Chapter 94: The Blessings of a Man with Three Wives

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After having a perfect wedding night with Zheng Xiansu, Zhao Yu rested for a while while holding her, then spoke some private words to her, and his body fully recovered.

Just as Zhao Yu was about to make love to Zheng Xiansu again, she stopped him:

"Your Majesty, we have many days ahead of us; today is also the great joyous day of your two concubines. Your Majesty must not expend all your energy on me—otherwise, they will surely feel regret, and how then shall I, as their elder sister, govern the Six Palaces in the future?"

To be honest, after the incident involving Zheng Xiansu's secret possession of Zhao Xu's imperial edict, Zhao Yu had considered replacing her.

But Zhao Yu truly did not know who else he could appoint as Empress if he replaced Zheng Xiansu—Zhang Chun, who was determined to seize the Empress's position? Or Li Lin, who wanted to be the top dog? Or Ye Shi Yun, Ma Xiao Jiao, or Yuan Qing Cheng? How could any of them possibly become Empress?

As for other women, Zhao Yu truly did not know whether they could maintain harmony in his harem, ensure the prosperity of his offspring, or help him intimidate the many cunning and unpredictable women in his harem.

Later, Zhao Yu reconsidered: who does not make mistakes? As long as she sincerely reforms, that is enough.

Moreover, that incident ultimately caused no harm; fairly speaking, Zheng Xiansu even earned a merit.

Crucially, Zheng Xiansu genuinely stood by him and sincerely admitted her fault. Though she knew she might be punished, even risk losing the Empress position she was about to obtain, she ultimately chose to give Zhao Yu Zhao Xu's final edict rather than burn it privately—that was the best proof.

'She merely lacked security, having spent too long in the treacherous harem, and momentarily lost her way.'

Moreover, to be honest, perhaps because he had decided from the start to make Zheng Xiansu his Empress, Zhao Yu had genuinely developed feelings for her, and he could not bring himself to completely reject her over a single mistake.

After careful consideration, Zhao Yu decided to give Zheng Xiansu another chance.

Now, as Empress, Zheng Xiansu could have enjoyed this entire wedding night alone.

But Zheng Xiansu did not do so; right after marrying, she used her actions to tell Zhao Yu that choosing her as his Empress was the right decision.

You should know that Zheng Xiansu could have done exactly what the vast majority of Zhao Yu's women did—keeping Zhao Yu by their side longer than anyone else—to prove to everyone how deeply Zhao Yu favored them, especially since this was her wedding night, something that could belong to Zheng Xiansu alone.

【16】 Zheng Xiansu could have done exactly what most of Zhao Yu's women did—keep Zhao Yu by her side longer than others to prove to everyone how much he doted on her, especially during this wedding night meant solely for her.

Moreover, if Zheng Xiansu demonstrated to Zhao Yu's harem women that she could even deprive Wang Yisu and Guo Ting—both his officially wedded wives—of their wedding nights, then no one else would dare question her authority; her dominance would be instantly established.

In vivid terms, this would be tyranny.

But Zheng Xiansu chose the path of benevolent rule.

From Zhao Yu's perspective, he certainly hoped Zheng Xiansu would follow the path of benevolent rule, for it better served his goal of expanding his lineage.

Thus, Zheng Xiansu's choice struck exactly at Zhao Yu's heart, confirming to him that giving her another chance was the right decision.

Since Zheng Xiansu was so considerate, Zhao Yu could not betray her, so he said: "Wait for me. No matter how late, I will return."

Zheng Xiansu understood: Zhao Yu meant that no matter how many concubines he had, no matter how many affairs he pursued, he would always come back to her—she was his true wife.

To Zheng Xiansu, Zhao Yu needed no further words; between them, sufficient trials had already passed.

Therefore, she merely nodded gently, understanding without words, then softly opened her Zhu Chun lips: "It is late, Your Majesty, go quickly—do not let your two sisters wait too long."

Zhao Yu kissed Zheng Xiansu's forehead, then rose, adjusted his robes, and left Kunning Palace.

The palace at night was silent and mysterious, with only Zhao Yu's footsteps and those of his attendants echoing through the corridors.

Soon after, Zhao Yu and his entourage arrived at Wang Yisu's quarters.

As Zhao Yu entered the bridal chamber, he saw Wang Yisu seated on the edge of the bed, dressed in her wedding attire.

Seeing Zhao Yu enter, Wang Yisu rose steadily and bowed: "Your servant greets Your Majesty."

Zhao Yu gently lifted her up and said softly: "Today is our wedding day—no need to be formal."

"Mm." Wang Yisu sweetly replied, then returned to the bed and sat properly according to imperial protocol.

Zhao Yu took the balance rod and lifted the veil from Wang Yisu's head.

Wang Yisu's skin was whiter than snow, flushed with pink, like the most delicate petal on a spring branch. Between her brows and eyes lay pools of autumn water, her gaze shifting with tender affection and shy hesitation; her slender eyebrows arched slightly upward like a crescent moon, radiating innate charm. Beneath her straight, elegant nose lay cherry lips, naturally red, now slightly pursed, as if holding back a thousand unspoken words. Her jet-black, lustrous hair cascaded like a waterfall, with a few loose strands falling gently beside her Bai Xi cheeks, adding further allure.

Zhao Yu took Wang Yisu's hand and made small talk: "I thought you had already fallen asleep."

Wang Yisu replied firmly: "Sister would never leave me waiting alone; I have been waiting for Your Majesty's arrival."

Zhao Yu was momentarily speechless. The truth was, if not for Zheng Xiansu, he would not have come to Wang Yisu tonight—Wang Yisu had guessed correctly.

Fortunately, Wang Yisu's emotional intelligence was also sharp; she embraced Zhao Yu and said: "I have already made arrangements with Sister. For this life, I will spare no effort to manage Your Majesty's harem, ensure its peace, relieve Your Majesty of all rear worries, and assist Your Majesty in expanding your lineage."

Hearing this, Zhao Yu sat on the edge of the bed and patiently engaged in quiet conversation with Wang Yisu.

After some time, Zhao Yu embraced Wang Yisu and lay down for their second wedding night.

Afterwards.

Wang Yisu happily lay curled in Zhao Yu's arms for a while.

It was clear she cherished this warmth.

But once Zhao Yu had rested enough, Wang Yisu resolutely left his embrace and said: "I am already utterly happy; I dare not ask for more. Please, Your Majesty, go to Sister Guo."

Zhao Yu was somewhat tired and did not wish to move.

Seeing this, Wang Yisu kissed Zhao Yu's cheek, then helped him rise while saying: "Do not let Sister Guo resent me or Sister. If Your Majesty loves me, I shall serve you wholeheartedly in the future. Today is Sister Guo's great joyous day—do not make her wait."

After Wang Yisu's repeated urging, Zhao Yu finally rose, adjusted his attire, and, surrounded by attendants, proceeded to Guo Ting's quarters.

Along the way, Zhao Yu was filled with reflection: 'Becoming Emperor is different—I am truly enjoying the blessings of a man with three wives now?'

To be honest, Zheng Xiansu's generosity and Wang Yisu's thoughtfulness made Zhao Yu feel even more anticipation for the upcoming Guo Ting.

When Zhao Yu entered Guo Ting's bridal chamber, he saw candlelight flickering, the entire room filled with festive warmth.

At that moment, Guo Ting, also dressed in wedding attire, sat poised on the edge of the bed—clearly waiting for Zhao Yu to enter.

Seeing this, Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu's actions were correct.

Otherwise, if Guo Ting had been left alone in the bridal chamber all night, what would her mood have been? Would she have turned bitter, resenting Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu?

'Sometimes, a woman's heart is finer than a man's.'

To Zhao Yu's great surprise, Guo Ting was tall and slender, estimated to be nearly one meter eighty.

This was exceedingly rare among women, especially in this era.

Yet her towering frame did not make her appear clumsy and heavy; instead, it complemented her wedding attire, adding even greater dignity.

Zhao Yu looked closer: her waist was slender, barely a handful, sharply contrasting with her height, enhancing her graceful curves.

Zhao Yu guessed she had a model's figure.

Unfortunately, her layered skirt concealed her true form, leaving Zhao Yu unable to discern her full figure at once.

But then again, from what Zhao Yu could see, it was enough to let him breathe a sigh of relief.

Speaking of which, the union between Zhao Yu and Guo Ting was a truly feudal one—the kind where the two had never met, and upon meeting, had to go straight to bed to breed.

As a person of the twenty-first century, Zhao Yu actually couldn't accept this kind of marriage.

But then, Zhao Yu was the Emperor, and when choosing a woman now, sometimes he really couldn't just look at her face—he also had to look at the family behind her.

The Guo clan was originally a prestigious noble house. Although the family had already been in some decline, it was still far beyond what poor families like the Zheng clan and the Wang clan could compare to.

Zhao Yu also promoted Guo Cheng to the "Minister of National Defense" of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

What's worse, the Zhao Song Dynasty might still possibly go to war with the Liao Kingdom.

If something like the Treaty of Chanyuan really happened again, Zhao Yu would have to rely on Guo Cheng, who was capable of both campaigning and defending.

Under these circumstances, Zhao Yu definitely had to look at Guo Ting more favorably—no matter how bad she was, he had to take her first.

Fortunately, seeing that Guo Ting at least had a model's figure, even if she was a bit ugly, Zhao Yu could bear it. At worst, when doing the deed, he'd close his eyes and think of some beautiful supermodel.

Zhao Yu took the scale rod and walked toward Guo Ting.

Honestly, at this final moment, Zhao Yu really did feel a bit of the nervousness of opening a blind box.

'Why do I feel like I've got something of a breeding boar about me?'

'The feudal system kills people.'

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Yu used the scale rod to lift off Guo Ting's bridal veil.

In an instant, a faint, elegant fragrance drifted in.

Zhao Yu focused his eyes and looked—under the candlelight, Guo Ting's features gradually became clear.

It was a stunning face, with sculpted contours and exquisite features. Her skin was fair as snow, glowing with a soft halo. Her eyes were like a pool of autumn water, bright and moving, and in the shifting glances hid a touch of shyness and curiosity, and… unease.

'Oh? A beauty!'

The worry Zhao Yu had been holding was instantly set down.

Zhao Yu thought again, 'No matter what, Guo Ting is a woman meant to marry a prince—how bad could she be? I was overthinking it.'

What Zhao Yu didn't know was that from the moment he entered—no, from the moment Guo Ting was carried out of the Guo household, even from the moment the marriage between Guo Ting and Zhao Yu was set—Guo Ting's heart had been uneasy.

In looks, Guo Ting was definitely no problem; not only no problem, she was also more beautiful than the vast majority of women.

But the problem was, Guo Ting was too tall.

The aesthetic of this era tended toward the reserved, the graceful, and the petite.

Like the image of a woman described in Li Qingzhao's poetry—"shyly she turns away, leans by the door and looks back, only to sniff the green plum"—showing a petite, bashful kind of beauty.

A tall figure didn't match this, and would be seen as deviating from the traditional aesthetic model.

What's more, the women's clothing style of this era was simple and elongated, like the beizi, of moderate length. When a tall woman wore such clothes, the proportions easily fell out of balance, spoiling the overall harmony and gentle temperament. At the same time, hairstyles like the high bun suited petite figures, and paired with a tall one would make the head-to-body ratio look strange.

Furthermore, women of this era had little social activity, and a petite figure fit the lifestyle of "not stepping out the front gate, not stepping past the second gate." A tall figure in such a setting would be seen as out of place, not meeting society's expectations of feminine softness and beauty.

In any case, in the eyes of people of this era, a woman being too tall was not only not a plus—it was a mark of ugliness.

Back then, when the Ministry of Rites went to the Guo household to select consorts for the princes, Guo Ting's mother was bold and used some concealment tricks so that the people from the Ministry of Rites didn't notice Guo Ting's height.

After Guo Cheng returned home and learned of this, he gave Guo Ting's mother a thorough scolding.

Guo Ting's mother, née Fan, argued back, the idea being that the Guo family was already in decline, the imperial household couldn't possibly take a liking to a Guo daughter, and with the flattering words of the Ministry of Rites officials, Guo Ting would essentially have gained a dazzling credential, making it easier to marry into another family later.

Guo Cheng figured that made sense too, so he didn't take this small matter too seriously.

Who would have thought, not long after, Guo Cheng distinguished himself greatly in the Battle of Pingxiacheng and entered Zhao Xu's field of vision.

To reward Guo Cheng's loyalty and bravery, and to win over the rising Guo clan, Zhao Xu conceived the idea of a marriage alliance with the Guo family.

And when Empress Dowager Xiang took out Guo Ting's portrait from the Ministry of Rites and looked at it, there was no problem—a quite beautiful lady from a great family.

Thus, Zhao Xu and Empress Dowager Xiang set the marriage between Zhao Yu and Guo Ting.

Unexpectedly, the imperial household then went back on its word and made Guo Ting a side consort instead.

At first, Guo Cheng was a bit angry.

But thinking of his daughter's tall frame, Guo Cheng reconsidered—being a side consort might actually be a good thing.

However, what happened next was even more outrageous.

Zhao Xu passed away, Zhao Yu succeeded to the throne, and Guo Ting instantly became the future Imperial Consort.

The key point was, because of Guo Ting, Zhao Yu promoted Guo Cheng on the spot to the pinnacle of military officials, making him Grand Commandant, and the Guo clan successfully made a comeback.

For the nearly-fallen Guo clan, this was absolutely a great thing.

But the problem was, Guo Ting was a ticking bomb; the Guo family truly didn't know whether, when Guo Ting's bomb went off, it would blow them back to their original shape, or even earn them the crime of deceiving the Emperor.

Later, an advisor suggested to Guo Cheng that Guo Ting's marriage to Zhao Yu was entirely in accordance with ritual law, and even if Zhao Yu was dissatisfied, he couldn't blame the Guo clan; if anyone was to blame, it would only be the Ministry of Rites officials for being too careless in their work. Moreover, in taking a wife one takes virtue, not beauty—as long as Guo Ting's character was no problem, Zhao Yu would have to accept this marriage.

Actually, there were some things the advisor didn't say—namely, he felt that even if Zhao Yu didn't take to Guo Ting, he wouldn't punish Guo Cheng for it; at worst, he'd just leave Guo Ting aside and not touch her. The Emperor kept so many idle people around—would one more really matter? At most, she just wouldn't be favored.

Guo Cheng felt the matter wasn't as simple as the advisor made it sound, but things had already come to this point, and he could only brace himself and marry Guo Ting off to Zhao Yu. Otherwise, could he go back on the Emperor's marriage?

Guo Cheng only hoped that Zhao Yu, for the sake of the Guo clan's generations of bloody service to the Zhao Song Dynasty, wouldn't pursue the matter too closely, nor neglect Guo Ting too much.

Regarding all this, Guo Ting knew perfectly well.

Now, what had to be faced had to be faced in the end.

Guo Ting took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and saluted Zhao Yu: "Your consort, née Guo, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

When Guo Ting stood up, Zhao Yu only then realized she was well over one meter eighty—visually, she was actually more than an inch taller than him.

Zhao Yu said offhandedly: "You're this tall?!"

Guo Ting's heart instantly leapt to her throat, and she hurriedly explained: "Your consort…"

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yu's tone shifted: "Wonderful! I have just been wanting a tall beauty of a consort—you suit my taste perfectly."

Zhao Yu wasn't lying—he'd never played with a woman this tall before, so it was bound to be a different experience.

Guo Ting was overjoyed!!! She had never imagined that the huge crisis her whole family had worried about for so long would be resolved so easily.

Guo Ting immediately cried tears of joy!

Zhao Yu saw this and said, "My beloved concubine, what do you mean? We lie down—no, let us sit down and talk slowly..."

(End of Chapter)