History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 284 Zhao Zhi Accompanies the Emperor to Mangshan

He turned the wine bowl around and said to Yuan Mao, "Third brother, have a taste. Now that you've entered the court as an official, you should learn to drink."

Yuan Mao smiled and refused: "I have sworn that I will only drink at my wedding once in my life."

Wei Bao hissed through his teeth, using the drinking to hide the suspicion on his face: Could it be that his third brother has a girl he likes? And that they've reached the stage of considering marriage?
Wei Bao had a habit of recording daily life. He clearly remembered the day when Miss Wei Yao first entered the palace to give a lecture. He and his third brother followed their father's instructions and escorted Miss Wei's family to the palace gate. It was on that occasion that he noticed that A Mao cared a lot about Wei Yao.

This meal was truly fraught with doubt!

Back at the Yinianli mansion, Wei Bao looked up and saw the character "Wei" on his door plaque. He thought of his third brother's feelings for Wei Yao and a sudden thought struck him... Could it be that his third brother had long been in love with Wei Yao and had changed his surname in order to marry her?
Although Yuan Mao is the youngest of the three brothers, he is the most shrewd. He deliberately revealed to his elder brothers that he already had a girl he liked. They would find out sooner or later, and it was better to suspect it early than to find out after his marriage to Wei Yao was settled.

After leaving the Yijing Restaurant, he went to wait near the Zhongshu Waishen area for Wei Yao to finish his shift.

In early winter, it gets dark early, which is perfect for secretly holding hands under sleeves.

As they passed through the city gate, Wei Yao frowned and said, "There's a strong smell of paint."

Yuan Mao told her, "The king of Dengzhi Kingdom is coming to Luoyang to pay homage, and the four city gates are being repaired and repainted today."

He continued, "My second brother brought me a letter from my fellow disciple Wei Zhen today. Yao Yao, shall we go sit at that food stall with the bright lanterns over there for a while, read the letter together, and then go home, okay?"

"Walk."

"Walk."

The two men sat side by side and gave the stall owner a few extra copper coins. The stall owner then added another candle in front of them.

Wei Zhen wrote very little to Yuan Mao. First, she expressed her gratitude for his care of Bu Yanzhen, and second, she wished him academic progress and a bright future.

The letter to Wei Yao was a heartfelt exchange between friends, filled with sorrow and helplessness.

Wei Yao folded the letter and said to Yuan Mao, "I won't tell you the secrets between women."

“Okay.” Yuan Mao showed her his letter frankly, and then said, “If you encounter any difficulties or need me to do anything, please let me know.”

After returning home, Wei Yao reread Wei Zhen's letter carefully.

"On the way back to Pingcheng from Luoyang, I made up my mind not to be separated from Bu Yanzhen. My servants, under the orders of my parents, stopped taking care of my meals and lodging. The Bu family also informed me through Yanzhen's uncle that they would cut off Yanzhen's education from now on."

"I thought love could make us stronger, give us the courage to accept poverty and make a living on our own in the future."

"We underestimate poverty."

“On our way back home, we would stay at farmhouses every time. Yanzhen learned to carry water, push carts, and dig cellars, while I learned to burn firewood, cook, and do laundry.”

"It turns out that it wasn't our elders who cut off our education, but rather that we had very little time left to study while we were busy with farm work."

"I am of mediocre talent. If things continue like this, what difference will there be between me and someone who has never been to school?"

"I was in the top three in the academy, but will I be able to face the future me who stayed up late studying so hard?"

"On the way back home, I was in dire straits, and so was he. We went from being reluctant to part to being exhausted and silent. The journey wasn't long, but time seemed to have folded, making him prematurely withered. I think I was the same in his eyes."

"Is it better to support each other through thick and thin, or to forget each other and return to our original lives? The answer was already written in the silence between Yanzhen and me."

"Someone had to speak first, so I did, and he nodded."

“Wei Yao, do you believe it? When I watched him leave, I couldn’t even remember how many days it had been since he last spoke to me.”

Upon seeing these words, soaked with tears, Wei Yao couldn't help but shed tears along with her fellow student Zhen's sorrow. "I apologized to my parents and returned to the academy."

"The marriage is arranged. His surname is Li, and he is a good young man who is eager to learn."

"May our friendship as fellow students last forever. May you all make great progress in your studies, soaring like a roc spreading its wings and flying high into the clouds."

Wei Yao wrote back after several days, her lengthy letter almost entirely filled with her insights and examples from studying poetry and the *Erya*. This world needs more young women to spread their wings and soar to new heights together!

October 14th.

The emperor's carriage left the palace and headed north of the city to Changling in Mangshan to pay homage to the late Emperor Xiaowen.

Princes rode in front of and behind the carriage, while lower-ranking princes and meritorious officials were positioned around the heavy cavalry according to a pre-arranged layout.

As for the court officials without titles, they were responsible for leading the way in their carriages. Zhao Zhi, accompanied by twenty elite subordinates from the Sizhou government, followed in the procession.

Wei Yao took a day off today and climbed the high pavilion with Yuan Mao and Lu Baozhen to watch the imperial procession. They saw the infantry and cavalry marching in a grand procession, the yellow dust they raised resembling an ever-growing dragon, stretching northward along with the banners and supplies, forming a rolling city wall.

It was spectacular!

Fortunately, Wei Yao and his companions were prepared and had booked a high pavilion in advance. When they looked around, the streets and alleys were full of people, with people shoulder to shoulder, all lamenting that they could not get close to the sides of the street, nor climb trees or walls, and could not see the emperor's carriage at all.

Mangshan was the camping area of ​​the Wei army. Every time they passed a camp, the Imperial Guards would stay behind. Soldiers from Sizhou and other counties were also required to stay in different camps.

Zhao Zhi is an exception!
She joined the elite Imperial Guards and, from the moment she began climbing the mountain, followed alongside Prince Rencheng and Prince Guangling, occasionally helping Prince Guangling, who was always spraining his ankle.

The mountain where Changling is located is not high. Every so often, a group of Imperial Guards would be sent to set up camp and patrol the surrounding area.

The mausoleum has four gates. When the domed imperial tomb appears above the wall, the mountain wind becomes solemn. Whether or not they had met the late emperor, all the ministers felt sincere respect and deep contemplation at this moment.

Zhao Zhi stopped outside the East Gate with the last batch of Imperial Guards who had set up camp.

After the emperor, princes, and high-ranking officials entered the mausoleum, Zhao Zhi and the Imperial Guards of the same camp used ropes to interlock and twist wooden supports to first build a temporary fasting palace, and then build a large felt tent for the emperor to comfort his officials.

As the soldiers busied themselves helping each other, they became familiar with one another and finally dared to speak in hushed tones.

"You are Zhao Zhi, the female military officer of the Cavalry Officer of the Sizhou Prefecture?"

Zhao Zhi: "Yes."

Did you participate in the Mulan Camp selection?

Zhao Zhi: "No."

"That shouldn't be! The selection of female Tiger Warriors comes first. Since you have the ability to serve as a Cavalry Advisor, why don't you participate in the Tiger Warrior selection?"

Another imperial guard interjected, "You wouldn't dare, would you?"

The person behind her spoke up, with obvious sarcasm: "Who recommended you for your military post? Military officers are different from civil officers; without real ability, you won't be trusted."

Zhao Zhi skillfully tied the knots, completely unconcerned about the various speculations.

Just as the large felt tent was being set up, faint drumbeats could be heard coming from inside the mausoleum; it was the shaman chanting sacrificial prayers.

After a brief glimpse of the imperial tomb, the soldiers hurried to work, setting up a food table and coarse rice inside the felt tent, clearing away weeds outside, and drawing lines with white lime to mark out the arena for the martial arts competition.

This trip to Changling is a great opportunity for the low-ranking military officers of the Imperial Guard to be promoted!