History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 367 Gao Xian's Jealousy

Yuan Yu immediately corrected his attitude: "Your subject knows his mistake and will never dare to do it again."

The emperor dismissed Yuan Yu's assurances as mere empty talk. However, there was no suitable candidate to temporarily assume the position of commander of the Imperial Guards. Those with talent lacked the necessary background, such as Li Chong; those with sufficient background could not be fully trusted, such as Prince Rencheng, Yuan Cheng; and those who could be trusted lacked either talent or background, such as Yu Jin and Yang Daye.
The emperor could only admonish once more: "The Imperial Guards are the most important of all the armies in the capital, and cannot be neglected in the slightest. When the late emperor was alive, he often praised Fourth Uncle as a man of outstanding talent and a wise man of the court. I will trust you one more time. From now on, you must take on the responsibility of guarding and protecting, and not let any words of fault reach my ears again!"

Yuan Yu nodded and said "yes," but as soon as she left the palace, she stuffed the money she had won into Yang Fan's hands, openly bribing him in front of many guards outside the palace: "Next time His Majesty investigates the Imperial Guard, you should do the same as today, pretend to be blind and don't report it."

I'm innocent! Who's pretending to be blind? They just didn't have a chance to speak!
Yang Fan felt a lump in his throat and hurriedly followed the emperor back into the palace. He presented the emperor with a handful of copper coins and tearfully declared that he was loyal only to the emperor.

Let's get back to Wei Yao.

She escorted the four members of the Gao family to their new residence. They were tired of riding in the carriage on their way to Luoyang and wanted to walk. Wei Yao did not force them at all. She accompanied them along the streets outside the palace walls, telling them about the scenery they passed and the stories behind it.

"Lord Pingyuan, look, that city standing on the northwestern highlands is called Jinyong City. It was built during the Cao Wei period. When the late emperor moved the capital to Luoyang, the imperial palace was not yet completed, so the late emperor lived in Jinyong City..."

“Lord Pingyuan, that city gate is called Chengming Gate. It is the first city gate on the north side of the west city wall. The name ‘Chengming’ was given by the late emperor. Before it was named, the people of Luoyang were used to calling it ‘Xinmen’ (New Gate).

"Look, Lord Pingyuan, that bustling market over there existed as early as the Han Dynasty. It was called the Golden Market, and most of the people who strolled around it were high-ranking officials with generous salaries..."

"We're heading south now, Lord Pingyuan, can you hear the sound of water?"

"I heard it, I heard it." Gao Zhao nodded with a beaming smile. Who doesn't like to be flattered? Especially after witnessing the prowess of this female official before leaving the palace, being flattered by such a powerful official... and such a pretty female official at that, the sense of pride he felt was indescribable.

It seems I need to study more in the future, otherwise I'll have a lot of flattery to say back, but I won't dare to say it because I don't know how!

The happier he was, the more resentful his younger brother, Gao Xian, became. Why was he being flattered and ignored just because Gao Zhao was born before him, when both were granted the title of "Duke"?

“I…” Gao Xian was about to say, “I heard it too,” but Wei Yao only told his brother, “The place where the water flows is called ‘Mengsi Pond.’ ‘Mengsi’ means the place where the sun sets. If Lord Pingyuan is interested in the story of ‘Mengsi,’ I have an ancient book in my office with my own explanation. I will bring it to Lord Pingyuan tomorrow.”

Gao Zhao was practically dancing with joy, nodding repeatedly: "Good, good, good, good."

Gao Xian was utterly disdainful and whispered to his nephew Gao Meng and niece Gao Ying, "If your fourth uncle had been this studious when he was young, he might have been able to get into the Imperial Academy."

Gao Meng chuckled twice and asked, "Fifth Uncle, is the title the Emperor bestowed upon us very powerful, the kind that allows us to roam the gold market? It seems Fifth Uncle doesn't know either, so I'll ask Fourth Uncle..."

"Why ask your fourth uncle? Your fourth uncle better pretend to know what he doesn't. I'll tell you after I ask the female officer."

Gao Ying rolled her eyes! Anyway, she never gets any good things, so she shouldn't have gone to the palace with them!

Wei Yao led the Gao family onto Tongtuo Street, a paved avenue divided into three lanes by locust and willow trees. Before Gao Zhao and his party could witness the bustling atmosphere of Tongtuo Street, the guards leading the way turned again and passed through a narrow alley with a ten-foot-high wall.

Wei Yao pointed to the wall on the north side, about to explain where the government office was inside, when she heard a majestic sound of someone clearing the way from behind.

"Make way, Situ Tong may proceed—"

"Make way! Make way!"

In addition to serving as General of Chariots and Cavalry, Prince Yuan Yu of Guangling also held the position of Minister of Works, and the Minister of Works' residence was where he handled official business outside the palace. Yuan Yu's mount was a fine steed, one in a million, much taller than even a strong man. The black horses that guarded him in front and behind seemed to know their master's status, looking down on their surroundings like men, further enhancing their imposing presence.

With a wave of his hand, Yuan Yu stopped the guards. He lightly shook the reins and rode forward, getting only a step away from Wei Yao.

Gao Zhao, Gao Xian, Gao Meng, and Gao Ying, who were standing beside her, were all trembling with fear and their teeth were chattering.

Wei Yao bowed respectfully: "Wei Yao, Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, pays homage to the Minister of Works."

There's a custom among officials in private: when a subordinate visits a superior, they won't use their full official title, as it would seem distant.

In the past, when Wei Yao met Yuan Yu, she always introduced herself as "Yellow Gate Attendant".

This is equivalent to a tacit signal between the two.

Yuan Yu understood. His gaze swept over the heads of the trembling people, then returned. He asked Wei Yao in a clear and cold voice, "Why are you idly standing outside the palace during your duty hours?"

"Reporting to Minister Situ, I was unexpectedly dispatched on official business by His Majesty's decree."

"What kind of errand are you running?"

"It's a task assigned by His Majesty."

"Ha, Vice Minister Wei wasn't this imposing when he met me before."

Wei Yao's voice remained unchanged: "Minister, you are joking. I am not on my day off. I am speaking official business. If you want to talk about prestige, it is only the caution that a subject should have."

Yuan Yu: "Reading a lot of books is good, it makes you eloquent."

"Reading more books is certainly beneficial. If Situ has no official business to assign, I will continue with my duties."

Gao Zhao and the others followed Wei Yao closely, wanting several times to look back to see if the nobleman on the tall horse was still there, but they were too afraid to turn around even once.

"The distinguished guest just now was the Emperor's uncle... Prince Yuan Yu of Guangling. This prince holds the official position of Minister of Works and is also the Grand General in charge of the city's imperial guards, as well as the palace's imperial guards."

Gao Zhao, Gao Xian, and Gao Meng asked in unison, "Isn't he amazing?"

Forget about official rank, they're even confused about noble titles now.

Wei Yao replied solemnly, "Very impressive." She repeated her previous exchanges with Yuan Yu in the Northern dialect, and then earnestly advised Gao Zhao, "Lord Pingyuan needs to learn the Luoyang dialect as soon as possible, as it is the foundation for official interactions."

In an instant, she caught a glimpse of Gao Xian's defiant expression out of the corner of her eye!
Gao Zhao: "Okay, okay, I'll definitely learn as soon as possible, but..."

Wei Yao understood immediately and continued, "The Luoyang dialect is not easy to learn. The fastest way is to correct it in your daily life. Communicate with people around you who know the Luoyang dialect. If you encounter something you don't know, don't say it. Write down the words you don't know and practice them in front of a mirror when no one is around. Why in front of a mirror? So that you can observe your own appearance while speaking and not show any signs of insecurity or timidity."

"Oh my, what a brilliant idea!" Gao Zhao thought that the female officer really understood him! How come she always said what he was thinking beforehand, making him seem not stupid at all!
Gao Xian's jealous face could hardly be hidden. He gritted his teeth and cursed his brother inwardly: What a dog!