Chapter 1: A Warning Example
After a night of rain, the red plum blossoms planted in front of the Jiao Fang Palace lay scattered on the ground, leaving only a few remaining on the branches.
The vibrant red plums were strewn across the melting snow, and with the gentle east wind, there was a chilling touch of early spring.
As the moon set and stars faded, several sounds came from within the palace, and whispers drifted from the latticed windows. Last night, His Majesty rested in the Jiao Fang Palace; hearing the sounds, the palace servants knew he was awake. They bowed their heads and entered to serve with their utensils.
It was a regular court day, so there was no need for elaborate attire. After washing, Zhao Yiyi took down a spring bird jade belt pendant and, raising her eyes to look at the man in front of her, softly asked:
“Your Majesty, would this jade belt be suitable today?”
The man was tall and handsome, with a refined and cold countenance. After more than twenty years as Crown Prince, and nearly a year on the throne, wearing a robe with a Bi Xi (mythical creature) pattern, he exuded boundless majesty and bearing.
Seemingly lost in thought, he kept his eyes closed and didn’t answer. Zhao Yiyi bit her lip and called out to him again: “Your Majesty?”
Gu Zhen finally came to his senses, glanced at the jade belt pendant, and nodded slightly, his expression as calm as usual: “Fine.”
His deep phoenix eyes drooped slightly, seemingly glancing downward casually.
Zhao Yiyi had already fastened the jade belt hook and was straightening his clothes. When she noticed the gaze on her, her fingertips instinctively curled, and she lightly scratched his abdomen.
Through several layers of thin silk clothing, it didn’t hurt, but there was an indescribable tingling sensation.
Gu Zhen’s sword-like brows furrowed slightly. He suddenly grabbed Zhao Yiyi’s hand and asked in a low voice: “What’s wrong?”
The man’s palm was warm and slightly rough. The strong, cold air brushed past her ear, making her heart beat rapidly. Zhao Yiyi tilted her head slightly, her face flushed: “This servant was momentarily distracted. Did I hurt Your Majesty?”
With some anxiety, she cautiously looked at Gu Zhen. Unintentionally meeting his cold phoenix eyes, her heart beat faster.
After a moment of silence, Gu Zhen suddenly released her hand and said calmly: “It’s nothing.”
After straightening his robe, Zhao Yiyi fastened a Shan Xuan jade pendant around his waist.
For some reason, perhaps because of his low voice just now, or the heat he had transmitted from his palm, every time she accidentally touched him, her delicate hands felt as if they were burned, and she hastily moved them away.
Gu Zhen glanced at her. Perhaps because his mood was good this morning, he rarely had the leisure to tease her: “Your Majesty seems unusually shy today.”
Zhao Yiyi came from a noble family, her ancestors having served as high-ranking officials for four generations. Even in her grandfather’s generation, he had served as a high minister.
When the Emperor was still the Crown Prince, she married into the Eastern Palace as his concubine. Now, it had been more than two years.
Despite this, she knew she loved her husband. From the moment she saw the elegant young man several years ago, she had placed him in her heart.
Over the years, the tiny seed of affection had grown into a towering tree.
When she learned that she was to become the Crown Princess, she was overjoyed.
For more than two years, their relationship had been harmonious. While not particularly affectionate, they had been respectful and courteous to each other.
Gu Zhen had always been extremely calm and gentle, his personality dignified and austere. Suddenly teased by him, Zhao Yiyi’s face turned red, her downcast eyes fixed on the jade belt pendant on the man’s waist: “This servant merely…”
“Alright,” Gu Zhen put aside his playful mood and said softly, “It’s getting late.”
His warm and mellow voice reached her ears. Zhao Yiyi responded softly, turning to pick up the winged auspicious crown placed on the pile of silks.
The frost-covered black hair made him look even more handsome and elegant. Zhao Yiyi reached out, wanting to adjust the gauze crown.
The man’s tall figure completely enveloped her. Standing before him, Zhao Yiyi only reached his chin.
After a while, her arm became slightly sore.
She pursed her lips and said softly: “Your Majesty, could you… lower your head slightly?”
Having said that, she looked up at the man in front of her, just as his cold phoenix eyes met hers. The deep gaze made her heart flutter, and she helplessly tried to avoid his gaze.
The air around them stagnated for a moment. Just as Zhao Yiyi regretted speaking to him like that and reached out to continue adjusting, he suddenly lowered his eyes slightly.
He lowered his head to just the right height, allowing her to easily reach the crown.
“Your Majesty, is this enough?” Gu Zhen asked, his brows furrowed.
His light voice showed no emotion.
Zhao Yiyi’s heart trembled slightly. After a brief moment of surprise, she nodded slightly: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
She hurriedly adjusted Gu Zhen’s winged auspicious crown, and then folded his collar. Her fingers inadvertently touched Gu Zhen’s Adam’s apple.
Noticing his body stiffen for a moment, Zhao Yiyi pulled her hand back, and before he could speak, she quickly said: “It’s done. Your Majesty, should you have some snacks before you go?”
Gu Zhen usually ate breakfast after the court session, but before the court session, he would have some snacks to fill his stomach.
He nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
A hint of elation crossed Zhao Yiyi’s heart.
Although her husband was the Emperor, ruler of the four seas, in these matters, he always followed her arrangements. This made her fall deeper and deeper in love with him, little by little.
Husband.
Publicly, she called him Your Highness and Your Majesty; secretly, hidden in her heart, was the ordinary term.
After eating a few snacks, the two of them left the main hall one after the other. It was dawn; a fish-belly white appeared in the sky, and the outline of the sun was faintly visible.
The red plum blossoms were soaked with rainwater, their bright and eye-catching color captivating the heart.
Zhao Yiyi looked at the tall figure beside her, lost in thought, and saw the leather boots stepping on the rain-washed bricks, splashing tiny droplets of water.
“Your Majesty, today is the Empress Dowager’s birthday,” Zhao Yiyi said, unsure if he still remembered.
“Mm,” Gu Zhen replied, still his usual cold self. “After the court session, I will return early to celebrate the Empress Dowager’s birthday with you.”
Zhao Yiyi smiled. Although she knew she was half a step behind, he couldn’t see her smile. Her almond-shaped eyes were still curved into crescent moons, and a beauty spot at the corner of her eye was alluring.
Gu Zhen looked back and saw that it was still snowing. His Empress was only wearing a light pink silk jacket.
His gaze quickly swept over her, and he suddenly remembered the Empress’s father, Marquis Huai’an, Zhao Weimin.
Although the Empress’s grandfather had already passed away, his former students and associates were still active in the court. Zhao Weimin often used these connections to stir up trouble in the court, which was annoying.
Since his ascension to the throne, he had been planning to punish the Zhao family. Now that his position was secure, he had made up his mind to deal with them.
The courtyard was brightly lit by rows of palace lanterns. In the early morning of late winter and early spring, the warm orange light extended to the Su Zhang Gate.
Zhao Yiyi stopped at this gate, watching him board his palanquin. She bowed and said softly: “Alright, I’ll wait for Your Majesty’s return. If the Empress Dowager asks, I’ll simply use Your Majesty as an excuse.”
The ochre-yellow curtain fell, and the Emperor said nothing more.
Zhao Yiyi stood at the Su Zhang Gate, watching the Emperor’s palanquin travel along the palace path towards the Daqing Hall.
Only after the palanquin disappeared did she slowly withdraw her gaze and return to the Jiao Fang Palace.
The maid Yunzhu supported her as she walked towards the inner hall, reminding her to watch out for the threshold, then whispered: “Your Majesty, would you like to have a meal? At least eat some breakfast.” She thought that earlier, due to the time constraint, she only had a few mouthfuls, and she hadn’t eaten properly.
Zhao Yiyi had already sat down at the dressing table. She rubbed her brows slightly, tired, remembering that last night he was in a good mood and had asked for her several times, and she couldn’t even remember what time they finally rested.
And yet she had to get up early to serve him before court.
If it were an ordinary day, she could rest for another hour, but today was the Empress Dowager’s birthday, and the ladies would enter the palace for a court audience, requiring her, the Empress, to preside over the occasion.
Zhao Yiyi shook her head and removed a peach blossom hairpin from her hair: “Let’s start dressing first, then we’ll talk later.”
Yunzhu frowned with some concern and whispered: “Then I’ll get a bowl of flat dumplings and feed Your Majesty a few bites while you’re dressing?”
After a moment of silence, Zhao Yiyi lowered her head slightly and finally agreed.
The palace maid who was combing her hair asked if she wanted to wear twelve gold hairpins today. Zhao Yiyi recalled that the Empress Dowager disliked her, and if she saw that they both wore twelve gold hairpins, she might be unhappy.
If she dressed simply, it would be disrespectful.
Neither choice was right.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror and sighed softly: “Wear them.” She was already disliked by the Empress Dowager, so she couldn’t make any mistakes in etiquette.
If she made a mistake, it would not only be her own reputation at stake.
After applying rouge, sticking flower decorations, and applying lip color, the twelve gold hairpins representing the Empress’s status were added to her hair, and by the time she changed into her ceremonial robes, it was already light.
With that, she got up and slowly left the bedroom.
Although the ladies had not yet arrived, the Wanchun Hall was already bustling. Little palace maids in green silk robes carried utensils and moved between the tables, their steps brisk and cheerful.
Zhao Yiyi entered to greet the Empress Dowager and reported on the arrangements for the banquet.
This was her first time handling such an occasion, so she had to make sure everything was perfect, without any omissions.
Perhaps because of her birthday, the Empress Dowager was in a good mood today. Not only did she not criticize her, she even smiled at her: “Thank you, Empress.”
Zhao Yiyi bowed and said: “This is my duty.”
The Empress Dowager suddenly asked: “When will the Emperor arrive?”
“His Majesty said that he will come to celebrate the Empress Dowager’s birthday after the court session,” Zhao Yiyi poured a cup of tea for the Empress Dowager and replied softly.
The Empress Dowager lowered her eyelids slightly, and Zhao Yiyi keenly sensed that she was unhappy.
Seeing this, the Princess of Linchuan immediately said: “Sister-in-law, today is Mother’s birthday. Why don’t you persuade the Emperor? Is there anything more important than Mother’s birthday?”
“Alright,” the Empress Dowager scolded her, rubbing her temples. “It’s not a round birthday this year. It’s fine if he comes later.”
Linchuan whined in a drawn-out voice: “Mother—”
Listening to the mother and daughter’s back-and-forth, along with the comforting words from the other ladies-in-waiting, a bitter taste arose in Zhao Yiyi’s heart.
What the Emperor does and thinks is beyond her control. The Emperor is handling affairs of state; what position should she take to intervene?
Zhao Yiyi did not refute but smiled gently: “His Majesty cares about the country and is diligent in governing, which is already the greatest reward for the Empress Dowager.”
Thinking of her handsome son, the Empress Dowager felt a surge of pride and thought that the Empress’s words were quite reasonable.
Her sullen mood immediately dissipated.
The court session ended unhappily.
They were discussing the matter of temples and monasteries, which had been brought up before. The Emperor wanted to order the rectification of temples and the measurement of temple lands, but some court officials thought this was inauspicious and strongly opposed it.
In the end, the court officials did not achieve their desired results, and the Emperor was also annoyed.
When the Emperor was still the Crown Prince, everyone said that he was gentle and kind, and knew how to value talent. They said that having such a Crown Prince was a blessing for the Great Chu Dynasty.
Some even secretly discussed that compared to the ruthless and cruel Emperor, the Crown Prince was more suitable to rule the country.
However, after nearly a year on the throne, his behavior was different from the past. The fierce battle with Xi Liang last year showed his calmness and decisiveness, which reminded people of the late Emperor.
Therefore, many court officials opposed him, wanting to pull him back to his old ways.
Gu Zhen leaned against the imperial throne, casually flipping through several memorials, his eyes filled with anger: “They have no real ability, yet they oppose me on this matter. According to them, I’m almost a tyrant.”
The contents of the memorials quoted classics and were beautifully written, but the core was to persuade him to revoke his order. Some even mentioned that the late Emperor was tolerant of Buddhism and Taoism and had funded the construction of several temples.
The court officials wanted to use the late Emperor to pressure him, but Gu Zhen did this precisely because the late Emperor was too devout, leading to the proliferation of temples, and the documents that should have been issued every three years were issued randomly.
This action was simply inviting his wrath.
The Prince Yan coughed lightly and said: “Many people in the court believe in Buddhism and Taoism. They are naturally panicked and want to dissuade Your Majesty.”
Gu Zhen closed his eyes and said calmly: “Not entirely. They just want to test my limits.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips. Prince Yan was his confidant, and seeing this, he knew that he was truly angry and did not dare to speak again.
He flipped through the memorials on the table and found Zhao Weimin’s name.
A faint trace of anger appeared in Gu Zhen’s eyes. He ordered the palace servants to fetch paper and ink.
The aristocratic families had controlled the court for many years, and the connections between them had become a custom. Before ascending to the throne, Gu Zhen had already planned to deal with them.
The Zhao family was no longer as powerful as before. He did not intend to touch them, but Zhao Weimin was too annoying, and as the father-in-law of the country, taking him as an example would serve as a warning to others.
Thinking of this, Gu Zhen dipped his wolf-hair brush in ink and wrote the edict himself instead of entrusting it to the scribe.
Prince Yan glanced sideways and saw the swift and elegant script. However, the content of the edict made him widen his eyes slightly.
After writing, Gu Zhen stared at it for a long time, finally took the imperial seal, dipped it in the inkpad, his eyes suddenly darkened, and then slowly pressed the imperial seal onto the edict.