Wedding
Minister Pan hesitated for a moment and said, "Let me think about it."
The next day, Minister Pan brought a skilled painter to the palace to paint a portrait of Zhao Gou's mother, Consort Wei. After seeing her own portrait, Consort Wei was quite impressed. Minister Pan took the opportunity to say, "Since you think this painter's painting is acceptable, why don't you paint one for Prince Kang as well? What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Wei instructed Madam Rong, "Hurry up and invite Prince Kang."
After a while, Zhao Gou came into the hall. When he heard that he was going to be painted a portrait, although he had doubts, he agreed because it was his mother who said so.
Wei was impressed by the lifelike and majestic portrait of Zhao Gou, with his frowning expression vividly portrayed on the paper, so she rewarded the painter with a large sum of money.
As soon as Minister Pan and the painter stepped out of the hall, Minister Pan asked, "Sir, do you still remember what King Kang looked like?"
Mr. Painting replied, "Of course I remember."
"Then come back with me and paint another one."
The painter painted another portrait of Zhao Gou. When Minister Pan saw that this painting was almost the same as the one in the palace, he asked someone to take the portrait to a fortune teller to look at the face of the person in the painting.
The fortune teller said, "Such a face is not uncommon. It is indeed the face of an emperor."
The servant of the Pan family told Minister Pan these words word for word. Minister Pan was overjoyed and said to his daughter, "I will go to Concubine Wei today to propose marriage."
"Daddy agreed. That's great. Thank you, Daddy." After saying this, Pan left happily.
Pan had no idea that Minister Pan had asked someone to read Zhao Gou's face, and she thought it was because her father loved her, so she agreed to her request. Little did she know that the higher the family, the more interests are involved in the marriage.
When Concubine Wei heard that Minister Pan was coming to visit again today, she was surprised when Minister Pan arrived in the palace.
Minister Pan greeted Concubine Wei with a formal greeting, saying, "I'm sorry to bother you again, Your Majesty. I hope you won't take it personally."
Concubine Wei said, "Sir Pan is an important official in the court. His visit has brought honor to our humble home. How could I blame him? But I don't know why Sir Pan came here?" After saying that, she asked Nanny Rong to give him a seat and serve him tea.
Minister Pan took a sip of tea before slowly speaking, "I came here today for a reason. I have a little daughter, the fifth child, who is about the same age as Prince Kang. I would like to ask her to be his consort. I wonder if Your Majesty would agree."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Wei was delighted. Although her son was handsome and had some skills, she was afraid that his marriage would be delayed because of her humble birth. Now, an important official of the dynasty, Minister Pan, came to propose marriage, so she agreed without hesitation.
Concubine Wei told Zhao Ji about Minister Pan's proposal of marriage, and Zhao Ji agreed and set the date for the wedding.
After everything was arranged, Concubine Wei told Zhao Gou about the matter.
Zhao Gou was furious when he heard this: "Mother, marriage is not a joke. I have never seen that woman, and you have not given me your consent. How can you finalize the marriage before telling me?"
Concubine Wei had originally thought that Zhao Gou would be as happy as she was to hear that it was Minister Pan's daughter, but he acted this way instead. So, she said unhappily, "Mother, of course, is doing this for your own good. Mother, of low status, isn't favored by your father, and that has also caused you to be disliked by him. Mother, of course, feels deeply guilty. Now, having the Minister's daughter as your princess consort is of countless benefit to you. Why wouldn't you be happy?"
"Mother, even though she is the daughter of the Shangshu, I am also a prince. Am I marrying above my station? Besides, marriage is a matter of mutual love and cannot be forced. Have you forgotten that you and my father..." Before Zhao Gou finished speaking, he knew he had said the wrong thing, so he secretly glanced at Concubine Wei who was sitting there.
These words pierced Concubine Wei's pain. Since the emperor had favored her that day, he had never touched her again. She stood under the pear tree in the courtyard every day, waiting from dawn to sunset, but she never saw the emperor's shadow. She was depressed all day long. Perhaps her depressed appearance also affected the young Zhao Gou. He had never liked to talk since he was a child. In addition, she was born to a person of low status, so naturally he was not liked by his father. Thinking of this, Concubine Wei burst into tears and said, "Anyway, your father has already decided this marriage. Whether you like it or not is not up to you." After saying this, she turned away and returned to the inner room, leaving Zhao Gou with a look of regret.
Nanny Rong couldn't bear to see Concubine Wei suffer such injustice, so she walked towards Zhao Gou and said, "Your Highness, what you just said hurt the Empress so much. You know very well that this is a permanent pain in the Empress' heart and it cannot be touched." After Nanny Rong finished speaking, she sighed and left.
Zhao Gou knew that he had hurt his mother's feelings, and thought to himself: Well, since I haven't found a woman I like yet, I might as well fulfill my mother's wish.
So he walked into the inner room. When Concubine Wei saw him come in, she turned around and faced Zhao Gou with her back.
Zhao Gou bowed and said, "I know I was wrong. I will leave my marriage to you, my mother."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Wei's slight annoyance instantly vanished. She turned around, looked at Zhao Gou, who was paying her respectful respects, and said, "It's best if you can figure it out. Now that your marriage is settled, I'm relieved. I don't know how much you've been looked down upon in this palace because of me. Within these palace walls, everyone flatters the powerful and looks down on the weak. Even if you're a prince, what good is it? If you're not valued by the emperor, even the servants in the palace will be able to tell you what to do. Once you're married, with Minister Pan's help, you'll definitely be respected like the Third Prince, and it's not certain whether you'll even ascend to the throne in the future..."
"Mother, be careful with your words," Zhao Gou interrupted Concubine Wei before she could finish. "There are many eyes and ears in the court. If you are not careful, you will be killed."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Wei looked around and finally felt relieved. Although she was not as scheming as other concubines in the palace, she was by no means a reckless person. Perhaps she was too happy today and was not on guard, so she spoke out what was in her heart.
Concubine Wei said to Zhao Gou, "Since the marriage has been decided, you should prepare for it during these days."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Gou stood up, saluted, and turned to leave.
On the wedding day, in the bridal chamber, Pan waited with eager anticipation for the man of her dreams. Marrying him would mean she would have no regrets in her life. I wonder if he still remembers the woman who lost her handkerchief on the polo field that day.
When Zhao Gou was a groom for the first time, he was surrounded and forced to drink a lot of wine. When he was about to collapse, he went into the inner room and looked at the bride under the veil. His heart was beating fast. Maybe touching the blind box for other things was interesting and fresh, but touching the blind box for something like marrying a wife made him feel uneasy. This was the woman he wanted to accompany for the rest of his life. What should he do if she was ugly or had a bad temper and he couldn't return her?
He took off the veil with trepidation. The woman underneath was charming and charming, and she seemed familiar. He was stunned for a moment and said, "Miss, have we met before?"
Pan's eyes flickered with affection as she said, "Prince Kang, don't you remember? That day, beside the polo field, a silk handkerchief happened to fall on your face. I am the owner of that handkerchief."
Zhao Gou was delighted when he heard this and said, "So it's you."
The two of them immediately lost their reserve and started talking happily.
Princess Pan still remembered how gentle and considerate Zhao Gou was to her at that time. After he became emperor, she was the most favored of the three harems. If it weren't for Liang Hongyu, she would still be that highly respected and favored woman.
After Liang Hongyu entered the palace, everything changed. She became dispensable like other concubines. She even lost her only child. She hated Liang Hongyu. She hated how she could live so freely and easily. She hated that she had taken away all her light, but this light was so bright that it hurt her eyes.
Jealousy can twist a person, even to the point of losing their mind. Concubine Pan harbored a deep hatred for Liang Hongyu. She sent people outside the palace to inquire about Liang Hongyu's background. Soon, they found out. She opened the note presented by the servant, which read: Liang Hongyu had secretly engaged in a relationship with Han Shizhong before entering the palace.
"This alone is enough to cost her life." A fierce look appeared on Princess Pan's face. She threw the note in her hand into the burning incense burner, and bursts of green smoke immediately rose from the incense burner.
The Lantern Festival is coming soon. On this day, in addition to eating fuyuanzi, young men and women will wander among the lanterns in the night market looking for their loved ones. The courtesans, the top courtesans, and even the emperor will meet their lovers on this day.
On the Lantern Festival, even people who usually stay at home will go to see the lanterns.
Zhao Gou was reviewing memorials in Chengxuan Hall that day when he heard Eunuch Rong report, "Your Majesty, Concubine Pan has come to see you."
Zhao Gou raised his head and ordered, "Let her in."
Zhao Gou put down the memorial in his hand as he spoke. Ever since the Crown Prince's death, Concubine Pan had been weeping all day, refusing to see anyone or go out. She'd locked herself in her room each day, lost in thought, staring at the Crown Prince's clothes. Even when he'd gone to visit Concubine Pan, just as he was about to offer her comfort, she'd casually smashed a vase onto the ground, sending shards scattering across the floor. Just like her shattered heart, he'd been stunned for a moment before walking away. He didn't blame her afterward, simply assuming she'd lost her composure due to a bad mood. And why had she come here today?
While Zhao Gou was stroking his brows and concentrating, Concubine Pan walked in slowly with a smile on her face. It seemed that she had finally let go of the matter of the crown prince.
"Why did Concubine Pan come here today?"
Concubine Pan bowed and said, "Today is the Lantern Festival. I would like to go out with your Majesty to see the peaceful and prosperous era you have created for the Great Song Dynasty."
"..." Zhao Gou thought to himself: This Concubine Pan has not only recovered from the pain of losing her son, but her words are also as sweet as honey. He originally wanted to go out of the city with Liang Hongyu to watch the lanterns today. Since she looks so good recently, why not take her with her? Thinking so, he replied, "Okay, you and Concubine Xuan will accompany me for a walk today."
That night, the city of Lin'an was ablaze with lanterns, and the streets were bustling with people. Commoners filled the streets, carrying lanterns as they walked through the night, and the vast city was bustling with activity, as if it were daytime. Zhao Gou, Concubine Pan, and Liang Hongyu all changed into ordinary clothes and strolled through the bustling streets, admiring the various lanterns along the way.
The entire street market is brilliantly lit. There are more than twenty varieties of lanterns alone, each of which is ingeniously crafted and has its own unique flavor. Among them, the Red Lotus Lantern is the king of lanterns. Literati used the poem "Ten miles of wind rolled into the red lotus" to describe the exquisite workmanship of the Red Lotus Lantern.
Women all wore lantern balls as big as chestnuts to decorate their heads. Some even strung food on sticks, lit it on fire, and placed it on their heads to make themselves look even more dazzling.
Young men and women walked hand in hand and side by side on the streets. If a woman was dissatisfied with her marriage, she could boldly ask a young man on the street to join her for a stroll. Liang Hongyu had always been curious about who established this shocking custom. After asking Zhao Gou, she learned that it was actually established by Zhao Gou's father, Emperor Zhao Ji. This was in line with Zhao Ji's romantic nature, Liang Hongyu thought, but this custom was very tolerant towards women.
On makeshift terraces, entertainers performed sumo, cuju, and acrobatics. A small dance troupe, formed by young women who rode on their shoulders for money, captivated passersby with their graceful movements. The Aoshan lanterns and various other entertainments competed, and the crowds were filled with excitement.
Lin'an City suddenly became a sea of joy, just as the saying goes: "The east wind blows thousands of flowers into bloom at night, and blows them down like fish. The roads are filled with the fragrance of fine horses and carved carriages. The sound of wind flutes moves, the light of jade pots swirls, and fish and dragons dance all night long."
Liang Hongyu was suddenly separated by a group of people coming from the opposite direction. Someone handed her a note that read: Shizhong, meeting at Qingyaju, Zuixiang Restaurant, East Street, Lin'an.
Although Liang Hongyu had doubts, she still went as scheduled.
She arrived at Qingyaju and pushed the door open. She found no one else in the house, but there was a very familiar fragrance. This fragrance had a faint floral scent, and just smelling it made her heart flutter. Could this fragrance be...
By the time she realized what was happening, she felt a fire rising from her lower abdomen, and her mouth suddenly went dry. Having spent years in the brothels of prostitution, she knew what this was. She clenched her fists and measured her breathing. She began to understand that someone was trying to catch her and Han Shizhong doing something unbecoming. This person was either Concubine Pan or Concubine Wu. Who else in the capital would have such a grudge against her and do such a despicable thing? If she was right, they would let the emperor witness this scandal.
She began to get scared and prayed in her heart that Han Shizhong would not come in, otherwise both she and Han Shizhong would be sentenced to death.
Han Shizhong was reading Sun Tzu's Art of War in the house. Although he defeated the Jin army in the Battle of Huangtiandang and caused them to suffer heavy losses, he was ultimately unable to capture the fourth prince Wanyan Zongbing alive, which was always a great regret.
At this time, the servants in the mansion came to report that someone had brought in a letter.
Han Shizhong opened the letter, which read: Meeting at Qingyaju, Zuixiang Restaurant, East Street, Lin'an, Hongyu.
"Do you know who sent the letter?"
The servant said, "Someone sent a child here."
In Qingyaju, Liang Hongyu couldn't help but began to squeeze her body and rub gently. At this time, she heard footsteps outside the house. The door suddenly opened, revealing Han Shizhong's handsome and resolute face.
He stood there in a daze, staring at the woman before him. She was dressed in red, her hair flowing like a waterfall. Sweat streamed down her forehead, running down her cheeks, dripping into the distinct curve of her chest. Her face was flushed, and her eyes wavered between clarity and confusion, like dewdrops on a lotus flower in the early morning, trembling and shattering at the slightest touch.
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