Chapter 33: A Perfect Solution in This World (33)

Chapter 33: A Perfect Solution in This World (33)

"His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager are departing for the palace!"

De Yi announced, raising his dust whisk high and chanting loudly.

"Bowing to see off His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!"

Led by Liao Kong, hundreds of monks at the national temple cupped their hands together and bowed, bidding farewell to the most esteemed figures in the Liang Empire.

Wuchen watched her being held tightly by the emperor as they walked amidst thousands, basking in glory. She left his sight, his life, without even turning back.

From this day forth, his life would no longer include a disciple who claimed to be Wuxin!

No more ripples, no more anticipation.

And it was all his own doing.

Closing his eyes, Wuchen turned the Buddhist beads and softly recited scriptures.

Yet not even the teachings of Buddhism can mend the wound in one's heart!

Outside, the Emperor requested Zhen Shan to share his imperial carriage.

Zhen Shan declined with evident apprehension, stating that it would be against the rules, and respectfully requested the emperor to rescind the edict.

The emperor, fearing to alarm the beauty, did not insist. Instead, he tenderly reassured her and instructed the palace attendants to take good care of her before departing with a tinge of regret in his heart aboard his royal carriage.

Sigh, I had initially hoped to engage in some delightful activities with a beauty in the car!

Empress Dowager was all too aware of the lecherous emperor's thoughts. With firm resolve, she refused him!

She held Que'er's hand and ascended the carriage steps one by one. Before entering, she couldn't help but turn to look at Wuchen. Their eyes met, his shallow amethyst gaze filled with hidden pain. A faint hint of moisture shimmered in her own eyes.

That tear that hung precariously on her eyelash became Wuchen's torment for hundreds of days and nights, relentlessly gnawing at his heart.

...

Two years later

In present-day Liang Kingdom, the most renowned figure was not the emperor, the empress dowager, nor any influential minister, talented scholar, or beauty.

It was, in fact, the imperial concubine, Lady Zhen Shan, who had been elevated to divine heights by the emperor's favor!

Word had it that upon her entrance into the palace, the emperor immediately neglected his harem of three thousand beauties, bestowing all his affection solely upon her. He even granted her the privileges and respect normally reserved for an empress.

From the beginning of her favor, the emperor postponed court affairs for three days, showering her with the imperial favor comparable to that of a queen. Whatever the empress possessed, she also received; whatever the empress lacked, the emperor provided.

The day after her entry into the palace, while paying respects to the empress, she fainted due to the empress's provocations. In response, the emperor struck the empress with a slap, summoning imperial physicians for her.

He also promptly banished the chief eunuch, Xiao Quanzi, who served the empress, to the Eternal Alley.

Subsequently, the emperor abolished the custom of her paying respects to the empress and relieved her of the obligation to bow before her, turning the empress into the laughingstock of the six palaces.

Ministers protested, arguing that such actions violated ancestral rules and that unrest in the harem would inevitably disrupt the stability of the imperial court.

The emperor replied with unapologetic arrogance (or perhaps idiocy), stating that the empress's position was originally seized by Zhen Xin from the Virtuous Consort. In terms of legitimacy, who could surpass the current empress?

If, esteemed ministers, you find this situation unsatisfactory, why don't I simply depose the empress and elevate the Virtuous Consort to her place?

All the ministers wore expressions of indignant disbelief. Your Majesty, could you possibly be any more capricious?

And if you were displeased with the current Empress, why did you discard virtuous Concubine Xian and instead marry Lady Zhen from the prominent Zhen family?

Isn't this just playing with their emotions?

In the end, it doesn't matter who the Empress is; it all depends on the Emperor's mood. Whoever he favors becomes the best!

What a decadent ruler!

Not long after, the Emperor, worried about her comfort, ordered a renovation of her Guju Palace, transforming it into a beautiful and spring-like haven all year round.

Then, after some unknown conversation between the enchanting concubine and the Emperor, those women who had once bullied her were either randomly assigned to marry ugly, old, or crippled men, or were dragged into the palace themselves.

The more fortunate ones were made to entertain the enchanting concubine with their talents. As long as they could please her, their lives would be slightly better. The less fortunate were assigned to the dirtiest and smelliest tasks within the palace.

Of course, these women were not content. A few initially plotted to seduce the Emperor to elevate their status and seek revenge.

Unfortunately, the Emperor seemed bewitched by the enchanting concubine. Those who dared to try to climb into his bed were, at best, handed over to a group of guards, while at worst, they faced being fed to packs of dogs or other wild beasts.

In no time, the Empress's notorious title sent chills down the spines of women both within and outside the palace walls. Many officials submitted memorials to the emperor, demanding the execution of the enchanting concubine. Ironically, it was these very officials who ultimately met their demise.

Strangely, their positions were promptly filled by others, who performed even better than their predecessors.

Thus, the palace, the court, and the elite circles were in turmoil, while common folk lived their lives peacefully unaffected.

Zhen Shan's ill reputation was confined to these elite sectors. As for the common people, they mostly saw her as a topic for casual gossip after meals.

Gradually, the concubines in the harem and the influential figures of the capital realized with dread that they could no longer touch the elusive and mystical Zhen Shan.

Could such capability truly be attributed to a frail and delicate lotus flower like Little Bai?

Pfft!

What "white lily"?

Could a white lily remain unvanquished in the harem? Could it push its own empress sister into becoming a despised and resentful woman by the emperor? Could it make the Empress Dowager turn a blind eye to her?

And could it even have the heart to prompt the emperor to strip its father of his official rank, exiling him to a remote border town?

The implications were terrifying!

Now, even the aristocrats didn't dare to speak ill of her in private. This was because in the past two years, His Majesty had suddenly established an Inspectorate, based on the Imperial Guards.

They were omnipresent, acting as the Emperor's eyes, watching over the nobles and officials in the capital. Should they slip and say something out of line, it could lead to severe consequences!

While the nobles and officials were fearful of the Emperor, their dissatisfaction grew deeper in their hearts.

They believed that the Emperor had become more and more irrational under the enchantment of the evil concubine!

...

Amidst the disdainful whispers of nobles and court officials who labeled her as a corrupting concubine, Zhen Shan reclined on a plush couch. The luster of pearls illuminated her snow-white, delicate face, while her serene gaze was accentuated by a vivid teardrop mole at the corner of her eye.

With lowered lids, she idly toyed with the gem-encrusted nail guards in her hand, all the while...listening to the dissonant sounds emanating from the adjacent bed.

The Empress felt a profound boredom, yawning lethargically before pretending to sleep, waiting for the unsettling noises to cease.

"Que'er, Shairen."

Two maidservants glided into the bedroom, paying their respects to Zhen Shan before skillfully approaching the bed. They deftly wrapped a woman in the blankets and dragged her off the mattress.

In the meantime, a figure in black suddenly appeared, scooping up the woman, blankets and all.

Sare, one of the young maidens nurtured by Que'er and Zhen Shan over the past two years, calmly tidied the emperor on the bed and erased any signs of what had transpired. Clearly, this was not their first time dealing with such a situation.

"Empress, it's done," Sare reported.

Zhen Shan nodded nonchalantly, her exquisite jade feet stepping onto the white fur carpet as she rose gracefully. Her scarlet silk inner robe accentuated her irresistible charm, making her seem more captivating than any fox spirit from a storybook.

Que'er and Sahar found themselves utterly mesmerized.

Having served by Zhen Shan's side for quite some time, they were still captivated by the lady's beauty and charisma, even with daily sightings.

The Empress retreated to her bed, ensuring that the distance between her and Emperor Qin Yi was as far as possible.

It seems you hold quite an aversion.

Que'er and Sha'er gently lowered the curtain and stepped out with soft footsteps.

As I wrote about Zhen Shan's departure from the National Temple, a song titled "You" filled my mind:

"You stand amidst the crowd, basking in boundless glory; your eyes hidden, do they hide a shimmering tear? I lack the power to erase, even if I wish it with all my heart; until the dark of night, when dreams bring back the maiden once adored."

Some dear readers mentioned not wanting the main characters together. Well, Wuchen's choice can't be simply right or wrong. As a compassionate Buddhist disciple, loving all beings, it would be unrealistic for him to risk others' lives to escort the Empress away. He chose his faith over Zhen Shan. One might argue he didn't love enough, but as the Empress said, there's no remedy for regret. He must bear the consequences of his choice.