HBWnovel Chapter 2 The Legend of Zhen Huan (1)
Chapter 2 The Legend of Zhen Huan (1)
"Su Peisheng, whose house is next door?"
"Your Highness, it is Princess Wangyou from Lord Daishan's household!"
"Judging from that voice, it's a mischievous one!" Yinzhen smiled, though it was unclear what was in that smile.
At this point, Yinzhen was no longer the chubby orange in the drama, but the Yongzheng Emperor who had traveled from the real history.
Emperor Yongzheng thought he was done with his life, but he didn't expect that he would not be taken away by the Black and White Impermanence after his death. Instead, he stayed in the Forbidden City and saw his spendthrift son Hongli squander the foundation he left behind, and he saw his younger generation becoming worse and worse, allowing barbarian countries to invade. He witnessed the most humiliating history.
He also witnessed the establishment of the new world. Feeling no regrets, he wondered why the Black and White Impermanence hadn't come looking for him yet. In the blink of an eye, he was here.
He thought he was back, but after digesting the memories of this body, Yongzheng just wanted to curse it as absurd!
Promising a concubine to become the principal wife after she gives birth to a child is unprecedented since the founding of the Qing Dynasty. Putting that aside, it's unheard of for the concubine's family to send an unmarried princess to take care of her pregnant half-sister. It's outrageous!
That's not all. A princess from a fallen noble family danced in his house while wearing the formal attire of a concubine, and even seduced him. She cried and begged her father to make her his primary consort!
However, when he arrived, the primary wife had finally become pregnant after three years in the household. Yinzhen was overjoyed and completely disregarded his son, letting him die in the heavy rain. The primary wife and her unborn child died together, and Yinzhen fainted from anger.
Emperor Yongzheng inherited such a mess, and with the struggle for the throne at a critical juncture, he had no choice but to follow Consort De's advice and elevate Ulanara Yixiu to the position of Empress.
The struggle for the throne is now in full swing, and Yongzheng is recuperating in Xiaotangshan under the pretext of illness.
However, I had never heard of this Shuyan Gioro clan in my previous life. They were Manchu nobles belonging to the Bordered Yellow Banner. Their ancestors had followed the founding emperor in conquering the country and were highly trusted by Emperor Kangxi.
……
"Princess, the fish food is here!"
"Now all I can do is feed the fish!" Wangyou was very bored. In the modern world, she had countless ways to pass the time, but here, countless ideas could only be shelved.
Firstly, they are too young, and secondly, there's really nothing else to do.
"Princess, you can wield a sword and a whip!"
"I'm tired!" Wangyou lazily fed the koi in the pond. "I just want to come of age quickly so that my father and mother will let me go out!"
"What does the princess want to do?"
"After I finish signing the contract, I will go out to sea with my uncle. I want to experience the scenery of my great Qing Dynasty. I want to see the magnificent scene of the lone smoke rising straight from the desert and the setting sun over the long river. I also want to see the beautiful sea view of the wind blowing white waves and rolling light smoke, and the vast sea where sails can sail freely. Just thinking about it makes me happy!"
"After hearing what you said, Princess, I also want to go and see it!"
"And what could be better than the beautiful scenery of Jiangnan, where lotus leaves stretch to the sky, an endless expanse of green, and lotus blossoms bloom red under the sun!"
"But Princess, after you come of age and announce your marriage, it seems you'll have to prepare for your wedding!" Bai Zhi said worriedly.
"I've told my father, mother, and brothers that I don't want to get married. I don't want to confine myself to that square world. My journey is to the stars and the sea!" Wangyou said smugly.
“But Princess, how can a woman never marry?” Peony was very happy, but the world was too harsh on women.
"Why not? Father and Mother have both agreed to it. Besides, my family doesn't need me to arrange marriages or try to get rich. If any of you four want to get married, tell me as soon as possible, and I'll have Mother choose someone for you!"
"No, Your Highness! Wherever Your Highness is, we will be there too! If Your Highness doesn't marry, neither will we! Please, Your Highness, don't send us away!"
"It's up to you. Just tell me if you have any ideas!" Wangyou didn't insist. Her family had given her the greatest freedom, so why should she confine herself to a small box?
……
"Master, the princess of Lord Daishan's family has truly unique ideas. But after hearing what she said, this servant is also eager to go and see her!" Su Peisheng said jokingly, looking at his master's relaxed expression.
"Go, investigate this princess, get her detailed information!"
"Yes, sir!"
……
Despite the joking and teasing, Wangyou stayed for another three days. But she couldn't stand her father's constant urging, with two letters a day and his personal visit, so she packed her things and went home.
Time flies, and five years have passed in the blink of an eye. Emperor Kangxi passed away, and Prince Yong, Yinzhen, succeeded to the throne. After a year and a half of mourning, the grand general election began.
……
"How is Princess Wangyou doing?" Emperor Yongzheng asked with a stern face inside the Qianqing Palace.
“Princess Wangyou is preparing to quit her job and go home to go to sea with her uncle. Her luggage is all packed!” Su Peisheng said, kneeling down.
"She's certainly well-prepared!" Yongzheng chuckled. "You don't want to enter the palace, but I'll make sure you do."
"Su Peisheng, issue this decree: Confer the title of Virtuous Consort of the First Rank on Shuyan Jueluo Wangyou, and order her to reside in Chengqian Palace. Instruct the Imperial Household Department to thoroughly renovate Chengqian Palace, ensuring it is done to perfection. All expenses shall be covered by my private treasury!" Yongzheng waved his hand and began writing the imperial decree.
"Su Peisheng, go and deliver the imperial decree. While you're at it, ask your Consort Xian what she's asking for. Agree to whatever you can!" After writing the decree, Yongzheng smiled. "How can I let the person I've been thinking about for five years get away?"
"The slave obeys the order!"
A decree bestowing the title of imperial concubine caught the imperial court and harem completely off guard. The princess of the Shuyan Jueluo family was not only eligible for the title of imperial concubine, but could even become the empress. Normally, princesses from noble families would choose their own spouses without having to wait for the imperial concubine selection to end. Unexpectedly, she was bestowed the title of imperial concubine before the selection process was even over.
The Shuyanjueluo family.
After Su Peisheng finished reading the imperial edict, Wangyou thought the emperor was shameless. She was even planning to use the pills for having sons and daughters to develop her breeding business!
However, the emperor was quite generous, directly bestowing upon her the title of Virtuous Consort, a first-rank official, though the word "virtuous" had nothing to do with her.
"Your Highness, Lord Daishan, please accept the imperial decree!" Su Peisheng said respectfully as he closed the decree.
The Shuyan Jueluo family was completely dumbfounded. They were told that the selection process would end before the concubine selection was even completed, so how come their daughter was already made a concubine?
"I have a few requests. If you grant them, I will accept the imperial decree!" Wangyou said, standing up. She had prepared herself not to go to the palace, but who would have thought the emperor would be so shameless!
"You said that His Majesty said that as long as your request is not excessive, it can be fulfilled!"
"Alright, firstly, my Chengqian Palace can only house me; secondly, I want it to be spotless when I enter the palace, I don't want them to find a bunch of messy things during the inspection; thirdly, I don't like kneeling, so have him exempt me from it!"
"Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant spoke to the Emperor!" Su Peisheng's expression remained unchanged throughout.
"Then I won't keep you any longer, Eunuch. Bai Zhi, reward me!"
"Please keep this for tea, Eunuch Su!" Bai Zhi said with a smile, handing over a purse.
After seeing off Su Peisheng and his party, Daishan felt dizzy and lightheaded. Shumulu hugged Wangyou, wanting to cry but not daring to.
"Father, Mother, don't worry, I'll be fine. Besides, the imperial decree says I'm allowed to bring my dowry into the palace. Mother, get ready!" Wangyou really didn't want to see her beautiful mother crying, so she could only try to distract herself.
"Didn't we all agree to drop the plaque? How could the Emperor change his mind so easily? My poor daughter is going to enter that cannibalistic palace!" Shumulu cried, tears streaming down her face.
Wangyou wanted her father, brother, and sister-in-law to persuade her, but when she looked up, she found that they all had red eyes. Who could she rely on then?