The Times Spent in Pretense

The next day, when Hua Liuli roused, the sun had already been up for a while.　　

The palace servants of Shoukang Palace were already used to her waking late and sympathized with Hua Liuli in secret. She had originally been born as a precious daughter of an influential family, yet due to her poor health, she could not eat many things or play. On the other hand, she had to continuously take medicine.　　

When the empress dowager learned that Hua Liuli had awoken, she sent palace maids to wait on her as she partook in her morning meal.　　　　

“Your mother left for Chenyang Palace to greet the emperor. She will meet with you and take you back home in a little while.” A smile graced the empress dowager’s lips. “This grieving one is a light sleeper. Word has it that you left the palace last night?”　　

Hua Liuli swallowed the food in her mouth. After rinsing out her mouth, she said, “Your Majesty the empress dowager, this official’s daughter accidentally returned late last night. Did this official’s daughter disturb your honored self?”　　

“No need to be so nervous. It wasn’t a big deal. You young people ought to play more when you can.” From the empress dowager’s expression, she appeared nostalgic. “When this grieving one was still young, the previous emperor and I also sneaked out of the palace in the middle of the night. And once we were outside, we feared that those imperial censors would find us, so acted very stealthily like thieves.”　　　　

The smile on her face gradually faded. Perhaps it was because she recalled that the previous emperor had already passed away. Perhaps she cherished the times that could never return. A good while later, soft laughter escaped her lips. “Back then, this grieving one was very happy.”

Hua Liuli had heard stories about the previous emperor. It was said that he and the empress dowager had been childhood sweethearts and shared a deep love. What a pity that such a beautiful and emotional story lacked a perfect ending. More than ten years after the previous emperor had ascended the throne, he began to favor a beautiful and alluring imperial concubine. So much so that when that imperial concubine gave birth to a son, he declared that he wished to depose the current crown prince.　　　　

However, the previous emperor’s promise to his favored concubine could not be realized. For he fell ill swiftly afterward. Up until his death, he did not have the chance to select a new crown prince.　　

Perhaps when it came to the empress dowager, death was the best outcome for a man who no longer loved her and even attempted to harm her child.　　

Whether or not the previous emperor had died from an illness or another cause, people were no longer interested in the truth. In any case, history books recorded his death as illness-related. The current emperor was an enlightened and wise ruler; the current empress dowager was kindly and virtuous. As such, everything was perfect.　　　　

It was to the extent that when the empress dowager mentioned the previous emperor, her tone proved serene. As though he had never hurt her. All of her love and hate ephemeral, not worth keeping.　　

Hua Liuli did not understand if this was love or not, if this was hate or not. But she was clear on one fact: If she could not obtain a love like the one shared between her parents, she would rather not love anyone romantically.

“Good child.” The empress dowager smiled. “This grieving one is old. When I see a young girl like yourself, I cannot help but to reminisce.”　　

Her expression returned to normal. “The Birthday of the Flowers will occur in half a month. On that day, there will be many young ladies offering sacrifices to the Hundred Flowers Fairy. Do you have any suitable clothes and jewelry?”　　　　

“This official’s daughter does not lack suitable clothes. But for some reason, none of them look as good as the ones Your Majesty the empress dowager gave me.” Hua Liuli’s long and shapely eyebrows wrinkled a shade. “This official’s daughter has pondered over this, and have determined that it is Your Majesty’s fault: Your Majesty has raised my standards.”　　

“So this is now this grieving one’s fault?” Hua Liuli’s words had caused the empress dowager to beam with joy. “Don’t worry. This grieving one has long since prepared your outfit for the Birthday of the Flowers. It is for certain that none of the young ladies in the capital can compare to you.”　　　　

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“Just now, this official’s daughter misspoke. Your Majesty is the best empress dowager.” Hua Liuli acted lovable to make her happy. “With your honored self around, this official’s daughter will definitely shock everyone.”　　

“That can’t be so.” The empress dowager pulled Hua Liuli to sit by her side. In a teasing manner, she said, “Otherwise, if all the young men and women cry out that they want to marry you, what’s to be done?”　　　　

“Then I’ll hide in your honored self’s residence,” she said, firm in her words. “The clothes you give me will aid in my appearance, so you will be responsible for that disaster at least in part.”　　

Her words amused the empress dowager, her listlessness from prior vanishing. The girl next to her was pretty and adorable. So how could she still think of a man who had already passed away?　　

When Wei Mingyue returned from Chenyang Palace, she came across this scene: two rows of servants holding trays of splendid clothes and jewelry in Shoukang Palace. Meanwhile, the empress dowager resembled a hedonistic young noble eager to coax a beauty to joy, allowing said beauty to choose those items as she pleased.　　　　

Oh, the daughter whom she always worried about was the beauty being coaxed.　　

“This forehead ornament’s ruby…　　　　

“Your skin is fair, so it matches well with it,” said the empress dowager, having a palace maid store it away before Hua Liuli could say anything.　　

“The clothes you normally wear are lighter in color. This grieving one finds this red dress, complete with golden tassels embroidered at the foot, gorgeous in appearance.” Then the empress dowager took out a silk scarf that was as thin as a cicada’s wing. Placed it on top of the red dress. “When these two are matched together, you’ll appear like a fairy who descended to the mortal realm. Perfection incarnate.”　　　　

“Your Majesty the empress dowager,” said Wei Mingyue. She did not hold much interest in hairpins and jewelry. So long as she laid eyes on things like that, she would feel a headache coming on.　　

“You are back so quickly?” Disappointment filled the empress dowager’s heart. She still wanted to pick more clothes and jewelry for Hua Liuli.　　　　

She was getting in on her years. Since there was typically not much to do, dressing up Hua Liuli became her hobby.

How the Hua clan raised their daughter proved anyone’s guess; although she was thin and weak, she had a model’s figure, looking pleasant in anything. Dressing up such a girl gave one the most satisfaction.　　

“Come, come. Accompany this grieving one in selecting clothes and jewelry for Liuli,” said the empress dowager, beckoning toward Wei Mingyue. Following that, she said with disdain in passing, “This grieving one knows that you and Yingting are very busy on a daily basis, but you two have such a good-looking daughter. You should be dressing her up in splendid things. The Heavens did not allow you two to birth such a pretty daughter only for you to waste her appearance.”　　　　

“Empress Dowager, how could this humble general and my husband be willing to let Liuli suffer…?”　　

“The way this grieving one sees it, you people are wasting her by not dressing her up to the nines.” The empress dowager pointed at a box of jewelry. “Which of these do you think suit Liuli the most?”　　　　

With a stiff expression, Wei Mingyue replied, “Empress Dowager, this humble general finds attacking our enemies at the border an easier task.”　　

“Oh Liuli, don’t learn from your mother. Back in her youth, she found adorning herself and putting on makeup annoying, so would dress up as a man to go outside.” The empress dowager turned and allowed Hua Liuli to choose pairs of earrings. “It caused the young ladies in the capital to favor a beautiful lady over handsome men.”　　　　

Hua Liuli covered her mouth as she smiled. No wonder that up until now, there were still young ladies who shouted that they wanted to marry her mother. 　　

The empress dowager knew that since the four Hua family members were reuniting, they must desire to see each other. As such, she did not keep the mother and daughter pair for long. Once she gave the items she had picked for Hua Liuli to said girl, the empress dowager allowed them to leave.　　　　

When Hua Liuli returned to the estate, the name plaque that hung outside the main doors read “Marquess Zhongyong’s Estate” instead of the previous “Hua Estate.” The servants who acted as the gatekeepers were now armored soldiers. 　　　　

“Mother, isn’t Daddy retired now?” According to protocol, those not in the military should not have guards who came equipped with swords.　　

“Originally, His Majesty wanted to appoint your father as the Minister of War. But your father rejected the offer due to his old injuries making it too difficult for him to perform his duties,” said Wei Mingyue as she entered through the main doors of the estate. “So His Majesty allowed your father to retain his title as a great general, and conferred him the title of Imperial Tutor to the Crown Prince.”　　

“So that’s how things are.” A light sigh left Hua Liuli’s lips. “This is good too.”　　

“You’re so young. We adults are here to handle our family’s matters, so why are you sighing?” Wei Mingyue made her way to the seat of honor. Sat down. Afterward, she waved to dismiss the servants who had come to salute their master. “His Majesty also conferred me the title of marquess. Even though your father and I do not hold any military power right now, since we are both marquesses, it will trigger envy among others.”　　　　

The moment those words had left her lips, Hua Yingting and Hua Changkong entered the room. Finally, the four of them had a chance to speak to each other.　　

“Mother.” Hua Changkong saluted in a grand manner to Wei Mingyue.　　　　

“These past few days when your father and I were not present, you took care of your younger sister well. You’ve worked hard.” Before her children, Wei Mingyue never donned the attitude of a female general. She patted her son’s shoulder.　　

“The fact that you returned safe and sound puts Son at ease.” Hua Changkong smiled. “Younger Sister has been very well-behaved. I didn’t need to watch over her.”　　

“You don’t have to speak so nicely for her. How would I not be clear on her personality?” Wei Mingyue poked Hua Liuli’s forehead, before turning to Hua Changkong. “I see that you’ve grown thinner. You don’t have to be so diligent in your studies. Your health is more important.”

“That’s right. Your health is most important,” said Hua Yingting, nodding at once. “In our family, we are the most important. Everything else comes second.”　　

“Father and Mother, Son understands and will act within my limits. But right now, the entire Great State of Jin is enjoying peace. In the next forty to fifty years, civil officials will surpass martial officials in position and rank. Our Hua family requires a civil official in the court right now.”　　

“Then you need to drink more soup made with chicken broth, fleece-flower root, and female ginseng,” said Hua Liuli in a soft voice while the rest of her family were extremely emotional. “And you need to have black sesame too.”　　　　

“Why?” asked Hua Yingting, curious. “Good child, what does this have to do with your third brother studying?”　　

“Studying too much may cause balding,” said Hua Liuli. “Third Brother is handsome. If you become bald, you won’t be good-looking anymore.”　　　　

Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue stared at their son together, imagining how he’d look bald. At once, they shook their heads. “You definitely need to drink those soups.”　　

Their Hua family did not have such a hideous son.　　

In the blink of an eye, Hua Changkong fell silent. At this moment, he wondered if he had been adopted.

“Did that Prince A’Wa still make a fuss today?” said Zhang Shuo, the bald head of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review, rubbing his forehead as he flipped through the pages of a book of genealogical records. He read it with keen interest.　　　　

“Deputy Head Pei’s method yielded quite the results. We had people feed Prince A’Wa half a bowl of water today, and he drank it all up obediently without any trouble,” said the official in charge of keeping watch over A’Wa. “But it seems like he still hasn’t given up on seeing Commandery Princess Fushou.” 　　

“Don’t pay attention to him.” To investigate the case, Zhang Shuo flipped through the genealogical records of the families of all persons involved in said case. And he discovered something fascinating.　　

“Speaking of Commandery Princess Fushou, I found something very interesting about the Hua clan.” Zhang Shuo beckoned to Pei Jihuai, who was sitting in the corner thumbing through material for the case. “Come look at this.” 　　

“Sir?” Pei Jihuai thought Zhang Shuo had found some useful evidence, rushing over to see the names his boss was pointing at. They all belonged to members of the Hua family’s former generations.　　　　

“Sir, what do you mean?”　　

“Speaking of the Hua clan, we all think of them as military based. But we never notice that they produced quite a few capable civil officials.” Then Zhang Shuo pointed at another person’s name. “There’s even a prime minister.”　　　　

The few civil officials of the Hua clan had not only reached the highest of positions, but were also able to retire smoothly and steadily. Perhaps this was because the Hua family’s military contributions were too great, thus, people did not realize this other side of them.

After he finished pointing out names to Pei Jihuai, Zhang Shuo was all smiles as he stored away the genealogical record that was in his hands. Touched his bald forehead. “But these are family matters, and don’t have much to do with the case. We should not mention this in public.”　　　　

“Sir is right.” A thought rose in Pei Jihuai’s heart. Yet, he felt he was overthinking it. Maybe it’s just a coincidence?　　

“Sir, His Highness the crown prince’s procession has arrived.”