"As a woman of a noble family, why has she remained unmarried for so long?"
The female official hesitated. This involved a lingering historical issue: back then, Tang Keshu had been betrothed to Prince Qi by the late Emperor. After Prince Qi's death, the Empress Dowager ordered Prince Qi's Estate sealed up. Imperial relatives had tried to argue with reason, but the Empress Dowager's power was absolute.
The Empress Dowager permitted Tang Keshu to marry as she pleased, without interference.
Chapter 40