[Yue Guantang resolved Meng Wenruo’s marriage arrangement with the Ye family, then was ordered to guard the border. Meng Wenruo and Xie Nanxing followed him, witnessing the desolation of the frontier and the brutality of war.
Meng Wenruo was even captured by the Northern Barbarians, where she met the captured Crown Prince Zhu Xuanyu. She was moved by his benevolence in sacrificing himself to save the people—]
The deposed Zhu Xuanyu, now under house confinement in a separate estate: Sacrificing himself to save the people? Could there be hidden circumstances behind the great defeat at Yunzhou and the Crown Prince’s capture?!
Life suddenly seemed to hold hope!
Meng Wenruo was already trembling: “Please don’t tell me I’ll develop feelings for Zhu Xuanyu too?”
Cai Boxi rationally analyzed: “Highly likely! It seems every named character with some status and ability must develop some emotional entanglement with Meng Wenruo.”
Meng Wenruo covered her face.
She’s a Taoist! A Taoist!
Taoists don’t involve themselves in worldly affairs!
[Help! First, when Yue Guantang went to the border, the Great Yin and Northern Barbarians had already signed an agreement exchanging territory and reparations for prisoners. Zhu Xuanyu had already returned to Great Yin.
Second, Zhu Xuanyu was captured because he couldn’t escape in time during the great defeat at Yunzhou—not because he voluntarily surrendered for the safety of Yunzhou’s people. Look how the people of Yunzhou were slaughtered! He’s just incompetent!]
In…incompetent?
The people of Great Yin couldn’t help but think of other implications…
Zhu Xuanyu: The hope in life ultimately proved to be a bubble, now shattered.
[Finally, Yue Guantang single-handedly charged into the enemy camp to rescue Meng Wenruo—Zhu Xuanyu was the Crown Prince, and Yue Guantang’s cousin. Is it reasonable for Yue Guantang to rescue Meng Wenruo but not the Crown Prince?]
Unreasonable!
Civil and military officials were all dumbfounded.
What kind of terrible book is this?
Xue Zeruo stepped forward: “Your Highness, I request establishing officials specifically to review civilian books involving history and court affairs.”
Before Zhu Xuanyi could respond, the Sky screen continued speaking.
[The absurd plot continued to develop. As an imperial son-in-law, Yue Guantang deeply understood he could no longer involve himself emotionally with Meng Wenruo, so he sent people to escort Meng Wenruo and Xie Nanxing away.
Though Meng Wenruo left physically, her heart remained with Yue Guantang.
Hearing that Emperor Hui trusted Taoists, she went to Luojing, determined to approach Emperor Hui, win his trust, make him value military generals and soldiers, and save Zhu Xuanyu.
Simultaneously, she wanted to meet Yue Guantang’s wife—the legendary Princess Shunyang!
Living in Luojing wasn’t easy! While Xie Nanxing could earn money by seeing patients, Meng Wenruo could only write funeral orations. While writing, she encountered an old acquaintance.]
Considering those who currently had entanglements with Meng Wenruo: The Ye family’s second son—already deposed, not him; Yue Guantang—at the border, not him; Xie Nanxing—always with her, not her; Xie Youfan—if he were here, Xie Nanxing wouldn’t be poor, not him; Zhu Xuanyu—according to the story, he hadn’t been exchanged back yet.
That left one person.
The officials simultaneously turned to look at Lu Fengqiu.
[Correct! This person was Lu Fengqiu, who had a teacher-student relationship with Meng Wenruo! Through Lu Fengqiu’s recommendation, Meng Wenruo disguised herself as a man and successfully entered the Celestial Master Palace as an assistant.]
At this time, the Taoists of the Celestial Master Palace had already been imprisoned by Emperor Hui. They were only alive because Zhu Xuanyi found them somewhat useful and stopped Emperor Hui from executing them.
“Impossible! Our Celestial Master Palace definitely has no such person!”
[After several twists and turns, Meng Wenruo gained an opportunity to enter the palace. She met Emperor Hui, caught his attention, told him about Zhu Xuanyu’s difficulties in captivity and his longing for Emperor Hui, finally making Emperor Hui determined to exchange territory and reparations to rescue him!]
Meng Wenruo: Tired, numb.
The Minister of Works found this utterly absurd!
This person was to become the future Minister of Works, and he viewed her somewhat as his successor. To see his successor portrayed in such a manner felt like a direct insult to the Ministry of Works itself.
Unacceptable!
The Minister of Works stepped forward: “Your Highness, I support Minister Xue’s proposal. I request the establishment of officials specifically tasked with reviewing civilian books involving historical and court-related matters.”
The Sky screen continued, and once again, Zhu Xuanyi didn’t get a chance to speak.
【Meng Wenruo also met Princess Shunyang. The drama didn’t vilify Princess Shunyang.
When Meng Wenruo saw the princess, it was like beholding the sun and moon. She felt she couldn’t compare, her expression turning despondent.
At this moment, Lu Fengqiu encouraged her, saying that even the light of a firefly has its own beauty and purpose. Greatly inspired, she resolved to refine a superior Elixir to honor her master.】
Lu Fengqiu: …I don’t consume Elixirs, thank you.
【Later, when Zhu Xuanyu returned to the capital and was placed under house arrest, she found a way to visit him. Coincidentally, she encountered Prince Chen’s rebellion and his attempt to assassinate Zhu Xuanyu. Meng Wenruo desperately pleaded with Zhu Xuanyu not to take his own life, but he refused to listen and ultimately died.
To thwart Prince Chen, Meng Wenruo relayed the message to Lu Fengqiu, who then informed the princess. This led to the series of events where the princess seized the opportunity to ascend the throne…】
Zhu Xuanyi said, “The two ministers make valid points. The Ministry of Personnel shall draft a proposal for the book review officials and submit it.”
The courtiers unanimously expressed approval.
Had they not witnessed how Meng Wenruo had already entered the Celestial Master Palace and become entangled with so many notable figures? Who knew if they themselves might later be bizarrely connected to her in future accounts?
Let no one claim they weren’t as renowned as Lu Fengqiu.
They refused to believe it!
As pivotal ministers of the state, how could historical records and stories omit their names?
【”The Legend of Meng Wenruo” has aired up to this point, leaving me utterly stunned and crying for help. In the drama, Meng Wenruo drifts between different men, and her major life events are all propelled by them. But what was the real Meng Wenruo like in history?】
Meng Wenruo perked up!
She remembered! She knew!
Daoist Meng Qing Shu—Grand Ceremonial Text writer of Great Yin, drama enthusiast, Gunpowder master, sisterhood advocate, and future Minister of Works Wenruo.
A paragon of independence and self-reliance!
【As mentioned earlier, although Meng Wenruo came from a wealthy family, she was disliked for being a concubine’s daughter and was sent to a Daoist temple in her childhood.
It could be said she never enjoyed the comforts of the Meng family.
At the temple, she studied Daoist classics and, under the care of her elders and the nurturing influence of nature, developed a cheerful, optimistic, serene, and open-minded disposition.
Why is she also called a drama enthusiast?
Because when her father arranged her marriage into the Ye family, she acted obedient and docile, deceiving the entire Meng family, which allowed her to escape just before the wedding—as mentioned in her epitaph.】
Meng Wenruo nodded excitedly.
Yes, that was her!
See, wasn’t she escaping a marriage now too!
Zhu Xuanyi, who had nearly been forced by Emperor Hui to marry Mu Yu, also detested arranged marriages and felt a growing appreciation for Meng Wenruo.
【Driven by curiosity about the prosperity of Luojing, Meng Wenruo relied on writing ceremonial texts and doing odd jobs to travel all the way to the capital. At that time, Great Yin was plagued by many bandits in the mountains, and Yue Guantang was enfeoffed as the Earl of Jingting for his merits in suppressing them.
For Meng Wenruo to journey to the capital alone required not only courage but also wisdom!
She didn’t know Xie Nanxing, nor did she have Lu Fengqiu as a teacher. Figures like Yue Guantang and Zhu Xuanyu were as distant to her then as stars in the sky.】
In Luojing, she still made a living by writing funeral orations and doing odd jobs. Though life was hard, she considered it a form of cultivation and found joy in it.
Xue Zeruo nodded appreciatively, “What a resilient and optimistic young woman!”
The Minister of Works was also very satisfied with this successor, a hint of pride and admiration shining in his eyes.
Under the large tree, Meng Wenruo smiled.
She had not always been this optimistic and open-minded since childhood.
She too had once been cowardly, resentful, sorrowful, and full of self-pity.
Why didn’t my father love me?
Why did my younger brother always find fault with everything I did?
After being sent to the Taoist temple, Meng Wenruo gradually came to understand.
Human life between heaven and earth is like a white steed flashing past a crack—gone in the blink of an eye.
Whether you cry or laugh, life goes on—so why not laugh!
Even when wind and snow assail her, she remains unshaken in her tranquility.
Let me follow nature’s course to my journey’s end—why doubt the joy of accepting fate!