That evening, while Zhao Hua was dining with the children in the palace, a servant from the Wardrobe Bureau hurried over with Cheng Yu's court robes.
"Your Majesty, this servant has been commanded to deliver the Prince's court robes to you."
Zhao Hua nodded, "Thank you for your trouble."
Xiao Fuzi stepped forward, took the robes, and displayed them before Zhao Hua.
It was a long yellow robe, embroidered all over with dragons rising from the sea, with a yellow sash tied around the waist embedded with jade from Khotan. The hem was adorned with silver thread depicting rolling waves in lake blue, intertwined in three strands, and embellished with precious gems, giving it an exceptionally stately appearance.
The servant flattered:
"This court robe was made by one hundred and twenty-six palace ladies from the Wardrobe Bureau and the Embroidery Workshop, working non-stop for three days and nights. Despite the tight schedule, they spared no effort in crafting it meticulously."
Zhao Hua gave a faint smile, "You've worked hard. Go and receive your reward from Eunuch Fu."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The servant joyfully replied and followed Xiao Fuzi out.
At the dining table, the two children reacted very differently to Cheng Yu's court robes.
Cheng Yu didn't even glance at them, focused only on eating his meal.
One could hardly call it eating, as the child was simply shoveling plain white rice into his mouth without any accompanying dishes.
On the other hand, Ruo Xin's gaze was immediately drawn to the robes as soon as they were presented, unable to look away.
Now that the palace ladies had left, she put down her chopsticks, wiped her hands, and hurried over to Zhao Hua's side, gently caressing the robes as she said:
"So beautiful! Just like Father's dragon robe!"
Zhao Hua smiled, "Your mother has also made you a new outfit. Later, Aunt Yun Shan will take you to try it on."
"Yay!" Ruo Xin nodded with a smile, "Mother has made me so many new outfits that I can't even wear them all. Even Jin Yue often says she envies me!"
Hearing about a new outfit, Ruo Xin lost all interest in her meal and kept pestering Yun Shan to take her for the fitting right away.
Seeing the child's enthusiasm, Zhao Hua smiled and allowed Yun Shan to take her first.
Turning to Cheng Yu, she noticed he had nearly finished his bowl of plain rice, but hadn't touched any dishes. Concerned, she asked:
"What's wrong, Yu'er?"
Cheng Yu swallowed the rice in his mouth with difficulty and replied with a gloomy expression:
"Mother... I'm afraid."
"Are you afraid of attending court tomorrow?"
The child nodded vigorously, "To face so many officials, your son feels anxious."
Zhao Hua pulled him into her embrace and gently reassured him, "Good child, don't be afraid. Tomorrow, Mother will be by your side. Just treat it like going to the Study for your daily lessons. Listen to what they say, answer if you can, and ignore them if you can't."
She coaxed Cheng Yu into trying on the court robes, checking if they fit properly.
Dressed in the court robes, Cheng Yu looked like a miniature adult, even losing some of his childish innocence.
Yet he still wore a dejected expression as he said, "Mother, I don't like these robes..."
He shook his sleeves and complained, "These robes are so heavy, like a mountain weighing me down."
Zhao Hua smiled silently, gently stroking his hair.
Perhaps Cheng Yu didn't understand yet, but compared to the burden of the nation that would one day rest on his shoulders, the weight of these court robes was trivial.
The next day,
At daybreak, Zhao Hua brought Cheng Yu to the Chaoyang Palace.
As the Prince was to observe court proceedings, he could not sit on the Dragon Throne.
Instead, a lower side seat was added beside the throne for Cheng Yu to observe.
As for Zhao Hua, being a woman, she could not appear in the court itself.
Therefore, a curtained enclosure was set up behind the Dragon Throne, where she could only listen to the discussions from behind the curtain.
After mother and son took their seats, Zhao Hua peeked through the curtain and saw Cheng Yu was very afraid.
He sat on the side seat with his head lowered, not daring to look up at the sea of officials standing below.
From behind this veil of silk, Zhao Hua could only make out the blurred figures of officials standing rigidly before the throne.
Suddenly, she heard the Court Usher announce in a drawn-out voice, "Court is in session!"
The officials immediately responded in unison:
"We humble subjects wish the Prince good health and the Empress longevity."
This thunderous chorus startled Cheng Yu, and he took a deep breath to calm himself, recalling Zhao Hua's instructions from the previous night.
After the officials kowtowed, he was supposed to rise, wave his hand, and permit them to rise.
Mustering his courage, the little boy stood up and stammered:
"Esteemed ministers... You may ri-Uh?"
However, the side seat was too high, and in his nervousness, Cheng Yu failed to watch his step. Before he could finish the words to allow the officials to rise, he stumbled and tumbled down the steps, landing sprawled in front of them all.
The Crown Prince's blunder prompted laughter from the amused officials.
Hearing the jeers, Cheng Yu felt utterly humiliated and terrified, not knowing what to do.
He tried to get up but was hampered by a painful knee, unable to stand for some time.
At that moment,
The officials were startled to see the curtain behind the Dragon Throne swept aside as Zhao Hua emerged, her expression calm. She stepped towards Cheng Yu without hesitation.
Murmurs arose from the officials below, but Zhao Hua paid them no heed, focused only on helping Cheng Yu up, dusting off his knees, and gently saying:
"My son, don't be afraid. You've already done very well."
Suddenly, someone spoke up:
"As a woman, the Empress has already overstepped by listening to court proceedings from behind the curtain, which is against protocol. How dare she now brazenly appear in the court itself!"
Hearing this, Zhao Hua turned to glance at the speaker.
Earlier behind the curtain, she had noticed he was laughing the loudest. Now, recognizing the ceremonial tablet he held, she raised an eyebrow and said:
"So you were the one laughing?"
"This... This humble subject meant no disrespect to the Prince, Your Majesty, please do not..."
"Lord Liu disrespected the Prince's dignity and the Emperor's grace. Take him out and give him thirty lashes as a warning to others."
The guards obeyed and surrounded Lord Liu, who protested:
"The Empress is but a consort from the inner palace. How can she punish a high-ranking minister from the previous reign?"
Zhao Hua sternly replied, "The Emperor himself has permitted me to assist the Prince in court proceedings from behind the curtain. Disrespecting the Prince is disrespecting the Emperor. The Qi Dynasty Laws clearly state that disrespecting imperial authority is punishable by fifty lashes. I am only giving you thirty, which is already a show of leniency! If you disagree, you may report me to the Emperor. But before that, you must first endure these lashes! Take him away!"
What Zhao Hua said was indeed prescribed by the Qi Dynasty Laws, and seeing her adamant stance, no one dared to speak up for Lord Liu. They could only watch helplessly as he was dragged away.
After Zhao Hua helped Cheng Yu back onto the side seat, she fixed the officials with a cold stare and asked:
"Does anyone else wish to laugh?"
The officials chorused, "We do not dare, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Hua silently returned to the curtained enclosure, and only after taking her seat did she sternly declare:
"Since you do not dare, then proceed with your memorials. If there are none, court is dismissed!"
