Taking a concubine
On this day, Zhao Gou was on the deck enjoying the sea breeze. He had been drifting on the sea for more than four months. If he returned to land, he would never set foot on the sea again. In the past six months, his food, drink and living conditions could not be compared with those in the palace. At the same time, he had to endure mental torture. Not only did he have to be on guard against the attack of the Jin people at any time, but he also had to endure the questioning of the important minister Liao.
That day he heard two palace maids whispering on the deck.
One of the fatter maidens said, "We've been drifting at sea for six months now. Is it possible that we won't be able to return? I can't stand this drifting at sea for another day."
Another maid sneered and said, "The emperor is so afraid of the Jin people that he will of course wait until they withdraw before returning to the palace. Just be patient."
The fat palace maids beside them were sighing, but they felt a chill on their backs. They turned their heads and saw Zhao Gou staring at them with a sinister look on his face. The two of them were so scared that their faces turned pale. They immediately knelt on the deck and dared not look up again.
Zhao Gou slowly walked towards the two of them, and the only thing they could see was the tip of Zhao Gou's shoes.
Zhao Gou said sternly, "Who said I was afraid of the Jin people?"
The two looked at each other and lowered their heads again. The palace maid who had said this was trembling with fear and knelt down to beg for mercy, saying, "Please spare me, my lord. I've eaten something bad recently and my brain has been damaged. I just spoke nonsense."
Zhao Gou said coldly, "I've only heard of people getting upset stomachs, but I've never heard of people getting upset brains." After saying that, he turned around and said to the guards, "Throw her into the sea to feed the fish." After saying that, he walked away.
The guards walked over to the maid, lifted her up and dragged her to the bow. Seeing that her plea for mercy was useless, the maid broke free from the guards and stood on the deck, cursing loudly: "Zhao Gou, you are afraid of the Jin as much as a tiger. You have hundreds of thousands of soldiers, but you hide in the sea like a turtle. How dare you-"
The two guards were afraid that if she continued to curse, their lives would be in danger, so they covered her mouth, dragged her forcibly, and threw her into the sea with a "splash".
The palace maid was not used to swimming, and after struggling for a few times in the sea, she was drowned in the surging water.
The crowd on the deck sighed a few times and then dispersed.
Only the fat palace maid was left on the deck. Seeing her former most lively companion disappear in the boundless sea, tears instantly welled up in her eyes, but she dared not cry out loud and could only sob softly.
It was she who wanted to come to the deck to get some fresh air, it was she who first asked when they would leave the sea, it was she who took the initiative and touched the pain in the official's heart. She should be the one who deserved to die.
The next day, the fat palace had a fever and kept talking nonsense. The palace maids who served her had been taking care of her for several days but there was no sign of improvement. She could not even drink the medicine prescribed by the doctor.
The doctor said to the palace maid, "She doesn't want to get better. Even if Hua Tuo were alive, he couldn't save her." After saying that, he sighed and left.
"Alian, that matter is not your fault. Why do you have to take it on yourself? Our lives are worthless, and you still don't cherish yourself."
The fat palace maid was named A Lian. She had been in the palace for less than two years and died a few days later. Two eunuchs threw her body into the sea.
After the fat palace maid died, no one mentioned the incident again, as if it had never happened.
A few days later, Zhao Gou received news that Han Shizhong had defeated the Jin army in Huangtiandang.
Lü Yihao advised Zhao Gou, "Your Majesty, Han Shizhong's successful interception of the Fourth Prince's returning army marks his third victory in three battles, undoubtedly a magnificent achievement for the Great Song. The Fourth Prince's army has suffered heavy losses, and morale is low. Your Majesty, I implore you to personally lead the land and sea forces to western Zhejiang to jointly attack and annihilate the Fourth Prince's Jin army. Once his elite Jin troops are destroyed, their morale will inevitably plummet, offering us an opportunity to revive the Great Song."
Zhao Gou heard this and said, "Although Han Shizhong won the battle, the Fourth Prince's 100,000 elite troops are still there. We should not underestimate them. Let's not mention this matter again."
Lu Yihao had no choice but to take his leave. He thought back to the time when the Emperor was the King Kang who had penetrated deep into the Jin camp, earning praise even from Wanyan Zongwang. How could he be so afraid of the Jin? He could understand the Emperor's repeated concessions during the Song Dynasty's repeated defeats, but now that they had won, why was the Emperor still so afraid of the Jin? He simply couldn't comprehend it. Where had the King Kang who had bravely entered the enemy camp gone?
Although Han Shizhong won several battles, Zhao Gou was still hesitant about returning to the palace. He delayed for another month until April 12, Jianyan, when he decided to end his sea voyage.
After this news was announced, the 30,000 people on the ship were excited. They would finally no longer have to drift on the sea.
"Alian, did you hear that? We can finally go back to the palace." The maids serving Alian burst into tears of joy. They had finally waited for this day. It was a pity that Alian could never go back.
Everyone on the boat thought they were going back to the palace, but unexpectedly the ship stopped at Yuezhou, and Zhao Gou stayed at the Yuezhou government office.
The rest of the people on the boat had nowhere to stay, so they were allowed to continue living on the boat.
Everyone on the boat could rest on the shore during the day and return to the boat to live at night.
In this way, another month passed. On May 11th, a month later, Zhao Gou received the news that Yue Fei had recovered his health. He breathed a sigh of relief and led his people back to Lin'an, ending his six-month escape at sea.
After Zhao Gou returned to the palace, he ordered the generals who performed outstandingly in the confrontation with the Jin army to come to the palace to receive rewards.
The gate of Lin'an City was crowded with people, and the people ran around to tell each other, coming to welcome Han Shizhong and Liang Hongyu who had defeated the Jin people in the Battle of Huangtiandang.
Someone in the crowd recognized Liang Hongyu, "The female general riding a tall horse and dressed in red is Liang Hongyu." Although Han Shizhong became famous in one battle, the people seemed to be more interested in this female general who beat the drum and defeated the Jin people in this battle, and they all wanted to see her.
Han Shizhong smiled at Liang Hongyu beside him and said, "You seem to be more popular among the people."
"General Han, you are wrong. The battle of Huangtiandang was your achievement. The people are just curious about me being a female general."
"This female general became famous in one battle, so of course the people are curious about her," Han Shizhong continued to flatter.
"General Han seems to have changed a lot recently."
"Oh, what's changed? Tell me about it."
"You've become more talkative than before." Liang Hongyu said this and whipped her horse whip, spurring it on. She left him to think about his earlier rudeness.
Han Shizhong was stunned for a moment. Had he never been able to speak before? He had always loved teasing her, and it seemed she had always been upset. He had never thought that his constant teasing in front of her, and seeing her frustrated, would bring him genuine joy. He hadn't understood why before, but now he understood that he was only this different in front of the woman he loved. Thinking of this, he raised his whip and followed her pace.
The civil and military officials had never imagined that Emperor Zhao, who had always suppressed military generals, would give them enough face today and lead all the officials to the palace gate to welcome them in person.
Han Shizhong and Liang Hongyu had never expected the emperor to personally greet them. Seeing all the civil and military officials standing in unison at the palace gate, Liang Hongyu and Han Shizhong glanced at each other, each seeing surprise in their eyes. They immediately dismounted, knelt before Zhao Gou, and said, "Your Majesty, I pay you my respects."
Zhao Gou hurried forward and helped the two men up. "You are meritorious officials of the Song Dynasty. There is no need for such courtesy."
When they arrived at the main hall, the eunuch read out the imperial edict in front of the hall: I have been favored by Heaven, and Han Shizhong made great contributions in the Battle of Huangtiandang, so he is specially appointed as the Junior Tutor, the Jiedushi of Wucheng Gande Army, and the Commander-in-Chief of Shenwu Left Army, and an additional ten thousand taels of silver; Yue Fei recovered Jiankang and pacified the bandits, and was promoted to the Doctor of the Central Guard and the Envoy of Wu'an Jun; Liang Hongyu is both talented and beautiful, and is specially promoted to the Princess Xuan, and is granted the residence in Qingyi Palace. This is my decree!
All the ministers were shocked by Liang Hongyu's enthronement. They didn't understand why and started discussing it in the court.
Prime Minister Lu Yihao objected on the spot, saying, "General Liang was once a courtesan in Jingkou due to family misfortunes. To confer her the title of consort would be detrimental to the imperial family. Your Majesty, please revoke this order."
All the ministers knelt and said, "Your Majesty, please revoke your order."
"I have made up my mind on this matter and have no intention of changing it. I'm leaving the court." After saying this, he turned around and left.
Upon seeing this, all the ministers withdrew, leaving only Han Shizhong and Liang Hongyu who were still in a daze in the court.
Han Shizhong was shocked to hear this decree. He had thought that after being promoted because of this battle, he would be able to marry Liang Hongyu in a grand ceremony, but this was the result.
The two of them were not in a position to say anything in front of others, so they could only return home with heavy hearts.
Liang Hongyu was worried about the issue of being canonized as a concubine. The night watchman's knock outside the mansion had already sounded twice, but she still couldn't fall asleep. She didn't know when the emperor took a fancy to her, and even ignored her identity as a court prostitute and was not afraid of the criticism of the ministers to force her to marry him.
The candles in the house were still on. Against the backdrop of the candles, a black shadow suddenly flashed outside the window. Just as she stood up to check, the black shadow broke through the window.
"Hongyu, it's me."
Liang Hongyu saw the handsome face of the visitor clearly in the candlelight, but he looked a little tired, and even his voice was a little hoarse.
"General!" Liang Hongyu called softly. This delicate call seemed to break Han Shizhong's heart. He hugged her tightly in his arms and never wanted to let go.
Liang Hongyu knew that Han Shizhong would come today, but she didn't expect him to come so late. Now that she has been canonized as the emperor's concubine, he can only come in this way. If others see him having an affair with her, he might lose his life.
"Tomorrow I will go and tell the emperor to revoke his order. I will use my military achievements in exchange for marrying you."
"General, this is absolutely unacceptable. If the emperor had not taken me as his concubine, perhaps it might have been possible. Even if he were the emperor, it would not make sense for him to steal the wife of a meritorious official. But now that he has taken me as his concubine, how can a minister steal the emperor's wife?"
"Then what do you think we should do?" Han Shizhong asked painfully. If this method didn't work, would he have to watch her marry into the deep palace?
"Things have come to this, and I can only leave it to fate." Liang Hongyu sighed, "I might as well give my body to the general tonight. After tonight, you and I will just be strangers and will never see each other again." Liang Hongyu took off her outer coat as she spoke. The candlelight was dim, and the autumn cicadas were chirping softly. She looked even more beautiful and breathtaking under the candlelight.
Han Shizhong's heart felt like being brushed by a feather, itching. He wanted to eat her up right then and there, to possess her without any scruples. But he couldn't. She was about to marry another man, and how could he destroy her reputation? Moreover, that man was the emperor, who held the power of life and death.
He put her outer blouse back on and leaned over to kiss her. The candlelight flickered and her lips and teeth were fragrant. He first pecked her lips lightly, then swept towards her with an aggressive kiss. She was about to belong to someone else, and he wished he could tear her apart and crush her in his arms.
His movements were quite ferocious, his breathing was hot, and he held her lips with great force. Her tears immediately flowed down, and he kissed away the tears on her face. The kiss lasted for a long time, and she was almost suffocated. Her white porcelain face bloomed with a peach color, and her peach blossom eyes were full of lust, blurred and charming.
After a long time, he finally let her go and said calmly, "I'm leaving."
He turned to leave, but she wrapped her arms around his waist, her head resting on his back. He felt two soft lumps on his back, and a tingling sensation spread throughout his body. She said in a voice full of charm, "General, don't leave."
He tried his best to control his inner desires, and forced himself to calm down on the verge of losing control. He turned around and kissed her forehead, saying, "I really have to go." After that, he jumped out of the window and left.
The night outside was as dark as ink, and his footsteps on the way back home seemed unusually heavy. When he reached Han's residence, he jumped into the house with a light Kung Fu move. The house was silent except for the sound of the servants sleeping soundly.
He went straight to the bathroom and poured a basin of cold water over him from head to toe, until his parched body temperature subsided. Then he changed into a set of undershirts and lay down on the bed. He still couldn't fall asleep. The warmth seemed to still be in his arms, the tenderness between his lips and teeth lingering on his tongue, seemingly lingering for a long time. The parched air in his body rose again. He went to the well and fetched a bucket of cold water, pouring it over his head. He tossed and turned until midnight, when he suddenly felt sleepy and fell asleep in his wet clothes. When he woke up, he was sneezing non-stop, realizing he had slept in them all night. He changed out of them, put on clean clothes, and went to the morning court.
In the court, he looked around at the ministers but did not see Liang Hongyu. Then he remembered that she might have been summoned into the palace, and he couldn't help feeling lonely.
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