Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 130 Yanran Enters the Eastern Palace, Lady Qin Commits Self-Immolation

In the sixth year of the Jiayou era, half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

The day before Yu Yanran entered the palace, Minglan specially brought Xiaotao to visit her.

Previously in Youyang, her aunt, Madam Li, had given her a lot of gold and silver jewelry.

Aunt Sheng Yun immediately stuffed a handful of melon seeds into his hands upon meeting him.

Minglan specially selected several pieces and sent them to Cuibaozhai to have the craftsmen recast them, making a heavy headdress for Yanran.

Inside her boudoir, under the careful guidance of her nanny, Yanran's demeanor as a noble lady was even more refined than before.

She took the makeup box that Minglan handed her, frowned and said, "Why do you have to spend so much? Grandmother said that my expenses in the Eastern Palace will be fixed from now on. You should keep these jewelry for yourself."

Minglan smiled brightly and sat down on the soft couch with practiced ease.

"Sister Yanran, do we have to be so formal with each other?"

Xiao Tao stood happily to the side and then said, "Please accept this, young lady. My young lady prepared this set of jewelry a long time ago and was just waiting to deliver it to you today."

Upon hearing this, Yanran's eyes welled up with tears.

"Alright then, I'll give you something tomorrow too."

She turned around, opened the chest, and took out a roll of embroidery carefully wrapped in brocade.

"Your birthday is in a few days, and I don't know if I'll have the chance to meet you then."

"I'll just give it to you now, as an early congratulation."

As the embroidery was slowly unfurled, Minglan was somewhat surprised. "Isn't this the 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix' embroidery that I framed for you? Didn't you give it to your stepmother?"

“After I came back, I thought about it a lot and felt that my stepmother did not deserve such good things.”

"To be honest, my grandfather has already caught her lending money at exorbitant interest rates outside, and he will soon find out the truth about her secretly subsidizing the Fang family's accounts over the years."

"As long as my father can divorce his wife, the Yu family will be at peace from now on."

Minglan picked up the cup of water she had mistakenly taken and nodded repeatedly.

Over the years, through Old Madam Sheng and Yanran, she had heard a lot about the Fang family.

I felt that Grand Tutor Yu was wise and discerning throughout his life, and the only thing he misjudged was letting Fang Shi into the family as the matriarch.

"Ming'er, it's fortunate that the Crown Princess is your elder sister, otherwise I'm afraid I would be even more uncertain than I am now."

Yanran pursed her lips and exhaled a breath of stale air.

Although she trusted her grandfather's choice, she still felt somewhat uneasy and confused about the matter, as it concerned her entire life.

Minglan lowered her eyes, there were some things she really didn't know how to tell Yanran right now.

So she comforted him, saying, "My eldest sister is the most gentle and fair, and His Highness the Crown Prince is also a reasonable and kind person."

"In this Bianjing city today, there are countless young ladies who yearn to enter the Eastern Palace, but have no way to do so."

"Yes," Yu Yanran replied softly, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

"In the future, you must come and talk to me more often. I only regret that I cannot take you with me into the palace."

“I…” Minglan was speechless for a moment.

Thinking of Zhao Han's earlier words about repaying him, an indescribable feeling welled up in his heart.

Seeing her like this, Yanran waved her hand in front of her eyes, "Ming'er, what's wrong?"

"No...nothing."

Minglan came to her senses and secretly told herself that she could only leave this matter to fate, as it was something she couldn't control.

The next day, at the auspicious time.

After bidding farewell to her parents and relatives, Yanran rode in a chariot drawn by a group of female officials and eunuchs, and entered the East Palace through a side gate.

Meanwhile, inside the Wenhua Hall.

Several ministers, including Zhang Fu, Han Zhang, Shen Shiqi, and Zhao Han, were present.

Holding a memorial in his hand, Zhao Zhen said calmly, "If we want to take over Western Xia, we must first recover the Hehuang region."

"This Yu Sixian has the same demeanor as the old Grand Tutor Yu in his youth."

Shen Shiqi stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

"I still vividly remember the policy essays I wrote during the imperial examinations and the palace examinations. They were broad in scope and profound in strategy."

Grand Tutor Yu knew that his sons were all mediocre, so he devoted all his efforts to cultivating his nephew Yu Sixian.

After completing his term at the Hanlin Academy, Yu Sixian requested to be sent to a post outside the capital for further training, as arranged by Grand Tutor Yu.

He would wait until his term was up, then return to the capital for an official examination, and then be promoted to a high-ranking position, eventually becoming a cabinet minister.

Emperor Zhao Zhen also valued him highly; otherwise, he would not have sent him directly to Liangzhe, a wealthy region known for its political achievements, to gain experience.

Zhao Han's gaze narrowed slightly. The Hehuang region was under the rule of the Tubo regime, located directly southwest of the Western Xia.

During the reign of Li Yuanhao, the Western Xia continued to expand outwards, encroaching on the pastures of the Tubo Kingdom.

Over the years, the Great Zhou and Tibet have maintained a loose alliance.

In the tenth year of the Tiansheng era, the Tibetan king Qusiluo was appointed by Emperor Zhao Zhen as the General of Ningyuan and the Military Commissioner of Aizhou.

In the third year of Jingyou, Gusiluo was appointed as the acting military governor of Baoshun Army.

In the first year of the Baoyuan era, he was appointed as the military governor of Baoshun Army and concurrently the chief of Miaochuan. He also regularly paid tribute to the Great Zhou with horses, and the Great Zhou reciprocated with gold, silver, silk, and tea.

With the Divine Machine Battalion in place, Zhao Han believed that even if the Western Xia allied with the Tibetan Empire, it would pose little threat to the Great Zhou.

However, if they could successfully control the Hehuang region, it would be like placing a knife in the weak spot of the Western Xia.

At that time, troops could be dispatched directly from Xi, He, Tao and other prefectures to threaten the right flank of the Western Xia in the Hexi region, putting it into a two-front war.

The memorial sent by Yu Sixian was quite unexpected to him.

Tibet is currently embroiled in constant internal strife, and Qusiluo has had several wives.

The first was the daughter of Prime Minister Li Lizun, who gave birth to the eldest son, Xiazhan, and the second son, Mozhanjiao.

Li Lizun wielded immense power; it was under his patronage that Qusiluo became the current King of Tibet.
Therefore, he repeatedly petitioned the emperor to appoint him as Zanpu (king).

In the hearts of the Tibetan people, the term "Zanpu" signifies the son of a god and possesses unparalleled sacredness.

Historically, this title was reserved for members of the Tibetan royal family.

Once the investiture is agreed upon, one's Gusiluo bloodline will completely lose its sacredness.

After weighing the options, Gusiluo resolutely decided to break free from his control and sever all ties with him.

As a result, Li fell out of favor and was forcibly sent to become a nun, where she was placed under house arrest.

The second wife, surnamed Qiao, thus became the principal wife, and her family became particularly powerful.

She gave birth to her third son, Dongzhan, who was deeply loved by Gusiluo and was kept by his side from a young age to be raised as his heir.

Neither Xiazhan nor Mojiaozhan were willing to kneel down and humbly submit to their third brother Dongzhan a hundred years after Gusiluo's death.

So, Xia Zhan secretly contacted the relatives of his birth mother, Li, and rescued her from her confinement. Then, he took Li and his men straight to Hezhou and established his own independent regime there.

Seeing that his elder brother had started to establish his own power base, Mojiaozhan followed suit, leading his men to occupy Zongge's territory and become a local tyrant.

The entire Tibetan regime was divided into three. Gusiluo was worried that the Western Xia and the Great Zhou would take advantage of the situation and was not willing to send troops to attack his two sons, so he tacitly allowed them to establish their own independent regimes.

In the third year of the Jiayou era, Xiazhan and Mojiaozhan died one after the other.

The regime was inherited by their respective sons, who remained unwilling to submit to the Qusiluo and became increasingly divided.

Now over sixty years old, Qusiluo's energy is not what it used to be, and internal strife is rampant within Tibet, making it impossible to quell the unrest.

Shen Shiqi once again bowed and advised, "Your Majesty, I believe it would be better to immediately summon Yu Sixian back to the capital to discuss military strategies against Tibet."

Zhao Zhen had a faint smile on his face as he turned his head and focused his gaze on Zhao Han.

After understanding, Zhao Han said gently, "Your subject thinks Lord Shen is absolutely right. Since Yu Sixian has submitted this memorial, he must have a plan in mind." "Putting him in Liangzhe is truly a waste of his talent."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhen nodded slightly, "In that case, let us do as you say and summon him back to the capital immediately."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Han Zhangshen and the others bowed in unison.

After the officials had left, only Emperor Zhao Zhen and his son Zhao Han remained in the Wenhua Hall.

During this period, Zhao Zhen felt his body growing weaker and weaker, getting worse year by year.

He said in a deep voice, "The nephews and nieces trained by Grand Tutor Yu are indeed extraordinary. They are both strategic and practical. This person will surely become a pillar of the country in the future."

"My son understands."

Zhao Zhen paused for a moment, then continued, "From now on, don't neglect the Yu family's daughter. Behind her are not only officials from the Yu family, but also a group of upright officials in the court."

"This marriage, both publicly and privately, requires your careful maintenance."

Zhao Han solemnly cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Your subject will remember your teachings, Father, and will certainly live up to your expectations."

-

In a side hall on the west side of the East Palace, candlelight flickered. Yu Yanran, dressed in a dark green wedding gown, sat gracefully on the edge of the bed, her face lightly powdered, her beauty as fair as jade.

She was sitting upright on the edge of the bed, her every move exuding the elegance and refinement of a noble family.

The maids who accompanied the bride, including Shi Shu, stood quietly to the side, their expressions calm and their demeanor composed.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived—" The clear announcement from the eunuch outside the hall reached my ears.

Behind the screen, Yu Yanran took a deep breath, a hint of barely suppressed tension and excitement flashing across her eyes.

After stepping into the hall, Zhao Han glanced at Shi Shu and the others. They immediately understood, respectfully left, and gently closed the hall door.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Yu Yanran lowered her eyes and rose to give a graceful bow.

Zhao Han took her slightly cool hand in his and said gently, "Today's etiquette is quite complicated. Are you feeling tired now?"

"Your Highness is too kind. It was simply my duty."

As she spoke, Yu Yanran's eyelashes fluttered slightly, her cheeks flushed with shyness, making her look especially endearing.

"That's good. Don't be too reserved. I promised Grand Tutor Yu that I would not mistreat you in the future."

She raised her almond-shaped eyes and looked at Zhao Han with slight surprise, saying softly, "Your Highness's kindness is deeply appreciated. I will certainly keep to my duty and serve you wholeheartedly from now on."

The two sat down side by side on the edge of the bed.

Zhao Han gently removed a familiar-looking hairpin from her jeweled hair bun.

"Your Highness still remembers this?" Yanran blinked.

"How could I not remember? At the Liang family polo club, someone cried very sadly because of this hairpin."

"When you returned to the manor that day, did Miss Yu give you any trouble?"

Zhao Han's words contained no mockery, but rather a hint of pity, as he knew that Yu Yanran's life in the Yu family was extremely difficult.

"It wasn't really difficult, just a few sarcastic remarks."

"Today, I am already content to be able to marry wearing my late mother's belongings."

Tears welled in Yu Yanran's eyes, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile.

Zhao Han solemnly placed the hairpin back into her hand.

"Your temperament is too gentle. As the eldest granddaughter of Grand Tutor Yu, you should have been the most proud and bright girl in Bianjing City."

Now that you've entered the Eastern Palace, feel free to speak your mind and argue your case. I'll take care of everything for you.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yanran felt a pang of sorrow, and large tears rolled down her cheeks like broken pearls.

Zhao Han reached out and gently pulled her into his arms. Yanran turned her head and buried her burning cheeks in his neck, her voice soft and tearful, "Your Highness..."

An hour later, Yu Yanran stopped crying, her little face becoming even more rosy.

"It's getting late, time to rest."

"Mmm..." Yu Yanran responded softly.

As the layers of her wedding dress fell to the ground, her beautiful figure was revealed.

Yu Yanran has fair skin, a tall and slender figure, but she is not the thin type.

Her waist was so slender it could be encircled by one hand, and her legs were long, shapely, and glistening with an alluring sheen in the candlelight.

Faced with Zhao Han's admiration, Yu Yanran's breathing quickened slightly, adding to her allure.

"Your Highness, I will blow out the candle." With that, she stood up.

Zhao Han grabbed her slender wrist.

In his view, a woman like Yu Yanran, who comes from a scholarly family, is the most virtuous and chaste.

She has no idea about the pleasures of a young lady's life, and you can't tell the truth from her face; she's truly utterly uninteresting.

If possible, it would be better to do it during the day, so as not to waste resources.

…………

As the night passed, the first rays of dawn appeared.

With the help of the maids, Yanran washed and changed her clothes, and put her hair up in a bun, her eyes and brows still showing a hint of shyness.

Today, she is not only going to visit Hualan.

According to palace etiquette, Hua Lan also had to lead her to the Kun Ning Palace to pay her respects to Empress Cao.

On the other side, inside the Mingde Hall.

Zhao Han put down the document in her hand and looked at Gu Tingye with a puzzled expression.

He looked haggard, his eyes were bloodshot, and he exuded an indescribable weariness and depression.

"Zhonghuai, what's wrong with you...?"

Gu Tingye sighed deeply, his voice hoarse, "Your Highness, my stepmother... is gone..."

"Gu Hou made the move?" Zhao Han's expression hardened slightly.

Gu Tingye shook his head. "My father, considering how she has managed the household affairs over the years and even gave birth to Tingwei, only plans to confine her to a side courtyard for now and then find a Taoist temple to settle her in later."

"But for some reason last night, after having a big fight with her father, she set a fire and locked herself inside the house."

"When I arrived, the fire was completely out of control and could not be extinguished at all. She was cursing her father and the entire Gu family while she was in the fire."

"I don't want to hold a grudge against her for what happened in the past."

"It's just a pity for Tingwei, who witnessed such a tragic scene."

Zhao Han looked at him with a deep gaze, shook her head and sighed. The various grudges in the inner quarters were the most difficult to judge, and it was hard to say who was right and who was wrong.

"It seems your marriage to the Yuan family's daughter will have to be postponed."

Gu Tingye smiled wryly and said, "Yes, fortunately the engagement has already been arranged."

The Yuan family had long heard about the various farces that had befallen the Gu family, but it was only after Gu Tingye personally came to their door that they learned of it.

When the dowry was offered as ten fine shops, Lord Yuan and Madam Zhang considered it briefly.

He agreed to the marriage on the spot.

After all, his family was already struggling financially and couldn't even afford much of a dowry.

It's simply impossible to marry your daughter off to a family with a good reputation and equal social standing.

For the Yuan family, Gu Tingye's willingness to marry their daughter was already a good thing.

(End of this chapter)