The matriarch of the Tian family was only going to turn sixty next year. Although she already looked old, her face was radiant and her spirits high, indicating that her days within the household were comfortable and essentially free of worry.
Old Master Tian was still robust and had occasionally taken in new concubines over the past few years. However, no matter how troublesome or cunning these "demons" were, none of them dared to show the slightest disrespect in front of Mrs. Tian.
It was simply because a mother’s status rose with that of her children!
In her lifetime, Mrs. Tian had borne only one son and one daughter.
Her daughter was the current Empress!
Her son was the current Lord Jingnan!
Never mind the young ladies and concubines within the manor; even Old Master Tian had to show Mrs. Tian considerable respect. How could such a comfortable life not be nourishing?
Mrs. Tian was assisted up the brocade path by two younger kinswomen by marriage from the household, following behind Old Master Tian. Read complete versıon only at 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡✶𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚✶𝙣𝙚𝙩
Behind them followed more than a dozen men and women, all of advanced age. If the younger relatives assisting Old Master Tian and Mrs. Tian had been granted the privilege of stepping forward purely by association, then these dozen or so Tian clan members following behind them held official positions or imperial mandates.
The majority of the Tian clan members could only continue kneeling where they were, ineligible to step forward.
Inside the imperial chariot, layers of beaded curtains shielded the occupants from view, chiming softly as the wind rustled through them.
Old Master Tian and Mrs. Tian finally walked along the brocade path and arrived before the imperial chariot.
At this point, an older female attendant serving beside the imperial chariot began to announce,
"Your Highness, the Earl of Shan County and the Second-Rank Commandery Madame, Lady Tian, seek an audience outside."
Inside the imperial chariot, the Empress’s voice trembled slightly.
An empress who had managed to maintain her position as mistress of the harem for so many years was certainly no simple person. The battleground of the harem was even more insidious, bloody, and cruel.
But here, at the threshold of her natal home, facing the parents who had raised her, she could finally let down her guard and confront her true emotions.
However, for the moment, these emotions still needed to be restrained.
The Earl of Shan County was Old Master Tian’s noble title, and Second-Rank Commandery Madame was an imperially mandated title for his wife.
Old Master Tian was the head of the Tian family and had once been a member of the imperial court. However, his enfeoffment as an Earl was largely due to the influence of his son and daughter.
The same was true for Mrs. Tian.
The Old Madame of the Earl of North Border’s household, whom Zheng Fan had once seen scolding the leader of a barbarian tribe and calling him a rebellious son, was a First-Rank State Madame. In terms of imperially mandated rank, she was one level higher than Mrs. Tian.
This was also because the Earl of North Border’s title was hereditary in perpetuity, and the Li family had guarded Beifeng Prefecture for a hundred years. In contrast, the title of Lord Jingnan was more akin to an "appointment." Therefore, it was fitting that the Old Madame in the north held a higher rank than Mrs. Tian in the south.
"Your humble servant, Tian Bokai, Earl of Shan County, pays his respects to Her Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy peace and good health."
"Your humble servant, Lady Tian, a Second-Rank Commandery-State Madame, pays her respects to Her Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy peace and good health."
The Tian clan members beside them also knelt down at this moment.
Both father and mother were kneeling before their daughter. This seemed to violate filial piety, but in the face of imperial power, the bonds between parent and child had to be set aside. The ruler’s authority was paramount, as vast as the heavens.
The Empress inside the imperial chariot took a deep breath,
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Why are you so engrossed in the scene?"
A woman’s voice sounded from behind Zheng Fan.
When Zheng Fan turned his head, he saw a woman on horseback behind him, wearing a black-veiled conical hat. He recognized her voice: it was Dujuan.
"The one inside... is the Empress, right?"
"Who else could it be but the Empress?"
"Seeing parents kowtow to their daughter... it looks..."
"First, they are ruler and subject; only then are they parent and child."
"I just feel it’s a bit..."
Zheng Fan had wanted to say he found it a bit ominous, but on second thought, he decided against it. After all, this was a joyous occasion for Lord Jingnan’s family.
"Considering what you’ve done today, are there still things you wouldn’t dare to say?"
"My dear sister, do you think I enjoy this?"
"You’re complaining to me . Aren’t you afraid I’ll repeat it to the Lord?"
"Go ahead. It’s only natural to feel this way."
"True. Are you very scared right now?"
"Scared? Of course. I wasn’t this scared even when surrounded by the Qian State army."
"There’s no need to be afraid. The Lord is here."
Hah. You’re his woman; of course, you think your man is omnipotent.
But what am I to him?
Heaven knows to what extent Lord Jingnan is willing to protect me, and for how long.
"Sister Dujuan, I thought you were still in Tiantai County."
"Well, the Lord is coming home, isn’t he? So naturally, I had to return as well."
"To meet the in-laws?"
"I suppose so. An ’unworthy bride’ must eventually meet the in-laws."
"Sister, you’re not unworthy at all."
Though, of course, not as beautiful as my Siniang.
"But the in-laws will surely disapprove of me even more. Lord Zheng, you know my background. Do you think they would accept me?"
"When it comes to love, all that matters is that the two people involved are happy and content. As for their parents, it’s enough to have a clear conscience."
"’A clear conscience,’ you say? I wouldn’t have guessed. Chief Zheng, you’re young, yet you seem to understand matters of the heart so clearly. I’ve heard you haven’t married yet."
"Perhaps you could introduce me to someone when you have time, Sister."
"Alright. The female agents from the Spy Bureau—you can pick anyone you like."
"What, are you scared?"
Zheng Fan shook his head. He imagined bringing a female agent from the Spy Bureau home, only for her to face the predatory gazes of Blind Bei, Xue Three, Siniang, A Ming, and Mo Wan.
Who, exactly, would be the one to be scared?
"The Empress’s imperial chariot has entered the manor. The Lord is about to enter as well. Let’s go."