History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 373 The Best Female Officer in the World

People like Cui Han are called "Qi Xieke" (a homophone for "mischievous person").

The name "Qi Xie" comes from an ancient book of supernatural tales. The term "Qi Xie Ke" refers to someone who, under orders, would fabricate various strange or humorous stories and spread them among the people in order to earn a bounty.

After parting ways with Cui Han, the merchant strolled leisurely until he reached the opposite side of "Pingcheng Lamb Restaurant" and waited to see who was in Gao Xian's group after their meal. Only then did he go to the treasure shop run by the Prince of Rencheng's Mansion to report to the strategist Zhang Puhui, who was waiting there.

"There are two people who flatter Gao Xian: one is Zhao Yong, the Commandant of the Imperial Carriage, and the other is Zhen Ning, the father of the Chamberlain Zhen Chen. The rest of the纨绔 (playboys) should all be commoner sons who rely on others everywhere. Among them, I have seen three of them by the side of the Registrar of the Prince of Guangping's Mansion."

This merchant, surnamed Liu, mainly ran taverns and jewelry stores. He was specially trained by the Prince of Rencheng's court, tasked with using his merchant status to enter and leave officials' residences and cultivate relationships with various officials and clerks in the ministers' offices.

After Zhang Puhui returned to the Prince of Rencheng's residence, he learned that Princess Jinan and Gao Meng's affair had been successful. He glanced at the direction of the Prince of Guangling's residence next door with a smile and praised, "Only Prince Yu could make something like this happen so smoothly."

Prince Rencheng: "Gao Meng's situation is basically settled. Gao Zhao lacks the means to control public opinion; it's probably all over the surrounding neighborhoods by now. Sigh—"

Zhang Puhui asked in confusion, "Is the king sighing?"

"I'm lamenting that man proposes, God disposes. After dealing with Gao Meng, I also found out that Gao Zhao is a widower."

"Oh no! This is terrible!"

Prince Rencheng: "You also thought of... Lord Yuanzhen."

Princess Yuanzhen of Chenliu was widowed again after her husband Wang Su died of illness. Yuanzhen was more capable than Princess Yuanying of Changle. If the emperor tied this princess's interests to those of the Gao family, Gao Zhao would be able to quickly rise to the top in a very short time!
Prince Rencheng: "We'll discuss Gao Zhao's matter later. Let's talk about Gao Xian first. Zhen Ning's flattery of Gao Xian must have been the idea of ​​Attendant-in-Ordinary Zhen Chen."

Zhang Puhui: "I understand. I know that Zhen Chen has a younger brother named Zhen Senglin. It seems that the Zhen family wants to curry favor with Gao Xian in order to get an official position for Zhen Senglin as well."

As for Zhao Yong, who was also trying to curry favor with Gao Xian, the reason he was able to develop the idea of ​​attaching himself to Gao Xian was because the Prince of Rencheng instructed Zhang Longzi, a guard, to boast about the Gao family in the Imperial Guard camp, which Zhao Yong deliberately overheard.

Zhao Yong's duty was to drive the emperor's carriage. When Zhao Xiu was alive, Zhao Yong tried his best to curry favor with him in order to get promoted, but all his efforts were in vain. Zhao Xiu "disappeared" without any reason!

Prince Rencheng speculated: "After Gao Xian heard Cui Han's account of strange tales, even if he had no intention of using divination, Zhao Yong, for the sake of his own future, would have taken the initiative to mention his acquaintance with the immortal scholar of the Chongxuan Bureau."

Zhao Puhui continued, "Knowing each other is one thing, but Zhao Yong can't actually persuade the Immortal Doctor. However, since he's using the name of the Duke of Chengcheng, the Immortal Doctor naturally wouldn't dare refuse to perform divination for Gao Xian."

The Immortal Doctor's surname is Zhao, and his given name is Xuan. Before entering the Chongxuan Bureau, he was a man of the Prince of Rencheng. Since the death of the late emperor, the current emperor, Yuan Ke, has almost never summoned Zhao Xuan. The powerful and influential people in the capital are opportunistic. For important matters such as divination, they all go to the Celestial Master of Chongxu Temple. As time goes by, Zhao Xuan's reputation is not even as good as that of Zhong Lülang and You Shuangfeng.

Therefore, Prince Rencheng's scheme against Gao Xian also aimed to bring Zhao Xuan back to the court.

But as the Prince of Rencheng lamented, things don't always go as planned. The sneer from the servants at the Pingcheng Sheep Restaurant aroused Gao Xian's suspicion. Not only did Gao Xian distrust Zhao Xuan from the beginning, but it also forced Zhao Xuan to leave the court.

The conversation is divided into two parts.

When Gao Xian returned to his residence in the evening, Wei Yao arrived a step ahead of him and was discussing something with Gao Zhao in private.

Although he had just returned home, and even if Wei Yao wanted to discuss Gao Meng and Princess Jinan with him, she couldn't find him, Gao Xian still believed that Wei Yao was sent by the emperor, who only valued Gao Zhao and ignored him, his uncle.

Gao Xian never expected that Wei Yao and Gao Zhao were discussing the relocation of ancestral graves. "How has Pingyuan Gong considered the matter of returning the old Bohai Duke's grave? Has he decided on the clansmen who will return to their hometown together?"

Gao Zhao has forgotten about this!

On the first day, I deliberately forgot, but in the following days, when I was taking stock of the palace's rewards, I was so happy that I actually forgot!

"Has the Emperor urged us?" Gao Zhao no longer treated Wei Yao as an outsider and asked directly without lying.

Wei Yao feigned sincerity and said, "I came early to urge the Duke because I was afraid the Emperor would urge me."

Gao Zhao sighed, "Not everyone can enjoy wealth and luxury. We were only happy for a few days, and look, this incident of offending the princess happened today. Alas, you didn't see my nephew's face. Both sides of his face were scratched raw by the princess. And when the princess left, so many people gathered outside the mansion to watch the spectacle! It was so embarrassing!"

Wei Yao advised, "The matter has already happened, so don't worry too much, Your Highness. There's no need to pay attention to the rumors outside. There are many powerful people in Luoyang, and there are always new and interesting things happening every day. New things will overshadow old things, and eventually no one will care anymore."

"really?"

"Don't worry, if people around are still talking about this in a few days, I'll find someone to make up one or two unusual stories and then find someone to spread them to relieve the Duke of the County and the Duke of Bohai of their troubles."

Gao Zhao was extremely grateful: "Things can be done this way? Oh, this is wonderful!"

Wei Yao: "I have another matter to discuss with you today. I would like to trouble you, Your Excellency, to inform Lady Gao Ying that I will be taking her to the Prince of Beihai’s residence for the ‘Crane Banquet’ hosted by the Dowager Consort Gao during my leave at the beginning of next month."

Gao Zhao was a very studious man and was about to ask what the Crane Banquet was. Did the powerful and wealthy in Luoyang even eat cranes?

Wei Yao was so clever; how could she wait for Gao Zhao to ask? She only needed a breath before explaining, "Crane Wine is a wine favored by the powerful and wealthy in Luoyang. When officials went to take up posts in other places, they would always take this wine with them, storing it for their own consumption or as gifts to colleagues and friends. Because this wine was expensive and was often sent from Luoyang by high-ranking officials to various places for drinking, its shape resembled a crane in flight, hence the elegant name 'Crane Wine'."

She changed her tone: "However, this wine also has a common name, 'Donkey Riding Wine'."

"Haha," Gao Zhao laughed heartily, "I like this common name!"

Wei Yao smiled and said, "The powerful and wealthy in the capital are planning to hold a Crane Wine Banquet next month. I informed you of this in advance because I thought that someone might invite you to the banquet. No matter what name they use, you will know that it is the same kind of fine wine."

"I understand, I understand." Gao Zhao once again regarded Wei Yao as the best official in the world. She patiently explained even such trivial matters to him, afraid that he would embarrass himself and be ridiculed when he met the princes and ministers.

As before, Wei Yao instructed, "I did not see the Duke of Chengcheng. Please have the Duke relay what I said to him."

Gao Xian stood at the corner of the small door, watching. After Wei Yao left, he appeared and asked his brother, "What brings Lady Wei here?"

Gao Zhaoxun said, "What else could it be? It's about the princess and that idiot A-Meng! And you, where have you been all day? I haven't seen you at all! Didn't I tell you that the court could send an imperial edict to appoint us to official positions at any time, and what did you do..."

Gao Xian listened with his head drooping, but in reality, the complaints went in one ear and out the other, sinking deeper and deeper into his heart.

The phrase "soaring up ninety thousand miles on the whirlwind" from Zhuangzi's "Free and Easy Wandering" comes from the ancient book "Qi Xie".