Chapter 21: Must Not Fall Victim to Gaslighting

Over the following days, under Jiang Daiyin’s guidance, not only did Feng Lingyao’s allergies subside, but she also grew to love this new way of learning.

"Yao'er, why are you looking so down?"

Noticing that Feng Lingyao’s mood seemed off while practicing calligraphy, Jiang Daiyin walked over to her side with concern.

"Mother Empress, in the past, Mother Concubine would never allow me to study these things. She always told Yao'er that I must not perform better than the Seventh Prince, and that I must not outshine him..."

As she spoke, her voice sank, and she seemed to fall into a state of melancholy.

Feng Wuchen stopped writing, his expression vibrant as he spoke with indignation.

"Sixth Sister, if you perform well, that is because of your own hard work. The Noble Consort is only suppressing you. Sixth Sister, you mustn't let her gaslight you!"

He had learned the term "gaslight" from the Empress, and it felt perfectly suited to the current situation.

Jiang Daiyin felt a bit sheepish; she wondered if she had been teaching them too many internet slang terms, but then she reconsidered.

So what? She was already miserable enough to have transmigrated; what could be more tragic than that?

With that, Jiang Daiyin gave Feng Wuchen a thumbs-up.

"Chen'er is right. The more your mother says those things, the more it proves that you are too outstanding, so outstanding that she is afraid."

"Yao'er, you don't need to prove anything to anyone. Just being yourself is enough. In this life, if you care too much about the eyes of others, how tiring that must be."

"After all, you can't guarantee that you are a gold nugget that everyone will like, right?"

"Besides, even a dung beetle wouldn't like a gold ingot!"

Jiang Daiyin had been a head teacher, after all; psychological counseling was second nature to her.

Sure enough, after hearing the words of Jiang Daiyin and Feng Wuchen, Feng Lingyao felt greatly encouraged. A look of determination appeared in her teary eyes, and she nodded heavily.

"In the future, I want to be myself!"

With a proper study partner, Feng Wuchen no longer found his lessons boring, and he could often discuss his studies with Feng Lingyao.

Jiang Daiyin had even planned to introduce courses in public speaking, debating, and had even begun teaching them a foreign language. After all, one can never have too many skills. Who knew when they might come in handy!

Soon, the Empress Dowager returned from Hanshan Temple. As a devout Buddhist, the Empress Dowager made an annual pilgrimage to the temple at a fixed time. Upon her return, she did not make a grand announcement, only allowing the Emperor and Empress to pay their respects; she saw no one else.

Jiang Daiyin had a good impression of this kind old lady. With her benevolent face and gentle, generous nature, she clearly looked like a kind mother-in-law.

"I have been very busy lately," Feng Yud suddenly remarked.

Jiang Daiyin, who had been lost in thought, looked up in confusion. She noticed the dark circles under Feng Yud’s eyes and his poor complexion, and her heart skipped a beat.

Could this "dog emperor" be staying up all night reading memorials? Staying up late shortens one's life, but she couldn't be blamed for that—if anyone was to blame, it was this damned system and the fact that Feng Yud was such a dedicated emperor!

"Your Majesty is diligent in governing and loves the people; this is truly a great blessing for the world!"

Jiang Daiyin poured out her flattery without reserve. Her expression was as sincere as could be, and her tone as sycophantic as necessary.

However, Feng Yud was not pleased to hear this. He hoped for a word of genuine concern, not these empty, grandiose platitudes.

Feng Yud stepped closer to Jiang Daiyin, the faint fragrance emanating from her deepening his gaze. "Can the Empress not show a little concern for me?"

"What does Your Majesty mean? Your servant is showing concern for Your Majesty, am I not?" Jiang Daiyin retreated step by step, forcing a stiff smile.

Watching her, Feng Yud felt a sense of weariness. The Empress had changed so much. Even though they were standing so close, why did he always feel that there was an insurmountable chasm between them?

The look of confusion in Feng Yud’s eyes deepened, and he soon let out a sigh. "I have been listening to the Empress well. Does the Empress have any other instructions for me?"

The question was inexplicable, but Jiang Daiyin reacted quickly. A brilliant smile bloomed on her face: "Then I hope that Your Majesty is happy every day and eats well."

This smile was so dazzling that Feng Yud could not look away. Others only cared about whether he was doing a good job, whether his favor was sufficient, or if the rewards were generous enough; only Jiang Daiyin cared about whether he was happy.

Feng Yud felt his heart melting, and the look in his eyes as he gazed at Jiang Daiyin grew increasingly soft.

"Don't worry, I will eat well. Can the Empress come to bring me Eight Treasure Tea every day? I want to drink it brewed by your own hands."

"Of course I can..."

*Like hell I can!*

Jiang Daiyin smiled on the outside, but on the inside, she had already cursed his ancestors for eighteen generations. She had to run over there every day for this? Did he think she was that free? Her schedule was already tight; now she would have to squeeze in even more time.

The "dog man" was doing this on purpose! It was infuriating.

Feng Yud, however, noticed that the look Jiang Daiyin gave him was somewhat heated, and he curled his lips into a wicked smile. He had just bestowed such special favor upon the Empress; she must be moved to tears. Others tried every possible way to gain entry to the Yangxin Hall to bring him things, yet he had rejected them all. Feng Yud naturally assumed this was a great grace bestowed upon Jiang Daiyin.

Jiang Daiyin’s fingernails were digging into her palms, and she began to wonder if it wouldn't be easier to just poison Feng Yud with a cup of medicine.

But she only had the heart for it, not the nerve. Deep down, she was a bit of a coward.

Feng Yud realized he was becoming more childish; now he even needed to be coaxed to read memorials. Recalling the beginning, he certainly hadn't been in this state. Could it be that as he aged, he was becoming less capable? His expression darkened.

After Jiang Daiyin parted from him, she had no idea why his face changed faster than a flipping book.

On the day of the Empress Dowager’s birthday, the harem, which had previously been a stagnant pool, became lively once more. As the lanterns were lit in the deep of the night, the palace was ablaze with light, filled with music and dance.

"Today is the Mother Empress's birthday. Your son wishes you boundless blessings and a life as long as the Southern Mountains." Feng Yud took Jiang Daiyin’s hand to lead the greetings and well-wishes.

The concubines and civil and military officials followed suit, bowing in unison. "We wish the Empress Dowager boundless blessings and a life as long as the Southern Mountains."

The smile on the Empress Dowager’s face never faded. "Rise, all of you!"

"And where are my grandchildren? Come here and let your Imperial Grandmother see you." The Empress Dowager valued heirs above all else, and she looked down with a joyful expression.

Eight children dressed in fine robes stood in a row, arranged from tallest to shortest, with the Second Princess in the lead.

"May Imperial Grandmother’s life be as vast as the heavens. Your granddaughter wishes you a life as evergreen as the pine and crane, and may you always be filled with joy."

The Second Princess carried herself with grace, and her etiquette was flawless. The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction. "Consort Xiao has taught her well."

Consort Xiao received a flurry of envious and jealous glances. However, those concubines who had given birth to princes looked on with disdain—what was the point of raising a princess so well? She would only be married off eventually. It was better to have a prince, which gave them a sense of security and a pillar of support.

The Third and Fourth Princesses were standard and unremarkable, neither outstanding nor prone to mistakes. The remaining princes drew more attention. In contrast, the Sixth Princess, sandwiched in the middle, was somewhat overlooked.

"Before Imperial Grandmother, your grandson bows and pays his respects. May Imperial Grandmother have a life as long as the Southern Mountains, never declining or collapsing; may you be as flourishing as the pine and cypress, enduring forever."

The Seventh Prince bowed gracefully, his chubby appearance festive and cute, causing the Empress Dowager to laugh until she couldn't close her mouth.