Chapter 123

After the court session, the princes gradually left the hall.

The Fifth Prince, Yan Ying, turned to Yan Ling and spoke indifferently, “I wonder what benefits Yan Donghuang promised you, Seventh Brother, to make you so eager to work for her?”

The current emperor had seven sons, all of whom were handsome and outstanding. The Fifth Prince, Yan Ying, had rugged features, making him the most masculine among the otherwise refined and elegant princes. However, he was not very stable in temperament, being too reckless and fond of luxury. Unlike Yan Ling, who preferred to appear modest and gentle, Yan Ying was flamboyant, as if afraid others wouldn’t notice his arrogance. In his mansion, besides a main wife and two side concubines, he had over a dozen concubines, constantly engaging in jealous disputes. Additionally, he was a frequent visitor to brothels and had once been impeached by the censor for spending extravagantly in a brothel, resulting in a six-month salary cut and three months of confinement, after which he slightly restrained his wild behavior.

“Yes, didn’t Seventh Brother always support the Second Prince?” The Sixth Prince, Yan Yu, who had delicate features and a feminine appearance, smiled charmingly. “Is it because the Second Prince has lost power, so you quickly switched allegiance to Yan Donghuang?”

Yan Ling’s lips pressed lightly together, and he lowered his eyes, speaking softly, “It was Father’s decision to make Donghuang the crown princess. Now that Donghuang is regent, as Father’s sons, we should work together to assist her—”

“Seventh Brother, did you take the wrong medicine?” The Fourth Prince, Yan Wei, frowned, looking at him thoughtfully. “Did Yan Donghuang promise you irresistible wealth, or did she catch you with some leverage?”

Yan Ling’s heart sank, and he covered his embarrassment with a smile. “Fourth Brother, you’re joking.”

“I think it’s the latter.” Yan Ying raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with understanding and mockery. “I heard you’ve been visiting the Grand Princess’s mansion frequently these past few days, and you never seem to leave in a good mood. Can you tell me what leverage Yan Donghuang has on you?”

A flash of gloom crossed Yan Ling’s eyes. Unable to handle their questioning, he found an excuse to leave hurriedly.

Yan Wei, Yan Ying, and Yan Yu watched his fleeing figure, each lost in thought.
…

The selection of companions for the Crown Princess became a settled matter. After the decree was issued, not only was Prince An’s attitude puzzling, but Grand Tutor Qi’s granddaughter, Qi Fangfei, was also thrust into the spotlight.

The women in the inner courtyards of the noble families in the capital couldn’t help but discuss the matter. Some eagerly hoped to escape the confines of their homes and become independent women through this selection. Others secretly despised Qi Fangfei for betraying her fiancé to become a female official, willingly pledging allegiance to the Crown Princess, which they found disgraceful.

Qi Fangfei was unaware of these discussions. Half an hour ago, she received an invitation from Princess Jinyang, inviting her to a flower viewing in two days.

Sitting by the window, Qi Fangfei looked at the delicate invitation in her hand and remained silent for a long time.

“Miss.” An old maid entered. “The Grand Tutor wants you to go to the study in Songhe Residence.”

Qi Fangfei came back to her senses, put the invitation aside, and got up to leave. As she walked out of the courtyard with her maid, a girl in a pink jacket approached. The girl looked at Qi Fangfei with arrogance and disdain. “Elder Sister, are you going to see Grandfather?”

Qi Fangfei replied calmly, “Second Sister.”

The girl was Qi Xuefei, the legitimate daughter of the second branch of the Qi family and Qi Fangfei’s cousin, a year younger than Qi Fangfei.

“I heard the Crown Princess put you in charge of selecting companions.” Qi Xuefei’s face was unhappy, a mix of jealousy and disdain. “Prince Jing just had some trouble, and you immediately pledged allegiance to the Crown Princess. Aren’t you afraid of ruining Grandfather’s lifelong reputation?”

Qi Fangfei’s gaze turned stern, exuding a bit of authority. “Second Sister, mind your words.”

Qi Xuefei’s expression changed, clearly dissatisfied. “Elder Sister, you haven’t even become a female official yet, and you’re already putting on airs?”

“I said you’re being reckless because your words are absurd.” Qi Fangfei said coldly. “Grandfather has always been loyal to the emperor and has never been biased in the matter of establishing the crown princess. The emperor himself appointed the Crown Princess. Both Grandfather and I are following orders. Your words are putting Grandfather in a position of disloyalty or making others think the Qi family is dissatisfied with the imperial decree.”

Qi Xuefei’s face turned pale. “I… I didn’t mean that.”

“The emperor appointed the crown prince. Whether I become a female official is the Crown Princess’s decision, and it’s not for you to comment on.” Qi Fangfei said sharply. “If this happens again, I will report to Grandfather and have you punished for speaking against the crown princess!”

With that, she straightened her back and walked away, ignoring Qi Xuefei’s pale and angry face.

Qi Xuefei was both shocked and angry, feeling a bit uneasy. She looked around to make sure no one but her maid had heard their conversation, and only then did she feel slightly relieved. She then turned to watch Qi Fangfei’s departing figure, gritting her teeth. “What’s there to be proud of? Just because you have a chance to become a female official? What’s so great about that?”

When she actually becomes a female official, she’ll understand what it means to be close to power. By then, it might be hard for her even to get married.

Qi Xuefei snorted coldly and left in a huff.

Grand Tutor Qi had two sons. Qi Fangfei was from the main branch, with two older brothers, one in the military and one in the Dali Temple. All three siblings were ambitious, and their parents had strict expectations from a young age, respecting their decisions as they grew up.

Qi Xuefei, on the other hand, was the daughter of the second uncle, who had been spoiled since childhood and had some conflicts with Qi Fangfei.

There was no deep hatred between the sisters, just different pursuits. If there was any real resentment, it was related to marriage.

When the emperor betrothed Qi Fangfei to Prince Jing, Qi Xuefei was unhappy, feeling the emperor was using her Grandfather’s influence to arrange the marriage. She wondered why Qi Fangfei could marry a prince while she couldn’t.

Qi Xuefei had her mother try to secure a similar marriage for her, but her Grandfather insisted that the imperial decree could not be violated. Since then, she has harbored resentment toward her elder sister. Now, she couldn’t believe that the marriage she wanted didn’t happen, while Qi Fangfei treated it like a discarded shoe, giving it up so easily.

Chapter 124

Qi Fangfei didn’t care about Qi Xuefei’s thoughts. Upon arriving at her grandfather’s study, she knelt and saluted, “Grandfather.”

Sitting behind his desk, Grand Tutor Qi put down his book and looked at his granddaughter with a gentle yet authoritative gaze. “The Crown Princess has ordered Prince An, you, and the Ministry of Rites jointly select a companion reader. What do you think?”

Qi Fangfei replied, “The Crown Princess is acting as regent, and her orders carry the weight of an imperial edict. I must comply.”

Grand Tutor Qi nodded, “Fangfei, have you already decided?”

Qi Fangfei understood what he was asking and nodded slowly, “I have made my decision.”

Grand Tutor Qi sighed, “Do you know how difficult this path will be?”

“I am not afraid,” Qi Fangfei replied calmly. “I remember what you once said, Grandfather. As long as I have a clear conscience, I can muster the courage to do what I want to do. This path may be untraveled or rarely traveled, but since I have decided, I will be prepared to face all challenges.”

Under the male-dominated system, it was almost impossible for a woman to enter the court as an official and participate in governance. This was impossible in the past and will continue to be difficult in the future. Even if the Crown Princess ascends the throne soon and female officials have her protection and support, this path will still be much harder than for men.

Because public opinion is formidable.
Because the long-standing male-dominated system is deeply rooted.
Because of the strict separation between men and women. And because of societal expectations for women.

But Qi Fangfei believed that no matter how difficult something was, if it was something she wanted to do, it could give her endless courage and hope.

Being a female official was difficult, but compared to being confined to the inner chambers, serving her husband and in-laws, she preferred to step into the public eye and realize her ambitions.

“If you are ready, I will support you,” Grand Tutor Qi nodded slowly, his tone steady and powerful. “The Crown Princess has been to the battlefield, experienced life and death, and seen the hardships of the people, so she understands the importance of a strong nation and stable society. She will surely usher in a prosperous era for Yong Dynasty when she ascends the throne. As her appointed female official, as long as you conduct yourself properly and do what needs to be done, your future will be limitless.”

Although Qi Fangfei had guessed that her grandfather would not oppose her and knew he supported the Crown Princess as the heir, she was still surprised to hear it.

“Grandfather supports the Crown Princess?” she asked, looking up in surprise.

Grand Tutor Qi was silent for a moment, his tone complex and heavy. “I have studied the classics since childhood and was taught Confucian principles of male superiority and female inferiority, with men handling external affairs and women internal. So, in my heart, I cannot fully accept the idea of the Crown Princess becoming emperor. However…”

He paused, admiration appearing on his face. “However, rationally, I know that the Crown Princess becoming emperor will likely achieve great things, possibly even surpassing others. She might be the only one among the current royal descendants capable of continuing the emperor’s legacy.”

Qi Fangfei nodded, “I think the same.”

Grand Tutor Qi frowned slightly, “What about your engagement to Prince Jing? Do you have any plans?”

Qi Fangfei wanted to say that Yan Ming was not a good match.

Moreover, since she entered the court, she wouldn’t consider marriage for the next three to five years. She couldn’t guarantee whether she would marry in the future, as life was unpredictable, and she couldn’t foresee the future. But for now, there was no longer need to delay the engagement.

“I will find a way to break off the engagement,” Qi Fangfei hesitated for a moment. “Once Prince Jing recovers from his injuries, I will handle it. Since I am entering the court, I cannot delay him.”

Grand Tutor Qi said, “The emperor granted this engagement, so it must not be handled poorly. Once Prince Jing recovers, I will enter the palace to request the emperor to annul the engagement. That might be better.”

Qi Fangfei agreed. After discussing the important matters, she quickly took her leave and left the study. As she walked along the corridor, she encountered a hurried woman, her second aunt, Madam Xu, the wife of the second branch of the Qi family. Dressed in a luxurious green satin jacket with a coral necklace around her neck, she looked very wealthy.

“Fangfei,” Madam Xu warmly took Qi Fangfei’s hand, “I heard you are entering the palace as a female official. Congratulations!”

“Aunt,” Qi Fangfei stepped back, freeing her hand, and saluted as a junior.

“The Crown Princess is selecting a companion reader this time. Although it is to prepare for female officials, I am still just a companion reader until I officially enter the court.”

Madam Xu smiled indifferently, “What’s the difference? You are the granddaughter of the Grand Tutor, well-read and well-mannered. Sooner or later, you will be a female official.”

Qi Fangfei frowned, “Aunt, you are mistaken—”

“Alright, alright,” Madam Xu interrupted, “companion reader or not, I wanted to ask, since you are entering the palace, will your engagement to Prince Jing be delayed? If you are serving the Crown Princess, you might not have time to marry and have children. Why not give the engagement to your sister?”

Qi Fangfei was surprised and replied seriously, “Aunt, Prince Jing is unsuitable for my sister.”

Madam Xu frowned, “Why not?”

“Prince Jing—”

“Is it impossible to give your sister your unwanted engagement?” Madam Xu was clearly displeased with her refusal. “It was said that the engagement was an imperial decree, but now that you are entering the palace, why not let your sister have it instead of someone else?”

Qi Fangfei didn’t want to speak ill of others behind their backs, but Yan Ming was not a good person, and she didn’t want Qi Xuefei to regret it later. But even if she said it, her aunt wouldn’t believe it. She could only say tactfully, “The emperor has demoted Prince Jing, and his status is not what it used to be. The future is uncertain. If my sister marries him, she might regret it later.”

“Xuefei is loyal and affectionate, unlike you,” Madam Xu said coldly. “She liked Prince Jing before, not because of his status. If you are willing to help her, I will be grateful; if not, I have other ways.”

Qi Fangfei was silent for a moment, then replied coldly, “Since you have other ways, why come to me? Just do what you need to do.”

Leaving these words, she saluted and left.

Madam Xu watched her back, her face turning pale with anger. “She can’t even help with a small favor? She’s been cold-hearted since childhood and still is. I wonder how many people she will offend in the palace!”

As she walked through the moon gate towards the inner courtyard, her maid Ying’er asked in confusion, “Miss, since the second miss likes Prince Jing so much, why not help her?”

Qi Fangfei’s gaze fell on the long corridor ahead, “Although I don’t get along with her, I don’t want to push her into the abyss.”

Yan Ming was not someone to rely on.

Moreover, Yan Ming had not given up on the throne and might hold a grudge against her for breaking off the engagement. No one could predict what he might do in the future. If Qi Xuefei married him, she might suffer his anger at best or be implicated at worst.

Ying’er seemed to understand and nodded, not asking further.