History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

When the two of them finally had a chance to speak alone, Yuan Zizhi had figured out the reason and said, "With the Empress about to be established, Commander Yu's niece should be the best candidate. I hope Commander Yu is still vigorous and capable, otherwise the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards..."

There's no need to say everything. The current candidates for Empress all have some shortcomings in terms of background and family. Yu Baoying's shortcoming is that Commander Yu is old. If he becomes ill and can no longer serve as Commander, who will take his place?

Yu Lie's younger brother, Yu Jin, lacks military leadership skills, and his son, Yu Zhong, is even less qualified. If the Yu family cannot help the Empress stabilize the palace, His Majesty will have to devote his attention to the harem in addition to handling state affairs.

In this situation, Yu's family and Yu Baoying could certainly understand and worry more than outsiders, so it's understandable that Yu Baoying took the initiative to talk to Wei Yao, indicating her intention to befriend her.

The Yu family was eager to find powerful allies among the court officials, and the best choice was none other than Zhao Zhi and Wei Yao. The mother and daughter, one a martial artist and the other a scholar, were both close attendants of the emperor. Moreover, Wei Yao was a female official who could enter and leave the inner palace, making it much more convenient for her to transmit court messages than other female officials.

Yuan Zizhi, knowing the dangers of his family being feared by the emperor, advised, "Besides the court and war, the most dangerous thing is the way noble ladies make friends. They sow discord and are hard to guard against. Amao, you must always remind your wife that what you see is not necessarily true, and what others praise is not necessarily true."

Yuan Mao solemnly replied, "Don't worry, I will remind her from time to time." But in his heart, he thought that his little pomegranate was full of tricks. She could scheme to kill others by peeling a few pomegranate seeds. At home, he was the one who was reminded.

A peony garden attracted bees and butterflies, where many noble ladies learned to make rouge from the gardeners. Wang Shao helped his second sister catch butterflies, and laughter filled the area around the garden. After Wang Puxian finished pounding the petals, he first tested the color on the back of a maid's hand, and then applied the rouge to Wei Yao's forehead.

At this moment, Princess Chang Le Yuan Ying and Yu Bao Ying came to the peony garden together. The latter said to Yuan Ying, "I am really destined to meet Lady Wei. We met by chance before the flower goddess worship ceremony, and now we have met again."

Yuan Ying also knew that if Yu Baoying were to become empress, she would need a capable female official like Wei Yao to assist her. She was happy to make it happen, so she said, "I would also like to talk to Wei Yao."

She took Yu Baoying's hand, and as soon as they got close, Wei Yao quickly led Wang Puxian, and called Wang Wenshu and Wang Shao to bow and pay their respects to Princess Chang Le.

"No need for formalities at the Flower Festival banquet." Yuan Ying took Wei Yao's hand and they walked slowly along the flowerbed away from the place.

Wang Puxian and his siblings, knowing better, did not follow.

Yuan Ying kindly said to Wei Yao, "You and Bao Ying both studied in Pingcheng, so you can be considered fellow townsmen. On the fifth day of the month, I'm going to Yaoguang Temple to listen to the Dharma Master preach the Vimalakirti Sutra. Why don't you and Bao Ying come along?"

Yu Baoying: "Yes. May I ask which Dharma Master is giving the lecture?"

“To the Buddhist Master Jifo”.

Wei Yao bowed and apologized: "Please forgive me, Princess, I only have one day off this month and cannot keep my appointment."

Yuan Ying's smile remained cold on her face, and the palace maid behind her immediately reprimanded her: "Wei Yao, how dare you refuse the princess's invitation?"

Just as I had hoped, Wei Yao replied politely, "As a subject, I dare not neglect the affairs of the court. I have no choice but to decline the princess's invitation."

The slight cracking sound of the nail came from Bo-young.

Yuan Ying scolded the palace maid to "shut up," but her gaze was fixed on Wei Yao.

Wei Yao plucked the most vibrant flower from a nearby branch and handed it to the other person, saying, "I dare not continue to disturb the princess's enjoyment of the garden. I apologize by offering this flower."

A group of noble ladies gracefully approached, led by Yuan Chuntuo, the hostess of the banquet. She slowly waved her round fan and said sarcastically, "I've long heard that Lady Wei rarely associates with noble ladies in the capital and is aloof in her dealings. Now it seems that her words are also barbed."

She snatched the flowers from Wei Yao's hand, tossed them lightly, and then pointed to the roses on the fence not far away, saying, "You really have the heart to apologize to the princess. Go and pick a basket of roses."

Yuan Ying frowned. If Yuan Chun Tuo hadn't come over, she would have let Wei Yao go.

Yu Baoying was also in a dilemma. The situation was obvious: the princess was angry with Wei Yao, and Wei Yao must have offended Yuan Chuntuo. If she pleaded for Wei Yao, she would only add fuel to the fire and offend Madam Yuan as well.

Before the group could even finish their thought, Wei Yao refused, saying, "Roses have thorns. I have to be on duty tomorrow, and I can't risk hurting my hand and delaying official business."

She bowed to the princess again, and this time left without waiting for Yuan Ying to speak.

Yuan Chun Tuo was so angry that he couldn't stand not cursing her. He angrily pointed at Wei Yao's back with his round fan and berated her: "Look at how arrogant she is! She's so busy with government affairs that all the civil officials in the court are pointing fingers at her!"

Yuan Ying shook her head slightly and advised, "The Flower Festival is a joyous occasion, so don't let it spoil your mood. Just prepare for the luncheon." After Yuan Chuntuo said goodbye, Yu Baoying expressed her guilt to the princess, "The female official is a smart woman. She didn't want to get entangled with the harem. I forced her. It was my fault. Please don't blame her, Your Highness."

Yuan Ying didn't respond to that question, but instead asked, "How is the old general's health?"

"His Majesty ordered Imperial Physician Wang Xian to examine my uncle's pulse every half month. He has a slight cough and shortness of breath, but otherwise he is fine."

Yuan Ying secretly sighed at Yu Baoying's lack of foresight. Wang Xian, the head of the palace physicians, had been examining General Yu's pulse every two weeks, indicating that the hidden illness had reached a point of concern for His Majesty. At roughly the same age, Yu Baoying's shrewdness was far inferior to Wei Yao's.

Wei Yao had no choice but to leave the Xing residence ahead of schedule, and Yuan Mao naturally went with her. The couple were both unwilling to engage in any formalities, so they left directly through the Qingyang city gate to visit Wei Yao's father and tutor, Kong Wenzhong, at the Wenya Academy.

Outside the city gate, Yuan Mao rented a camel to ride with Wei Yao.

Before mounting the camels, Wei Yao assigned seats, saying, "You sit in the front, and I'll sit in the back."

Yuan Mao objected: "Why?"

“Tell me why!” Wei Yao glared at him from head to toe.

Yuan Mao's thick skin turned red under his wife's gaze, and he huffed, "Fine, I'll sit in the front!"

After Wei Yao came up, he didn't allow her to refuse and wrapped her arms around his waist. As the camel galloped, he tilted his head back slightly, nuzzling her forehead with the back of his head, and hummed a grassland love song: "Side by side, I think of you endlessly, I rest my head on your left arm, I follow you... Oh, the more you pinch me, the more I sing! I turn with you, hiss... turn side by side..."

“Mao Lang.” Wei Yao pulled her arm and her husband’s singing stopped abruptly. She leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Mao Lang is handsome, just what Yao Yao wants.”

Yuan Mao shuddered and suggested, "Why don't we go home first and go to the school gate this afternoon?"

He glanced back and saw she was about to get angry, so he quickly changed his words: "Never mind what I said. Yaoyao, pinch me, I like it when you pinch me, a little harder, a little harder..."

The camel moved slowly, and Wei Yao gently pressed against Yuan Mao's back, sighing, "It's so good to have you by my side in this life."

Yuanmao felt a surge of joy in his heart and said, "I'll extend my life to you for two more lifetimes, and I'll stay with you in the next life and the life after that!"

With tears in her eyes, Wei Yao smiled and said, "You didn't have time to promise me in the last life, so be it. In this life, the next life, and the life after that, we'll be together. If you can't find me, I'll find you."

Yuan Mao ordered the camel to stop and pleaded, "Yaoyao, why don't we go home first? I want to talk to you a little longer. Can we stay at Quanxue Inn tonight?"

"Row."

As he turned around, Yuan Mao sneezed and muttered to himself, "Someone is cursing me; it must be Jia Zhen, who has been dismissed from his post."

Inside the Xing residence, Yang Ran, seated at the banquet, looked around and asked, "Huh? Why aren't Miss Wei and her husband here?"

Xi Jiao served her food, suggesting that she eat so she could talk less.

Yang Ran didn't need his response and continued, "Miss Wei looks like a good girl. As for Yuan Mao... I don't know why, but I hate him the moment I see him. We must have been enemies in a past life."

Xi Jiao grabbed another handful of pine nuts for her, hoping to shut her up from her nagging.

But Yang Ran playfully tilted her head, twisting it into a snake-like shape as she sat and said coquettishly, "My dear, peel it for me, peel it for me."

Damn!

Xi Jiao was so flustered by her pinching that he felt dizzy at the banquet, dizzy at the food table, and dizzy from the pine nuts. No, the first thing he had to do when he got home was to persuade his father to stop consulting the oracle; what kind of marriage had he arranged through divination?! (End of Chapter)