She was the Former Emperor's most revered and eldest princess, and this name represented both nobility and her father's hopes and sighs for her.
But Father.
You don't need to sigh.
It's fine for me to be a woman. Thousands upon thousands of years ago, there were no rules stating that women could not become emperors. Rules are made by humans - men are human, and women are human too!
If that's the case, why can't I defend the borders? Why can't I become an emperor?
......
It didn't take long for news of the Elder Princess leading imperial physicians to treat diseases in the plague-stricken areas to spread to the Imperial Palace.
Today.
Pei Changying finally learned about it.
When he heard that the Elder Princess had taken the medication prescribed by Gu Sang to treat and help people, he was so enraged that his veins bulged! Wave after wave of fury surged over him!
How dare Gu Sang do this!
She clearly lived outside the palace, so how would she know there was an epidemic, and how would she know the Imperial Medical Academy had medication?
There must be a mole in the palace!
Pei Changying ordered an investigation, and within half a day, they discovered that Consort Zhao had secretly written to the Elder Princess, which was how the Elder Princess learned about the epidemic.
"Vile woman! Vile woman!!"
"That cursed Gu Sang must have brainwashed these consorts!"
"Go! Seize Consort Zhao immediately!"
The guards acted swiftly, and within the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Consort Zhao was brought to the main hall.
The once noble consort was violently thrown to the ground by Pei Changying.
Her headdress scattered across the floor, and she looked utterly disheveled.
Pei Changying stared down at Consort Zhao with a cold gaze, as if he wanted to kill her: "Consort Zhao! Tell me, why did you betray me?"
Consort Zhao knelt miserably on the ground, shaking her head and crying: "I have never betrayed you, my lord. I simply couldn't bear to see the people suffering."
"Your Majesty, they are your subjects. How could you be so heartless as to abandon them?"
Pei Changying's eyes were filled with icy cruelty.
He raised his hand and slapped Consort Zhao across the face!
Instantly!
Consort Zhao was struck down, her face burning and reddening.
Pei Changying suppressed his urge to stab her to death and said coldly, word by word: "You're just a consort. Who gave you the audacity to meddle in the affairs of the common people!"
"Moreover, I was waiting for Gu Sang to admit her mistakes! If I persisted, Gu Sang would surely soften and admit her wrongs."
"It's all because of your meddling, vile woman! I really want to cut you down with a sword! If not for the fact that you saved the people's lives, I would have stripped you of your consort rank right here and thrown you into the Palace of Exile."
Consort Zhao covered her throbbing, shuddering face and looked down at the smooth marble floor, a hint of sarcasm playing at the corners of her mouth.
The Palace of Exile?
Stripped of her consort rank?
In the past, she may have cared about status and family honor.
But now, she didn't care anymore!
In this palace that was like a cage, living each day in a daze, with eyes open or closed consumed by the struggle for favor, she was truly sick of it!!
She remembered what Sister Sang had said during the year she was imprisoned in the Palace of Exile: 'If my life is destined to be confined in the depths of the palace, vying for favor, then I am merely a walking corpse, no different from death.'
'It would be better to burn out my life, even if brilliantly for just a moment, than to live an unwilling lifetime.'
Now.
Consort Zhao had seen the freedom of modern women, and she too felt that being confined in the palace for a lifetime was no match for burning brilliantly for a moment!
Ultimately, Pei Changying did not punish Consort Zhao further. In front of the officials, he did not dare kill Consort Zhao outright, merely docking her salary for three months as a warning.
As the Son of Heaven, he could not punish her for saving the people's lives!
That would only make the officials and the people resentful and disillusioned!
In contrast, after returning from the main hall, Consort Zhao sat motionless in a chair for a long time.
She was clear in her heart that while the Emperor had spared her publicly, he would surely find an excuse to retaliate against her in secret.
So, after returning to her palace quarters, she summoned all of her maidservants.
After making arrangements for the maidservants' future, Consort Zhao suddenly showed a relaxed smile. Looking at the kneeling maidservants, she said: "Those who wish to leave the palace, hurry and depart. I have made all the necessary arrangements."
"If you stay here, you will only be implicated by me."
"Oh, Your Majesty is truly heartless."
"Leave now, or you may not be able to later."
The maidservants wept and knelt, kowtowing: "Thank you, Your Ladyship, for providing us a way out."
Consort Zhao sat in the courtyard, watching the maidservants take the money and leave.
Gradually, fewer and fewer remained.
Suddenly.
A palace maid crept in, weeping as she knelt before Consort Zhao.
"This servant thanks Your Ladyship for your kindness in allowing me to leave the palace. I will never forget your great grace and virtue, and shall burn incense and pray for you three times a day at home."
This palace maid was the one who had first connected with Gu Sang, the confused maid.
Ever since receiving Gu Sang's guidance, she had sought every possible way to leave the palace.
But according to palace rules, after turning 25 she would still have to wait for an opportunity to leave. If not for Consort Zhao's kindness, she didn't know when she would be able to leave.
Hearing the grateful maid's words, Consort Zhao laughed derisively: "I am no immortal, there is no need to burn incense for me."
"If I were truly an immortal, I would go to where Sister Sang is and never return."
"Go now, or you won't be able to leave!"
The palace maid left, turning back repeatedly.
The entire palace was now deserted, with only Consort Zhao remaining.
Consort Zhao broke into loud laughter as she surveyed the desolate palace.
Consort rank?
Noble consort rank?
Imperial consort rank? None of them compared to the freedom of Sister Sang's world!
She rose slowly and gazed at the curved crescent moon's shadow, dancing gracefully.
At this moment.
It was as if she had returned to that moonlit night years ago, when she danced in the courtyard to the sound of the flute, while her beloved watched from the side...
"Consort Zhao, His Majesty has summoned you. Please come with me!"
The eunuch's piercing voice shattered the sentimental reverie.
So they've come?
Very well.
She was no longer afraid of anything.
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