Zhou Mingchong tightly shut his eyes, his voice hoarse.
“A Chang, don’t say anymore…”
What kind of person his A Chang was, he knew best.
When their parents were alive, they had arranged a marriage for her.
Since their parents passed away, the family’s fortunes had declined.
Last year, when A Chang came of age, the Cen family did not send anyone to propose marriage. The siblings understood then.
The Cen family was waiting for them to take the initiative to break off the engagement.
The Cen family’s second son was a man; it didn’t matter if he married later, but A Chang couldn’t afford to wait.
A Chang said: “The Book of Songs says, ‘Beneath the humble gate, one can dwell in peace.'”
“Vermilion gates and embroidered houses, with bells ringing and tripods feasting—that is their world.”
“And our bamboo fence and thatched cottage, quiet and free, may not be without blessings.”
“Your sister would rather seek a kindred spirit who treats her with sincerity and remains content with a simple life.”
“Plain tea and simple rice, with mutual respect and harmony, are better than stepping into that fickle world of wealth and power, where warmth and coldness are unpredictable!”
His A Chang had never been the type to covet superficial glamour.
At that time, he thought: study hard, make something of himself, and show the Cen family that he and his sister were not dependent on them.
His A Chang deserved the best man in the world.
But he never imagined that the sister he cherished and protected like a treasure would one day have to compromise and settle for a sterile old man, yet still force a smile…
Before being detained in the palace by Princess Chaoyang, Zhou Mingchong still held some reverence for Emperor Qianwu.
But after that, that person shamelessly took possession of his sister…
In Zhou Mingchong’s eyes, he was nothing but a shameless old scoundrel!
Yet reality lay before him, and he felt utterly powerless.
Zhou Mingyi couldn’t bear to see her elder brother looking dejected and dispirited.
Her brother ought to be spirited and composed.
But the matter of the System was of great importance, and she could only keep it hidden from her brother.
One day, when she entered the palace and gave birth to a child, her brother would understand.
Zhou Mingchong had already made up his mind in his heart: he would stop at nothing to climb higher!
Only then could he protect his sister, who was treading on thin ice in the imperial harem.
At this moment.
In the imperial harem.
Princess Chaoyang was confronting Consort Chen.
“Mother Consort, you knew perfectly well that Zhou Mingchong was someone I had my eye on. We agreed to detain him in the harem to temper his disposition, and after a few days, send him to my Princess’s Mansion. Why did you suddenly release him?”
“I don’t care, you must help me capture that Zhou… whatever his name is and bring him back!”
Consort Chen was also at her wit’s end.
When Princess Chaoyang first saw Zhou Mingchong, she was struck by his handsome appearance, tall and graceful stature, and dignified bearing. On a whim, she asked him on the spot if he would be willing to serve in her Princess’s Mansion.
Zhou Mingchong had just achieved success in the imperial examinations, placing as Tanhua (third-place laureate), and was at the peak of his life. He was on the verge of realizing his ambitions and gaining the ability to protect his sister.
Suddenly faced with such an absurd request, he sternly refused.
He even lectured Princess Chaoyang seriously.
Enraged, Princess Chaoyang immediately had him forcibly detained in the palace.
As the only and most noble princess of Great Zhou, Princess Chaoyang informed her mother, Consort Chen, and ordered her to have someone keep an eye on Zhou Mingchong.
If he refused to serve in the Princess’s Mansion, he was not to be allowed to leave the palace.
If he was stubborn, he was to be tempered further.
Consort Chen had always doted on her only daughter and naturally obeyed her every word, granting all her requests.
Moreover, she knew that her daughter was different from ordinary princesses.
Ordinary princesses, no matter how noble, are still women.
In Great Zhou, where the father is the standard for the son and the husband is the standard for the wife, they naturally cannot act as they please.
But her daughter Chaoyang is different.
She is the Emperor’s only child.
With this unique honor, even if Chaoyang wanted the stars or the moon in the sky, the Emperor would not hesitate to grant it.
Of course, this was not the first time Chaoyang had acted recklessly and forcibly taken handsome men.
However, those men were all commoners with no significant family background.
To be able to serve in the Princess’s Mansion, even if they themselves were unwilling, their families would eagerly seize the opportunity.
As a result, Consort Chen and Princess Chaoyang tasted the sweetness of this.
And they also savored the delightful taste of power.
But Zhou Mingchong was this year’s Tanhua Lang.
At first, Consort Chen was also afraid of drawing too much attention.
So she concealed it somewhat.
Soon, however, she discovered that even though Zhou Mingchong’s status was different, the Emperor did not inquire about it.
This emboldened Consort Chen.
What does it matter if you are a Tanhua?
If my daughter Chaoyang takes a liking to you, you must obediently enter the Princess’s Mansion to serve.
Refuse?
She naturally had means to coerce and threaten, and she would first thoroughly grind down the pride of this scholar!
But Consort Chen never expected that within just a few days, Tanhua Zhou was released by order of both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor could not bear to hold their precious Princess Chaoyang accountable, so naturally, they turned their trouble toward Consort Chen.
No sooner had Consort Chen been reprimanded by the Empress Dowager than Emperor Qianwu deliberately showed favor to Consort Rong, granting her a portion of the authority to manage the rear palace. This was a public humiliation of Consort Chen.
Emperor Qianwu had no heirs, so he had not established an Empress.
Consort Chen had borne the Emperor’s only daughter. Although she was not the Empress, she managed the affairs of the rear palace.
Now, most of that authority had fallen into Consort Rong’s hands, leaving Consort Chen feeling as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
And now her daughter was causing trouble again. Consort Chen felt aggrieved and could not help but harbor other thoughts.
“My child! It is not that your mother does not permit you, but your father the Emperor and your imperial grandmother have spoken. How can your mother defy their wishes?”
Princess Chaoyang was stunningly beautiful, holding her chin high, appearing utterly fearless and spoiled.
Upon hearing this, she immediately said, “I will go find Father!”
As soon as Princess Chaoyang left, the trusted matron by Consort Chen’s side said, “Your Highness, since that Tanhua Zhou is someone the Emperor and Empress Dowager wish to protect, why let Her Highness run into a wall? It would only harm the affection between Her Highness and the Emperor and Empress Dowager.”
Consort Chen snorted coldly.
“What is a mere Tanhua worth?”
“I don’t know what connections he used to make the Emperor and Empress Dowager personally demand his release from me.”
“For my daughter to take a liking to him and want him to serve in the Princess’s Mansion is his good fortune!”
“A blessing others would beg for, yet he pushes it away?”
Emperor Qianwu had no heirs, and in the rear palace, only Consort Chen had a princess. Thus, she relied on her daughter for status and was naturally proud.
“I want to see whether, in the hearts of the Emperor and Empress Dowager, a mere Tanhua is more important or Chaoyang is!”
As she spoke, a clear expression of sorrow appeared on Consort Chen’s face. “It doesn’t matter if the Empress Dowager and the Emperor trouble me. I will make them understand that by protecting that Tanhua Zhou, they are hurting Chaoyang.”
“Then, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor will realize how foolish it is to upset their own precious darling for the sake of an outsider.”
The matron, observing her mistress’s expression, naturally knew that the Guifei had been deeply hurt. She hurriedly said, “Your Highness is wise.”
“Your Majesty’s favor towards Consort Rong is merely a temporary expediency. Your Ladyship has borne His Majesty’s only princess. In His Majesty’s heart, Your Ladyship will always be the most important.”
These words struck a chord with Consort Chen.
She turned her head, her expression visibly softening.
“This consort’s grievances are of little consequence, but Chaoyang is His Majesty’s only child. Would His Majesty and the Empress Dowager disregard her feelings?”
Her trusted matron naturally echoed her sentiments.
Consort Chen then abruptly changed the subject, asking:
“Has the Imperial Medical Academy finished preparing the fertility tonic specially formulated for this consort?”