In the side hall of Kunning Palace, Meng Sangyu leaned crookedly in Emperor Zhouwu’s embrace, holding a pair of small scissors in her hand, trimming a potted pine tree. She looked left and right, cut off an extra tree branch, and placed it in Emperor Zhouwu’s outstretched palm. The bamboo basket for garbage was right at hand, but she was extremely lazy and refused to reach out an inch further.
Emperor Zhouwu was reclining behind her, leisurely reading a book of poetry. When his palm was full, he would casually toss it into the bamboo basket. He did this several times, not finding it annoying in the least.
“Where is Zheng’er?” Meng Sangyu took a sip of tea and brought the teacup to the man’s lips. After he took a sip, she asked. Zheng’er’s real name was Gu Huanzheng. He was Emperor Zhouwu’s only legitimate son, born to Empress Meng. He was three years old this year.
“Went to play in the Imperial Garden with Erbao.” The man’s eyes flickered, and he said as if it were nothing.
“Mm.” Meng Sangyu nodded with relief, tugged on the man’s sleeve, and said with a troubled tone, “I always feel like this pine tree lacks a bit of charm, but I can’t tell what’s wrong with it. What do you think?”
Emperor Zhouwu put down the book of poems, turned the potted plant around a few times, and pointed to a branch, saying, “This cluster is a bit redundant. If you cut it off, you can show the strength and thin beauty of the pine.”
“No way. If I cut it, won’t it look empty here?” Meng Sangyu gestured with the scissors a few times, but hesitated to cut it.
Emperor Zhouwu didn’t say anything, but directly took her scissors and cut off the cluster of branches, then turned the potted plant to show her.
“It really is!” Meng Sangyu was a little annoyed, her eyebrows raised, but after seeing the finished product, she immediately showed a flattering smile.
“You didn’t believe me! You should be punished!” Emperor Zhouwu put his arms around her slender waist and bit her soft cheek. Meng Sangyu gave him a coquettish look and bit him back. The two of them, who had been acting properly just now, started to fool around in an instant, making the newly arrived palace maids dumbfounded.
It was said that the emperor and empress had deep affection for each other, comparable to loving couples among the common people. After meeting them in person, one would realize that rumors were not as shocking as reality.
Nanny Feng and the other elderly servants had long since become accustomed to this and calmly moved the potted plants out of the way to prevent the two from breaking them during their play. Just then, a soft and sweet “Imperial Father, Imperial Mother” rang out at the doorway, causing Emperor Zhouwu, who had been radiant with joy, to freeze instantly.carpreads.pages.dev
He looked back and saw that his son had indeed crossed the threshold with difficulty and was running over to him.
“Gu Shaozhe! Didn’t you say Zheng’er went out to play? How did he come back covered in ink? Did you force him to read and write again? How many times have I told you, he’s still young, he should be playing! He has until he’s six to read and write!” Seeing her son’s hands covered in ink and his face like a little cat, Meng Sangyu immediately got out of bed and pulled her son into her arms to check him over.
“How can you say five* is young? I could recite the Four Books and Five Classics when I was five!” Emperor Zhouwu complained while glaring at his son, seeing that his wife had immediately forgotten him after having a son.
TN: Chinese age, where at birth you’re already one
Gu Huanzheng looked exactly like Emperor Zhouwu when he was a child, with a round face and big, round eyes that made him look very cute. He looked at his father and then at his mother, and stepped forward to take hold of his mother’s skirt, saying obediently, “Mother, don’t blame Father. I was the one who wanted to read and write.”
“Zheng’er is so good!” Meng Sangyu, who looked at her son with raised eyebrows, immediately changed into a smiling and loving motherly face.
“Father said that if Zheng’er studies hard and writes well, he will grow up quickly. When Zheng’er grows up and marries a wife, he will let his wife help imperial mother manage the palace affairs, so that imperial mother can play with Zheng’er every day!” Gu Huanzheng blinked, his face full of anticipation.
Meng Sangyu’s smile froze, and her expression was very strange. Son, hey, do you know that your father has fooled you! Why are you so silly!
“Silly boy! If you want to play, Mother will play with you now. You’re still young and can’t even hold a writing brush properly. Don’t listen to your father. Look at your clothes, Mother can’t even remember what color they were originally!” Meng Sangyu pulled at her son’s pitch-black sleeves, her face full of disgust.
Gu Huanzheng’s eyes sparkled as he nodded repeatedly, his little appearance was adorable. Meng Sangyu didn’t mind that her son was dirty, and she kissed his little face fiercely.
Emperor Zhouwu was full with jealousy. He said in an ill-humored way, “Zheng’er is the future crown prince. He has a heavy responsibility. It will only do him good and no harm to start his education early. If you spoil him like this, you will only harm him. It is said that a loving mother spoils her child. You should understand this principle.”
Meng Sangyu didn’t mind, and she took a demonstrative bite on her son’s face. The child was only three years old, and his childhood was snuffed out before he even understood anything. She always felt sorry for him. If she let her son play for another year, he would only be four years old, and it wouldn’t delay anything.
Emperor Zhouwu’s jealousy was even stronger, and he glared at his son fiercely. Gu Huanzheng nestled into his mother’s arms and said with a wronged expression, “Imperial mother, I heard that there will be another general selection this year. After the draft, imperial father will love the new concubines and will not love us anymore. Let’s go to Qianfo Mountain to find Imperial Grandmother. Didn’t imperial mother say that if we fill in this piece of cloth, we can leave the palace? Zheng’er has filled it in. Mother, please take a look.”
The little dumpling took out a bright yellow silk cloth from his bosom like a treasure and spread it out. It turned out to be the blank imperial edict that Meng Sangyu had collected. It was covered with crooked ink marks. One could vaguely see the words “In the beginning, human nature is good” and there were a few small black handprints on the side.
Meng Sangyu snatched the silk cloth and examined it closely, her hands trembling uncontrollably. Although she also wanted to get rid of this hot potato, she could at least use it to exchange for a small request, such as taking her son home to live for a few days, or accompanying the empress dowager to Mount Qianfo for a few months, but it was definitely not like now, where she had sacrificed herself heroically without getting anything in return. The imperial edict had become the Three Character Classic? This gap was really too big! She couldn’t accept it.
Emperor Zhouwu was taken aback at first, then burst out laughing and hugged his son, praising him repeatedly.
Meng Sangyu finally came to her senses amidst the man’s hearty laughter. She looked into her son’s hopeful black eyes and said with a twitching mouth, “Zhen’er is so capable! Mother is so happy…”
Emperor Zhouwu laughed again, pulling the facially paralyzed Sangyu into his arms, and whispered in her ear, “Don’t worry, I will solve this general selection, and I will not let you and Zheng’er suffer. I only love you, and no other imperial concubine!” He kissed his beloved wife on the face, and his eyes were icy when he looked down. They even provoked his son. Some people are tired of living!
The general selection was approaching soon. This time, Emperor Zhouwu deliberately set aside a day to personally preside over the selection in the hall. Upon hearing the news, the beautiful ladies-in-waiting were all overjoyed. Not only was the emperor exceptionally capable, but he was also very handsome. In his early thirties, he was in the prime of his life and was extremely devoted to the empress. He was a rare husband.
Therefore, the number of noble women in this draft far exceeded that of previous years. The roster sent to the Kunning Palace was a thick stack, with all shapes and sizes, even someone as calm as Meng Sangyu couldn’t help but feel a sense of crisis.
She walked into Chuxiu Palace with Emperor Zhouwu, seemingly relaxed, but her eyes were actually clouded with a layer of gloom. The four concubines knelt down to salute. The four concubines, knelt down and saluted. Concubine Xian, who had not stepped out of the palace gate for a long time, went straight to the corner, afraid of being noticed by the two.
Emperor Zhouwu and Sangyu sat down in the main seat, waved their sleeves to call up the four concubines, and said succinctly, “Let’s begin.”
Outside the hall, a eunuch announced the names in a high-pitched voice. Five beautiful young women gracefully crossed the threshold, knelt down to pay their respects, then raised their delicate necks slightly, their faces flushed with shyness. All five were like new flowers, with outstanding temperaments and appearances, but Emperor Zhouwu merely lowered his eyes to drink tea, not even glancing at them.
The first girl stood out. Meng Sangyu and the four concubines asked some symbolic questions about her family background, and then asked her to perform her talent. The melodious sound of the qin echoed in the hall. The girl was fully immersed, and her fair face glowed, which was quite attractive.
Emperor Zhouwu listened with narrowed eyes, seemingly absorbed. The young woman stole a glance at his expression and lowered her head, smiling slightly.
With her illustrious family background, remarkable appearance, and exceptional talent, everyone assumed that the young lady would undoubtedly be selected. Even she herself was certain of it. However, as soon as the music ended, the emperor ruthlessly uttered, “Discard the tablet.”
The young lady was stunned. After a long while, she retreated to the side, her face still bearing an expression of disbelief, her eyes faintly shimmering with tears. The next four young ladies were also not lacking in talent, appearance, or family background, but the emperor rejected them all.
The first group was quickly screened, and the second group came in. Some were even more beautiful, but they were all rejected one by one. Then came the third and fourth groups, until later, the emperor didn’t even raise his eyes, and waved his sleeves again and again, saying, “Discard!”
Half an hour later, Chang Gui whispered in the emperor’s ear. The emperor frowned, put his arm around Sang Yu’s shoulder, and said softly, “I have government affairs to deal with. You can handle the rest of the women yourself, okay?”
Meng Sangyu had long been stunned by the man’s actions. Her heart was filled with astonishment and emotion, and an inexplicable warmth surged through her. She gripped the man’s large hand tightly, her mouth opening and closing, unsure of what to say.
“Are you so happy that you can’t speak? You have to reward me tonight, you know!” The man whispered, eager to hold her soft lips and grind them, but he had to hold back because of the occasion.
Meng Sangyu’s ears turned slightly red, and she gave him a coquettish glance. Yu Ya’an, who was sitting below the two of them, heard most of this conversation and couldn’t help but be shocked by their deep affection. Three years had passed, and the emperor’s love for the empress had only grown stronger, which was truly a miracle.
Upon hearing that the emperor had left, the remaining court ladies were not disappointed, but instead breathed a sigh of relief. However, their joy was premature. The empress had inherited the emperor’s work ethic. She leaned back lazily in her chair and waved her sleeves repeatedly, uttering the word “discard” from her red lips one after another.
Yu Ya’an seemed to find pleasure in this, and with a wicked smile, she followed the empress’s lead. There were already enough women in the palace, and another batch would definitely lower her standard of living. The other three concubines were not fools either. They covered their gloating smiles with handkerchiefs and unceremoniously threw aside the tablets of the girls they disliked.
This was the most tragic selection in the history of the Great Zhou. The girls cried all the way back to their homes, their tears soaking the Shenwu Gate and the East Main Street. But even so, the ministers were helpless. The emperor was all-powerful, and they dared not disobey him. Besides, even though the emperor had not chosen their own daughters, they could not question him about what was wrong with their daughters. Just thinking about saying such a thing was embarrassing.
Starting from this year, the number of girls in each selection session became fewer and fewer, and none of them were successfully selected. The situation only slightly improved when the princes gradually reached adulthood and needed to get married.