The journey was unobstructed, and Ding Yun arrived directly at Changle Palace. Upon seeing her mother, she performed the customary salutations.
During the ceremony, she cross-referenced with the memories of her original self.
Ding Yun was still somewhat dazed.
Because in the original self's memories, years ago, it wasn't she who paid respects to her mother, but her mother, in the capacity of a subject, who saluted her daughter, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager, who represented the ruler.
Unexpectedly, the positions had been reversed once more.
She was once again the subject, and her mother had become the ruler.
Truly, fortune turns in cycles.
"Get up quickly, you've truly suffered..."
Empress Cui naturally believed her daughter had suffered, and had even prepared words about her being thin. However, upon seeing Ding Yun stand up after her salutations, the prepared words failed to come out.
Because her daughter's complexion was remarkably good.
She looked even better than when she had been Empress Dowager, with a rosy and radiant complexion, lustrous black hair, and her face even seemed slightly rounder than when they had met half a month ago. How could she possibly look like someone who had suffered?
If she were to speak of suffering now.
It would be pure fabrication.
Therefore, Empress Cui could only quickly and forcefully steer the conversation:
"You must have endured many grievances recently, sit, sit, chat with me for a moment, and then we'll go to Weiyang Palace together later. Your grandmother also misses you dearly.
Here, give Changle to me.
This child Changle is truly well-behaved and beautiful!"
As she spoke, Empress Cui reached out and took her granddaughter, Princess Changle, from Qiao Mu. While praising the child, she playfully teased her.
Among her grandchildren, she currently had no granddaughters. Although Princess Changle was her granddaughter-in-law, she was indeed the female child with the closest blood relation to her among her grandchildren. As the saying goes, scarcity breeds value, so Empress Cui was quite fond of this granddaughter-in-law who possessed royal lineage. However, she still had to be mindful of appearances.
She couldn't openly show favor in public.
Thus, she would privately show concern and care.
After holding the child and playfully teasing her, and discussing childcare experience, Empress Cui handed Princess Changle over to a nearby female official to care for.
Then, dismissing everyone else, she spoke to Qiao Mu about more serious matters:
"A'luan, you must understand that times are different now. Since your father ascended the throne, he has become incredibly arrogant, ruling autocratically on most days.
What he decides.
He does not allow anyone to persuade or change.
Don't be angry with him anymore. Today at noon, he will be dining with the Empress Dowager. I will bring you along, you can yield a little, and the Empress Dowager and I will try to persuade him together.
Between father and daughter, what animosity can there be?"
"Mother, but this cannot be blamed on me.
When Father Emperor acts, has he ever considered my feelings? A while ago, I asked him to reprimand the new Emperor, but instead, he directly raised an army to rebel.
I won't say much more about this.
It's definitely not my fault.
After all, I feel I don't have that much influence in our family. But what did Father Emperor say? His banner was that the new Emperor bullied me. Is that fitting for a father to say?
He pushed all the blame onto me.
I won't say more about this. And on the day he stormed the imperial palace, he had a general kick down my door to 'invite' me out. What is the meaning of this? What's the difference between this and kicking down a widow's door at night? You tell me, is this appropriate?
Even if we disregard all of this, and don't count it."
"Then, after he ascended the throne as Emperor, he first refused to see me, and after finally agreeing to see me, he still wanted to bestow a marriage upon me. What does that mean?"
"Among families with any sense of propriety in the common folk, the maternal family would never force a widow to remarry. Even if the widow is willing to remarry, she gets to choose whom she marries.
It's not as if the maternal family intervenes.
But what does Father Emperor mean? Does he think he hasn't exploited me enough and can still exploit me further?
Are all these things my fault?"
Ding Yun's words were both what she wanted to say and what the original self had held back, never daring to speak.
Simultaneously, her words left Empress Cui somewhat speechless.
After a long while, she managed to stammer out:
"But, he is the Emperor and Father now!"
Yes, in this era, loyalty, filial piety, propriety, righteousness, benevolence, wisdom, and trustworthiness were emphasized. One should be loyal to the ruler and filial to one's parents.
And Dugu Xiao was both ruler and father.
It was like stacking two buffs.
Whether he was right or wrong, Ding Yun's reasoning was ineffective against him. He didn't need to reason; therefore, her most valid grievances were useless.
The word "filial piety" alone could crush her.
Not to mention "loyalty."
"Enough. We'll go to Weiyang Palace later. You speak well with your grandmother. For now, I cannot persuade your father. Only what your grandmother says might he listen to.
If your grandmother is willing to help you.
Then there should be no problem."
Honestly, Empress Cui also felt her husband had acted a bit excessively. But she didn't only have a daughter; she also had sons. She clearly didn't want to offend her husband for her daughter's sake, which would affect her sons.
So, she could only offer Ding Yun a plan: ask her grandmother for help. The Empress Dowager was Dugu Xiao's biological mother, after all. He might not give face to others, but he couldn't refuse his mother entirely; he would have to give some consideration.
This was Empress Cui's only suggestion.
Upon hearing this, Ding Yun fell silent for a moment before nodding: "I understand. I will try my best.
But Mother, there's one more thing. I truly don't understand. Our family isn't without widows who remain chaste.
Why didn't he bestow marriages upon others and singled me out? Don't tell me it's for my own good, that a widow's life is difficult. Perhaps it's true for widows from ordinary commoner backgrounds, but if my widow's life is difficult, then other widows should just die. Moreover, if he truly cared for my well-being, he should have considered my opinion.
Instead of picking someone he deemed suitable for me.
Since there's no one around, Mother, please tell me the truth. What exactly does Father Emperor intend by doing this?"
"This, alas, is just my speculation...
Since your father Emperor ascended the throne, there have been continuous rumors privately. Recently, people have been saying that your father Emperor usurped power through his in-laws and that his claim to the throne is illegitimate. This talk of in-law's interference naturally stems from you. Before this, no daughter from our family had married into the imperial family.
I guess your father Emperor might have heard these rumors, felt displeased, and perhaps even held it against you. As for wanting you to marry again, it's likely for the same reason. Once you remarry, the talk of in-law's interference will cease.
After all, once a widow remarries.
It signifies a complete severance from her late husband's family."
Seeing her daughter's persistent questioning, Empress Cui spoke her bold speculation after only a slight hesitation.
Because she had heard these rumors herself.
At the same time, she was well aware that the reputation of the imperial clan seizing power through in-laws was unpleasant. The Dugu family had been planning a rebellion for a long time, and it could even be said that preparations had begun generations ago. The success of the rebellion had nothing to do with in-law's interference; it was merely a matter of opportune timing.
To be accused of relying on in-laws for success achieved through merit.
How could he not be upset?
"This is also to be blamed on me.
Am I willing to die or live to marry the over-forty Lingdi? This is truly..."
Upon hearing this, Ding Yun was already enraged.
What was all this?
"This is also just my speculation.
Alright, time is almost up. Come with me to Weiyang Palace. You speak well with your grandmother later.
Now, you can only count on your grandmother."
Empress Cui, fearing that her daughter might say something inappropriate out of anger and give others ammunition, quickly ended the discussion and stood up to change the subject.
Then, she prepared to take Ding Yun to Weiyang Palace.
Ding Yun also knew that times were no longer the same as when she was Empress and Empress Dowager. The saying "royalty knows no father-son bonds" was not just talk, let alone father-daughter relationships. It was not the time to boast or complain. Any grievances would have to be suppressed and recorded in a little black book of grudges.
She would speak when she had the ability.
So, of course, she immediately fell silent, stood up, and followed her mother to Weiyang Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. Of course, before leaving, she certainly brought her own daughter along. Ding Yun hadn't forgotten that.
In less than fifteen minutes, the mother and daughter arrived at Weiyang Palace. Upon seeing them, the Empress Dowager immediately stepped forward to bid them not to be overly formal, then beckoned the mother and daughter to sit beside her. At the same time, like Empress Cui before her, she directly reached out and took her granddaughter from Ding Yun, playfully doting on her.
Fortunately, the child was also cooperative and did not cry loudly, but instead giggled and reached for the Empress Dowager's fingers.
She babbled in unintelligible syllables, delighting the Empress Dowager.
She even began teaching Princess Changle on the spot.
Only when the child grew tired, her eyes slightly closing, and she became less responsive, did she finally stop. At the same time, she returned the child to Ding Yun, and then, the Empress Dowager began to offer her counsel:
"A'luan, I've heard about your situation.
What your father Emperor did was inappropriate, but finding you a husband again is the right thing to do. After all, you are only in your early twenties this year. Some people, due to family mourning, have missed one or two marriage opportunities. They might not have had time to get married in their early twenties. So, your age is absolutely not old, and there's no need to remain a widow indefinitely.
How many years will you remain a widow?
Moreover, you only have one daughter. If you had a son to keep you company, I could grudgingly say nothing more. But you have only one daughter. In another decade or so, when your daughter gets married, you will be alone in your residence. How lonely that will be! Having sons at least allows one to bicker with their daughter-in-law occasionally, care for grandchildren, and so on.
In any case, it wouldn't be too boring or lonely.
But you only have one daughter. You can't expect your daughter to remain unmarried, to accompany you, or to specifically find a son-in-law for her. Although your daughter is a princess now, finding a son-in-law is not out of the question, but how many good live-in sons-in-law are there? Even for your daughter's sake.
You cannot find a live-in son-in-law, or anything like that.
Although your father Emperor's actions were not entirely proper, his intentions were ultimately good. So, your father Emperor should be here for a meal soon. I will speak with him then and tell him not to arbitrarily bestow marriages upon you. However, you should also make some effort yourself and see if there's anyone you're satisfied with. Your mother and I will help you look. If there are no problems, then we'll have your father Emperor bestow the marriage. How does that sound?"
To be honest, Ding Yun truly did not expect the Empress Dowager to say this. Although she didn't particularly like being rushed into marriage, the Empress Dowager clearly had no ill intentions.
In fact, she could be considered very fond of her granddaughter.
Moreover, the Empress Dowager did not demand that she find a partner immediately; there was still room for maneuver and delay.
Therefore, Ding Yun did not refute but went along with her words:
"You are right. It's not that I insist on remaining a widow for Lingdi. But the key is that none of the candidates for marriage that Father Emperor has chosen for me do I like.
I have already married the over-forty Lingdi.
Why should I marry men in their thirties or forties, with children as old as their own, some of whom already have grandchildren? I don't want to be a second wife to someone else. Moreover, as the saying goes, 'for the first marriage, follow your parents; for subsequent marriages, follow your heart.' As a remarriage, I should at least choose someone who satisfies me. A lower social standing is acceptable.
So, it's not embarrassing to say, I just want to choose someone young and handsome. If they are unmarried, that would be even better. Even if their status is lower, it doesn't matter.
Their age should ideally be similar to mine.
If not, it's fine if they are younger than me.
In any case, I absolutely do not want to marry someone older than me again. Not even one or two years older.
Grandmother, please help me speak to him later.
Can you, please? I beg you..."
Towards the end, Ding Yun pretended to be coy and hugged the Empress Dowager's arm, shaking it slightly. She deliberately acted spoiled, and coupled with calling her "Grandmother," which was clearly more intimate than calling her "Grandmother" or "Empress Dowager," the Empress Dowager, although she found her granddaughter's idea a bit improper, did not get angry or scold her. Instead, she smiled helplessly:
"You truly are a clever girl.
You want someone young and handsome. Are you choosing a husband or a lover? Fine, it was indeed unfair to you to marry Lingdi all those years ago. If it hadn't been for the sudden death of Lingdi's Empress, with our family's background, you could have found a well-matched, distinguished, amiable, and loving husband.
There's no way you would have ended up a widow at such a young age.
Alright, I promise you. When your father Emperor comes later, I will tell him. By the way, I heard that the next Jinshi examination is within the next few months. At that time, we can see what the top scholars of this cohort look like. If they are good-looking and their family background is decent.
Choosing a top scholar would be a good option."
Good heavens, the exam hadn't even begun, and the Empress Dowager was already thinking about the top scholars for her granddaughter. Ding Yun did not dampen the Empress Dowager's spirits at this moment but cooperatively agreed. After all, the exam was still a few months away, and who knew how old the top scholars would be? What if they were older than her, or what if they were already married? It would be easy to politely decline.
Therefore, Ding Yun had no worries.
Under her deliberate accommodation, the grandmother and granddaughter communicated very happily. Time flew by, and it was time for lunch. Dugu Xiao arrived punctually.