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Early this morning, Liang Hongyu was summoned back to the palace by the eunuchs. She was dressed in the clothes of a concubine, sat on a sedan chair, and was carried to Qingyi Palace.
After Zhao Gou finished his morning court, he took the imperial sedan chair to Qingyi Palace. When he thought that Liang Hongyu had become his concubine, his excitement was beyond words, and even his eunuch Gao Gonggong could see it.
Eunuch Gao asked, "Your Majesty, is there any good news? Why are you so happy today?"
Zhao Gou smiled and said, "Nonsense! Aren't you happy about getting married? Tell them to hurry up! I want to see Concubine Xuan sooner."
Eunuch Gao said embarrassedly, "Your Majesty, I have never married, so I naturally don't know." After that, he ordered the eunuchs to speed up.
Zhao Gou laughed and said, "I was so happy that I forgot that you couldn't do your best."
Eunuch Gao felt increasingly embarrassed upon hearing this. He hurried to look at the eunuchs behind him, carrying the imperial sedan chair. They were all stifling laughter, their faces displaying various expressions. Eunuch Gao cursed inwardly, "Aren't you just like me? Why are you laughing so hard? Just wait and see how I'll deal with you all later."
In Qingyi Palace, Liang Hongyu sat on a chair with an expressionless face, covering her face with her long sleeves, and sipping tea. The tea was clear and bright, and after drinking it, a faint fragrance emanated between her lips and teeth.
She glanced at the furnishings inside the hall. Beside the chair was an exquisite triangular table covered in fine brocade. A delicate tea set sat quietly on it. The teacup she held was a delicate lotus flower cup. A screen divided the room in two, and beyond it stretched a series of gauze curtains. A gentle breeze blew, gently lifting the curtains, and the clear gauze rippled with the wind. Further back was a wide step-out bed, its exquisite carvings truly extraordinary. In the northeast corner of the room stood a maroon bookcase. Warm sunlight filtered in through the vermilion carved wooden windows, sporadically scattering on a propped-up guqin. A bronze mirror rested on a wooden dressing table. Compared to the furnishings in the room when she was a courtesan, it seemed fresh and leisurely, with a unique charm.
She carefully recalled every moment she had spent with the emperor. When did the emperor first fall in love with her? Was it the day she rescued him from Xianning Temple during the Miao-Liu Rebellion? Was it when she served as a guard by his side during their escape at sea? Or was it when she saved him from the White Tiger's claws during their refuge at sea?
To the emperor, each of these events was a life-saving favor, but to her, the emperor's affection was a prison, trapping her within the palace walls. She had finally escaped from the blazing, dazzling world of women, only to find herself in the prison of the harem, plagued by the same jealousies and infighting among the women, which she disdained to deal with.
The thought of this made her scalp tingle. Compared to the prison-like life in the harem, she preferred to put on military uniform and gallop on the battlefield.
Thinking of this, she recalled yesterday's attempt to give her body to Han Shizhong, the only man she loved in the world. She had disregarded her womanly modesty and even shamelessly flirted with him, but he had turned and left, leaving her alone in bed, to endure a long and difficult night.
She and he will be strangers in the future. She just wants to spend a night with him, so that there will be a moment worth remembering in her long life in the deep palace. However, he fails to make her wish come true, and the hatred in her heart suddenly rises.
At this moment, the eunuch's call interrupted her thoughts: "The emperor is coming to Qingyi Palace."
When she heard the voice, she was busy with her thoughts and hurriedly bowed to greet him, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."
She secretly glanced at the emperor, only to see him looking at her with a smile on his face, "My beloved, please don't be polite."
She couldn't help but lower her head guiltily. If the emperor knew that she was thinking about spending a night with another man, he would definitely kill her.
Zhao Gou stepped forward and asked, "Are you satisfied with this residence, my beloved concubine?"
“The furnishings here are fresh and leisurely, with a unique charm.”
"This is specially arranged for you by my order. I hope you are satisfied."
"I thank the emperor." Liang Hongyu bowed.
"I wonder if the emperor has ever thought that by detaining me in this palace, you will lose a great general who protects your family and country." Liang Hongyu said frankly.
"I know you are not an ordinary woman and you don't want to be trapped in the deep palace. But although I have many concubines, there is no woman who makes me feel at peace and worried like you." Zhao Gou held Liang Hongyu's hands, stared into her eyes and said, his eyes full of affection.
Liang Hongyu saw sincerity in Zhao Gou's eyes, believing he hadn't deceived her. But her lover wasn't him. If he hadn't used his power to force her to marry him, she would have married him by now. But she couldn't tell Zhao Gou that she loved Han Shizhong and put him in danger.
At this time, Eunuch Gao came to report: "Your Majesty, General Han Shizhong has been waiting for you outside Chengxuan Hall for a long time. I asked him to come back tomorrow. He said that if he doesn't see you today, he will not leave."
Zhao Gou said dissatisfiedly, "Why did Han Shizhong have to report today?"
"I don't know. Even when I asked him, he refused to speak. He just knelt outside the hall and waited."
Zhao Gou said to Liang Hongyu, "My dear, I will be back soon." After that, he left in a hurry.
Liang Hongyu looked at Zhao Gou's departing back and felt something was wrong. Could it be that he really went to the emperor to ask for her hand in marriage in exchange for his military merits?
She hurriedly sent Qiu Feng to find out the news.
Han Shizhong had been kneeling outside Chengxuan Hall for an hour. Even if he had to risk his life today, he would make the emperor revoke his decision. He would be unworthy of being a man if he did nothing to see the person he loved being forced into the palace by the emperor.
Zhao Gou arrived outside the Chengxuan Hall and saw Han Shizhong kneeling outside the hall with an upright posture and a stubborn look on his face. He said to him, "My dear, please follow me in."
"I obey your order." Han Shizhong stood up and followed Zhao Gou into the hall, and knelt on the main hall again.
Zhao Gou said, "Lord Han is a meritorious official of the Song Dynasty. No need to be polite. Just stand up and answer."
Han Shizhong bowed and said, "I am afraid that the emperor will punish me for what I have reported, so I dare not stand up."
Zhao Gou frowned, "Oh, I want to hear what it is."
Han Shizhong shouted, "I beg Your Majesty to revoke your order. Liang Hongyu and I are in love. I had intended to marry her upon my return from this campaign, but you, Your Majesty, have interrupted me. I would like to offer my military merits in marriage to her. Please grant my wish."
Zhao Gou was furious when he heard this. "Han Shizhong, you are so bold that you dare to come and snatch Concubine Xuan from me."
Zhao Gou glared at him, "Do you really think I won't punish you?"
Eunuch Gao also advised: "General Han, the emperor has already made General Liang the Xuanfei. The matter is settled. If the emperor gives General Liang to you, how will the ministers view the emperor? I hope General Han will think twice."
"This is my only long-cherished wish, and I hope the emperor will fulfill it." Han Shizhong kowtowed and begged in the hall.
"Since you, Han Shizhong, are so ungrateful, don't blame me for being ruthless." Zhao Gou ordered the guards, "Come, throw Han Shizhong into the prison and keep him under strict guard."
Seeing Han Shizhong being escorted into the prison by two guards, Qiu Feng quickly went to report to Liang Hongyu.
Liang Hongyu nearly fainted upon hearing this. She shouted at the top of her lungs, "General, you are so foolish. You've ruined my bright future. Is it really worth it?"
Zhao Gou's good mood was ruined by Han Shizhong. Could it be that he and Liang Hongyu had been having an affair for a long time? He really shouldn't have agreed to let Liang Hongyu go and meet Han Shizhong while he was taking refuge at sea, giving them a chance to be alone together.
After this incident, he didn't know how to face Liang Hongyu, so he instructed Eunuch Gao, "Send someone to tell Concubine Xuan that I will not be going to Qingyi Palace today."
That night, in Chengxuan Hall, Zhao Gou was busy reviewing memorials, all of which were requests for the release of Han Shizhong.
Zhao Gou looked at these memorials and became furious, and threw them to the ground.
"I'm just pleading for Han Shizhong. Why would I lock him up for a few days to let him reflect on his actions bother these old stubborn people?"
Eunuch Gao picked up the memorial from the ground and said, "Your Majesty, they don't know that Han Shizhong and you are competing for Concubine Xuan. Please calm down."
Zhao Gou slapped his forehead upon hearing this and said, "How could I have forgotten this matter? But it is not convenient for me to explain the reason to them."
Eunuch Gao advised, "This old servant has a thought."
Zhao Gou was delighted when he heard this and said, "Tell me quickly."
"In my opinion, you can ask Concubine Xuan to persuade General Han."
Zhao Gou nodded and said, "This is a brilliant plan. Let's quickly go to Qingyi Palace."
Hearing that the eunuch had summoned the emperor, Liang Hongyu couldn't help but wonder: her relationship with Han Shizhong must have made the emperor feel resentful, so why would the emperor come at this time?
Although she didn't know what Han Shizhong had said to the emperor, since the emperor had thrown him into prison, he must have told him about their relationship. If she begged the emperor to release Han Shizhong at this time, it would definitely anger the emperor.
So she did not mention anything about Han Shizhong, and waited for the emperor to explain his purpose himself.
Zhao Gou smiled and said, "I have been busy with important matters these days and have not come to visit my beloved concubine. I hope my beloved concubine will not be angry with me."
"I am fine."
Zhao Gou said with difficulty: "I have something that I need your help with, my beloved concubine."
Liang Hongyu was stunned when she heard this. Why would the emperor ask her for help? Could it be related to Han Shizhong?
She said calmly, "Sir, please speak."
"I've been troubled by Han Shizhong's situation these past few days. I just want to lock him up for a few days and not punish him. However, General Han won't give me a way out. My beloved concubine used to work with him. Could you please persuade him so that I have a reason to release him?"
Liang Hongyu had already considered this: the emperor wanted her to persuade Han Shizhong to give up her, so that he would forgive Han Shizhong's offense. After all, Han Shizhong had just made military achievements, and the emperor couldn't punish him at this time.
Liang Hongyu raised her eyes to look at Zhao Gou, smiled slightly and said, "Okay."
"Then I'll leave first. I still have memorials to review. I'll come to visit you another day." After saying that, he turned and left.
Since Han Shizhong did not want to give up Concubine Xuan, he could only force Concubine Xuan to give up Han Shizhong. Before the relationship between Concubine Xuan and Han Shizhong was resolved, he did not want to get close to Concubine Xuan. Regardless of whether Concubine Xuan had feelings for Han Shizhong, he would not give up Concubine Xuan easily.
Although there are many concubines in the harem, no woman can compare with Concubine Xuan. On this lonely road of being an emperor, there must always be someone by his side who can comfort him. Otherwise, wouldn't he, a lonely man, be too lonely?
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