Chapter 113

…

Under normal circumstances, during the Song Dynasty, there were at most eight chancellors and executive officials at any one time.

During Zhao Xu's reign, there were only five chancellors and executive officials: Zhang Dun, Ceng Bu, Cai Bian, Han Zhongyan, Xu Jiang, and others.

During Zhao Yu's reign, he retained all the chancellors and executive officials from Zhao Xu's era, and successively recalled Su Zhe, Su Shi, and Lu Huiqing to serve as chancellors and executive officials, while also promoting Cai Jing, Li Qingchen, and Zhang Shangying to these positions.

This resulted in a total of eleven chancellors and executive officials, the highest number in Song history.

Zhao Yu created so many chancellors and executive officials primarily because Empress Dowager Xiang favored a centrist approach, and Zhao Yu lacked capable chancellors to handle affairs.

Thus, this situation came to be.

Because there were so many chancellors and executive officials—more than in any previous dynasty—and because they included both the New Party and the Old Party, who constantly feuded and undermined each other, many people believed Zhao Yu would eventually choose one side to eliminate the other and resolve the chaotic, inefficient political situation.

Precisely because of this, the chancellors and executive officials became panicked, and the conflict spilled into Zhao Yu's harem.

Logically, if Zhao Yu wished for peace in his harem, he should not have accepted these women who were bound to bring trouble—no, he should not have accepted these sugar-coated bullets. Historically, Zhao Ji may have made this choice.

But Zhao Yu's path differed from that of the historical Zhao Ji, so he truly had no fear of swallowing these sugar-coated bullets.

Moreover, for Zhao Yu, the most important thing right now was securing his imperial throne; nothing else mattered, and marrying into all the chancellor families would undoubtedly help Zhao Yu solidify his throne.

Once Zhao Yu married into all the chancellor families, his regime would be thoroughly stabilized, and even Empress Dowager Xiang would be powerless against him.

The key point is, these chancellors have already sent their daughters to Zhao Yu; if he refuses them, they might overthink it, and that could lead to unforeseen consequences.

Therefore, Zhao Yu decided to accept them all.

But this matter could not be handled personally by Zhao Yu, or it would make him appear too greedy.

Thus, Zhao Yu's official white glove, Zheng Xiansu, made a dazzling appearance.

In the Kunning Palace.

Li Qingzhao, Chao Min, Wei Zhi, Cai Xuan, Zhang Nan, Han Yu, and eleven other women recommended by chancellors to participate in the palace examination stood in two neat rows, awaiting Zheng Xiansu's audience.

Eleven chancellors—why twelve women?

That was because Zhao Tingzhi, who was in charge of the currency reform that day, was also present.

Zhao Tingzhi, without considering he was not a chancellor, voluntarily sent his daughter Zhao Yu to join the palace examination, seizing this opportunity to fully align himself with Zhao Yu's faction.

Zheng Xiansu did not speak to all twelve women together; instead, she called each one individually into the Eastern Warm Hall for private conversation.

Li Qingzhao noticed that no matter who emerged from the Eastern Warm Hall, they all blushed shyly and then went to rest in the Western Warm Hall, as if the Empress would later invite them and the top scorers of this palace examination to dinner, and Zhao Yu himself might attend.

The eleventh-to-last to enter was Chao Min; Li Qingzhao was the last.

After just a cup of tea's time, Chao Min also emerged from the Eastern Warm Hall, blushing shyly.

As she passed Li Qingzhao, Chao Min whispered to her: "I've been chosen. Don't be nervous—the Empress is very kind."

Li Qingzhao heard this and felt both astonished and uncertain: whether to rejoice for her friend becoming an imperial concubine, or to grieve for her friend's future imprisonment within these deep palace walls.

Li Qingzhao took a deep breath and entered the Eastern Warm Hall.

Upon entering, Li Qingzhao saw Zheng Xiansu seated gracefully upon a soft couch, her expression gentle, her smile warm and approachable; beside her stood an exquisite bronze crane lamp, its wick swaying gently, casting soft, warm light that added a touch of tenderness to the solemn occasion.

Seeing Li Qingzhao enter, Zheng Xiansu lightly raised her hand, signaling her to approach.

Li Qingzhao walked slowly forward, stopping three paces from Zheng Xiansu, and bowed deeply, her voice clear as a spring: "Your servant, Li Shi, pays homage to Your Majesty the Empress."

Zheng Xiansu smiled faintly, her expression gentle yet subtly perceptive, as if able to see into the soul: "Rise, please. Though I have long dwelled deep within the palace, I have heard your 'Ru Meng Ling: Last Night, Rain Light, Wind Strong.' Today, seeing you in person, I confirm you are truly extraordinary in bearing—worthy of the title 'talented woman.'"

Li Qingzhao replied humbly: "Your Majesty overpraises me. Your servant merely has a slight grasp of literature—how could I claim talent? It is merely the idle praise of outsiders."

Zheng Xiansu waved gently, signaling Li Qingzhao to sit, and said: "You need not be so modest. Your lyrics are fresh in imagery, delicate in emotion, and uniquely skilled in execution—whether 'Ru Meng Ling: Last Night, Rain Light, Wind Strong' or 'Ru Meng Ling: Often Remembering the Creek Pavilion at Sunset,' they are masterpieces of the ages. Your talent stands alone, unmatched by predecessors."

Li Qingzhao still wished to protest, but Zheng Xiansu raised her hand to stop her: "If you possess such talent, you must not refuse what is rightfully yours."

Without waiting for Li Qingzhao to speak further, Zheng Xiansu changed tone: "His Majesty has only recently ascended the throne; the harem remains sparse, lacking the splendor befitting an imperial household. To ensure imperial heirs and restore the harem's glory, virtuous maidens must be selected to increase their number. This palace examination aims to select capable women to manage the harem and enrich it, promoting prosperity. Though your overall ranking was low, your poetry was astonishingly brilliant—I am deeply pleased, and I believe His Majesty will also cherish your literary gifts…"

Li Qingzhao grew increasingly uneasy and quickly interrupted Zheng Xiansu: "Your Majesty misunderstands—there is another matter at play…"

Then Li Qingzhao explained plainly that she had only come to observe, not to be selected as Zhao Yu's concubine.

Zheng Xiansu frowned deeply, thinking: Su Shi and Su Zhe are too irresponsible—since Li Qingzhao has no desire to enter the palace, why did you send her here? Did you truly intend for her to just play?

In truth, not all chancellors recommended their own daughters; many, like Su Shi, Su Zhe, Li Qingchen, Zhang Shangying, and Xu Jiang, recommended daughters of friends or relatives.

Those who recommended their own daughters did so because their daughters were both beautiful and talented, and thus presentable; secondly, they were brazen, seeking to bind themselves more closely to Zhao Yu to preserve their power and realize their political ambitions. Even if they lost in political struggles, this familial tie would spare them a grim fate.

Those who did not recommend their own daughters were not above using marriage alliances—they simply had no suitable daughters, or had found even more talented women to recommend.

Even Xu Jiang, who was preparing to retire due to poor health, sent his most talented and beautiful clan daughter to join the palace examination.

In short, no chancellor took this matter lightly.

Only Li Qingzhao, sent by Su Shi and Su Zhe, was of average beauty and had no intention of staying.

'What kind of mess have Su Shi and Su Zhe made of this?'

Had it not been for Chao Min, sent by Su Shi and Su Zhe, who was exceptionally beautiful and eager to stay, Zheng Xiansu might have suspected Su Shi and Su Zhe had reverted to their old habit of haughty detachment.

If Li Qingzhao did not wish to stay, what could Zheng Xiansu say?

Moreover, Li Qingzhao's father, Li Kefei, was only a seventh-rank official; her mother, though the eldest daughter of Wang Gui, a chancellor of the Yuanfeng era, had died when Li Qingzhao was two. Such a Li Qingzhao, though born into a noble family, lacked sufficient status for an Empress to use forceful means to retain her.

Thus, Zheng Xiansu granted Li Qingzhao permission to leave, and the methods she used on the other eleven women were not applied to her.

Li Qingzhao exited the Eastern Warm Hall and prepared to join the others in the Western Warm Hall.

But a palace maid blocked her path, gesturing for Li Qingzhao to follow her directly out of the palace.

Only then did Li Qingzhao realize: apart from herself, all eleven other women who had come to participate in the palace examination had been chosen to become Zhao Yu's concubines.

'I never thought the imperial court could be so cold—because I refused to stay, they won't even let me eat a single meal!'

Li Qingzhao, hungry, followed the palace maid out of the palace.

Night was ink-black; only a few palace lanterns emitted faint light, stretching their shadows long…

As they reached the palace gate, just as Li Qingzhao was about to leave with the maid, she unexpectedly met Zhao Yu returning to the harem.

Seeing from afar that the man was Zhao Yu, Li Qingzhao's face flushed crimson instantly! She quickly lowered her head, stepped aside behind the maid, and bowed, waiting for Zhao Yu and his entourage to pass before continuing her departure.

But just as Zhao Yu and Li Qingzhao were about to brush past each other, Zhao Yu suddenly stopped.

Li Qingzhao's heart suddenly began pounding "thump-thump-thump!" without ceasing!

For all these years, Li Qingzhao had never feared meeting anyone—not even the Empress Zheng Xiansu she had just seen.

Only Zhao Yu made Li Qingzhao so nervous she was utterly at a loss. It wasn't that she feared Zhao Yu's supreme, unrivaled power—she feared he would recognize her and dredge up that night's most humiliating, most public disgrace of her life.

Yet often, the more you fear something, the more it comes to you.

Just then, Zhao Yu let out a soft "Huh?" and turned to look at Li Qingzhao: "You are the daughter of Empress Zhang's…"

How strange.

Li Qingzhao had taken part in many Imperial Court Examinations, and Zhao Yu occasionally served as a guest examiner—but they had never once crossed paths at the examinations.

In truth, Zhao Yu knew Li Qingzhao had come to take the Imperial Court Examinations; he had eagerly looked forward to meeting the greatest female scholar in history—but he had not rushed to seek her out.

As for why?

Naturally, Zhao Yu knew Li Qingzhao and her group were concubines gifted to him by the chancellors—that is, Li Qingzhao would eventually become his woman, and he could meet her anytime; there was no need to hurry.

Thus, Zhao Yu and Li Qingzhao had perfectly missed each other.

No.

More accurately, Zhao Yu and Li Qingzhao had already met—but until now, Zhao Yu had no idea the woman he had slapped on the buttocks and served him that night was Li Qingzhao.

But then again, even though Zhao Yu didn't know she was Li Qingzhao, that didn't prevent her from leaving a deep impression on him, despite her not being especially beautiful.

How to put it?

Li Qingzhao possessed a certain aura Zhao Yu had never seen in any other woman.

Intellectual, elegant, restrained—hard to describe.

And this Li Qingzhao, shy and hesitant, "pretending to refuse while secretly inviting," gave Zhao Yu an entirely different feeling.

Especially later, when Li Qingzhao blushed so deeply she dared not even look at him, Zhao Yu found her both amusing and entertaining.

These unique qualities of Li Qingzhao allowed Zhao Yu to recognize her at a glance.

Put it this way: Li Qingzhao's current desperate attempts to avoid Zhao Yu were identical to how she had acted that night after helping him finish.

Unfortunately, Zhao Yu had forgotten to ask her name that night.

Now that they had met again, Zhao Yu intended to ask outright—so that someday, when he felt inclined to take her, he wouldn't have to wonder where to find her.

Li Qingzhao truly did not want to tell Zhao Yu who she was. She wished desperately he would forget her, and that her shameful past would remain forever buried within this isolated imperial harem.

But that could only be Li Qingzhao's wishful thinking. How could she dare commit the crime of deceiving the Emperor? Besides, Zhang Chun and the others all knew who she was—Zhao Yu need only ask one question, and she would be exposed.

There was no choice. Li Qingzhao could only answer honestly: "Your servant is the daughter of Assistant Minister of Revenue Li Kefei… Li Qingzhao."

Zhao Yu was stunned, barely believing it: "You're Li Qingzhao?! The Li Qingzhao who wrote 'Ru Meng Ling: Last Night, Rain Light, Wind Strong'?"

For the first time, Li Qingzhao hated how famous she was: 'This time, I'm truly trapped!'

Li Qingzhao bowed gracefully: "It is this servant."

Zhao Yu's expression was now incredibly complex—but fortunately, it was night, the lighting was poor, and no one could see his mix of surprise and delight.

To be honest, Zhao Yu had never imagined the woman who had served him that night—and helped him awaken Zhang Chun—was Li Qingzhao.

It felt like casually opening a dusty, forgotten ancient book in an ordinary life, only to suddenly discover it concealed an invaluable treasure—both shocking and joyous, beyond words.

Zhao Yu's gaze swept over Li Qingzhao, his face filled with amusement.

He made small talk: "You're leaving the palace?"

Li Qingzhao quickly explained everything: why she had come to take the Imperial Court Examinations, how she had become friends with Zhang Chun and the others, how she had already made her intentions clear to Empress Zheng Xiansu, and that she was now preparing to leave the palace and return home.

After listening, Zhao Yu suddenly felt as if a duck cooked in his pot had flown away.

In his past life, faced with such helplessness, Zhao Yu could only endure it.

But this life was different.

In this life, Zhao Yu was Emperor—and if he wanted a woman, how could he let her slip away?

Then again, Li Qingzhao's temperament was indeed rather fiery; forcing her might end in disaster.

His eyes flickered, and a plan came to mind. He turned to Liang Shicheng beside him: "Bring me a token."

Liang Shicheng was quick-witted—he immediately fetched a golden tablet.

Zhao Yu glanced at Liang Shicheng, said nothing, and presented the golden tablet to Li Qingzhao: "Take this."

Li Qingzhao accepted the golden tablet and asked, puzzled: "Your Majesty, why do you bestow this tablet upon this servant?"

Zhao Yu smiled: "You're close friends with Empress Zhang and the others, aren't you? With this, you may enter and leave the palace freely, whenever you wish to visit them. Moreover, with it, your father won't beat your buttocks when you return home."

With that, Zhao Yu and his party departed.

Only Li Qingzhao remained, bewildered: 'Why would my father beat my buttocks?'

Thinking of being beaten on the buttocks, Li Qingzhao recalled again how Zhao Yu had slapped her buttocks that night: 'That… was hardly a beating…'

…

(End of Chapter)