Lady Jia Zhen appeared calm and collected on the surface but was actually losing her mind internally.
Another day of wanting to grab a bucket and flee!
Ruan Rensui was also wailing in despair in his heart.
Please, Mother, I beg you, stop causing trouble!
Fei Shangyi could still take a bucket and run, but I don’t even have the option to escape!
It was at this moment that the Grand Shang Palace Mistress arrived.
The imperial court had six bureaus and twenty-four departments, but among them, the Shang Palace Bureau held the highest authority.
Even though the heads of the six bureaus were technically of the same rank, in reality, the Shang Palace Mistress was the highest-ranking female official.
The Grand Shang Palace Mistress was Jia Zhen’s senior and superior, the highest-ranked female officer in the inner court.
She held the rank of Third Grade, an official position equal to the Prime Ministers in the Grand Secretariat.
This was a position specially created by the Emperor.
By the time Ruan Rensui came of age, the Grand Shang Palace Mistress had already passed away, and the Emperor did not appoint a successor.
As a result, many people lacked awareness of her significance.
However, if one were to rewind time to when he was just born, no one involved in palace or governmental affairs could overlook the influence of the Grand Shang Palace Mistress.
Her surname was Wan, given name Li, and courtesy name Pengcheng.
During the Empress Dowager’s regency, a secret case occurred in the palace.
The cause and details were obscured, but the final outcome was clear—the Emperor’s wet nurse, Madam Xu, was sentenced to death by the Empress Dowager, and her entire husband’s family was executed.
According to palace rules, a wet nurse was supposed to leave the palace when the imperial heir turned three years old.
However, at that time, the Emperor was already nine years old.
The other wet nurse who had nursed the Emperor alongside Madam Xu had long been sent home, yet Madam Xu remained.
In other words, to the young Emperor, Madam Xu was someone very dear to him.
And closeness to the Emperor inherently signified power.
The order to execute Madam Xu and exterminate her husband’s family was given by the Empress Dowager, who was then acting as regent.
The deeper implications of this were certainly worth pondering.
It was only after Madam Xu’s execution that the Empress Dowager issued an official decree to all the provinces, selecting educated, composed, and exceptional women to serve as female officials in the inner court, responsible for educating and accompanying the Emperor.
This news spread like wildfire from the imperial capital to every province in the empire.
It was commonly said that when one person rises to prominence, even their dogs and chickens ascend to heaven.
To serve as the Emperor’s female attendant was an extraordinary opportunity!
To the surprise of many, the one who stood out among the selected candidates was Wan Li.
Many women had traveled to the capital to compete for the position—some were from prestigious scholarly families, some were filial daughters who had stayed unmarried to care for widowed mothers.
Some were widowed noblewomen skilled in courtly diplomacy, and some were exceptionally talented women with unique skills.
Wan Li, however, was different from them in one key way—one that made her the subject of much criticism.
She came from a good family and had married into a prominent household.
She had a noble background and a well-established husband’s family.
At the time of selection, she even had a son.
On the surface, she had no compelling reason to leave her life behind and come to the capital.
Her husband had strongly opposed the decision, and she nearly severed ties with him to pursue this path.
There was public criticism within the capital—how could a woman who abandoned her husband and child be trusted to serve and educate the Emperor?
Yet, against all odds, she was selected.
Ruan Rensui had once carefully analyzed this entire event and concluded that the Grand Shang Palace Mistress must have been an incredibly brilliant person.
To be chosen by the Empress Dowager at that time was already impressive.
To later become the Emperor’s trusted confidante was even more remarkable.
After all, when she entered the palace, she had already missed the crucial window to bond with the young Emperor.
Especially considering that the young Emperor had just witnessed his beloved wet nurse being executed by his own mother.
Moreover, Wan Li was someone selected by his mother to enter the palace.
And yet, she still managed to become the Emperor’s trusted aide and eventually attain a rank equivalent to the Prime Ministers.
Who would believe that this woman was ordinary?
Consort De, who had been in the Emperor’s harem for nearly two years, understood the weight of the Grand Shang Palace Mistress’s position better than most.
When Empress Zhu visited earlier, Consort De had refused to get up and greet her.
But now, upon seeing the Grand Shang Palace Mistress, she actually struggled to sit up.
The Grand Shang Palace Mistress appeared to be in her forties.
Surprisingly, contrary to many expectations, she looked incredibly gentle.
She quickly stopped Consort De, urging her to remain lying down.
“How could I possibly accept such courtesy from Your Highness?”
Then she explained her purpose: “His Majesty is currently discussing affairs of state with the Prime Ministers and is unable to come for now. But he is concerned about Your Highness and has sent me to check on the little prince.”
Consort De felt a little disappointed, but not to the point of sadness.
After all, giving birth to a son was ultimately a joyous occasion.
She gestured for the wet nurses to bring the baby closer.
“Let the Grand Shang Palace Mistress have a look so she can report back to His Majesty.”
The wet nurses carefully carried the infant forward.
The Grand Shang Palace Mistress bent slightly, studied the baby for a moment, and smiled.
“The little prince is full and healthy—truly the face of someone destined for good fortune.”
Consort De, hearing this, couldn’t help but smile.
By the time the Emperor arrived, it was already evening.
At this time, he was still young—a gentle and handsome man.
Yet, his demeanor was no different from what Ruan Rensui remembered from his later years.
Lady Xiahou led the palace attendants in greeting the Emperor before they quietly withdrew, leaving the space for the new family of three in the birthing chamber.
Wrapped tightly in swaddling clothes, Ruan Rensui lay there, expressionless, listening to his parents talk.
Or rather, it was mostly his mother talking.
First, she complained about the pain of childbirth—how it felt like her bones were splitting apart, how she had suffered for so long, and how he had taken forever to arrive.
Then, she grumbled that the baby was ugly—red and wrinkled, looking like a little monkey.
Who did he even resemble?
Ruan Rensui: “…”
Finally, she proudly insisted that his father bring him closer to examine his features carefully and determine whom he took after.
Wrapped up like a plump little cabbage worm, Ruan Rensui suddenly felt himself being lifted into the air.
He immediately felt a little less constrained.