MYUFPC CHAPTER 2
"Zhan Shaoying is Not Worthy of Me!"
When Jiashan passed away, the new emperor's foundation had already stabilized, and it had been nearly two years since Emperor Zhanghe had passed away.
Counting it all, it had been a long time since she had seen her father. Among all the princes and princesses, Jiashan resembled Emperor Zhanghe the most in appearance. It was no wonder she was the most beloved by the emperor among all his children.
Normally, princesses who lost their mothers would either be fostered by childless concubines or raised together in groups. Only Jiashan lived alone in Fengyang Pavilion, managing her own affairs.
Her father treated her so well, yet after his passing, she did something unworthy of him.
Jiashan furrowed her brows and slowed her steps slightly. She couldn't help but raise her hand and cautiously touch her belly through her clothes.
In her mind, the words she heard before Zhan Shaoying pierced her heart with a sword seemed to float up again—"Why don't you want to keep him?"
So lightly said! How could she keep him?
Jiashan wiped the corners of her lips, her mouth lifting slightly in a mocking angle.
"Your Highness is here."
Chen Gong, who was guarding the entrance to Qianqing Palace, saw Jiashan walking towards him from afar and hurried forward to greet her.
Chen Gong was an old servant who had always been close to Emperor Zhanghe and was now the chief eunuch of the Sili jian. He was always kind to Jiashan.
But Jiashan had heard before that Chen Gong had privately accepted countless bribes from ministers and had countless mansions and fields outside the palace. For this reason, although Jiashan treated Chen Gong with great respect on the surface, she despised him from the bottom of her heart.
It wasn't until after Emperor Zhanghe passed away that Chen Gong resigned from everything in the palace and asked to serve in front of the late emperor's mausoleum. Only then did Jiashan realize his unwavering loyalty and feel deeply ashamed.
Now, seeing Chen Gong smiling with his eyebrows and eyes, Jiashan smiled sincerely from her heart. "Chen Gong Gongan"
Chen Gong quickly said, "Your Highness flatters me."
He said, "His Majesty has just finished discussing matters with several grand secretaries and is now looking at the documents in the east wing."
After a pause, Chen Gong's face involuntarily showed a hint of joy. "I heard that the results of this year's palace examination have come out."
Jiashan was momentarily stunned before she realized Chen Gong's intention.
In the fourteenth year of Emperor Zhanghe's reign, Jiashan's maternal cousin, Pei Yuantang, also participated in the palace examination as a candidate.
But Jiashan had already lived two lives and naturally knew that her cousin had done well and made it onto the golden list.
It wouldn't be appropriate to brush off Chen Gong's goodwill. She smiled and said, "If Chen Gonggong says so, my cousin from the Pei family must have achieved a great result, right?"
Chen Gong also enthusiastically said, "This servant indeed wishes to be the bearer of good news for the princess. However, for such happy occasions, it's probably better for His Majesty to tell you in person."
Jiashan also knew he wouldn't tell, at most, just let her know in advance, but she still refused, "Gonggong is intentionally hanging me."
Chen Gong smiled and said, "With the talents of Master Pei, Princess, why worry?"
Jiashan smiled and said loudly, "Then borrow the words of Gonggong."
After thanking Chen Gong, she finally stepped into the door of the east wing of Qianqing Palace.
Perhaps due to homesickness, Jiashan's steps were slower with each passing moment—
Eight years...
What did Father, from eight years ago, look like in her memory?
Even Zheng mama seemed younger, and Father should have been even more spirited.
Jiashan took each step, her gaze complex as she looked at Emperor Zhanghe sitting on the kang. Her eyes welled up with tears, barely holding them back.
"Father...."
Jiashan's voice trembled unexpectedly.
She forced herself to remain composed, bowing deeply.
After taking a long breath, Jiashan struggled to find the innocence and cunning she used to have when talking to Father.
She opened her mouth with difficulty, trying to mask her sorrow with a crisp tone, "Father clearly saw me enter, yet pretended not to notice. I understand now, you must be tired of me, unwilling to bother with Jiashan anymore."
Emperor Zhanghe chuckled.
He got off the kang and personally helped Jiashan up. "Sharp-tongued as always. I was just lost in thought for a moment, and you caught me off guard."
"Come, let me show you what distracted me. So you won't keep pestering me about it in the future."
Emperor Zhanghe spread out a piece of paper in front of Jiashan. But her eyes were not on the paper.
At fifteen years old, she barely reached Father's shoulder.
The Jiashan of fifteen had never before scrutinized Emperor Zhanghe's face so carefully.
After Father Emperor's death, what Jiashan often remembered his ailing figure. She recalled his hair, half turned white, the fine lines on his forehead, and his chapped lips, making him appear much older. Though still loving, he was nowhere near as vigorous as he seemed now. Jiashan fought back her tears.
"What's this? Are you not happy?" Emperor Zhanghe asked curiously.
Jiashan quickly shook her head, hearing herself say, "No, how could I not be happy."
Emperor Zhanghe smiled, "I thought so too."
The paper before her listed the final results of this year's imperial exam, with her cousin Pei Yuantang's name circled in red ink, marked with the title, "Second Place."
"Yuantang has been clever since childhood, deserving the position of Second Place," Emperor Zhanghe said. "But he is very young. If not for fear of him being unable to convince the public, I would have granted him First Place."
Father's voice was vivid in her ears, and Jiashan couldn't help but smile, her eyes curving with joy, "Cousin has always had high aspirations. If you made him First Place, it might do more harm than good. I think Second Place suits him better."
"You think just like I do," Emperor Zhanghe said, looking at her with even more affection.
He slightly restrained his smile, lightly tapping the table with his index finger with the jade-ring.
Emperor Zhanghe frowned and said"Your cousin is a good match for marriage, but scholars are often overly rigid. I'm afraid you would be unhappy if married into such a family."
Jiashan's expression changed. She hadn't expected Father to bring up her marriage so suddenly. Worse still, she couldn't recall if he had already considered Zhan Shaoying at this time.
She had a desperate idea. Looking at Emperor Zhanghe for a while, Jiashan lowered her eyes and softly said, "Father, I don't want to marry so soon."
"Nonsense."
As expected, even the usually indulgent Emperor Zhanghe frowned at this. Jiashan had never voiced such thoughts before, and he scrutinized her suspiciously, "Is there someone you like but are afraid to tell me, so you're trying to delay?"
Nobody understands one's son better than his father, Jiashan felt warmth and amusement. She said, "I didn't realize that in your eyes I was so scheming. I thought if I liked someone, I could just tell you."
Emperor Zhanghe's expression softened, but he didn't relent.
Jiashan was silent for a moment. Since the topic had been raised, she needed to resolve it quickly. Delaying would only bring disaster if Father made a decision.
She softened her voice, "Lately, I've been dreaming of Mother."
Emperor Zhanghe’s face darkened slightly, a faint sorrow flickering in his eyes. His fingers rested motionless on the teacup rim.
Jiashan continued calmly, "Mother asked if I was about to marry."
"She said she left several sets of dowry with Zheng mama for me, all passed down from my maternal grandmother. She said that Father’s affection was vast, and she couldn’t fall short in her own," Jiashan said, her almond-shaped eyes slightly curved, looking into the distance as if truly immersed in such a dream.
"Mother also said that once I married out of the palace, Father would be truly alone. She lamented her early departure, regretting she couldn't accompany you for life."
Jiashan bowed her head, her voice growing softer.
At first, Emperor Zhanghe’s expression was as usual. But midway through, he slowly turned away, no longer looking into Jiashan’s eyes. One hand rested on his forehead, seemingly listening intently. When Jiashan finished, he let out a low "hmm."
"Did your mother really say that?" Emperor Zhanghe asked.
"Yes," Jiashan replied.
Emperor Zhanghe still smiled, but his lips were dry and cracked from lack of tea. Feeling a pang of pity, Jiashan personally brought him some tea.
He took the cup, his hand slowly rubbing the lid. "I am also reluctant to see you marry early," he said. "But—"
Emperor Zhanghe’s gaze swept over Jiashan, his eyes resting on her clear, flawless eyes. Suddenly, he smashed the cup to the ground, shouting, "But I never expected you to deceive me with such tactics!"
"Do you realize this is an offense deceiving the Emperor?"
His eyebrows arched sharply, his voice cold as winter snow, chilling to the bone.
Jiashan’s face turned pale. With a sudden thump in her heart, she couldn’t fathom where she had gone wrong. She heard Emperor Zhanghe coldly command, "Kneel."
Tightly pressing her lips together, Jiashan knelt without a word.
"I have chosen the eldest grandson of Duke Anguo, Zhan Shaoying," Emperor Zhanghe said calmly, looking at Jiashan. "He is two years older than you, from a noble family, handsome, and still unmarried."
Without glancing at Jiashan, he stared at the broken tea fragments on the floor. His voice was indifferent, "Just await the Ministry of Rites to select an auspicious date."
Jiashan knelt with her back straight, her long brows almost reaching her temples, eyes fixed on the ground before her.
"Father, I do not wish to marry him," Jiashan said clearly, enunciating each word.
Emperor Zhanghe looked at her, his voice deep, "Why?"
"Zhan Shaoying is not worthy of me!"
The words seemed to have been suppressed for too long. Jiashan lifted her head, her eyes slightly reddened. With her fair complexion, from this angle, she bore a striking resemblance to the late Empress. The late Empress also had such delicate eyebrows and small lips, her nose like smooth jade.
Jiashan’s eyes flashed with inherent pride. "Does Father truly wish for me to marry a useless man and spend my life in mediocrity?"
"Ridiculous," Emperor Zhanghe rebuked, "I have just appointed Zhan Shaoying to a position at the Tong Zhengsi. How can you call him useless?"
"A man who cannot even protect the woman he loves is nothing but a useless ornament," Jia Shan retorted with a slight smile.
Faint, hazy images from her previous life flashed through Jiashan's mind, but she refused to dwell on them. Her emotions gradually calmed as she lowered her voice and explained, "I heard that Duke Anguo, knowing Father intended for Zhan Shaoying to marry into the royal family, secretly dismissed all his concubines."
"One of them was even pregnant."
Jiashan smiled gently. "Although I agree with Duke Anguo's actions, Zhan Shaoying's indifference to it leaves me cold."
"A man so heartless and unkind—I do not wish to marry him."
"Even if I must marry, it won’t be to him."
Jiashan lowered her gaze, her voice echoing in the empty room. Emperor Zhanghe, seeing her determination, sighed silently.
He instructed Jiashan, "Stand up."
She obeyed, standing properly in front of Emperor Zhanghe without speaking further.
"Are your words true?" Emperor Zhanghe asked.
"Your daughter would not dare deceive you," Jiashan replied.
Emperor Zhanghe’s gaze lingered on her for a moment. He recalled how the palace staff often remarked that the eldest princess’s eyes were most similar to the emperor’s. Chen Gong, who had served him for many years, even joked more than once, "This servant believes the princess's temperament is more like His Majesty’s than the late Empress’s, which is why you favor her so."
In truth, mother and daughter shared the same proud and willful nature.
As Jiashan stood quietly, Emperor Zhanghe rubbed his temple lightly. "If this matter is true, then I will forget any thoughts of a union with Duke Anguo’s family."
"If you do not wish to marry Zhan Shaoying, I will find someone else for you."
Jiashan nodded eagerly.
After having her earlier lie exposed, this was the best possible outcome. She hesitated, looking at her father with a somber expression. "Although I lied about the dream of Mother, there was some truth in my words."
Lowering her voice, she said softly, "Jiashan cannot bear to leave you."
Emperor Zhanghe responded with a soft "hmm," his expression gradually softening.
Sensing the change, Jiashan pressed her advantage. "There is one more thing I wish to ask of Father emperor."
Emperor Zhanghe looked at her, signaling for her to speak. With a gentle smile, Jiashan asked, "If you choose a new Prince consort for me in the future, could you let me know in advance? So that I may have a chance to see him first?"
"You certainly know how to use me," Emperor Zhanghe grumbled.
Jiashan stepped forward to massage his shoulders. Only then did he say, with resignation, "I have indeed spoiled you."
Hearing this, Jiashan finally smiled with joy, her face lighting up like a shining pearl, illuminating the entire room.
When Jiashan left Qianqing Palace, the sun was already setting.
The sky was ablaze with the fiery hues of sunset, the sun still warm, and an occasional breeze carried the lingering heat. Through the light of the setting sun, Jiashan noticed a familiar figure at the entrance of Qianqing Palace.
The man wore a black flying fish robe, his waist slim, legs long. The iron Armor did not obscure the lines of his figure, instead accentuating his commanding presence and elegance. He stood out from the crowd, exuding an extraordinary charm.
Suddenly enlightened, Jiashan asked Su Yu, who had accompanied her, "Do you know which Jinwu Guard is on duty today?"
Su Yu thought for a moment before replying, "I heard that commander-in-chief Zhan Daren himself is on duty."
Hearing this, Jiashan’s eyes brightened. "Hmm."
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Sili jian- 司礼监 (Sīlǐ Jiàn) was one of the Twelve Supervising Boards (十二监, Shí'èr Jiàn) during the Ming and Qing dynasties in China. These boards were responsible for managing various aspects of the imperial court and government, including personnel, finances, ceremonies, and military affairs. They served as a bridge between the emperor, the eunuchs, and the wider government bureaucracy. Their ability to influence these key players made them a powerful force in shaping the course of imperial affairs.
Gong'an - Respectful title for Chen Gong- Gong'an.
Gonggong- Palace Eunuch, respectful form of address/title.
Tong Zhengsi- The Chinese phrase "通政司" (tōng zhèng sī) translates to "Bureau of Transmission and Communications" and was a significant government agency during the Ming and Qing dynasties in China. It was one of the Twelve Supervising Boards (十二监, Shí'èr Jiàn) responsible for managing various aspects of the imperial court and government. such as Receiving and Processing Documents, Managing Communication Channels, Overseeing Foreign Relations, Exercising Supervisory Authority.
Daren- Lord, Commander-in-chief, Chief.