Chapter 116 The Abandoned Eldest Daughter Makes a Comeback (Bonus Chapter)
Xiao Yuheng extra.
Xiao Yuheng had a very difficult childhood.
His father was a foolish and tyrannical emperor, who was also licentious and dissolute. The previous dynasty was dominated by treacherous officials, and loyal and virtuous people were ostracized. The harem was in chaos, and the concubines fought each other endlessly.
Having witnessed his father's absurdity, Xiao Yuheng became extremely self-disciplined and responsible.
After ascending the throne, he devoted all his energy to the administration of the court, determined to restore order and create an even greater golden age.
As for anything else, he had no extra energy to spare.
Marrying and having children, taking in many concubines—these were simply the responsibilities that an emperor had to fulfill, and there was no joy in them whatsoever.
He lived his life methodically and worked diligently as an emperor. Even when he learned that he had a terminal illness, he was not afraid, but worried about whether the crown prince could shoulder the heavy responsibility after he handed over the throne of the Great Zhou.
Therefore, he put more effort into the training of the crown prince and was the first to notice the crown prince's unusual behavior.
At first, he didn't care.
The stirrings of young love are a precious and cherished experience, especially for those of them who are bound by numerous rules and regulations, making such pure emotions all the more rare.
Little did he know, the woman's influence on the crown prince far exceeded his expectations.
He knew the crown prince, whom he had personally groomed, all too well, and knew he was not a man who acted on emotion.
But the fact that the woman could entangle the Crown Prince so deeply aroused Xiao Yuheng's curiosity.
So he decided to go and meet that woman.
When he first met her, he was sitting in a restaurant. Through the window, he saw her get off the carriage and gracefully walk into the theater.
A brief glance was enough to amaze his soul and penetrate to the very marrow of his bones.
Even when he later witnessed her absurd behavior, he felt no malice whatsoever; he simply felt it was the natural course of things.
She was meant to be unrestrained; she was born to be this free.
He watched her laugh and play quietly, completely absorbed in it.
It wasn't until Shen Zhengde came to his door that he couldn't resist following him.
He was afraid she would be wronged.
However, his worries were clearly unnecessary.
She was even more unrestrained and daring than he had imagined, and didn't need anyone to support her at all.
She possesses not only stunningly beautiful appearance but also a wildly arrogant soul. This combination gives her an irresistible charm that draws people in, making them unable to escape her allure.
In a short period of time, Xiao Yuheng felt himself getting deeper and deeper into trouble.
Finally, he couldn't resist moving closer to her.
When talking to her face to face, Xiao Yuheng could more clearly perceive the strong greed growing in his heart, but he also knew that she could not be forced.
And he also...
Therefore, Xiao Yuheng chose to become friends with her.
They chatted about everything under the sun.
The longer they spend time together, the deeper their obsession becomes.
But he knew clearly that he was not the kind of man she would be attracted to.
He could only suppress all his obsession and greed, and pretend that nothing had happened.
Unfortunately, he felt his health was deteriorating further and feared he didn't have much time left.
At this moment, the beast within me finally broke free of its cage.
He wanted to be reckless and willful just this once, as a reward for his years of hard work.
He had the palace closest to the Qian Yuan Hall cleaned up and personally named it Lan Yue Palace.
He reached for the moon, hoping only that he could briefly grasp this bright moon.
He personally led the team to set up the Lan Yue Palace, and every detail reflected his thoughtfulness.
He personally selected every servant.
After arranging the Lanyue Palace, he personally visited the entire harem and gave each woman a warning.
Since Xiao Chengze was born, he has hardly entered the harem. After many years, the faces of many women have become blurred, and they have long since settled into the stagnant harem. However, he still gave them a serious warning.
Therefore, he cautiously invited Yunzhen to the palace.
At that time, he was prepared for her to refuse, and he was also prepared to forcibly bring her into the palace.
Even if she might develop a dislike for him, he has no intention of giving up.
He just wanted to be willful this once, just this once.
For the rest of his life, he wanted to see her every day, talk to her, and have tea with her; those would be the most wonderful days.
Fortunately, she agreed without much hesitation, and Xiao Yuheng was overjoyed.
He did not grant her a title because he knew they were destined to have no future. Therefore, he did not stop the crown prince from getting close to him, and even intentionally indulged him.
After he leaves, the Crown Prince will be the most suitable candidate for her.
As for Chengze... if the Crown Prince is incompetent, he can take his place.
His health deteriorated day by day, and before he passed away, he had to eliminate all threats and take away all unstable factors for her.
Only in this way can she feel more secure.
So after he learned of Chengjin's scheme, he intentionally guided him and led him to join forces with Shen Zhengde, using himself as a lure to bring out all those who were hiding in the shadows and harboring ulterior motives, and wipe them all out in one fell swoop!
After doing all this, he finally reached the end of his life.
That day, he went to say goodbye to Yunzhen.
He remembers it clearly: the sky was very blue that day, the clouds were high, and the gentle autumn breeze carried warmth.
Even the tea was sweeter than ever before.
I really want to have tea with her again...
Xiao Yuheng gazed dazedly in the direction of Lan Yue Palace, the light in his eyes gradually dimming...
Finally, it fades into nothingness.
He closed his eyes forever.
...
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Forum-style extra
[A new drama has aired on Hunan TV, and today we'll delve into whether Empress Chenzhaode Yishengjing was actually Emperor Jinghe's illegitimate daughter!]
OP: Have you all watched the popular dramas airing on Hunan TV this summer? In the new drama, Princess Chenzhao is actually Emperor Jinghe's illegitimate daughter outside the palace, while Emperor Zhaoming is the illegitimate son of the Empress and her first love. Emperor Jinghe couldn't fight against the Empress, who came from a powerful family, so to protect the royal bloodline, he gave his illegitimate daughter to Emperor Zhaoming. The drama makes it sound plausible, and I reasonably suspect that this is the true history!
1L:? ? ? ? ? ? ?
2L: Not bad, that's very beaver-like.
3L: Where did this anecdotal history come from? This is too far-fetched! I reasonably suspect the poster didn't graduate from elementary school.
4L: No doubt about it, the original poster is illiterate! It's all recorded in official history: Empress Chenzhao was of unparalleled beauty, a celestial being, and the Emperor was captivated by her. This shows that Emperor Jinghe had feelings for Princess Chenzhao, not some ridiculous father-daughter relationship!
5L: What surprised me was not that this unofficial history was too far-fetched, but that the poster actually believed it. This is even more outrageous than the scripts of Hunan TV. Emperor Jinghe was not a puppet emperor. He was good at creating chaos and single-handedly supported the crumbling Great Zhou. The power he held was greater than that of the previous emperors of Great Zhou, and he was no less than that of the founding emperor. He was not afraid of the empress's family, or even all the noble families combined!
How could such an emperor tolerate the confusion of the royal bloodline simply because he feared the power of aristocratic families?
6L: But I think the original poster makes a good point. If Empress Chenzhao wasn't Emperor Jinghe's illegitimate daughter, why would he give her so much power, even the tiger tally?
To talk about true love is too fake. Emperor Jinghe was an emperor, and a mature one at that. Don't talk about love. Judging from Emperor Jinghe's behavior, he doesn't seem to be love-struck.
7L: OP, you've probably been brainwashed by those terrible dramas on Hunan TV! The official history clearly explains the relationship between Princess Chenzhao, Emperor Jinghe, and Emperor Zhaoming. Where did this illegitimate daughter and son come from? I suggest OP read more books and watch less terrible dramas!
8L: Then how do you explain Emperor Jinghe bringing Empress Chenzhao back to the palace but not giving her a title? What was the point of bringing her into the palace? Their relationship can only be familial!
9L: Replying to the above, this is also recorded in official history. Because Emperor Jinghe did not have much time left, he did not want to delay Empress Chenzhao's life. This was written by the historian himself!
10L: History books are not necessarily the truth. Perhaps the historians wrote it this way to protect Emperor Jinghe's reputation.
11L: Seriously, whether it's real history or unofficial history, it's all pretty outrageous, okay? If it's true according to historical records, then it's the father-in-law coveting his daughter-in-law. If it's true according to unofficial history, then it's even more outrageous: the daughter becomes the daughter-in-law, and the son is the wife's illegitimate child. That's pretty ridiculous.
12L: Replying to 10L, not only are there official records, but also other historical records and archaeological evidence to support the claim that Empress Chenzhao's story is true. I suggest that those of you who believe in unofficial histories read more proper history books and watch less ridiculous dramas!
13L: 11L, what nonsense are you talking about! At that time, Empress Chenzhao and Emperor Zhaoming were not even married yet, and she was not Emperor Jinghe's daughter-in-law!
14L: So, to reiterate, if Emperor Jinghe loved Empress Chenzhao so much, why did he still arrange her marriage to Emperor Zhaoming? And why did he give her the tiger tally and the private treasury? Simply saying it's about love doesn't hold water.
As we all know, love is a non-existent thing; it's just a matter of hormones at the time. A powerful emperor with great vision and strategy cannot be controlled by hormones.
15L: I already said that Emperor Jinghe was nearing the end of his life at that time. Besides, you mentioned Emperor Jinghe. He was a man of great talent and ambition. Would he be afraid of the Empress's family? Moreover, Empress Wenjing was known for her virtue and wisdom. She would never do something like having an affair.
...
58L: This is where the official history is absurd. I believe the official historical records are true. Maybe there really was such a woman who amazed everyone and that era.
83L: I also support the official history. Emperor Jinghe admired Empress Chenzhao. Not only Emperor Jinghe, but how many people who lived in the same era as Empress Chenzhao did not admire her? Just look at the poems that praised Empress Chenzhao at that time, as well as the manuscripts and notes of famous people that have been passed down. They also blatantly record these people's admiration for Empress Chenzhao. So much so that later, Empress Chenzhao became a synonym for beauty. She is the most beautiful woman in history, and that is no joke.
84L: These historical records are like jokes, even more unofficial than unofficial histories. They exaggerate Empress Chenzhao to the point of being unparalleled. Where can such a perfect person exist? Even the most beautiful women in the entertainment industry have so many haters. How could Empress Chenzhao be more beautiful than those meticulously dressed celebrities?
85L: Don't judge the ancients with your narrow-minded perspective. They weren't blind. If she wasn't exceptionally beautiful, why would so many people praise Empress Chenzhao, and not a single one have a bad word to say about her? Under normal circumstances, someone like Empress Chenzhao would have been criticized as a wicked empress long ago, but she wasn't. Doesn't that prove the truth? Those people were simply in love with Empress Chenzhao, and Emperor Jinghe was no exception!
...
348L: You only talk about Emperor Jinghe, why not Emperor Zhaoming? His achievements were in no way inferior to his father's, and compared to Emperor Jinghe, his love for Empress Chenzhao was unquestionable. He even used her title for his reign. Moreover, even though Empress Chenzhao never conceived, he never took any concubines, only adopting a son from a collateral branch. I don't need to elaborate on how rare this was for an emperor in a feudal dynasty, do I?
349L: Yes, yes, I also want to say, oh my god, they are so good-looking, definitely true love.
350L: Don't forget about Prince Shen. He was also deeply in love with Empress Chenzhao and remained unmarried for her sake. According to unofficial historical records, he was Empress Chenzhao's lover.
351L: Not only unofficial histories, but also official histories have mentioned it in a veiled way, so it's perfectly normal that Emperor Jinghe also fell in love with Empress Chenzhao.
352L: I just think that Emperor Zhaoming and Prince Shen following Empress Chenzhao in their suicide pact was so tragic and beautiful, and it makes me believe in love again!
353L: But it's too far-fetched for an emperor and a prince to die for a woman. Many experts now doubt the authenticity of this history, thinking that the two may have died of an acute illness or died in an indecent manner, and that the cause of death was attributed to Empress Chenzhao in order to beautify them.
354L: Nonsense! This is the truth of history, don't ruin my ship!
...
628L: What does Princess Chenzhao look like? I'm so curious. How could she make a father and his two sons, as well as many princes and ministers fall at her feet? All the records about her are full of praise, with not a single negative one. That's too exaggerated.
629L: Yes, I'm curious too. It's a pity that her portrait has not survived. It is said that the portrait of Empress Chenzhao was a popular burial item. Many people who obtained her portrait would keep it with them forever and take it to their tomb after death. The rest were completely destroyed or lost in the competition among various parties.
630L: The Kyoto Museum does have one, but it is severely oxidized and the human figure is barely visible. It has been restored by experts to look like a ghost.
...
1428L: Sisters! Did you see the news just now? Emperor Zhaoming's tomb has been looted by tomb robbers! Experts are now conducting a rescue excavation.
1429L: Then won't we soon find out what Empress Chenzhao looked like? If she was really beautiful, then I'll believe the official history; if she was plain-looking, then I'll believe the unofficial history.
1833L: You won't believe what I just saw! Oh my god, it's so beautiful! The historical records are true, absolutely true! There's no exaggeration at all; in fact, they're quite understated. I'm so excited! It's so beautiful! Goddess Chen Zhao, I love you!!!
Without further ado, here's the picture.
One more thing: Emperor Zhaoming and Prince Shen did indeed die for love. Their remains were found in their tomb, and residual toxins were detected on them.
1834L: !!
1835L: Goddess, my goddess!
1837L: This is so beautiful! Could it be an AI-generated image? Can such stunning beauty really be created in this world?
1838L: AI can't draw such a beautiful person. This was drawn based on the 3D model of Empress Chenzhao's remains.
1839L: Ahhh, don't say that Empress Chenzhao didn't die, she didn't die, she will live forever in my heart.
1840L: Now I finally understand why someone like Emperor Jinghe would do such a thing. Before, I thought he was too absurd and confused in his later years, but now I think he was too rational. If it were me, I would give her the entire country, everything to her!
1841L: Zhaoming, you are so lucky! Damn it, why didn't I live in the Great Zhou?
1842L: You were born before I was born, and I was born after you were dead.
1843L: Yeah, what a blessing! To be buried with Goddess Chen Zhao. I'm so envious. I want to lie down next to her too.
1844L: Waaaaah, even the skeleton of Empress Chenzhao is so beautiful, I can't get enough of looking at her.
1845L: Your praise is a bit too sinister, but you're right, it really is beautiful. So many years have passed, yet the bones are still fair and white, the proportions are perfect, and every curve is flawless. I want to steal it.
1846L: Me too...
1847L: Damn, there's a pervert! But count me in, hehe.
1848L: Forget about it. The museum has caught tens of thousands of people who teamed up to steal from Empress Chenzhao these past few days, as well as museum employees who stole from their own premises. They've all secured their jobs now.
The security around Empress Chenzhao's coffin is now ten times tighter than that of a bank vault. Even a mosquito would have its legs spread open for a thorough inspection if it flew in. We can no longer see her; we can only look at her 3D portrait.
1849L: What right does the museum have to do this? Empress Chenzhao belongs to all of us, she belongs to everyone!
1850L: Don't worry, the burial objects in Emperor Zhaoming's tomb are all related to Empress Chenzhao. There are tens of thousands of portraits alone. Now the higher authorities have decided to build a new Empress Chenzhao Museum to house all of Emperor Zhaoming's burial objects.
1851L: Really? Where is it located? I can't wait to start working there. Once the museum is completed, I want to be the first to see the goddess.
1852L: Bullshit! I was the first person to meet the goddess. I'm going to go back to work now!
...
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