discipline
On this day, Liang Hongyu was taking a walk in the Imperial Garden when she saw a woman in green and a woman in yellow not far ahead, also strolling and admiring the flowers. The woman in green was holding a palm-leaf fan in her hand. Judging from their clothes, they should be concubines in the palace.
She didn't want to conflict with the concubines and was about to turn around and return to the palace.
But then she heard a voice behind her, "Oh! Who was it? Turning around and leaving when she saw me? It turns out to be the newly appointed Consort Xuan."
Liang Hongyu had no choice but to turn around to greet them. Seeing them walking towards her, she tried hard to recall whether she had seen them before. She seemed to have some impression of the woman in green, and hurriedly said, "Sister, what are you talking about? I feel a little dizzy now, so I have lost my interest just now. Who would have thought that I would meet Sister Pan here by chance. I am honored to meet you." After that, she bowed to Concubine Pan.
She remembered that the last time she came to the palace, she had also encountered Concubine Pan and her companions and been scolded by them. Fortunately, Han Shizhong had come to her rescue. Today, she had wanted to go out for some fresh air, but she had not expected to cross paths with Concubine Pan again. She had been staying in the palace for a few days and had heard from the servants that before her arrival, Concubine Pan was the most favored concubine in the palace.
Upon hearing this, Concubine Pan said unhappily, "Don't shout nonsense. If others knew that I have a sister who came from a brothel, would I still have dignity in this palace?" After saying this, she covered her cherry lips with the round fan in her hand and laughed violently.
The green-clad woman next to her fanned the flames, saying, "Sister, I'm the first female general in the Song Dynasty who was born a courtesan. Now, I've risen from a sparrow to a phoenix and become a concubine in this palace. My status is as high as yours."
Concubine Pan glanced at the yellow-dressed woman beside her and said, "Sister Wu, my mother's family is from a prestigious family. How can some lowly people be compared to us?"
Jinxiu, who was following Liang Hongyu, finally lost her patience after hearing this. Although Liang Hongyu had warned her before she entered the palace that she must act cautiously and not impulsively in the palace, she could still tolerate someone saying such things about her, but she couldn't tolerate it when someone said it about her own daughter.
So she said angrily, "Who are you calling mean?"
Before Jinxiu could react, she heard a "pop" sound passing by her ear and her face instantly felt a burning pain.
Then Concubine Pan scolded her: "How dare you, you rude servant, challenge your master!"
Seeing this, Liang Hongyu pulled Jinxiu behind her, took a few steps forward, and slapped the yellow-dressed woman next to Concubine Pan. "I don't care if I'm a sparrow or a phoenix. How can you make irresponsible remarks about me?"
The woman in yellow covered her burning face and looked at Liang Hongyu in disbelief, "How dare you attack me?"
The others were also stunned when they saw Qingxing in front of them, and they were still in shock.
Everyone only heard Liang Hongyu say: "I am the Consort Xuan, appointed by the emperor, and you are just a talented woman. Can't I hit you? If you question me, you are questioning the emperor."
Liang Hongyujiu had just clarified the identity of the woman in yellow from the nearby palace maid. Wu Cairen, whose father was a sixth-rank official, was far inferior to Concubine Pan's father, who was a second-rank official. Therefore, the talented woman had been fawning over Concubine Pan, leveraging her influence to maintain her own position within the palace.
She remembered that it was this Concubine Wu and Concubine Pan who had humiliated her last time. Since she was now of a higher rank than Concubine Wu, she took this opportunity to punish her.
Wu Cairen was about to fight back, but Liang Hongyu slashed her with her backhand, leaving her completely powerless to defend herself. Her left arm felt as if it was broken and hurt.
Liang Hongyu said angrily: "I don't want to be enemies with anyone in this palace. Please don't provoke me again. Let's go our separate ways and have nothing to do with each other. What do you think, Sister Wu?" After saying this, Liang Hongyu twisted his arm again.
Wu Cairen had been spoiled since she was little, and had never seen such a scene before. She could only beg for mercy, "I will never provoke you again. Please show me mercy."
Liang Hongyu's eyes widened as she looked at Concubine Pan beside her. Concubine Pan had already been frightened by Liang Hongyu's fierceness and said repeatedly, "Of course it is so."
Liang Hongyu then let Wu Cairen go, and Concubine Pan hurriedly helped Wu Cairen up and left together.
Jinxiu heard them walking away and said angrily: "This is not a concubine at all, she is simply a fierce woman."
Inside the Yixuan Palace, the Empress Dowager was arranging flowers when the elderly attendant, Nanny Rong, stepped forward and reported, "Empress Dowager, Concubine Pan and Concubine Wu are requesting an audience outside the palace."
The Queen Mother put down the scissors in her hand and asked suspiciously, "What is the purpose of their coming together?"
"I don't know, it's just..."
"Just what is it?"
Nanny Rong looked up at the Empress Dowager and said with difficulty, "It's just that Concubine Wu's hair is disheveled and her appearance is disheveled."
The Queen Mother was startled and said, "Please invite them in."
After entering the hall, the two men bowed to the Queen Mother.
Wu Cairen knelt on the ground and wept, "Empress Dowager, please make the decision for me!"
The Empress Dowager saw that Concubine Wu was just as Nanny Rong had said, and seemed to have had an argument and a fight with someone.
The Queen Mother angrily scolded, "Talented Lady Wu, why are you so out of control?"
Wu Cairen cried even harder after hearing the Queen Mother's scolding: "Your Majesty, you don't know that the newly appointed Concubine Xuan relied on her martial arts skills to beat me up. That's why I lost my composure in front of the Queen Mother."
Concubine Pan next to her also echoed at this time: "Empress Dowager, what Concubine Wu said is true. I saw it with my own eyes. Concubine Xuan not only slapped Concubine Wu, but also almost broke her bones." As she said that, she grabbed one of Concubine Wu's arms and winked at her.
Wu Cairen immediately understood what he meant and cried out "Ouch".
Seeing this, the Queen Mother said to Concubine Pan, "Help her up quickly and answer her."
Concubine Pan hurriedly helped Concubine Wu up.
The Queen Mother inquired, "Are you talking about the female general Liang Hongyu?"
Concubine Pan replied, "It is this woman. I heard that she was once a courtesan in Jingkou. Somehow she became the first female general of our dynasty. Now she has come to seduce the emperor and become his concubine."
The Queen Mother was furious when she heard this. She slapped the table next to her, causing the petals of the flowers that had just been placed on it to fall off. "Oh, there is such a ridiculous thing! When has our dynasty allowed a woman from a prostitute to occupy the position of concubine?"
"I want to see what kind of woman can be so bewitching to an official that she disregards the family rules of our ancestors." After the Queen Mother finished speaking, she gestured to Nanny Rong to invite Concubine Xuan.
Nanny Rong received the order and went to Qingyi Palace.
Concubine Pan and Concubine Wu looked at each other and saw each other's pride in their eyes.
After Nanny Rong left, the Queen Mother asked again, "Talented Lady Wu, how are your injuries? Can we have the imperial physician come and diagnose you?"
Although Concubine Wu had felt some pain just now, she was no longer seriously injured. She hurriedly said, "Empress Dowager, my injury will heal in a few days. There is no need to trouble the imperial physician."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager ordered her servants to take Concubine Wu to the inner room and apply medicine first.
After Wu Cairen came out after applying the medicine, she saw Liang Hongyu coming in with Nanny Rong.
Liang Hongyu bowed and said, "Your humble servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager. I wonder why the Empress Dowager has summoned me here?"
This was the first time the Empress Dowager saw Liang Hongyu. She ordered, "Lift your head up and let me see."
Liang Hongyu slowly raised her head to meet the Empress Dowager's gaze.
The Empress Dowager saw the woman before her, her face extremely bright and beautiful, as dazzling as a lotus flower, her graceful and graceful figure, a natural charm. Her brows added a touch of heroism, her eyes were full of brilliance, and her red lips were covered with a light smile. It was no wonder that such a bright and extraordinary woman had captivated the Emperor.
The Queen Mother said coldly, "Kneel down."
Liang Hongyu showed no sign of emotion when she heard this. She knelt on the ground as ordered by the empress dowager, her body standing straight.
"Do you know why I called you here?" asked the Queen Mother.
"I know a little bit."
"Oh, you say."
"I'm afraid that I had an argument with my two sisters while walking in the Imperial Garden just now, and my two sisters came to disturb the Empress Dowager over such a trivial matter. I want to apologize on their behalf." After saying this, she kowtowed to the Empress Dowager.
Upon hearing this, Consort Wu said anxiously, "Was it just a quarrel? You're a palace girl, yet you beat me like a country woman. How can such a fierce woman be worthy of the position of a concubine?"
Liang Hongyu retorted, "The position of concubine was conferred by the emperor. Do you think you are questioning the emperor?"
"You..." Wu Cairen was so angry that she was speechless for a moment.
The Queen Mother scolded her, "You are such a sharp-tongued woman! Just because you were once a courtesan, you are unworthy of the position of Consort."
Upon hearing this, Liang Hongyu knew that it was these two concubines who had again complained to the Empress Dowager. She turned her head, gave them a glare, and then knelt down and said, "I know I am unworthy of your favor. Please, Your Majesty, strip me of my title of concubine, demote me to a commoner, and expel me from the palace."
The Queen Mother was stunned when she heard this. She had originally wanted to punish Concubine Xuan, but she had not expected her to make such a request. She did not know what to say for a moment.
Not to mention the Queen Mother, even Concubine Pan and Concubine Wu were standing there in a daze, not knowing what she was up to.
As Liang Hongyu said, the title of concubine was conferred by the emperor. Although she was the empress dowager, she had no right to deprive Liang Hongyu of her title. She only said, "Since you have admitted your mistake, I will punish you by making you kneel outside the palace for an hour. After an hour, you can leave."
"I obey your order." Liang Hongyu stood up and took two steps back, then turned around and left, lifted her long skirt and knelt outside the hall.
Seeing this, the empress dowager seemed a little tired, and said to the two concubines in the hall, "I am tired too, you should go too." Then she walked towards the inner room. Nanny Rong was busy serving her and helped the empress dowager into the room.
Watching the empress dowager's departing figure, Consort Wu stamped her feet and said, "That's it! This punishment is too light!"
Concubine Pan said nothing as she dragged Concubine Wu out of the palace. After they were far away, Concubine Pan said, "I guess Concubine Xuan is retreating to make it easier for the Queen Mother to do anything to her."
Wu Cairen curled her lips and said, "This Concubine Xuan is so scheming."
Concubine Pan continued, "This Concubine Xuan has only just entered the palace, and naturally enjoys the emperor's favor. When she is disliked by the emperor in the future, it won't be too late for us to avenge her for today's humiliation."
Wu Cairen finally smiled, "Sister is right, we have a long way to go."
In Yixuan Palace, Nanny Rong asked the Queen Mother, "Are you going to let Concubine Xuan go just like that?"
The Empress Dowager took a sip of the freshly brewed tea from Nanny Rong, placed the teacup on the table beside her, and spoke slowly, "Just now, I only heard the one-sided accounts of Concubine Pan and Concubine Wu, and I have never met Concubine Xuan in person. Today, I saw that Concubine Xuan's attitude was sincere, and her temperament was not spoiled. I believe that the emperor must have forced her to marry him, otherwise she would not have asked to leave the palace. I am old, and I just want to live a peaceful life for a few days. As for who the emperor wants to take as his concubine, it is up to him."
Outside Yixuan Hall, Jinxiu waited for half an hour but Liang Hongyu still hadn't emerged. She paced anxiously, blaming herself for her recklessness when she realized it was Liang Hongyu who had struck Consort Wu, causing today's incident. In this deep palace, even the slightest misstep could lead to eternal damnation. She wondered how the Empress Dowager would deal with Liang Hongyu.
About an hour later, Liang Hongyu limped out. Jinxiu hurried forward to support her, "Miss, what happened to you? How did the Queen Mother deal with you?" It had been some time since she entered the palace, and Jinxiu and Qiufeng had never changed their way of addressing Liang Hongyu, always calling her "Miss".
"No problem, just kneeling for an hour."
"Your Highness, I haven't seen you outside the palace for a long time. I was almost scared to death. I thought the Queen Mother was going to give you dozens of lashes."
"The Empress Dowager seemed quite sensible and didn't follow the instigation of Concubine Pan and Concubine Wu, so I escaped this disaster." Liang Hongyu said, standing still and looking at Jinxiu quietly. "Jinxiu, we have entered the palace now. We must be careful in the future and can't let others catch us."
"Your Majesty, I understand. Jinxiu will be extremely careful in the future. You can rest assured."
Liang Hongyu smiled and said, "It seems that our Jinxiu has grown up too."
Zhao Gou was reviewing memorials in Chengxuan Hall when he saw Eunuch Gao hurried forward and said, "Your Majesty, something bad has happened. I heard that Concubine Xuan was punished by the Empress Dowager to kneel for an hour. Please go and see Concubine Xuan."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Gou immediately put down the memorials in his hand, stood up and was about to run out. However, because he walked too fast, the corner of his clothes knocked over a stack of memorials on the table, and the memorials fell to the ground. Seeing this, Zhao Gou ordered Eunuch Gao, "Pick up these memorials and put them away." After that, he went to Qingyi Palace.
After Zhao Gou left, Eunuch Gao squatted on the ground picking up memorials, thinking to himself that the emperor treated Concubine Xuan differently. He had served the emperor for many years, but had never seen him care so much about any concubine.
In Qingyi Palace, Liang Hongyu sat on the soft couch behind the window, with her hair in a bun, her long eyelashes like crow feathers drooping, and her eyes slightly closed.
The fireplace in the house is filled with fragrance.
Jinxiu was applying medicine to Liang Hongyu, but Liang Hongyu fell asleep just after she applied it a few times on her red knees. Jinxiu thought that she was too tired after kneeling for an hour, so she did not disturb her and continued to apply medicine to her.
There was the sound of a curtain being opened outside the door, and rustling footsteps approaching. Jinxiu turned around to look, only to see that the person coming was the emperor. Jinxiu knelt down to salute. Zhao Gou signaled her with his eyes to go out first, and Jinxiu stood up to take her leave.
Zhao Gou sat gently next to Liang Hongyu. Her trouser legs had been rolled up above her knees, revealing her slender and long legs, as white as jade.
He picked up the remaining ointment and gently applied it on her knees, then covered her with a quilt. He waited for a while, but she didn't wake up, so he turned around and went to Yixuan Palace.
The Empress Dowager Meng in the Yixuan Hall was not Zhao Gou's biological mother. During the "Jingkang Incident", the palace where Meng lived caught fire, so she had to move to the Xiangguo Temple outside the imperial palace. As a deposed queen, Meng was not on the list of captives of the Jin soldiers, so she escaped the fate of being captured and taken north.
In the midst of the turmoil, Empress Meng, with the support of numerous officials, restored the title of "Empress Yuanyou" and requested that she rule the country from behind the curtain. In May of the first year of the Jingkang reign, with the help of Empress Dowager Meng, Zhao Gou ascended the throne in Yingtian Prefecture. Empress Dowager Meng expressed her disinterest in government affairs and returned power to Zhao Gou. She was then honored as Empress Dowager Yuanyou, and Zhao Gou treated her with great respect.
In the past, Zhao Gou went to Yixuan Palace to pay his respects to the empress dowager, but today he went to ask the empress dowager why she wanted to punish his beloved woman.
"Mother, I would like to ask why you want to punish Concubine Xuan."
Zhao Gou had never been so rude to Empress Dowager Meng. She was resting on the couch when Zhao Gou barged in and, without even a word of greeting, began to question her directly. It seemed that the emperor held Concubine Xuan in high esteem.
Empress Dowager Meng slowly rose from the couch. "The Emperor has recently caused displeasure among the people because of Concubine Xuan. Why can't I punish her?"
Zhao Gou knew he had acted rashly, so he bowed and said, "Your son pays his respects to the Queen Mother."
"I have heard that Liang Hongyu was once a prostitute. Wouldn't it be a disregard for our ancestral family rules if you took her as your concubine?"
As soon as Zhao Gou went to war, it must have been Concubine Pan and Concubine Wu who informed the Empress Dowager about this matter.
He said to the Empress Dowager, "Liang Hongyu was once the daughter of a distinguished general, but she was framed by Tong Guan and fell into the morass of prostitution. She has remained a chaste woman to this day. I have already vindicated the Liang family, and she has been restored to her status as a noblewoman in the capital. It is not against our ancestral rules for me to marry her."
"But she struck Consort Wu right after entering the palace, causing unrest in the entire harem. I've already given her a light punishment. What else do you want?"
Zhao Gou said, "I thank you on behalf of Concubine Xuan, but please don't make things difficult for her in the future. She is the woman I love and she once saved my life. Only with her can I feel at peace. It's me who can't live without her, not her."
After Zhao Gou finished speaking, he bowed and said goodbye.
Incense smoke was emitting from the incense burner in the main hall. Empress Dowager Meng suddenly felt a severe headache, so she asked Nanny Rong to help her go to the inner room to rest. As she walked, she sighed, "I will no longer care about such trivial matters in the future."
Rong Ma Ma comforted her, "Don't blame the emperor, Your Majesty. He is still very filial to you. It's just that he has been bewitched by Concubine Xuan, so he is disobeying you like this."
"Let him be. Concubine Xuan doesn't look like an alluring person."
The next day, Liang Hongyu woke up from her deep sleep and saw that she had fallen asleep on the couch yesterday, covered with a thin quilt. She asked Jinxiu, "When did I fall asleep?"
Jinxiu said, "Your Majesty, you must have been too tired yesterday. The Emperor came after you fell asleep, but perhaps because he saw you were asleep, he didn't wake you up and left first."
Liang Hongyu immediately understood that the quilt might have been provided by an official.
Seeing that Liang Hongyu had woken up, Jinxiu told her everything about how the emperor had gone to see the empress dowager to take punishment for Liang Hongyu.
Liang Hongyu never thought that the emperor would contradict the empress dowager on her behalf.
Thinking back, the emperor would come to Qingyi Palace to visit her these days, ask about her injuries, and apply ointment for her. After that, he would go to Chengxuan Hall to review memorials. He had never overstepped his bounds towards her. Perhaps although he could not be a good emperor, he was a good person.
After a few days of recuperation, Liang Hongyu's injuries had greatly improved.
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