Chapter Seven
Xiao Shun Tu helped the deflated emperor stand.
The moment Na Lam was born his imperial father declared him the crown prince and many people spoiled him. Everyone wanted to gain his favor, scared to make him unhappy and didn’t want him to experience failure. So being continuously defeated by the little girl Ling Fei was the first time in his life he had to endure countless failures.
After Na Lam and Xiao Shun Tu left, Que Cong Cong arrived at the imperial guards’ courtyard.
‘Are you Lady Ling?’ Que Cong Cong asked.
‘I am,’ Ling Fei said.
‘The empress dowager requests Lady Ling’s presence in her chamber,’ Que Cong Cong said.
Que Cong Cong led Ling Fei to the empress dowager’s chamber full of a strong floral incense fragrance.
Ling Fei bowed to the empress dowager who wore an elegant white dress.
The empress dowager smiled and raised her hand. ‘Ling Fei, you can sit.’
‘Thank you empress dowager,’ Ling Fei said.
‘Ling Fei, I heard Xiao Shun Tu said earlier you hit and kicked my son,’ empress dowager said. ‘Is it true?’
Although Na Lam was the empress dowager’s son, she regretted she didn’t get to witness her son’s fall.
‘Empress dowager… I…’ Ling Fei stuttered.
‘Ling Fei, you don’t need to be scared,’ empress dowager said. ‘I’m not reprimanding you. I’m praising you. You hit and kicked my son well. In the world no one else would dare to hit my son. You’re the first person. I think my son must be feeling frustrated.’
Ling Fei was surprised the empress dowager wasn’t angry at her.
‘Ling Fei do you think my reaction is unusual?’ empress dowager asked. ‘It’s true a mother would sympathise with their child’s pain. But my son is different to other people. It’s his imperial father, his imperial grandma and my fault for spoiling him too much. He’s temperamental and often threaten to behead people. But he hasn’t behead you even though you’ve hit him. It shows there is still hope for him to change for the better.’
The empress dowager’s eyes were teary. She was happy her son finally began to change.
Ling Fei’s frightened heart relaxed.
‘Empress dowager, I promise I’ll use all my abilities to help the emperor,’ Ling Fei said.
The empress dowager dabbed the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief.
‘It’s enough for me to hear your promise,’ empress dowager said.
‘But there is something I need to clarify with empress dowager,’ Ling Fei said.
The empress dowager understood and she gently patted Ling Fei’s hand.
‘Is it about yours and my son’s betrothal?’ empress dowager asked. ‘I know this betrothal is unfair on you. But if I didn’t tell my son about it then he wouldn’t take the bait. Since the betrothal was announced, he’s been practicing Kung Fu properly compared to the past. He’s prideful since he was a little boy. He wouldn’t have expected to lose to a young woman like you. He wants to improve his Kung Fu so in the future he can raise his head in front of you. His life’s been too smooth. He needs challenges to improve himself.’
‘I understand,’ Ling Fei said.
Ling Fei understood it wasn’t the right time for her to retreat.
‘Then I’ll need to trouble you,’ empress dowager said.
Ling Fei was persuaded by the empress dowager’s maternal words and she decided to continue opposing Na Lam.
Que Cong Cong escorted Ling Fei to her chamber then he returned to the empress dowager’s chamber.
‘Empress dowager it appears you chose Lady Ling because you believe she and the emperor will love each other,’ Que Cong Cong said.
The empress dowager smiled. ‘You can see their connection too? I truly love Ling Fei. She isn’t from a prominent family but she is someone with good principles. It’s rare to meet someone like her. Gentle bred ladies from prominent families can’t compare to her. It’s my son’s blessing to have an empress like Ling Fei.’
The empress dowager reminisced about Ling Fei’s parents in the past.
‘I remember Ling Fei’s father, Cong Sun Huang’s heroic deeds were famous in the past,’ empress dowager said. ‘After he married Ling Fei’s mother, Jiang Thi, he and Jiang Thi lived a reclusive life. He was happy to live with Jiang Thi on a mountain and make a living as a hunter. Years ago while he was hunting he saved my husband’s life. Afterward they became sworn brothers. My husband was happy and grateful to have a sincere friend like Cong Sun Huang. My husband snuck out of the palace often to see Cong Sun Huang. No one expected someone would kill Cong Sun Huang…’
The empress dowager remembered a recent memory. She visited an ordinary house…
‘Is it here?’ empress dowager asked. ‘Go inside and see if they are here.’
‘Yes empress dowager,’ the imperial guard said.
The imperial guard knocked on the door and Jiang Thi opened the door.
‘Ah!’ Jiang Thi cried out.
The imperial guard kept the door open.
Jiang Thi moved back two steps. She was frightened to see many armed men.
‘Who are you people… want do you people want?’ Jiang Thi asked.
‘Jiang Thi, you don’t need to be scared,’ empress dowager said. ‘I won’t let anyone harm you.’
Jiang Thi wasn’t comforted by the lady in the elegant white dress. She had lived a reclusive life for many years and she didn’t expect anyone would recognise her.
‘How… how do you know me?’ Jiang Thi asked.
The empress dowager gestured for the imperial guards to stand back to rea.s.sure Jiang Thi they didn’t intend to harm Jiang Thi.
‘Jiang Thi have you forgotten me?’ empress dowager asked.
‘You… you’re…’ Jiang Thi stuttered. She vaguely recognised the gentle voice. ‘You’re… the empress…’
Jiang Thi remembered she met the empress dowager once many years ago.
‘Jiang Thi, you finally remembered me,’ empress dowager said. ‘My son is no longer the crown prince. He’s the emperor and I’ve become the empress dowager.’
Jiang Thi’s whole body trembled and she knelt in front of the empress dowager.
End of Chapter Seven