As the ministers personally witnessed Ding Yun's departure and the Empress Dowager's rejuvenation, many officials who didn't believe in ghosts and gods had their worldviews shattered. Consequently, both the dethronement of the Empress and the Crown Prince were smoothly passed in the court assembly.
The few objectors couldn't resist the prevailing tide.
The entire process would take about another half a month; it couldn't be rushed.
With this matter settled, Emperor Xuande brought up another item: bringing Consort Wu and his son Zhu Qiyu back to the palace from outside to receive education.
That's right, his younger son Zhu Qiyu and his mother Consort Wu had been living outside the palace. It wasn't that Emperor Xuande loved them so much that he protected them outside the palace. It was mainly because Consort Wu's identity was somewhat problematic; she was a descendant of a condemned official. Initially, he hadn't intended to give her a rank, but unexpectedly, she was fortunate enough to become pregnant quickly.
Emperor Xuande had few heirs.
It wasn't easy to simply dismiss her.
Therefore, she could only be given the rank of consort and allowed to live outside the palace.
Originally, if he were to pass away this time, he probably would have brought them back to the palace and asked his mother to help care for them.
Now that the Crown Prince was deposed, it was even more imperative to bring the mother and son back to the palace.
After all, he only had two sons. With Crown Prince Zhu Qizhen deposed, only Zhu Qiyu remained as the heir.
No one opposed this matter.
With the Crown Prince now deposed, Zhu Qiyu was almost certainly the next heir. It was clearly inappropriate for him to continue living outside the palace. If only he were brought back to the palace without his mother, wouldn't that offend the future Empress Dowager?
Therefore, all the ministers agreed without objection.
Thus, this grand court assembly concluded.
As for the promise to allow the two princesses to choose their own marriages, this matter was not easy to declare openly. Moreover, as long as the Empress Dowager and the Emperor did not arrange marriages for them, the two princesses could already be considered to have the right to choose their own marriages.
In short, both promises were successfully fulfilled.
***
Changan Palace, Inner Chamber.
Ding Yun specially dismissed all outsiders and brought her daughter Shunde into the small study, preparing to have a talk with her.
"Shunde, your father and the Empress Dowager have agreed to grant you and your sister Yongqing the right to choose your own marriages. This means whether you want to marry or whom you want to marry, it's up to you. So, Shunde, what are your thoughts now? Speak freely, and I'll give you some advice!"
The original owner's main concern was her two daughters, so Ding Yun naturally had to consider her daughters' wishes.
"Mother, you've truly gone to great lengths for me..."
Hearing Ding Yun say this, Shunde immediately understood that a large part of her mother's previous actions was for the sake of her and her sister's freedom in marriage.
At that moment, she was deeply moved.
However, she quickly calmed down and gave a wry smile.
"Your intentions are good, but you really didn't need to worry so much about us. Even if my sister Yongqing and I are granted so-called freedom in marriage, it's still difficult to have much autonomy. After all, we hardly see any men in this palace. Free love like described in books like 'Romance of the Western Chamber' is impossible.
In the end, the Ministry of Rites will still select candidates for us.
Those who are unwilling to become驸马 (Imperial Son-in-Law) will still be unwilling.
So the difference is merely that before, the Empress Dowager would choose from that group for us, and now we choose from that group ourselves. But when we pick and choose, it's still the same group. In that case, how much difference can it make?
If we explicitly state our unwillingness, the Empress Dowager should not force us and will choose someone we like."
"Uh... Shunde, you don't need to worry.
I've considered this as well. In a while, I'll discuss the matter of leaving the palace with the Empress Dowager and the others.
Since you're already an adult, you can directly move to the Princess's residence. Then you'll have the opportunity to interact with people outside. I will carefully select the people you bring into the Princess's residence; they will absolutely not be disobedient.
If you really can't find anyone you fancy, learn from the Tang Dynasty princesses.
You can even keep a few male consorts.
Just don't go too far, leave some face for your father, or he'll be furious!"
Ding Yun was aware of Shunde's worries, but some things had to be done gradually. She intended to seek freedom for her daughter step by step.
First, freedom in marriage, then freedom of action.
"Mother, why do you always say such things..."
Although Ding Yun often told various stories to change Shunde's temperament, she had still received over a decade of education from female officials. Therefore, upon hearing Ding Yun mention male consorts, she still felt a little shy and embarrassed.
She felt it wasn't something that could be openly discussed.
"I know, I know, I shouldn't say it, right?
As long as you understand my meaning, that's enough. I don't necessarily want you to learn from the Tang Dynasty princesses. Do whatever makes you happy.
Now that I have cultivated successfully and am completely different from the former deposed Empress, you no longer need to endure hardship. Anything you desire, reaching for the stars and moon might be a bit difficult, but other things are not difficult for me at all.
Not just marriage, but other wishes too. Tell me, as long as I can achieve it, tell your mother."
Ding Yun saw her shyness, smiled, patted her shoulder, and continued to chat with her gently.
She wanted to know more of her thoughts.
"Mother, do you know?
A long time ago, what I truly desired was power. Because I felt that with power, you wouldn't have to fawn over the Empress Dowager or fear Empress Sun.
But I didn't know what kind of power I wanted.
It wasn't until later when you told me the story of Lü Wu.
It's a pity I can't become like them.
After all, it's impossible for me to become Empress."
Shunde paused here and then continued,
"Later, I just wanted to get married soon and grow up quickly. That way, perhaps I would have a chance to ask the Empress Dowager to release you from the palace so you could live with me. Then, if we lived together in the Princess's residence, we might have a little more freedom.
I don't know if this can be achieved.
However, speaking of this, what I truly desire is still power. If I had power, why would I need to rely on others' pity and compassion to achieve my own ideas? It's a pity I'm just a woman. If I were a man, perhaps I could even contend for the position of Crown Prince.
Then, no matter what my sister wanted,
I could give it to her...
Even at that time, you wouldn't have been deposed..."
Shunde said all this not because she wanted to become a man herself, but because she lamented that no matter what she desired, it wasn't as useful as actual power.
With power, one wouldn't need to beg others to fulfill their wishes.
Or even help others fulfill their wishes.
Hearing this, Ding Yun pondered for a moment and replied,
"Perhaps it's not impossible. Although it might be quite difficult, we can try. If you truly wish to gain power, we can attempt to see if the path of a princess being upgraded to Imperial Crown Princess, or even becoming an Empress, can be made to work."
"If we don't try, how will we know if we can succeed?"
"Your father can still live for twenty more years, which means we have twenty years to prepare?"
"Shunde, do you want to give it a try?"