Chapter 1 Misty Rain Over Pavilions—"Four hundred and eighty temples of the Southern Dynasties,..."
"Four hundred and eighty temples of the Southern Dynasties, how many pavilions and terraces are shrouded in mist and rain."
As Yang Liuqing crossed the threshold carrying the washed clothes, a light rain began to fall. A little tired, she paused, wiped the fine mist from her forehead, and as she looked up, a phrase drifted into her mind.
From this perspective, it truly appears majestic and boundless.
Just as I was about to continue walking on the slippery bricks, a fragrant aroma drifted from the alley behind me, and a sharp male voice chuckled and spoke respectfully, bringing a splash of vibrant color to the gloomy palace.
It was a lively scene unlike anything seen before.
Yang Liuqing knew that she was probably a newly selected palace maid, so she immediately moved to the side to avoid causing any trouble.
The lowly palace maids were scattered throughout the Great Jin Imperial Palace, the least noticeable of all. As one of these humble women, Yang Liuqing naturally went unnoticed by them.
Sure enough, they all completely ignored the short, thin shadow beside them.
"..." Yang Liuqing breathed a sigh of relief and simply followed five meters behind the group of young women. Glancing slightly eastward, the sky was hazy, and the majestic Buddhist temple, stretching like a mountain, appeared and disappeared in the mist. Solemn and mysterious.
The eaves bells jingled, one after another, as the eunuch at the other twirled the loose silver in his left sleeve with one hand and held an umbrella with the other, his ambiguous hints drifting towards her ear from a distance:
“You all know His Majesty favors beauties with beautiful singing voices and graceful figures, but the harem is overflowing with such women these days. If I may speak frankly,” she began, but abruptly stopped. A group of stunning beauties immediately crowded around, chattering and simultaneously slipping silver into the eunuch's hand. The eunuch's face instantly lit up with a smile, “Oh dear, what's the rush? Take your time, I'll explain in detail after you've settled in…”
The crowd gathered and slowly walked away.
Yang Liuqing maintained her original speed, glancing silently at her mud-caked black cloth shoes. She suddenly remembered the embarrassing incident she had caused half a year ago.
She was rejected when she volunteered to enter the palace for the imperial concubine selection, and was instead assigned to be a slave.
Her eyes drooped.
…At the time, he wasn't even wearing cloth shoes, but a pair of tattered straw sandals that exposed his big toes. He also had a straw marker stuck in his messy hair. His appearance was truly embarrassing, and unsurprisingly, he was ridiculed by everyone present.
But that was the best solution she could think of under the current circumstances.
Yang Liuqing's parents died in a car accident shortly after she was born, leaving her to live with her grandmother. Fortunately, the perpetrator was wealthy and quickly and efficiently claimed a large sum of money in compensation.
An elderly woman with a full head of white hair raised her with great care and hardship. After navigating the sensitive period of adolescence, Yang Liuqing was admitted to university. While applying for scholarships and grants, she also took on part-time jobs.
She tries her best not to spend her grandmother's money and tries to give herself and her grandmother a promising life.
Grandma's aging was still rapid, far outpacing the flourishing of new life.
Just then, an electronic voice appeared out of nowhere—"If you need us to fulfill your wish, please open the [Heroes Settle the Chaotic World] system."
By absorbing the aura of an emperor and working with those she supported, she transformed the chaotic era, largely resembling the Wei, Jin, and Sixteen Kingdoms period, into a time of peace. The tragedies of cannibalism ceased, and the people no longer listened to the numb lamentations of those forced to eat their own children.
She hopes her grandmother will live to be over 100 years old, and also that she will be financially well-off.
With a desperate courage, Yang Liuqing accepted the mission and, like many female protagonists in online novels, transmigrated.
Yang Liuqing rarely reads novels and has no concept of the details in such stories. After a moment of surprise, she quickly checked her sleeve and found a small red mole in the crook of her left arm, confirming her suspicion.
It seems... she is wearing...
There was another girl named Yang Liuqing here, who looked exactly like her, only fourteen years old, much shorter and thinner. Her family was even poorer; her mother was bedridden and barely clinging to life. Her father was lame and did odd jobs like building walls and laying tiles in addition to his corvée labor in the capital. Yang Liuqing didn't understand whether she had shrunk or replaced their daughter; anyway, as soon as she arrived, her dark, thin father, with tears streaming down his face, stuck a blade of grass into her hair, his voice trembling:
"Qing'er, your father really can't raise the money for your mother's medicine... A nobleman from Boling needs a maid. You go in and work out the wounds for a while, and I'll go to repair the Jialan Temple as soon as I get the money to redeem you and take you home..."
Yang Liuqing didn't utter a single word at the time, only glancing at the slightly bulging patched bedding in the dark thatched hut. The dry, painful coughs from under the bedding were like a chipped knife, slicing at his heart again and again.
She had just pursed her chapped lips when the system appeared: "The target for assistance, Emperor Jinlong Yan Dibai, is nearby. Begin inputting relevant information—"
Yang Liuqing instantly grasped the current situation.
According to the message, he landed in the Jin Dynasty, which occupied ten prefectures.
In the past, with the emperor's power waning and warlords carving up the land, various noble families vied for power, raising armies and establishing their own independent states. Even more numerous were bandits and outlaws who seized the opportunity to rise to prominence. Large and small local forces rose and fell in fierce competition, one after another vying to emerge. Among them, Lü Zhuo, the warlord of Changyi, seized the opportunity to coerce the emperor into establishing his own state, proclaiming himself the Later Zhou.
However, the emperor died suddenly not long after, and the neighboring state of Wanping immediately launched an attack, plunging the newly established kingdom into chaos once again. The entire land was engulfed in flames of war.
Amidst this turmoil, a Xianbei tribe, led by their chieftain Yan Chong, fought with increasing ferocity, successively capturing key locations such as Shangjing, Guzang, and Xiangyang, vying for control of the Central Plains, and successfully establishing a dynasty—the Jin Dynasty.
Although this dynasty was powerful, it was also incredibly corrupt at the same time. The emperors of the Great Jin Dynasty were all more perverted than the last. Apart from Emperor Taizu Yan Chong, who could be considered a normal person, the rest... murdered their fathers, stole their wives, cooked their concubines, and ate them together. Their beastly behavior was unprecedented and unparalleled.
The system selected Yan Dibai, the last emperor of the Jin Dynasty, as her initial advisor.
The young emperor ascended the throne at the age of seven and is now fourteen.
This guy has surpassed his ancestors, embodying all their atrocities, yet he's a complete lunatic at such a young age.
Even the life of the "Deposed Emperor Mang" is only vaguely mentioned in the historical records preserved by later generations:
Her beauty was unparalleled, surpassing all others in the land. She was intoxicated by opera and lavishly favored performers, calling herself "Heaven."
He was fond of having affairs with his sisters-in-law and wives, and was extremely licentious. He firmly believed in the extreme punishments of branding and slow slicing, and everyone in the court and the country lived in fear.
In the fifth year of Deming, the Jin dynasty fell. The deposed emperor was captured by Emperor Wu of the Northern Wei and became a male concubine, residing permanently in Qingqu Palace.
After six years, the deposed emperor, unable to bear the humiliation any longer, raised his banner in rebellion.
Seven years later, the deposed emperor was torn apart by chariots and died.
Exceptionally beautiful, cruel, perverted, licentious, and miserable.
After a chill ran down her spine, she genuinely felt... nauseous. But she could only swallow it down.
Yang Liuqing didn't recognize the character "尨" at first, but after a systematic explanation, she understood its pronunciation and meaning.
The character “蒙” (méng), pronounced with the same second tone, means: a hairy dog.
Yang Liuqing's heart skipped a beat, thinking to herself that the words were truly full of irony. It was clear that later generations' dislike of him was no less than that of a certain Qing Dynasty emperor towards Achinese. Of course, looking at this record, even the derogatory title seemed lenient.
The system was also generous with its expanded content.
*Has a history of childhood trauma?
*Is there a hidden white moonlight in my heart?
*Has the aura of an emperor (but not much).
… …
Although she didn't know who this "white moonlight" was, Yang Liuqing felt it shouldn't interfere too much with her actions. After all, her role wasn't to pursue the main or supporting characters, but rather to clearly assist them. At most, they were comrades-in-arms, or at worst, a ruler and subject.
If emotions aren't involved, unnecessary disputes can be avoided.
Putting that aside, what surprised Yang Liuqing was that someone so beautiful that they would be taken into a man's harem... just how beautiful must they be?
Never mind, her focus was more on the later descriptions of the current situation. One sentence in particular made her frown:
[During the same era, there were dozens of candidates who had the opportunity to unify the four regions.]
This means that Yan Dibai has many rivals. It also implies that she has many opponents.
It's a competitive task. No wonder, otherwise the benefits would be so good.
Blinking, Yang Liuqing smiled at her father. Looking at the still majestic palace walls, dozens of miles away, she decided to enter the palace.
The young emperor was tyrannical and frequently tortured and killed palace servants, causing widespread fear among the people, who would never allow their children to enter the palace for a living unless absolutely necessary. As a result, palace servants were in short supply for many years. Yang Liuqing, following the imperial concubine selection procession, had prepared for both scenarios.
As expected, she wasn't chosen and was even humiliated. However, the eunuch smiled, rolled his eyes, and tossed her a piece of silver. And so, Yang Liuqing signed a contract to become a palace maid.
Yang's father clutched the silver and cried outside the palace, nearly fainting. The thin, small girl turned her head and nodded, then left home to live in the Yeting Palace.
Having lived in the most dilapidated house for half a year, Yang Liuqing spent her spare time each day pondering how to assist this young emperor, whose fate was sealed, in bringing peace to the world.
First and foremost, we must ensure that his trajectory does not overlap with the historical records.
However, that's all in the future. She needs to get close to the person first. But she hasn't caught a glimpse of anyone after all this time. Yang Liuqing sighed helplessly.
She started working as soon as she opened her eyes every day, her hands constantly red, swollen, and rough. She had to thank Deng Mengnu, who worked alongside her in the laundry, for always leaving the work to her, yet when she first arrived, Deng Mengnu was the only one who let her sleep in the communal dormitory. Yang Liuqing had no choice but to put up with it.
She was cautious and taciturn from a young age, seemingly harmless, the kind of person everyone thought they could bully. But in this kind of place, perhaps that was an advantage.
Sometimes he would help make the bed, sometimes he would help steal food. Gradually, he was finally able to have some daily conversations with Deng Mengnu.
However, the other senior members of the Imperial Household Department, such as Sister Wu and Sister Wang who looked kind but was not aloof, were also quite senior.
She couldn't connect with them.
When asked quietly, Deng Mengnu only said that she was young and would understand when she grew up in a few years.
After delivering the clothes, Yang Liuqing returned to the Yeting Palace. When Deng Mengnu saw her, her eyes lit up, and she waved:
"Qingniang, come quickly! It's terrible! Liu Ao has returned and said that one of the young ladies who entered the palace today is extremely talented! She sang in Xianning Palace, and His Majesty was immediately captivated. He rushed forward, embraced her, and immediately bestowed upon her the title of Lady Hongzhu!"
She made a curved gesture with both hands in the air, baring her teeth in a grimace.
"At first glance, Liu Ao noticed that her waist was as slender as a willow branch! Her face was as beautiful as a lotus flower! Her aura was so captivating that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a fairy princess!"
Liu Ao was nearly forty years old, making her the oldest and longest-residing woman in the inner palace. She had connections throughout the palace, but she was sharp-tongued and difficult, and didn't like to associate with them.
As for the ladies-in-waiting today… there were quite a few of them, and at first glance, each one was exceptionally beautiful. She kept her head down and didn't notice the one who stood out the most.
It is said that the young emperor has a white moonlight, and she is a little curious whether this young lady is him.
If it is... it has nothing to do with her.
Yang Liuqing paused, sat on the steps, dusted off her skirt, and said, "How did Granny Liu get to Xianning Palace? What if someone with ulterior motives saw her..."
Deng Mengnu winked and said, "It was Eunuch Wang who told her to sweep Jianzhang Palace. There was no one around at the time, and the gates of Xianning Palace were wide open, so she just happened to see it."
These lowly palace maids usually only had the task of burying themselves in their work and had no opportunity to venture into the center of the palace. If they were seen by someone of higher rank, they might be punished.
Seeing that she was looking down and seemingly lost in thought, Deng Mengnu chuckled twice and reached out to pry her arm:
"Qingniang, are you upset? Everyone knows that our Emperor is a lecher. You were born this way because of your parents, so there's no use being discouraged. You should try to get along well with the eunuchs, even if it's just to have a meal together. That way, you'll have a way to leave the palace in the future."
Yang Liuqing, lost in thought about the future: ...Thank you so much.
She certainly couldn't compare to those beauties who gathered the most stunning faces in the imperial harem. At 19, she was also very thin. Having worked part-time for years, her neck, face, and the backs of her hands were quite dark. She didn't dress up much, usually just wearing a low ponytail. Her roommate said that her features were actually quite nice upon closer inspection, but Yang Liuqing dismissed it as politeness and just smiled it off.
Yang Liuqing, now 14 years old, was glimpsed through Deng Mengnu's bronze mirror and appeared even darker and thinner than she was at 14 in modern times.
The food she received after entering the palace was also nutritionally deficient, consisting mainly of wheat cakes and thin, coarse rice. This might not have mattered to people in ancient times, but she was a modern person with lingering taste buds and some lingering memories, so she felt somewhat resistant to it.
This resulted in her height remaining unchanged three months after entering the palace. If it weren't for the chief eunuch sometimes throwing away scraps of food when passing by the inner palace, Yang Liuqing really wouldn't have grown any taller.
The evening glow floats in the sky, and night is about to fall in the imperial city.
Perhaps it stirred up some memory for her, but Deng Mengnu's round, sallow face wrinkled up:
"But even becoming a concubine isn't good. The young emperor is extremely cruel; he just killed several of the beauties who served him yesterday. Dai Xian, who was in charge of emptying the chamber pot, told me that the bodies were thrown into the south of the city to be made into meat porridge, and the people were scrambling to eat it, their lips burning from the heat."
Yang Liuqing was startled: "Another person has died?"
Deng Mengnu nodded: "They weren't any particularly important beauties. After entering the palace a few years ago, they stayed in Jianzhang Palace without receiving the emperor's favor. A few of them were unwilling to endure any longer, so they sneaked into Xianning Palace late at night... Oh, His Majesty was enjoying a new piece of music at the time. Upon hearing the noise, he immediately flew into a rage, drew his sword, chased after them out of the palace, and hacked them to pieces, splitting three of their heads in half."
At this point, Deng Mengnu rubbed her arm and hissed.
But it was nothing new. Yang Liuqing, however, had not yet fully adapted to the thrill of being on the brink of life and death, and silently lowered her head.
If she really gets lucky and becomes a concubine... she might not be any better off than a palace maid.
She sighed inwardly. Seeing Deng Mengnu looking at her, Yang Liuqing stood up on her own initiative: "I'll go get the food. If there's any left over, I'll try to bring it back."
Deng Mengnu nodded in satisfaction, and her slender figure gradually disappeared into the blue mist.
The kitchen was at the front, right in the center of all the concubines' palaces. At this time, with people moving around, searching for information was much easier.
After getting her food, Yang Liuqing carefully looked around again. Seeing that neither of her two most familiar people had come, and unable to gather any new information, she had no choice but to carry the steamed buns back home.
That night, the oil lamp had just been extinguished. Yang Liuqing nestled in the dampest, coldest corner of the wall, her eyes tightly shut, while Deng Mengnu, who had just finished eating, snored beside her. She had been unable to sleep due to worries, but as she listened to the snoring, she gradually became sleepy herself.
It was an ordinary night, but thankfully, Deng Mengnu suddenly stopped snoring in the latter half of the night. Yang Liuqing was relieved, finally able to get a deep sleep. However, in her drowsy state, she suddenly opened her eyes, her ears perked up. She held her breath and listened carefully again.
You heard right.
A clear, lingering sound drifted through the palace walls, sometimes near, sometimes far. Upon closer listening, it seemed as if other musical instruments were also present.
The most jarring sound was... a flute?
The young emperor was fond of opera, so there was constant music playing in the palace, day and night. However, the palace rules were strict, and no one dared to disturb him in the middle of the night. Deng Mengnu once said that the young emperor was ruthless and harsh, and did not allow anyone other than himself to make merry at night.
Most importantly, such a prestigious voice could hardly reach such a dark and gloomy corner as the Yeting Palace.
But she was certain she wasn't hallucinating, so it really was the young Emperor Yan Dibai passing by?
He has acquired a new beauty, and perhaps this is the time for him to be happy and ostentatious?
Should we take this opportunity to try and see the young emperor's face clearly?
What if I die of old age in the inner palace before I can even begin my great career, or what if I'm accidentally killed by a powerful figure one day...?
Yang Liuqing suddenly felt a chill. She tentatively peeked out from under the covers, intending to get out of bed, but then froze, afraid of waking someone. Just as she was hesitating, a loud snoring began.
Yang Liuqing thought to herself: It's over.
Turning her head to peek at the moonlight, she saw Deng Mengnu sleeping soundly, drooling, a glistening snot bubble rising from her nose with each snore. At the other end, someone seemed to have been woken up, slamming their fist angrily onto the bed. The flute music was no longer audible. Yang Liuqing pinched the bridge of her nose and had no choice but to retreat back into the covers.
She rubbed her swollen, itchy hands, staring at the roof beam, unable to close her eyes.
Yang Liuqing felt slightly anxious.
This can't go on. We need to find a new way.
The key question is, how do we do it?
Yang Liuqing became even more anxious.
Five more days passed in this anxiety. Early one morning, after Yang Liuqing finished her work, Liu Ao, who was usually arrogant towards her, suddenly brought her a silk skirt:
"Qingniang, take this dress to Lady Yue Rong in Yuhua Palace. I have other clothes to iron and can't leave here."
As she said this, an unusual, eager smugness appeared on Liu's usually cunning face, as if she had encountered something quite delightful.
Yang Liuqing was puzzled, or rather, found it very strange. Having been in the palace for more than half a year, and thanks to the explanations given by Deng Mengnu and others, Yang Liuqing naturally knew that Lady Yue Rong was the young emperor's favored concubine. As for the clothes, in the past, it was always Aunt Liu who personally delivered them to him to curry favor.
What happened today?
However, a smart person wouldn't ask. Yang Liuqing didn't consider herself particularly smart, but she didn't ask either. Instead, she accepted the waist token and nodded.
I had only taken two steps when a buzzing sound went through my head.
The Jade Flower Hall is located not far from the Xianning Palace. It is situated in the center of the imperial palace.
The young emperor's favoritism towards Lady Yue Rong means there's a chance he'll see Yan Dibai.
A note from the author:
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