Jiang Yan's courtesy name was Huiping.
The Book of Rites said that when a woman was about to marry, she would have her courtesy name.
It meant that a woman could only have her courtesy name when she was of age and was about to get married. The character in "Huiping" meant "rise" and also referred to marriage.
That was why there was the phrase "waiting to be betrothed".
However, this meaning took on another meaning when the first female Emperor of the Jiang Dynasty ascended to the throne and the new Crown Prince completed the ceremony.
"Even if I take it, no one will say it. After a long time, except for the history books, no one will remember this character."
The coming-of-age ceremony was very complicated. Even though Jiang Yan's physique was different from ordinary people, she was still a little tired after being dug up from dawn until the moon was high in the sky. However, she did not complain no matter how tired she was. Today's ceremony was not bad at all.
Jiang Yan knew very well that from today onwards, her mother would slowly retire.
When she could truly hold her own and suppress all the civil and military officials in the court, she would abdicate and hand over power.
From assisting the Crown Prince to the real Emperor, the meaning and responsibility of the two were completely different.
Jiang Yan knew the heavy responsibility on her shoulders from a very young age and had long regarded it as a part of her life.
"But I see that Your Highness is slightly happy. It is obvious that you like it."
Other than Jiang Yan, there was also a slightly older youth in the hall. The youth was still wearing his court robes and looked slightly frail.
Jiang Yan smiled. "Of course I like it. I heard that mother prepared this character for a long time and hesitated for a long time before choosing it."
Everyone in the court knew that His Majesty was terrible at naming things.
In the early years, some ignorant officials wanted to give the younger generation in the family favor and shamelessly asked His Majesty to give them a courtesy name … In the end …
It was always the scene of a car accident.
No matter how many choices others made, His Majesty could always choose the most unpleasant one.
(: з) ∠) _
The character "Huiping" was also very ordinary, but the meaning was simple and straightforward. It was not unpleasant to hear. It seemed that His Majesty really put in a lot of effort.
Jiang Yan rolled up the sleeves of the youth's court robes in boredom.
"A few days ago … Grand Tutor came to me and told me about you. Don't you want to hear what he thinks of you?"
The young man raised his eyebrows and asked in surprise, "Grand Tutor … knows?"
He had even kept this matter a secret from his parents. His father and mother had always thought that he was close to the Crown Prince because he was placed in an important position. A few days ago, they had been nagging him about marriage, but the young man had found an excuse to dismiss them.
His mother was still alright, but his father was an old fox who had walked through troubled times.
The young man had always been a little proud of himself for deceiving his father, Feng Zhen. He did not expect that someone would still find out.
This person was also Her Highness's teacher.
Based on the clues he had discovered over the years, the young man had also figured out the other identity of the other party.
"I know, he's against it … My words at that time were a little harsh, I'm afraid I've hurt his feelings …"
The youth said, "Worry leads to confusion. Grand Tutor, this is also the prince in your heart."
Jiang Yan said indifferently, "Indeed. However, Grand Tutor is right. Feng You, are you really willing? "
As he asked, the conversation he had with Grand Tutor Wei Ci surfaced in his mind. "Your Highness, do you know what the outcome will be if you choose Feng You? With Feng You's looks, he will definitely be an important official in the court in the future. How could he be willing … He was young and frivolous, making a promise without permission. What if he goes back on his word in the future? "
"Grand Tutor, you're thinking too much. I'm the future ruler of the world. How can I be restrained by a man? It's enough that both parties are in love with each other. What else does Feng You want? One day, if he really has a change of heart, I'll secretly grant him a death sentence. The secrets of the royal family and the dignity of the Emperor cannot be tarnished. Only the dead can keep their mouths shut. I can let him rise rapidly, but I can also consign him to eternal damnation. Life and death, honor and disgrace are in my hands. If he wants to rebel, it's up to me. " Jiang Yan was conceited, but on some matters, she was calmer than her mother.
Wei Ci was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Is he willing?"
Jiang Yan asked doubtfully, "Why not? Behind the scenes, he's the man of the Emperor. In front of others, he's the second son of the Feng family. He's an important official who holds great power in the court and is deeply favored by the Emperor. There are gains and losses. To get all this, he has to give up some things. For example, the inheritance of the clan, a normal marriage … If that doesn't work, I'll give him a male heir in the future and secretly bring him back to inherit the clan. The court today can't tolerate so much willfulness. "
If her mother, Jiang Pengji, did not give Wei Ci a proper name because of the situation, then Jiang Yan had never thought of giving Feng You a proper name.
If it wasn't Feng You, it could be someone else. It wasn't like she had to be alone.
She and Feng You were in love. Rather than saying that they liked each other, it would be better to say that Feng You was the man of the same age that she was most familiar with.
They didn't hate each other. They were familiar with each other. She also had the confidence to control everything about Feng You without going overboard.
For Jiang Yan, who only cared about politics, Feng You was the most effortless and worry-free choice.
The country, the court, and the people were what she should be concerned about. A man was just a necessary condition for her to give birth to an heir.
If Feng You hadn't taken the initiative to expose this layer of window paper, Jiang Yan also planned to get someone to find a suitable target in private.
If she chose to do so, she would most likely kill him after using him.
Jiang Yan needed a seed that could make her pregnant and give birth to a high-quality heir, not a man who would take care of the backyard for her. She didn't need any hidden dangers. However, Feng You was the son of an important minister in the court, Feng Zhen. He was also one of the Heavenly Sons. Since she could not kill him after using him, she could only keep him for future use.
"Feng You also agreed?"
Jiang Yan said, "He took the initiative to mention it to me. I feel that this person is very tactful. He was my study companion since I was young. It's good to know him well and use him. Anyway, I have to have an heir. Why not find someone who is pleasing to the eye, tactful, and can help? At least, I don't need to get to know him. "
Wei Ci sighed. "Compared to his father, Feng You's ability to read people's minds surpasses his father."
He understood Jiang Yan's thoughts. He took the initiative to give in and sacrifice himself in exchange for a favorable impression.
"I like to deal with smart people. Feng You is very tactful. There's no need to think too much. There's too much deception in the court. It's rare for someone to be willing to be honest with me. This feeling is quite refreshing. " Jiang Yan said lightly, "Grand Tutor, you don't have to worry that I'll be at a disadvantage. No matter how clear Feng You is about my thoughts, I allowed him to see it. He can't turn it over. "
Faced with Jiang Yan's question, the youth Feng You smiled and held her hand to touch his face.
"To be by Her Highness's side has been my obsession in this life. Now that it has finally come true, why should I regret it? "
He was educated to give everything for the person in front of him. Feng You did the same.
But he also had his own selfish motives. Other than himself, no one else could have closer contact with her.
Feng You had thought that he would be an exception to her. Until Jiang Yan revealed the idea of looking for a "good seed", he knew that he was wrong.
With Wei Ci as an example, Feng You also knew what risks he would face if he dared to like the Crown Prince.
In Jiang Yan's eyes, the "political affairs" would always belong to the first wife. He could only be a virtuous and capable second wife.
Want to be promoted?
He would only have a chance if he endured for more than 20 years until she abdicated.
Even if the chance was slim, there was still a chance, right?
Jiang Yan said, "Then remember what you said today. Otherwise, you will know how different I am from Mother."
Mother would not kill Wei Ci, but she would kill Feng You.
Feng You said respectfully, "I will remember."
Jiang Yan dealt with most of the government affairs that had piled up for the day. Then she asked the servants to prepare hot water to bathe and wash up.
When she came back, she said to Feng You, "It's late, let's settle down."
Feng You's eyes flashed with a trace of astonishment.
Seeing his reaction, Jiang Yan seemed to emphasize angrily.
"After today, I am already an adult. What can't I do?"
It was just sleeping with a man. As the Crown Prince, why couldn't she do it?
Feng You: "…"
As Crown Prince Jiang Yan's most trusted person, Feng You also had his own place to sleep in this palace.
But today was different. He did not sleep in the side hall that he usually slept in, but in the main hall's main courtyard, on the Crown Prince's bed.
The next day, Jiang Yan specially asked the servants to prepare red dates and white fungus soup for breakfast.
She hated sweet food the most. Red dates had been on her blacklist for a long time.
Suddenly hearing that Her Highness wanted red dates and white fungus soup, the kitchen was a little confused.
"Red dates, blood nourishing."
The serving maid then remembered that Her Highness's period had just ended two or three days ago.
But —
Her Highness's blood volume had always been very small. She usually left after one or two days. It shouldn't be to the extent that she needed to drink red dates to nourish her blood, right?
"I just suddenly wanted to taste it. Why do you think so much?"
Unlike Jiang Yan's deep hatred for red dates, Feng You was extremely fond of them.
Yesterday, it seemed that even his mouth had the taste of red dates.
Jiang Yan suddenly didn't hate it so much. She wanted to taste it when she got up in the morning, so she asked the servants to bring red dates and white fungus soup.
The taste was not as strong as yesterday's — After drinking a bowl of red dates and white fungus soup, this thought floated in Jiang Yan's mind.
After the coming of age ceremony, Jiang Yan's busy days became more and more intense.
She was still the Crown Prince in name, but the government affairs she handled were no different from those of the Emperor. The frequency of her mother's advice also increased.
"Mother's body is getting weaker."
Jiang Yan's mood was indescribably complicated when she saw that her mother, whom she admired since childhood, was also weak and sick.
Feng You said in a low voice, "It's said that … His Majesty privately ordered people to make new dragon robes two months ago, and the size is the same as Your Highness's."
The abdication of Jiang Yan had been rumored since the day she became an adult. This was a signal from His Majesty to test the officials.
Now that even the dragon robes had begun to be made, it was obvious that the abdication was approaching.
Jiang Yan said, "Mother wants to abdicate. All the officials know about this, but whether she can abdicate successfully … I'm afraid it won't be as Mother wishes."
She had long expected that her mother would make a big move before abdicating to remove the last obstacle before her ascension to the throne, but she never thought it would be such a big "move." In one day, two of Jiang Yan's three blood relatives died, and the other one was half dead.
When she heard that the Grand Tutor was forced by the rebellious officials to commit suicide in front of the palace, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, and an endless chill rushed from the soles of her feet to her brain.
"Wei — Cong!!!"
These two words seemed to be squeezed out of her molars.
Feng You saw the strong killing intent bursting out of her eyes.
"Your Highness, His Majesty summons."
Feng You lowered his head and didn't look directly at Jiang Yan's face.
He also knew that Jiang Yan probably didn't want anyone to see her expression right now.
Jiang Yan's hands clenched into fists in her sleeves, and she stepped into the palace with a stiff posture like a wooden statue. A group of important officials knelt in front of the Dragon Bench.
Her Majesty's face was pale and tired.
She ordered Qiguan Rang to be the assistant minister and read out the imperial edicts that had been prepared long ago.
Imperial edicts came one after another. Not only were there abdications and orders for Jiang Yan to ascend to the throne, but there were also punishments for the rebellious officials and traitors, including Wei Cong.
Jiang Yan looked at her mother on the Dragon Bench, and not a single tear could be squeezed out of her sore eyes.
Her mother had calculated every move and prepared a complete set of imperial edicts. Only the punishment for Wei Cong had been passed down orally.
Why?
Because she had never thought that Wei Cong would be involved, much less that Wei Ci would die.
Her mother, who had never failed in every endeavor, had lost miserably in the last round. She had truly lost everything.
Wei Cong was punished to guard the imperial mausoleum for twelve years and was not allowed to leave before the deadline.
Twelve years was enough for Wei Cong to think things through, and it was enough for Jiang Yan to let go of her desire to kill him.
"Mother won't be around for long, and now she even wants to scheme against her daughter?"
So what if she wanted to kill Wei Cong?
Once the person in front of her, Long Yubin, became the late emperor, who in the world could stop her from killing a person?
Her mother said, "If he really did kill him, you'd be the one regretting it."
Jiang Yan said, "But he killed two of my family members!"
Her mother smiled bitterly. "It's not his fault alone. Your father and I also have unshirkable responsibilities. We've treated him badly, just like you. "
This was the first time Jiang Yan had heard the words "me" and "your father" from her mother's mouth.
The moment she heard these two words, tears flowed out of her eyes like she was about to collapse.
"I've really treated you badly. You should've lived for me!"
However, how could a person at the end of his rope still live?
Before the morning sun rose, the funeral bell rang. Under the support of her officials, Jiang Yan became the rightful monarch.
"Mother didn't wait until the day the sun rose, nor did she wait for the opportunity to abdicate the throne and travel the world with that person."
Jiang Yan held back her emotions. As she handled her mother's funeral, she ordered people to secretly handle Wei Ci's funeral rites. As for Wei Cong, she didn't even want to hear his name. Not many people knew about her envy, jealousy, and indescribable hatred for Wei Cong.
A farce took away two insiders.
The only one left accompanied her through the most difficult period of her life.
It was only when the coffin carrying her mother's body entered the imperial mausoleum that everything settled.
Outsiders thought that there was only her mother's corpse in the coffin, but they didn't know that Jiang Yan had placed another corpse.
If someone dug up Wei Ci's grave at this time, they would discover that the corpse in the coffin had disappeared, leaving only a set of court robes.
"Did you see that?"
Jiang Yan left the imperial mausoleum. Before she ordered people to put down the dragon-snapping stone, she muttered to Feng You without rhyme or reason.
Feng You replied, "This official saw it."
"This is the result of being too sentimental." Jiang Yan sneered. "As an emperor, why do you need so many unnecessary and burdensome emotions?"
Feng You looked at the main tomb of the imperial mausoleum and sighed faintly.
Although Wei Ci's mistakes could prevent him from taking detours, it also increased many obstacles.
He had thought that if Wei Ci could endure until His Majesty abdicated the throne, he would be able to kick aside "government affairs" and ascend to the throne.
Now, it seemed that his hopes were slim.
The example of his parents had left a deep psychological shadow on His Majesty. He didn't know if he could get over it in this life.
Twelve years later.
His Majesty looked at his daughter, who was reading late into the night, and let out a complicated sigh.
Feng You said, "Your Majesty, did you go to see him today?"
For so many years, Feng You had never dared to step on a landmine. He had always addressed Wei Cong as "he."
His Majesty said, "I did. He's not young anymore, but he's still alone. He's as simple as before. He hasn't made any progress after so many years …"
Feng You was startled when he heard that.
He was very familiar with Her Majesty, so he knew that her tone when she mentioned Wei Cong was completely different from before.
"I forbade him from stepping foot into the capital for the rest of his life, but I will give him a chance if his son is promising on account of his old friendship with the grand tutor."
Feng You listened without saying a word.
Her Majesty continued, "I quarreled with him. It was the only time in my life. I felt much better after saying what I wanted to say. "
She was jealous of her younger brother, but because of her status as the heir apparent, she had to learn to restrain her true emotions.
After so many years, when she saw her blood relative again, she found her former jealousy somewhat laughable.
Because —
While she was jealous, envious, and loathed her younger brother, she also deeply loved him. He was the only thing her parents had left her.
When she was young, she would definitely disdain to admit this, but when she was middle-aged, she felt that there was nothing to hide.
Feng You wasn't surprised to hear this.
Her Majesty's study had a few paintings with Wei Cong in them.
If she really wanted to never see her younger brother again, would those paintings still be an eyesore to her?
Another fourteen years later, Jiang Yan abdicated the throne.
Feng You said ruefully, "It wasn't easy, but I've finally made it."
Jiang Yan had been on the throne for a few years longer than the former emperor. When she abdicated, she was healthy and without any illness.
Chao Zhongwu had long changed his appearance.
When he first came to Jiangnan, he heard that a famous painter of the Jiang Dynasty lived in seclusion there.
Jiang Yan and Feng You glanced at him from afar.
Wei Cong had inherited the grand tutor's appearance and temperament. From afar, it was as if that person had been reborn.
"Your Majesty isn't going over?"
Wei Cong had traveled the mountains and seas with his wife, never knowing that someone sent by his sister was secretly guarding and protecting them.
Jiang Yan retracted her gaze and indifferently turned around. "I don't want to see him."
She had said that she wouldn't see him again in this life. She wouldn't easily break her promise.
She was indeed relieved, but she didn't know how to interact and talk with her younger brother. After thinking about it, she felt that it wasn't good.
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