Amidst the flustered and stunned crowd, it was Madam Xiao who reacted first, immediately issuing orders—
"A Qing, prepare the official robes and headgear for the master. Niao Niao, stop eating and hurry back to your room to change and dress up. Wear that light-colored Wrapped Robe with the diamond-patterned brocade. A Zhu, just put a string of pearl shells and a jade hairpin on Niao Niao."
"Mother, but that dress is half-worn. Shouldn’t I wear the new bright red satin with pearl sheen that Aunt just sent me? It makes me look more spirited..." Shao Shang thought that meeting a national leader required a dignified and imposing appearance—she had that much awareness.
"What do you know? His Majesty values simplicity. Besides, you’ve just broken off an engagement. Dressing in bright colors and covered in gold and jade would be inappropriate."
"Niao Niao, listen to your mother. You’ve just lost a good marriage prospect. You need to look even more pitiful than He Zhaojun, whose entire family died. Fortunately, with your looks, dressing simply will do the trick!"
Shao Shang: "..."
Cheng Mu was so excited that she chased them all the way to the second gate, supported by Cheng Yang, eagerly asking, "Will this trip to the palace bring back the marriage arrangement? Will it? Will it?"
Cheng Shi, stepping onto the footstool, replied impatiently, "Forget about the Lou Family’s mother. That matter is over. From now on, if anyone comes to propose to Niao Niao, I won’t ask about anything else—only looks, only looks!" He nearly made Cheng Mu faint in anger. Cheng Yong and his two brothers quickly caught their grandmother’s hefty figure as they watched the palace envoys who had come to deliver the edict escort the carriage slowly into the distance.
Inside the carriage, Shao Shang was nervous and kept asking why they were being summoned to the palace. In truth, Cheng Shi and his wife were equally tense, unsure of the reason for the summons. Madam Xiao could only say vaguely, "It’s probably related to breaking off the engagement with the Lou Family. There shouldn’t be any trouble. We’ve considered the bigger picture—would His Majesty really punish us?"
Shao Shang felt somewhat reassured.
It took a full half-hour from Cheng Residence to reach the palace gates. Out of habit, Shao Shang lifted the carriage curtain to look outside and immediately gasped in awe—towering twin gate towers stood on either side of the palace entrance, like the feet of ancient giants planted on the ground. The people passing between them seemed as insignificant as ants.
Unconsciously, Shao Shang leaned her head out of the carriage window, craning her neck almost at a right angle, until Madam Xiao’s scolding voice pulled her back. The junior palace attendant riding alongside chuckled, "Young Lady Cheng has never been to the palace before, no wonder you’re amazed. But there are over a dozen such gate towers from south to north." Shao Shang clicked her tongue in astonishment.
Cheng Shi glanced outside and was about to help his wife alight when the junior palace attendant added, "Cheng Xiaowei, there’s no need to dismount. His Majesty has instructed that since the ladies are slow on foot, it would take too long to walk to Yongle Palace. Stay in the carriage for now and switch to a palace sedan at the covered walkway."
"...Are we going to the North Palace?" Cheng Shi exclaimed in shock. "Or to Her Majesty the Empress?"
Madam Xiao also frowned in surprise. Shao Shang didn’t know the difference between the South and North Palaces, but she understood that Yongle Palace must be where the Empress resided.The junior palace attendant nodded politely and called for the carriage procession to continue forward. They passed through grand halls guarded by lightly armored archers and heavily armored crossbowmen, traversed a straight road that stretched like a giant dragon soaring through the sky, and then circled around the massive complex of the South Palace before finally arriving at the covered walkway connecting the North and South Palaces. Madam Xiao and Shao Shang switched to a solemn and dignified black court carriage with upturned eaves, while Cheng Shi insisted on dismounting to walk with the others on foot.
Upon reaching the gates of the North Palace, all three members of the Cheng family began walking, which took another half an hour.
The South Palace was not a single palace, nor was the North Palace—they were vast complexes of many palaces, towers, and government offices. Shao Shang’s eyes darted from one imposing gate to another, overwhelmed by the sight. By the time they arrived at a magnificent palace with soaring phoenix-winged eaves, she had lost count of how many gates and towers they had passed. Looking up, she saw an ancient and elegantly curved inscription on the plaque above the gate: "Eternal Joy."
The junior palace attendant quickly announced their arrival to the palace maids guarding the entrance. A clear, resonant voice echoed through the halls, layer upon layer, until it faded into silence. Shao Shang was awestruck, wondering just how deep this palace stretched.
Before long, someone came to escort the Cheng family inside. It took nearly another quarter of an hour to reach a side hall. Shao Shang was slightly out of breath from the walk, but when she glanced sideways, she saw Cheng Shi full of energy and Madam Xiao composed as ever, and she couldn’t help but admire them silently.
Raising her eyes, she saw the Emperor, whom she had met at Mount Tu Gao, dressed in casual attire and seated on a folding chair at the head of the room. Beside him sat a graceful and dignified middle-aged noblewoman. Shao Shang’s heart raced—was this the Empress or a consort?
Fortunately, Cheng Shi and his wife immediately knelt and addressed them as "Your Majesty and Empress." Shao Shang exhaled in relief and hurried to follow suit, mimicking her parents’ gestures. Watching the girl’s clumsy movements, the Empress frowned and shot a glance at the Emperor, who pretended not to notice. Smiling, he bade the Cheng family to rise and offered them soft cushions to sit on.
After finishing the customary greetings, Cheng Shi bowed his head respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, may I ask what matter you have summoned us for today?"
The Emperor’s expression was kindly. "Minister Cheng, there’s no need for formalities. Today, We wish to commend you and your family for sharing Our burdens. It was truly unfair for your family to withdraw from the marriage arrangement with the Lou Family on your own."
Cheng Shi and Madam Xiao exchanged glances, their eyes conveying a silent "As expected."
Shao Shang, however, thought to herself that the Emperor must have spies everywhere—they had barely returned home from breaking off the engagement and were already summoned to the palace. The speed of information in this era was almost modern.
"Your servant does not deserve such praise. General He’s family has served with unwavering loyalty, protecting the people and dedicating themselves to the nation. My entire family holds them in the highest regard and naturally wished to honor the General’s dying wish." Cheng Shi put on an expression of both grievance and deep emotion—his acting was flawless.
The Emperor chuckled. "You are too modest, Our dear minister. Commendation is still in order. And this must be your daughter. Come, sit closer, let Us and the Empress have a proper look at you."
Cheng Shi shuddered at the term "dear minister," his back breaking out in goosebumps. Madam Xiao, meanwhile, glanced worriedly at her daughter.
Caught off guard by the summons, Shao Shang felt a pang of nervousness but forced herself to remain calm. She rose and took small steps forward, deftly dragging her soft cushion along before settling down again. She prided herself on her nimble and graceful movements, but in doing so, she left the two palace maids who had been waiting to assist her standing awkwardly in place.At this point, the Empress didn't just frown—she turned directly to look at the Emperor. Seeing this, Cheng Shi and his wife inwardly cried out in dismay, both breaking out in cold sweat on their foreheads, yet they dared not make a sound to guide their daughter in the imperial presence.
The Emperor's nerves were made of sterner stuff. Pretending not to notice the Empress's astonished expression nor the panic-stricken looks of the Cheng couple, he continued kindly, "Come sit closer. How can we talk from so far away?" Just as Shao Shang was about to rise again, the Emperor added, "Don't move!" Shao Shang froze mid-motion, utterly bewildered about what the Emperor meant.
At this moment, the two palace maids finally found their purpose. One gently helped Shao Shang rise sideways with delicate support, while the other bowed, picked up the soft cushion, and placed it three or four steps in front of the Emperor and Empress before carefully assisting Shao Shang to sit there.
After being maneuvered like a doll, Shao Shang realized just how improper her earlier actions had been. A metaphorical Niagara Falls of sweat poured down her back—the primates at the pinnacle of power were truly extraordinary. Full marks for this performance!
Seeing the girl's stunned expression, the Emperor gave her a reassuring smile before glancing at the ever-impassive Empress. The Empress shot the Emperor a mildly disapproving look before speaking with dignified grace, "Young Lady Cheng, what is your name?"
Shao Shang hastily snapped out of her daze. "I, uh... your subject... uh... this commoner..." She wanted to spit blood—why had no one trained her in palace etiquette?! "This humble girl's childhood name is Shao Shang, named after the lyre string."
The Empress paused. "Shao Shang—a fine name. How old are you?"
Shao Shang blanked again. Come to think of it, how old was this body? Fortunately, she recalled casual family conversations and quickly replied, "This humble girl has five... um... six or seven months left before her hair-pinning ceremony."
A faint crack seemed to appear in the Empress's dignified demeanor, and the Emperor coughed lightly beside her.
The Cheng couple kneeling behind Shao Shang wished they could beat their chests in frustration. Had they known their youngest daughter would have an imperial audience so soon, they would have forgone meals to drill her in court etiquette overnight!
The Emperor decided to take matters into his own hands and asked kindly, "Today, you ended your betrothal with the Lou family's son. Are you heartbroken?"
Shao Shang cursed inwardly—this royal couple was tougher to handle than the other! How was she supposed to answer? If she said she wasn't sad, she'd seem heartless and cold. If she claimed to be devastated, wouldn't that imply the Emperor's earlier commendation was forcing her into an unbearable situation?
After careful consideration, she answered, "Your Majesty, though my family wished not to break our promise, we understood it was unavoidable."
The Emperor smiled. "How so?"
Drawing a deep breath to steady her voice, Shao Shang said, "This humble girl once read, 'Heaven and earth are ruthless; they treat the myriad creatures as straw dogs.' Months ago, in Hua County where my uncle serves, I witnessed the suffering of people after warfare. I thought—precisely because heaven and earth are unfeeling, watching the world with indifference, we who are human must uphold benevolence and compassion, helping and pitying one another. Otherwise, if we only seek our own gain while ignoring others' suffering, how are we different from beasts?" After this literary speech, she felt utterly breathless and quickly lowered her head, not daring to make another move.
The Emperor chuckled softly, but the Empress didn't laugh. Instead, she looked at the girl with a hint of surprise in her expression.Madam Xiao closed her eyes and sighed inwardly: It's over.
After laughing, the Emperor actually expressed genuine satisfaction with those words and even praised Cheng Shi and Madam Xiao for their excellent parenting. Cheng Shi accepted the praise with great delight, while Madam Xiao blushed and repeatedly declined the compliment.
After a few more words of praise, the Emperor had the junior palace attendant escort the three members of the Cheng family to a side chamber for temporary rest.
The Emperor advocated simplicity. Though the palace was grand in scale, its interior decorations were not extravagant. All furnishings and ornaments adhered to principles of modesty and dignity. Shao Shang and her parents sat in this simple, clean chamber for a long while without speaking. Finally, Shao Shang broke the silence with gossipy enthusiasm, "Hey, Father, Empress is even more beautiful than Mother!"
Madam Xiao frowned. "Don't speak nonsense. Nobles should not be casually discussed!"
"But it's true! Didn't Father give me some pearls from the coast recently? Empress is like those sea pearls—radiant and dazzling."
Cheng Shi said irritably, "If you had the guts to say that earlier, perhaps His Majesty and Her Majesty would have been so pleased they'd reward you. What's the use of saying it now?"
Shao Shang pouted. "Saying it to their faces would be flattery, and I can't bring myself to do that..."
Madam Xiao, after holding back for a while, finally scolded in a low voice, "All you can do is spout useless words. When I tell you to study more, you always come up with twisted reasoning. Let me tell you, 'Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs' does not mean Heaven and Earth are indifferent like pigs and dogs. It means Heaven and Earth regard all things equally, letting everything follow its natural course! Do you understand?"
Shao Shang was shocked. "Is that what it means? But... I wasn't too far off, right? After all, Heaven and Earth do neglect people, so we have to help each other!"
Cheng Shi quickly chimed in, "Niao Niao isn't entirely wrong. I've heard the elder brother of Third Sister-in-law discuss the classics at the Imperial Academy. The meaning of ancient texts depends on interpretation. As long as you can justify your reasoning, it's not necessarily wrong."
"Father, you're absolutely right!" Shao Shang tugged at her father's sleeve happily.
"Oh, so Cheng Xiaowei has quite the insight into the classics," Madam Xiao said coldly. "I won't press you two on anything else, but can you tell me which sage said 'Heaven and Earth are not benevolent'?"
Cheng Shi immediately stumbled over his words. "Th-this, this..."
"Don't worry, Father, I've got this!" Shao Shang patted Old Man Cheng's shoulder confidently. "Let's take a guess."
Cheng Shi didn't spare his daughter any face, undermining her. "Don't show off. To know what you know and to know what you do not know—that is true knowledge. Just let your mother laugh at us."
"Father, you're undermining our own side!" Shao Shang pouted indignantly. "Fine, I'll say it. First of all, I've read this saying before. Of course, I haven't read many books—just the important ones from the various schools of thought." (Even science students have electives in history and culture, okay? Though admittedly, she had studied them haphazardly and confusedly.)"Confucius spoke of perfecting benevolence, Mencius spoke of upholding righteousness, and Xunzi believed human nature is inherently evil. Phrases like 'Heaven and Earth are not benevolent' probably didn't come from these three. The Legalists discussed advantages and disadvantages, the Mohists advocated universal love—the former only concerned with worldly gains and losses, having no time to ponder whether Heaven and Earth are benevolent, while the latter believed Heaven and Earth were supremely benevolent, so how could humans not cherish each other? So it wasn't them either! That leaves only Laozi and Zhuangzi of the Daoist school..."
Cheng Shi nearly laughed aloud, while Madam Xiao watched her daughter with a barely perceptible smile.
Shao Shang declared decisively: "This saying must be from Laozi."
Madam Xiao smiled. "Why not Zhuangzi?"
"Because among Daoist texts, I've only read Laozi," Shao Shang replied cheerfully. "I haven't read Zhuangzi at all!"
Apart from a few lines from martial arts novels like 'living on wind and dew,' 'what joy is there in life,' and 'Zhuang Zhou dreaming of being a butterfly,' plus half a sentence about a giant fish called Kunpeng in the northern sea, she'd never actually read Zhuangzi's works.
Cheng Shi stared blankly for a long moment before turning to his wife. "Did she get it right? Did she? Did she?" His anxious expression mirrored Cheng Mu's earlier demeanor.
Madam Xiao shot her husband a glare before turning slightly to tacitly confirm.
"She actually guessed correctly?!" Cheng Shi was overjoyed but dared not laugh too loudly, chuckling softly instead. "I always said our Niao Niao is clever! Ahem, of course, it's all thanks to you, my dear. Thank you for giving me such a bright and lovely child." His survival instincts made him pivot mid-praise.
Looking at the smug father-daughter pair, Madam Xiao couldn't maintain her composure and finally laughed softly.
...
The Emperor and Empress, who had been standing quietly outside the wooden lattice door, walked away silently, followed by their mute entourage of eunuchs and palace maids.
Only when they reached another palace chamber did the Emperor laugh aloud: "I told you Zisheng wouldn't take a fancy to a completely worthless girl. Though Young Lady Cheng lacks some refinement, she's upright in character, cheerful and pleasant—quite commendable indeed."
The Empress smiled ruefully. "Your Majesty needn't pretend. The mere fact that she caught Zisheng's eye makes her perfect in every way."
"She even praised Your Majesty's beauty earlier, yet you feign indifference!" the Emperor teased with mock sternness.
The Empress suppressed a laugh before finally giving in. "When does Your Majesty plan to broach the subject? Ah yes, you summoned Wan Songbai earlier—do you mean for him to act as matchmaker?"
The Emperor waved a hand. "Not too quickly—it shouldn't appear as if Zisheng has been coveting another man's betrothed for long. A month at least would be proper."
The Empress thought to herself: Isn't that exactly the case?
Having settled his thoughts, the Emperor said contentedly, "Minister Cheng and the others should be finished by now. Send for them—we'll have a small family dinner this evening."
Author's Note: The "covered walkway" refers to broad alleyways flanked by high palace walls, as seen in the trailer for The Advisors Alliance.
Next chapter concludes this volume.
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