Dugong

Chapter 73 Righteousness in Hand
Empress Dowager Zhou's entourage roamed freely through the palace, and eunuchs and palace maids kowtowed to her from afar against the wall.

The old palace servants who recognized the "Empress" shouted "Long live the Empress Dowager!" hoping to catch her eye. The newly arrived eunuchs shrank back as much as possible, fearing they might offend the noble lady.

In terms of sheer nobility and status, Empress Dowager Zhou was undoubtedly the most esteemed woman in the palace.

Even His Majesty must kowtow three times and bow nine times upon seeing them, referring to himself as "your subject." This is filial piety and patriarchal law, and it is the foundation upon which the powerful families and clans of the Great Yong Dynasty ruled the world.

Li Ping'an pondered and guessed that the reason why the Empress Dowager was appointed so quickly was probably because the Yuanfei faction could not withstand the pressure of etiquette and law.

Furthermore, the Zhang family is a prominent and prestigious family in the country. How could they dare to disregard the patriarchal system of legitimate and illegitimate children?
"Only the tool and the name can be used, not by others..."

What Li Ping'an saw and heard gave him a new understanding of the "Rites System": it was a set of rules, a cage, a powerful tool, and also a powerful tool for maintaining the stability of the dynasty.

Those who do not understand etiquette are barbarians!
The large group stopped when they passed Zhaoyang Palace.

Empress Dowager Zhou gave him a wink, and Li Ping'an immediately understood. He circulated his inner energy to his throat and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"The Queen Mother is here!"

Back then, Eunuch Xu carefully taught us how to announce the news, with the tone rising first and then falling, the word "jia" drawn out, and the word "dao" ending abruptly. Even the slightest mistake could result in severe punishment.

Inside Zhaoyang Palace, eunuchs and palace maids hurriedly came out to greet the emperor, kneeling in two rows on either side.

Li Ping'an asked the head eunuch, "The Empress Dowager and Consort Yuan are old acquaintances. They haven't seen each other for many years and were planning to catch up. Why hasn't the Consort come to greet them?"

According to palace rules, Consort Yuan had to perform the kneeling ceremony.

If Empress Dowager Zhou deliberately delayed a few more words and made Consort Yuan kneel for a while longer, it would be equivalent to the suffocation of being in the cold palace for more than half a year.

The eunuch said with a bitter face, "Reporting to Your Excellency, I originally worked at Zhongcui Palace, but was only transferred to Zhaoyang Palace yesterday. This morning, Consort Yuan received the imperial edict to confer the title of Imperial Concubine Dowager, and has already moved to Cining Palace."

Empress Dowager Zhou's face darkened. She cursed inwardly for the wicked woman's quick escape and waved her hand to signal that they should depart.

After passing through most of the palace and many other palaces, we arrived at the Cining Palace.

Since receiving the news of the emperor's arrival, the eunuchs and palace maids have been kneeling and waiting for more than half an hour, each with tears in their eyes, choking as they kowtowed three times and nine times.

"This servant greets the Empress Dowager! Long live the Empress Dowager!"

Empress Dowager Zhou did not go directly into the palace. Instead, she stepped down from the imperial carriage and looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar old women of Kunning Palace one by one, gently patting the old nanny Lingxuan on the shoulder.

"You have suffered all these years."

“This servant is not suffering.”

The eunuchs and palace maids were all moved to tears upon hearing this. They felt that all the suffering they had endured in recent years was nothing compared to the Empress Dowager's concern.

Empress Dowager Zhou asked, "Where is Zhiqing?"

Lingxuan sobbed, "After the Empress Dowager left, no one stood up for Kunning Palace. The year before last, Zhiqing caught a cold, and the Imperial Household Department deliberately delayed providing medicine. She died soon after."

Empress Dowager Zhou frowned and said, "The Imperial Household Department, I've noted that down. Where is Xiao Zhuzi?"

Lingxuan gritted her teeth and said, "That ungrateful wretch recognized Eunuch Leng as his godfather and joined the Zhaoyang Palace. I heard that he was the one who ordered Zhiqing's death."

"Good, very good, I misjudged you."

Empress Dowager Zhou looked around and said loudly, "Today I have returned. All the suffering you have endured over the years, one by one, I will avenge for you."

Everyone kowtowed in unison and shouted, "We thank the Empress Dowager for her grace!"

Li Ping'an narrowed his eyes and watched coldly as Empress Dowager Zhou won over the hearts of the people. She must have known about Zhiqing and Xiao Zhuzi's affairs long ago, and asking them in public was just to incite hatred against a common enemy.

Creating a specific, tangible enemy is far more effective in rallying loyal followers than mere praise or empty promises.

"Grandpa said that the Empress Dowager is impulsive and easily angered, but she has been able to sit on the throne for decades. Her methods are extraordinary, and our family must be careful!" Li Ping'an supported the Empress Dowager's hand and walked slowly into the Cining Palace.

Every few steps, Empress Dowager Zhou would ask a few words of concern. She didn't need to promise any official position; just asking how well the food and clothing were received, and the eunuchs and palace maids would be filled with gratitude and kowtow with tears of blood.

Putting aside the question of loyalty and authenticity, the focus was on temporarily stabilizing the hearts of the people in the Cining Palace.

Enter the main hall.

Empress Dowager Zhou changed out of her phoenix crown and court dress, put on a crimson and purple phoenix-patterned everyday dress, dismissed the eunuchs and maids around her, and kept only Li Ping'an and Ling Xuan.

This old nanny was a relative of Empress Dowager Zhou. Her son and grandson both served in the Marquis of Zhongyong's household. She took care of him personally when he was in the Prince's residence. In terms of closeness and loyalty, she surpassed anyone else.

With her trusted confidantes on either side, Empress Dowager Zhou abandoned her kind and gentle demeanor and said with a hateful voice, "His Majesty actually bestowed the title of Imperial Concubine upon that lowly woman, something unprecedented in the founding of the dynasty. He truly treats her like his own mother!"

The Dayong dynasty has only lasted for four generations. The previous emperor's birth mother was his legal mother, and he only needed to be conferred the title of Empress Dowager.

According to the old dynasty's custom, if the emperor's birth mother was not the empress, she would be granted the title of Imperial Concubine Dowager, whose status was lower than that of the Empress Dowager but higher than that of other imperial concubines.

Lingxuan said, "Consort Zhang previously gave her full support to His Majesty and made a contribution to the founding of the dynasty. Even after His Majesty ascended the throne, she still paid her respects to him morning and evening, and their relationship remained close..."

"I disagree!"

Li Ping'an interrupted Ling Xuan directly, completely ignoring the old nanny's resentful gaze. Everyone was serving under the Empress Dowager, and they could only compete for favor, never collude or form cliques.

"His Majesty's conferment of the title of Empress Dowager on the Consort Zhang is clearly a sign of his wariness of Consort Zhang or the Zhang family, and is certainly not a sign of closeness as rumored outside. Otherwise, there would be precedents for two empress dowagers."

Li Ping'an said meaningfully, "The key to the merit of following the emperor lies in the word 'following.' Now that His Majesty has soared to the heavens, he no longer needs outsiders to point fingers and offer advice!"

"That makes sense."

Empress Dowager Zhou said approvingly, "Little Anzi, in your opinion, what should I do?"

Li Ping'an had already prepared a response and immediately replied, "The first thing is to gather my godfather's old followers. With the Empress's status and the righteousness of the position, plus my relationship with my grandfather, I will definitely be able to recruit many capable helpers."

The Cining Palace was full of former Kunning Palace staff, which was very disadvantageous for Li Ping'an.

Even with the filial piety and life-saving grace shown to them by the cold palace, the elderly could not resist the gossip and slander spread by the eunuchs and palace maids. Most of them were easily swayed by such whispers and rumors.

The arrival of Chu Gonggong's former subordinates at Cining Palace can both reduce the influence of the old guard at Kunning Palace and ensure that Li Ping'an has capable subordinates.

In the future, when the opportunity arises, all the old people from Kunning Palace will be purged. With his subordinates praising Li Ping'an's loyalty and filial piety to the Empress Dowager every day, his power will naturally be as solid as a rock.

Empress Dowager Zhou nodded and said, "Xiao Anzi, please handle this matter as soon as possible."

"According to the order!"

Li Ping'an bowed and accepted the order, then continued, "Secondly, we must find out who in the palace has sided with Consort Zhang. The Empress Dowager should purge the disloyal and unfilial people from His Majesty's palace and restore its purity and order."

Obeying His Majesty is loyalty to the emperor, obeying the Empress Dowager is filial piety, and submitting to Consort Zhang is disloyalty and unfilial piety.

With a strong sense of righteousness in hand, one can achieve twice the result with half the effort!
Empress Dowager Zhou, of course, understood the mystery behind it, and clapped her hands in praise: "Little Anzi, with your help, I will definitely be able to defeat that vile woman from Cining Palace."

Li Ping'an bowed and said, "I beg Your Majesty to issue an imperial decree so that I may recruit my godfather's former subordinates."

The Empress Dowager's edict is legally on par with the "Imperial Edict," but the difference is that it only becomes effective when the Emperor affixes his seal. Li Ping'an's request for the edict was not simply for recruitment, but also to test the Emperor and the Directorate of Ceremonial.

The successful use of the seal indicates that it aligns with His Majesty's wishes.

The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs obstructed the process, and the seal was finally used with great difficulty. The treacherous minister had already revealed himself.

Conversely, if the imperial edict is not sealed, Li Ping'an should consider his options early and prepare for the future. Perhaps returning to the Cold Palace to bask in the sun would not be a bad idea!
(End of this chapter)