Leaving the Changmen Palace - LTCP 39: Moving Palace

The favorable news quickly reached the other palace, eliciting immense joy from Liu Che himself, as well as from the empress dowager and the grand empress dowager.

Nevertheless, they exercised restraint, wisely recognizing that the firstborn son’s upbringing required careful consideration. They cautioned that too much excitement might disturb the child’s peace, and thus resolved to await the end of the hundredth day before making any further announcements.

Chen Jiao, unable to contain her impatience, gently pressed Liu Che, “It’s merely a few miles distant; let us return and examine it firsthand. After spending two days there, we may then proceed to the other palace to serve the elders.”

Her expression was radiant with joy, her eyes and brows alight with happiness, and it was uncommon to see her so captivated by Liu Che’s gaze that her demeanor seemed to soften entirely.

A delicate, almost coquettish charm lingered in her smile, reminiscent of youthful playfulness.

Liu Che saw this and felt a mixture of sweetness and bitterness in his heart. That she was so happy, despite the fact that the child was not hers, demonstrated her generosity.

But sometimes he wondered if she was indifferent to everything. Was she always right, always flawless, and always unable to demonstrate her abilities?

However, this thought lasted only a moment before the young emperor himself dispelled it: a virtuous wife is always better than a jealous one, and he had no time to reassure his wife, who was constantly vying for his attention.

“The child cannot be left to the elements yet, so Jia Ji will raise it for now,” he said. “The room where the child was born is inauspicious, and we will not be able to see him upon our return, so you should calm down and wait until the child is a month old before taking him to the Jiaofang Hall.”

In general, even when a child is adopted into the empress’ household, he is typically granted the privilege of remaining with his biological mother for approximately a year. Following weaning, he is then introduced to his adoptive mother’s care.

This practice often reflects the reality that, despite the formal adoption, the adoptive mother may not hold the child in genuine regard.

Liu Che’s arrangement was notably shrewd; it served a dual purpose—demonstrating his favoritism toward Chen Jiao while ensuring the child maintained a close bond with his biological mother during his formative years.

Even if Chen Jiao were to bear her own child later on, the status of this eldest son, born of a concubine, could become somewhat delicate. Yet, with the affection and attention he received, his prospects for a relatively comfortable life remained assured.

“Your interpersonal skills are becoming more and more refined,” the voice said within her heart. “At least you’ve learned to repay favors and be considerate.”

That’s what marriage is like. If there are too many complaints and ties, you become calculating, and he will follow suit.

Chen Jiao herself was not calculating, and she was doing things too well.

Liu Che was not made of stone, and he was always embarrassed to receive free food.

However, the past resentment between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and her filial piety, crossed his mind, and his palms and backs of his hands became as hard as meat, so it was not good to be too biased towards her.

For the first time, his true nature was revealed.

Chen Jiao smiled and rolled her eyes at him, “It’s like he’s not your own child, you don’t worry at all.”

She knew she had been overjoyed at the birth of her child, even somewhat inappropriately. If she and Liu Che hadn’t been so close, others might have assumed the worst.

She counted on her fingers and said to him, “After the child is a hundred days old, I’ll make Lady Jia your consort and give her a mansion where she can live alone. The Liangfeng Hall is not far from the Jiaofang Hall, so she can come visit the child anytime. Besides, the mansion has only been empty for a few years, so it’s easy to renovate.”

“It’s not like it was in grandfather’s and father’s time. The Ministry of Imperial Household has a lot of money, so there’s no need to worry about money,” Liu Che said casually. “After all, we live in Weiyang Palace. If it falls into disrepair everywhere, where will the face of the Han Dynasty be? As an emperor, you don’t have as much comfort as princes and kings, that’s simply a joke. I want to start repairing Shanglin Garden next year and build some ponds to train troops. Otherwise, although there are many troops, there are no people skilled in naval warfare, and I’m always worried.”

This was done to protect against the feudal lords in the south.

Although the construction of such a large project would cost a fortune, Chen Jiao agreed with his view without hesitation, “If you don’t have troops capable of pacifying the world, let alone the Huns, perhaps even our own relatives won’t take us seriously… You will definitely hurt their interests in the future. How can you survive without troops?”

She always hits the nail on the head and always understands him so well.

Liu Che looked at her and couldn’t help but smile.

He hugged her in his arms and asked, “Jiaojiao, what do you think our eldest son’s name should be?”

The word Liu Ju only turned around in Chen Jiao’s mind and was swallowed up.

In fact, she had only heard of his name, and didn’t know what the face and voice behind this name looked like.

At that time, she had already started her more than twenty years of imprisonment. In her ears, the name Liu Ju was nothing more than a boy with fine clothes and delicious food, living with his mother in the high and mighty place that once belonged to her…

She lowered her eyes and smiled bitterly in her heart, “It’s just that I can’t help but think of it. Why are you so sensitive?”

Before an awkward silence could settle, she gently cleared her throat and softly suggested, “The firstborn, naturally, is expected to grow up strong and healthy. Why not name him Liu Shou? What are your thoughts, A’ Che?”

Liu Shou indeed proved to be a robust and vigorous child, and the news from Chang’an grew increasingly heartening each day: his weight was rising rapidly, and he was forming close bonds with those around him.

He was peacefully quiet, seldom crying or fussing, and he drifted off to sleep after feeding. His cherubic face, flushed with a tender redness, was utterly endearing.

When the full moon appeared, coinciding with the first day of the lunar new year, the imperial family returned to Chang’an—partly to celebrate the full moon, and partly to partake in the various festivities customary for the first month of the lunar calendar.

Upon her return to the palace, Chen Jiao immediately set aside all else and hurried to see the eldest prince.

As she entered, her gaze was drawn to the child’s delicate features—his face was beautifully pale yet flushed with a gentle rosiness. He nestled comfortably in his mother’s arms, his eyes narrowed in contentment, while tiny milk bubbles still lingered at the corners of his mouth.

Her heart overflowed with love for him.

“Just look at his little fist,” she softly remarked, “it’s not even as large as my palm.”

Given that Jia Ji was still very young, the labor had evidently drained much of her vitality. She gazed tenderly at her son, a mixture of relief and subtle reluctance flickering across her face.

After a brief moment, she gently lifted the child and extended him toward Chen Jiao, “Your Majesty, please hold the child.”

Despite the evident effort it took to lift him, her movements were natural and unforced, revealing a deep-seated affection and trust.

Presenting a child to the Jiaofang Hall would undoubtedly bestow prosperity and prestige upon the entire family.

Jia Ji, unwavering in her conviction, would never hesitate to relinquish this child; she had pondered the matter thoroughly and did not require anyone’s private counsel to dissuade her. She had already exerted her utmost efforts.

Chen Jiao hesitated briefly, a twinge of emotion flickering within her.

To secure her exalted position within the resplendent Weiyang Palace, she had sacrificed countless personal comforts—her childhood among them.

Now, she was about to take this child away from Jia Ji, to separate a mother from her son…

“Even now, do you still have a tender heart?” a voice within her heart jeered with pride. “You must recognize how precious everything you possess truly is. If you hesitate, one day all of this may be snatched away by others—” Chen Jiao felt her resolve stir with a surge of anger.

She lifted her head, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she grasped the ornate swaddling clothes, cradling the child in her arms and tenderly patting his smooth cheeks.

She was surprised: the baby was no heavier than a puppy. Although the birth had been grueling, Jia Ji rested for a full month. How could she not even have the strength to hold him?

She fussed with the child for a while before handing him over to the wet nurse, allowing these tall, strong women to surround the emperor’s eldest son and feed him.

“He hasn’t drunk a drop of my milk—and I don’t have much anyway.” Jia Ji looked around proudly, and finally, when she looked at the eldest prince, satisfaction dawned in her eyes, “As soon as he was born, a wet nurse was waiting for him. I remember my mother saying that the more milk they drink, the more milk you will get. If the child doesn’t drink, it will gradually disappear.”

She looked at Chen Jiao with a hint of anticipation, “Your Majesty, since His Majesty’s eldest son is a month old, I too have left the bloody chamber…”

Chen Jiao smiled, “I’ll have your family visit you in a few days.”

Her smile suddenly bloomed like a flower, and her gaze immediately shifted from the eldest prince to Chen Jiao, her joy palpable, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

After all, she wasn’t old. Compared to her son, or even the title of consort, she perhaps valued the family’s wealth and honor more.

Even when Chen Jiao had just hinted to her that the ceremony for conferring the title was already being prepared, she wasn’t as happy as she was now.

Well, everyone is happy with this transaction, that’s for the best.

She conferred with Jia Ji again, “It’s better to do it today than to wait for another day. Let’s take the eldest prince to Jiaofang Hall today and see if he cries.”

The timing was perfect. Jia Ji was pleased.

Although a certain reluctance had appeared on her young, pretty face, relief now prevailed, “I will do as Your Majesty’s says. I have always listened to Your Majesty!”

The old palace servants who had accompanied her were all recalled to Changxin Hall by the empress dowager, as her birth had gone smoothly and the empress dowager wanted to return to the palace.

Therefore, Changxin Hall naturally needed to be cleaned and prepared. Therefore, Jia Ji made this bold statement, which made her position clear.

She was still the same as her family and would not bow to either side.

Chen Jiao was not at all surprised and said to her, “His Majesty will probably give your brother an official position with a rank of no more than 2,000 shi, but the position is up to him. If your brother has special talents, he can also display them. That’s why you must ask him.”

The gathering concluded with everyone engaging in gracious conversation, and as they prepared to depart, Jia Ji found herself momentarily struggling to see Chen Jiao and her entourage reach the door.

Chen Jiao gracefully stepped into the palanquin, clasping the vibrant swaddling cloths tenderly in her arms.

As the carriage gradually disappeared from view, she cast a backward glance, her gaze lingering on Jia Ji, who remained standing before the hall, watching their departure from afar.

Though her features were no longer distinct—her eyebrows and eyes blurred—the expression of her lingering reluctance and solitary longing was unmistakable.

With a gentle turn of her head, Chen Jiao looked down at the small face nestled in her arms, her heart brimming with complex feelings.

After a moment of silent reflection, she could no longer contain her emotions and released a deep sigh.

Liu Shou, meanwhile, thrived comfortably within the Jiaofang Hall.

Chen Jiao had thoughtfully prepared a cozy chamber for him, complete with attentive wet nurses brought from afar. Perhaps he perceived little of the change; he continued to eat, sleep, and grow without fuss or distress.

Over the course of more than ten days, his development remained steady and promising.

Chen Jiao gently urged the grand princess, “It is now time to invite the Jia family to court. Jia Ji visited the child the day before yesterday, persistently inquiring about this matter.”

The grand princess, however, paid no heed, instead bending down to leisurely entertain Liu Shou, teasing him softly, “Come, come, look here—see the rattle your grandmother brought for you…”

After a moment, she cast a fleeting glance at her daughter and replied perfunctorily, “I will see to it, I will see to it.”

Though the Marquess of Tangyi had other concubines, he had never previously introduced them before Chen Jiao. Now, upon observing the grand princess’ indifferent attitude, Chen Jiao felt a twinge of discomfort.

She was too weary to scold her mother—what purpose would that serve now? It was merely a small favor.

If one truly had the means, one should ensure that the Jia family would never set foot in the palace again.

Soon Liu Che returned, and she didn’t mention it in front of him.

Several family members surrounded Liu Shou. Liu Che held him in his arms and played with him for a while, then, losing patience, handed him back to the wet nurse.

He then asked Chen Jiao, “How is he? Has he been keeping quiet lately?”

“He’s still the same, he knows how to eat and sleep!” She replied with a smile, then sighed involuntarily, “It seems he’s still too young to cling to his birth mother!”

He nodded with relief, “It’s good that he has settled in!”

He ignored the grand princess and smiled at Chen Jiao.

He pulled a strand of silk from her hair, “Look at you. I only occasionally asked you to do some handicrafts, and you’re completely covered in them. Where has that dexterity gone that you used to use to make sachets for me?”

Chen Jiao cast a dismissive glance, “We weren’t married at the time, so all that piety was merely a facade meant to deceive you.”

The remark elicited laughter from everyone, awakening Liu Shou, who then began to cry in a petulant and dissatisfied manner.

That night, Jia Ji departed peacefully in her sleep.

The following morning, when palace attendants discovered her, her body was already cold.

…

TN

“千 (Shí,dàn)”—in ancient times, “shi” could be used as a unit of volume or mass.

E.g. The salaries of officials were often paid in the form of rice, wheat and other grains. Therefore, there was a saying that “a county magistrate earns two thousand shi.” The “shi” here refers to the volume unit of grain.