flstandardbreds Chapter 114 Empress Meng
Chapter 114 Empress Meng
Meanwhile, in the other live stream room...
Lin Ke felt that the previous events were a bit sad, so she decided to switch gears by talking about some gossip between Emperor Zhezong of Song and Empress Meng.
So, she changed her expression and teased, "I've already talked about factional struggles, which are all things of the previous dynasty. Now I'll tell you some unofficial gossip about the Song Dynasty's imperial harem!"
"Of course, the main character today is still Emperor Zhezong of Song, Zhao Xu, but with the addition of Empress Meng and Consort Liu."
Emperor Zhezong of Song, Zhao Xu: ...
"Ahem, as Emperor Zhezong grows up, one thing inevitably comes up: his major life event!"
Empress Dowager Gao: My eldest grandson, it's time for you to get married. Look, here's your bride!
Emperor Zhezong: There's absolutely no need for that!
"For this matter, Empress Dowager Gao selected more than a hundred women from official families from all over the country to enter the palace. Among them, the daughter of the Meng family was very much favored by Empress Dowager Gao, so she was chosen to be the Empress."
"However, our Song God Zhao Xu's relationship with Empress Dowager Gao was not good, and he might even have disliked her. Therefore, he didn't like the empress chosen by Empress Dowager Gao at all, so the two of them could only be a respectful couple."
"But not long after, Emperor Zhezong of Song fell in love with another woman—Consort Liu. She was beautiful and graceful, but also ambitious, and quickly captured Zhao Xu's heart."
"Later, Consort Liu gave birth to two daughters, and Empress Meng also gave birth to a daughter."
"It was when Princess Fuqing, the daughter of Empress Meng, was seriously ill that, according to unofficial history, Empress Meng felt that competing for favor was more important. Under the bad advice of the Meng family, she made some kind of talisman with the effect of bewitching and immobilizing the soul. The meaning of this was definitely to hope that Zhao Xu would change his mind."
"But is this the first emperor in history to be forced into sexual relations by his empress?!"
Emperor Zhezong of Northern Song Dynasty: ...Women are too terrifying!
A scion of a prominent family in the Ming Dynasty: Are all women this terrifying?!
A wealthy merchant's wife from the Tang Dynasty: So, does this work or not?
A young man from a prominent family in the Ming Dynasty: Oh dear, what a mess this has become!
A playful young girl from the Tang Dynasty: It seems everyone likes good-looking girls!
……
"This talisman was definitely useless. Later, it is said that she even cursed Consort Liu. As a result, her own actions were exposed, she was deposed as empress, and exiled to Yaohua Temple to become a female Taoist priest."
"But this account is much more formal in official history. The Meng family brought the healing talisman water into the palace because Princess Fuqing was unable to find a cure."
"As you all know, the art of cursing has always been a taboo in the palace. Empress Meng hid the talisman water first and then told Emperor Zhezong about it when he came to see the princess."
"This matter was not considered excessive by common sense, so Emperor Zhezong did not pursue it. However, Princess Fuqing died not long afterward."
A peasant woman from the Ming Dynasty: Poor child!
A young man from a prominent family in the Tang Dynasty: Speaking of which, was it because there was cinnabar or something in the palace before that he couldn't be saved?
……
"As for Consort Liu, she was favored by Emperor Zhezong and was quite pampered in the harem, but she still wanted the position of Empress."
"Therefore, she used the incidents of Empress Meng's use of talismanic water and Princess Fuqing's death to whisper in Emperor Zhezong's ear, saying that Empress Meng's actions were a curse upon him."
"As it turns out, people who don't care about you won't even give you basic trust. Under the influence of Consort Liu's pillow talk, Emperor Zhezong gradually moved closer to her and began to suspect that Empress Meng was trying to harm him. So he ordered Liang Congzheng and Su Gui to investigate the case."
"It should be noted here that at that time, Zhang Dun, a member of the new faction of the previous dynasty, had already become prime minister, while Empress Meng was promoted by the Empress Dowager Gao, and she was more inclined towards the old faction."
"So now you know why Zhang Dun teamed up with Liu Jieyu to mess with her, right?"
"Therefore, Zhang Dun and Consort Liu joined forces here, and under their instructions, arrested dozens of the Empress, eunuchs, and palace maids, and subjected them to cruel torture to extract confessions."
"How severe was it? Historical records state that 'they were brutally beaten, their limbs were broken, and some even had their tongues severed.'"
"They refused to falsely accuse the Empress, so they denied it to the death, which resulted in their tongues and limbs being cut off."
A farmer's wife from the Ming Dynasty: How tragic! This is inhuman!
An official from the Tang Dynasty said: "The later Zhang Dun was nothing like the former him! The plastic surgery was too much!"
A spoiled brat from the Ming Dynasty: Oh my god! This empress is so pitiful!
……
"Finally, Liang Congzheng and others, seeing that they could not get any evidence, had no choice but to give false testimony, listing Meng's crimes and presenting them to Emperor Zhezong."
"What happened later was pretty much as recorded in unofficial histories; he went to a Taoist temple to become a monk."
"This is the first time in history that Empress Meng has been deposed and reinstated."
Empress Meng of the Northern Song Dynasty: ...So there's more!!!
During the reign of Emperor Zhezong of the Northern Song Dynasty
Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhezong's sharp gaze pierced Zhang Dun. "You think you can fool me like this?! Do you think I'm so easily fooled?!"
Why won't Lady Meng say anything? I don't completely trust Lady Liu, otherwise why would I send someone to investigate instead of directly interrogating her?
Zhang Dun/Liang Tao: Hmph, directly questioning him won't get you any evidence! Aren't you afraid people will say you favor your concubine over your wife!
……
"In the third year of the Yuanfu era, Emperor Zhezong of Song died, and Empress Dowager Xiang, considering various interests, deliberately chose the incompetent Zhao Ji as emperor."
"Therefore, with the support of Empress Dowager Xiang, the old faction launched a swift attack, and Empress Meng, who was inclined towards the old faction, was reinstated and called Empress Yuanyou."
"However, dramatically, not long after, Empress Dowager Xiang passed away, and Emperor Huizong began to appoint members of the New Party, such as Cai Jing, while the Old Party was demoted again. Empress Meng was also implicated and went back to being a Taoist nun."
"As an aside, if Emperor Huizong of Song hadn't acted recklessly, made trouble, and done all those bizarre things, the Northern Song Dynasty might not have fallen so quickly. Just think about it, the officials of the Northern Song Dynasty!"
Sima Guang of the Northern Song Dynasty: ...
Wang Anshi of the Northern Song Dynasty: ...
A Ming Dynasty soldier: It turns out I brought this upon myself!
"Soon, twenty years have passed. The Jurchens captured the capital. Meng was lucky. Recently, due to the fire at Yaohua Palace, many things were burned and unusable. He could only live in his younger brother's private residence next to Xiangguo Temple."
"It was precisely because of this that Empress Meng escaped a disaster."
"It turns out that just when Zhao Ji wanted to re-establish the title of his sister-in-law, the Jurchens invaded, and the matter was not accomplished. As a result, when the Jurchens arrested concubines as prisoners based on the list of registered concubines in the palace, it just so happened that Meng was not on the list, and she became one of the few concubines who survived."
A princess of the Tang Dynasty: It's a good thing he had bad luck before, otherwise it would have been terrible if he had captured the Jurchens!
Farmer Dad of the Tang Dynasty: How could the Song Dynasty have fallen to such a state in just over twenty years?!
Zhu Houzhao, the number one troublemaker of the Ming Dynasty: It must be because the emperor is incompetent!
……
Lin Ke also felt that although she had a period of bad luck, at least she was on the right track, after all, the women who suffered the humiliation of Jingkang had all lived very difficult lives.
She continued, "Then, when the Song Dynasty was in turmoil, the Meng family supported the new emperor Zhao Gou in order to appease the people. Although Zhao Gou was no less capable than Emperor Huizong of Song, if you compare the two, you will find that Emperor Huizong still had his merits!"
"The commendable aspect is that Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, is often praised in later generations as an artistic emperor. His poetry and painting are unparalleled, and his self-created 'Slender Gold' calligraphy style has been imitated by many people."
"As for Zhao Gou, he was both stupid and wicked. You can understand why he was called Wanyan Gou by later generations!"
A scion of a prominent Ming dynasty family: What a pity for my General Yue!
General Judy: Damn, compared to this, Emperor Huizong of Song was alright, but that bastard Zhao Gou, we should just call him Wanyan Gou!
Zhu Houzhao, the number one troublemaker of the Ming Dynasty: As long as Emperor Huizong of Song doesn't cause trouble, Wanyan Gou would kill any minister, especially a military general!
Wanyan Gou of the Southern Song Dynasty: Slander! ...Absolutely slander!
General Judy, the Northern Expeditionary Army: Oh, my temper! You dare to slander me? (...)%/ ...
……
During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty
Zhao Gou blushed at Lin Ke's words, but not from shame; rather, he was furious!
Is Zhao Ji better than me? If it weren't for him, how could the Northern Song Dynasty have perished? He is the sinner of the Northern Song Dynasty!
But I, Zhao Gou, am the founder of the Southern Song Dynasty and the benefactor of the Song Dynasty!
The people of the Southern Song Dynasty were able to live in peace thanks to me! How could I possibly be like Emperor Huizong of Song, a captive emperor who suffered humiliation? He could never compare to me!
Emperors Huizong and Qinzong: We never even considered comparing ourselves to you!
……
Lin Ke could tell what Zhao Gou was thinking just by looking at his expression backstage. He hadn't been scolded away yet and was still gloating! But then again, most people couldn't keep up with his thought process!