Zhulan truly could not bring herself to say it.
The Empress Dowager fell silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. “Zhulan, do you believe in the will of heaven?”
“Since she was able to succeed with my son, that is her 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—how dare she 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 was at Hanshan Temple.”
Zhulan accepted the order.
…
Aunt Zhulan quickly ascertained 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 suffering from some serious illness? Or perhaps…”
At this, Aunt Zhulan’s expression changed slightly.
“Empress Dowager… do you recall the new Tanhua Lang, Zhou Mingchong?”
The Empress Dowager was taken aback. “Are you referring to that handsome Tanhua whom Chaoyang has taken a liking to?”
Aunt Zhulan: “Exactly.”
The Empress Dowager fell silent for a moment. “This is indeed troublesome.”
“That girl Chaoyang has been spoiled by me since childhood. Her temperament may be a bit domineering, but her heart is not bad.”
“Zhou Mingchong was able to achieve the rank of Tanhua because he possesses genuine talent and learning—it’s not like children playing house, is it?”
“If she is sincere, having the emperor bestow a marriage between her and Zhou Mingchong would not be inappropriate.”
Aunt Zhulan naturally said: “The Empress Dowager is wise.”
With a single word from the Empress Dowager, Zhou Mingchong transformed from a pitiful wretch whom Princess Chaoyang had taken a fancy to, forcibly detained in the palace, and coerced into becoming a Male Concubine, into a young and promising talented scholar, worthy of being a fine match for the princess.
Having clarified Zhou Mingyi’s identity and learned that her family background was clean, her appearance at Hanshan Temple was merely a coincidence.
As for how she had switched places with the woman she had selected and become the emperor’s woman, the Empress Dowager was not concerned.
She only knew that the abbot of Hanshan Temple, Master Jingming, had said that the Heaven’s Mandate Maiden 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 she had arranged from the start was not important.
Perhaps such an accident better corresponded to the notion of the “Heaven’s Mandate Maiden.”
But just in case, the Empress Dowager decided to bring the commoner girl named “Chuntao” into the palace.
What if Chuntao, whom she had arranged from the beginning, was actually the Heaven’s Mandate Maiden? Wouldn’t her son have missed out then?
…
After an unknown length of time, the springtime atmosphere in the chamber gradually subsided.
Dawn was approaching.
Emperor Qianwu, having tasted the pleasure, was satiated. After his satisfaction, the aura around him receded somewhat, and he felt a rare sense of ease.
He and his mother had trod on thin ice in their early years.
After ascending the throne, he had been diligent and conscientious, never daring to relax for a moment.
Perhaps due to excessive pressure, or perhaps due to extraordinary natural talent.
In his early years, Emperor Qianwu’s needs in the bedchamber were extremely vigorous.
But the women of 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 ever since being poisoned with the infertility drug, despite years of effort, he had only produced Chaoyang.
Emperor Qianwu thus lost interest in bedchamber matters.
Only now did he understand: he was a normal man in his prime, his needs still vigorous—it was simply that the women of 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, satiated 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 been torn by Emperor Qianwu and barely covered her vital parts.
Zhou Mingyi tightly clutched her chest and looked up, her limpid eyes 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 surge of warmth in his heart.
Unconsciously softening his tone, he said, “Do not fear. Since I have taken your innocence, I will certainly give you an explanation.”
As if unable to believe it, the woman abruptly looked up.
“You… Your Majesty?”
Seemingly overwhelmed by surprise, the despair on her face vanished entirely.
“Has the Buddha heard my prayers, allowing me to meet Your Majesty?”
Zhou Mingyi stood up, intending to kneel, but weakened from a night of intense passion with Emperor Qianwu, her legs gave way and she stumbled into his arms.
Emperor Qianwu’s large hands wrapped around the woman’s slender, soft waist, and he let out a soft, pleased chuckle.
“Do you want more?”
Zhou Mingyi’s face flushed crimson as she pushed him away forcefully.
But Emperor Qianwu was burly and immovable.
The woman lowered her head, nestling against the middle-aged emperor, 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 as red as when she had entwined 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 rank of Tanhua but had been missing for several days.
She had heard that someone had behaved improperly in the imperial presence and offended His Majesty…
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.
Little did she expect that last night, somehow…
Zhou Mingyi’s raven-feather-like eyelashes trembled slightly, her voice quivering even more intensely.
By now, Emperor Qianwu understood: this woman had gone 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 captivating. He was quite satisfied.
A sense of pity welled up in his heart.
“Fuquan.”
The imperial attendant eunuch outside, Eunuch Fu Quan, responded and was about to push the door open.
But Emperor Qianwu said, “Do not enter.”
“Prepare a set of clothes for Zhou Meiren.”
Outside the door, Fuquan felt a surge of joy.
After so many years, the palace was finally welcoming a new addition.
Moreover, this young lady clearly had won the emperor’s favor, being granted the rank of Meiren, a fourth-grade consort, right from the start.
Hearing this, Zhou Mingyi blushed even more deeply, her slender white fingers clutching her chest tightly, only accentuating the fullness and alluring curves beneath.
Yet she couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty, did my elder brother unintentionally offend you? I beg Your Majesty, in light of my brother’s sincere intentions and his lack of deliberate offense, to 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.
Who would have thought Chaoyang would take a liking to him?
He glanced at the girl’s stunning, flushed cheeks and understood in his heart.
Zhou Mingchong was handsome, and with such a breathtakingly 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 the Meiren who had recently gained his favor and pleased him greatly—it was truly a dilemma.
Forget it. If Zhou Mingchong truly entered the Princess’s Mansion and became Chaoyang’s Male Concubine, how could a Male Concubine serve in court and devote himself to the country?
Moreover, this girl Chaoyang had indeed caused him quite a bit of trouble lately. It was time to rein her in.
He pondered for a moment.
“Your elder 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 such a wise, gentle, and considerate sister 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, yet you only think of your brother. Why not seek a favor for yourself? I will grant you the title of Fourth-Rank Meiren. 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 falsehoods?”