Civil and military officials, imperial relatives, palace maidens, and eunuchs gathered joyfully outside the Kunning Palace gate. Not every Emperor could have such a grand wedding. Emperors who were already adults with wives before ascending the throne would only hold a ceremonial empress installation, not a full wedding.
Wan Zhen’er stood among them, lost in her thoughts. In the whole world, only she and the Emperor were not smiling.
Indeed, how could Wan Zhen’er and the Emperor possibly laugh?
This was more painful than torture.
Facing such a delicate and tender beauty, would the Emperor abandon Wan Zhen’er? Although the Emperor had said he would treat Wan Zhen’er well for a lifetime, love her forever, and never have a second thought! But times change.
Wan Zhen’er had no confidence in herself. She ran to the bed and lay down.
Whenever she encountered something she couldn’t handle, she liked to sleep first—as if everything would be easier after a nap. She didn’t know when she fell asleep, feeling tired and heartbroken, and then gradually drifted off.
Wan Zhen’er had a dream.
In the dream, she saw the Emperor in high spirits, surrounded by many young women. They surrounded the Emperor, laughing and teasing.
The distant sky was painted with a drunken crimson, just before dusk.
Wan Zhen’er walked over and knelt down: “This concubine greets the Emperor.”
The Emperor ignored her, continuing to seek pleasure with the young temptresses.
Perhaps he didn’t hear her, or perhaps he heard but chose to ignore her.
Wan Zhen’er could only repeat: “This concubine greets the Emperor.”
The Emperor still didn’t look at her.
Ah, this woman, who had just become the Empress, the yellow-haired girl surnamed Wu. Wan Zhen’er recognized her, even if she turned to ashes. The woman surnamed Wu stared at Wan Zhen’er with a proud, condescending attitude, exuding a sense of superiority.
The woman surnamed Wu asked the Emperor: “Who is this old woman?”
The Emperor embraced her, laughing: “I don’t know.”
She asked again: “Why is she here?”
The Emperor replied: “She’s shameless, clinging to me, refusing to leave. I’ve long disliked her.”
All the women looked at Wan Zhen’er, covering their mouths and laughing, humiliating her: “You old, faded woman, how dare you compete for favor with us?”
Suddenly, the wind picked up, cutting like knives across her face and blowing her hair loose. Her disheveled hair whipped her face silently, but her heart was slashed open, bleeding countless wounds.
A thousand sorrows and hatreds surged in Wan Zhen’er’s heart. Her lips began to tremble.
“Beloved concubine! Wake up! Wake up! Are you having a nightmare? Wake up!”
Wan Zhen’er suddenly heard the Emperor’s voice. Someone was shaking her and slapping her face. Half-awake, her mind still immersed in the dream, she looked at the Emperor and those young, beautiful temptresses, feeling devastated. Only they could match the Emperor in his prime. What was she?
Startled by the pushing and hitting, Wan Zhen’er was jolted awake.
She opened her eyes, bewildered. What she saw was the Emperor’s concerned face.
Wan Zhen’er had a thousand wishes in her heart, but on the surface, she still had to put on a show of being virtuous. Wan Zhen’er said, “Your Majesty, why don’t you go accompany the Empress? Tonight is your wedding night, a moment of spring worth a thousand gold, don’t neglect the Empress.”
The Emperor frowned: “We do not like her!”
Wan Zhen’er feigned confusion: “Why? The Empress is so beautiful.”
The Emperor said: “No matter how beautiful she is, We do not like her.”
Wan Zhen’er looked at the Emperor with a seductive gaze, her voice infinitely coquettish, asking: “Then who does Your Majesty like?”
The Emperor, serious and decisive: “We only like you, my beloved concubine!”
Wan Zhen’er’s face bloomed with a smile, embracing the Emperor and sending her fragrant kiss.
Wan Zhen’er was inwardly triumphant. The Emperor’s wedding night would shock people that he ran to her palace! That Wu woman deserved her misfortune. Did she think becoming Empress was something special? Now she was alone, guarding an empty room, enjoying the taste of loneliness.
Ah, how wonderful!
That damn white horse really knew how to bully someone, not only running incredibly fast but also performing some high-difficulty moves – sometimes jumping upward, sometimes kicking its four hooves wildly, sometimes standing upright. Wan Zhen was tossed about on the horse’s back, nearly falling off.
Wan Zhen gripped the horse’s bit tightly, pushing forward with both legs, leaning back, pulling the reins and never letting go.
Wan Zhen didn’t believe she would lose to it.
Finally, after who knows how long, the white horse was tamed by Wan Zhen, gradually slowing down and stopping. Although Wan Zhen paid a price, her entire body aching as if her bones were falling apart, exhausted beyond measure, she was still incredibly excited.
The Emperor was also excited, running over: “My beloved, truly, truly remarkable!”
Wan Zhen was triumphant.
Nothing is impossible in the world, as long as you can keep trying.
If his position were not that of an Emperor, he would likely have become an outstanding painter. Just after ascending the throne, those princes, nobles, civil, and military officials were eager to showcase themselves, often competing and displaying their unique skills, turning the entire court into a lively arena. Thus, the Emperor created a world-famous painting called “Harmony Picture,” calling on his subjects to “combine three as one, achieve a single heart without division, forget each other’s right and wrong, and embrace harmonious atmosphere.”
Occasionally, Wan Zhen’er also served as a model, sitting motionless for the Emperor’s painting. The Emperor always painted Wan Zhen’er to resemble Guanyin. Wan Zhen’er was the Emperor’s Guanyin, his personal Guanyin.
Sometimes when in a great mood, Wan Zhen’er and the Emperor would enthusiastically visit the rear garden. In the rear garden, Wan Zhen’er encountered Empress Wu.
Empress Wu and her eunuchs and palace maids saw the Emperor and simultaneously approached, kneeling and kowtowing. Empress Wu’s voice was crisp and polite: “This concubine pays respects to Your Majesty.” The Emperor didn’t even look at her, casually waving his hand: “Rise.”
Empress Wu politely responded: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Wan Zhen’er pretended not to see her. She didn’t need to be polite to her. Originally, a concubine should bow to the Empress. If violated, the top could easily charge her with disrespect, imprisoning her for a month, or even inflicting punishment.
But Wan Zhen’er refused to bow! She believed that Empress Wu wouldn’t dare touch a hair on her. Everyone knew Wan Zhen’er was the most beloved woman of the current Emperor. Who would be foolish enough to provoke her?
Wan Zhen’er walked to one side, pretending to appreciate the flowers in the bushes. The flowers among green leaves were vibrant and competing for beauty.
Wan Zhen’er called: “Your Majesty, come quickly and see, these flowers are so beautiful.”
The Emperor walked over: “I love roses most. Roses are beautiful, just like my beloved concubine.”
Wan Zhen’er pouted: “Your Majesty, do you mean I’m like this rose, with thorns? You’re so bad! I don’t have thorns, okay?”
The Emperor laughed heartily: “My beloved, I just love that you have thorns.”
Besides the Emperor, everyone else is blind, all looking favorably at Empress Wu, with betting odds completely one-sided and unhesitatingly placed on Empress Wu’s side. Of course, whoever it was would do the same; no matter what was used for comparison, Wan Zhen’er was no match for Empress Wu.
