History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 350 Exploiting the People
"I know I was wrong!"

"Reporting to the general, the person next to me was the one who started the commotion."

"Please spare my life, General! I was threatened."

Zhao Zhi didn't count them all; those who felt they could confess and expose others to gain merit rushed to do so, and her scheme failed.

Yuan Yu thanked him, saying, "Fortunately, General Zhao acted decisively, otherwise the Mulan Camp would have mutinied, and His Majesty would have reprimanded me again."

Zhao Zhi looked directly at the other person and said, "I don't like being schemed against."

"I was just about to confess!" Yuan Yu immediately grinned and dismissed all his followers. He then told the truth: "My two stupid nephews are both stupider than the other, and their clerks are even more stupid. They keep asking me where I am going and what I am doing, clearly trying to frame me. Zhao Zhi, you know, I only have idiots left under my command."

He then used self-deprecation to cover up his resentment: "Alas, apart from you, no one in the entire court is willing to help me."

Zhao Zhi: "If you encounter any difficulties in the future, just say so."

She remained in charge of the Mulan Camp, refraining from making things difficult for those who voluntarily confessed their crimes, and as promised, expelled them from the camp. Those who confessed later and were subsequently exposed were punished with caning by the military officers of their respective units, and then escorted to the Sizhou Prefecture.

Yuan Yu watched for a while, then returned to the opposite Martial Guard Camp with peace of mind. He thought to himself, although he knew Yuan Yu and Yuan Huai were both stupid, he didn't expect his two nephews to be this stupid, actually daring to cause trouble during the military training!

"The timing is perfect. Once the news of Wang Su's serious illness arrives in the capital, your fourth uncle will send you several copies of his memorial."

Despite his erratic behavior over the years, Yuan Yu still holds the rank of General of Chariots and Cavalry. How could he not possess some hidden, formidable abilities? When Wang Su suddenly fell ill at the Shouchun camp, and many military doctors were helpless, it was his informant among the doctors who delivered this ominous news to him before the imperial court arrived.

Wang Su's illness was difficult to cure, and no one was as suitable as Wang Su to take over the Shouchun camp. So before His Majesty received the news and became worried, he collected some more faults of Yuan Yu and Yuan Huai and sent them to him.

in the city.

The Prince of Guangping's wicked servants shouted and cleared the way, and no merchant dared to block their path. However, these wicked servants deliberately pushed and shoved the merchants, threw their goods, and even frightened the horses and camels pulling the carts of passing foreign merchants. Seeing the horses startled in the street, innocent people were frightened and dodged, and the old and children fell to the ground crying.

"Haha." The Prince of Guangping forgot the humiliation he had suffered at Zhao Zhi's hands and laughed loudly. He said to the Prince of Jingzhao on horseback beside him, "Do you know what it means to 'eat the common people like fish and meat'? It means that the common people are as despicable as the fish and meat that the southerners love to eat, haha!"

He spoke loudly, not caring how many people around could hear him. The farmers and merchants on the street were all indignant when they heard him, but that was the way things were in this world. Who dared to reason with the powerful and wealthy?

Prince Guangping added, "I love open robbery and theft. It's a pity that this good place has been taken over by Seventh Uncle."

The land Yuan Huai marked with his whip was the very mansion built by Prince Yuan Xiang of Beihai on the west side of the North Palace Garden. At this point, he asked, "Third brother, how many days have you been back at your residence? Have you visited your seventh uncle yet?"

Yuan Yu: "Seventh Uncle is so impressive. He's even harder to see than His Majesty these days."

"No wonder you've been confined for so long; you dare to say such nonsense."

"I only dare to complain to Huai Di. If I don't even dare to complain, I'll suffocate!"

"My third brother is about to get married. Have you visited him at the Commander's residence?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yu became even more enraged and laughed in exasperation: "A fallen prince is worse than a chicken! He even dares to give Yu Zhong the cold shoulder!" Seeing that the other party was willing to confide in him, Yuan Huai both looked down on this elder brother and was pleased that the other party would rely on him in the future. His little bit of guardedness instantly disappeared. "We are brothers. You can come to my residence anytime from now on."

"There's no time like the present. This place isn't far from my residence. I've recently taken three concubines, and they're excellent at brewing wine..."

"Okay, okay, haha."

Harem.

After studying etiquette all morning, Yu Baofei felt stiff all over. When she could rest, she couldn't help but imagine how glorious it would be to marry the Prince of Jingzhao, a scene that would make all the noble ladies in the capital envious.

Yu Baoying arrived and solemnly told her sister, "The Prince of Jingzhao's mansion has just taken in four concubines..."

"what?!"

“Sit down, what’s the rush? You’ve wasted your time learning etiquette. I’ve found out that those four concubines all served the Prince of Jingzhao in the Hualin Garden. When they left the palace, His Majesty bestowed them upon the Prince of Yu. You should look on the bright side of the fact that the Prince of Yu gave them the status of concubines. It shows that the Prince of Yu is compassionate and values ​​relationships.”

Yu Baofei gritted her teeth, secretly seething with resentment. Yuan Yu was certainly loyal and righteous, but what about her? Before even marrying into the Prince's mansion, he had already taken four concubines. If word got out, all the noble ladies in the city would laugh at her!
Yu Baoying: "I brought you 'Admonitions for Women'. During this time, copy it whenever you have free time. I don't expect you to memorize it, but you must read it thoroughly and learn to calm your mind."

"Sister, why are you like this? I'm the one who's upset! What did I do wrong that you made me copy the 'Admonitions for Women'? Other people's husbands haven't taken concubines for years, but mine, a concubine entered the palace before me, and I'm expected to remain calm?"

Yu Baoying patiently instructed, "Your husband is different from ordinary nobles. He is a prince and must take concubines to have many children. His Majesty bestowed concubines upon you, and the number of concubines is already full. This is much better than Prince Yu having to find someone outside in the future. Furthermore, I made you thoroughly study 'Admonitions for Women' so that you can easily use the contents of the book to manage your concubines in the future. If you are confused and only know how to show off your power as the principal wife, you will probably soon become estranged from Prince Yu and easily fall into the trap of the concubines."

Yu Baofei nodded with a wronged expression and said, "I understand your good intentions, elder sister. I will copy and memorize them carefully."

Yu Baoying put her arm around her sister's shoulder with heartache and comforted her, "Our parents are getting old. We will have to work hard for our own future wealth and honor. When you marry into the royal family and encounter something unpleasant that makes you want to lose your temper, think of our father and mother, and think of me."

"Yes, I understand, I really understand. But sister, after I leave, you must be careful of the female officials around you. They may be female officials today, but tomorrow they may be seducing His Majesty behind your back and becoming his favorite concubine."

Yu Baoying sighed, comforting her sister and herself, saying, "Don't be afraid, who doesn't encounter storms on their path to growth?"

She was slightly lost in thought: I only ask that His Majesty have a little bit of genuine affection for me, and I will be satisfied.

Her trusted palace maid hurried over and first quietly informed the female official Yu E, who then stepped forward to report: "His Majesty's aunt, Gao Yue'en, has entered the palace and has been appointed as a second-rank palace official... a female attendant."

Yu Baoying pondered for a moment and then ordered, "Prepare a fine gift. I will go to see Princess Chang Le tomorrow. If the princess agrees to let me visit Aunt Gao, then I will go later."

Then she said to her sister, "I still have one scroll of Buddhist scripture to copy, I have to go back."

When Consort Yu saw her elder sister off, she knew that her sister did not believe in Buddhism and that she copied Buddhist scriptures to please Master Ciqing. She sighed with sorrow and felt that life in the harem was dull and terrifying, because everyone wore a mask of hypocrisy when they made friends and talked. There was only true hatred, no true joy.

end of July.

News of Wang Su's death was rushed from Shouchun to Luoyang.

He was a representative figure of the court ceremony and ritual reforms vigorously promoted by Emperor Xiaowen. He joined the Wei state at the right time. However, while being given important positions, he was frequently dragged down and ostracized by the princes vying for power. He died in the military camp before he could establish cultural achievements.