The two empress dowagers’ meaning was clear: the empress’s throne would either be occupied by Wu or Wang – no third option.
The emperor appealed.
But the appeal was ineffective. In a democratic vote, it was passed two to one.
One surnamed Wu was gone, replaced by one surnamed Wang.
Wan Zhen’er was heartbroken, disappointed, angry, and most of all, helpless. She had thought the empress position was almost certainly hers, that she could be the mother of the nation. Who knew in the end it would be like drawing water with a bamboo basket – all her efforts in vain, making clothes for someone else.
The young girl, though small, was quite intelligent. She calmly accepted the feudal residual influence and learned from celibate nuns, showing no enthusiasm or interest in romantic affairs. She tried her best to remain pure and detached, turning a deaf ear to matters of love and desire.
New Empress (2)
Isn’t it just about not having a man beside her at night?
The world is fair. If heaven opens a window for you to become empress, it closes the door for the emperor to sleep in your room.
Abstaining from desire, suppressing adrenal hormone secretion, is far better than living in the cold palace, not knowing if you’ll survive until tomorrow, or when you might perish. Most importantly, her family won’t be implicated. She can hold her head high, enjoy delicious food, and still bask in glory and wealth.
The young Wang girl is smarter than her predecessor, the Wu girl, understanding the principles of human existence.
In fact, these strategies were not something a naive, inexperienced 15-year-old girl with limited worldly knowledge could devise. She was guided by a wise mentor.
That mentor was her father.
Her father said that for the safety of the Wang family and their descendants’ social status, the empress-to-be must practice “endurance” in everything: endure when possible, tolerate when necessary, even when it seems impossible. Endure in character, in cultivation, in preserving life.
The young girl remembered this firmly.
After Wan Zhen’er provoked the young Wang girl several times and saw her ability to survive in the margins, meekly tolerating without fighting back or spreading gossip, Wan Zhen’er retreated, no longer trying to nitpick.
Wan Zhen’er thought she was never destined to be empress, no matter how many empresses were deposed, it would never be her – because she was seventeen years older than the emperor.
But if Wan Zhen’er were only seventeen days older, how could she have accompanied the emperor through those difficult years? Because of those years, the emperor’s reward to Wan Zhen’er was unwavering love.
In the Emperor’s mind, from the first moment he was entangled with Wan Zhen’er, he regarded her as his wife, his empress. Wan Zhen’er’s happiness was his happiness, her pain was his pain, and he lived only to see her every day.
Wan Zhen’er was intelligent, charming, and warm-hearted. In the Emperor’s eyes, she was like a fully ripened grape – plump, full, crystal-clear, sparkling with an alluring radiance. All the women in the palace combined could not compare to her charm.
No one understood why the Emperor was so obsessed with Wan Zhen’er.
The Emperor did not need others to understand.
To make Wan Zhen’er happy and let the world know that she was the woman he loved, whenever the Emperor needed to attend important occasions or ceremonies that required bringing a partner, he never brought the Empress Wang, completely ignoring her existence. The one always by the Emperor’s side was Wan Zhen’er.
Wan Zhen’er enjoyed accompanying the Emperor on outings outside the palace, which felt less oppressive than the palace itself.
Every time they went out, Wan Zhen’er would wear military attire, riding a tall and magnificent white horse. She liked to protect the Emperor, clearing the way for him or riding alongside him in places with clear mountains and green waters. Those were the moments when they were both happiest.
Occasionally, when Wan Zhen’er lowered her head and the wind blew, a strand of hair would cover her eyes. She would brush it away, squinting and looking ahead, unknowingly charming in her inviting yet reserved manner.
She asked the Emperor: “Is the baby cute?”
The Emperor said: “Cute.”
Wan Zhen’er asked again: “Do you like him?”
The Emperor said: “Like.”
The child was in Wan Zhen’er’s arms, with two big black eyes rolling around. The child babbled and reached out, pulling at the ruby on Wan Zhen’er’s collar. The sparkling ruby, under the sunlight, emitted dazzling rays. The child had never seen such a thing before and probably thought it was a high-end toy.
Wan Zhen’er took off the ruby and gave it to the child.
Wan Zhen’er said: “I’ll give this to you, okay?”
The child didn’t respond, just happily took it and lowered his head to play with it.
At this moment, waves of food fragrance drifted over. Wan Zhen’er suddenly felt hungry. In the palace, every meal was full of delicacies, and she was tired of seeing them. Now, this primitive, green flavor made Wan Zhen’er’s mouth water.
Wan Zhen’er said: “Emperor, I’m hungry.”
The Emperor smiled: “I, I’m hungry too.”
Wan Zhen’er said: “Shall we eat here?”
The Emperor said: “Yes, I’ll listen to my beloved.”
A coquettish “Emperor” and a deeply affectionate “beloved” stunned the child’s parents standing nearby.
Their souls nearly left their bodies, having never been so shocked in their entire lives. Ah, the people before them were the famous Emperor and his other half.
Wan Zhen’er laughed, habitually squinting her long, slender eyes, her face like a lotus flower. This smile, this posture – Wan Zhen’er had practiced thousands of times in front of the mirror. She knew it was devastatingly beautiful, an unspeakably charming gesture, like a light-speed seduction that could enchant the Emperor, capable of making him lose his soul.
At that moment, it was dusk.
The evening sunlight happened to fall on Wan Zhen’er, gilding her hair with a golden edge, her face with a golden edge, making her entire being resemble a golden metallic statue.
The Emperor stared at Wan Zhen’er, unable to look away.
Wan Zhen’er was the woman he liked. She made him unable to stop.
“My beloved!” the Emperor called.
“Yes!” Wan Zhen’er answered.
“My beloved!” the Emperor called again.
“Yes!” Wan Zhen’er answered again.
The Emperor’s breathing suddenly became constricted, his gaze heated.
He involuntarily reached out, gently caressing Wan Zhen’er’s face, her eyes, her nose, her mouth. His touch was light and tender, his gaze full of liquid tenderness and infinite affection.
Wan Zhen’er looked back at him, her shadow flying in his pupils.
Finally, Wan Zhen’er threw herself onto the Emperor, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing her full lips tightly against his. She kissed him inch by inch, almost frantically.
The Emperor felt Wan Zhen’er’s lips like a massive magnet drawing away his soul.
The Emperor’s lips also began to move downward.
In this simple house, on this simple bed, Wan Zhen’er and the Emperor’s bodies became intimately entangled, their passion and desire spreading uninhibitedly.
Shameless? So be it. They would see it through to the end.
The Emperor was willing. Wan Zhen’er lay by his ear, breathing, her hot breath rhythmically striking his eardrum.
The Emperor liked that feeling.
“My beloved, give me a son, will you?”
“Yes!”
“Our son, when he’s born, I’ll make him Crown Prince.”
“Wan Zhen’er was pregnant.
This joy descended from heaven.
Ha! Let those who secretly curse her see now – she who exclusively enjoys imperial favor, who dominates the imperial bed, who exclusively receives imperial grace. Let those who called her a barren hen see – she’s not unable to lay eggs, but when she does, it’s extraordinary!
