke of Xingguo silently approved.

Though the Duke of England might be muddleheaded, the daughter-in-law he had chosen was clearly astute.

Clever people enjoy dealing with their own kind, and she was no exception. Hearing Dou Zhao’s words, she felt inclined to lend her a hand and chimed in with a smile, “Indeed! When my father-in-law was still alive, he often spoke to the younger generation about the late Emperor’s civil and military achievements. Why else would my son, so young, insist on joining the Northwest Camp?”

The Young Lord of the Duke of Xingguo was now a battalion commander in the Northwest Camp.

The Empress, too, regained her composure.

Among the noble families present, some had sons who had died heroically on the battlefield, while others had shirked military responsibilities out of cowardice. While the former were richly rewarded, not all of the latter had been punished with confiscation or exile. The thought still angered the Empress Dowager, who seemed intent on making the latter suffer. If this continued, the gathering would indeed turn into a reckoning.

With a smile, the Empress said to the Empress Dowager, “When all is said and done, it’s Your Majesty who is most wise—had you not decreed that Lady Ping attend to the sick, where would Teng’er be today?”The heir of the Duke of Xing had been stationed at the border for many years, leaving his wife in the Capital. After ten years of marriage, they still had no legitimate heir. Once, when the Duchess of Xing paid respects to the Empress Dowager in the palace, she mentioned that her son had caught a cold. The Empress Dowager smiled and issued an edict allowing Lady Ping to go to the northwest to care for him. Only then did the main branch of the Duke of Xing's household finally have a legitimate heir.

The Duchess of Xing immediately seized the opportunity to chime in, sighing, "This is why Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is so wise! Whether it's major or minor matters, she always considers things more thoroughly than we do. If I weren’t afraid of disturbing Her Majesty’s quiet cultivation, I would visit the palace every day just to chat with her."

How could Madam Changxing let the Duchess of Xing steal the spotlight?

Mentioning accompanying the Empress Dowager in conversation, she smiled and said, "A few days ago, Her Highness the Dowager Consort sent me a letter, asking me to visit the Great Xiangguo Temple to check on the thousand-year-old ginkgo tree behind the temple. She reminded me not to forget to request some of its fruits when they ripen."

Every year, the Changxing Marquis household would send someone to the Great Xiangguo Temple to gather ginkgo nuts as an offering to the Empress Dowager.

Hearing Madam Changxing speak of this, the Empress Dowager was reminded of Shi Taifei.

Under normal circumstances, a dowager consort like her shouldn’t have been present at such an occasion. But if the Empress Dowager gave the order, what was once improper would become an honor.

She instructed the palace maids, "Invite Shi Taifei over to join the gathering. She usually keeps me company—it wouldn’t be right to leave her alone at a time like this."

Madam Changxing immediately kowtowed in gratitude.

The Empress Dowager laughed, "What are you kowtowing for? Get up quickly!"

Madam Changxing smiled playfully, like a child trying to amuse her elders, "Isn’t this servant just happy for the Dowager Consort?"

Amid the laughter and chatter, Ningde Princess and the Third Princess arrived.

The Empress Dowager had a close relationship with Ningde Princess and quickly had the maids usher them in, exchanging warm greetings.

Soon after, Shi Taifei arrived.

She was naturally skilled at enlivening the atmosphere, and given her status, the hall soon buzzed with a lively energy.

Then the Crown Princess and several other imperial consorts arrived, making the hall even more animated.

Dou Zhao had steered the conversation elsewhere and now sat quietly, holding the Empress Dowager’s hand as she listened to the elders exchange pleasantries.

The Duchess of Xing was doing the same.

The two women exchanged a knowing smile.

Dou Ming had long been forgotten.

Earlier, when she had been answering questions, she stood in the middle of the hall. But when Madam Changxing stepped forward, she was blocked from view. When Ningde Princess and the Third Princess entered, she quickly moved aside. As Madam Changxing, Madam Dongping, and others crowded forward to greet the princesses, she was pushed to the edge near the curtains.

Yet she had to maintain a perfectly upright posture, eyes lowered in humility.

Even if the Empress Dowager and the Empress couldn’t see her, the hall was filled with countless attendants and maids. A single misstep could lead to who knows what consequences?

She couldn’t help but glance at Dou Zhao.

Ningde Princess was pressing Dou Zhao back onto her embroidered stool as she tried to rise and bow, whispering something to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager’s gaze fell on Dou Zhao’s belly, her face beaming as she nodded. She then summoned the Crown Princess, granting her a seat and engaging both women in conversation.

The noblewomen, who usually carried themselves with haughty pride, now clustered around Dou Zhao and the Crown Princess with cautious reverence.

The Crown Princess had her back to Dou Ming, so she couldn’t see her expression.

But Dou Zhao was facing her directly.Dou Zhao's rosy cheeks and radiant smile, her effortless grace among the distinguished nobles and madams, shone like the midday summer sun, almost stinging her eyes.

Why?!

Dou Ming's face was as cold as frost.

Why was she left alone here with no one paying her any attention, while Dou Zhao stood under the admiring gazes of the crowd, basking in their envy?

Didn't Dou Zhao always boast about being a good elder sister?

Was this how a good elder sister treated her own younger sister?

Enjoying the crowd's adoration while forgetting there was still a sister standing in a deserted corner, unable to even lean against something to catch her breath!

Dou Ming glared fiercely at Dou Zhao.

The young eunuch standing beside Dou Ming couldn't help but shiver.

No wonder Old Wang always said, the prettier the flower, the more poisonous it is; the more beautiful the woman, the more ruthless her heart.

The Madam of Marquis of Jining and the Madam of the heir of Duke of Yingguo were sisters after all!

No wonder people said the Madam of Marquis of Jining had a bad character... Should he mention this to Old Wang later?