The Empress Dowager

The next morning, the matter of crown prince of Chang Qing country requesting marriage alliance with a princess spread all over the palace. This caused both the Empress and Empress Dowager to feel anxious as none of them wanted to marry their daughter off so early and that too to a far away place. The ministers in the court also were divided into two groups one supporting the Empress and the other supporting the Empress Dowager. This caused the court to be in chaos for a long time.

The Shoukang Palace of the Empress Dowager was filled with a strange silence. None of the ladies in waiting and palace maids dared to make any sound, afraid of angering the Empress Dowager.

At this moment, a palace maid ran in and said hastly, "Your Majesty, the Empress.....the Empress is here as summoned."

"Let her in."

The Empress gracefully stepped inside before approaching the Empress Dowager to pay her respects.

As soon as the Empress arrived, the Empress Dowager dismissed all the servants out, leaving only four of them, the Empress Dowager, her lady in waiting, the Empress and the lady in waiting of the Empress, in the room.

"Empress, this Grieving One summoned you here this time because there is something which this Grieving One wanted to give you." said the Empress Dowager as her lady in waiting stepped forward and handed the exquisite jade box to the Empress's lady in waiting.

The Empress Dowager continued, "This is something from when this Grieving One married the Late Emperor that the Late Empress Dowager granted this Grieving One, a pearl necklace. This Grieving One knows that you are used to dressing modestly, but Xianmin is about to marry into Chang Qing. This item of mine, let it be added to her dowry."

The Empress stopped her lady in waiting who was about to take the jade box. Empress Dowager's words were like a double edged sword. If the Empress accepted the jade box, she would be tactically agreeing the marriage. At the same time if she bluntly refused, it would be breach of her filial pity towards the Empress Dowager, something that she, as an Empress shouldn't do.

The Empress smiled while covering her mouth with a handkerchief, "Royal mother must be joking. Xianmin is only eleven years old. How could she get married? Sister Anran on the other hand is already seventeen this year. No matter how one looks at it, it's more suitable for sister Anran to marry into Chang Qing."

Although the Empress was very polite with her words, in her heart she was scolding the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager's daughter, Dongfang Anran, was already seventeen years old.

The minimum age for marriage for girls is fifteen and each and every girl in the Empire is married by the age of seventeen. Those who are unmarried after seventeen are either ugly monsters who no man would marry or those who are extremely beautiful and knowledgeable and are expected to be sent as concubines to the Emperor and the princes.

But in this case, it was neither of the both. Princess Rongxian; Dongfang Anran only remained unmarried because the Empress Dowager was unwilling to part with her beloved daughter.

Instead of marrying her seventeen year old daughter off, the Empress Dowager wants the Empress to marry off her eleven year old daughter, Dongfang Xianmin.

Even though it's not reasonable, there was nothing the Empress can do, because the Empress Dowager's daughter was the only daughter of the Late Emperor. For many years, until the birth of Dongfang Xianmin, she was the only girl in Dongfang family. The first princess and second princess born by the Empress Dowager, who was the Empress then, died in young age. Third princess and fourth princess born by royal Consorts of the Late Emperor also were not able to live.

Only the fifth princess, third daughter of Empress Dowager, was able to survive to adulthood. Both the Late Emperor and the current Emperor spoiled her. Even after Dongfang Xianmin was born, she was unable to replace the pearl in the palm position of Dongfang Anran in the Emperor's heart.

After a while, the Empress slowly opened her mouth, "By age, Anran is older and she is Xianmin's aunt. We need the senior to marry first before worrying about the junior."

"Empress, Xianmin was born to you and the Emperor. Compared to her illegitimate sisters, this legitimate princess is that much more precious. Xianmin brags about her being the legitimate daughter too, so she was promoted as Princess Zhaoren of first rank early on. She disregards her illegitimate siblings. So she's most suitable for marrying into Chang Qing."

"Royal mother, Xianmin is young in age and doesn't censor her speech. She can't be married yet. This Concubine will keep her by my side and teach her a few more years."

"Empress, according to the customs of Chang Qing country, an engagement must be made five years prior the marriage of the crown prince. Xianmin is young now. But after five years, she will be in her golden age. It's best to marry her off. In the five years time, you can teach her the palace rules and customs as you wish." The Empress, who heard these words said by the Empress Dowager, was left speechless with nothing to retort.

"Royal mother, sister Anran is...."

"Empress, if you are unwilling to marry off your daughter to Chang Qing, then just say so. Why must you use my Anran as an excuse?"

A forced smile immediately appeared on the Empress's lips."You are misunderstanding this Concubine, royal mother. It's not that this Concubine doesn't want to marry off Xianmin. Just that sister Anran...."

"Empress, this Grieving One has heard that the Duke Yong Ping has been suppressing and causing troubling for the Jiang family and Duke of Anyuan and his sons lately. This Grieving One wonders if you knew about this already?"

Listening to the threatening tone of Empress Dowager, the Empress suddenly stiffened.

"Empress, your clan and your daughter, between these you should know which is more important."