Chapter 36: Gossip

Since being brought back to Weiyang Palace by the Son of Heaven in the second year of Jianyuan, Wei Zifu had been living in the Yongxiang and had not been granted a palace to live in alone.

And since then, because of the "arrogance and jealousy" of Empress Chen, Wei Zifu had never been summoned for favor, let alone seen the Emperor's face.

It wasn't until the third year of Jianyuan, when the Son of Heaven intended to release some elderly palace maids from the palace, that Wei Zifu, not knowing what method she used, met the Son of Heaven and wanted him to allow her to go home.

What Wei Zifu said after meeting Liu Che, no one knew, and there was no way to know. But the final result was that Liu Che and Wei Zifu slept together again, and Wei Zifu was unable to leave Weiyang Palace to go home as she had wished.

It was also because of this that A Jiao and Liu Che quarreled again that year. A Jiao, in a fit of rage, was pushed by Liu Che and accidentally bumped her head. When she woke up, she was already the reborn A Jiao.

Because Liu Che accidentally injured A Jiao, even the Empress Dowager at that time warned Liu Che to restrain himself and not to make A Jiao unhappy again; offending the Grand Empress Dowager and the Grand Princess would do him no good at that time.

So during that period, in order to gain A Jiao's forgiveness, Liu Che carefully stayed by A Jiao's side.

At that time, A Jiao had just been reborn and hadn't reacted yet. Facing the carefully ingratiating Liu Che, she only thought about avenging the hatred of being deposed, showing him no good face at all, and even ordering him around imperiously.

When A Jiao gradually realized that she had truly returned to the third year of Jianyuan, she also realized that if she continued to treat Liu Che like this, she would definitely repeat the fate of the fifth year of Yuanguang.

A Jiao had also thought about complaining to the Grand Empress Dowager, telling the old lady that after she passed away, Liu Che would do very, very excessive things and eventually depose her position as Empress.

That time, for the first time, her maternal grandmother did not blindly favor her, but told her many great principles. The self before rebirth might not have understood these principles, but after rebirth, she understood them all at once.

She couldn't rely on her maternal grandmother to help her for the rest of her life; one day she would become someone alone, so in the end, she chose to say nothing. And in order to change the fate of being deposed by Liu Che in the end, she learned to endure and to be hypocritical.

During that period, a strange harmony seemed to have been reached between A Jiao and Liu Che.

At the beginning of the fourth year of Jianyuan, A Jiao suddenly became pregnant.

This change was something A Jiao herself had not expected; after all, in her previous life, she never had children until she died. It turns out that wearing a false mask can really change many things.

A Jiao's pregnancy had only been known for a few days when it was rumored in the Yongxiang that Lady Wei was also pregnant, and it was already four months along, several months earlier than A Jiao.

Recalling this, A Jiao frowned and said: "In the third year of Jianyuan, I hadn't been reborn yet, so I don't remember the details of Wei Zifu's return to favor clearly. Why are you suddenly asking me these things?"

Liu Li scratched her head and told A Jiao the idea she had brainstormed: "It's just... don't you think that in the third year of Jianyuan, Wei Zifu and the Emperor only slept together once, and then she got pregnant? Isn't that too coincidental?"

History books all say that Liu Che and A Jiao were married for many years but never had children. How could Wei Zifu get pregnant after being favored just once? This is not scientific.

A Jiao's expression froze slightly, and then she said with some amusement: "A Li, could it be that you are thinking too much? Before Liu Che and I swapped bodies, we also slept, cough, slept once, and didn't he also get pregnant?"

Discussing bedroom matters with her young daughter, A Jiao really couldn't bring herself to say it.

Liu Li showed a surprised expression and said after a long time: "So... that's how it is?" Could it be that she really thought too much?

"But if there was no problem with what happened back then, why did Wei Zifu frame Lady Yin?" If there was no problem with the child, then it could only be that the "noble person" who helped her in secret had a problem. Who exactly was worth Wei Zifu ignoring the life of the imperial son in her belly to protect?

Seeing Liu Li's little face, which looked exceptionally serious because of her contemplation, A Jiao couldn't help but reach out and gently pinch her chubby cheeks: "It's useless for you to sit here and imagine things. Since you think there is something suspicious about what happened back then, I will arrange for people to investigate."

Liu Li looked up at A Jiao, and A Jiao raised her eyebrows: "She must be very afraid of the events of that year being mentioned, which is why she risked framing Lady Yin, wanting to kill to silence her."

"Everything that has passed will leave traces." Liu Li thought of a famous saying from later generations, her eyes bright as she looked at A Jiao: "If we can investigate clearly, it can be considered as clearing Lady Yin's name."

Clearing a dead person's name? A Jiao thought of Lady Yin, who finally died in her arms, and couldn't help but feel a little sigh in her heart.

After Lady Yin was tortured in the Tingwei Office, she was forced to confess. If she hadn't been all alone, this matter would probably have implicated her family. A Jiao ordered people to bury her properly, but it was only arranged secretly; on the surface, she was still the culprit who attempted to harm Wei Zifu and the imperial heir.

Liu Li lay beside A Jiao and added: "Mother, I still feel that there is something suspicious about Lady Wei's pregnancy back then. Just like you said, getting pregnant accidentally after sleeping once is normal; only people with a guilty conscience would be in a hurry to hide it. You say... could it be that the child she was pregnant with back then wasn't the Emperor's..."

A Jiao didn't let Liu Li finish her words before she reached out and covered her mouth: "A Li, you can't say things like that."

"Mmm mmm mmm." Liu Li made two muffled sounds, and A Jiao let her go, exclaiming: "How did you associate these things?"

Liu Li stuck out her tongue and chuckled: "Maybe because I've seen too much, so my imagination is richer." She lowered her voice slightly and analyzed with A Jiao: "And don't you think that if we plug my guess into the whole thing, everything can be explained?"

A Jiao was stunned and recalled carefully, finding that it was indeed the case. Because the child Wei Zifu was pregnant with back then wasn't Liu Che's, so when Lady Yin mentioned that Wei Zifu got pregnant easily that day, Wei Zifu had murderous intent toward Lady Yin.

Wei Zifu didn't even give Lady Yin a chance to walk out of Pixiang Hall before she had already thought of a countermeasure in her mind. Because once this matter was known by others, it would really be a life-threatening matter.

So she would rather use the child in her belly as a bet than let Lady Yin die first.

"But these are just our guesses; there is no evidence to prove that what we think is right." A Jiao said, shaking her head gently: "And, this is... too absurd."

That was also true.

Liu Li followed suit and nodded. They had been discussing for a long time, and her system hadn't prompted any historical events, which meant that this didn't happen in history at all.

A Jiao thought for a while and couldn't help but say: "But if our guess is true, then who would be the father of this child?"

Liu Li guessed: "Could it be one of the guards?" After a pause, she suddenly thought of the plot in "Empresses in the Palace" and gossiped: "Or one of the young imperial physicians? Hehe."

Sure enough, gossip is a woman's nature. A Jiao thought for a while and shook her head: "Hard to guess; it's also possible it was one of the eunuchs."

Liu Li had a shocked face: "Don't eunuchs not have small JJ?"

"Not all eunuchs in Weiyang Palace are castrated men. Just like He Yide, who previously served as the Palace Gate Guard in the Imperial Harem, he was not a castrated man." A Jiao explained to Liu Li.

Liu Li was stunned: "It can actually be like this; knowledge increased!" (Before the Eastern Han Dynasty, there were also physically normal men among eunuchs; it wasn't until after the Eastern Han Dynasty that they were all castrated.)

A Jiao pinched her little face: "In short, without evidence, it is not convenient for us to publicize this matter. I will arrange for people to investigate secretly."

Liu Li nodded: "Okay."

After a pause, she couldn't help but be curious: "Mother, you say if the Emperor knew that his eldest daughter might not be his child, what would he do?"

A Jiao thought about the reaction Liu Che would have and pursed her thin lips: "He would definitely personally drag that man out."

"And then?"

"He wouldn't keep Princess Yue or Wei Zifu."

"Mmm."

"However, he wouldn't make too much noise about this kind of thing, after all, it concerns his dignity as the Son of Heaven. With his style, he should quietly execute the relevant personnel one by one."

Tsk, so ruthless.

Since the Huainan King Wengzhu was coming to Jiaofang Hall to pay respects to the Empress in a while, Liu Li left Xuanshi Hall early and returned to Jiaofang Hall.

On the way back, Liu Li was still thinking about the possibility of Liu Che being cuckolded. If it were true, who would this man be? Who had such great courage to have a relationship with the Son of Heaven's woman?

Eating gossip halfway, the feeling of not knowing the truth was really uncomfortable, as if a cat's claws were scratching her heart.

Returning to Jiaofang Hall, Liu Li moved her short legs to find Liu Che. At this time, he should already know the news that Liu Ling was coming, but looking at his appearance, he probably didn't want to receive Liu Ling at all.

Liu Che was resting in the warm pavilion. When Liu Li found him, she handed him the things in her hand: "Father, these are the beautiful little flowers I picked on the road, for you."

Liu Che stared at the bunch of flowers in Liu Li's hand that only had green leaves left, raised an eyebrow, and asked: "Where are the flowers?"

Liu Li shrugged her nose and said: "I think this is more suitable for Father, so I threw the flowers away."

Liu Che: "..." He took the green leaves from his daughter's hand, not knowing why: "These are suitable for me?" How could he not see where they were suitable?

Liu Li nodded seriously: "Yes, green and charming, very suitable for Father at this time."

Liu Che couldn't see anything special about these few green roots and stems from left to right, but since it was a gift from his daughter, he accepted it and asked Fuqu to find a vase to put them in.

Liu Ling arrived around the time of dinner, so Liu Che received her directly in the side hall where they were eating.

"A Jiao Sister." Perhaps the relationship between Liu Ling and A Jiao was really good back then; ten years later, Liu Ling could still call "A Jiao" sister so affectionately.

Liu Che frowned and responded coldly and indifferently: "Hmm."

He directed Fuqu to grant Liu Ling a seat: "Since you are here, let's have dinner together in Jiaofang Hall."

Liu Ling's eyes turned slightly, and her gaze fell on Liu Li on the side: "Is this little princess A Jiao Sister's daughter?"

Liu Li also looked at her, thought for a while, and called out: "Hello, Aunt." According to seniority, Liu Ling was Liu Che's cousin, so calling her Aunt was correct.

"Your name is A Li, right?" Liu Ling's eyes were filled with joyful smiles: "So smart, you knew to call me Aunt as soon as we met."

Liu Li smiled shyly: "Because Mother mentioned Aunt to A Li just now."

Liu Ling also looked at Liu Che happily: "A Jiao Sister, Ling will stay in Chang'an for a few more days this time. If you feel bored, you can call Ling to accompany you. Maybe Ling will even be able to see the birth of the little imperial son in your belly."

Liu Che only nodded: "Hmm, let's eat."

This dinner was just ordinary dishes. Liu Che did not use the ingredients given by the Goddess to entertain Liu Ling. After finishing, Liu Ling originally wanted to talk to Liu Che for a while, but Liu Che had already shown signs of discomfort because of the pregnancy.

Liu Ling had no choice but to bow and leave, returning to Changle Palace.

Before she left, Liu Li very obediently reached out and held Liu Ling's hand: "Aunt, let A Li send you out on behalf of Mother."

Liu Ling nodded: "Okay."

【Ding, unlocked Liu Ling's favorability: 0.】

A sweet smile hung on the corner of Liu Li's mouth as she sent Liu Ling to the carriage and watched her leave with the carriage. Regarding the fact that Liu Ling's favorability toward her was 0, Liu Li wasn't surprised.

It could only be said that this Aunt Liu Ling was very good at acting; clearly, she showed that she liked her very much during dinner, but in reality, the favorability was 0.

Now that the cold winter had passed, the weather was gradually warming up, and spring had arrived unknowingly.

In early February, for the full-month ceremony of the Imperial Eldest Son Liu Ju, ministers in the court all sent people to send gifts, and the Empress Dowager also arranged for people to send congratulatory gifts to this eldest grandson.

Wei Zifu had been recuperating in the room for more than a month, and at the time of her son's full-month ceremony, she was finally able to get out of bed and move around.

A banquet was set up in Pixiang Hall, and Wei Zifu's sisters and younger brothers all came to congratulate the Imperial Eldest Son on his full month.

The Wei family members came together. The eldest sister, Wei Junru, lost her husband early and had no children, so she returned to the Wei family and now helped her mother manage household affairs.

The second sister, Wei Shao'er, was Huo Qubing's mother, who had an affair with the Pingyang County clerk Huo Zhongru and became pregnant. As a result, after Huo Zhongru returned to his hometown, he married a wife on his own. Wei Shao'er gave birth to Huo Qubing alone; because there was no formal marriage, Wei Shao'er now also lived in the Wei family.

Speaking of the Wei sisters and brothers, one had to mention their legendary mother.

The folk customs of the Great Han were relatively open, and there were fewer restrictions on women; at this time, there was no such thing as chastity at all. Even the current Empress Dowager, before entering the palace, had been married and had children. Now, the child the Empress Dowager had with an outsider was even enfeoffed by Liu Che as the Xiucheng Lord.

Wei Zifu's mother was originally a servant in the Pingyang Marquis Mansion, and later married a man surnamed Wei. When historical materials record her, they all call her Wei Ao, which means the old lady of the Wei family.

Wei Zifu was the third daughter of Wei Ao, while Wei Qing was born to Wei Ao and the Pingyang County clerk Zheng Ji through an affair.

Wei Qing suffered in the Zheng family from a young age, living a life of enslavement. Wei Zifu pitied this younger brother, so she brought Wei Qing back to her mother's side to be a horse slave in the Pingyang Marquis Mansion. Therefore, the relationship between Wei Qing and his sister Wei Zifu was the best.

Now Wei Qing was serving in Weiyang Palace, and Wei Zifu was the Son of Heaven's beauty, so the Wei family could be considered to have escaped the days of being slaves and servants.

The palace servants welcomed Wei Zifu's sisters and brothers into the hall. Wei Shao'er said she wanted to see her little nephew first, so she pulled the eldest sister, Wei Junru, to the bedroom in the back.

Wei Qing took his two half-brothers and nephew Huo Qubing to take their seats in the hall first.

Wei Zifu put new clothes on her son in the bedroom. Her gaze was gentle but carried a trace of vicissitudes that did not match her age. After dressing her son, she slowly lowered her head and left a kiss on the child's forehead.

The movement was exceptionally cherished and careful.

"Third Sister." When Wei Shao'er stepped into the door, she called out, and then she had already entered.

Wei Zifu looked up at the two sisters who came in, and after a moment of distraction, she showed a smile: "Eldest Sister, Second Sister."

Wei Shao'er congratulated her sister on giving birth to the Imperial Eldest Son while looking at the child in the swaddling clothes: "What a handsome child, let me hold him."

Wei Zifu hesitated for a moment, but still handed her son in her arms to Wei Shao'er. Wei Junru also leaned over to look at little Liu Ju and praised: "The little imperial son seems to look very much like Third Sister."

Wei Shao'er nodded: "Yes, the nose and mouth look like Third Sister, and the eyes seem to look a bit like the Emperor."

Wei Junru looked up at Wei Zifu: "Will the Emperor come to the Imperial Eldest Son's full-month banquet?"

Wei Zifu took her son from Wei Shao'er's arms and held him, a trace of coldness in her eyes: "The Emperor... probably won't come."

During the child's three-day ceremony (the third day after birth), the Son of Heaven didn't come. To be precise, except for the day the Imperial Eldest Son was born, when the Emperor came to see him, he never came again.

He seemed not to care about his first son at all.

"The Emperor finally has our Ju'er, is he not concerned at all?" Wei Junru felt surprised; after all, when Third Sister was pregnant with A Yue and A Ling, the Emperor cherished Third Sister very much.

Wei Shao'er was quick-tongued: "Eldest Sister, have you forgotten? That one in Jiaofang Hall is also pregnant; the Emperor is probably more concerned about the one in the Empress's belly." After all, the child in the Empress's belly was the legitimate eldest son.

These words made an unkind look appear on Wei Zifu's face. Wei Shao'er also realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly said: "Third Sister, don't worry too much, think about when you were pregnant with A Yue back then. Although that Empress Chen was also pregnant, the daughter she gave birth to was a fool, not comparable to our A Yue at all."

"Now, it's not certain that the child in her belly is still a fool; it can't compare to our Ju'er."

Wei Junru on the side subconsciously looked around, and after confirming there were no outsiders, she scolded Wei Shao'er: "Shut up, Third Sister's life in the palace is already not easy. If your words just now were heard by others, are you trying to kill our Wei family?"

Wei Shao'er covered her mouth and muttered: "I just wanted to make Third Sister happy."

Wei Zifu lowered her eyes, her thoughts complex, and finally turned into a wisp of nothingness. She looked up and said: "The banquet in the front hall should be ready, let's go, two sisters, let's celebrate Ju'er's full month together."

Wei Junru pulled Wei Shao'er and nodded: "Okay, let's not talk about these unhappy things; today we are all here to celebrate the little imperial son."

Wei Zifu walked in front holding her son slowly. She held her head slightly and stood straight, and her walking movements were also very graceful.

Wei Shao'er, who was following behind, whispered to her sister: "Why do I feel Third Sister is strange?"

Wei Junru looked at Wei Zifu's back and whispered: "I also think she is a bit strange. I heard that when she gave birth to Ju'er, she went through the gates of hell. Let's take more care of her later."

A Jiao only remembered that today was the full-month day of the Imperial Eldest Son Liu Ju after being reminded by Su Wen. She thought for a while and decided not to go, just sending people to pick some things from Liu Che's private treasury to send over.

Now Sang Hongyang's financial reform was still in progress, and the Tai Xue in Chang'an City was also being built; it would probably be built by autumn.

Liu Che also said that when the time came, he would arrange for Liu Li and some children of the Marquis families to go to the Tai Xue to study the Four Books and Five Classics together. A Jiao could feel that Liu Che attached more and more importance to A Li.

"Your Majesty, the Empress and Jianling Princess have arrived." Su Wen reminded at the door.

A Jiao came back to her senses and nodded slightly: "Please invite them in."

Liu Che's body was already nearly five months along, and it was really inappropriate for him to run back and forth between Jiaofang Hall and Xuanshi Hall like this. A Jiao originally wanted to have the eunuchs send all the memorials to Jiaofang Hall, but Liu Che didn't agree.

He would rather run from Jiaofang Hall to Xuanshi Hall.

Anyway, it was he himself who was tossing and turning, so A Jiao didn't say anything more and let him do as he pleased.

Generally, in the morning, A Jiao handled government affairs in Xuanshi Hall, and the Three Excellencies of the court would come to Xuanshi Hall to submit memorials if they had matters. Today there was nothing, but Prime Minister Tian Fen came to impeach a powerful local named Guan Fu to the Son of Heaven.

Tian Fen babbled for a long time, and A Jiao felt a bit impatient listening, so she said casually: "Can't you, the Prime Minister, make the decision yourself for this kind of thing?" Then she sent him away.

After Liu Che heard A Jiao's retelling, he also felt there was nothing, so he nodded and asked: "Is there anything else?"

"Your son is full-month today; I didn't go over, but I arranged for people to send gifts." A Jiao raised her eyebrows: "If you want to go, I can go with you to see him in a while."

Liu Che stroked his belly and said: "Forget it, I won't go." Compared to his Imperial Eldest Son, Liu Che was indeed more looking forward to the little fellow in his own belly at this time.

A Jiao looked at the maternal nature suddenly radiating from Liu Che before her, raised her eyebrows in surprise, and only felt it was a bit funny.

And Liu Li, who had been on the side, couldn't laugh.

From the time A Jiao and Liu Che talked about Tian Fen and Guan Fu, the system in her mind began to prompt: 【Ding, triggered "Tian-Dou Dispute" event.】

Tian, is the current Prime Minister Tian Fen. And this Dou, is Dou Ying. The nephew of the Grand Empress Dowager Dou, and also the last force of the Dou family's imperial relatives.

In history, with the death of Dou Ying, the force representing the old imperial relatives also completely exited the stage. The new imperial relative force, the Wei family, stepped onto the stage of history and created a new era for the Great Han.

From the perspective of Emperor Wu of Han, Dou Ying's death might be a good thing. But from A Jiao's perspective, Dou Ying's death meant that the last force she could rely on was gone.

Therefore, at the end of the fourth year of Yuanguang, after Dou Ying was executed. In the fifth year of Yuanguang, A Jiao was deposed.

In the current situation, A Jiao is the Son of Heaven, and Liu Che is A Jiao. Then what kind of ending will Tian Fen and Dou Ying have in this space-time?

Liu Li knew that their ending was in her own thought; should she change history and protect Dou Ying? ===== CHAPTER 37 =====

In the current situation, A Jiao is the Emperor, and Liu Che is A Jiao. Then, what kind of ending would Tian Fen and Dou Ying have in this space-time?

Liu Li knew that their ending depended on her single thought; should she change history and save Dou Ying?