Chapter 8, Xiao Jue

Xiao Jue was most displeased with disturbances in the harem and domestic unrest, thus he imposed strict regulations on the concubines. The hierarchy was clearly defined, and should he learn of any disrespectful behavior, the consequences could range from house arrest to demotion, both of which were possible.

If it were not so, then I will do it myself, do you like it?

However, in black and white, both the Jiang and Xiao families spoke in unison. The former Yuan Dynasty had always championed the governance of the state through propriety, benevolence, and filial piety. Subjects were to obey their sovereign, and sons were to sacrifice for their fathers; all were to express gratitude for their obligations. To contravene this would invite universal condemnation. Xiao Jue, defying his mother's command, refused to marry his cousin, and thus became labeled as unfilial and ungrateful, lacking in trust and righteousness, a heartless individual who, upon attaining wealth and status, abandoned his humble wife.

The Empress Dowager had already shown a hint of anger, but upon hearing the last sentence, she moved her lips slightly and fell silent. The Empress turned her head to glance at the Empress Dowager, held back her emotions, and spoke slowly: "What the Noble Consort said is indeed true, but what does 'only knowing the directions of east, west, south, and north' mean?"

A discerning person can easily tell that this marriage contract is certainly problematic. Consider this: Xiao Jue, a neglected illegitimate son who has been cast out of the family, how could the princess, disregarding her own biological son, choose to marry him first to a noblewoman from the Jiang family?

Xiao Jue's smile faded, and he turned coldly, staring at the Empress, his gaze slicing through like shards of ice

As the sound approached, the young emperor, adorned in a purple gold crown and a black robe embroidered with golden dragons, entered with a resplendent golden aura. He strode in with a tall and upright posture, his steps brisk, exuding the sharp and vigorous spirit of one seasoned in battle, as if his movements could stir up a small whirlwind.

The concubines cried out, and a wave of them knelt down.

Qin Changge, however, paid her no mind and merely smiled, saying: "Let us return to the main topic. A few days ago, the Palace Affairs Office submitted a detailed proposal for the rewards to be granted during the Lantern Festival. I have reviewed it and affixed my seal, but I seem to have been a bit muddled and momentarily forgot the ranks established for the princes, princesses, and the imperial harem after His Majesty's ascension... Oh dear... What rank is the Grand Princess of Xiliang?"

Xiao Jue would never allow himself to be manipulated by others, his anger flaring uncontrollably as he adamantly refused to acknowledge this marriage contract

She possesses a reserved and gentle disposition, keeping everything to herself. Since meeting Qin Changge, neither has mentioned anything, yet their gazes are warm and gentle, akin to sunlight, softly brushing over each other.

Qin Changge offered a slight smile and a bow, to which the Empress coldly inquired: "Your Majesty, you have arrived quite early today. Did you come together with the Imperial Concubine?"

The situation has come to a standstill

Uncertain of the past and the future

Wenchang, Wenchang, three years have passed since your departure, tossing and turning at midnight, has an old friend ever entered your dreams?

She, not waiting for the frozen Yang beauty to speak, glanced around and smiled: "What I find even more incomprehensible is why, despite being a first-rank princess on par with the Empress, you still dare to sit while she kneels?"

He paid no heed to the concubines' pleas for forgiveness. With Wen Chang in his left hand and Qin Changge in his right, he walked out, casually saying: "Let them be under house arrest for three days. They should copy some Buddhist scriptures to calm their minds, so they do not remain restless all day. After three days, take the scriptures and have a discussion with the princess."

Xiao Jue displayed remarkable valor on the battlefield, yet he found himself quite troubled by these eloquent literati. Qin Changge advised Xiao Jue that such individuals are best dealt with through reputation. If you kill one, they believe they will be immortalized in history; if you insult them, they think they will be remembered for eternity. If you harm even a single finger, they will immediately label you as cruel and tyrannical, lacking respect for righteousness, and guilty of stifling the seeds of knowledge. These people, with their sharp tongues, delight in finding others' weaknesses, embellishing their narratives with skillful prose, leading the ignorant masses astray. You have yet to ascend the throne, and the people's hearts are not yet settled; therefore, it is imperative not to provoke these individuals, nor to give them any grounds for criticism. Otherwise, the new emperor will swiftly be branded as cold and unfilial. It is merely a matter of marrying a wife; once you have married, that is all there is to it.

In the end, it was Qin Changge, who was supposed to be crowned empress, who stepped forward to offer gentle persuasion. She said that at that time, the new dynasty was about to be established, while the old dynasty's loyal ministers clung to the previous regime. There were also some influential figures both in the court and in the opposition who regarded the Yuan family as the legitimate royal lineage. These pedantic literati wrote poems and essays, mocking Xiao Jue for his illegitimate usurpation of the throne, labeling him a traitor to the nation, causing endless turmoil and disturbance.

At that time, when Xiao Jue was on the verge of achieving imperial success, the Princess of Huainan, now known as Empress Jiang, immediately arranged for him to marry his cousin in her hometown, swearing that the two had been betrothed since childhood, even producing the so-called marriage contract and tokens.

The sunlight outside, with his vigorous push of the door, rushed in with a whoosh, filling the space with a bright glare that made it hard to open one's eyes, yet it was still far less dazzling than his striking and radiant presence.

Xiao Jue had already turned around, facing the group of dignified and imposing concubines, and coldly remarked: "Today, I have finally witnessed the noble ladies of our Western Liang; each one truly understands etiquette and knows their place"

Then came that night, drenched in blood and filled with tragedy

The last two words were held between the teeth, softly uttered in a barely audible tone, yet it caused the noble consort to turn pale instantly

Oh, "Qin Changge's eyes are full of charm," thank you for your guidance, sister... To be honest, I have always been muddled about these ranks and titles, and I only know what my own rank is.

As she spoke, she remained unaware, yet someone in the audience had already furrowed their brow

Queen Jiang Zhaowei and the books are, in essence, the niece of the Empress Dowager, the legitimate eldest daughter of the prominent Jiang family from the left bank of the Huai River, and the daughter of the elder brother of Empress Dowager Jiang

The regulations of the harem in my Western Liang Dynasty are truly becoming increasingly eye-opening. Relying on the kindness of the Empress Dowager and the compassion of the Empress, the concubines only know how to navigate the east, west, south, and north

However, in this world, it is difficult to have it both ways; having seized the honor of being the mother of the nation, it is even harder to win the heart of a beloved.

The concubines were all frozen in their seats. After a while, someone with a pale face slowly stood up, and then more and more people followed suit. Only a few higher-ranking concubines, such as Yao Fei and Shu Fei, remained seated, though they seemed to shift restlessly as if sitting on needles, their expressions betraying a hint of unease

The last sentence made Xiao Jue's eyes light up, as it implicitly acknowledged this marriage arrangement. After ascending the throne, he heeded Qin Changge's advice and appointed her as the empress, while the true merit holder, Qin Changge, ended up in a subordinate position to her

The queen's face turned pale, and she cast a pleading glance towards the empress dowager

Oh. Qin Changge immediately laughed and said: "No matter what, we cannot forget? Then I truly do not understand, why am I standing here today, while you, a mere fourth-rank beauty, still dare to sit?"

Among them, a beauty with the surname Yang immediately scoffed and said: "The noble consort is one who easily forgets, the princess is of the highest rank, a first-class title"

Lady Yang laughed again and said, "The Imperial Concubine holds the first rank, enjoying the Emperor's favor and honor, which is something that cannot be forgotten under any circumstances"

Three days later, bringing the copied Buddhist scriptures as punishment, I went to pay my respects to the princess... It was clear that they were demanding a personal apology from them. The consorts turned pale with anger and bit their lips, yet they could only watch helplessly as the Emperor and the favored consort walked away, laughing and chatting.

Since then, Wenchang's days have improved significantly. Although the Empress Dowager still does not favor him, there is no one left to take advantage of his misfortunes or to subtly mock him.

The Empress Dowager received that pleading gaze, yet she merely pretended not to see it, sighing inwardly about her family being of no help, and after much deliberation, still ended up with a useless one.

The Empress could not suppress her displeasure, pursing her lips and shrinking back slightly, but then straightened her back, proud of her status. Xiao Jue had already turned his gaze away and said淡淡道: "I have just finished reviewing the memorials in the Quiet Intent Study and went to the residence of the Grand Princess to congratulate her on her birthday, claiming it was to express gratitude to the Empress Dowager. I then came here, Empress. Are you satisfied with this answer?"

Xiao Jue did not look at them. His handsome face, resembling that of a celestial being, was strikingly illuminated by his obsidian-like eyes. With slightly furrowed brows, he first paid his respects to the Empress Dowager, disregarding the Empress, and went to assist Wenchang, personally helping her to sit in the chair. He then laughed heartily at Qin Changge, saying, "You usually neglect these matters, yet I never expected you would raise such a question today. Well said!"