When the Great Zhou’s female emperor founded the nation, there were female official positions outside the inner palace, but for over a hundred years they had existed in name only.
“Isn’t the Emperor rewarding too excessively? How can he let two women hold positions in the Six Ministries?” Some officials came out of the hall complaining.
“That’s right. If we’re talking about merit, the Young Marquis, Young General Xiao, and Young Master Wei should all be heavily rewarded. If not for their superb archery skills and contending with the Great Qiu to the end, how could that girl have had a chance to perform? Your Highness, don’t you agree?” Flattery and fawning needed no factual basis.
“They are pillars of the court. In competition between two nations, entering the field is their duty to fulfill. Why争 争 for rewards? As for those two young ladies, it’s also because today is an auspicious day—coinciding with the great New Year’s Eve celebration—that the Emperor’s dragon heart is greatly pleased, thus granting heavy rewards. They’re just nominal positions in name only. The excellencies need not worry excessively. In my view, only the last sentence of that decree is of real benefit to them. Self-selection of marriage partner, according to the protocols of a Princess Imperial. Even if a woman were Hua Mulan reborn, ultimately she must still properly fulfill the duties of supporting husband and teaching children. With higher status, she need not bow and pay respects to parents-in-law. Apart from this, this old man truly can’t think of any other benefits.” Prince Li, Wu Wanchang, laughed heartily while stroking his beard.
All the officials laughed and nodded, saying exactly so.
Yang Qiao followed her father at the back. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but feel angry and wanted to step forward to argue, but was gently held back by her father.
“No need to pay attention to their words. Qiao’er, today you made your father extremely proud. Even when your brother achieved top scholar status, I wasn’t this excited. Your mother’s abandonment of teaching you needlework to personally teach you to read and write was not in vain. Who says women are inferior to men? My family’s daughter brings glory to our ancestors and honor to our Yang family.”
The Vice Minister of Rites’ mood was not affected by petty people—he was very happy.
Seeing her father’s magnanimity, Yang Qiao thought there was truly still much to learn. She took her father’s arm and acted coquettishly. “Father, you must say these words to Mother when we return. Though she let me study, she complains daily that it’s useless.”
The Vice Minister of Rites laughed. “The world’s customs are thus—she’s also helpless. However, when she hears of this matter, she’ll definitely be even happier than I am.”
The Yang father and daughter left.
Now for Mo Zi’s side.
The Empress Dowager and Empress also thought the rewards too excessive, saying rewarding some gold, silver, and treasures would suffice. Even if appointing female officials, it should be in the inner palace’s six departments. How could he grant official positions in the Department of State Affairs?
With one sentence—”The decree has been issued, the golden words cannot be taken as child’s play”—the Emperor sent the two complainers away.
Though the other noble ladies were full of resentment and jealousy, if even the Empress Dowager and Empress couldn’t make the Emperor rescind his command, they naturally didn’t dare say more. Quite aggrieved, they had palace maids lead them out of the hall.
Most people were filled with regret. Fearing the Great Qiu’s barbarism would endanger themselves, they hadn’t taken the so-called heavy rewards seriously either, thinking it was just horseback archery—if they lost, naturally there was nothing to discuss; if they won, at most they’d be rewarded with some things.
All were young ladies from high-ranking noble families—who would care? Who knew the Emperor would actually restore the female external official positions established by the female emperor, suddenly appointing Mo Zi and Yang Qiao to positions in the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Rites? Though Yang Qiao’s father’s official rank wasn’t high, at least he could be considered a court official, and her elder brother had achieved top scholar status, so they could reluctantly accept it. But what was this daughter of the Song family? They’d never even heard of her. There was no prominent Song family in the capital—she must be from some insignificant minor official. That such a woman could marry into a husband’s family like a Princess Imperial was truly unbelievable.
“Youyan, if we’d known, we should have volunteered. Now that nameless girl gets the benefit for nothing.” A certain wealthy young lady who thought her relationship with Wu Youyan was quite good pouted.
Wu Youyan smiled like a flower. “If we’d gone on the field, we’d have been carried off like Mingrou. Otherwise, if by chance we’d remained until the end, I still don’t know which of you has touched a bow and arrow and could shoot whoosh whoosh whoosh with three arrows and knock down bells. If there is one, speak up—I’ll kowtow and take her as my teacher.”
Seeing Wu Youyan turn it around to mock them instead, where would they still ramble on? They quickly laughed awkwardly and each returned home.
Wu Youyan said to the maid beside her, “One by one they only see others’ gains without thinking whether they themselves have that capability. No wonder the Great Qiu women look down on us. Truly infighting, yet affected and pretentious, managing a household and acting as if it’s so remarkable.”
The maid agreed. “Still, you, Princess, are magnanimous.”
“No need to flatter me either. I’m also jealous. Calling them the first female officials wouldn’t be excessive—much better than a Princess title that’s all appearance and no substance. They can self-select marriage partners. And me?” With a cold laugh, she shook her sleeves and said no more.
The noble ladies and madams all left. Mo Zi could still feel the hall was full of resentment toward her.
“Your Majesty—” She had something to say.
“Girl, don’t you dare say I rewarded too heavily. Also, just call me Lord Huang—I love hearing it.” Not even saying “We” anymore, the Emperor lifted his foot and walked. “Accompany me on a lake tour.” “Lord Huang.” Going with the flow, as soon as Mo Zi called out, Eunuch Liu glared at her, but she pretended not to see. “I’ve thanked you for the rewards—how would I complain? Miss Xiao actually also has merit.”
“You truly are a good girl. Rest assured, she won’t be left out. When she wakes, there will naturally be rewards.” The Emperor, speaking of this, asked her, “Do you know why she volunteered?”
This stumped her. How to say it? Mo Zi simply remained silent.
When the Emperor stepped onto the boat deck, he suddenly said, “A girl who looks quite delicate—who’d have thought she’d have such courage in seeking death.”
Mo Zi still didn’t speak.
“However, though I’m easy to talk to, in some matters I’m also quite stubborn.” The Emperor turned to look at her. “Regarding Xiao Mingrou’s matter, your silence is good. If you spoke for her, it would only disappoint me.”
Mo Zi thought to herself: truly, accompanying the sovereign is like accompanying a tiger. Who said this Emperor was a good person? He might not be a bad person, but he is an emperor. Emperors cannot be defined as good or bad people. It seemed Xiao Mingrou’s courage tonight might not be able to change her own fate.
The boat left the shore. She followed the Emperor into the cabin.
Two people came forward and knelt. “Greetings to Your Majesty.”
The Emperor told them to rise. “The matter is settled?” Only when Mo Zi saw Yuan Cheng and Huayi did she feel her heart truly settle.
Yuan Cheng carefully looked Mo Zi up and down, then turned his gaze to the Emperor. “This subject has already ascertained where the Yuling Crown Prince is located. Also, this—” He presented with both hands a rolled silk document. “Your Majesty, please look. We found in the Great Qiu diplomatic mission this secret alliance treaty signed with Nande.”
After a few glances, the Emperor flew into a rage. “Outrageous! Two years ago We married the eldest Princess to the Crown Prince. Now newly enthroned, he can’t wait to secretly collude with the Great Qiu, wanting to jointly scheme against my Great Zhou. Could it be they truly think We are easy to bully?”
“Your Majesty need not be angry. Nande is cowardly and has always attached itself to the strong. The Great Qiu’s national power is gradually strengthening, and they’re fierce and valiant. Naturally Nande fears and clings to them. Moreover, though they formed an alliance with the Great Qiu, breaking the alliance is also easy—they’re truly not to be feared.” Yuan Cheng seemed to have a well-thought-out plan.
“That water garrison defense map—I wonder if it can deceive Wu Yanjie and Wu Yanqie?” Speaking of this, the Emperor looked at Mo Zi. “Girl, what do you think?” “Hm?” Why ask her? Could the Emperor know she used to be a Great Qiu person? Mo Zi unconsciously looked toward Yuan Cheng.
Yuan Cheng spoke up. “Your Majesty, Mo Zi doesn’t know of this matter. This subject hasn’t mentioned it to her.”
“What matter?” Mo Zi was completely confused.
“The person who exchanged those final three arrows with you today is precisely the Great Qiu King.” The Emperor still had the mood to tease. “Well, is he handsome enough to capture your heart?”
Mo Zi’s heart settled. It seemed the Emperor didn’t know about her past with Wu Yanjie. She feigned surprise, then shook her head. “A defeated opponent under my hand—how could he capture my heart? Your Majesty allows me to self-select a husband. I must choose a great man who can best me. Only, since he’s the Great Qiu King, what did he come for?” What nonsense about coming for her—fortunately she’d learned to be smart and wasn’t moved.
“Two matters,” the Emperor answered her. “First, to steal the Great Zhou’s water garrison defense map. Second, to come see the chess pieces he’s laid.”
“The water garrison defense map not only includes troop strength and ship designs, but also detailed maps of nearby river gorges and road distributions. Each year after the Ministry of War adds modifications, it’s stored in the palace’s Ziwei Pavilion. Ziwei Pavilion is a cold palace. Very few people know the defense map is inside. There are also expert inner guards secretly protecting it, which is why the Great Qiu King personally came with his shadow guards.” Yuan Cheng supplemented the answer.
“But how did he know the map was in Ziwei Pavilion?” After asking, Mo Zi thought of it. “Could it be the chess pieces?”
“Chen Er is dead. Zeng Hai is also dead. Both were silenced. However, the other side doesn’t know we’ve already traced the line to Prince Jing’s Mansion through Chen Er’s adopted daughter Jin Si.” Yuan Cheng, seeing Mo Zi’s expression grow increasingly shocked, passed her a cup of tea. “Jin Si’s father was one of Xiao Yuanlang’s procurement agents. He introduced many procurement agents from great mansions to Chen Er, even including some from the palace. The one Chen Er finally bribed was a little eunuch who cleaned Ziwei Pavilion. By a twist of fate, he actually obtained news that the defense map was in Ziwei Pavilion.”
“There couldn’t also be someone from Prince Jing’s Mansion who betrayed, could there?” Mo Zi said this without carrying personal resentment—just discussing the matter at hand.
“Although the treason letter with my teacher’s handwriting was presented to the late Emperor by Old Master Xiao, his explanation that someone placed that letter in his study—your lord has verified it’s true.” The Emperor let out a long breath. “Fortunately it isn’t. The Xiao family has always been utterly loyal to Us. We didn’t want to mistrust them.”
Mo Zi had heard too much shocking information tonight. Her head was spinning a bit. Even if Old Master Xiao hadn’t framed the Yuan family, the accusation was still something he did, right? For a bitter revenge-seeker who hates the world, they would resent the Xiao family as well. However, the facts were quite the opposite—it was the Xiao family who disliked Yuan Cheng more.
“Not the Xiao family, but possibly other important court officials colluding with the Great Qiu to frame the loyal and good.”
Yuan Cheng spoke of his family’s blood feud as if discussing an official matter, so calmly. “My grandfather and father very likely discovered some clues, and thus were struck down preemptively. The Yuan clan suffered the calamity of complete extermination.” “Colluding with the Great Qiu over twenty years ago—this person is hidden very deeply.” Simply terrifying!
Yuan Cheng also said, “Moreover, to this day they make no sound or sign. What we’ve found are only insignificant scapegoats. I originally thought Chen Er was unrelated to the Great Qiu. Now it seems Zeng Hai’s relationship with the Great Qiu was most shallow, limited only to smuggling goods and monetary transactions. On the surface it was he who chose Chen Er to help transport goods, but actually it was designed by Chen Er. That we could catch Zeng Hai was pure luck. If we’d delayed just a bit, Zeng Hai would have learned of Chen Er’s failed power grab and naturally wouldn’t have shipped the goods.”
“The Great Qiu King’s visit here was very likely to meet with this person,” the Emperor said.
In truth, peace talks were false; scheming was real.