novelraw Chapter 1268 - 473: Palace Schemes or Rebellion? (Part 10)_3
Chapter 1268 - 473: Palace Schemes or Rebellion? (Part 10)_3
Fortunately, the body He Tiantian now inhabits is that of the Empress Dowager, a position of high status. Unless it is a very formal occasion, at other times she can be more at ease.
She could sit cross-legged, or even recline half-relaxed, and no one would question her etiquette.
Inwardly, she allowed herself a tiny bit of cynicism, but outwardly, He Tiantian continued to speak, "How has the Nineteenth Lady been lately?"
Upon hearing the Empress Dowager mention the Nineteenth Lady, Wang Yuan couldn’t quite grasp her intent.
He cautiously replied, "The Nineteenth Lady is now married and it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to frequently visit her maiden family. However, just two days ago, my wife attended a gathering and saw the Nineteenth Lady, noticing that she looked quite well and seemed to be doing fine!"
Wang Yuan deliberately brought up the chrysanthemum viewing banquet from two days ago, and watched He Tiantian from the corner of his eye to gauge her reaction.
He Tiantian, however, appeared as though she was merely engaging in casual conversation.
She showed no reaction upon hearing "the gathering from two days ago."
"That’s good then!"
He Tiantian feigned reassurance and said with a trace of relief, "Truth be told, I genuinely like the Nineteenth Lady!"
"Born of noble lineage, her looks and character are beyond reproach. Yet—"
At this point, He Tiantian displayed an expression of regret and helplessness.
Seeing this, Wang Yuan thought to himself: the Empress Dowager probably isn’t pretending.
Regardless of the Empress Dowager’s fondness, it is certain she’s frustrated over the Nineteenth Lady’s failure to enter the palace.
After all, it directly impacts the interests of her and her son.
Only if the Wang Family’s daughter married Emperor Yongcheng, would the Wang Family strive to aid him in ruling.
Once the little Emperor took the reins of power, his throne would gradually stabilize.
In such a scenario, Empress Dowager He could rest easy, without fear that Prince Liang might usurp her only son’s Dragon Throne!
Alas, for such a wise and decisive person like Empress Dowager He to have given birth to a confused son.
Wang Yuan sighed silently.
"It’s the Nineteenth Lady’s fortune that Her Majesty favors her!"
At this moment, Wang Yuan still couldn’t fathom the thoughts of "Empress Dowager He", and could only respond with polite, insubstantial words.
"But I truly do like her!"
Seeing that enough groundwork had been laid, He Tiantian chose not to waste more time.
She got straight to the point, "I wish to appoint Wang Shijiu as Female Assistant!"
Boom!
Wang Yuan suddenly lifted his head, looking straight at He Tiantian.
He was filled with suspicion and sought to discern something from "Empress Dowager He’s" expression.
Yet, He Tiantian appeared sincere, as if she wasn’t joking.
Female Assistant?
The position of Assistant is equivalent to that of Prime Minister, but a Female Assistant is not the same as a female Prime Minister; it’s a title given to noblewomen in the Previous Dynasty.
It was meant for women who assist and care for the Empress.
Most of the time, it was an honorary position rather than a real official post.
Empress Dowager He favors the Nineteenth Lady, but due to the little Emperor’s antics, she feels she owes the Nineteenth Lady and wants to make a gesture to the Wang Family.
Especially recently, rumors about the Nineteenth Lady have been rampant in the capital.
The reputation of the Nineteenth Lady and the entire Wang Family has been affected.
To soothe the Wang Family, appointing the Nineteenth Lady as Female Assistant would indeed be a brilliant move.
Among the rumors is one claiming that although the Nineteenth Lady is an aristocratic daughter, she is disliked by the Royal Family.
Well, this may sting the Wang Family, yet there’s some truth to it.
It wasn’t that the Royal Family disliked Wang Shijiu, but that the Emperor did not favor her.
Although this is not Wang Shijiu’s fault, it’s Emperor Yongcheng who is blind to her virtues.
Yet society is always harsh on women, and even without Zheng Nianer’s rumors, the disagreement between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager over marriage would cause Wang Shijiu to be mocked.
By proposing "to appoint Wang Shijiu as Female Assistant" now, Empress Dowager He was timely in her comfort, making amends to the Nineteenth Lady and the Wang Family, and declaring to the world her stance—
I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely like Wang Shijiu, and for her sake, I’m even dusting off a title unused for years to bestow upon her!
Wang Yuan believed that if Empress Dowager He truly issued an edict and the Nineteenth Lady indeed became Female Assistant,
All rumors would vanish from the capital, and the Nineteenth Lady would become the envy and jealousy of all other noblewomen.
However, Wang Yuan, being an esteemed minister and an old fox in the Imperial court,
never assessed issues only on the surface.
For the same matter, he couldn’t help but think more, even exploring its potential as a plot or scheme.
A Female Assistant is indeed only an honorary post, "serving the Empress."
He Tiantian was not the Empress, yet she was the Empress Dowager—a regent Empress Dowager.
Her Female Assistant wouldn’t just be a figurehead but, potentially, someone who could assist her in sorting petitions and managing affairs of state!
As he considered this possibility, Wang Yuan’s heart raced...