The first path, as you said, is for me to take you into my harem, to be with my other concubines, but you would bear the infamy of the world.
The second path is for me to grant you freedom, you can roam the heavens and earth as you please. If you wish, I can grant you some land, to work at sunrise and rest at sunset, to be an ordinary woman far from worldly strife!
Lu Yu's words spilled out…
Fu Shou smiled, "Then what is the third choice Your Majesty gives me?"
Lu Yu was startled, "How did you know there was a third?"
Fu Shou replied, "If it were the second, then Your Majesty would have no need to see me personally. If it were the first, Your Majesty has many important matters to attend to, and would not, immediately after ascending the throne, take the Empress of the abdicated ruler, thereby damaging his reputation... This does not align with Your Majesty's methods of winning hearts, so I dare to ask Your Majesty, what is the third choice?"
Fu Shou's intelligence surprised Lu Yu, and even more so, it made him laugh heartily, "Such a wondrous person, such words, they make me somewhat reluctant to part with you. Perhaps, I would truly dare to be foolish once, even if it damages my reputation, to bring you into my harem."
Fu Shou smiled gently and shook her head, "In all these years, Your Majesty has never done anything foolish, nor made any foolish moves. If Your Majesty desires my body, a single word, a hint would suffice, why go through so much trouble? But if Your Majesty desires my status, then it is truly a foolish move!"
As Fu Shou finished speaking, Lu Yu stepped forward and gestured for Fu Shou to walk with him to the window of Deyang Hall.
"Come, look at my world!"
Fu Shou slowly walked forward and stood beside Lu Yu. The strong wind outside ruffled her hair, and the magnificent mountains and rivers in the night sky made her softly inhale.
Fu Shou sighed, "This is the world of Great Wei. Does Your Majesty want me to do something for Great Wei?"
Lu Yu smiled faintly, "If I were to say it, wouldn't that spoil the mood? At such a moment, why not have you guess? If you guess correctly, I will guarantee your family everlasting honor!"
Fu Shou pondered, "I am but the former Empress. Although I participated in some state affairs, I could not assist Your Majesty in the previous dynasty. For Your Majesty to protect my family's honor, you must value something about me. Could it be my ability to gather intelligence through my experiences in the harem?"
Lu Yu looked at Fu Shou encouragingly. Fu Shou continued, "So, it truly is intelligence capability... Your Majesty has the School of the Embroidered Uniform, and by rights, they should be able to gather much intelligence. However, this intelligence is sufficient for nobles and officials, but far from enough for the world. Moreover... now that a new dynasty is replacing the old, what are the true feelings of those ministers and officials in their hearts? These are things Your Majesty wishes to know but cannot ascertain. Does Your Majesty want me to, in my own way, come into contact with the thoughts of those ministers and officials? If I were to guess any further, I wouldn't be able to!"
"Hahaha…"
Lu Yu laughed heartily, "Back then, you were able to indirectly guide Dong Cheng to initiate the affair of the Yellow Scarf, and to let Liu Bei escape under the eyes of countless people. These are enough to show your capabilities. It is too much of a pity to keep you in the harem! Therefore, I wish to establish another organization and have you be in charge of it, specifically to thoroughly investigate the intelligence and actions of all ministers and officials."
"Organization? Intelligence?" Fu Shou murmured… She had not expected Lu Yu to… to entrust her with such a significant responsibility.
"The organization will be entirely composed of women. These women can be selected from brothels, courtesan houses, and music bureaus, or we can purchase those orphaned and helpless children. As for how to use them, I shouldn't have to teach you, should I!"
Lu Yu's words made Fu Shou concentrate with all her might.
Women…
She understood. Lu Yu meant for her to cultivate women to be used by the court…
Then, either marry them as concubines into the households of various officials, or have them work as maids in various residences, secretly gathering all intelligence and sending it back… so that Lu Yu could understand the movements of the officials immediately.
In just an instant, Fu Shou bit her lip. For some reason, she sensed a hint of terror in the man before her.
This was something Lu Yu had never possessed before becoming emperor.
Could this be the so-called "Emperor's art of governance"!
The throne of power would eventually change a person!
An emperor is different from ordinary officials; he must trust everyone, and at the same time, he must guard against everyone.
Before Fu Shou could speak.
Lu Yu's voice rang out again, "Before, I did not know that I was the Emperor Father's eldest son. At that time, the distance to the world for me was merely the distance from my White Horse Marquis Estate, my Southern Hunt Marquis Estate to the King of Wei's palace. At that time, I and all my father's civil and military officials were friends who entrusted their lives to each other, they were always by my side, inseparable… But now, with such a vast empire separating us, I need to use them to govern, I need to grant them immense power, but likewise, I need to clearly understand what is in their hearts!"
Fu Shou smiled, "I understand… Often the sharpest blades appear in the most opulent places. If that is the case, I do have an impertinent request!"
Lu Yu smiled faintly, "If you know it is impertinent, then you shouldn't say it!"
Fu Shou said, "It was Your Majesty who asked me to choose. Therefore, please allow me to mobilize a few people… to help me manage this organization."
"Tell me about it?"
"Among Your Majesty's harem concubines, there are not a few who are exceptionally skilled in martial arts. For such an important task, wouldn't it be a pity if they were not involved?" Fu Shou's words carried a smile. "Besides, for the women sent out, someone must teach them martial arts so they can defend themselves, right?"
Hoo…
Lu Yu let out a soft breath. Fu Shou was calculating her moves against him.
"You want Lingqi, Yunlu, Shangxiang to all be involved… You value not only their martial arts, do you? Their backing and influence would make it easier to establish this organization!"
Fu Shou smiled charmingly, neither confirming nor denying. She narrowed her eyes and continued, "Also… Zhang Qiying, the saintess of the Five Pecks of Rice Cult, with her over three hundred thousand followers, to gather intelligence and select suitable women, how could she be absent from this?"
Heh heh…
Lu Yu chuckled. He had only nine women in his harem, and Fu Shou was asking for almost half of them.
After a long period of contemplation, Lu Yu still nodded, "It can be done, but… I am a little worried that if this organization grows too large, I may not be able to control it."
Fu Shou gazed at the landscape outside, with a hint of anticipation, "Your Majesty is joking. The Book of Songs, 'Northern Mountain,' says, 'Under heaven, all is the king's land; by the shores of the land, all are the king's subjects'… How much more so for women? No matter how strong a woman is, she always understands that everything she does is merely to please a man."
This…
Lu Yu was stunned by Fu Shou's words.
He sighed, "I truly regret giving you the third choice! Thinking about it, you are still pure and untouched. It is truly a pity not to take you into the harem!"
"Puff"…
Hearing this, Fu Shou laughed, shedding her usual cold demeanor. "Let's name this organization 'Sparrow.' In the future… these women will be like sparrows, sent to various powers' residences to be kept, and their intelligence will be gathered and sent back."
Lu Yu sighed, "A sparrow in a cage, called 'Golden Threads.' Though its ambitions are high, it cannot escape the cage."
Speaking of which…
Fu Shou raised her eyes, her captivating gaze fixed directly on Lu Yu. "I am also one of those sparrows, how can I break free from Your Majesty's cage…"
As she spoke, in this very Deyang Hall, Fu Shou gently untied her cloak, untied her robe, and untied the thin silk.
Deyang Hall, such a solemn place in the Han palace!
Such a solemn woman in the Han palace!
Tonight, it became inexplicably alluring.
…
…
Footsteps sounded like a mad dash. Several guards of the Tiger Guards quickly cleared a path.
Countless guards of the Dragon Swift Camp escorted a young lord. They rode horses through Sima Gate, the crisp sound of hooves echoing on the empty avenue.
Lu Yu, who had been sleeping on the bed in the side hall of Deyang Hall, suddenly widened his eyes and sat up abruptly. A sense of foreboding arose in his heart, and he instinctively reached for his clothes by the bedside.
"Something has happened!"
Fu Shou, who was beside him, was startled and quickly covered her upper body with the quilt.
A eunuch hurried to light the candles. The entire Deyang Hall seemed to awaken from its slumber.
The Ministry of Personnel was not far from the Han Palace. Xun Yu also heard the urgent sound of hooves and walked to the door in surprise. He pushed the door open… The subordinate on duty at the door was dozing off, but upon seeing Xun Yu, he immediately stood straight, "My Lord!"
"Go and see… what has happened? How can someone ride a horse in the palace? Is there new urgent military intelligence?"
"Yes!"
Xun Yu frowned, with his hands behind his back, standing at the door. He sighed, "It couldn't be… that Zhuge Liang has refused the ceasefire agreement at this time and is launching a northern expedition, could it?"
Besides Zhuge Liang's actions, Xun Yu could not think of anything else that could be so urgent to force entry into the palace through Sima Gate.
After a while, the guard ran back, "Reporting to my Lord, it was Prince Pingyuan who opened Sima Gate and entered the palace via the avenue!"
Xun Yu's expression changed drastically, "How could it be Young Master Zijian? Quickly… quickly go and inform His Majesty!"
"Yes…"
As the guard took two steps, Xun Yu's face showed a pensive look. "Come back!"
The guard quickly ran back…
"It's fine. You stay here and guard."
The guard looked astonished. Xun Yu retreated into his office and gently closed the door. He seemed to have thought of something.
Since it was Zijian…
Then it wasn't military intelligence.
Because for the past two days, Zijian had been accompanying Cai Zhaoji and Zheng Xuan… at the Imperial Academy, recasting the "Imperial Academy Stone Classics" belonging to Great Wei!
And Cai Zhaoji is now… full term, isn't she?
Understanding this…
Xun Yu closed the door, sat back down at his seat, and knew… in this matter, his urgency would be useless… even His Majesty's urgency would be useless!
As expected…
Lu Yu and Fu Shou had just finished dressing.
Cao Zhi had already arrived on horseback, panting, he dismounted… and ran towards the steps of Deyang Hall.
"Brother, Brother…" Perhaps because Lu Yu had just ascended the throne, and the matter was sudden…
Cao Zhi had not yet grown accustomed to changing his address…
As soon as he reached outside Deyang Hall, Cao Zhi raised his voice, "She's about to give birth! She's about to give birth!"
"……"
Lu Yu felt uneasy. Hearing Cao Zhi's voice now, and recalling the past two days… Sister Zhaoji insisted on recasting the so-called Imperial Academy Stone Classics, and Cao Zhi accompanied her throughout…
Immediately… Lu Yu knew what had happened!
"Sister Zhaoji is… about to give birth! I am going to be a father!"
Lu Yu murmured…
Fu Shou, who was beside him, was also startled. As the former Empress, how could she not know… the importance of Cai Zhaoji in Lu Yu's heart.
Her eyes flickered, as if she had thought of something…
"Shall we invite the divine physician Hua Tuo…"
"He's likely already gone!" Lu Yu hurried to go out, but Fu Shou grabbed him. Lu Yu showed a hint of displeasure, but Fu Shou whispered something in his ear.
Precisely these words changed Lu Yu's expression from displeasure to joy.
"I understand!"
Lu Yu stepped out. Before leaving the door, he turned his head and said to Fu Shou, "I did not misjudge you!"
Not long after, Lu Yu mounted his horse and rode towards the Imperial Academy.
On the other side, someone also entered the palace to inform Liu Xue, Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao, Ma Yunlu, Lü Lingqi, Sun Shangxiang, and others…
In fact, it wasn't just Lu Yu's harem…
Even Cao Cao's women, those Dowager Consorts, were restless…
Countless people rushed towards the Imperial Academy.
Who would have thought that this Imperial Academy, which cultivated "the Emperor's assistants and the pillars of the nation," would one day… welcome the birth of a newborn!
This night, someone trespassed into Sima Gate.
Someone's heart had already drifted to the Ying River, to the Imperial Academy in Yongqiu!
…
…
The Sword Pavilion is precipitous and steep, the Shu Road, on the Sword Pavilion Pass, a man wearing a scholar's cap and a crane robe, fanning himself with a feather fan.
"Leaving so in a hurry? Won't you stay a few more days?"
"After this parting, who knows when we brothers will meet again!"
The speaker was Zhuge Liang…
He had come to the Sword Pavilion today to send his younger brother, Zhuge Jun, back to Hanzhong. From Hanzhong, through Guanzhong, to Sanfu… he could finally reach Luoyang City.
He was to take back the "Five-Year Ceasefire" agreement signed by Liu Bei and Great Wei.
"The mission is complete, and I should return."
Zhuge Jun bowed to Zhuge Liang… "As for meeting, after five years, Great Wei and Bashu will inevitably have a great war. My younger brother still says the same thing: my teacher said, he hopes my elder brother will muster his troops and become a rival that Great Wei will take seriously!"
"Hahaha…"
Uncharacteristically, Zhuge Liang burst into laughter. He returned the bow to Zhuge Jun. "My younger brother greatly hopes that one day I can fight against Jun brother on the battlefield, and to test, after our last parting… our brothers' different abilities and different lives under different circumstances!"
Zhuge Jun was startled…
Zhuge Liang's laughter rang out again.
Zhuge Jun smiled faintly, "If possible, my younger brother wishes there would not be such a day."
Zhuge Liang smiled, "I do not wish for it either, but life is unpredictable. May my virtuous brother have a smooth journey…"
The two solemnly bowed to each other on the Sword Pavilion Pass…
Xiahou Mao had already prepared a swift horse…
As Zhuge Jun descended the pass, the two embarked on their journey.
And witnessing Zhuge Jun and Xiahou Mao disappear into the Shu Road, a young and handsome gentleman slowly emerged from behind Zhuge Liang, "Why didn't the strategist keep him for a few more days?"
The speaker was Ma Su…
As a young leader among the three factions in Shu, the Jing Province faction, Ma Su was highly regarded by Zhuge Liang. Whether within the Jing Province faction or in the Shu region, Ma Su's words carried a certain weight.
Hoo…
The gentle breeze from the feather fan stirred Zhuge Liang's hair…
Feeling this breeze, Zhuge Liang sighed, "If he doesn't leave now, I'm afraid… he won't be able to leave!"
As soon as these words were spoken…
"Report… Military Advisor!" A scout rushed over, "Just now, our spy in Xuchang City sent back news: the Son of Heaven has abdicated… That Lu Ziyu has ascended the throne and declared himself Emperor, changing the dynasty's name to Wei, and the era name to Huang Chu! He has posthumously honored Cao Cao as Emperor Wu of Great Wei…"
As soon as these words were spoken…
Ma Su's pupils suddenly widened. He looked at Zhuge Liang in disbelief.
But Zhuge Liang was calm and collected. He sighed, "If Lord Liu learns of this news, I fear the 'Five-Year Ceasefire' will be stillborn… and brother Jun will find it even harder to return to Great Wei!"
…
…