During the period of the Seven States, many fascinating stories unfolded. For instance, Prince Yin Chenbi of Wei, who had been held hostage in Wu, led an army to attack Wu five years after ascending to the throne, supposedly to avenge his past humiliation. Then there was Ye Yuqing, who held great power since his days as crown prince but, after ascending to the throne, could not withstand Wei’s might. In his dejection, he indulged in sensual pleasures and neglected state affairs.
When people discussed these two men, they couldn’t help but draw comparisons and sigh with emotion.
However, only those directly involved knew the true nature of events. Take Feng Yue, for instance – she knew the real reason why Yin Gezhi attacked Wu. Avenging his humiliation was secondary; the main reason was that she couldn’t conceive their third child. The Imperial Astronomers observed the stars at night and claimed that Wu’s Buyin City was blocking the fortune of Lidu.
Feng Yue didn’t believe in such supernatural matters, and judging by Yin Gezhi’s expressionless reaction, she thought he didn’t believe it either.
However, within two years, Wei attacked Wu. After three years of warfare, Wu surrendered.
Yin Gezhi took her to Buyin City and shamelessly engaged in improper activities in someone else’s palace. Feng Yue wanted to severely criticize his behavior, but within two months, she became pregnant.
“Is this for real?” Looking at the Imperial Physician, Feng Yue was caught between laughter and tears. “Can things work like this?”
But such matters were known only to those involved. If word got out, it would surely cause an uproar throughout the realm.
Yet there were also situations where even those involved didn’t understand what was happening, like He Chou.
Wu had fallen. Power was transferred to Wei, currency was unified, and writing systems were standardized. Ye Yuqing, sitting on the dragon throne, looked at the consorts standing beside him and gave a soft laugh.
He said to her: “Fortunately, you won’t have to.”
All these years, He Chou had remained a palace maid by his side. He stubbornly called her “Wangyou,” and she listened with an expressionless face. They had shared intimate moments but never truly loved. Ye Yuqing’s heart was occupied with his grand ambitions and numerous consorts, never seeming to value her – at least that’s what He Chou believed.
However, on this day when the palace gates opened wide, he suddenly uttered these puzzling words.
Won’t have to? Won’t have to what? He Chou didn’t understand and finally turned to look at him, only to see black blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.
Her pupils contracted as He Chou bewilderedly reached out to support his falling body. Ye Yuqing laughed softly, letting out a great sigh of relief, and rested his head against her waist, whispering a few words.
Then that dragon robe, stained with blood, fell from the dragon throne.
Her hand hung in mid-air, somewhat stiff. He Chou slowly looked down to see everyone in the great hall in chaos, consorts crying out, and officials trembling.
Ye Yuqing’s features remained as gentle as ever, still holding his folding fan. It seemed as if at the next moment he would open it, hiding half his face, gently waving it beneath those spring-like smiling eyes.
“This one is Ye Yuqing, at your service.”
The dazzling scene dispersed like wind-blown clouds as He Chou came back to her senses. Looking at the person lying below, her eyes reddened, and she finally burst into tears.
Fortunately, she wouldn’t have to – because she was a palace maid, not a consort, so fortunately she wouldn’t have to be buried with him or be sent to become a nun. Before his death, was he feeling relieved about this?
“He Chou.”
When Feng Yue found her, He Chou cried until her eyes were lifeless. She looked up dazedly and whimpered: “He said he couldn’t bear to part with me.”
“Oh?” Crouching down to embrace her gently, Feng Yue patted her back: “When did he say that?”
“When he was dying,” sobbing uncontrollably, He Chou cried like a child: “He took poison at some point, and only when he was about to die did he say that one sentence about not bearing to part with me.”
I can’t bear to part with you.
These were Ye Yuqing’s last words, but if he truly couldn’t bear to part with her, why did he choose to die? Wu had surrendered, he could have continued as their ruler, and there was no reason for death.
“There, there,” Having become a mother, Feng Yue had grown very gentle, softly patting her: “Even if he finally said something human at the end, don’t forgive him.”
If she forgave him, how could she go on living?
Ye Yuqing was never a good person, full of schemes, never treating He Chou well, and even troubling her with his death – he didn’t deserve sympathy!
“Madam need not think so poorly of him.”
When An Shichong and Xu Huaizu came to see her with complex expressions, they sat in the room holding tea and said: “In our view, His Majesty’s treatment of Miss He Chou was not truly bad.”
Glaring at them, Feng Yue said: “You think I don’t know?”
That madman Ye Yuqing indeed hadn’t mistreated He Chou. But he hadn’t treated her well either. Over all these years, many palace maids who entered the palace with He Chou had become imperial consorts, yet she remained forever a palace maid, receiving neither respect nor his proper attention. Feng Yue had people inquire about He Chou’s situation periodically. But the reports always came back the same: Miss He Chou remained a palace maid by His Majesty’s side.
Palace maid, palace maid, palace maid – if he truly loved her, how could he treat her this way? But if he didn’t love her, why go to such lengths to keep her by his side?
She didn’t like Ye Yuqing’s personality, preferring someone like Yin Gezhi, who treated those he loved properly! If there were obstacles between two people, remove them! If paths were broken, rebuild them! Once someone is in your heart, use all your strength to leave no regrets. What was the point of all that tangling and suffering? Better to let go early!
However, despite saying all this, thinking of these two people’s stories, she still let out a long sigh.
“By the way, Madam, where is Master?” Xu Huaizu gathered his spirits to ask: “I still wanted to talk with him.”
“Talk about what?” Feng Yue raised an eyebrow: “Talk to me first.”
The two people before her fell silent for a moment, then An Shichong said: “Nothing, he’s talking nonsense. We’re just waiting for Master to return. We’ll pay our respects and leave.”
Hmm? Something seemed odd. Feng Yue narrowed her eyes, staring at them for a while before suddenly asking: “Are neither of you married yet?”
Greatly startled, An Shichong and Xu Huaizu hurriedly stood up waving their hands, saying in unison: “Who would marry him!”
Feng Yue: “…”
Looking strangely between these two, she said gravely: “What are you thinking? I’m asking if each of you should be married by now?”
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward, An Shichong pressed his lips together and lowered his eyes, while Xu Huaizu looked at the sky with a dry laugh.
Thus, when Yin Gezhi returned after handling affairs, he saw his Empress flying towards him: “Your Majesty! Shocking news! Xu Huaizu wants you to arrange a marriage between him and An Shichong!”
What? Gently catching her and pulling her into his embrace, Yin Gezhi looked up at his two disciples following behind.
An Shichong and Xu Huaizu were both frantic, running up to stand before him with reddened faces, shaking their heads: “Master, the Empress misunderstood—”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I didn’t mean that either!”
Narrowing his eyes to look at these two, Yin Gezhi protected his little vixen and said calmly: “You must now follow Wei’s rules.”
With Wu’s territory now belonging to Wei, there was nothing wrong with this statement, and both nodded.
Yin Gezhi paused, his gaze falling on the sword and dagger at their waists: “Wei’s rules state that everything the Empress says is correct. If she says you want an arranged marriage, then you must want an arranged marriage.”
An Shichong’s face turned green as he stomped hard on Xu Huaizu’s foot. Xu Huaizu yelped in pain and said pitifully: “I was just joking, how could there be arranged marriages between two men—”
“There can be.” Pointing at the Buhui sword and Changhen dagger, Yin Gezhi smiled: “These were originally lovers’ weapons, born as twins, equivalent to an arranged marriage.”
“Go choose an auspicious date.”
Feng Yue laughed heartily, seeing their horrified expressions, and hugged Yin Gezhi’s neck to kiss him.
His gaze turned from his two disciples back to her face. The look in Yin Gezhi’s eyes instantly became tender, no longer paying attention to the howling beside them as he lowered his head to return her kiss.
“My Empress looks even more beautiful today. Would you like to accompany me to buy some mung bean cake?” he asked softly.
“It would be my honor, Your Majesty.” Taking his arm, Feng Yue smiled like a flower. With a flutter of her eyes, her grace unchanged, she raised her pinky and said: “But it must be from that shop at the end of Xiangyu Street.”
“For you.” Placing silver in her palm, Yin Gezhi led her forward.
A piece of broken silver. It looked large but the weight felt wrong. Feng Yue raised an eyebrow, squeezed the silver open with her hand, and took out the paper note inside. Looking carefully, it turned out to be a divination slip. After a large section of incomprehensible words, someone had added a line in brush strokes, expressing the deep obsession with Wei’s filial Emperor:
“Pray for a daughter and get a daughter, if no more daughters come, raise the next son as a daughter!”
Reading it out with a mixture of laughter and tears, she reached out to punch him: “Be careful your sons might become unfilial!”
Catching her hand and opening it in his palm for a kiss, Yin Gezhi shook his head without speaking and held her hand as they walked forward.
An Shichong and Xu Huaizu stood in place, staring dumbfounded at these two people who completely ignored their existence.
As the sun set in the west, their two shadows stayed close together, stretching very long, looking extremely happy.