Chapter 145

In the mid-air of successive dynasties,

the scroll of the previous "Empress Renxiao Xu Miaoyun" had just faded, the golden light had not yet dispersed, and a new scene had already emerged.

At the beginning of the scene, it was actually the backyard of a magnificent mansion.

The sound of strings and flutes drifted, and a group of dancers dressed in light gauze were practicing.

Among them, one person had a clear and beautiful face, a graceful posture, and a singing voice like an oriole coming out of a valley.

Beside the screen, two lines of ancient seal characters appeared:

【A song in the Pingyang Mansion, the phoenix comes to perform in the Weiyang Palace】

The sound from the sky, crossing the ages of time and space, sounded deeply:

【The third place among the top ten virtuous empresses in history — Western Han. Filial Martial Empress Wei. Wei Zifu】

【She was born in humble circumstances, yet she served as the mother of the world for thirty-eight years;

With her own body, she connected the most brilliant generals of the Great Han;

With the virtue of her whole life, she fulfilled the illustrious reputation of the 'Han Martial Prosperity'.】

【Spring of the second year of Jianyuan of Emperor Wu of Han, Pingyang Princess Mansion.

Eighteen-year-old Liu Che had just experienced the shattering of the fairy tale of "Golden House for a Beauty".

Empress Chen Ajiao was arrogant and jealous, had no children for several years, and the emperor and empress were at odds.

The young emperor was upset and went to his sister Princess Pingyang's mansion to relax.

Princess Pingyang was well prepared, and all the singing girls and dancers in the mansion appeared, thin or plump, each with her own charm.

Liu Che was uninterested, until that woman appeared.

She was not the most beautiful, but her eyebrows were clear and her temperament was gentle;

Her singing voice was not the brightest, but it was like a clear spring, soothing people's hearts.

After singing a song of "Zijin", Liu Che's eyes never moved away again.

"Who is this woman?" the emperor asked.

"Returning to Your Majesty, this woman's surname is Wei, named Zifu, originally a singing girl in the mansion, her mother Wei Ao, was a servant in the Pingyang Marquis Mansion." Princess Pingyang replied with a smile.

That night, Wei Zifu served in the bedroom.

Before leaving, Liu Che took her in the same carriage back to the palace.

When the carriage drove into Weiyang Palace, Wei Zifu lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, looking at the towering palace walls, feeling panicked in her heart.

She was just a humble singing girl in the Pingyang Marquis Mansion, her mother was a servant, and her younger brother Wei Qing was a cavalry slave.

With such a background, entering this most noble place in the world, is it a blessing or a curse?

A year after entering the palace, she was never summoned again.

It was not until the third year of Jianyuan that Liu Che issued an edict to dismiss the useless palace maids, and Wei Zifu was among them.

Before leaving, she was able to see the emperor, knelt on the ground and cried: "I am willing to leave the palace, hoping for Your Majesty's pity."

Liu Che looked at this woman with pear blossoms and rain, and suddenly remembered the song "Zijin" from a year ago, and remembered the gentleness of that night.

His heart moved, and he kept her.

This time, Wei Zifu truly received the emperor's favor.

Empress Chen Ajiao heard that Wei Zifu was favored and was jealous.

She relied on the power of her mother, Grand Princess Guantao, to make things difficult repeatedly, and even used witchcraft to curse.

However, Wei Zifu always endured, did not fight or argue, but served the Empress Dowager wholeheartedly and treated the palace people well.

In the fifth year of Yuanguang, Empress Chen was deposed to Changmen Palace because the "witchcraft" matter failed.

In the same year, Wei Zifu gave birth to the first prince for the 29-year-old Emperor Wu of Han — Liu Ju.

The whole court rejoiced.

Liu Che was ecstatic, issued an edict to amnesty the world, ordered Mei Gao to write "Ode to the Birth of the Crown Prince", and Dongfang Shuo to write "Prayer for the Birth of the Prince".

This emperor, who did not have his first son until he was nearly thirty, finally had an heir.

In the first year of Yuanshuo, Wei Zifu was officially established as Empress.

Her son Liu Ju was established as Crown Prince.

From then on, her thirty-eight-year career in the central palace began.】

Great Han plane.

Liu Bang was hugging Lady Qi to drink and have fun, and when he saw the scene of Wei Zifu on the sky screen, he clicked his tongue twice: "This kid Liu Che, his taste is not bad."

"But this Wei Zifu, born as a singing girl? Tsk tsk, she is far worse than my Empress Lv..."

Before he finished speaking, a cold snort came from the side.

Lv Zhi didn't know when she stood outside the hall, looking at him coldly,

"Is Your Majesty complaining that my background is too high, not as gentle as a singing girl?"

Liu Bang choked on a mouthful of wine, waved his hands repeatedly: "How could it be, the Empress misunderstood! I meant... I meant that although this Wei Zifu has a low background, she is virtuous, virtuous!"

Great Qin plane.

In the Xianyang Palace, Ying Zheng stood with his hands behind his back looking at the sky, his brows slightly frowned:

"A singing girl as empress? The Liu-surnamed kid is really uninhibited."

He turned to look at Li Si, "In my Great Qin, there must never be such a precedent. The empress and concubines should come from famous families to rectify the order."

Li Si bowed: "Your Majesty is wise. However, watching this woman be able to sit firmly in the empress position for thirty-eight years, she must have extraordinary qualities."

Ying Zheng snorted coldly: "Let's keep watching."

Great Tang plane.

Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun stood side by side in front of the Ganlu Hall.

Empress Zhangsun said softly: "This woman, with a humble body, was able to occupy the empress position for thirty-eight years, which cannot be done without great wisdom."

Li Shimin expressed agreement: "Emperor Wu of Han had a fierce temperament, suspicious and fickle, to be able to gain his trust for thirty-eight years, this woman is extraordinary."

He held Empress Zhangsun's hand, "However, in my heart, no one can compare to Guanyinbi."

Empress Zhangsun smiled sweetly.

Great Ming plane.

In the Nanjing Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the sky screen and said to Empress Ma: "Sister, look at this Wei Zifu, she is a bit like you. Neither fighting nor grabbing, convincing people with virtue."

Empress Ma smiled: "I can't compare. She can sit firmly in the empress position for thirty-eight years, this concentration is not something ordinary people can have."

She paused, "It's just her later years... sigh!"

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted: "That's because Emperor Wu of Han was confused in his later years!"

Three Kingdoms plane, Cao Wei.

Cao Cao stood on the Bronze Bird Terrace and said to those around him:

"Emperor Wu of Han had Wei Zifu, I have Lady Bian. What does it matter if the background is humble? With virtue and talent, she is a good match."

Guo Jia smiled: "Prime Minister, this woman can occupy the empress position for thirty-eight years, what is even more rare is that the Wei Qing and Huo Qubing she recommended are brilliant generals."

A flash of light in Cao Cao's eyes: "Let's keep watching."

Shu Han.

Zhuge Liang in the Chengdu mansion, gently shook his feather fan,

"Fighting without fighting, doing nothing while doing something. This woman deeply understands the Dao of Huang-Lao. If the harem of Emperor Wu of Han was not peaceful, how could he have the energy to attack the Xiongnu in the north?"

Liu Bei sighed to Lady Gan beside him: "If I could... also get such a virtuous helper in the future, how lucky I would be."

Lady Gan lowered her head and said nothing.

The sky screen scene changed.

【In the Weiyang Palace, Wei Zifu was already Empress, but she still dressed simply and personally taught Crown Prince Liu Ju to read.

Liu Ju had a kind and honest personality, completely different from the fierceness of Emperor Wu of Han.

One day, Wei Qing entered the palace to visit his sister.

At this time, Wei Qing was no longer a cavalry slave in the Pingyang Marquis Mansion, but a guard in the Jianzhang Palace.

But he was still cautious, bowing his head in front of the Empress, not daring to overstep in the slightest.

"Brother Qing," Wei Zifu dismissed the attendants and said warmly, "His Majesty has been worried about the Xiongnu recently, and has repeatedly raised troops, but has lost more than he has won."

"I know you have practiced martial arts since childhood and are familiar with military books, do you have the ambition to serve the country?"

Wei Qing knelt on the ground: "Although I am not talented, I am willing to die for His Majesty! It's just... my background is humble, I am afraid I have no ladder to advance."

Wei Zifu helped her brother up: "What does background matter? I am also a singing girl. His Majesty employs people based on talent. If you have real talent and learning, I will recommend you to His Majesty. It's just—"

Her expression was serious, "If you are employed, you must always remember: first, do not rely on favor to be arrogant; second, do not form cliques for private interests; third, do not be greedy for merit and advance rashly. Everything in the Wei family must be earned with real swords and guns."

Wei Qing kowtowed heavily: "Qing, remember sister's teachings!"

Not long after, Emperor Wu of Han came to the Empress's palace, and Wei Zifu mentioned it as if unintentionally,

"My brother Wei Qing is on duty in Jianzhang Palace. I see that he has the talent of a general, perhaps Your Majesty can use him."

Liu Che had always trusted Wei Zifu, so he summoned Wei Qing.

After a conversation, he found that although this person was taciturn, he knew the habits of the Xiongnu and the terrain of Mobei like the back of his hand, and had unique insights into military strategy.

In the sixth year of Yuanguang, Liu Che appointed Wei Qing as General of Chariots and Cavalry, leading the army out of Shanggu to attack the Xiongnu.

This was Wei Qing's first time to take charge on his own, and it was also the beginning of his legend.

In this battle, Wei Qing went straight to Longcheng and beheaded seven hundred people.

Although it was not a great victory, it was the first active attack and victory of the Han Dynasty against the Xiongnu.

Liu Che was overjoyed and enfeoffed Wei Qing as Marquis of Guannei.

Since then, Wei Qing has won seven battles in seven, recovered the Hetao, established Shuofang County, and reached the position of General-in-Chief, reaching the peak of his official career.】