[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them":3,"chapter-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-102":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Transmigrated to the Northern Song with Them",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2318992,4535,"Chapter 102: Achieve Mission Progress: 35%","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-102",102,"\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhongduan entered the palace together with Li Shishi, Zhao Yuannu, Cui Nianyue, and others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unlike Li Shishi and the others, who were picked by Zhang Chun, Ye Shi Yun, or Li Lin after entering the palace, Wang Zhongduan was taken by Guan Shi immediately upon arrival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Shi had originally been an ordinary maid in the Shen Prince’s mansion, very beautiful, and had long ago been summoned by Zhao Yu—not just once, but multiple times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Guan Shi never became pregnant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, as Zhao Yu acquired more women, Guan Shi lost her chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For her own future advancement, Guan Shi chose to serve Pei Sui, who had deep connections and great power, becoming a female official managing palace maids under Pei Sui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Shishi and the others first entered the palace, Guan Shi was the first to take charge of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Shi understood well the importance of a beautiful maid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, taking advantage of the chaos in palace management at the time, she abused her authority to keep Wang Zhongduan for herself, believing her the most beautiful; she planned to train Wang Zhongduan well, so that mistress and maid could jointly compete for the emperor’s favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long ago, Zheng Xiansu took control of the inner palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Pei Sui’s trusted aide, Guan Shi immediately attached herself to Zheng Xiansu, clinging tightly to his leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xiansu did not neglect Guan Shi; after consulting her, he appointed her as Shanggong Female Official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since then, wherever Zheng Xiansu pointed, Guan Shi struck—loyal and devoted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Zheng Xiansu promoted frugality, Guan Shi immediately put on her plainest clothes, ate nothing but vegetables and tofu, and ate even more plainly than Zheng Xiansu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was hard on Wang Zhongduan. She had been trained as a courtesan; though she hadn’t lived in great wealth, her needs had always been met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, after entering the palace, she began to suffer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, if everyone else suffered the same, Wang Zhongduan could endure it—after all, even under strict frugality, this was still Zhao Yu’s inner palace; the food could never be truly terrible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was that her friend Zhao Yuannu ate fish and meat daily, with all kinds of fruits, dried fruits, candies, snacks, and pastries readily available.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People, after all, fear comparison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this comparison, Wang Zhongduan immediately felt she lived worse than Ye Shi Yun’s dog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t mean Zhao Yuannu—she meant Ye Shi Yun’s dog, Wang Cai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long ago, Ye Shi Yun found a Chinese Tianyuan  dog left behind by a concubine from Zhao Xu’s time; she kept it in her palace and fed it whatever she herself ate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many found Ye Shi Yun’s extravagance intolerable, especially under Zheng Xiansu’s frugality campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said anonymous denunciations against Ye Shi Yun fell like snowflakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If strictly enforced under Zheng Xiansu’s rule of hanging repentance bells, Ye Shi Yun’s quarters might already be full of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zheng Xiansu had long told the palace women that the Five Women had great merit and were exempt from certain palace rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for what great merit the Five Women had, Zheng Xiansu never said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet palace insiders speculated it must be connected to Zhao Yu becoming emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, rumors had long circulated: Zhang Chun mastered prognostication and had once helped Zhao Yu and Empress Dowager Xiang forecast the empire’s fate; Ma Xiao Jiao excelled in mechanical arts, and many of the palace’s miraculous devices were her creations; and Yuan Qing Cheng’s expertise in agriculture had already been guessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Li Lin and Ye Shi Yun’s talents remained unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But palace folk knew Li Lin accompanied Zhao Yu daily in practicing “Prisoner’s Fitness” and “Yoga,” and that Zhang Chun and Ye Shi Yun were frequently summoned by Zhao Yu for consultations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This alone proved the Five Women were truly extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, even if palace folk disapproved of the Five Women’s behavior, none dared openly provoke them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhongduan deeply resented Ye Shi Yun’s unkindness—her lack of discretion in enjoying her own happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Wang Zhongduan dared not show it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only because she dared not provoke Ye Shi Yun, whom even the Empress ignored, but because whenever Wang Zhongduan craved food, she could come to Ye Shi Yun’s quarters and feast—and even take snacks home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a great privilege she could never get from Zhang Chun or Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Zhang Chun now also practiced frugality, eating no better than Guan Shi; Li Lin was disciplined, eating only healthy, nutritious food and never indulging in meaningless treats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Ye Shi Yun was purely a glutton.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Ye Shi Yun always went to Zhao Yu asking for delicacies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, Zhao Yu simply ordered that whenever he had any food, he send some to Ye Shi Yun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, if Ye Shi Yun heard of any new delicacy, she would send Huang Jingchen to buy it for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her motto: Never let anyone else suffer—least of all myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, Wang Zhongduan could no longer bear it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, while Guan Shi was summoned by Pei Sui for a meeting, Wang Zhongduan went to Ye Shi Yun’s quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There she saw Li Shishi and Cui Nianyue also at Zhao Yuannu’s place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhongduan looked at Li Shishi: “You can’t take it either?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shishi smiled bitterly: “My lady has gone mad—she’s obsessed with winning the palace examination, and imitates the Empress by eating only plain food. Alas!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not surprising. Rumor has it that the winner of this palace examination may earn ten consecutive nights with the Emperor. For this, many palace women are studying day and night, neglecting sleep and meals.” Wang Zhongduan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard the Emperor may come in person that day. Even if you don’t win, a fine performance will surely impress him—and future rewards will follow.” Cui Nianyue said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From your tone, you seem to want to try?” Zhao Yuannu asked Cui Nianyue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Nianyue admitted frankly: “The inner palace is full of talent—I dare not dream of winning, but if I can compose a few good poems to catch the Emperor’s eye, I might give it a shot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your lady is greatly favored by the Emperor—how could you lack opportunity?” Li Shishi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better safe than sorry. Besides, you all know my lady is carefree and in excellent health—she may never think to bring me along. So I must prepare as best I can.” Cui Nianyue said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All these women had been trained in brothels and knew how to survive by relying on men; they all agreed Cui Nianyue’s approach was wise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhongduan sighed regretfully: “Too bad it’s not a dance contest—if it were, who else could compete with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re all still young, no rush—perhaps in one or two years there will be singing and dancing contests. I’m different—I’m already twelve. I must act now.” Cui Nianyue said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The so-called “pure courtesan” was merely a lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True pure courtesans were exceedingly rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The relationship between courtesans and pure courtesans was as subtle as money and banknotes: money isn’t necessarily banknotes, but banknotes are always money. That is, a courtesan may never have been a pure courtesan, but a pure courtesan always eventually became a courtesan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In practice, clients treated pure courtesans no differently from courtesans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pure courtesan, in other words, was merely a higher-class prostitute—one who required greater payment to be purchased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At thirteen, it was called “testing the flower”;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>at fourteen, “blooming”;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>at fifteen, “plucking the flower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, most courtesans were “plucked” by fifteen at the latest; some as early as thirteen—unless they were extraordinarily famous, like the historical figures here, who might delay it a few years. But only a few years—her fame could shield her temporarily, not forever, for someone she could not offend would eventually claim her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Courtesans were always acutely aware of the age thirteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because most courtesans officially debuted at thirteen, and some had already been “plucked” by that age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder Cui Nianyue had already begun planning her future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Ye Shi Yun finally woke from her afternoon nap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuannu, come help me rise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Four Famous Courtesans all went to see Ye Shi Yun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Shishi, Cui Nianyue, and Wang Zhongduan there, Ye Shi Yun scolded playfully: “You all came here again to mooch food?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shishi and the other three weren’t offended—they knew Ye Shi Yun’s words were sharp, but her heart was soft; she never punished servants and was easy to get along with, as long as you didn’t take her careless remarks seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three women bowed together: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shi Yun grunted: “I won’t let you thank me without reward—yesterday a hunter brought me a bear. I’ve ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare bear’s paw for you. You’re in for a treat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shishi and the others were overjoyed, then immediately helped Zhao Yuannu assist Ye Shi Yun in rising…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The scenario Zhang Chun had fantasized about countless times, Ye Shi Yun achieved effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, the imperial kitchen delivered a dish of white-braised bear’s paw and five other dishes (braised pork with vinegar and intestines, steamed lychee kidneys, lamb stewed with milk, lotus duck, fresh shrimp and trotter sashimi), plus a soup and a broth: hundred-flavor soup and goose liver and paw soup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before eating, Ye Shi Yun ordered Zhao Yuannu to divide half of every dish—including the bear’s paw—for the servants in her courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Ye Shi Yun sit down with the Four Famous Courtesans, without any pretense, ready to eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before they began, two maids brought a pot of wine without being asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no ordinary wine—it was the state liquor produced by the Guanglu Temple of the Zhao Song dynasty, also known as imperial wine: Guanglu wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it was stored in deep red jars sealed with yellow silk, it was also called Huangfeng wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was likely the finest wine of this era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu rarely drank it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, Zhao Yu didn’t like alcohol at all—he never drank unless forced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ye Shi Yun, a woman who knew how to enjoy life, drank a little with every meal—just enough, perfectly measured—to achieve a gentle intoxication without drunkenness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many envied her: Zhao Yu had gifted her twenty jars of imperial wine, sparing her the trouble of always asking him for more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shi Yun asked the Four Courtesans: “Won’t you have some?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shishi, Cui Nianyue, and Wang Zhongduan all shook their heads like rice dumplings on a string.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What nonsense! They were already stealing food behind their frugal mistresses’ backs—that was bad enough. If they drank, their mistresses would surely beat them to death if they found out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, only Zhao Yuannu drank with Ye Shi Yun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After opening the jar, the rich aroma of the wine slowly spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shishi and Wang Zhongduan were too young to handle alcohol; the scent alone made them dizzy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shi Yun and Zhao Yuannu, mistress and maid, sipped fine wine and feasted on bear’s paw and other delicacies, utterly carefree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shi Yun set down her cup and looked at the bear’s paw: “If not for coming here, how could I taste such a delicacy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Four Courtesans assumed she meant coming to the palace—but they didn’t know she meant coming to this era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Wang Cai barked loudly: “Woof woof woof!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thin, sharp voice followed: “Your Majesty, this dog is extremely rude—shall we kill it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu’s voice came next: “I am the Son of Heaven—why should I quarrel with a little dog?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Four Great Courtesans immediately rose, simultaneously adjusting their attire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Ye Shi Yun smiled like a fox: “You’ve finally come!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shi Yun drained her cup of wine in one gulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shi Yun had noticed that Zhao Yu had grown somewhat dependent on her and Zhang Chun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This dependence wasn’t literal—rather, whenever Zhao Yu had a novel idea, he loved discussing it with her and Zhang Chun; and when his ministers offered advice he couldn’t judge, he preferred to hear her and Zhang Chun’s opinions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if she and Zhang Chun had become a pair of tools Zhao Yu used with great ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, manipulate Zhao Yu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shi Yun dared not—and wouldn’t be so foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How easy is it to provoke an emperor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, Zhao Yu merely found her and Zhang Chun convenient—he didn’t absolutely need them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then again, since she was so useful, she certainly wouldn’t shortchange herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowledge is priceless—do you understand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, every idea she gave Zhao Yu was enough to support her in luxury for generations—why shouldn’t she eat from him and drink from him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The facts proved Zhao Yu never lacked for food or drink for her—whatever she wanted, he gave her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shi Yun was very satisfied with Zhao Yu’s generosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for her earlier pursuit of being summoned to his bed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shi Yun had seen clearly: Zhao Yu had no intention of letting any of the five of them go—not even Yuan Qing Cheng, who thought hiding away would spare her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were already in Zhao Yu’s palm, and he simply wasn’t in a hurry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Zhao Yu, relying on his scarcity and his imperial status, kept forcing them into female competition, pushing them to overwork themselves, even trying to control them mentally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted to test what made sex so appealing that so many chased after it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that didn’t mean she’d throw herself into it recklessly, like Zhang Chun, who had driven herself to madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After all, this day will come sooner or later—why rush?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, when there was no hope, I endured. Now that there’s hope, can’t I hold out a little longer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, Ye Shi Yun felt she absolutely must not let Zhao Yu lead her by the nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that didn’t mean she didn’t desire it—she had simply realized this was mutual; why should she suffer alone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter how kind you are to others, it’s better to be useful to them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, power on the bed is won by wit—not by who holds the cannons!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, under her strategy of retreating to advance, Ye Shi Yun had finally drawn Zhao Yu to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shi Yun calmly wiped her lips, trying to appear composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet her trembling hands betrayed her deepest, truest feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as she stepped out, she saw Wang Cai wagging his tail at Zhao Yu—no trace of his earlier barking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shi Yun thought: “Even a dog knows to flatter the emperor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shi Yun smiled charmingly at Zhao Yu: “What auspicious omen brought Your Majesty here? Your humble servant is truly fortunate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu walked over, pulling Ye Shi Yun’s slender waist close, looking down at her: “My concubine, what a clever trick—you’ve made me walk right into your net…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2480,"2026-06-20T15:06:47.302Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1693054b561c18fa33333b562c4272a086993dac48bad85cd897a2a3ace284e4","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-103","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-101",348,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-cover.jpg"]