Later, Wan Zhen’er and the Prince fell onto the bed. Wan Zhen’er wrapped herself into the Prince’s arms like a whirlwind. She didn’t want him to leave her, and she wouldn’t let him leave her. She wanted his heart, his body, his soul, everything.
The Prince also kissed Wan Zhen’er greedily, pressing his body tightly against hers.
As if about to swallow Wan Zhen’er whole.
The Prince’s movements were what Wan Zhen’er had long desired, fantasized about countless times in midnight dreams, and now, they finally appeared clearly and tangibly in reality.
At that moment, Wan Zhen’er became the Prince’s woman.
At that moment, the Prince became Wan Zhen’er’s man.
The Prince no longer called Wan Zhen’er “Aunt,” but called her by her name: “Zhen’er.”
So warm. So happy. Such a secure feeling.
The two words “Zhen’er” made Wan Zhen’er spirited and radiant, pushing her age back to the time of first love. A woman who has never loved or been loved is not truly a woman. Although Wan Zhen’er became a woman too late, waiting an eternity while her peers had become haggard wives, she finally began to flourish.
But what of it?
Wan Zhen’er still waited.
And the man who made her flourish was none other than the current Prince, the future Emperor.
In this vast world, Wan Zhen’er had only herself.
And the Prince who was deeply infatuated with her.
Wan Zhen’er liked to cling to the Prince whenever possible, with her heart and her irresistibly mature, seductive body. She knew that at this moment, even fox spirits would have to learn from her – they lacked her charm, her sensuality.
Wan Zhen’er asked the Prince in the most casual, mesmerizing tone: “Am I attractive? Am I beautiful?
The Prince nodded: “Attractive! Beautiful!”
Wan Zhen’er asked again: “I’m different from other women, right? Do you like me? Do you love me?”
The Prince nodded even more emphatically: “I like you! I love you!”
Wan Zhen’er’s questions seemed endless: “How long have you liked me? How long will you love me?”
The Prince looked at Wan Zhen’er, then wrapped his young body tightly around her. He pressed Wan Zhen’er beneath him, kissing her passionately. Wan Zhen’er’s soft waist, her flowing posture, her porcelain-like skin, her intoxicated eyes, and fragrant breath made the Prince unable to resist.
Wan Zhen’er and the Crown Prince’s ambiguity was so blatant.
Wan Zhen’er knew that there are no walls without cracks.
But so what? Wan Zhen’er liked it this way, and the Crown Prince liked it too. Even if the whole world knew, they didn’t care, just walking their own path, letting the little dogs bark wildly. In short, Wan Zhen’er and the Crown Prince’s mutual affection was like an endless flowing river.
Despite rumors flying everywhere, no one jumped out to break up their relationship.
The Emperor did not.
The Empress did not.
Zhou Guifei did not.
According to the usual palace convention, adolescent princes could casually engage with any woman in the palace except the Emperor’s wives before officially getting married, treating it as pre-marital practice to master eighteen sexual arts, so that when the wedding night came, they could confidently conquer the world.
The bed sparring partners for princes were generally low-born palace maids.
These bed sparring partners depended on luck. If they were fortunate enough to bear a child, they could gain status through their offspring, though not truly favored. If the child was lucky, they might even don the yellow robe – though the chances were slim. The precondition was that the Emperor’s wives could not bear a son, or any sons they had died young, and he was the only surviving legitimate heir.
Life is unpredictable.
No one knows what will happen tomorrow.
The tragic ones were the sparring partners whose bellies were not cooperative, having contributed their precious first time but ultimately leaving no mark in their master’s heart – like wind passing without carrying a single cloud.
Many predicted Wan Zhen’er would become such a woman who could not carry away even a cloud.
Because Wan Zhen’er was too old.
Wan Zhen’er thought: It seems that being tough is better. Even if you don’t bully others, people will still step all over you. Rather than being bullied by others, it’s better to bully others first. Didn’t the notorious hero Cao Cao say: I’d rather let down the whole world than let the whole world let me down.
What a profound saying indeed.
The year the Crown Prince was promoted to Emperor, he was eighteen years old.
Wan Zhen’er was thirty-five years old.
The Zhengtong Emperor had passed away, and the Crown Prince sat on the golden dragon throne, receiving kowtows from everyone: “Long live! Long live! Long live forever!”
But Wan Zhen’er couldn’t be happy.
Wan Zhen’er had accompanied the Emperor for many years, been a well-behaved bed companion, and been wholeheartedly good to him. Wan Zhen’er thought she had finally waited for her moment of triumph and success.
But who knew, it wasn’t like that at all.
Before the Zhengtong Emperor died, he ordered a nationwide activity to select a matching wife for the Crown Prince. Among thousands of noble young ladies, three women emerged – one surnamed Wu, one surnamed Wang, and one surnamed Bai.
The Wu woman was talented and virtuous, the Wang woman was beautiful and charming, and the Bai woman was petite and extraordinarily attractive.
The Zhengtong Emperor preferred the Wu woman.
After the Crown Prince became Emperor, the former Emperor’s empress Qian was promoted to Empress Dowager, and his mother, Consort Zhou, was upgraded to Empress Dowager. The two women began arranging the Emperor’s lifelong marriage.
They surprisingly agreed for the first time, choosing the Wu woman as empress, with Wang and Bai becoming concubines.
Wan Zhen’er got nothing.
This made Wan Zhen’er desperate.
Wan Zhen’er had been by the Emperor’s side for many years, giving her youth, love, and loyalty. What she received in return was nothing.
The benefits that should have been hers were taken by these young girls who reaped without sowing.
On what grounds?
Wan Zhen’er cried, heartbroken.
Wan Zhen’er didn’t want to live anymore. She couldn’t find a reason to go on living.
Although the Emperor threatened to go on a hunger strike and refuse to bow to the Empress, the two Empress Dowagers reluctantly agreed to give Wan Zhen’er a concubine title to console her for serving the Emperor for over a decade. However, Wan Zhen’er was not happy. Who would want to be a mere concubine?
Just think about it, why did her idol Sun Empress Dowager go to such lengths if not to climb onto the Empress’s throne?
Everyone knows how powerful an Empress can be. She can be the mother of the nation, control the six palaces, and be imposing.
But Wan Zhen’er could not sit in the Empress’s position. It was occupied by that lucky Wu girl, allowing her to ride over Wan Zhen’er’s head and act arrogantly. Wan Zhen’er was truly unconvinced and could not swallow this grievance. Hmph, ask her to bow down to the Wu girl and call her the boss? To be submissive and compromise? No way, not a chance!
Wan Zhen’er’s heart was seething with hatred.
Yet she was helpless.
The Emperor’s wedding was lively and grand. The imperial palace was decorated with lanterns and streamers, golden and splendid. Red candles with golden double happiness characters were everywhere, and red felt was laid on the imperial path.
Three ceremonial whips cracked, and amid the drum music, all princes and officials bowed to the Emperor, kneeling three times and kowtowing nine times.
“Long live! Long live! Long live forever!”
The ground shook.
