Chapter 18: The Shortcut Out of the Harem

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"Although Zhao Ji has already married Empress Xianggong, she will die at age twenty-five, living only eight more years."

"But Empress Xiansu is different—by the time of the Jingkang Humiliation, she was still alive and well; had the Jingkang Humiliation not occurred, she might have lived to seventy or eighty."

"Looking at it this way, if we steer history back on track and keep Zhao Ji as emperor, my chance of becoming empress is greater."

"But Empress Xianggong will bear Zhao Ji's legitimate eldest son, Zhao Huan. Historically, Prince Yun of Zhao Kai topped the imperial examinations, Prince Su of Zhao Shu had a photographic memory, and Prince Jing of Zhao Qi was exceptionally filial—yet none could surpass Zhao Huan, who became Emperor Qinzong. Can my son compete with Zhao Huan? Remember, Zhao Huan's reputation as a prince and crown prince was excellent—he knew how to pretend and how to bide his time."

"No, no—if Zhao Ji becomes emperor, we're back on the path to the Jingkang Humiliation."

"The Jingkang Humiliation happened mainly because Zhao Ji, Zhao Huan, and Zhao Gou—the father and two sons—were too cowardly; otherwise, they could never have reached that point. We must replace him with the resolute Zhao Yu."

"As for how I can become Zhao Yu's empress? We'll figure that out later. I'm a time-traveler who knows history—how could I lose to Empress Xiansu, some mere local?"

"Moreover, our current status and positions are far too low, and the time left for Zhao Yu to replace Zhao Ji is too short. If Zhao Yu doesn't marry Empress Xiansu and Imperial Noble Consort Yisu, he stands almost no chance of defeating Zhao Ji and becoming emperor."

"By the way, why would Zhao Yu even consider marrying Empress Xiansu and Imperial Noble Consort Yisu? Did he suddenly decide this because I told him he could become emperor? If so, then he's not just bold and ambitious—he's politically brilliant."

"I can't fathom how such a formidable Zhao Yu could have lost to Zhao Ji in history—and why the historical records contain not a single word about it."

While mentally weighing these thoughts, Zhang Chun admitted without flinching: "I told Zhao Yu to marry Zheng Yaban and Wang Yaban. I've planned this for a long time—only this way can Zhao Yu have a chance to replace Zhao Ji and become emperor."

Yuan Qingcheng said: "Jiaojiao and I thought the same, so we came to confirm it with you—and to ask if we need to do anything."

Zhang Chun understood why Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qingcheng were so anxious. The five of them were trapped in this harem like prisoners; seeing Zhao Yu once was extremely difficult, and they had only five months left before the emperor had to be replaced—they naturally wanted to maximize this rare chance to meet him.

Zhang Chun said: "You don't understand history or politics well—you might mean well but end up causing harm. Let me handle contact with Zhao Yu. Hmm… this way: you keep watch on when Zhao Yu leaves, and see if we can meet again. It was too rushed just now—I haven't had time to give him all the necessary instructions."

Yuan Qingcheng agreed and returned to Ma Xiao Jiao's side.

Ma Xiao Jiao asked: "Was it Pure-sister who gave Zhao Yu the idea?"

Yuan Qingcheng said: "She said so."

Ma Xiao Jiao patted her chest: "Good, good. We're finally changing history. Qingcheng, do you know? I was terrified we wouldn't change anything—that the Jingkang Humiliation would still happen, and we'd come here for nothing."

Yuan Qingcheng wanted to say: "I feel something's off about Pure-sister—I suspect this idea wasn't hers."

But first, Yuan Qingcheng had no proof; second, she didn't want to dash Ma Xiao Jiao's hopes.

So she swallowed the words she had wanted to say.

At that moment, Yuan Qingcheng noticed the other four palace maids enthusiastically gossiping. She asked Ma Xiao Jiao: "What are they talking about?"

"They're discussing who will be chosen as the teaching maid to initiate Zhao Yu into the ways of man and woman." Ma Xiao Jiao said.

"Initiate him into the ways of man and woman?"

After a moment's reflection, Yuan Qingcheng suddenly understood.

Having been bombarded by the information explosion, even if she'd never eaten pork, she'd certainly seen pigs run.

Besides, after listening closely for a while, Yuan Qingcheng could hear exactly what the four maids were saying.

Broadly speaking:

China's imperial courts throughout history placed great emphasis on progeny, regarding it as a matter of paramount importance for the eternal continuity of Jiangshan.

Thus, imperial males typically married young, usually before age eighteen, often between thirteen and seventeen.

At such a young age, marriage inevitably led some imperial males to be ignorant of male-female relations, hindering reproduction.

Moreover, Empress Dowager was an old-fashioned woman who strictly regulated such matters and would certainly not permit the princes to engage with women too early and damage their health.

Of course, whether the princes secretly took concubines behind closed doors is another matter—after all, palace maids serving the princes could be used at their whim.

We won't dwell on that.

Only this: according to formal protocol, before the princes married, Empress Dowager usually appointed four teaching maids to instruct them in male-female relations.

Zhao Bi and Zhao Ji, who recently married, both underwent this process.

This was standard practice in imperial courts, past and present.

For example, the dim-witted Emperor Hui of Western Jin married at thirteen; his father, Emperor Wu of Jin, knowing he was ignorant of male-female relations, sent the palace concubine Xie Jiu to the Donggong to teach him. When Xie Jiu left the Donggong, she was already pregnant, and later gave birth to a son in another palace quarters.

In other words, the teaching maid assigned to instruct Zhao Yu in these matters has a chance to conceive his child—if she truly wins this lottery, she will rise to great heights and become a phoenix.

Even if she fails to conceive, if she gains his favor, she will earn a title.

Even if she gains no title, if she guides him well, she may become his personal maid, continuing to offer herself when he desires, preserving her path upward.

At worst, if Zhao Yu takes no interest in them and ceases to favor them, they are typically appointed as female officials of Wang Fu—compared to mere maids who only serve tea and water, they gain greater freedom, rights, and property sufficient to sustain their livelihood.

Moreover, due to the era's patriarchal ideology, even if they gain nothing, these maids still regard serving Zhao Yu as an honor.

Of course, these maids so eagerly desire to instruct Zhao Yu in these matters because many have used this path to gain repeated favors and rise to the rank of cairen; some with exceptional beauty or intelligence even succeeded in becoming imperial consorts, and the most outstanding became beloved noble consorts.

In short, for a palace maid, instructing Zhao Yu in male-female relations is a tremendous fortune—some maids have even elevated their entire families to unparalleled glory through this role.

Yuan Qingcheng listened for a while, when Ma Xiao Jiao suddenly said: "Hey, Qingcheng, do you think the five of us could take this path to leave here?"

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(End of Chapter)