Chapter 2

After listening to Fang Lue, the Young Emperor felt somewhat relieved, "Indeed, my father is well-versed in knowledge, even understanding this matter. However, since it pertains to women's studies, it is likely that men have no use for this cushion. Isn't my father worried that others might become suspicious after taking so much at once?"

From the East Palace's Lecheng Gate to the Canglong Gate, and then to the Prime Minister's residence, an urgent report would take approximately the time it takes to burn two incense sticks. At this hour, the Prime Minister should have already settled in, washed up, changed clothes, and mounted his horse to enter the palace, which would take at least half an hour at the fastest

Speaking of this, an awkward expression surfaced on the usually calm face of the Prime Minister. Reflecting on the incident of knocking on the maid's door in the middle of the night to ask for a monthly supply, he still felt a shiver run down his spine. However, those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trivial matters; as long as the immediate crisis can be resolved, the remaining troubles can be dealt with later.

The young emperor has encountered a serious illness today, and it is feared that his time may be short. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a will to designate the next emperor. Just now, in the presence of the young eunuch, she mentioned the heir of the Wei prince and the Marquis of Xiaying, which naturally carries her deep intentions. Both the Marquis of Xiaying and the Wei heir have reached the age of youth; if they were to ascend the throne, the world would no longer require a regent, and would the Prime Minister not find himself without a place to showcase his talents? If these two are placed alongside her for selection, whom would the Prime Minister choose? The art of imperial power is inevitably fraught with risks. If she is content to be a puppet controlled by others, then she may allow the Prime Minister to manipulate her, as he would not go so far as to harm her; however, if she wishes to reclaim great power and govern the world, she must think strategically, seizing every available opportunity to take control of the situation.

A little girl, a mere young emperor, is quite easy to manipulate. The young emperor smiled, sat cross-legged in front of the long table, opened the scroll, ground the ink, and took up the brush, writing four characters on the silk cloth—"I am without virtue"

In Fu Wei's heart, only ugly people wear masks to hide their shame, so this person must be even uglier than this iron mask. She turned to flee, but unexpectedly, he caught her. He had a close relationship with the late emperor, and the Crown Prince could also embrace her freely. Ignoring her struggles, he lifted her and held her against his chest. Fu Wei heard her own cries echoing throughout the Deyang Hall, yet no one came to her rescue. As he reached to remove the mask, she had already prepared herself to be scared to death. Fu Wei heard her own cries echoing throughout the Deyang Hall, yet no one came to her rescue. As he reached to remove the mask, she had already prepared herself to be scared to death. However, to her surprise, his face was nothing like the iron mask at all. Later, it was said that his mother, Lady Ru, was a renowned beauty of the Great Yin, and he had inherited her looks. Therefore, even after Lady Ru passed away, Emperor Wen continued to dote on him.

She clenched her fist in secret and exclaimed in a panicked tone, "Who is it!"

As early summer arrives, the nights are not as hot as one might expect; a subtle coolness permeates the air. If one listens closely, the scent of dew on the grass can be detected. The young emperor listens intently; the silence is reminiscent of the past. The vast palace complex, at night, resembles the underworld, devoid of any sound. Only the occasional clinking of the iron horse at the eaves and the faint chirping of the two crickets in their cage remind one that they are still alive in the mortal realm

However, the Prime Minister, who set aside his bow and crossbow to take up the tablet, was not inferior in presence to his former self. Upon entering the hall, he neither announced his arrival nor paid his respects; merely addressing her as "Your Majesty" was already a sign of great respect.

It seems that those two eunuchs will not be returning. The young emperor said, "I will ask my father again, is this blood called menstruation? Why do all young ladies have this issue?"

Indeed. She appeared quite helpless, "The Da Yin has ancestral rules; the emperor must select a consort by the sixteenth year. It would not be appropriate to disrupt the established order in my case. My current situation is clear to my father; the more hidden the circumstances, the more cautious I must be. Others may not understand me, but my father does. Others may not pity me, but my father does... After much contemplation, I fear I may cause further trouble for my father; perhaps it would be better to abdicate the position." She raised her eyes, containing a blazing light within them, "Xia Ying Hou Yuan Yan, Wei Shizi Yuan Yang Zheng... Father, who do you think is more suitable?"... After much contemplation, I fear I may cause further trouble for my father; perhaps it would be better to abdicate the position." She raised her eyes, containing a blazing light within them, "Xia Ying Hou Yuan Yan, Wei Shizi Yuan Yang Zheng... Father, who do you think is more suitable?"

She said no, "It's not a big deal, just inform the Imperial Medical Office, it will surely alarm the Yong'an Palace. It's so late at night, don't let the Empress Dowager worry about me."

Between the ruler and the subjects, there is a subtle tension, with undercurrents surging; it has been this way for the past ten years. Even though he holds immense power in the court, his attitude towards the weak is one of affection, never sycophancy. After hundreds of exchanges, the Prime Minister understands her temperament

Fu Wei secretly rejoiced, having gone through such a long detour, she finally got back on track. She smiled meaningfully, "So, from today onwards, I am no longer a child... Since my father was unwell recently, I had intended to invite him into the palace, but I feared it would be inconvenient for him. Now that my father is here, having discussed personal matters, may I further discuss state affairs with you?"

She gestured for him to sit down, poured a cup of tea for him, and gently said: "Since my ascension to the throne, I have received numerous favors from my mentor, who has treated me both as a teacher and a father... Do you remember my age, dear mentor?"

Sitting high in the clouds, over time one will develop an insatiable ambition, and this is true for everyone. Although she is a woman, she is undeniably a descendant of the fierce Emperor. Her ancestors once conquered the world with a single gun and horse, and her conditions are already much better than theirs; does she not possess at least half of their courage? She understands the benefits of power all too well; as long as the throne is in hand, everything you desire will be yours, and the people you love, by any means, will eventually become yours.

Fu Wei was not angry, and with a smile said: "Father, the affairs of the state are tumultuous, and you have forgotten that this November, I will turn sixteen."

He performed a bow and said, "My lord, rest assured, no one else will know of this matter. Everything will be handled properly by your servant."

She still appeared to be worried, "The blood is flowing profusely, I am afraid I might die from this."

Fu Wei stood up, her face filled with surprise, "It's so late, how did Father enter the restricted area?"

He extended two fingers, pinching a corner of the cloth pad and lifting it up. "I specifically inquired about this; the thin strap should be tied around the waist..." He gestured towards himself, "Like this. It must be tied tightly, so that it does not come loose during movement. When alone, one must check oneself; if the bloodstains have soaked through, it must be changed promptly, and there must be no delay, lest it attract the attention of those with ill intentions and cause further trouble." After saying this, he looked at her again, "I wonder if I arrived in time; today, my lord, you are indeed bleeding profusely, is that true?"

The Chancellor was very surprised, "Time flies, in the blink of an eye, the Lord has grown so much!"

A girl who grew up in solitude does not understand how to cope with the changes in her body. As the only one in the know, the Prime Minister must not only oversee her in matters of state but also manage the unspoken difficulties in her daily life.

The moon hung high in the sky, and the young emperor raised his hand to close the lattice window. Turning to the imperial desk, he walked while feeling blood gushing out. Looking back, he saw spots of blood scattered on the floor, and he paused for a moment before changing direction to rummage through the wardrobe, putting on all the pants he could find, tying the pant legs with two hair bands, and then taking out a cloth to wipe away all the bloodstains on the ground.

The Prime Minister furrowed his brows and pondered, saying: "The 'Huangdi Neijing' records that at the age of seven, a girl's kidney energy is abundant, and her teeth and hair grow longer. At fourteen, the heavenly essence arrives, the Ren meridian is open, the Tai Chong meridian is vigorous, and menstruation occurs regularly, thus enabling her to bear children"

The city gate was heavy and cumbersome, each time it opened and closed, it would grind the door frame with a mournful groan. Finally, there was some movement; she held her breath and focused, hearing a series of footsteps coming from the corridor. After a brief moment, a figure was cast upon the curtain outside the inner chamber.

I have heard that Your Excellency is unwell, and I have come to visit. He tucked his sleeves and asked her, "It is already summer, why is Your Excellency wearing so many pairs of trousers? Are you cold?"

He has always been quite sarcastic, and Fu Wei has long since become accustomed to it. "The Prime Minister has worked hard and achieved great merit, thanks to the blessings of the late Prime Minister. Now the country is peaceful and the people are secure, and the court is at ease. This achievement is enough to be recorded in history. If I were to blame myself again, would I not be failing the late Prime Minister?" While he was being perfunctory, he did not speak plainly. With a sweep of his sleeve, he rolled up the scroll.

That figure lifted the curtain and walked in, the lights dazzling, illuminating her splendid attire. She saw the intricate patterns of the dark robe and the swirling clouds, as well as the layered tiger stripes densely arranged.

The Chancellor made a sound of acknowledgment, his gaze leisurely scanning the surroundings, and finally resting on the imperial desk, "I, lacking virtue... are you, my lord, intending to issue a self-punishing edict?"

With a tall and slender figure, and dressed in formal attire, one can tell from the silhouette that the Prime Minister has arrived. If there is a person whose presence can mobilize all your energy and fighting spirit, it must be the Prime Minister. To outsiders, the young emperor has always appeared gentle and moderate, but when it comes to true character, perhaps only the Prime Minister truly understands her.

Ten years, such a long time. If it weren't for today's events, I would almost forget that I am a girl. Over the years, she has struggled to survive in the crevice between imperial power and ministerial authority. Sometimes she thinks that the reason she has lived to this day is still thanks to the late emperor. The late emperor was a man of great depth; when he entrusted the future to the chancellor, he once said, "If Ah Ying's identity is revealed, you may take her place." If it weren't for that statement, perhaps the grass on her grave would be nearly three feet high by now. The late emperor was a man of great depth; when he entrusted the future to the chancellor, he once said, "If Ah Ying's identity is revealed, you may take her place." If it weren't for that statement, perhaps the grass on her grave would be nearly three feet high by now.

The Prime Minister speaks little; the arrogant demeanor of the powerful ministers, who regard others with disdain, will inevitably be revealed through their gaze, no matter how well they attempt to conceal it

The Chancellor nodded: "Indeed, there is an ailment. If there is a stomachache, one should summon the court physician. Has a message been sent to the Imperial Medical Office?"

The young emperor stood by the window gazing out; the palace walls were built very high, obscuring the view of the lights outside. Only a faint glimmer from the lanterns on either side of the central path connected in a formation, resembling the twinkling stars in the sky

It is quite rare for an emperor to be as self-reliant as she is, isn't it? Previously, she had attendants close to her, but before her ascension, all of them disappeared. Her biological mother was subjected to the practice of "leaving the child while removing the mother," and even the wet nurses were silenced. She had to fend for herself, dress herself, and bathe herself. Even without anyone to serve her, she could manage quite well.

Fu Wei blushed: "Indeed, nothing escapes the eyes of the matchmaker. I was in a state of panic, not knowing how I had been hurt. Fortunately, the matchmaker arrived, and I was just about to seek his advice. This evening, I ate and drank as usual, and did not see any officials. After bathing and changing my clothes, I lit incense and settled down, only to feel a dull ache in my lower abdomen, but I did not pay much attention to it. Later, as I fell asleep, I had not closed my eyes for long before I wet myself. I lifted the bedding to check and found that there was actually blood..." Later, as I fell asleep, I had not closed my eyes for long before I wet myself. I lifted the bedding to check and found that there was actually blood...

The Chancellor said it would not be useful, "That is tainted blood, and keeping it serves no purpose."

Time is not fair to everyone. Fu Wei is fortunate that one day she will be able to catch up with him. By then, they will be evenly matched, and she will no longer have to be wary of him.

The Chancellor also holds the title of Grand Tutor, and he is the one who teaches the young emperor. Therefore, it is reasonable for her to consult him whenever there is something she does not understand. She described the situation in great detail. Although the Chancellor felt somewhat troubled, he still patiently explained: "Your Majesty, do not worry, this is not an illness; it is a natural experience that comes with growing up. It will occur every month, lasting from three days at the shortest to seven days at the longest. By avoiding cold and raw foods, it will naturally cease."

He then dragged out a long sound of "um" and pulled out a cloth bag from his sleeve, handing it over, "This is what the maidservant in the court requested, it can alleviate the urgent needs of the lord."

She once explored the fact that the Yuan family was not without heirs, so why was it ultimately she who ascended to the throne. Years later, she learned that it was the late emperor's selfishness; he had falsely claimed to have a son to please Emperor Wen, and that "son" was her. He originally intended to establish another son as the crown prince after his ascension, but unexpectedly, before the harem could bear a child, he had already reached his end. In order to continue concealing the truth, or perhaps to save more lives, the five-year-old her was hastily pushed onto the throne, and she remained there for a full ten years. He originally intended to establish another son as the crown prince after his ascension, but unexpectedly, before the harem could bear a child, he had already reached his end. In order to continue concealing the truth, or perhaps to save more lives, the five-year-old her was hastily pushed onto the throne, and she remained there for a full ten years

She ascended the throne at the age of five and ruled for a full ten years, during which not a single noble or minister was unaware of her reign. Yet, such a shrewd chancellor seemed to feign ignorance on this matter, saying, "If I remember correctly, Your Majesty has not yet reached the age of maturity, have you?"

The appearance of the Prime Minister seems to have remained unchanged over the past ten years. She still remembers the first time she saw him, the young general renowned for his military achievements, clad in dark armor that emitted a deep, shadowy gleam under the sunlight, making him appear both cold and unyielding. At that time, she was still young, unsteadily approaching to touch the scales on his armor, and he lowered his head to look at her, his fierce and menacing iron face instantly frightening her to tears

Fu Wei lowered her head to look, the bulge was very conspicuous, and she had no intention of hiding it, stating directly: "My stomach hurts"

The Prime Minister nodded and said, "My lord, please proceed."

Fu Wei opened the package and saw several thick pieces of cloth placed side by side inside. She pinched them with her hand and felt that they were hollow inside, producing a rustling sound. Taking them out to examine, she found that they were several layers of white paper used for offerings. She held it in her hand, turning it over and over, and wondered, "What does my father mean by this?"