History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

"Gao Zhao." Wei Yao was alone in the office, and she only mouthed the name without making a sound.

When Gao Zhao, the emperor's uncle in her previous life, held immense power in the court, Wei Yao had already lost contact with Xi Jiao. The year she died unjustly at the age of nineteen, she only heard from Zong Yin's drunken ramblings that Gao Zhao was the culprit who harmed Prince Pengcheng. As for when Gao Zhao entered the court, how he gradually gained favor and power, and how he harmed Prince Pengcheng, she knew nothing.

fair enough.

To avoid being influenced by her past life's memories when she's considering countermeasures. Having been reborn, she has changed, and the people around her will change as well. If she clings to her past experiences, it's like playing the same old game blindfolded in a new chess game.

"Gao Yue'en has entered the inner palace and occupied an important position. His Majesty is deliberately promoting the power of his maternal clan. So, what official position is the first step in promoting Gao Zhao?"

Following her train of thought, Wei Yao scanned the official documents filling the room. In her spare time, she would sleep less and skip a meal every day, spending all her time reading official documents from various departments and bureaus, all in order to memorize a wide range of information so that she could readily access it in her mind when needed to analyze problems.

"I understand. After Prince Rencheng was dismissed from his position as Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, the position remained vacant. Prince Rencheng repeatedly declined the appointment of a prefectural post by His Majesty, not simply because he was unwilling to leave the center of the court, but also because he was testing His Majesty's permission to reinstate him as Right Vice Minister."

Logically, the Prince of Rencheng's merits far outweigh his mistakes, and as His Majesty's elder, restoring him to his original position would be as simple as issuing an edict. Since His Majesty is feigning ignorance, then the position of Right Minister must have been deliberately left unfilled by His Majesty.

Old ginger is truly spicier!
Wei Yao felt inferior; she had been pondering this question for so long longer than the Prince of Rencheng!
There was no point in speculating any further. Wei Yao already had a plan. Just then, the bell in the inner temple stopped ringing, and she began to review the official documents again.

The Prince of Beihai's Mansion, located on the west side of Beigongyuan.

Who would have thought that the imposing Grand Tutor Yuan Xiang, who was so powerful during the day, was kneeling as punishment in the outer room of his mother's bedroom?

The reason was that after returning from Yaoguang Temple, Consort Gao felt increasingly humiliated by being schemed against by Wei Yao. However, she could not disobey the imperial decree. When Yuan Xiang learned of this matter after court, he did not take it seriously and even wanted to replace the concubine with a lowly servant from his household to perform labor at the Xi official residence.

Consort Gao's anger finally found an outlet!
"I'll make you unable to distinguish between what's important and what's not!"

"For the sake of a bunch of lowly concubines who are like objects, you've put my child and me in danger? Do you wish the emperor would suspect us?"

And so, with each curse from Consort Gao, a blow would land on Yuan Xiang's back, turning it into a deep bruise.

In the dead of night, Consort Gao finally succumbed to sleepiness and came to Yuan Xiang to give him a stern instruction: "Starting tonight, you must treat Liu Shi well. I know you don't like her, but it is precisely because you have a wife whose family has fallen on hard times that she cannot bring power to your wife's family, thus avoiding the emperor's suspicion."

Yuan Xiang, head drooping, replied, "Yes."

Consort Gao's tone was sinister: "Her brother's accident didn't implicate her. Either the Emperor is deliberately trying to disgust us, mother and son, by letting a woman from a fallen noble family continue to be your wife, so that the nobles in the capital will mock us, or the Emperor still wants to elevate the Liu family, to show those noble families in the south who have submitted. No matter what the Emperor's intention is, you must keep Liu in check for now! When we are satisfied in the future, you can divorce Liu and choose concubines!"

Yuan Xiang's initial frustration turned to joy: "Alright, I'll go and appease Liu Shi right now."

The location of the North Sea Princess's residence was very remote. Yuan Xiang did not feel that he was mistreating his wife. On the contrary, he was full of resentment that she had bothered him in the middle of the night and made him walk so far.

"why are not you sleeping?"

Liu, who was copying Buddhist scriptures, looked up, her face streaked with tears. "Husband, did you come so late because of the concubines in the manor?"

Nonsense! Yuan Xiang suppressed her impatience and pretended to be calm, saying, "My affairs are all minor matters. I came here to tell you that Liu Wenyuan's case has been closed and has nothing to do with you or your brother Liu Hui. As long as you follow the rules and be obedient and sensible as before, and be a good princess, you will always be a princess."

Liu gratefully promised, "Husband, don't worry, I know what to do."

She lowered her eyes and sat down next to Yuan Xiang, her voice even softer as she said, "I know my husband is troubled, and as his wife, it is my duty to help him. I will help him find new beauties to bring into the household. As long as they are not changed to concubines, no matter how many beauties my husband takes in, it will not violate the imperial edict."

Yuan Xiang rebuked, "Stop making trouble!"

Lady Liu called softly to the outer room, "Shi'er, come in and help the king rest."

The maid, Shi'er, was part of Liu's dowry. Past marriageable age, her melancholy and flirtatious nature were exactly what Yuanxiang liked. Liu rose and stepped back.

Only one candle burned in the room, casting a dim light in the corners, illuminating only what was in front of him. As Shi'er approached, the silhouettes of the two women exchanged light and shadow. Liu spoke sweet words of advice with a dignified demeanor, while Shi'er responded with a polite "yes" with a graceful posture, creating a contrast like the candlelight in the dimness, which instantly aroused Yuan Xiang's interest.

Liu quietly left the house, her submissive expression gradually fading as she walked.

“Yuanxiang, Shi’er is an auspicious name. I know that when you encounter bad things, you like anything with a good meaning. Over the years, I have not been happy for you, but I have never stopped thinking about you. I know what kind of woman you like. Don’t worry, Shi’er will be what you want.”

On June 20th, Wei Yao took a day off.

She had arranged to go to the horse farm in the suburbs with her husband and Lu Baozhen. Because the assessment of the state officials was complicated, she stayed at the Secretariat last night and only left the palace early this morning.

Today, dark clouds covered the sky, and a light drizzle was falling.

She tilted her umbrella slightly as she stepped out of the East Side Gate, and came face to face with another person holding an umbrella across the street.

She moved to the left to make way, and the person at the same time moved to the left to avoid her.

She changed direction to the right, and the person also changed direction to the right.

As Wei Yao raised her umbrella and looked up, she recognized Xi Jiao.

What is he doing in the palace? Does he have a chance to enter officialdom?

"Xi Tongmen".

"Wei Tongmen".

They each took a step back in greeting, neither showing the other a smile. One was afraid the other might still harbor feelings, and the other was afraid the other would find out that he still had feelings for her.

"I have something to do..."

"I have something to do..."

They spoke awkwardly in unison, then nodded slightly to each other, which served as a farewell.

In the end, Xi Jiao couldn't help but look back at Wei Yao's back. In her vision, the rain dripping from the umbrella ribs blocked her view, as if the marriage that could not be forced to stay was full of regrets.

There was a horse farm of the imperial court in the northern suburbs of the outer city. People who voluntarily donated horses to the court could release their horses in this area after registration.

Lu Baozhen released ten horses back into the fields. These ten horses were a gift from Changsun Wuzhuo before she left Pingcheng. "Let's say goodbye here. The grass is lush and the water is sweet ahead. Go, go."

Horses are intelligent; each horse would nuzzle in her palm before galloping off into the distance, braving the light breeze and drizzle.

Watching all this, Yuan Mao quietly said to Wei Yao, "I originally thought Bao Zhen was foolish and didn't know what Changsun Wuzhuo was thinking, but it seems he does understand."

Lu Baozhen and Lu Wenfu will get married at the beginning of next month.

The scene of passing by Xi Jiao this morning flashed before Wei Yao's eyes, quickly replaced by Yuan Mao's face. She tightened her grip on his hand and said, "Cherish the fate that should be cherished, Mao Lang. May we be together in the future, through sunshine and rain."

Yuan Mao nodded vigorously, then whispered in his ear, "Especially at night." (End of Chapter)