Chapter 280: Xie Lu Shi, Which Xie?

Chapter 280: Xie Lu Shi—Which Xie?

"Princess, what kind of ruler was Emperor Jingxiang?" Lu Mingchao murmured softly, her voice tinged with mixed feelings.

Because of Shu Yuan, she couldn't help resenting him.

One could say Shu Yuan's life was ruined by Emperor Jingxiang.

But she also knew that for a monarch, personal virtue mattered least—what really mattered were military strategy and governance.

Throughout history, emperors who were flawless in both personal virtue and capability were few and far between.

The wind lifted the carriage curtain, brushing against her face and tangling in her hair.

Princess Lerong scooted closer to Lu Mingchao and whispered, "Personal virtue or political achievements?"

"Keep it between us."

"After the current emperor ascended the throne, Emperor Jingxiang became a taboo subject."

"Aside from Shu Yuan, was Emperor Jingxiang's personal virtue still lacking?" Lu Mingchao wondered.

Inheriting the original host's memories, she was completely in the dark about royal affairs.

She strongly suspected the original host had a one-track mind for Gu Huai.

Anything related to Gu Huai, no matter how trivial, the original host remembered clear as day, like she was listing them off.

The original host was hopelessly hung up on Gu Huai.

Princess Lerong hesitated. "I'm not sure if it counts as lacking in personal virtue."

"You grew up in Yongning Marquis's household, so you should know Emperor Jingxiang's harem was barely there."

"Aside from the empress, whom he had to marry properly due to betrothal obligations, there was also Consort Xie."

"Back then, when Emperor Jingxiang first took the throne, rumors of his taste for men blew up, with everyone talking."

"To quell the scandal, Empress Dowager Xie selected a fatherless girl from a collateral branch of the Xie family—one who had lost her mother when she turned fifteen—and had her enter the palace as Consort Xie."

"Yet, within just a year, Emperor Jingxiang had her killed for no reason."

"The court officials were outraged, flooding the court with protests."

"Empress Dowager Xie was furious and even left the palace to live in seclusion at Daiqing Mountain. Only after Emperor Jingxiang personally knelt and climbed a hundred stone steps did she relent."

Lu Mingchao went quiet, thinking.

It wasn’t just Empress Dowager Xie who was appeased—the entire court was as well.

Empress Dowager Xie’s move had been brilliantly played.

Princess Lerong leaned in close, her breath warm against Lu Mingchao’s cheek. "Talk that Consort Xie didn’t die."

"But no one has told me what became of her."

"Since her death was announced to the world, ashes to ashes—she was dead for all intents and purposes."

"Thus, Consort Xie’s death became ammunition against Emperor Jingxiang."

"Mingchao, Emperor Jingxiang may not have been a good man, but he was certainly a great emperor."

"During his reign, he lightened tax burdens and labor duties, encouraged agriculture, let the people rebuild their strength, welcomed criticism with humility, reformed the bureaucracy, and strictly enforced rewards and punishments."

"He also was generous to royal relatives."

"Emperor Wencheng personally groomed a capable heir for Daqian."

"With Emperor Jingxiang's sudden death, a series of reforms were cut short midstream, even leading to a period of chaos."

"Daring historians once wrote that if Emperor Jingxiang had not died in his prime, a golden era for Daqian could have been expected."

"All the stains on Emperor Jingxiang's reign stemmed from his personal conduct, not his governance."

"His taste for male lovers led to the renowned scholar Shu Yuan submitting through self-castration."

"The empress, from a prominent Jiangnan clan, left a letter written in blood and hanged herself."

"Xie Shufei, who dutifully served Empress Dowager Xie, was put to death without cause."

"These were all the stains on Emperor Jingxiang's reign."

"My grandmother said that evaluating an emperor must not confuse his achievements as a ruler with his behavior as a person."

"An emperor and a person are not the same."

"A good emperor is not necessarily a good man, and a good man is not necessarily a good emperor."

Lu Mingchao deeply agreed.

Becoming an emperor meant one was no longer merely a person but an embodiment of the state.

Consider Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, as recorded in later histories.

His civil and military achievements, the Zhenguan era's prosperity.

The surrender of border tribes, envoys from all nations paying tribute—an unprecedented spectacle.

Yet he killed his brothers, imprisoned his father, and forced himself on his sister-in-law.

A good emperor, but not a good son or brother.

Through Princess Lerong County's account, Lu Mingchao gained a vivid understanding of Emperor Jingxiang.

Looking back at his inescapable involvement with Shu Yuan, it truly fit the saying 'inescapable fate.'

Could Emperor Jingxiang, who ruled with such discipline and was determined to bring about a golden era, not have known the disastrous outcome of his entanglement with Shu Yuan?

He knew.

But he still wanted Shu Yuan.

Thus came tragedy.

The carriage moved forward slowly, and Princess Lerong County talked herself hoarse.

Lu Mingchao smiled and poured her tepid tea.

Princess Lerong County gave a delicate sniff, then tilted her head back and drained it in one gulp. "Spring water?"

"It can rival the spring water drawn from Mount Shuyu."

"Refreshingly crisp and sweet."

"The Yongning Marquis's residence truly lives up to its reputation as an old noble house, with a deep-rooted legacy."

"From which mountain was it drawn? Was it time-consuming and labor-intensive?"

Lu Mingchao blinked in confusion.

It was merely slightly more expensive mineral water from her dimensional supermarket.

"You don't know?" Princess Lerong County was astonished.

Lu Mingchao nodded. "Indeed, I don't."

A cup of tea quenched her thirst, and Princess Lerong perked right up.

She babbled on and on all the way.

After the carriage stopped outside the Yongming Grand Princess's estate, Princess Lerong still wasn't done talking.

Lu Mingchao couldn't help but wonder how someone as quiet as Ming Zhou could be as close as sisters with the chatterbox Princess Lerong.

As soon as the carriage came to a halt, an attendant from the grand princess's estate came forward. "Princess Lerong, Xie Lu Shi, this way, please."

Princess Lerong snorted in dissatisfaction. "Why call her Xie Lu Shi?"

The attendant could only sigh.

Guided by the attendants, Lu Mingchao met Yongming Grand Princess, who was past her fifties with snow-white hair at her temples, and the gentle and dignified Princess Pingning.

Yongming Grand Princess sat in the place of honor, while Princess Pingning sat below.

Yongming Grand Princess had lived through four dynastic changes, nourished by power and influence.

In her later years, she had grown serene and unpretentious, exuding peace and kindness.

"Your humble junior, Xie Lu Shi, pays her respects to the Grand Princess."

"And to Princess Pingning."

"You are with child; there is no need for formalities." Yongming Grand Princess raised her hand slightly. "Take a seat."

Lu Mingchao replied respectfully, "This is my humble gift."

As she spoke, Hu Po bowed her head and raised a brocade box with both hands above her head.

"How thoughtful of you." Yongming Grand Princess smiled kindly.

Then, turning to Princess Pingning, she said firmly, "Pingning, I've had Yu Jin confined to his chambers, and he keeps asking for you. Take Princess Lerong to see him."

"Grandmother, if Cousin Yu Jin misses his aunt, my mother can go alone. Why should I be in the way?" Princess Lerong shot back.

"Every time I see Cousin Yu Jin, I feel like whipping him with a silk whip."

Yongming Grand Princess didn't bat an eye. "Then go and whip him."

Princess Pingning looked between them, suppressing her doubts, and all but dragged Princess Lerong out.

Princess Lerong County: "What’s so awful about her?"

Seeing this, Lu Mingchao understood the cue and nodded to Liu Yue and Amber.

Liu Yue and Amber bowed respectfully before retreating with a bow.

The doors and windows of the flower parlor were shut, leaving no one in sight.

Yongming Grand Princess dropped her earlier warmth and amiability.

Her eyes, though aged, gleamed like a hawk’s.

Lu Mingchao breathed a sigh of relief, though.

This was the true Yongming Grand Princess, who had endured four dynasties.

"Xie Lu Shi… which Xie?"

"Showing her hand."