Chapter 101 Who to Love
On the surface Ye Zhen was gentle and agreeable, too weak to stand up to the wind*, but in fact, she was the most competitive. In the early years, relying on her extraordinary looks, she was able to entice a few noble children, later when she entered the palace, her heart became higher and higher. Even when she fell to the current situation, she would never admit defeat easily. What should belong to her, she would take it back by any means; What she rejected, even if it was destroyed, it couldn't be taken away by others.
She was already very jealous of Guan Suyi, and now when she had choice but to return to the Zhao family, she naturally aimed at the main wife's position. The Guan family paid great attention to honor, righteousness, benevolence, and forgiveness, never doing things to the extreme. Fighting with Guan family's daughter, only need a few round to determine who's the winner and who's the loser. At that time, she would not only take back the main wife's position, but also let the other person's reputation be destroyed and her rank be abolished, so she could completely suppressed her.
So at the beginning of the ceremony, she grabbed Zhao Luli and the two children to show her former status, and then went to talk to Guan Suyi, on the surface expressing her kindness but secretly provocative. She predicted the other person was someone who cared more about the overall situation and would never compete with her. Today she could take the initiative to let her entertain the guests, tomorrow let her preside over sacrificial ceremony, the day after tomorrow dispatched the servants, and manage the account books the day after that… As long as she took a step down, in the future, she would have to retreat step by step, and sooner or later hand over the authority of central-feed.
Inching forward had always been Ye Zhen's forte. After seeing Guan Suyi, she had anticipated very well what she should say and do. But she never thought that Guan Suyi wouldn't play by the rules. Shouldn't she decline with a few words, and then because of her reputation let herself entertain the guests? Seven, seven, forty-nine days, as long as she show her face and make enough gesture, and then find someone to publicize her identity as the main di wife, shouldn't the Guan family take the initiative to give in because of morality and ethics?
With Zhao Luli protecting her and her two children helping her, she was ninety percent sure that she would get the equal wife position after the sacrificial ceremony, and one hundred percent sure that within two years Guan Suyi would be ruined and leave the Zhao Mansion. But she didn't think that the first thing Guan Suyi told her to do was not to entertain guests, but to change the clothes of the dead.
Had she ever experienced a little bit of suffering since she was a child? Everyone who met her, who didn't hold her in the palm of their hand and took care of her? How dare she?
Ye Zhen was so angry that she wanted to vomit blood, but she couldn't take back her words, so she had no choice but look at Zhao Luli.
"Forget it, Zhen'er has a weak temperament, timid as a bean, and has never met sister-in-law, it's inevitable for her to be afraid. Madam, don't be hard on her." As soon as these words were spoken, Zhao Luli was stunned in his heart.
He suddenly realized that he had said something wrong, what was "Madam don't be hard on her"? It was as if Madam bullied Ye Zhen on purpose. However, Madam was always quick to talk, when she had something to say then say it. Ye Zhen ran to ask just as she was about to change sister-in-law's clothes, so she spoke directly. She had a strong personality and very brave, how could she think of how terrifying this kind of thing for ordinary women?
What would she do if she decided that he was deliberately partial to Ye Zhen and choose her between the two of them? Thinking of this, Zhao Luli was already in cold sweat, felt really confuse.
After more than half a year of getting along, he knew enough about Madam's temperament. When faced with this kind of thing, ordinary people might argue with reason; or they would compromise; or they would pretend to be generous and then slowly figure it out. But Madam always looked down on the frost and fight against the white snow*, and do not take big festivals*, and would never entangle herself for a status; not to mention the two Mount Tai were both lofty and unyielding characters, not only would not dissuaded her, but would immediately ask for reconciliation decree.
In the past, he humiliated her several times, Madam would not leave; The Zhao family was in great catastrophe, Madam wife would not leave; He was was thrown into prison, Madam would not leave; As soon as Ye Zhen return, she left. Others would not scold her for being ruthless, but would praise her for her generosity and adult beauty* .
In short, if she choose to stay, she would definitely suffer grievances; if she choose to leave, she would have a more splendid future. With the power and prestige of the Guan family, and with her own talent and conduct, she was enough to match the best men in the Wei Kingdom.
Zhao Luli's face gradually turned pale, and the joy of reuniting with his ex-wife now turned into confusion and fear. Only then he vaguely discovered that he could no longer be separated from Madam, and when he briefly imagined the situation without Madam, he felt like a knife has cut his heart, and the pain even reach the bone marrow.
"I didn't mean it that way." He said anxiously at Madam's mocking eyes, "I'm not blaming Madam…"
"Dad," Zhao Chunxi interrupted his increasingly worse explanation, and said solemnly, "I will accompany mom inside to change the clothes for second aunt. Since mother is timid as a bean, then let her kneel outside and recite the scriptures, don't care about anything. What was our family's situation when she fell into the water, and what is it like now? Not to mention the guests, I'm afraid she doesn't even recognize her relatives and friends, so how can she help?"
When the words fell, she pressed down Ye Zhen's shoulders, which seemed gentle, but in fact implied a warning, "Mother, you haven't returned for many years, and there have been many changes in the family. If you want to help, don't be in a hurry, just clarify the situation first. I'll go in and come out to accompany you later, don't be afraid."
Ye Zhen originally thought she was being helped out, but turned out she was pushed into the pit by her daughter. When she as an older sister-in-law dare not help dressed her younger sister-in-law's body; when she as a mother wanted her daughter to just rush forward, it showed how lowly and cowardly she was, really couldn't be put on the stage! Where was this helping her, it clearly hurting her!
After the funeral, how many people would compare her to Guan Suyi, who was both loyal and brave? How many people would look down on her, and then say the difference was like clouds and mud? Ye Zhen had already lost once, and the ending was tragic, and she would never tolerate a second time.
She gritted her teeth and forced a smile, "You're young and your eight character is weak, I'm afraid you won't be able to suppress the obscurity, so don't be arrogant. When my accident happened, sister-in-law hadn't even been through the door, and now with great difficulty finally met but then forever separate. I'll just take this opportunity to say goodbye and send her on her last journey. You stay and entertain the guests, I'll go."
Zhao Chunxi cheated her mother one round, she should quit while she's ahead, squinted her eyes, and watched her enter the mourning hall with no expression on her face. Where was she still the ignorant, superficial and restless little girl she used to be? The Zhao family had experienced several ups and downs, she had also experienced trials and hardship, and after following her stepmother to learn the six arts of the nobleman and the common affairs of central-feed, her heart has long been cleaned up.
She was more and more greedy for the quiet and comfortable time, and disliked the treacherous inner house fights. Before she knew it, her temperament had gradually moved closer to her stepmother. Anyone could say the words "cross the river in the same boat", but her mother couldn't! Because she was the main cause of the disaster!
Thinking of Ye Zhen's selfish and greedy nature and vicious methods, she was full of worries, staring at her father's eyes and asked bluntly, "Mother is back, how do you plan to accommodate her?"
"She's always be the mistress of the Zhao Mansion, so why talk about how to accommodate?" Zhao Luli's voice was hoarse, "Your mom is as fierce as fire. If I propose to make her an equal wife, she will immediately…"
Because he was full of fear of that conclusion, he didn't dare to speak further, and paused for a while before continued, "If I let Zhen'er be a concubine, you two will become shu daughter and son, so it's absolutely impossible. I'm not afraid for you to see the joke, I don't have any thought right now. If…" If Ye Zhen didn't come back, he wouldn't have to face such a dilemma.
He couldn't bear to let go of Madam; he couldn't bear to treat his ex-wife harshly. Besides, demoting his ex-wife was equivalent to ruining the pair of children. No matter what he done, it was wrong.
"Let me think about it, let's finish the funeral first." He had no choice but to delay.
Zhao Chunxi's face turned pale for a moment, and she murmured, "Dad, we should brace ourselves. Afraid the Zhao family won't be able to keep mom. How broad-minded she is, how and arrogant and free-spirited, how can she be your equal wife?"
At this moment, Zhao Luli almost burst into tears, and finally understood what his two wives meant to him. Ye Zhen was a regret, an obsession, which could be cherished and forgotten, but Guan Suyi was his present and future, and the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
As time went by, he went from being defensive to hating her, from hating to understanding, because of that understanding he paid more attention to her, and because he paid more attention he then admired her. He admired her, looked up to her, trusted her, relied on her. He and she experienced the rise and fall of the family, experienced the death of their relatives, and finally from opposing each other to relying on each other.
Originally they could have lived their whole lives in harmony and happiness, rather than suddenly separated and divided. She was still so young, and it wouldn't take long for her to remarry, and the other person would be like him, increasingly attracted to her, from unfamiliar to understanding to love deeply. They would be in perfect harmony, raised children together, and eventually grow old together and merge into one cave.
Zhao Luli's pale complexion slowly turned to ashen, and his clenched fists made a crackling bones sound, obviously suffering from an incomparable pain.
Seeing him like this, Zhao Chunxi felt sad and helpless in her heart, soothed in a hoarse voice, "Dad, don't think about it, let nature take its course. If mom bent on leaving, how can you keep her?"
"Why can't I keep her? If she's pregnant with the Zhao family's heir, can she leave?" Zhao Luli suddenly let go of his hands and laughed quietly, "I was wrong, as soon as Suyi entered the house, I should treat her well and let her bear a child for me. Doing the math, if it conceived on the night of the wedding, it would be six or seven months now, she would have a big belly, where can she go? Even if she become the equal wife, she has first-rank grant order, far more noble than Zhen'er, and she can be endure it for the sake of the child. I will do everything I can to make up for it, take care of her in every possible way, and will not make her suffer any grievances."
Speaking until here, a decisive look loomed between his brows. The mourning period was three months. In any case, he had to drag it for four months, and then find a way to consummate the marriage with Madam. Even if she was not pregnant with a child and only lost her virginity, the chances of her reconcile and remarry would be greatly reduced.
It was really despicable to do so, but he couldn't care less. In order to keep Madam, he could do anything.
Realizing the solution, the depression on his face dissipated a lot, and he ordered his son and daughter to take good care of Mu Mu, while he himself walked to the front of the mourning hall and listened to the movement inside through a thick curtain. By coincidence or misfortune, a high-pitched scream suddenly came from the inner hall, which made him almost rush in, while the guests sitting around the sacrificial table had already got up one after another and looked around.
He was about to send a few servants to investigate, but was bumped by someone, he lowered his head and saw that it was Ye Zhen, and quickly pushed her away, then raised his hands to show his innocence.
too weak to stand up to the wind*: it means extremely delicate.
looked down on the frost and fight against the white snow*, and do not take big festivals*: it is a metaphor for being steadfast and unyielding despite adversity.
adult beauty*: it refers to doing good deeds for the others or helping others realized their wishes, from the analects of Confucius, yan yuan.
Chapter 102 Humility
Ye Zhen had never seen a dead person before, so she never expected the real scene to be a hundred times more terrifying than she imagined. In order to preserve the body, Ruan shi was placed in a huge ice coffin, her skin glowing blue, her cheeks sunken, and although the corner of her mouth was smiling, it only made it more and more eerie.
Her muscles were frozen, so her her hands and feet couldn't be bent at all. To change her clothes, she had to be picked up and slowly moved back and forth. It's unknown where Guan Suyi had so much strength, she picked up Ruan shi by herself, and then quickly take off the burial clothes and put on the court dress.
During this action, the cut in Ruan shi's belly that was sewed with needles and thread was inevitably revealed, making Ye Zhen's hands and feet weak, if she hadn't covered her mouth in time, she would have collapsed and screamed on the spot. Guan Suyi also asked her to put the shoes on the corpse, how dare she? Without even touching the tip of her toes, she was frightened by the flickering candle flame, and ran out while shouting.
"There is a ghost, there really is a ghost! There's a shadow swaying on the wall!" She threw herself into Zhao Luli's arms, trying to get comfort, but found him quickly pushed her away, then raised his hands and took two steps back. As if feeling it was not right, he put his hands behind his back, and said solemnly, "There are guests outside, don't talk nonsense about ghosts, adding some confusion."
"But I really saw it." Ye Zhen threw herself at him with tears in her eyes, but was avoided again, only then did she realize that the momentary alienation was not an illusion. What is this? Emperor Sheng Yuan accepted her but didn't touch her, now even Zhao Luli wants to draw a line with her. What is this?
Before she could understand, Guan Suyi lifted the curtain and said lightly, "The court dress have been changed, but sister-in-law doesn't look well. I will sort out her remains for her again, and I would like to ask the guests to wait for a moment."
"Naturally, naturally." The guests who were a little flustered just now were infected by her and slowly regained their composure.
She then glanced at Ye Zhen and explained, "The candle flame was shaken by the wind, so the light and shadow were chaotic. It just so happened that I asked her to change the shoes for sister-in-law, maybe she was too afraid and scared herself. If so, then stay in the outer hall and recite the scriptures, so as not to scare till you sick."
Compared with her calm and graceful attitude, Ye Zhen, who was tearful and shouting, was like a clown jumping on the beam, which made people look down a few points.
Ye Zhen also recalled the taste, looked at Zhao Luli, and looked at the guests who were secretly disdainful, her pale cheeks flushed red. Although she had lived in the palace for a long time and had real power, she really didn't need to take care of anything. The internal affairs were basically handled by Baifu, except to inquire about the expenses of the concubines in the palace, there was almost nothing else she need to do, and in order to maintain her "gentle and kind" beautiful image, showing weakness everywhere, and playing tricks behind the scenes, she developed a temperament that couldn't be put on stage.
No one in the palace could compete with her, so she didn't notice, and now when she was facing Guan Suyi, she finally understood what different like clouds and mud was. She herself felt it so strongly, then how about others? Before the so-called "competition" begin, she already lost her momentum.
"I'm sorry, sister, it's me who make a fuss about nothing." She had no choice but to hang in there, "Wait for me to go in and apologize to sister-in-law, I hope her spirit in heaven won't bother with me."
Guan Suyi didn't even look at her, she turned around and entered, and after a while, the word "come in" came out.
Ye Zhen inhaled again and again, but all she could smell was the musty smell emitted by the corpse and the pungent smoke of the candle, and she almost choked up.
Zhao Luli took a deep look at her, and suddenly said, "You don't have to compare yourself with Madam, don't drill into a bull's horns*. You are afraid of these, I know; you are not good at common affairs, I know that too. Since you are back, then just do like before, stayed at the courtyard looking at the scenery, write poems, and don't worry about anything."
Perhaps because the person who was gone had returned and stood by his side, the memories that had been blurred and then beautified in the past became real and clear. Ye Zhen might understood the melody of wind, flowers snow, and moon*, hurting for the spring and sad for autumn, but when it come to managing the house, she was a mess. At that time, his mother was still in a good health, so she handled all the household affairs, both inside and outside, by herself. The two children were either left to the wet nurse and maid, or sent to the main courtyard to be taken care of by her in-laws. Ye Zhen only needed to dress up brightly, then burn a pot of incense, or sit by the lake to play the zither; or stand in front of the window to recite poetry; or improvise poems to pass on to others for appreciation.
The woman who he thought was so talented and had unparalleled charm at that time was now just a vulgar person who was beautiful on the outside and empty on the inside. If she was bent on comparing herself with Madam, she would only become more and more inferior and making a fool of herself. Thinking like this, Zhao Luli warned again, "You stay at the Zhao family with peace of mind, I will not treat you badly, but I will not hurt Madam in the slightest for you. Don't carelessly call her sister, I can see that she doesn't like it."
Ye Zhen couldn't believe her ears. Were these unkind words really said by Zhao Luli, who dead set on her back then? What kind of drugs did Guan Suyi gave him?
But at this time, she obviously couldn't get to the bottom of it. She stared at the person with tears-soaked eyes, and when he took the initiative to dodge and evade, she entered the mourning hall, and then was frightened by Guan Suyi again. She, she was actually putting makeup on the corpse, gently smearing Ruan shi's blue face with her fingertips. Is she still human?
After applying it, she actually said to the dead Ruan shi, "Sister-in-law, this facial cream is specially developed by Jinzi for you, it can completely cover the birthmarks on your face, and it blends very well with your skin color. Because it contains a lot of lead powder, I was afraid it would be harmful for the fetus, so I temporarily withheld it, then I would give it to you when you have a smooth delivery, let you go out beautifully and have a feast with your guests confidently. Next year, let General Zhao ask for grant order for you so you can raise your head. However, things are unpredictable, I haven't send this gift yet, but you actually, you actually…"
She shed two lines of tears, but her expression became more determined. She picked up the brush to slowly drew her eyebrows, and sighed, "Now I can only let you walk beautifully, and went grandly. You have a second-rank grant order, with a posthumous title Zhenlie, even if General Zhao marry a new wife in the future, she will not be able to suppress you, let alone suppress your child. Your spirit in heaven doesn't need to worry. By the way, I named the child Huai'en (to harbor favor), so that he will always remember his mother who sacrificed her life for him. He is very healthy, full of energy when he cries, and doesn't look like a premature baby at all. If it is possible, I really want to hold him over and let you take a look again, but the cold air in the mourning hall is overwhelming, and there are smoke everywhere, I'm afraid of hurting his body, so I had to give up…"
As she spoke softly, Ruan shi's lifeless face gradually restored to its original state. With the birthmarks covered, the willow eyebrows drawn, and the rouge painted on, the facial features were actually very graceful and beautiful. If Zhao Jinyu came back and saw it, how amazing would it be?
The old madam finally cried uncontrollably, shouting "second daughter-in-law" and then "son", howling so loudly that she almost fainted. Guan Suyi hurriedly went to help her, trying to persuade her, but Ye Zhen was already scared silly and hid in the corner while hugging her shoulders.
The relatives and friends outside heard the noise and ran in, and when they saw the radiant Ruan shi, they exclaimed in amazement, then in front of her body they were reminded of their humility and cowardice, tears ran down their lapels, sobbing without sound. If there was no Madam, how bitter her ending was? Wouldn't she die with unresolved grievance?
If the child was not born, it would be one corpse with two lives. There would be no grant order and no posthumous title, and a thin coffin would be buried hastily after three days. Compared with the present, how could it not make people feel a lot of emotion and sadness from it?
"Second daughter-in-law, you can go in peace. With your sister-in-law here, Huai'en will not be lacking anything. Second daughter-in-law, your life is bitter, but your life is also good. Having met your sister-in-law, she personally dressed you in burial clothes, personally put makeup on you, personally send you to reincarnate. You must be die in peace, right? But I am afraid! I am afraid in the future I will not die in peace! If the Zhao family can't keep your sister-in-law, I will not dare die! In this family, only your sister-in-law understands person, without her looking after my old age, without her to manage my funeral, I dare not die, I can't close my eyes ah…"
The old madam was reluctant to part with her second daughter-in-law, and just so happened Ye Zhen came back. Seeing that the Zhao family was about to fall apart again, the bitterness and grief in her heart were all gushed out. She hoped that these words would make her eldest daughter-in-law's heart soften, but she also knew that there was little hope, so she cried even more sadly.
Damned that Ye Zhen, why didn't she die in the palace? For the sake of the two children, the Zhao family could neither drive her away nor demote her. What should they do in the future?
The old madam was almost faint, and Guan Suyi had no alternative but to hug her, and kept patting and comforting her; Zhao Luli quickly knelt down and hugged the two of them and shook them gently; Zhao Wangshu, Zhao Chunxi, and Mu Mu also swarmed over, hugged into a ball and cried. The appearance of a family of six licking each other's wounds was heart-wrenching and even more very moving.
And Ye Zhen had already been squeezed out of the crowd, looking at all of this with resentful eyes. She finally understood that a few years seemed to wear off Zhao Luli's love for her, and instead gave Guan Suyi a heavier feeling. The old madam and the children were also completely subdued by her, putting her first in everything.
The entire Zhao family was circling around Guan Suyi, and she was just an unnecessary burden. Thinking like this, Ye Zhen, who was already quite frightened, was even more shocked, she lost her energy and slumped on the praying mat. Her hair in a bun was sweating, her face was gray, and she looked like a sorry figure. However, before she could recover, Guan Suyi had already comforted the old madam and the children, wiped away her tears and prepared to preside over the ceremony.
She had use all her willpower to hold up her weary legs and walked to Zhao Luli's left side to sit down. No matter what, she was also the original wife, and qualified to be on an equal footing with Guan Suyi. But she underestimated the hard work of a sacrificial ceremony. It turned out that in addition to sitting and reciting the scriptures, she also had to stand up and bow down from time to time, kneeling down on her forehead; read another scripture, stand up and bow, kneel and kowtow, and so on.
Ye Zhen lived in the palace for a long time, pretending to be weak. But overtime she became genuinely weak, and had a hard time breathing after walking a few more steps, so how could she face the two hours of tossing? Her heart was not good, but she could only stiffly carry on. Unexpectedly, just after reading two scriptures and bowing twice, she fell down on the praying mat and couldn't get up for a long time.
The sacrificial ceremony was the most solemn ceremony, and there shouldn't be any mistakes, but today, because of the inexplicable return of the original wife, there have been many troubles. Was she doing it on purpose? This is too vicious! If it's not intentional, then it's even more difficult to be put on stage. It's better to lock her in the side room quickly, and don't come out to shamed people!
Resentment loomed in every guests' eyes, and Zhao Luli was also helpless and exhausted. He knew that Ye Zhen was weak, but he didn't know that she was so weak that she couldn't even hold on to the sacrificial ceremony, then what else could she do? Why he liked this kind of woman back then, now that he thought about it, he found it very unbelievable.
drill into a bull's horns*: it means waste time on insoluble problem.
wind, flowers snow, and moon*: trite poetry subject.
Chapter 103 Dead End
To test whether a clan wife was qualified, not only depended on whether she could take charge of the central-feed, handled family affairs, served her in-laws well, assisted her husband and educated her children, but also whether she could hold up the big scene. The so-called big scenes were none other than sacrificial offerings, including family sacrifices, clan sacrifices, big sacrifices, small sacrifices, annual sacrifices, and festival sacrifices, for the mistress of high gate big clan, she even had to participate in the county sacrifices.
A funeral sacrifice such as the present was the most common but also most important ceremony, not to mention that the hostess' family could not make the slightest mistake, even the insignificant servants or guests must follow the rules from the beginning to the end.
If Ye Zhen couldn't support it because of her serious illness, that was still fine, but she was raised too well by Emperor Sheng Yuan. After a few months imprisoned in the palace, not only did she not look haggard, but she became quite plump, her skin was shiny and lustrous, and her posture was graceful. Just kneeling on the praying mat was already panting, dripping with sweat, her cheeks became more rosy due to anxiety, her eyes were misty due to grievance, and her red lips that opened and closed seemed to be groaning and moaning, showing a bit of coquetry for no reason.
Anyone with discerning eyes wondered, where she was sick? It's clearly because the body was too delicate to bear any tiredness! The Ye family was a family that used to offer "tribute", and the rumors that the women in that clan cultivating the art of seduction since childhood to be favored by the nobles resurfaced in everyone's minds, making them both disgusted and contemptuous.
Every time Ye Zhen gasped, the old madam's forehead jumped violently, and finally she couldn't hold back and scolded, "Enough! If you can't hold it, then hurry down, what are you doing lying around here? Old first (tn: referring to ZLL), send her down. Don't come back for the sacrificial offerings in the future!"
Zhao Luli felt uncomfortable by his mother's sharp knife-like gaze, then turned his face to look at Madam, only to see that she had turn a deaf ear and a blind eye, just continued to recite the scriptures, stood up, bowed, and knelt down to worship. She stood at the front of the mourning hall, and everyone stared at her and followed her. When she recited the sutra, everyone recited it; when she got up, everyone got up; when she knelt down, everyone knelt down in an instant. Her every move was natural and smooth, steady as a mountain, and quickly suppressed the chaos caused by Ye Zhen.
Gradually, no one paid any attention to Ye Zhen's blunder, and no one talked about the Ye family's scandal, the Sanskrit sound were loud in the mourning hall, the mournful thought were like waves, and the previous solemnity was restored.
Zhao Luli didn't dare to delay, he quickly lifted Ye Zhen and hurriedly stepped outside. Feeling the delicate and weak body under his hands, smelling her rich and extravagant fragrance, listening to her extremely coquettish breathing, the flames in his chest became more and more intense, but not from desire, but from uncontrollable anger.
"Enough, this is sister-in-law's funeral, can you be more solemn?" he asked in a low voice.
In order to attract Emperor Sheng Yuan, Ye Zhen often pretended to be sick like this. After five or six years, it became a habit that had been carved into the bone marrow. How could she change it at will? What's more, the rumors outside were correct, the daughter of the Ye family had indeed practiced seduction techniques since they were a child. Let her hook up a man she could, let her be pretentious she could, but let her stand on the bright altar, burn incense to pray, correcting oneself and setting an example, she was completely helpless, because she never knew that women could also have courage and iron bones.
"Li Lang*, I'm really uncomfortable." She touched her ex-husband's cheek with trembling fingertips, but was quickly avoided.
Zhao Luli stared at her tear-filled eyes, but in the end there was no more flare up, only his footsteps were much faster. When he arrived at the east wing, he put the person on the soft couch and said in a deep voice, "Sit down for a while, I'll get some hot water, and after you wash up, lie down and rest. You don't have to go to keep watch tonight."
Ye Zhen knew that she had lost all her face, and did not dare to entangle too much, so she agreed in a low voice. When the tall man's figure disappeared into the corner, she picked up a bronze mirror and looked at it carefully. Although the woman in the mirror was in her early thirties, she looked like a young girl. For some reason, there was a tear mole under her right eye, and she couldn't wash it off.
She rubbed and rubbed, rubbed and rubbed, and saw that her skin was slightly red and swollen before she reluctantly gave up. There was no doubt that this must be the handwriting of Emperor Sheng Yuan. Back then she changed one character from Ye Zhen to Ye Zhēn; now she had added a mole and changed from Ye Zhēn back to Ye Zhen, after going around she still get nothing, leaving only resentment and humiliation.
There was no way to go back to the palace, and the Zhao family seemed to have no place to stand, she suddenly felt a little confuse and helpless. But if she admits defeat easily, she would not be Ye Zhen who had a heart higher than the sky, so when Zhao Luli asked the monk to boil hot water, make a vegetarian meal, and ordered the servant girl to bring it back, he found that she had returned to normal, sitting by the table slowly writing something.
"Come and wash your face then eat." In order to avoid suspicion, he stood at the door and never entered.
"Back then I was infected with snake venom to save someone, since then my physical strength has always been poor. I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the next ceremony. But I can't do nothing. After thinking about it, I only have literary talent on my hand, then I'll write a sacrificial eulogy to comfort sister-in-law's spirit in heaven. Li Lang, come and help me take a look."
Ye Zhen was imprison in Ganquan Palace for several months, how did she know about the outside world? She prided herself on being talented, but she never thought that Guan Suyi's talent was much higher than her. Even a crafty talent like Xu Guangzhi didn't dare to steal her edge, then who was this Ye Zhen? What virtue, what ability did she have?
Not to mention Zhao Luli's face was strange, even the maid who brought the water gave this "first madam" a deep look, and cursed in her heart, "Playing an axe in front of Luban's gate* ".
"You have a heart. After you write it, burn it for sister-in-law." Zhao Luli stood by the door with his hands behind his back, resolutely refusing to enter.
Ye Zhen's hand that was preparing to wipe away her tears froze slightly, she never expected that he would not even look at it, let alone take it in front of the coffin to recite, and actually let her burn it on the spot. Did he thought that the article she wrote with painstaking effort was paper money and incense candles?
"I remembered that brother-in-law was still fighting at the border, but his wife and child encounter great catastrophe, Heaven and people were separated forever. For a while, sadness came, thoughts gushed out, and wrote this sacrificial eulogy hastily. Help me take a look, if you think it's acceptable then take it to the front of the spirit and read it. Younger sister came from literary family, and should have also written a sacrificial eulogy. Although I can't compare to her, thinking about sister-in-law who are still wandering on the Naihe Bridge*, I had to reluctantly pick up the brush and try my best." Ye Zhen's mouth was humble, but her heart was full of pride.
Zhao Luli was repeatedly asked by her, in the end he could not resist, so he had to come in and read the manuscript, and finally sighed in his heart. This was indeed a good article with beautiful rhetoric. Ye Zhen's poetic essay had always been good, combining the most gorgeous words and sentences with the most harmonious rhythm, making people who read it felt it was an eloquence writing. But that was it, except for beauty, the words on the paper were actually empty, and the most important thing that should not be missing in the sacrificial eulogy were actually an inner mourning and pain.
"This is the sacrificial eulogy made by Madam. After you read it, you can decide whether to take this article out and recite it." without much dissuasion, he took out a neatly folded manuscript from the sachet he carried with him, and laid it flat on the table.
Ye Zhen was still a little indifferent at first, but after reading two paragraphs, her eyes were flushed, and at the end, she shed two lines of tears silently. The thrill of that day was intertwined with life and death, it was suspended in her mind, making her immersed in the situation, and the pain penetrated into the bone marrow. Although the writing in this article was simple and not put emphasis on rhythm, it had the power to directly hit the soul, which was by no means comparable to ordinary words.
Zhao Luli put away the manuscript like it was a great treasure and sighed, "This sacrificial eulogy has been selected to be put on the "Xuan Guang Anthology", and in the first place. It has overwhelmed all the literary giants, won the reputation of the best in the present literary world, and has spread throughout the Wei Kingdom, enter deeply into the people's heart. This ceremony, because both the Guan and Zhong families were present, it attracted countless literati to come to offer condolences, they should make sacrificial eulogy to comfort the dead, but because of this beautifully written article at the front, they didn't dare the risk of showing their crudeness, so everyone put their brush back into their sleeves and concentrated on praying."
He fixedly looked at his ex-wife and said bluntly, "I know that you are unwilling to lose the position of the main wife, so you want to compete with Madam again and again. However, you should understand your own situation. It is still the old saying, you are neither good at common affairs nor good at running the house, let alone have the graceful bearing of the mistress and a clan wife. Instead of making too much talk, too much mistake, and losing face at every step, it's better to keep silent and know your own place. Don't you think?"
Ye Zhen was first shaken by Guan Suyi's talent, and then hearing her ex-husband belittle her, her resentment burst out. She even forgot that she was a weak woman who was "indifferent to the world" and scolded, "Zhao Luli, you ruthless heartless man! How did you get your title, how were you able to preserve your life, have you forgotten? I gave everything to you, and in the end you treated me like this, wanting to trap me in the back house and humiliate me for the rest of my life, you are so cruel!"
Zhao Luli also lost his calm and roared with red eyes, "Ye Zhen, you shut up! Your so-called life-saving grace and support are not what I want! If I could, I would rather die under the military punishment than live this drifting life; If I could, I would rather be stationed at the border and never return, rather than staying in Yanjing and become Marquis Zhenbei. In the end, none of this is what I deserve, I don't feel sorry for losing them, I just feel happy! You always say how much you have sacrificed for me, why don't you ask me if I need your sacrifice? To be a coward, a bad guy, living in humiliation forever and ever, this is what you gave me!"
He suddenly calmed down, and his tone was softer than ever before, "And Madam never give me anything on her own initiative. If I do something wrong, she will blame me, complain to me, and even scold me, but she will not cover it up for me, let me resign to my fate and lost my dignity. She made me wake up from my drunken stupor; she ordered me to bear thorns and wash away my sins; she asked me to raise my head and be an upright man. I have neither power nor title now, but I live a good life, I take in the orphans of my soldiers to cultivate the fields, I recruit the disable soldiers to set up caravans, I gave them a way to live and gave myself a new life. I am not Marquis Zhenbei now, but Zhao Luli, a commoner, but I am happy!"
He looked straight into his ex-wife's eyes and said word by word, "I've never been so happy before or after you left. I know how a real couple should get along, it's not that one person works hard and the other is forced to bear; one person's mind is fully restrained, and the other is wildly speculating. Real couple can quarrel and even fight when they make mistakes, but they quickly unite and help each other when they encounter disasters. They have no reservation and treat each other frankly, so they can grow old together and love each other for a lifetime. Do you know? Before you come back, I thought Madam and I could love each other for a lifetime, but now…"
He slumped in his chair, finally choked up with sob.
Looking at her ex-husband who was heartbroken, Ye Zhen's last remaining chance was also shattered. Only then did she understood what it means to "have nothing and come to a dead end".
t/N: About the "twin" Ye Zhen's name, the Zhen in those two names are different character, one is 叶蓁, the other is 叶珍, but they sound the same and the pinyin is the same (yè zhēn), so I thought I don't need to differentiate and just write both Ye Zhen, but turns out it's kinda important distinction. So to differentiate Ye Zhen = Zhao Luli's wife and Ye Zhēn = palace concubine.
Lang*: a term of address used by women for their husband or lover, something like darling or love.
Playing an axe in front of Luban's gate* : lu ban was a skilled craftsman during spring and fall period, so this idiom means showing off one's slight skill in front of an expert.
Naihe Bridge*: a place where people must pass through to reincarnate.
Chapter 104 Exploit
(Trigger warning: Contain act of self-harm)
Ye Zhen fully believe that Zhao Luli, who lost and found her, would definitely treat her as a fragile treasure, but she didn't expect that providing was just providing, like Emperor Sheng Yuan, he only gave her a house, a vague identity, and then just let her spend the rest of her life like that.
Back then she asked Zhao Luli to marry Guan Suyi in order to prevent the other person from entering the palace, thereby taking away her favor and power. In the end, Guan Suyi did not enter the palace, but she returned to the Zhao family and still had to live under the other person's hands. Was this the cycle of fate that she could not escape?
Ye Zhen felt a chill all over her body, and she felt both unwilling and resentful, but also fearful and hesitant. Looking at Zhao Luli, who was still immersed in his pain, she finally gritted her teeth and took the silver hairpin on her hair, then stabbed her wrist hard with it. The blood splattered instantly and fell on the other person's face. The warm liquid carried a strong fishy smell, causing him to suddenly wake up.
"What are you doing?" He took away the silver hairpin, clenched the upper end of the wound tightly, while untangling the filial cloth around his waist to stop the bleeding.
"What am I doing? Of course to die! At that time when I was sent out like a cargo by father-in-law, I should have died. I tried to kill myself several times but rescued every times. The last time I was on the Naihe Bridge, I thought of you and the children in a trance, and thinking about how you would live without me, I struggled to climb up again. I was tormented in that shameful place, suffered bullying, suffered humiliation, and only able to survive by thinking about you and the children every night, and I had to cover my mouth when I dreamed, for fear that I accidentally called your name and caused others to hear it, incite a great disaster. With great difficulty waited until that man get tired of me and let me go, but you told me that everything I've done is wrong. Then I, Ye Zhen, am what? What is everything that I gave you? A joke?"
Through the misty tears, she tried to distinguish the expression of her ex-husband, and made sure that he really regretted and felt guilty, and then she felt relieved. Fortunately, Emperor Sheng Yuan still remembered some old feelings, and when he sent her back to the Zhao Mansion, he concealed the scandal of that year, otherwise she would really have nowhere to go.
"What are you stopping me for? If I die, wouldn't it be as you wished? Wouldn't everything be resolved? In this life, you can still grow old with Guan Suyi, love each other for a lifetime. I can fulfill you once, twice, naturally I can fulfill you three or four times, I can even give you my life!" Based on her understanding of her ex-husband, she naturally knew where to stab the knife in his heart, so every word was like a sharp blade that had been dipped in poison.
Zhao Luli was the most reluctant to recall the past, and even more hated others for mentioning it, but this person was Ye Zhen. Ye Zhen who almost gave her all up for him, there was no other way but to recognize it.
"Don't talk anymore, it's my fault. It's all my fault. You should live well." He wrapped her wrist tightly, and when the blood finally stopped, he sat down dejectedly, his heart turned to ashes.
Ye Zhen was always so fragile, occasionally she would stand in front of the window and cry silently when the flowers withered and the leaves flew off. At that time, he felt that she was so pitiful and lovely, and he just wanted to hold her in his hands and protect her, so she would not be hurt in the slightest. But now, when he himself had become a man covered in bruises; when he himself was exhausted and had nowhere to go, taking care of Ye Zhen was like carrying a boulder on his back, the more he walked, the heavier he felt.
He already expected that one day he would be crushed, even crushed to the bones, but he couldn't throw her away halfway. If Guan Suyi was his salvation, then Ye Zhen was his sin. Since this sin could no longer be rid of, what kind of delusion to get salvation?
His heart was full of despair, but it quickly replaced by perseverance. He wiped off the discomposure expression on his face, stood up and walked out without looking back, "The wound is a bit deep, I will let the doctor handle it. You have a good rest. Since you persevere until now for me and the two children, for the sake of Xi'er and Wangshu, don't seek death so easily. They waited for a long time for you to come back. If you leave them again, let alone in this life, even in the next life, they will not forgive you."
Ye Zhen hurriedly nodded and agreed, with a little sadness in her eyes. However, in fact, she had no feelings for the two children at all, so how could she care whether they forgive her or not? But this reminded her that without her husband's favor, she still gave birth to a pair of children for the Zhao family, this was her foundation! Zhao Chunxi had already been captured by Guan Suyi, and it was not easy to fool her; however, Zhao Wangshu was very close to her and also the heir of the Zhao family.
Just thinking of this, Zhao Wangshu's worried voice came from outside the door, "Mother, are you feeling better? I sneaked out pretending to go to the restroom to see you, and brought you the famous dish of Jueyin Temple, Susanxian. It's really delicious." He ran in with a steaming food container, his face full of admiration.
Ye Zhen pretended to be panic and hid the wound, a sincere smile slowly bloomed on her face. What is the meaning of 'Heaven never bars people's way'? This exactly it.
—-
The morning ceremony finally ended. Guan Suyi was about to stand up when someone grabbed her arm firmly. When she looked up, it was Zhao Luli. As he pulled her up, he bent down and patted her slightly dusty skirt, and said with concern, "I see that you are staggering, your legs and feet should feel numb after kneeling for a long time. You get up slowly, walk slowly, and don't use too much force, otherwise the skin will be as painful as a pincushion. Your husband will help you go back to soak your feet, and then rub your muscles vigorously with medicinal wine, then you will be much better in the afternoon."
The soles of Guan Suyi's feet really felt like stepping on needle felt, tingling so badly that she couldn't struggle for a while, actually half hugged by him and carried to the west wing.
Jinzi and Minglan hurriedly stepped forward to grab people, but were stopped by the old madam, "You people have no eyesight, the master and the madam have a good relationship, what are you mixing in? Still not send me back yet?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Zhao Wangshu rushing in, and in front of relatives and friends who had not left, he knelt down in front of his stepmother with a thud and begged, "Mom, please allow my mother to return home! In order not to make things difficult for you, she almost cut her wrists to commit suicide just now. Mom, you are always generous and benevolent, can you bear to watch us mother and child to live but not see, live far away from each other? Mom, count me as begging you! I will kowtow to you!"
Guan Suyi held her forehead with her palm and said calmly, "Since you know that I am benevolent, you should know that I will never separate you mother and child. Isn't she already staying? You go back and take good care of your mother and tell her not to think too much. When your second aunt's funeral is over, she will be able to go home with you." She firmly and slowly brushed Zhao Luli away, asked, "Have you hired a doctor for her? Is the wound deep? Never mind, I'll go and see it for myself." As she said that, she naturally grabbed Jinzi and Minglan, and stumbled to the east wing.
Zhao Wangshu was overjoyed, hurriedly followed her, but did not notice that the faces of his father, sister, and grandmother had turned pale.
When Guan Suyi personally admitted Ye Zhen, it was equivalent for her to choose to leave; the calmer she was, the firmer her heart became. She was not a difficult person to understand, that's why she had the charm to make people trust and attach to her. Zhao Luli seemed to have been knocked on with a rod, and the pain was so painful that he almost lost consciousness; the old madam was already dizzy and shaky, and only with Zhao Chunxi's support she did not fall on the spot.
The relatives and friends didn't know what to do, they just sighed at Madam Guan's generosity, again sighed at her complacency, and then slowly dispersed.
One cry, two make a fuss, three hang herself was Ye Zhen's best trick, how could Guan Suyi take it seriously? After confirming from the doctor's mouth that her wound was not serious, she left without staying too long.
In the afternoon, many condolence guests poured in to the Jueyin Temple. It was the emperor who suddenly conferred Ruan shi a second-rank grant order and specially given her a posthumous title. Previously, only gifts were given, but at this time the people who have not been there in person have to get off their high horse and send the mistress, or their di sons and grandsons with some faces to come to worship.
They didn't come in the first few days, but only came now, obviously not willingly, but because of the rules or the power. Guan Suyi would rather they don't come, but she had no choice but to force a smile, build up her spirits, and deal with them one by one. Among them, there were several declining noble families who were very disrespectful to the Guan family due to their political differences, the womenfolk who were sent had unpleasant faces, arrogant and rude, making Guan Suyi almost had a seizure on the spot.
She recited the scriptures again and again and tried to endure, but found out that they had prepared a generous gift to visit Ye Zhen in the East Wing, as if they want to slap her face hard. After a while, Ye Zhen came slowly, surrounded by many womenfolk, with bloody gauze wrapped around her wrist, her face was as pale as paper, looking a bit pitiful.
Before the ceremony started, they sat down on one side of the mourning hall and spoke softly, just at the volume that the surrounding guests could hear them.
"Everyone talked about righteousness and courage, all I see it's a ruthless heart and black hand, even the belly of her own sister-in-law can be cut open, is there anything she can't do? Sister, you are also pitiful, not able to come back earlier, but after she married into the Zhao family. You should be more careful, people who can cut open other people's stomach, what other ruthless things she cannot do."
"Saving life then saving life, cutting open the stomach then cutting open the stomach. It's true that she save the di son of the second house, but it's also true that her hands are black. If I live under the same roof with such a person, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep at night."
"Where in the world can a woman do such a thing? The grand princess also praised her as the Yao and Shun among women, it's like comparing her to a tall and burly man, it reminded me of another sentence – no poison, no great man*. If you think about it, she has the ability to suppress many men. If you don't believe me, go to the street market and ask, see which man dares to make such a decision. She's said to be righteous, but how ones to know that at the back her hands were black. Those of us who are soft-hearted should try to stay away from her as much as possible, to avoid one day she cut us open in the name of righteousness."
"That's right. When I saw her hands, my heart sank. They had sewed the belly of a dead person. I don't know what the emperor thought, but he praised her so much and then posthumously conferred Ruan shi. In my opinion he should denounce her and then send her to a village, as a warning for others, lest there are women in the capital who are about to give birth, and then cutting their stomach one by one in order to earn a title. Throughout the ages, the number of women who died from childbirth is countless, so why is only Ruan shi that stand out? The emperor posthumously conferred this one, and in the future, whether you have difficult birth or not, whether you live or die, everyone will cut your stomach with a knife. Then how can us women live? The so-called top moves, under follows* effect is just like this, the emperor did a really bad job this time!" A young woman hugged her shoulders with her trembling hands, her face full of worry.
Gradually, the surrounding guests began to look at Guan Suyi with strange eyes. Saving people was not false, and having black hands was also not false, which was enough to glimpse at this person's cold heart and firm idea. People need to be careful everywhere when dealing with her. If it's a friend, that's fine. If it's an enemy, the end was doomed to be miserable. And although she saved people, the honor she received was too much. If it mislead some people with wrong minds, in the future, when women had difficult childbirth they could also be cut open, so where they can cry out their grievance?
Thinking like this, Madam Guan doesn't seem to be the type one can have deep friendships with, indeed needs to stay far away.
Only after a while, there was no one around Guan Suyi. She looked left and right, feeling quite absurd, and walked to Ye Zhen and whispered, "Please everyone keep your voice down, and don't cause trouble for my Zhao family. His Majesty is high above, but he's making a great fanfare and stir up the crowd for an ordinary woman, then since you already noticed something is not right, could it be you cannot think deeply? You can go outside without anything, but you can't be without brain, even more can't be without controlling your mouth."
She put her two fingers together, then tapped her forehead, then pressed her lips, and walked away.
'Heaven never bars people's way': do not despair and you will find a way through.
no poison, no great man*: if you cannot be cruel you cannot be a man.
top moves, under follows*: it means subordinates follow the example of their superiors.
Chapter 105 Resentment
When Ye Zhen came out to meet the guest, Zhao Luli was like an enraged beast with all the hair on his body standing up. The good memories he shared with Ye Zhen had long been replaced with Madam's frowns, smiles, joy and anger, so he could maintain a clear head and glimpse the truth through the illusory light and shadow.
After Ye Zhen's return, it seemed that "anxious" was not enough to describe her various behavior, and it's more appropriate to replace it with "aggressive". She was forcing Madam to recognize her original di wife status, and then let her retreat to the position of equal wife. Wasn't she always kind, weak, and indifferent to the world? Could it be that the Imperial Palace was really a shameful place that could make her change so much?
Seeing that she was surrounded by noble family's womenfolk and criticized Madam in a playful tone, Zhao Luli wanted to walk over and drive them all away. However, Madam was always steadfast and her face was as usual. She put her two fingers together and tapped on her full and smooth forehead, and then pressed it on her rosy and shiny lips, spitting out words as sharp as a knife, making everyone stunned and afraid to speak.
It looked so beautiful, Zhao Luli stared at her closely, his heart pounding.
Zhao Chunxi had long been able to resist the invasion of her stepmother's beauty, and it only take a few moment before she recovered from her daze and walked quickly. She knew that her stepmother was by no means a kind of person who shoot without aim*. She said that the emperor had other motive to posthumously confer the second aunt, so this matter must be true.
"Mom, have you guess something? Does it have anything to do with our family? Is it important?" She asked in whisper.
"It has nothing to do with the Zhao family, don't worry. Take good care of your mother, don't let her be used as a gunman by other people." Guan Suyi looked at the mature and prudent Zhao Chunxi, and felt a lot of emotion in her heart. The person who used to be the most jealous was now the closest to her. Even when her biological mother return, she could look at the problem rationally and kept her inner beliefs; unlike Zhao Wangshu, no matter how good you were to him before, as long as others instigate him slightly, he could immediately change his original intention, and would not return.
In the final analysis, it was all due to character, regardless of whether the nature was good or bad. Therefore, Guan Suyi did not hold any resentment, nor was she angry, and she instructed lightly, "Go back and kneel, the ceremony is about to begin. You don't need to ask more about these things, you will know sooner or later."
Zhao Chunxi nodded obediently, walked to Ye Zhen and whispered, "Mother, are you okay? The ceremony is about to start. If you can't hold on, your daughter will send you back to your room to rest."
Ye Zhen naturally didn't want to kneel and worship for two hours, and quickly held her forehead to pretend to be weak, but she didn't expect that as soon as she walked into the backyard with her daughter, she was pushed into the rockery hole and warned in a low voice, "Only daddy would believe the lie that you asked to leave the palace yourself. How could I not understand your temperament? You are the kind of person who don't shed tears until you see the coffin*. If you don't already lose all hope of getting back the favor and worry about your life, how can you be willing to give up the glory and wealth in the palace? Now that you have nothing, you think of us. Do you treat us father and children as objects without flesh and feeling? I know about a lot of things you did in the palace, saying that you sacrificed everything for daddy, but I saw that you hooked up with the emperor very happily! Do you remember the poison you gave me? If you annoyed me, I will bring it to daddy to expose your true face!"
Seeing Ye Zhen's shocked and angry expression, she said word by word, "I was looking forward to your coming back, but then I gradually realized that your heart is higher than the sky and you will never come back, so I thought that I would also fly to you. At the same height, I can see you all the time and be close to you. But I now understand that tearing off other people's skin to harden a pair of wings for yourself, without the support of bone wings, it will fall off sooner or later. Look at yourself, how embarrassed, how defeated, but you still don't know how to repent and still do all the shameful things! You still want to compete with stepmother and try your best to push her down! Take out your appearance, talent, temperament, and moral character one by one, which one can you compare with her? Where were you when daddy was poisoned with alcohol and dying? Where were you when the Zhao family were stripped off its title and the mansion was raided? Where were you when I was almost insulted by the officers? Where were you when the Ye family wanted to dragged the Zhao family to the grave with them? You were not in every single one of them. After abandoning your husband and children, what qualifications do you have to be the mistress of the Zhao family? What qualifications do you have to be daddy's wife? What qualifications do you have to let me and my brother call you mother?"
Zhao Chunxi burst into tears as she spoke, and choked up, "However, you are our mother after all, we can't deny that. So when you come back, we accept it. We just hope that you will be honest, peacefully know your place, don't make chaos for our family again, let alone use my brother to hurt stepmother! If you don't listen to me, yes, I'll let daddy know who you really are. You better behave!" After the words fell she resolutely pushed Ye Zhen away, and flung her sleeves as she leave.
After a long time, Ye Zhen walked out of the rockery, her face was expressionless, but there were many bloodstains on her palm.
At the same time, the Sanskrit sound and the sound of wooden fish resounding inside the mourning hall. Except for the Zhao family who were kneeling at the front, the rest of them were absent-minded, and their thoughts were not in the right place. They repeatedly pondered Madam Guan's words. Naturally, His Majesty wouldn't make a big fuss and stir up the crowd for ordinary women, in other words, there must be another deep meaning behind his actions. But what exactly is it? General Zhao won a big victory in the border, so he need to be appeased?
No way. There has been no good news at all recently, and there are too many generals stationed at the border, generals who have a higher rank than General Zhao were not a few, why he needed to be appeased? There must be another meaning behind it, but no one had grasped it.
Everyone wanted to ask Madam Guan, but they were worried that they would be make mistakes if they said too much, so they had to hide it. The women who were intimidated by her didn't take it to heart at all. Before the ceremony was over, they all made excuses to leave, slapping the Zhao family's face again, and returned to the their mansion to learn a shocking news – The affairs of the world was so coincidental, the emperor's biological mother also had a difficult childbirth, in order to save the emperor, she cut open her stomach with a knife and cut her wrist to feed him with blood, which allowed him to survive. Because the Jiuli people were ignorant and uneducated, they felt this was very ominous and concealed the existence of his biological mother from the emperor. It was not until the news of Madam Guan cutting open the stomach to take out the child spread in Yanjing, which aroused great admiration from the public that those who knew about this matter told the truth.
The emperor felt sad in his heart, and he also deeply felt that the Han people were obedient to Heaven's will, sensible, understood good and evil, could distinguish honest and dishonest, had a broad mind to tolerate something that other tribes could not, accept common sense that other tribes could not, and had the courage to lift the ground and break the sky, destroy the old and establish the new. So with one sweep of the imperial brush, Ruan shi was posthumously conferred, and now even wanted to posthumously conferred his biological mother as the Empress Dowager.
Filial piety was the foundation of human relations and the first of the eight virtues. Not only people in the world, but even animals know filial piety, so the sheep have the grace to kneel to suck for milk, and crows have the feeling to feed back its parent. Abiding by filial piety and supporting one's parents was a heaven's law and earth principle* and righteousness, so how could people argue? Therefore, as soon as the emperor showed his wishes in the court, he immediately received the support of whole civil and military officials.
If there was no Madam Guan's taking out the child by cutting open the stomach as the foundation, the emperor would probably hide it for the rest of his life. Recalling his biological mother, he actually burst into tears in the court hall, blaming himself again and again, it could be seen that he had been suffering for a long time, and the grief had cut to the bone. Now that he had fulfilled his long-cherished wish by posthumously conferred Ruan shi, naturally felt extremely grateful to Madam Guan, and even more he could control the trend of opinion on this matter.
Praising Ruan shi as Zhenlie and Madam Guan as courageous, was equivalent to praising the late Empress Dowager as Zhenlie and courageous; insulting Madam Guan as having ruthless heart and black hands, wouldn't it mean to also scold the late Empress Dowager? Madam Guan cut open other people's stomachs, but the late Empress Dowager cut open her own belly, her courage and boldness was even higher!
If it weren't for her bravery and "ruthless heart", there would be no current Emperor Sheng Yuan. All unreasonable things were reasonable when it reach the emperor; all inhuman things were the way of heaven when it reach the emperor. Those who obey can exist those who disobey can perish*, it's the method of the tyrant!
Those womenfolk were so frightened, remembering the words they said in the mourning hall that many people listened to, and Madam Guan's grandfather was still the dignified Emperor Teacher and also served as the imperial censor. If he impeached a few words at the court, their husband's official positions would come to an end! No wonder Madam Guan hinted that there was another mystery behind it , which turned out to be the case!
A few people did not dare to hide it, and hurriedly went to their husband to discuss it, but they were all severely reprimanded, and they were punished with the family law, almost unable to keep their current position. Soon after, everyone cleaned up their clothes and hat, put on thorns on their backs, and entered the palace to plead guilty. It must be known that the emperor was preparing for the posthumous conferring ceremony, and said that the late Empress Dowager had blessed him for many years, and it was necessary to hold a ritual to send her to the afterlife. He had invited all the important officials in the court to discuss. At this time, if anyone babbling nonsense to block him, the end will be miserable.
Sure enough, the emperor was very angry. He took off two official hats on the spot, and ordered the rest of the people to resign their powers and reflect behind close door. Bluntly said that they don't understand great benevolence and righteousness, filial piety towards close relatives, and ordered them to go home and read more books, after they understand then come again.
Not to mention how embarrassed those people were, when the news reached Jueyin Temple, everyone was greatly surprised and even more convinced by Madam Guan. This calmness and wittiness, prophesy with supernatural accuracy, were absolutely incomparable. What's even more incredible was that her heroic act untied the knot in the emperor's heart and helped him fulfill his long-cherished wish, which must leave a deep impression on the emperor, moreover very similar to the late Empress Dowager.
What kind of honor was this? What kind of good karma? If it used well, the Zhao family, who had been knocked down to the bottom of the mud, would be able to rise to the sky in an instant. Even if Zhao Luli couldn't get the title back, as long as Madam Guan was willing to take care of the Zhao family, it would be easy to give Zhao Wangshu a good future, and there wouldn't be a problem with Zhao Chunxi's marriage.
But would she? If it were before, the answer would naturally be yes, but now it's hard to say!
Thinking of this, the guests couldn't help but look towards the east wing, and thought to themselves: Don't know which plague god the Zhao family has offended before, when it seems that luck is on the line, the ex-wife actually came back from the dead and after returning try to fight Madam Guan for the main position. The kind of proud woman like Madam Guan wouldn't make so much noise, just ask for reconciliation decree. She can slap her husband in front of the Dengwen Drum, defend her family with her life, and willing to defy the world by cutting open the stomach to take the child, how could she tolerate others sitting on an equal footing with her? Reconciliation or surrender, no matter how you look at it, the possibility of her choosing reconciliation is far greater than surrender.
How could Zhao Luli not know something that others could guess? His five internal organs were burning* now, out of his wits. To have this one thread of relationship, as long as Madam says the word "reconciliation", without explaining the reason, Huo Shengzhe would not hesitate to give the approval.
It would be great if Ye Zhen didn't come back, if she didn't come back, I wouldn't have to lose Madam… He knew he shouldn't think like this, but he couldn't control the frantic thoughts in his heart.
shoot without aim*: speak without thinking.
don't shed tears until you see the coffin*: it means not giving up until you fail completely.
heaven's law and earth principle*: it means a matter of course.
Zhenlie : ready to die to preserve one's chastity.
Those who obey can exist those who disobey can perish*: describe the dictatorship.
five internal organs were burning*: it is a metaphor for very anxious.
