Zhulan truly could not bring herself to say it.
The Empress Dowager fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “Zhulan, do you believe in the will of heaven?”
“Since she was able to unite with my son, it is her good fortune.”
She glanced at the peasant girl, already feeling somewhat displeased.
That peasant family was truly bold—their daughter was clearly betrothed, yet they dared to conceal it and deceive her!
Even bolder was this girl, who actually dared to run away?
She nearly ruined her great plan.
In that case, the appearance of the woman in the emperor’s chamber was indeed extremely fortuitous.
“Zhulan, go and investigate who that woman is and why she is at Hanshan Temple.”
Zhulan accepted the order.
…
Aunt Zhulan quickly uncovered Zhou Mingyi’s background and reported it to the Empress Dowager.
“Praying for her elder brother’s blessings?”
“Who is her elder brother? Is he seriously ill? Or perhaps…”
At this, Aunt Zhulan’s expression changed slightly.
“Empress Dowager… do you remember the newly appointed Tanhua scholar, Zhou Mingchong?”
The Empress Dowager paused. “You mean that handsome Tanhua scholar that Chaoyang has taken a fancy to?”
Aunt Zhulan: “Exactly.”
The Empress Dowager fell silent for a moment. “That is troublesome.”
“Chaoyang has been spoiled by me since she was a child. She may be a bit domineering, but her heart is not bad.”
“Zhou Mingchong earned his place as Tanhua through genuine talent and learning—it’s not some childish game of make-believe.”
“If she is sincere, having the emperor bestow a marriage between her and Zhou Mingchong would not be impossible.”
Aunt Zhulan naturally replied, “The Empress Dowager is wise.”
With a single word from the Empress Dowager, Zhou Mingchong transformed from a pitiful man whom Princess Zhaoyang had taken a fancy to, forcibly detained in the palace, and pressured into becoming a male consort, into a young and promising talent worthy of being a match for the princess.
Having clarified Zhou Mingyi’s identity and learned that her family background was clean, her presence at Hanshan Temple was merely a coincidence.
As for how she had replaced the woman the Empress Dowager had selected and become the emperor’s woman, the Empress Dowager did not care.
She only knew that the abbot of Hanshan Temple, Master Jingming, had said that the Woman of Destiny was in the temple.
Now that the deed was done, since Zhou Mingyi had the fortune to become the emperor’s wife, whether she was the one arranged from the start was not important.
Perhaps this kind of accident better aligned with the notion of the “Woman of Destiny.”
But just in case, the Empress Dowager decided to bring the commoner girl named “Chuntao” into the palace.
What if Chuntao, the one arranged from the beginning, was actually the Woman of Destiny? Wouldn’t her son have missed out then?
…
After an unknown length of time, the spring-like atmosphere in the chamber gradually subsided.
Dawn was approaching.
Emperor Qianwu, having tasted the sweetness and now satisfied, reined in his aura somewhat, feeling an unusual sense of relaxation.
He and his mother had trod on thin ice in their early years.
Even after ascending the throne, he remained diligent and cautious, never daring to relax for a moment.
Perhaps due to excessive pressure, or maybe because of exceptional natural talent.
In his early years, Emperor Qianwu’s desires in the bedchamber were extremely vigorous.
But the women in the rear palace were all delicate and frail, often fainting after just a few rounds of his demands, so Emperor Qianwu had never been fully satisfied.
And since being poisoned with the Sterility Drug, despite years of effort, he had only produced Chaoyang.
Emperor Qianwu thus lost interest in matters of the bedchamber.
Now he finally understood: he was a normal man in his prime, his desires still vigorous—it was simply that the women in the rear palace could not satisfy him fully.
Although this incident was an accident, Emperor Qianwu had been thoroughly satisfied.
Therefore, he found Zhou Mingyi pleasing in every way.
“What is your name?”
His voice carried a low, sated tone as he quietly waited for her to speak.
The stunning woman lowered her head slightly, her eyes downcast. She quickly put on her clothes, but the garments had already been torn by Emperor Qianwu, barely covering the essential parts.
Zhou Mingyi tightly clutched her chest and looked up, her eyes like autumn pools already brimming with tears.
Her gaze was filled with despair and fear.
Emperor Qianwu frowned.
Morning light filtered through the window, illuminating the woman who had just received his affection, making her beauty even more radiant.
The vivid red on the bed resembled blooming plum blossoms.
Recalling the passionate intimacy he had just shared with this woman on the bed, Emperor Qianwu felt a sudden warmth in his heart.
His tone unconsciously softened. “Don’t be afraid. Since I have taken your innocence, I will certainly give you an explanation.”
The woman seemed unable to believe it, abruptly raising her head.
“You… Your Majesty?”
As if too astonished, the despair on her face vanished completely.
“Has the Buddha heard my prayers, allowing me to meet Your Majesty?”
Zhou Mingyi stood up, about to kneel, but weakened from a night of intense entanglement with Emperor Qianwu, she stumbled and fell into his arms.
Emperor Qianwu’s large hand wrapped around the woman’s slender, soft waist, and he let out a soft, delighted chuckle.
“Do you want more?”
Zhou Mingyi’s cheeks flushed crimson as she pushed him away forcefully.
But Emperor Qianwu was burly and immovable.
The woman lowered her head, nestling in the middle-aged emperor’s embrace, her voice trembling with emotion.
“I beg Your Majesty to spare my elder brother! He did not mean to offend Your Majesty!”
Emperor Qianwu’s brow suddenly furrowed.
“Your elder brother?”
The woman looked up, her cheeks flushed red, reminiscent of how she had entangled with him on the bed earlier. Emperor Qianwu felt an inexplicable stir in his heart. “What is your brother’s name? When did he ever offend me?”
Zhou Mingyi quickly recounted how her elder brother, Zhou Mingchong, had achieved the third rank in the imperial examinations but had gone missing for several days.
She had heard that someone had behaved improperly in the imperial presence and offended the emperor…
She feared that person might be her brother.
As a weak woman with no connections, she could only go to Hanshan Temple to pray for her brother’s safety.
Unexpectedly, last night, somehow…
Zhou Mingyi’s crow-feather-like eyelashes trembled slightly, her voice shaking even more intensely.
By now, Emperor Qianwu understood. This woman had come to Hanshan Temple to pray for her brother but had been drugged and ended up in his bed—against her will.
It must have been his mother’s doing.
The woman was stunningly beautiful, with a graceful figure, and her allure was utterly intoxicating. He was quite satisfied.
A sense of pity welled up in his heart.
“Fuquan.”
The imperial attendant eunuch, Fuquan, outside the door responded and was about to enter.
But Emperor Qianwu said, “Don’t come in.”
“Prepare a set of clothes for Lady Zhou.”
Outside the door, Fuquan felt a surge of joy upon hearing this.
After many years, the palace was finally welcoming a new lady.
And this young lady clearly had the emperor’s favor, being granted the title of a fourth-rank beauty right from the start.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Mingyi blushed even more deeply, her slender, pale fingers tightly clutching her chest, which only accentuated the fullness and alluring curves.
Yet she couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty, did my elder brother unintentionally offend you? Please, for the sake of his sincere intentions and the fact that he meant no offense, spare him!”
Emperor Qianwu found the young woman before him naively endearing.
Zhou Mingchong had some talent, but he was too rigid and prone to breaking.
The emperor intended to temper his character.
Little did he expect that Chaoyang would take a liking to him.
He glanced at the girl’s flushed, exquisite cheeks and understood in his heart.
Zhou Mingchong was handsome in appearance, and with such a stunningly beautiful sister, it was no wonder Chaoyang had taken a liking to him at first sight.
However, on one side was Chaoyang, his only child, and on the other was a beauty who had recently gained his favor and pleased him greatly—it was truly a dilemma.
Enough. If Zhou Mingchong truly entered the princess’s residence and became Chaoyang’s consort, how could a consort serve as an official in court and devote himself to the country?
Moreover, this girl Chaoyang had indeed caused him quite a few troubles lately. It was time to rein her in.
He pondered for a moment.
“Your brother is exceptionally talented. I have never been angry with him.”
“Rest assured, he will return home tomorrow.”
“It is his good fortune to have a sister as wise, gentle, and considerate as you.”
Zhou Mingyi was overjoyed. “Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Emperor Qianwu, however, gazed at her with interest, his eyes lingering on her slightly parted lips. “You lost your innocence to me by chance. Why are you only concerned about your brother? Why not seek favor for yourself? I have granted you the title of Fourth-Rank Beauty. Are you pleased?”
Zhou Mingyi lowered her eyes, concealing the hatred in her heart.
When she raised her head again, her expression was resolute.
“Does Your Majesty wish to hear the truth or flattering lies?”