Chapter One Hundred and Twenty One Epilogue: Painting of a Beauty
It was another blooming time of the year. Recently, all of Rui Wang Fu was full of cheer. Wang ye had just recovered his qin wang rank, and wang fei was pregnant. This could be considered the best things to have happened in the recent years for Rui Wang Fu.
Before marrying into the wang fu, Lu Yu Rong had thought Rui Wang was a lecherous and preposterous man. But only when she had entered the wang fu did she know how unfounded rumors could be. The third day after she married into the wang fu, wang ye accompanied her back to her paternal home and sent away a crowd of tong fang from the wang fu. Even though some of them had been bestowed down by the Emperor and couldn't move out of the wang fu, the time that wang ye went to those women's rooms lessened dramatically.
Gradually, wang ye started to like painting. And what he liked to draw best were bright and eye-catching red flowers. She had once asked him why he liked painting such vivid flowers but he didn't say anything.
Before marriage, there was someone else in her heart. But one could not rebel against the Imperial Order. She had to marry this man who didn't have a good reputation but her days were much better than she had imagined.
But maybe it was the nature of all men to be fickle. After she became pregnant, wang ye became interested in a tong fang. He visited her frequently in the day, but the majority of the time, he slept in the tongfang's place.
But to her, this wasn't anything major. Since she couldn't marry the man she liked. Who she married, who that person loved, what did it have to do with her?
All the servants in Rui Wang Fu knew that the relationship between wang ye and the new wang fei was better than the old one so no one dared to slight wang fei. Even more, wang fei was pregnant. But quickly, servants with keen eyes found the brows and mouth of wang ye's newly favored tongfang were very similar to wang fei. The servants then understood that it was that wang fei couldn't have relations with wang ye due to her pregnancy so wang ye was finding comfort on another person's body.
When Lu Yu Rong heard that rumor, she was even more generous to all the tong fang and qieshi. In the end, the houyuan of Rui Wang Fu became more and more peaceful, drastically different than the smoke and fire of the past.
She had once encountered a yahuan named Yao Xi in the wang fu. She recognized this yahuan. She was the personal maid of Qu Yue Su. She remembered that year when she and Qu Yue Su had composed poetry to amuse Jin An Princess Royal and the other wang fei had judged them. But who knew that the previous Rui Wang Fu would be executed, Qu ce fei would die from illness and she would become the second wang fei.
Destiny was just this ironic. If people wanted it, they didn't get it, if they didn't want it, it was shoved onto them. Wrongs and rights. By the end, who was the one who was the joke, who was the one that is a pity.
The first time she saw wang ye could draw people, it was the third month of her pregnancy. At that time, the beginning of summer had ended and she was too hot to fall asleep. She had walked around. For some reason, she walked into the study and saw the unfinished painting on the table.
It was a very solitary painting. The blooming plum blossoms, the thick layer of snow, and a half-open exquisite sedan in the midst of the snowflakes. There was a hazy shadow in the sedan, only revealing a shock of black hair and a red sleeve.
An empty painting, but she felt as though she was the artist of the painting, and was admiring the woman in the sedan, waiting for her to raise the curtain the entire way. But in the end, the person had pulled down the curtain instead.
Sighing, she reached out with a hand to touch the corner of the sleeve that was flying in the harsh wind. But before she could touch, heavy steps came from behind her.
She suddenly turned back and saw wang ye standing with a cold face at the door. The eyes he had when he looked at her, it was as though he was looking at a stranger, cool and indifferent.
"Wang ye… …" Her voice was somewhat dry and she strangely felt guilty.
"Why has wang fei come here?" He came up and put away the painting, his voice as gentle as usual, "I'll accompany you back, the road is hard to walk at night."
She followed him out of the study. Turning back to look at the doors to the study that were already closed, she couldn't resist asking: "That drawing, wang ye, it's seems like the landscape outside our plum forest."
"En," He nodded ambiguously, "White snow, red plums, it's beautiful to draw."
Thinking about the feeling from the painting, she agreed wholeheartedly with wang ye's explanation. The white of the snow and the red of the plum flowers were especially beautiful. Even that piece of sleeve was to tempt others' imagination. Wang ye's skills were getting better and better.
Since then, she never saw wang ye draw other people, not even her or their child. But, wang ye's paintings steadily became famous in Da Long. Many people would give a thousand gold to beg for one of wang ye's paintings. But she rarely saw wang ye give them away, the fu accumulating many.
She knew that the relationship between the Emperor and wang ye wasn't close so she and wang ye rarely were summoned into the palace. Thankfully, wang ye's personality was a lot better now so even though the palace was cold to wang ye, if he was summoned, wang ye would control his temper and go each time. And in front of the two Empress Dowagers, the Emperor and Empress, he was extremely friendly. Even she couldn't see any signs of unhappiness.
If wang ye had been like this in the beginning, the circumstances of Rui Wang Fu wouldn't have been so awkward.
Later, the reason that the circumstances of Rui Wang Fu were resolved was actually because the Empress suddenly became interested in paintings. So the noble families all wanted to curry favor with the Emperor by buying good artwork everywhere in hopes of gaining the Empress' favor.
The Emperor and Empress had been together for quite a few years. But after so many years, the love between Emperor and Empress was still strong. Many people that were waiting for a spectacle were disappointed. In the end, they reasoned that the Empress was very good at taking care of herself, her looks were still so seductive after so many years.
She scoffed at such sour words. Just by looks, the Empress was beautiful but not to the point of the most beautiful. Even though she had willow brows and "phoenix eyes", but those weren't a rarity in the world. Even her own features were the same, but she didn't have the Empress' snow white skin and composure.
Beautiful women could be found everywhere, but what was rare was the qualities of attractiveness. The feeling that the Empress gave others was seductive yet out of the world, vivid yet dignified. Such a contradictory woman was rare in the world but it was easy for people's hearts to move. Because this disregarded the outer shell and was something that came from the deep parts of the soul, it was hard for others to ignore.
When wang ye took out some paintings for her to take in the palace, she was very surprised. But she hoped that the Empress would look on wang ye's paintings and help Rui Wang Fu to not be in such an awkward position, so her child could establish himself in Da Long as he grew up.
Kui Yuan Palace was forever lavish and bright. Every time she entered this place, she would forget this was the hougong and not some family's compound.
"Good day, Third Aunt." The seven years-old Crown Prince stood in front of her. His looks were outstanding. Even though he now had didi and meimei, but no one in Jing would think that the position of Crown Prince was going to shake.
The Empress was a great woman. She raised the Crown Prince well. His actions and speech were extremely polite yet didn't seem rigid.
"Your Highness Crown Prince, good day," She couldn't help but smile. Adults frequently were most soft-hearted for children, "Is the Empress free now?"
"Muhou just said that if I encountered you on the road, I should tell you to just head in," the Crown Prince smiled and added, "Third Aunt, I'm going to accompany fuhuang to practice writing."
Such a young age. It was clearly the Emperor teaching him to write but in his mouth, it became him accompanying the Emperor. Lu Yu Rong sighed. It was clear to see how patient the Emperor and Empress were in teaching the Crown Prince.
Entering the main hall of Kui Yuan Palace, she saw the Empress and the wife of lao si were chatting as they sat together. Seeing her enter, they involved her in talking about some of the interesting things around the city of Jing, the mood so harmonious that one could forget it was still the hougong.
However, she still remembered to take out the three paintings that wang ye gave her. She didn't know what was drawn on the scrolls so when the Empress went to open them, she was curious as well.
The first painting was a cat playing with an orchid. Just a glance made people relax and refreshed. She had seen this before. Wang ye had done many copies before he made one he was satisfied with. She hadn't thought he would willingly send it to the palace.
The second painting was of spring. The green mountains, the blue waters, the hundreds of flowers blooming. This was a scene that couldn't be seen in the hougong. So beautiful it seemed unreal. Her heart moved when she saw it. Wang ye had spent more than a few months to finish painting this work. He had hung it in his bedroom to admire, but now he also sent it to the palace.
When the third scroll was gradually opened, she was shocked still. She didn't think that this painting that wang ye had put away that year would once again appear in front of her.
"Drawing of winter snow and red plums…" The white fingers of the Empress gently touched the corner of the drawing. A long time later, she said, "Such a good plum blossom painting. The whiter the snow, the redder the plum blossoms."
She just was able to see where the Empress had touched, there was half a figure barely discernable. But because that person had been wearing white, it was very hard for others to find.
"A person's life on earth is like a white steed racing past, suddenly gone…" She didn't understand the expression on the Empress' face. She didn't even understand why the Empress would recite such a line.
Even when she was leaving the palace, she still didn't understand what the Empress meant. She didn't know if the Empress liked wang ye's paintings. However, not long after, the Empress became tired of admiring paintings and turned to favor listening to the stories of talented women across the country.
She didn't tell wang ye of the two lines of nonsensical poetry that the Empress had said. But wang ye had never asked her what happened when she went to the palace that time. It was as though nothing had happened, unperturbed and quiet.
Later, wang ye was pardoned by the Emperor and could attend court. But she felt that wang ye didn't feel very happy at such a thing.
Wang ye still liked painting, and still didn't like giving the paintings away to anyone. Gradually, the child grew up. The one she had once liked was indistinct in her mind, just like a dream. After a while, one woke up.
The day of her son's wedding, seeing her son and erxi kneel to her, she suddenly realized that this was pretty much her lifetime.
After the newlyweds were sent into the bridal rooms, she suddenly turned but only saw the back of wang ye as he personally sent the Crown Prince out the door.
The day that wang ye left, feathery snow came down from the sky, and the plum flowers in the plum forest had bloomed exceptionally well.
She sat at the head of the bed, looking at this old yet still handsome man. Sorrow quietly creeping in.
"Today's snow is quite heavy, did it snow all night?" He suddenly became focused, even his pale face became red.
"En," Her voice was choked. Beside her, her son and grandchildren started to cry.
"The snow that year wasn't this heavy, the plum blossoms weren't as good as this year…" His gaze landed on the branch of plum flowers in the pot and shook his head, saying: "A pity, a pity."
"Fu wang… …" Her son sobbed in front of the bed, and her own eyes started to mist up.
"Guan'er, don't cry. After I pass, remember to take that painting in the sandalwood box of the fifth square in my study into my coffin," He slowly closed his eyes and sighed.
"After seeing the ocean, no other water can compare …that's it… that's it…"
She didn't know how she stood up, how she watched the white banners hung up over the wang fu until she saw her son take out the sandalwood box that held the painting.
The scroll slowly rolled open and she froze in place..
On the painting, it was a busy street during the Lantern Festival. The beautiful lanterns, a beautiful woman dressed plainly holding a lantern and the fireworks exploding in the sky.
It was a painting that was so beautiful one couldn't tear the eyes away. It contained all the feelings of the artist, just to depict the skin of the beauty, the bones of the beauty and the emotions buried deep in the heart.
"You walk and walk and don't stop, and tear you and I part. Now, there are thousand upon ten thousand miles that separate you and I, I at this end of the world while you at the other … …" Shaking as she recited the poem inscribed on the painting, Lu Yu Rong suddenly remembered how he had gently touched her brow on their wedding night.
Gently rolling up the painting, she put it in the wood box. Closing the box, she dried off her tears: "Put this under the pillow of wang ye."
A painting of a beauty, the bones of a hero. In the end, it was all a handful of dirt.
A person's life in this world is like a white steed racing past, suddenly gone.
She thought, she understood somewhat now.
Second epilogue. The last one will be He Heng's point of view.
Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Two Epilogue A Legendary Love Story
In the seventh year of Jia You, the Empress gave birth to the Eldest Princess for the Emperor. With that, the Imperial Couple had two Imperial Sons and one Princess, with both sons and daughter, it was all good.
For seven entire years, the Imperial House did not take candidates into Jing and the memorandums urging the Emperor to select candidate increased. Even though the Emperor might not be willing to take too many women into the palace, he had to think about the other males of the Imperial and noble families, those people wanted to take concubines.
This time, He Heng didn't strongly oppose it and agreed to let candidates enter Jing. After three months had passed, the female candidates from all over the country were chosen to enter the palace.
These women all came from common but good families. Those of rough conduct were eliminated, the same with those who did not have a fair appearance. After rounds of elimination, just twenty people were left. However, those twenty could not be considered as one of the palace. Unless the Emperor selected to favor one of them, then, according to protocol, these people would all be sent back to their homes after five years. Otherwise, they may be chosen by the Empress or Dowager Empresses to bestow to someone as a concubine. But that was not what they wanted.
He Yao, the Crown Prince of Da Long, already knew what female candidates meant even though he was only seven years old. He looked at his four years-old brother behind him, and a profound expression came onto his face: "Er di, weren't you learning [Thousand Word Text] recently? Why don't we go ask fuhuang? Fuhuang had taught me in the past when I was learning to write."
Qu Qing Ju, who was standing behind them, heard her eldest son's words, and couldn't help but laugh. In the past, wasn't it just two years ago? She saw the serious expression on her eldest son's face and summoned the two sons to her: "Tun Tun, Teng Teng, come over!"
He Yao hadn't thought that Muhou overheard his words. He led He Teng obediently in front of Qu Qing Ju and said in a small voice: "Muhou, why have you come over?"
"Muhou is just walking around," Qu Qing Ju crouched down to hug her two sons and smiled, "I'm going to Chao Ming Hall to take care of some affairs. You two brothers have fun. At noon, muhou will let the chefs make your favorite dishes."
He Yao's foot drew circles on the ground and then he said: "Is muhou going there to select feipin for fuhuang?"
"Who told you these things?" Qu Qing Ju laughed, but she didn't fool them because they were young children and explained seriously, "Muhou is going to see those female candidates, but not to chose them for your fuhuang. These female candidates, other than your fuhuang, they can serve other people."
"Then I'll let them dig earthworms for me," He Teng happily clapped his hands, "I can't find any."
Would the people in the palace take you to places that had earthworms? Qu Qing Ju brushed the bowl cut hairstyle of her younger son.
"Don't go to see the fuss," He Yao sternly patted his didi's shoulder and raised his chin, "What we need to do now is to keep fuhuang further away from these female candidates. Let the taijian dig for earthworms. Those candidates are too soft, they don't have any strength and can't find any earthworms. Something that you can't do, can those female candidates accomplish it?"
He Teng heard his big brother state this, and his chubby face had an expression of realization. He nodded emphatically: "En, we'll keep them away from fuhuang." He turned and tugged Qu Qing Ju's sleeve, "Muhou, I'm also going, I'm also going."
Qu Qing Ju smiled as she looked at her two sons. Her eldest son had his hands at his back, expressing "I don't want to see those women, but for muhou, I can manage to go". At the expectant expression on her younger son's face, she shook her head helplessly, "Alright, you two can come."
Seeing muhou agree to their request, He Yao coughed dryly and then grabbed his didi's hand, seriously ordering: 'When we see the female candidates, you have to be good. We are muhou's children and cannot embarrass muhou."
He Teng obediently nodded his head and patted his chest. "Don't worry, gege. We are Crown Prince and Imperial Son. Muhou doesn't need to say anything. The two of us together are the most honored and invincible yellow buns."
The corner of He Yao's mouth jerked. The words that were used to comfort little children, he hadn't believed them for a long time. He wasn't a child.
The female candidates that had made it through the rounds of eliminations felt very insecure. How in love the Emperor and Empress was had long spread throughout all of Da Long. They were afraid that the Empress would treat them badly, letting them enter the Imperial Palace but without a life to enjoy the riches and luxury. However, they found that they were not shortened in their residence or food. They hadn't even seen one of the Empress' attendants. Only now when they were taken into the Chao Ming Hall did they remember this was the last elimination round where the Imperial Couple would personally interview them. If they were suitable, they could become one of the feipin in the palace.
Some women were still tentative, other women had thoughts that were already soaring. They were all very beautiful females from all over the country. If they could receive the favor of the Emperor, couldn't they honor their ancestors and enjoy the great luxuries and wealth?
Even more, the Empress was now three above two-tens. The Emperor was just a few years older than the Empress. After so many years, even the deepest feelings would not be as strong as in the beginning. They were all females of double-eight. Even though they may not be as beautiful as the Empress, they were younger, had more vitality. That was their asset.
But no matter their thoughts, when the Empress who was not as 'young' or 'lively' as them appeared, they were all dumbstruck.
A grand phoenix robe, exquisite hairpins, and skin whiter than snow. She didn't seem like a woman who had given birth to three children. When the Empress walked up the jade stairs with the help of a palace maid to sit down on the phoenix chair, they all knelt down and gave a full greeting. The little bit of conceit they had completely disappeared.
"Stand up." Qu Qing Ju let her two sons sit beside her, smiling as she looked at the twenty or so youthful females below her. "Our Da Long has good weather and can raise all kinds of beauties. Seeing everyone today, ben gong's eyes feel very good."
The female candidates hadn't thought the Empress was such a beautiful and warm person. Many people suddenly had good feelings towards the Empress and forgot their original intentions.
Those with keen eyes saw the two male children sitting beside the Empress and understood that they were probably His Highness the Crown Princess and Second Imperial Son. Thinking that there was a five-month old princess on the knees of the Empress, those that were smart gave up on entering the palace. Regardless of whether or not they would be favored, if they offended the Empress, they wouldn't have good days in the future.
"The Emperor is busy with state affairs and especially ordered ben gong to see you girls." Qu Qing Ju swept across the expressions on the faces of the women. Seeing that they all had appropriate expressions, she knew that this batch of candidates would be less troublesome than the batch of the last year of Qing De. "Are you girls now accustomed to living in the palace?"
The female candidates standing below all said they were living comfortably and complimented the people of the palace. A few of the females especially expressed their loyalty in front of the Empress. That expressed their true thoughts.
Of course, Qu Qing Ju understood, but from beginning to end, she didn't respond to the good intentions those people expressed. After leaving Chao Ming Hall, she said to her sons: "Did you see? Your fuhuang would not be interested in these kinds of girls. You two are young now. Just enjoy growing up. These things are something little men shouldn't be concerned about."
"As a son, a man should be concerned about the affairs of muhou." He Yao raised his chin to say, "Men should be like that."
"En!" He Teng nodded his head at the side. He didn't really understand but he heard muhou and a man. To that, he gave his agreement.
Qu Qing Ju's heart warmed, she crouched down to hug her two sons: "Muhou is very fortunate to have two good sons. In the future, Tun Tun and Teng Teng need to protect your mother and wife. This is what a man should do."
"En!" The two children nodded their heads seriously.
Qu Qing Ju looked at them, a smile blooming.
Not long after, most of the female candidates were sent back to their homes. These candidates were all extremely happy when they left. When they got back, if someone asked them, they would all talk about the virtues of the Empress. Many of the poor scholars wrote many stories about the Empress, all beautifying the Empress.
Qu Qing Ju didn't know what happened outside the palace, but something that happened inside the palace surprised her. One of the remaining candidates complained that the Empress had taken all of the Emperor's favor and was too jealous.
Once the words came out, it created a storm in the hougong. Everyone was waiting to see what would happen to this candidate. It had to be said that the Empress treated Heng fei and Luo guipin very well. The Emperor resided daily at Kui Yan Palace, that was the Emperor's decision. No matter how skilled the Empress was, could she tie up the feet of the Emperor?
So those kind of words, in the eyes of everyone else, were a great joke. Over the these years, weren't there unperceptive palace maids who wanted to turn from sparrows into phoenixes but they had never succeeded? Where did this candidate get the confidence from?
In reality, Qu Qing Ju was also slightly curious. She sat at a pavilion located in the middle of the pond in the Imperial Garden, and threw the fish feed in her hands to the goldfishes in the lotus pond. Turning, she looked at the female candidate called Chu Bi who was kneeling in front of her. This was a very beautiful girl, her brows carrying proudness that the other girls didn't have. She took the handkerchief that Mu Jin passed over to wipe her hands and sighed: "These years, the palace has never lacked for women who wanted to be feipin. You are not the first, and won't be the last."
Chu Bi had started regretting saying what she said out of anger long ago. Hearing the Empress speak, she obediently knelt, afraid that the Empress would be angry and she would lose her life.
"As a woman, if one could choose, it would be to receive one person's heart and to not separate until death." Qu Qing Ju saw puzzlement on Chu Bi's face and smiled, "But most of the men of the world are heartless while the women are infatuated. The end is always much crueler than imagined."
Hearing this, Chu Bi's heart moved. For some unknown reason, she gathered the courage to raise her head and look at the Empress. She found that there was no anger on the Empress' face, but an unspeakable warmth. Her heart moved, and she regretted her rash outburst even more.
"Empress niangniang… …" Chu Bi said, "Nubi knows her mistake, and asks the Empress for forgiveness."
"Stand up," Qu Qing Ju smiled slightly as she raised a hand, "If you really want to become a feipin of the hougong, ben gong naturally wouldn't stop you but hope you will not regret it."
Chu Bi stilled. She knew that the Empress was not lying but she was more hesitant now.
At this time, she heard the sounds of feet coming behind her. Before she could raise her head, she heard the maids and taijian all kneel down, calling the Emperor.
The Emperor? She boldly raised her head and saw the Emperor and Empress were holding hands together. It seemed that, in the eyes of the Emperor, there was only the Empress and nothing else.
She respectfully greeted the Emperor, but from beginning to end, the Emperor didn't look at her or ask about her. When the Emperor left hurriedly, that was when she knew that the Emperor still had state affairs. It was only that he had seen the Empress in the pond pavilion so he had especially come over to see her.
How deep did the feeling have to be for him to do this?
Chu Bi walked in front of the Empress and made a full greeting: "West Region Outside Official's daughter Chu Bi courageously asks for the phoenix blessing of the Empress, and begs the Empress to allow nubi to return home to marry freely."
She might admire the luxury and status, but she also knew what things could be achieved and what should be given up. Otherwise, the ending would only be a tragedy.
Qu Qing Ju looked at this girl and smiled. As expected, she had not been wrong. A female like this might have a stubborn personality but she wouldn't lose her head. So she hadn't wasted the effort put in.
Since He Heng had no intentions towards other women, why would she, for a virtuous reputation, keep these young women in the palace to be living widows? They were all women. She wouldn't do something so shameless and selfish in order to look good.
Chu Bi left like this. Afterwards, she had heard that none of the five remaining candidates had become the feipin of the Emperor and had become the concubines of other people. She looked at her husband who treated her very well beside her, and for some strange reason, she thought about what the Empress had said.
As a woman, if one could choose, it would be to receive one person's heart, and to not separate until death.
It was only now that she understood the rules the Empress held for the candidates. If the Empress hadn't taken care of them, and let the twenty or so candidates spend five years in the palace before they were sent off, their youth would have disappeared. Where could they find a good spouse then?
"What are you thinking about?" The man next to Chu Bi asked.
"Nothing," Chu Bi shook her head and said: "Just thinking, if it wasn't for one person, I probably would never have encountered you."
"Who's that person?"
"She is probably the best woman in the world." She closed the book in her hands, her smile warm and sweet. "It's late, let's sleep."
The man beside her looked at the book in her hand. Wasn't that a novel about the love between the Emperor and Empress?
Supposedly, the Imperial Couple had great love. After more than a decade of marriage, the Emperor had not changed his love for the Empress. Right now, they had both sons and daughters and were the object of admiration for many people.
He smiled. That was probably the most moving, unprecedented love story in Da Long dynasty.
Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Three Epilogue That Is Love
He Heng had never thought he would encounter a woman who would move his heart, but the reality was that he really did meet a woman like that.
He disliked women who thought themselves smart, and disliked women who thought themselves kind. In a place like the Imperial Family, people that were too kind never lived well. He also disliked people that were too weak. Weakness usually made people compromise, lose their dignity, and, in order to live, they had the ability to do evil deeds. If a person was forced into such circumstances, what could they be afraid of?
He liked seeing Qu Qing Ju dress herself beautifully, liked seeing her proud attitude, liked how she never back down when it came to her own interests. For some reason, even though she was his wang fei, he felt she lived a freer life than he did.
When he finally stood on the nine levels of jade stairs, he found that this dragon chair was abnormally big and abnormally hard, as though it was exaggerating the elevated status of the Emperor. It had an attractive appearance, so lao da and lao san fought for this position for many years.
Those with kind and soft hearts, even if they managed to survive in the Imperial Family, wouldn't have good lives. He was not an ignorant person, so he had been tricked by people, and tricked others. In the Imperial Family, no one owed another person, there was only those who won.
Qing Ju's hobbies always changed constantly. He felt that none of those hobbies were as amazing as her dancing, but to his regret, Qing Ju didn't frequently dance for him. However, every time she danced, he would see her attractiveness.
How could the world have a woman like this? One who could be dignified, lazy, generous, cruel, and seductive. This kind of woman, any man couldn't help but look twice, not to mention she was his Empress. Even if he only favored her, where did other people have the grounds to object?
He wasn't a useless ruler who had to sacrifice his woman to achieve peace in the Court so on the matter of favoring one person, he wouldn't compromise to anyone..
If he easily compromised, where would he have the qualification to talk about love?
The reason that the love of an Emperor would be doubted was usually due to the excuse of "forced with no other way." They would satisfy themselves with other women but act deeply in love. In other words, it was just pretense and not having loved deeply enough.
"Emperor, are these the paintings you wanted to see?" Qian Chang Xin put a sandalwood box in front of the Emperor, bending at the waist to open the box before retreating to one side, not looking at the paintings. A few days ago, the Empress suddenly became interested in viewing paintings so many people had sent paintings into the palace. Even Rui Wang Fei had personally sent a few paintings over. But who knew that after two or so months, the Empress didn't like it anymore. These valuable paintings had been placed into the East Hall of Kui Yuan Palace. If the Emperor wanted to see a painting, he only needed to send someone to take it out of the East Hall. The Empress really didn't care.
Rolling open [Winter Snow Red Plums Drawing], He Heng expressionlessly looked at the painting. A beat later, he gave a cold smile: "Zhen's sandi has become idle and emotive now that he doesn't attend court." He had heard that lao san was very good at drawing landscapes. But this painting of his that had people, it was also this touching.
Xian Chang Xin saw the expression of the Emperor was not well. He remembered that Rui Wang Fei had sent in this painting, and guessed that the Emperor still had bad feelings towards Rui Wang so he didn't dare to speak. He obediently stood to one side and waited for the Emperor's orders.
"Put the painting back." He Heng curled his lips, a hint of disdain revealed. "Even though the Empress doesn't like to look at paintings and has forgotten all of these things, the servants should still store these away well."
"Nucai will remember," Qian Chang Xin didn't understand what the Emperor intended but still packed away the painting to take back to Kui Yuan Palace. When he step inside the main gate of Kui Yuan Palace, he encountered the Empress holding the little princess as she came out to soak in the sun. He instantly knelt down in front of the Empress.
"The Emperor got you to take some paintings out again?" The Empress gave the little princess to the nursemaid behind her, and bent down to randomly pick up one of the boxes. After she opened the scroll, she smiled slightly: "How can I split into several thousand bodies, in order to compliment each plum flower on each tree? This person must love plums. Who is the artist?"
Qian Chang Xin didn't know what to say. Rui Wang Fei had sent someone with this painting. Even the Emperor had gotten him to take it out for him to have a look. But the true recipient didn't even know who sent it.
"Empress, nucai is also unclear." Qian Chang Xin forced out a smile, "The Emperor wanted to see some paintings so nucai took a few over, and didn't look at them. Nucai doesn't dare to look at the paintings."
"En, there's no signature on the painting." Qu Qing Ju carelessly shoved the painting into Qian Chang Xin's hands and waved her hand, saying, "Since that's the case, you can put them back."
After Qian Chang Xin left, Qu Qing Ju looked at her daughter who was deeply asleep in the arms of her nursemaid. Her willow eyebrows were slightly curved as though she was smiling, but there wasn't much mirth in her eyes.
After Qian Chang Xin returned, he told the Emperor all about his encounter with the Empress. Then he found the Emperor's temper continued to be good for the next few days. Even the fact the female candidates had entered the palace didn't affect the good mood of the Emperor.
Those female candidates were generously allowed to go back home to marry freely. Only five were left and were bestowed by the Emperor to other people to be concubines. Due to this, the Crown Prince and the Second Imperial Son had been close with the Emperor for quite a few days. Especially the Second Imperial Son. He kept on saying the Emperor was a good father.
He was a taijian and didn't understand the feeling between men and women, but he knew very well an average person could not separate the Emperor and Empress. Since the two Empress Dowagers had no objections to the Emperor and Empress, then who would be so stupid?
So like this, one year repeated each other. He saw His Highness the Crown Prince turn from a child to a youth, saw the Empress become an elegant and dignified young woman, and add another imperial son for the Emperor. He saw the Emperor spend every day in Kui Yan Palace as though Kui Yuan Palace was their home.
There was no one who doubted the feelings between the Emperor and Empress. No one picked up the topic of the candidates again. It was like a person who had eaten the same thing for a decade. If his tastes suddenly changed, it was a scary matter. The scholars of Da Long were used to the monogamy of the Emperor. If the Emperor really had broken the feelings one day, how many palace anger poems and calls on behalf of the Empress would there be?
Even until his middle age, He Heng was always doubtful of one thing. That was, what was the feelings that Qing Ju really had for him. Even though the two of them spent every day together, he always suspected that the Empress did not have feelings as deep for him as he did for her.
But usually, the Empress was always concerned about him in every way and never disregarded him. Over time, he felt that he was thinking too much. He was demanding too much and that was why he was disgruntled.
He had never asked the question of love and she had never responded. It was only once when he had been seriously ill, and when he woke up, and found Qing Ju, who was usually so attentive to her appearance, was guarding his side without beautiful makeup, and heavy shadows as though she had cried, that he didn't have the question anymore.
Some feelings in this word did not have to be spoken, but if it existed, time would prove it. He seemed to understand what Qing Ju had said. Love was not spoken, but proven through actions.
What he had been discontent with was demanding an empty phrase, and what Qing Ju could give him was true concern.
"In this life, with Qing Ju's companionship, I feel that I didn't waste it." He held her hand as they walked in the deep purples and reds of the Imperial Gardens. "I finally understand why some Emperors seek immortality. If possible, I would also want immortality medicine, to be with you forever."
"Emperor believes this?" She smiled as she looked at him, "A hundred years is just perfect. If it really is thousands of years, who knows if there is a day that dislike occurs? If that happened, it would be better to have a beautiful beginning and a fulfilled ending."
He could not object. Maybe the two of them did not believe in love that did not change even as the rocks changed, but they believed they could live for a lifetime together.
"This is good. Even into death, we will still think of each other." He smiled, but the hand that was holding hers tightened. "Our tomb has started construction. A few decades later when we lie in there, we won't be lonely."
"Birth not of the same blanket but death in the same cave. Separated this life, but the love is everlasting." Qu Qing Ju smiled. Who could think that she would walk to this step with a man, and this man was also an Emperor. But now, she has come to believe this phrase.
"It's good as long as Qing Ju understands me." He Heng raised his head and pointed at the sunset. "This sun looks like a poached egg."
"En," Qu Qing Ju nodded and said: "It's pretty similar."
The two held hands and stood together. The sunset drew their shadows out, merging into one, inseparable.
Not far away, Heng fei and Luo guipin were looking at their backs. The two left silently. When they walked to the Drooping Flower Door, Luo guipin suddenly sighed: "Maybe the Emperor just wanted a woman who could see the sunset as a poached egg with him. What picturesque sunset? What glow-like fire? It isn't what the Emperor wants."
Heng fei had a light smile as she said: "What the Emperor wants is a real woman. The four arts are just embellishment, and not needed." Her voice was extremely calm as though the man she was discussing had nothing to do with her, "The Empress, she's the right person that he met at the right time. This is probably what is called fate."
If they had met later, like if the Emperor had already ascended the throne, then the Empress would, at maximum, become the Emperor's most favored woman but not his only one. She, herself, would not become Heng fei, but one of the many feipin the Emperor would have forgotten. She may not have even gotten the rank of a guipin.
"This is our fate. All things in the world have a destiny. You and I are just people that have touched a little bit of good fortune due to destiny." Heng fei looked away from the sunset, "Let's return."
"I'm just slightly despairing, but I also find it rational that the Emperor only favors the Empress." Luo guipin smiled, "Ever since the Empress allowed me to mourn for my jiujiu, I had gratitude towards the Empress."
"So, when Han Qing He wanted you to help her get favor in the beginning, you didn't agree." Heng fei slightly tilted her face down, her voice very small but enough for the two of them to hear, "So, after you knew of Feng Zi Jin's plan, you allowed her to kill Han Qing He. You even meddled in the affair, but you pushed the suspicions of the affair towards Feng Zi Jin and Shu gui taifei, and not the Empress."
Luo guipin heard her words, and slightly paused before smiling: "Heng fei niangniang is a smart person." She wasn't afraid that Heng fei knew this and smiled even more freely, "Heng fei niangniang might not know my personality. If I remember someone's generosity, I will remember for a lifetime."
Heng fei looked at her smile. A long time later, she sighed: "This is good." It was due to the Empress that the two of them live comfortably without favor.
The Imperial Couple, as smart as they were, they might not necessarily be ignorant of some things, it was just that they didn't say it.
She turned, her eyes passing through the Drooping Flower Door. The Emperor and Empress were standing there side by side, the pair of shadows even more elongated as though it was one person.
Several thousand years later, archaeologists found the combined burial tomb of the Emperor and Empress of Da Lon. To their shock, they found the Imperial Couple had used one coffin. Two sets of skeletons laid together. It was like the legendary love story of the Emperor and Empress had passed on for thousands of years, gentle and touching.
They found many burial items within the tomb. Countless exquisite hairpins, glass lanterns worth cities, jade instruments and porcelain. Someone even found a stele in the tomb. There was a pair of extremely attractive man and woman carved on the surface. Under their feet were lucky clouds, as though they were ascending into immortality.
All of the archaeologists thought that the man and woman were Da Long's Jia You Emperor and Hua Ren Empress. This discovery also made others speculate about the love legend between them. Many people felt that those love story movies and productions about the love between this Imperial Couple did not even reach the feelings that the Emperor and Empress had.
Not long after, people also found that the woman carved on the stele of the Da Long tomb looked extremely similar to the one in the Lantern Festival painting found in the coffin of Da Long's Zhong Rui Wang. Archaeologists quickly proved that Hua Ren Empress and Zhong Rui Wang didn't have any romantic relationship. Zhong Rui Wang was not importantly regarded by Jia You Emperor, and the person in the painting was most likely Hua Ren Empress' sister because history had recorded that Hua Ren Empress' half-sister had been a concubine of Zhong Rui Wang.
Even though the archaeologists said so, there were still many who looked towards the unofficial histories. They said that Jia You Emperor's father, Qing De Emperor, originally intended to pair Hua Ren Empress and Zhong Rui Wang together. Due to many reasons, in the end, Hua Ren Empress married Jia You Emperor.
As a result, people made a movie about the love triangle between the three and earned a lot of hot tears from people. But even so, everyone believed that Jia You Emperor and Hua Ren Empress had deep feelings between them. Even if something did happen with Zhong Rui Wang as the unofficial histories said, that was just a detour in their romance.
How history was, it was long buried in the long river of time. No one knows the truth, but people would believe the existence of one thing.
That was love!
Author's note: I always wanted to write a pure time-travel love story and finally did it. This is a fulfilled historical romantic fairy tale, the Emperor and Empress will live happily together.
I hope that the readers will encounter the person right for them and live their own happy lives.
Every time I finish, I want to say many things, but at the end, I don't know what to say. After thinking it over, it's still the old words. That is, I hope all the readers have a happy life and your families are healthy.