Tribute
The Wuxunfang on the west side of the capital is lined with large mansions of wealthy families.
The copper nails on the vermilion lacquer gate gleamed in the autumn sun, and the stone lions in front of the gate held their heads high. Most of the people living here were generals who followed Ning Lingyi from Mingzhou and marched north and west to be granted titles. They were the sharpest and most loyal swords under the emperor.
The most prominent place in the district is naturally the residence of Wang Mengzi, Duke of Wuyi.
After court that day, Wang Mengzi, dressed in his duke's uniform, strode back to his residence with a sullen face. Behind him followed more than a dozen lords, all dressed in crimson and purple. As strong as oxen, they had also become the Earl of Weiyuan.
The rough and tumble men of the Mingzhou army in the past have now become nobles of the new dynasty.
As soon as they entered the flower hall and waved away the servants, the atmosphere suddenly became lively.
"I just can't figure it out!" Dingyuan Hou Wang Dayong was the first one who couldn't hold it in anymore. He slapped his palm as big as a palm fan on the huanghuali tea table, shaking the cups and plates.
"Back then, Beishuo Dog killed so many of our brothers at Yehu Ridge? He humiliated our people beneath Dishi City! Are we just going to let this blood feud go?"
"That's right! Not only did Your Majesty not kill them all, he also married Tuoba Hong! How can he be the emperor's husband!" Someone stiffened his neck, his face flushed red.
"Every time I see him, I think of the brothers who died in Mobei. I feel so pent up in anger!"
"Your Majesty, have you...been bewitched by that Beishuo wolf cub?" Someone lowered his voice, with unspeakable speculation in his tone.
"Think about it, since your majesty ascended the throne, you have been like an ascetic monk in a temple. Apart from the emperor, there is no other royal servant in the palace. Your majesty is also a woman, and you have been living in such a miserable state for many years. Although Tuoba Hong is a captive, he looks really good. What if your majesty is tempted by worldly desires..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room fell silent.
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. In their eyes, His Majesty was their lord, a being close to godhood, to whom they swore allegiance until death. But His Majesty was also flesh and blood. If it was truly because he had never experienced the love of a man and woman that the enemy chieftain took advantage of his weakness...
It seems that it is not completely incomprehensible?
Wang Mengzi's brows knitted together. Compared to a few years ago, he was much calmer. He shouted in a deep voice, "What nonsense! Your Majesty is a man of great talent and strategy. How can you and I guess what he's thinking and worrying about? The pacification of the northern border and the integration of the Han and the Hu peoples are the top priorities of our country! If you dare to criticize His Majesty again, you will be punished by military law!"
He had accumulated great authority, and after a few scoldings, everyone fell silent.
But a young marquis in the corner muttered softly, "Master, that's not what we meant..."
"Those civil servants keep talking about chastity and etiquette, but we don't understand all that nonsense. All of this is given by His Majesty, and making His Majesty happy is our top priority. If His Majesty truly is... truly feeling lonely because he has no one to serve him, it's reasonable for us to find someone he likes."
The more he spoke, the more he felt he was right, and his voice grew louder. "That Tuoba Hong is from Beishuo, not our kind! Your Majesty is using him to stabilize the northern border, but do you really expect him to serve Your Majesty? We can find some of our own people with clean backgrounds and good looks and send them in. If Your Majesty likes them, you can accept them. Wouldn't that be a good thing?"
This unorthodox idea actually made many of the rough guys in the hall's eyes light up.
"Yeah! You're really smart!"
"Your Majesty has worked hard for the country, so what's wrong with enjoying yourself?"
"We won't follow that tyrant emperor's lead in indulgence in wine and women, so we'll just send a few men who know him well and are capable of serving him, so that His Majesty can relax and unwind..."
Wang Mengzi wanted to scold again, but when he thought of His Majesty's thin figure and the emperor's husband in Kunning Palace, his throat moved and he could not say the words of opposition after all.
Maybe... maybe what the brothers said makes some sense?
Even he married several wives and concubines, but Your Majesty only has one man. It is really too unfair. This matter should be dealt with.
Within ten days, Wang Mengzi led several nobles and asked to see Ning Lingyi in the name of offering auspicious signs.
Ning Lingyi was discussing government affairs with Su Qingfan in Minyou Hall. When she heard they were coming, she thought it was some important military matter, so she called them in.
As a result, after Wang Mengzi and others had been working hard for a long time, what they presented was not some rare treasures, but eight young men wearing brocade robes, with red lips and white teeth, and with lowered brows and submissive looks!
"Your Majesty," Wang Mengzi said stubbornly, "Your Majesty, we see that you are constantly toiling away, and we worry about your health. These eight men are all of good family background, somewhat literate, and know how to serve... We offer them to Your Majesty to relieve your boredom."
Ning Lingyi was stunned at first, her eyes swept over the eight gifts that were obviously carefully dressed up, and then looked at the group of burly generals below. She was stunned at first, and then she was so angry that she laughed.
"Good, very good!"
"My most trusted minister, the Duke of the Imperial Court, is he too idle these days? Instead of doing his work, he's delving into this kind of flattery?"
She didn't bother to even glance at the eight men, and simply addressed the eunuchs, "Pass my order! Duke Wuyi Wang Mengzi, Marquis Dingyuan Wang Dayong... all those involved in this will have their salaries fined for three months! Go to the training grounds and practice horse stance for two hours every day, and study military manuals for two hours! When you've cleared out the water in your brain, you can come see me again."
The eunuch replied, "I obey your order!"
Wang Mengzi and the others were completely dumbfounded. They didn't expect that their flattery would hit the horse's leg so hard. They thanked the emperor and left in disgrace. The eight gifts were also quickly taken away.
After leaving the palace, everyone looked at each other, feeling both scared and aggrieved.
The Marquis who had come up with the idea rubbed his butt that had been kicked and whispered in defense, "Master, perhaps His Majesty is concerned about his reputation and it's not convenient for him to accept her directly in the palace? Next time, we can invite His Majesty to the palace, send her quietly, and keep her as a concubine without letting Tuoba Hong know. Isn't that enough?"
Wang Mengzi and the others were feeling frustrated, but upon hearing this, they actually felt that there seemed to be some truth to it. Your Majesty must be shy, sorry!
So, after some time, when it was Wang Mengzi's birthday, he solemnly submitted a letter, begging His Majesty to visit his residence to show his favor.
Ning Lingyi thought of their old friendship and also wanted to see if these ruffians had learned their lesson, so she left with a small entourage.
After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Wang Mengzi gave a wink and eight people came out from behind the screen.
This time there are four handsome men and four charming women!
"Your Majesty," Wang Mengzi said with a silly smile that meant "I'm sure you'll be satisfied this time."
"Last time, it was our fault for not considering things carefully. This time... hehe, there are both men and women available. Your Majesty can choose whatever you like. You can even stay outside the palace to relieve your boredom!"
Ning Lingyi looked at the expectant eyes of Wang Mengzi and the group of old brothers from Mingzhou behind him, then looked at the gifts from the eight slim and plump people. She held her forehead and laughed out loud.
"Wang Mengzi, Wang Mengzi..." Ning Lingyi stood up and pointed at them, "You guys...what can I say!"
She suppressed her smile and said, "Everyone, including you, Wang Mengzi, get out of here and go to the Siguo Study next to the Ministry of War! Study in seclusion for three months! Copy "The Art of War," "Wu Jing Zong Yao," and "Military Systems of All Dynasties" ten times! No one is allowed to leave the study until you've finished copying!"
This time, everyone was dumbfounded.
Can’t leave the house for three months, copying books?! This is worse than being beaten with a military stick!
A group of people were escorted to the Siguo study, the door was closed, and the marquis who came up with the idea was immediately pinned to the ground and given a beating.
What a bad idea!
The marquis was beaten so hard that he howled, still puzzled: "How can there be such an emperor! He refuses beauties and handsome men! Is she..."
"Shut up!" Wang Mengzi kicked him angrily, but he was also muttering in his heart, what is His Majesty thinking?
Although this farce of offering military merits and beauties did not cause any waves in the court, it seemed to have grown wings and flew silently into the harem and reached Kunning Palace.
After hearing this, Tuoba Hong paused holding the scroll and remained silent for a long time.
Autumn leaves were falling outside the window, falling into his quiet eyes, and it was impossible to discern any emotion.
Not long after, it was Empress Dowager Yu’s birthday.
Tuoba Hong prepared a generous gift, which was several volumes of prayer scriptures he had copied by hand, and sent it to Xuehan Palace. This was also the first time he gave a gift to Empress Dowager Yu.
Empress Dowager Yu was a Buddhist. Holding the scroll that still smelled of ink, she glanced at Ning Lingyi who was serving beside her and sighed softly.
"Yi'er," Empress Dowager Yu said, holding her daughter's hand after dismissing her attendants. "You and Tuoba Hong have been entangled for so many years, and now it has come to this. What are you thinking?"
Ning Lingyi remained silent, her eyes fixed on the scroll in her mother's hands. What was she thinking? Family, country, and the world, grudges, and hatreds, had long been tangled into a tangled mess, impossible to sever or sort out.
It was true that she had used him, and it was also true that he had submitted to her, but was there something else beneath this marriage? She herself couldn't tell.
Seeing her daughter remain silent, Empress Dowager Yu sighed again, "You are over thirty, and have been on the throne for four years. The government seems stable, but you still have no children. Don't underestimate those ministers who are obedient now. It's because of you who is keeping them in check. If the emperor has no heir, the country will be unstable. What if..."
"If something happens to you, all the new policies you've worked so hard to implement over the years, all the things you've fought for the women of this world and for the people of Beishuo, might all be gone. Yi'er, you... have to think about the future."
Ning Lingyi fell silent again. What her mother said was not the deepest worry in her heart?
The Empress's pregnancy and childbirth were a daunting ordeal, and the transfer of power was even more perilous. With whom to bear a child? This was a difficult decision more difficult for her than any other major military or national issue.
Tuoba Hong... Thinking of this name, Ning Lingyi's mood became even more confused.
Queen Mother Yu looked at her daughter's silent silhouette and sighed in her heart.
Her daughter has been the emperor for so long and is the most decisive in killing people. She would not hesitate to chop off the heads of tens of thousands of people. But now she is secretly struggling with the matter of her life.
"You always have an idea."
Queen Mother Yu gently held Ning Lingyi's hand and said, "As long as you are happy, I will support you in everything you do."
Ning Lingyi looked up at her mother, a touch of emotion flashed in her eyes, and finally she just gently shook her mother's hand back and stood up to leave.
Coming out of Xuehan Palace, Ning Lingyi walked slowly on the palace road. The autumn wind blew up her clothes, bringing a bit of coolness.
She was silent for a long time, then suddenly said to the eunuch in attendance, "Announce the Princess Chang'an, Ning Lingyao."
Ning Lingyao arrived soon.
Now 20 years old, she has been working in the Ministry of Industry for three years. She has lost her youthfulness and has become more capable and calm.
She was dressed in court robes and walked calmly into the hall, bowing to her sister.
"No need to be polite." Ning Lingyi looked at her sister and smiled slightly. "Have you adapted to the Ministry of Works these days?"
"My dear sister, it's very good." Ning Lingyao's eyes sparkled. "I am currently participating in the repair of the canal outside the capital and have learned a lot of practical skills."
Ning Lingyi nodded and suddenly asked, "Lingyao, do you have any plans for your lifelong event?"
Ning Lingyao was slightly stunned, obviously not expecting her sister to suddenly ask this.
She pondered for a moment, then answered seriously, "I've observed the many ministers in the court and discovered that while many men claim to support women in government, they don't necessarily agree in their hearts. I hope my future husband will truly support me in my endeavors and become a good wife."
Ning Lingyi laughed: "Then you don't care about love?"
Ning Lingyao thought for a long time and shook her head gently: "I see that all the civil and military officials in the court have wives and concubines at home. They love one today and favor another tomorrow. It seems that men's love can be divided. If that's the case, then it's better not to have love. Or..."
She paused and said, "Let a man love only me, and I will honor him."
Ning Lingyi burst into laughter when she heard this. After she finished laughing, she walked to the desk, picked up a pen, dipped it in ink, and wrote on a blank imperial edict.
"Okay, well said." Ning Lingyi handed the imperial edict to her sister. "I'll give you a blank imperial edict granting marriage. Leave the name blank. Just state that this person is to be the princess's husband. I hope he is virtuous and can help the princess. When you find that person, write his name yourself."
Ning Lingyao solemnly accepted the imperial edict: "Thank you, Imperial Sister."
In the next one or two years, Ning Lingyao really searched seriously.
She had met many young men from aristocratic families and declined many marriage proposals until she met Ji Ling, the legitimate son of a fifth-rank civil servant, at a calligraphy and painting gathering.
Ji Ling was three years younger than her. He had a gentle personality and was not good at the imperial examinations, but he loved calligraphy and painting very much.
After meeting Ning Lingyao several times, he mustered up the courage to give her the painting "A Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers" that he had carefully painted. The painting was not only exquisitely painted, but also had a rare depiction of water conservancy projects. It was obviously made specifically for her.
Ning Lingyao looked at the scroll and thought for a long time.
She remembered Ji Ling's focused eyes every time he saw her, the way he listened carefully to her talk about things, and his gentle yet firm character.
Finally, she spread out the blank imperial edict granting marriage, picked up the pen, dipped it in ink, and solemnly wrote the two words "Ji Ling".
In the autumn of the seventh year of Taichu, twenty-three-year-old Ning Lingyao married twenty-year-old Ji Ling.
At the wedding, Ji Ling bowed solemnly to Ning Lingyi and said, "I will do my best to assist the princess."
Ning Lingyi looked at her sister's smile and suddenly understood something.
She turned her head and looked in the direction of Kunning Palace. Perhaps, everyone has his or her own path to walk, and her path should be chosen by herself.
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