Side Story 14: The Royal Marriage (2)
As the year drew to a close, all government offices suspended official business with their seals stored away and brushes set aside. Hua Zhi naturally ceased her duties as Grand Tutor, immersing herself in the library with such delight that she seemed to forget all worldly concerns. Anyone looking for her would surely find her there.
The Grand Empress Dowager, having shed her elaborate court attire, arrived at the library accompanied only by an elderly maid. Nowadays, she spent most of her time in the Regent's residence, contentedly dwelling in a quiet corner of the inner quarters without ever putting on airs as the family matriarch. Over time, the entire household had come to regard her simply as their beloved elder.
This was her first visit to the library. Signaling her attendant to remain outside, she pushed the door open and entered, her eyes immediately falling upon Hua Zhi retrieving books from a ladder.
Hua Zhi noticed her at once and hurriedly prepared to descend to pay respects.
"Take your time, don't fall," the Grand Empress Dowager cautioned with a smile, stepping forward to offer a steadying hand. When Hua Zhi reached the ground, she prevented her from kneeling, instead guiding her by the arm to sit at a small nearby table. Glancing around, she asked, "Where is Xiao Han?"
"How kind of you to remember him. He went to the Hua Clan School today. After all, he cannot remain isolated from society forever."
The Grand Empress Dowager nodded. Hua Zhi had long declared she would take no more disciples. Of her two students, one resided permanently in the palace, leaving only Zeng Han whom she kept constantly by her side. Given the uncertainty of whether Hua Zhi would ever bear children of her own, the household treated Zeng Han almost as they would their future master. Though she had made peace with the situation, the Grand Empress Dowager still felt complicated emotions - this remained her only regret.
Setting aside these wandering thoughts, she turned her smiling gaze to her serene granddaughter-in-law. "I won't beat around the bush, child. I've come today regarding the Emperor's marriage."
Hua Zhi showed no surprise. "Whatever you require of me, simply command it."
"But I haven't come to command you." The Grand Empress Dowager turned away, her eyes drifting toward the bookshelves that reached so high one had to crane their neck to see the tops. "Compared to me, I believe the Emperor would prefer you to take charge of this matter."
Hua Zhi was momentarily taken aback, suddenly recalling how before Shaoyao's wedding, the Emperor had asked whether she would devote similar care to his own marriage. She had promised him she would.
"I trust your judgment, and I believe you will consider the Emperor's interests with your whole heart." Patting Hua Zhi's hand, the Grand Empress Dowager picked up a book and flipped through it, inhaling deeply the rich scent of ink that wafted from its pages. The longer they lived together, the more she realized her initial worries had been unnecessary. Hua Zhi proved more restrained and self-disciplined than she had anticipated, never overstepping her bounds. Her ambition for official career couldn't even compare to her passion for this library. Truly, aside from her difficulty in bearing children, her granddaughter-in-law had no other shortcomings.
After brief consideration, Hua Zhi accepted the responsibility. She understood that selecting a suitable Empress who would also win the Emperor's favor presented greater challenges than choosing an heir for the Hua family's main branch. Yet she couldn't shirk this duty - it was a promise she had made.
On New Year's Eve, the Emperor broke with tradition by not hosting the customary banquet for officials. Even the imperial family merely shared a reunion dinner before dispersing, a far less elaborate affair than previous years. During the night watch, the Grand Empress Dowager retired early, leaving only the Regent and his wife, along with Xiao Han, to keep the Emperor company in the warm chamber. The four sat circled on the floor, their gathering natural and intimate."Everyone will likely be unsettled and anxious." Hua Zhi offered a subtle reminder, though she didn't see this as necessarily bad. New Year's Eve was meant for family reunions—why bother with formalities? Yet since this had been the tradition for years, it had become habitual.
"A few more times and they'll get used to it. I don't want to waste time on unnecessary matters." The Emperor held Zeng Han with one arm while teasing him with a wine cup in the other. Unlike others who feared him, Zeng Han dodged left and right with a look of disgust, making the Emperor laugh heartily.
Those present were all true confidants, allowing the Emperor to relax and play around freely. His usually sharp and noble features softened noticeably.
The couple didn't intervene. Gu Yanxi leaned against a soft cushion sipping wine, while Hua Zhi nibbled sporadically on nuts nearby, smiling as she watched her young apprentice ultimately fail to escape the "cruel hands" and get forced to take a sip of wine. The boy's face immediately scrunched up in distaste.
The Emperor laughed even louder.
"Don't blame anyone if he refuses to enter the palace next time."
Spurred by a youthful impulse, the Emperor pressed the escaping boy down and threatened him with the wine cup, "Will you come when I summon you to the palace next time?"
Zeng Han's face flushed red, whether from the alcohol or anger. He glared wide-eyed, about to refuse, but seeing the wine cup nearly touching his nose and smelling the strong liquor, he relented. Grumpily, he muttered, "I'll come."
"Good boy. When you grow up, your senior brother will give you an official position."
Zeng Han crawled over to sit beside his master, ignoring the Emperor entirely. Senior brothers could be so annoying sometimes.
Hua Zhi casually fed a walnut kernel to her young disciple and looked up at her eldest disciple, who was half-reclining against a cushion, cheek propped on his hand and grinning. "Your Majesty truly dotes on Han'er."
"If I agree, will the Grand Tutor send my little junior brother to the palace to keep me company?"
"That would depend on whether Han'er is willing."
Without hesitation, Zeng Han shook his head. "No."
"See?" Hua Zhi fed another walnut kernel to her young disciple. "Your Majesty might persuade him to visit voluntarily if you lure him with some rare books."
The Emperor chuckled heartily, raising his cup to clink with the Regent. How could he have any rare books left for his junior brother? Hadn't they all been given to the Grand Tutor to fill her library? She took them and now pretended not to remember!
"Recently, more memorials have been submitted urging the appointment of an Empress."
Hua Zhi hadn't planned to discuss such matters on New Year's Eve. Privately, she even felt that if the Emperor wasn't ready to marry yet, she'd help delay it. Though appointing an Empress would allow her to retire, having endured years already, a little longer made no difference.
Since the topic arose, she naturally followed up, "Would Your Majesty consider acceding to the ministers' wishes?"
"Will the Grand Tutor handle this for me?"
"If Your Majesty desires it, I will naturally devote all efforts to arranging it."
The Emperor's lips curved upward. "Then I'll trouble the Grand Tutor."
"As you command."
Suddenly inspired, the Emperor asked, "Does the Grand Tutor have anyone in mind?"
"A few days ago, my grandmother discussed Your Majesty's marriage with me. I've been considering it, but such a short time isn't enough to decide. Does Your Majesty have any preferences?"
So the Grand Tutor had already been concerned about this before? The Emperor's mood improved further, his drunken smile widening. "I trust the Grand Tutor's judgment. Please decide on my behalf."Hua Zhi chuckled softly, "Berlin said the same thing."
Indeed, that young man was about the same age as him. As the legitimate eldest son of the Hua family, younger brother of the Grand Tutor, and his study companion, he had undoubtedly attracted the attention of many. Thinking this, the emperor felt a sense of camaraderie, as if they were brothers in hardship. Tsk, he should have kept that young man to celebrate the New Year's Eve together—never mind what outsiders might say.
PS: Bet you didn’t expect two extra chapters in the side story, hahaha.
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