Extra 11: The Crown Princess
Later, Zhou Yunan got the opportunity to get close to the emperor.
Although it happened only once every ten days or half a month, Zhou Yun'an was already very satisfied. Gradually, he went in and out of the emperor's palace more and more frequently, and the rumors in the court became more and more numerous.
The reputation Zhou Yunan had worked so hard to build up over the past two years was destroyed again.
But he doesn't care.
He no longer minds what he used to mind. He even took the initiative to curry favor by stripping naked in front of Xiao Yuluan and showing off his young and strong body.
He took Xiao Yuluan's hand and asked her to touch his body, but Xiao Yuluan just pulled up his clothes, smiled faintly and shook her head.
Now that the man is gone, her mood has changed again, and the last bit of thought about love between a man and a woman has completely disappeared.
Zhou Yunan felt a little frustrated, he could only wait.
In the first year of Shengli, Zhou Yun'an was finally able to sleep on the same bed with the retired emperor. He would get up in the morning to help her dress and put on makeup, and would eat with her at noon. Xiao Yuluan never treated him as a eunuch. She would guide him in handling government affairs and tell him all her life experiences.
Of course, there was always a little person beside him when guiding Zhou Yunan, and that was the five-year-old Xiao Yi.
Ever since Shen Yushan's untimely passing, Qingwu had been plagued by a constant sense of worry. She knew all too well how much Minister Shen held in her grandmother's heart. Now that he was gone, the Minghua Palace, while still majestic and solemn, inevitably evoked a sense of quietude, a sense of change and loneliness.
Qingwu himself was busy promoting various schools such as medical schools and industrial schools across the country. This was a foundation that would benefit future generations, and he was too busy to spend the whole day with his daughter. So he could only ask his daughter to study and learn to read with the teacher in the morning and accompany her grandmother in the afternoon.
This move achieved two goals at once. Not only did it find the best teacher in the world for the daughter, but it also found an emotional sustenance for the grandmother, filling this somewhat quiet palace with the vibrant vitality of the child.
Zhou Yun'an had already obtained the tacit approval of the new emperor, who allowed him to move around freely during his duty.
So when Xiao Yuluan gave Zhou Yunan many instructions, Xiao Yi was also listening on the side.
At first, Zhou Yunan only thought that the little princess was calm and steady, unlike other lively and noisy children. Later, he gradually felt the little princess's intelligence hidden under her silence, a kind of sharp insight that was almost instinctive.
Not long after, the Queen announced that she was pregnant again. Many people said that if the Queen gave birth to a prince this time, he would definitely be named the Crown Prince immediately. Apart from that, there were naturally some sour remarks, saying that the little princess's current favor was the last glory, and she would not have this treatment after her younger brother was born.
While Xiao Yuluan was away, Zhou Yun'an looked at the little princess sitting beside him. He wanted to know what she was thinking. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Your Highness, do you want a brother or a sister?"
Xiao Yi was diligently practicing calligraphy with a small wolf-hair brush. Upon hearing this, she slowly put down her brush and raised her eyes, which resembled her father's, to look at Zhou Yun'an. She didn't answer immediately, but instead asked, "Mr. Zhou, who do you think is better, a younger brother or a younger sister?"
Zhou Yunan was not expecting to be asked back and was slightly stunned.
He carefully considered his words and replied, "For most court officials, perhaps they would prefer a prince to strengthen the country. However, for Your Majesty and the Empress, both princes and princesses are undoubtedly treasures."
Xiao Yi listened quietly, his tone calm and unperturbed: "Is Zhou Sheren also one of the majority of court officials?"
This sentence made Zhou Yunan stunned again. He did not explain his attitude and wanted to use this answer to fool her, but she kept following his answer accurately.
Looking at the little prince like this, Zhou Yunan shook his head, "No, I don't have any expectations."
"Why?"
Now it was Xiao Yi's turn to ask the question.
"Because..." Zhou Yunan paused, then expressed his understanding. "Because for the two Majesties and the Empress, gender is unimportant; ability and wisdom are what matter most. Otherwise, the Retired Emperor wouldn't have ascended the throne at the age of sixty. So, Your Highness, there's no need to worry..."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a smile on the corner of the girl's lips. Her face was full of satisfaction, which obviously said that his answer was her answer, and it didn't matter whether he was a brother or a sister.
The princess didn't say anything else. She picked up the brush and started practicing calligraphy again, as if all the troubles in the outside world had nothing to do with her.
Zhou Yunan looked at her straight back and focused profile and felt a lot of emotions in his heart.
Though this young princess was young, her mind was already so clear and open-minded, and her vision far surpassed that of ordinary people. Those petty and scheming discussions pale and ridiculous in the face of her character.
At this moment, Zhou Yunan was even more certain that no matter whether the queen was carrying a boy or a girl, the future of the little princess in front of him would never be overshadowed by anyone else's birth.
Later, the Great Yu Kunji Record recorded:
In the second year of the Shengli reign, the emperor and empress gave birth to a legitimate son. The whole country celebrated and all officials congratulated them. They all believed that the foundation of the country had been established and the throne had been entrusted to them.
However, as time passed, the prince and the eldest daughter gradually grew up, and their distinct personalities and appearances began to show. The eldest daughter, Yi, was gifted, calm, and intelligent. Despite her youth, she already possessed considerable talent. She often accompanied the retired emperor, observing and listening to his decisions. Her occasional insights were often pertinent, and she possessed a keen eye for government and people's well-being.
Although the prince was also intelligent, his natural interests set him apart from his sister. Deeply influenced by his mother, Empress Qingwu, he developed a keen interest in Western artifacts. Whenever he encountered a book on these instruments, his spirits soared that he would forget about eating, seemingly determined to master a single field.
As the court and the people watched, a quiet debate began to arise. The court officials began to realize that Your Majesty and the Retired Emperor had always prioritized virtue and ability in educating talent, and that the distinction between men and women might not be a fixed factor. Thus, the debate over the foundation of the nation was once again suspended.
In the spring of the fifteenth year of the Shengli reign, the retired emperor fell seriously ill. He summoned the emperor, empress, and important ministers to his bedside, held their hands, and said, "Looking at my descendants, I find only Yi to be calm, resolute, intelligent, and ambitious, much like me in my youth. When entrusting the country with a task, we should prioritize the virtuous and capable, and not be limited by the opinions of men and women."
After he finished speaking, he personally wrote a memorial to recommend the Crown Princess, using his entire life's prestige to strongly advocate for her. The Emperor and Empress were moved to tears, and they decided on the grand plan.
At that time, the emperor's daughter Xiao Yi was fifteen years old and was canonized as the Crown Princess.
People at that time sighed and said: "The Xiao family has a daughter who is as good as any man."
In the summer of the fifteenth year of the Shengli calendar, Emperor Xiao Yuluan died in Minghua Palace at the age of eighty-six. The emperor, empress, and heirs were all deeply saddened and, together with their ministers, bestowed upon him the temple name "Shizu" and the posthumous title "Mingyi Zhiren Dasheng Emperor."
In accordance with his will, Grand Tutor Shen Yushan of Wenzhen and Duke Xue Chen of Zhenguo were enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, their coffins buried beside the emperor's mausoleum. His daughter, Princess Xuanzhen, was buried to the west of the mausoleum.
The Book of Yu commented: "During his eight years on the throne, Emperor Shizu eliminated accumulated corruption, expanded the territory, and promoted culture and education. Even after his abdication, he continued to cultivate talent and select a female heir to the throne. The revival of the Yu Dynasty was due to his contributions. From then on, female rulers became a common practice in the Yu Dynasty."
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