The emperor naturally recommended his beloved woman, Wan Zhen’er, as the empress candidate. His reasons were: Wan Zhen’er had seniority, long service in the palace, rich life experience, and was adept at seizing opportunities – undoubtedly deserving of the empress’s throne. The two empress dowagers once again joined forces to nominate someone surnamed Wang, one of the top three candidates when choosing the prince’s wife.
Their reason was straightforward: since the late emperor had originally chosen Wang and not Wu, they should follow the late emperor’s wishes.
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.
