History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 365 The Emperor's Shame and Anger!
"The title is bestowed upon Gao Meng, the eldest grandson of the Duke of Bohai."

"Gao Zhao, the elder brother of Empress Wenzhao and a native of Bohai County, Jizhou, was granted the title of Duke of Pingyuan."

"Gao Xian, the elder brother of Empress Wenzhao and a native of Bohai County, Jizhou, was granted the title of Duke of Chengcheng."

"Bestow upon the Duke of Pingyuan, the Duke of Chengcheng, and the Duke of Bohai robes and headgear, and grant the Minister of Works a residence in the east wing..."

Wei Yao's voice, as she proclaimed the imperial decree, rose and fell in unison. There was no other way but to raise her voice from time to time to drown out the sniffling of the four members of the Gao family.

This was the final imperial decree conferring upon Gao Ying the title of concubine.

"Bestow..."

The Emperor interrupted, "We'll discuss this later." Unless all the palace servants present today are beaten to death, the rumors mocking his snotty-nosed cousin will surely spread! Before Gao Ying learns the proper etiquette, she is not qualified to be promoted to the rank of Consort, which is equivalent to that of a Minister of the Three Ministries.

Observing their expressions, Wei Yao quickly urged the four members of the Gao family in a low voice, "Why don't you quickly express your gratitude?"

"Thank you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Thanks."

Last to rush in, the softest and slightly tearful, was eleven-year-old Gao Ying. She needed to relieve herself and couldn't hold it in any longer.

Yuan Ke's breathing intensified, and he clenched one cheek in anger! Because he didn't see genuine gratitude on the faces of any member of the Gao family!

If you eat the king's food, you must cover up his shame and embarrassment.

Wei Yao stepped forward and said, "The Duke of Pingyuan and the others have just arrived in the capital. I suppose the palace has not had time to arrange for someone to teach them the manners. I will first take them to their residence outside the palace to settle in, and then patiently explain to them the purpose of the reward."

Then, she lowered her voice even further, so that only Yuan Ke could hear her: "Your Majesty, rest assured, leave the rest to me. I know what to do. I will definitely instruct the Duke of Pingyuan to return to his hometown as soon as possible to rebury the old Duke in Bohai County. However, as for the matter of rewriting the epitaph, I am not very learned and I will have to trouble Your Majesty to select a scholar with outstanding literary talent from among the scholars to write it."

The purpose of bestowing titles upon the Gao family was to grant them high-ranking official positions, but there was something even more important than granting official positions: to move the graves of the old Duke of Bohai and His Majesty's other deceased uncles from Pingcheng in Hengzhou to Bohai County in Jizhou. Only in this way could the Gao family, who originated from Goryeo and were from the Eastern Barbarians, be truly confused with the illustrious Bohai Gao clan.

The more shrewd Wei Yao was, the more it highlighted the crudeness of Gao Zhao and his men. Yuan Ke didn't want to spend another moment with his maternal relatives. He left Wei Yao with two bodyguards, Li Shenggui and Song Fan, and led the rest of the bodyguards and eunuchs away.

Wei Yao watched the emperor walk away, then ordered the palace servants around the pavilion to step back. She first asked Gao Ying, whose face looked the worst, "Is the young lady feeling unwell?"

Gao Ying couldn't understand the standard Luoyang dialect at all, so she pleaded in broken Han Chinese with a Pingcheng accent, "I need to relieve myself."

Well, Wei Yao has found the reason why the Gao family wasn't grateful for the immense wealth: they simply didn't understand the imperial decree.

This situation is actually quite normal. When Wei Yao recalled living in Pingcheng, if the couple in the neighborhood were both Xianbei and their ancestors were also Xianbei, then the other family would only speak Xianbei. The reason was that Han language was difficult to learn, and in Pingcheng, the status of Han people was not as high as that of Xianbei people, so they felt there was no need to learn it.

As for the Xianbei nobles in Pingcheng, especially the military nobles, most of them were stubborn forces who stayed in the north because they did not support Emperor Xiaowen's reforms. Relying on the fact that the emperor was far away, they did not care about the edict to "sever all northern languages" and unify the pronunciation.

Gao Zhao and the others held neither a high nor low position in Pingcheng, and it was already quite an achievement that they could learn some Han Chinese with an accent. Wei Yao, a woman of deep thought, glanced at Gao Zhao, Gao Xian, and Gao Meng, concluding that at least one of them wasn't truly useless!

Currently, Wei Yao only knows that her family has allied with the Prince of Rencheng and the Prince of Guangling, but she doesn't know if the two princes have taken any action against the Gao family during their stay in the capital. Since she can't rely entirely on others, Wei Yao decides to quickly find the slightly smarter member of the Gao family and make him just like the rest of the useless ones, someone who, no matter how much the emperor praises him, is utterly unreliable!

The first step, naturally, is to sow discord between the Gao brothers, Gao Zhao and Gao Xian.

However, before she could sow discord between the two and leave Beigongyuan, she had to do something.

Gao Ying returned, and the other three members of the Gao family, who were always busy relieving themselves, also rushed off to relieve themselves. While Gao Zhao and the other two were away, Wei Yao instructed the guard Li Shenggui, "Go and see if Ru Hao is in Hualin Garden. If he is not there, bring his most capable subordinate."

Ru Hao was appointed Left General of the Palace Guard, and his current duty is to repair the Hualin Garden. There are many benefits to be gained from this position, but in reality, he has left the inner palace and the important secrets of the palace. Astute ministers all know that Ru Hao is not as good as treacherous ministers like Zhao Zhi, and he is no longer trusted or valued by His Majesty.

Li Shengui's father was Li Chong, the Minister of War, and Ru Hao would never dare to show off his official power to Li Shengui.

Wei Yao then instructed another guard, Song Fan, "Go find the large rod used for punishment."

Song Fan, looking suspicious, said "yes" and left. There was a large staff in the pavilion, and he returned quickly.

The Gao family members had also gathered back in the wooden pavilion. Wei Yao remained silent, waiting for Ru Hao to come over, while the others could only quietly wait with her.

Gao Meng kept stealing glances at Wei Yaoyao's slender figure, gradually becoming lost in thought, missing his lover in Pingcheng and his newborn son. This thought made him resent his father's early death; no one had seriously worried about his marriage, and he wasn't even allowed to marry his lover, who came from a humble background. Otherwise, he could be enjoying a life of luxury in Luoyang with her and their son right now.

Gao Ying couldn't help but keep glancing at Wei Yao, but what she envied was Wei Yao's demeanor and attire. Gao Ying wondered if she would look just as good if she dressed like Wei Yao. Thinking of this, she pouted and was secretly angry. The Wei female official had made it very clear that the emperor had bestowed so many favors upon the Gao family, but none of them benefited her. Humph, she really didn't understand why he looked down on her so much and made her accompany him to the palace to suffer.

Ru Hao has arrived.

The wind was strong in the wooden pavilion, and it couldn't blow away the smell of alcohol that permeated the countless seams of this man's official robes.

"Is Vice Minister Wei looking for me?"

Wei Yao: "Ru Hao, do you know your crime?"

Ru Hao immediately became alert, belatedly realizing that the staff held by the other guard in the pavilion was likely intended to be used against him. "I was ordered to construct the Hualin Pavilion, and for this I frequently traveled between Mangshan in the north of the city and Yiqueshan in the south, devoting all my attention to the renovation of the Hualin Garden. I wonder what crime I have committed?"

"His Majesty allowed his maternal relatives to stay in Hualin Garden, and instead of immediately sending palace servants to teach them manners and etiquette, you yourself reek of alcohol and still claim ignorance of your crime?! Guard Li, hold him down! Guard Song, administer the cane! Since General Ru doesn't know what he did wrong, beat him until the smell of alcohol disappears and he realizes his mistake!"

In terms of strength and martial arts, Ru Hao was no less than Li Shengui, but he dared not fight him. He could only shout desperately, hoping that his trusted palace servants would hear him and help him report his grievances to the emperor.

"Wei Yao! I am an official of the outer court. Without His Majesty's decree, how dare you use torture on me?! Song Fan, have you thought this through? You dare... ah! ah... ah..."

Song Fan struck Ru Hao with all his might with each blow.

What a joke! He could disobey Wei Yao, but he's afraid of the tigress Zhao Zhi! Besides, His Majesty entrusted him to Vice Minister Wei. Is it wrong for him to obey Vice Minister Wei? If there is a mistake, it's Vice Minister Wei's fault, not his.

The four members of the Gao family trembled with each movement of the execution.

They had never seen such a horrifying scene before. The wooden stick was so thick, and the sound of each blow, along with the pig-like screams, was truly terrifying!
Aren't they all officials? How can they just attack people like that?