History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Every summer, county officials had to patrol the neighborhoods and inform the people of the imperial decrees that, as it was the peak season for tree growth, people were not allowed to cut down trees to build houses.

Yirenli is where the Hongnong Yang clan lived together. Who wouldn't feel envious when they came here? Feng Xing's wife also had the surname Yang, but she had no relation to the Hongnong Yang clan.

He said to Zong Yin, "Look, isn't this place wonderful? We don't even dare to speak loudly when no one is watching us. That's what you call officialdom. People born here are destined to become officials!"

Zong Yin: "Then let's wander around here a bit more and soak up some of the official atmosphere."

Feng Xing sighed and complained about his wife's family: "The Yang family has never had a single smart person in them, not even in their ancestral home. Before they came to Luoyang, they lived in Huazhou, which is so close to Huayin, the ancestral home of the Yang family! The Yang family could have moved to the edge of Huayin County and cleared some wasteland for a few years. Now they could tell others that they came from the same place as the prestigious Yang family."

Zong Yin felt that Feng Xing had this flaw: before marrying Yang, he praised her endlessly, but after bringing her home, he constantly complained about her. He would definitely not be like that in the future. If he could marry Wei Yao, he would protect her for the rest of his life and cherish her like a treasure.

Thinking of Wei Yao, Zong Yin felt listless and disheartened, and said, "I'm not signing up to escort the prisoners to Rouxuan Town this time. Don't wait for me, or you'll miss this good opportunity for promotion."

Feng Xing grinned mischievously: "You and Miss Wei are impossible, just accept your fate. We'll be passing through Pingcheng on our way to Rouxuan Town. There are so many girls studying in Pingcheng, maybe we'll meet another 'Miss Wei'? Let's go together."

Zong Yin shook his head; he didn't want to discuss this topic. Instead, he began shouting to each household, "The imperial court has decreed that no logging is allowed in the summer."

"The imperial court has decreed that no trees may be felled during the summer—"

Fat Goose had just dozed off when it was woken up by the noise. It shooed the flock of geese out and tried to snatch people. The old servant kicked the leader of the geese back first, and Fat Goose itself slunk back into the yard.

Just then, the doorman came out to hang the gate plaque. Zong Yin stared at the two characters "Yuan Mao" on the plaque, and felt flustered and short of breath. His ears were ringing, and his mind was filled with what Ji Ledao had said a few days ago: "Now Wei Yao's reputation surpasses Li Yin's. Is it because of his talent? Humph, it's because of Yuan Mao, the Prefect of Sizhou!"

Feng Xing asked the old servant, "Yuan Mao's residence? This young master Yuan wouldn't happen to be the son of Yuan, the Prefect of Sizhou, would he?"

The old servant ignored him, but the doorman replied, "Of course, Young Master Yuan is getting married, and this is his new residence."

Zong Yin was even more upset, as he couldn't remember how his companions had helped him out of Yirenli.

He only came to his senses after sitting down on the shore of Fanghu Lake, and asked, "That Yuanmao residence..."

Feng Xing sighed heavily: "A Yin, forget about Miss Wei. I asked the neighborhood official, and Yuan Mao in that new house is not just a coincidence of names, but the person Ji Ledao was talking about. The person you're thinking of is the one who married Yuan Mao."

"I'm going home. Please ask for leave for me."

Zong Yin was like a lost soul; he fell ill as soon as he got home. In his hazy dreams, his father became a powerful minister's trusted prison official, able to arrest whomever he wanted and write whatever confession he desired. In the dream, he seemed to have already married Wei Yao and was about to take a poor, scholarly woman as a concubine.

What a wonderful life!
Unfortunately, his mother dispelled this beautiful scene with a cold, wet handkerchief.

Zong Yin regained consciousness, stared blankly at his parents, and suddenly wailed, "She's getting married! I'll never have a chance to marry her! I never liked being a prison guard. I worked so hard to improve myself so that I could be worthy of her, but why am I becoming less and less worthy of her? Why am I becoming less and less worthy of her!"

West of the city.

In Yi Nian Li, at the residence of Wei Yi.

Lu Luo noticed that Wei Yao's gaze kept falling on her stomach, so she smiled and pulled Wei Yao's hand over. Just then, her belly moved.

Wei Yao was momentarily at a loss, but then she realized how peculiar life was and how difficult her mother's life had been.

Wei Bao's wife, Zheng Zheng, gestured to the maid, and gift boxes were brought over one by one.

Yuan Mao stepped forward with a delighted expression and opened the lacquer box completely, revealing it to be filled with pearls, jade, and jewelry.

Lu Luo laughed and scolded him, "You're so diligent, it's not for you." Wei Yao knew that the fuller the pearl and jade, the more it showed the parents' love for their child. She did not hesitate to refuse and pulled A Mao to perform the kowtow to her parents together.

“My elders treat me like a precious treasure, and I treat them the same way.” Yuan Mao choked up.

After lunch, the two left General Zuo Weiyi's residence. Their servants took the supply wagon to Yirenli. Wei Yao and Xu Shushi from the palace school agreed to meet at the west gate of Yaoguang Nunnery. Yuan Mao could not go in, so he went to a teahouse in Jinshi, which was not far away, to wait.

Xu Shushi led Wei Yao to Zheng Chonghua's place of practice.

Consort Zheng is the mother of the Seventh Prince, and her current Buddhist name is "Dao'an".

The temple has over five hundred nunneries, with rare trees blocking out the sun as one walks around, and fragrant herbs blooming in clusters near and far. Occasionally, a palace eunuch passes by, and Xu Shushi, noticing Wei Yao's scrutiny, tells her, "The deposed Empress Feng also practices at this temple. Every month, the Buddhist scriptures she copies are sent to the palace by eunuchs. There is an inner temple in the palace, and the nun in charge of the inner temple has the Dharma name Ciqing. Ciqing often sends her insights on her practice to Yaoguang Temple through eunuchs. Zheng Daoan is too lazy to argue with Empress Feng, so she lets Empress Feng choose first."

“Look at that eunuch, he is Wang Yu, who serves His Majesty closely.”

Wei Yao: "I've heard my mother mention him."

Wang Yu saw Xu Shushi from a distance, and approached him with a gentle smile, greeting him, "Xu Shushi."

“Wang, the eunuch.”

Wang Yu glanced at Wei Yao and asked, "Which noble lady did the scribe bring to pay respects to Master Dao'an?"

Without waiting for Xu Shushi to answer for her, Wei Yao said, "I am Wei Yao, the Secretary."

Wang Yu: "So you are a young lady from the household of Attendant Zhao. I have to deliver Buddhist scriptures, so I will take my leave now."

Although Wang Yu was favored and respectfully addressed as "Wang the Palace Attendant," he held no official position. He left without bowing to Wei Yao. Xu Shushi speculated that Wang Yu might be at odds with Zhao Changshi, so he reminded Wei Yao: "This man's ability to curry favor is different from others. He often uses his own wealth to support concubines when they fall out of favor, without showing any disrespect. Besides the deposed Empress Feng, I know that the Dowager Consort Gao, the mother of the Prince of Beihai, also often praises Wang Yu for his diligence and courtesy."

Consort Gao was the only surviving concubine of Emperor Xianwen who had a rank and children. Prince Yuan Xiang of Beihai served as Minister of Works, and his position among the ministers was second only to the Grand Commandant.

Wei Yao was grateful for Xu Shushi's reminder, but not too worried. Wang Yu certainly understood people's hearts and was good at flattery, so why hadn't he received an official position yet?

There is only one reason... His Majesty has long seen through the so-called flattery and competence, and does not like it! He only employs Wang Yu temporarily because Wang Yu is indeed diligent and efficient in handling affairs.

The nunnery of a woman who became a nun was different from other nunnery rooms; the walls were painted with pepper, and the room was filled with fragrance and warmth.

At this moment, besides Zheng Daoan, there was another nun in Zheng Daoan's meditation room. This nun looked to be around thirty years old, and her nun's clothes and hat could not hide her stunning beauty.

Just as Wei Yao was about to perform the salute, Dao An stopped her by supporting her arm.

"Sever ties with worldly affairs. Your mother is my son's savior. From now on, you don't need to be so polite when you come."

Wei Yao replied "Yes," smiled obediently, and bowed again, saying, "Even if I sever all worldly ties, I am still a junior. Junior Wei Yao greets the Dharma Master."

Dao An nodded with a smile and introduced the nun beside him: "My fellow Daoist's Dharma name is Ji Fo, and his secular name is Xie Fan Jing."

Wei Yao was both surprised and suspicious!

Xie Fanjing? Is it someone who shares the same surname and name as the last empress of the Liu Song dynasty? Or is it the same person?

A thought flashed through Wei Yao's mind, and she understood why Zheng Dao'an had sent her to Yaoguang Nunnery. Xie Fanjing's aunt, Xie Zhi, was the principal wife of Wang Su, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. Wang Su was about to marry Princess Yuanzhen of Chenliu. If Xie Zhi came to Luoyang to find her husband, she would inevitably engage in a battle with Yuanzhen for him! (End of Chapter)