Chapter 338 — An Audience

The Crown Princess Consort, née Chen, was a native of Tongzhou. Her father, Chen Ke, was a tribute student; her mother, née He, was the daughter of a provincial graduate. In the tenth year of Chengping she was chosen as Crown Princess Consort — well-read and sensible, of surpassing beauty — and in time bore the Crown Prince three sons. In the twentieth year of Chengping, during the palace coup, the Crown Princess Consort and her three imperial grandsons were trapped in the Palace of Zhongcui.

It is said that before she died, the Crown Princess Consort cut flesh from her own body to feed her children.

Dou Yan walked in silence along the road to the Palace of Zhongcui, her chest pressed as though by a great stone.

Song Yan quietly took her hand and comforted her in a low voice: "It's all right. Both the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess Consort are very easy people to deal with."

Dou Yan let out a long breath, smiled at Song Yan, and said softly, "I'm fine. You needn't worry about me."

Song Yan nodded, but the worry between his brows did not disperse.

He could not help turning it over in his mind: Dou Yan might be with child, and in the most critical first three months at that. Sedan chairs were not permitted within the palace; was it really fitting to bring her to pay respects to the Crown Princess Consort at such a time... Yet if they did not come, they would lay themselves open to the suspicion of disrespect. And once the Crown Princess Consort became mother of the realm, a proper third-rank madam like Dou Yan would have to enter the palace every festival, every first and fifteenth of the month, to pay her respects to the Empress and the Empress Dowager and the rest. Who could guarantee that today's Crown Princess Consort, tomorrow's Empress, would not make things hard for Dou Yan?

The very thought of it pained him.

He must find some way to keep Dou Yan from entering the palace so often hereafter.

Each preoccupied with their own thoughts, the two followed the eunuch into the Eastern Palace in silence.

Cui Yijun, the chief eunuch attending the Crown Prince, was already waiting at the gate of the Eastern Palace.

He was about thirty, spare and refined, with a gentle smile — respectful yet unhurried before them, a man of uncommon bearing.

Dou Yan had only heard of this man. In two lifetimes, this was her first dealings with him.

In her former life, when the Crown Prince was shot dead, he had shielded the Crown Princess Consort and the three imperial grandsons and fled the Eastern Palace. He meant to seek help from the Empress Dowager at the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, but on the way he was shot down by the Jinwu Guards of that time, and so the Crown Princess Consort and the three imperial grandsons were trapped in the Palace of Zhongcui.

Gazing at Cui Yijun as he exchanged pleasantries with Song Yan, Dou Yan felt a strange unease.

Then Cui Yijun suddenly looked her way, nodded to her with a smile in his eyes — mild and cultivated, like a scholar steeped in the classics. There was not the least trace of a eunuch's servility about him.

Dou Yan thought of Wang Yuan.

Benevolent of face, like a magnanimous elder. In truth he was more petty than any man alive, and repaid the smallest slight.

She could not help sighing inwardly.

It was plain that no matter who a man was, once he reached the very top he was no ordinary sort — and one could not judge by appearances.

Dou Yan did not dare be careless. She bent her knees slightly and made a curtsy to Cui Yijun.

Cui Yijun was quite surprised, but soon his expression was as before, and with a genial smile he invited Song Yan and Dou Yan into the Eastern Palace.

Song Yan followed Cui Yijun to the front hall, while a palace maid led Dou Yan to the rear side hall where the Crown Princess Consort usually resided.

This was the first time Dou Yan had seen the Crown Princess Consort.

She was then in the prime of her youth, slender of figure, like a pearl in the morning dew — delicate and lovely.

Dou Yan glanced once and lowered her eyes, and respectfully made her obeisance to the Crown Princess Consort.

The Crown Princess Consort told a palace maid attending her to bring Dou Yan a brocade stool, and said with a smile, "I have long heard that the Dou family of the Northern Tower is a great and eminent clan of the Northern Metropolitan Region. Only today, meeting Lady Dou, do I know the saying was no empty praise."

That one sentence moved Dou Yan somewhat.

When a woman married, she took her husband's surname. But if her natal family was illustrious, and she herself held a patent of honor, she was usually addressed as Lady of her natal surname. Just as in those years the lady née Jiang, born of the Dingzhenguo Estate and herself the Duchess of the Yingzhenguo Estate, was called "Lady Jiang" by all in the capital, and not the Duchess of Yingguo.

In saying this, the Crown Princess Consort not only elevated Dou Yan but also paid tribute to the Dou family. No wonder she had a reputation for being well-read and sensible.

"I thank Your Highness for your kindness." Dou Yan rose and thanked her humbly.

"You need not stand on ceremony." The Crown Princess Consort smiled and bade Dou Yan sit and talk. "Once you have entered the palace more often, you will know that there is no place more easygoing than mine."

There were many in the palace whose faces belied their hearts; Wang Yuan, too, often said he was the most easygoing of men.

Dou Yan grumbled inwardly, but answered "Yes" with a beaming smile.

The two spoke of homely matters.

One was amiable, the other attentive; the atmosphere was most harmonious.

Suddenly a clatter of footsteps came from outside.

Dou Yan was secretly startled.

But the footsteps drew nearer and nearer, mingled with anxious, hushed calls.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, slow down."

Through the warm curtain of the side hall slipped a small figure in bright yellow.

"Mother, Mother," the figure flung itself into the Crown Princess Consort's arms, "look, I caught a sparrow."

A plump little white hand clutched a small gray-brown bird, holding it up to the Crown Princess Consort as if seeking praise.

The Crown Princess Consort's brows knit slightly, but her voice remained gentle. "Why are you so mischievous? I told you not to tease the golden pheasants, and now you go catching sparrows for sport. Did I not tell you that every bite and every sip is a gift from Heaven, and that you must never harm these little creatures..."

The child lowered his head, sullen, and gave a soft "Oh."

Dou Yan saw that the child looked no more than five or six, and knew at once that this was the Emperor's eldest grandson.

She rose with a smile and bowed to the Imperial Grandson.

The child gave her a very strange look.

The Crown Princess said, "This is the wife of the heir of the Ying Zhenguo Estate."

The child's eyes lit up at once like the sun.

"You are Song Yantang's wife," he said, circling her as though she were some rare curiosity. "You are not as handsome as Song Yantang. How did he come to marry you? When Song Yantang was twelve he took first place in the autumn hunt. I am learning riding and archery from my master now too. Imperial Grandfather says I may join the autumn hunt next year..."

She was not as handsome as Song Yantang...

Dou Yan was covered in shame, not knowing how to answer.

"Shou'er, that is no way to behave!" The Crown Princess's face darkened. "Apologize to Madam Dou at once!"

How would Dou Yan dare let the Imperial Grandson apologize to her? She hurried to smile. "The Imperial Grandson is simply innocent and lively. Your Highness need not be so severe."