I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 102: Capture the Traveler Mission Progress: 35
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Wang Zhongduan entered the palace with Li Shishi, Zhao Yuannu, Cui Nianyue and others.

However, unlike Li Shishi and the others who were lucky enough to be picked up by Zhang Chun, Ye Shiyun and Li Lin after entering the palace, Wang Zhongduan was picked up by Guan as soon as he entered the palace.

Guan was originally just an ordinary maid in Prince Shen's mansion. She was very beautiful and had been favored by Zhao Ya a long time ago, and more than once.

But Guan never got pregnant.

Later, Zhao Ya had more and more women, and Guan could no longer compete with them.

For her own future development, Guan chose to serve Pei Sui, who had a strong background and great power at the time, and became a female official under Pei Sui to help her manage the palace maids.

When Li Shishi and other palace maids entered the palace, Guan was the first to take over.

Guan knew very well the importance of having a beautiful maid.

Therefore, taking advantage of the chaotic management of the harem at that time, Guan used public power for personal gain and reserved Wang Zhongduan, whom she thought was the most beautiful, for herself. She planned to train Wang Zhongduan well and in the future, master and servant would go to the battle to compete for her favor.

Not long ago, Zheng Xiansu entered the harem.

As Pei Sui's confidant, Guan immediately approached and hugged Zheng Xiansu's long legs tightly.

Zheng Xiansu did not treat Guan badly. After asking for Guan's opinion, he appointed Guan as a female official of Shanggong.

After that, Guan would fight wherever Zheng Xiansu pointed, showing his loyalty.

for example:

Zheng Xiansu advocated frugality, so Guan immediately put on her simplest clothes and ate vegetables and tofu every meal, eating even more plain food than Zheng Xiansu.

This was a tough situation for Wang Zhongduan. She was trained as a courtesan, and although she couldn't be said to be rich, she certainly had enough food and clothing.

Unexpectedly, now that I have entered the palace, I have started to suffer.

In fact, if everyone was the same, Wang Zhongduan could also bear it. After all, no matter how frugal they were, these were Zhao Ya's harem, and the food could not be too bad.

But the problem is that Wang Zhongduan’s good friend Zhao Yuannu eats meat and fish every day, and has a wide variety of fruits, dried fruits, candies, snacks and desserts.

This person is afraid of comparison.

After such a comparison, Wang Zhongduan immediately felt that she was living a worse life than Ye Shiyun's dog.

She wasn't talking about Zhao Yuannu, but Ye Shiyun's dog - Wangcai.

Not long ago, Ye Shiyun picked up a Chinese pastoral dog left by a concubine during the reign of Zhao Xu. She raised it in her own palace and fed Wangcai the same food she ate every day.

This made many people uncomfortable with Ye Shiyun's extravagant behavior, especially when Zheng Xiansu advocated frugality.

It is said that anonymous complaints against Ye Shiyun are coming in like snowflakes.

If the rules of hanging wind chimes of repentance set by Zheng Xiansu were strictly followed, Ye Shiyun's house might have been filled with wind chimes.

But Zheng Xiansu had told the people in the harem a long time ago that the five women had made great contributions and did not have to abide by some of the harem rules.

As for what great achievements the five women had made, Zheng Xiansu did not say.

However, people in the harem speculated that it might be related to Zhao Ya becoming emperor.

In fact, there have been rumors in the harem for a long time: Zhang Chun is proficient in the art of deduction, and has helped Zhao Ya and Empress Dowager Xiang to deduce the general situation of the world; Ma Xiaojiao is proficient in mechanical arts, and many magical mechanisms in the harem were created by Ma Xiaojiao; and Yuan Qingcheng is proficient in farming, which has also been guessed by others.

Only Li Lin and Ye Shiyun's abilities are left, and others don't know yet.

But Li Lin accompanied Zhao Ya to practice "Prisoner Conditioning" and "Yoga" every day, and Zhang Chun and Ye Shiyun were often called by Zhao Ya to discuss matters, and people in the harem knew about it.

These are enough to prove that the five women are indeed different.

This meant that even if the people in the harem disliked the behavior of the five women, they did not dare to provoke them openly.

Wang Zhongduan also secretly criticized Ye Shiyun for her unkind behavior of "not being quiet when she is happy".

However, Wang Zhongduan did not dare to show it.

This is not only because Wang Zhongduan did not dare to provoke Ye Shiyun, who even the Queen did not care about, but also because whenever Wang Zhongduan was hungry, he could come to Ye Shiyun and have a good meal, and he could also take some snacks back when he left.

This is a great thing that you can't get from Zhang Chun or Li Lin.

——Zhang Chun is now also adhering to frugality and eating no better than Guan Shi; while Li Lin is very self-disciplined and only eats healthy and nutritious food and never eats meaningless food.

Only Ye Shiyun is a pure foodie.

Before, Ye Shiyun always went to Zhao Ya to ask for delicious food.

Later, Zhao Ya simply ordered that whatever food he had should be sent to Ye Shiyun.

Even so, if Ye Shiyun heard that there was something delicious, she would ask Huang Jingchen to send someone to buy it for her.

The main point is that no matter who I wronged, I would never wrong myself.

Today, Wang Zhongduan couldn't bear it anymore.

So, while Guan was called away by Pei Sui to discuss matters, Wang Zhongduan came to Ye Shiyun.

Then he saw Li Shishi and Cui Nianyue were also here with Zhao Yuannu.

Wang Zhongduan looked at Li Shishi and asked, "Can't you bear it anymore?"

Li Shishi smiled bitterly, "My queen seems to be possessed by a demon. Not only is she obsessed with winning the imperial examination, she's also trying to imitate the empress and only eats simple food. Alas!"

"It's not surprising. It's widely rumored in the palace that if we can win the imperial examination this time, we may be favored by His Majesty for ten consecutive days. For this reason, many palace ladies are preparing for the exam day and night, forgetting to eat and sleep." Wang Zhongduan said.

"I heard that His Majesty may come in person that day. If that happens, even if I can't win the first prize, I can teach His Majesty to keep my excellent performance in mind. It will surely bring me great benefits in the future." Cui Nianyue said.

"From what you said, sister, it seems that you also want to give it a try?" Zhao Yuannu asked Cui Nianyue.

Cui Nianyue admitted openly, "There are many talented people in my harem. I dare not even think about winning the first prize. But if I can write a few good poems and attract your majesty's attention, I might give it a try."

"Your queen is very favored by His Majesty, how could you miss the opportunity?" said Li Shishi.

"It's better to be prepared. And you all know my wife. She is not fussy and in excellent health. She may never think of taking me with her. I'd better try my best to be prepared." Cui Nianyue said.

These women all had their background in brothels and knew how to rely on men to survive, so they all thought that Cui Nianyue's approach was right.

Wang Zhongduan said with some regret, "It's a pity that we're not competing in dancing skills, otherwise who else could compete but me?"

"You are all still young, there is no rush. Maybe in one or two years there will be singing and dancing competitions. It's different for me. I am already twelve years old, so I have to hurry up." Cui Nianyue said.

The so-called pure prostitute is just a deceptive joke.

There are very few true prostitutes.

The relationship between prostitutes and courtesans is as delicate as that between money and Jiaozi. Money isn't always Jiaozi, but Jiaozi is always money. Similarly, prostitutes aren't always courtesans, but courtesans always end up becoming prostitutes.

Normally, there is no difference in how customers treat courtesans and prostitutes.

In other words, a Qingguanren is a higher-level prostitute who requires a higher price to buy.

Thirteen is too early, it is called a trial flower;

At the age of fourteen, it is called flowering;
When one reaches the age of fifteen, it is called picking flowers.

Therefore, most prostitutes would comb their hair at the latest when they are fifteen years old, and some would comb their hair at the age of thirteen. Only those who were extremely famous, such as those in history, could delay it for a few years, but only a few years. Their fame could support them for a while, but not for a lifetime, because there would always be people who would comb their hair for them, whom they could not afford to offend.

Prostitutes are generally very sensitive to the age of thirteen, because most prostitutes officially start performing on stage at the age of thirteen, and some even have their hair combed at this age.

It is no wonder that Cui Nianyue has already started planning for her future.

At this time, Ye Shiyun, who was taking a nap, got up.

"Yuannu, come and help me get up."

After hearing what was said, the four famous prostitutes went to see Ye Shiyun together.

Seeing Li Shishi, Cui Nianyue, and Wang Zhongduan there, Ye Shiyun scolded with a smile, "You guys come to my place to eat and drink for free again?"

Li Shishi and the other two daughters were not embarrassed or angry, because they all knew that although Ye Shiyun's words were sharp, she was a person with a soft heart. Not only did she never punish the servants, she was also easy to get along with. As long as you don't take her words too seriously, it will be fine.

Li Shishi and the other two girls thanked her in unison: "Thank you, Her Majesty, for the reward."

Ye Shiyun hummed and said, "I won't accept your thanks in vain. Yesterday, a hunter sent a bear, and I have asked the imperial kitchen to prepare a dish of bear paws for you. You are in for a treat."

Li Shishi and the other two girls were overjoyed, and then they all helped Zhao Yuannu to help Ye Shiyun get up...

——Ye Shiyun achieved the plot that Zhang Chun had imagined countless times without any effort.

Soon, the imperial kitchen brought in a dish of braised bear paws and five other dishes: shark with sausage and pork belly in vinegar, steamed kidney with lychees, lamb gizzards cooked in milk, duck with lotus leaves, and shrimp and trotter sashimi. There was also one soup and one broth: a hundred-flavor soup and goose gizzard soup.

Before the meal, Ye Shiyun asked Zhao Yuannu to take people to divide half of all the food, including the braised bear paws, for the servants in her courtyard.

After this, Ye Shiyun sat down at the same table with the four famous prostitutes without any airs and prepared to have dinner.

Before the meal began, two palace maids brought a pot of wine without Ye Shiyun's instructions.

This wine is not an ordinary wine, but the national wine produced by the Guanglu Temple of the Zhao Song Dynasty, that is, the imperial wine. It also has another name: Guanglu wine.

Because the wine jar is dark red and the mouth of the jar is sealed with yellow silk, it is also called Huangfeng wine.

It is probably the best wine of this era.

Zhao Ya rarely drinks this kind of wine.

Well, actually, Zhao Ya doesn't like drinking very much. He never drinks when he has nothing to do.

Ye Shiyun, a woman who knew how to enjoy life, would drink a little at every meal. Not too much, not too little, just the right amount. That little bit of wine was just enough to make her feel tipsy but not drunk.

What made many people envious and jealous was that Zhao Ya gave Ye Shiyun twenty jars of imperial wine at once, so that she wouldn't have to come to him for it all the time.

Ye Shiyun asked the four famous prostitutes: "Are you really not going to order something?"

As a result, Li Shishi, Cui Nianyue and Wang Zhongduan all shook their heads like rattles.

——What a joke! It’s already too much for them to come out and eat behind the back of their thrifty master. If they drink alcohol, their master will find out and beat them to death, right?
In the end, only Zhao Yuannu drank with Ye Shiyun.

After opening the bottle, the rich aroma of wine gradually wafts out.

Li Shishi and Wang Zhongduan were too young to drink much, and they felt dizzy when they smelled the wine.

Ye Shiyun and Zhao Yuannu, the master and servant, were drinking good wine and eating bear paws and other delicacies, having a very happy time.

Ye Shiyun put down her wine glass, looked at the bear paw and said, "If I hadn't come here, how could I have eaten such delicious food?"

The four famous prostitutes only thought that Ye Shiyun was talking about coming to the harem, but they didn't know that Ye Shiyun was talking about coming to this era.

At this moment, Wangcai started barking "Woof woof woof".

A shrill voice followed: "Sir, this dog is very rude. Why not kill it?"

Zhao Ya's voice then rang out: "How can I, as the great emperor, argue with a little dog?"

Upon hearing this, the four famous prostitutes hurriedly stood up and began to tidy up their clothes at the same time.

Only Ye Shiyun showed a fox-like smile on her face, "You are finally here!"

Ye Shiyun drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.

Ye Shiyun has discovered that Zhao Ya is somewhat dependent on her and Zhang Chun.

This kind of inseparability is not to say that it is really inseparable, but if Zhao Ya has any new ideas, he likes to discuss them with her and Zhang Chun. Also, if the ministers under Zhao Ya give some suggestions that Zhao Ya is not sure about, Zhao Ya likes to listen to her and Zhang Chun's opinions.

It was as if she and Zhang Chun had become a pair of tools that Zhao Ya used very easily.

How to control Zhao Ya?
Ye Shiyun wouldn't dare to do that, and she wouldn't be so stupid.

How could the emperor be so easy to mess with?
Besides, she, Zhang Chun and Zhao Ya are just convenient to use, and they are not indispensable.

But then again, since she is so useful, she will definitely not treat herself badly.

Knowledge is priceless, do you understand?

Besides, any of the ideas she gave to Zhao Ya were enough for her to eat and drink lavishly for several lifetimes. So what if she ate and drank what Zhao Ya ordered?
Facts have also proved that Zhao Ya really does not lack the food and drink she needs. He gives her whatever she wants.

Ye Shiyun was very satisfied with Zhao Ya's generosity.

As for the sleeping partner she had previously pursued?

Ye Shiyun had already seen clearly that Zhao Ya had no intention of letting the five of them go, including Yuan Qingcheng who thought she could escape by hiding.

However, now they are in Zhao Ya's hands, so Zhao Ya is not in a hurry.

Moreover, Zhao Ya relied on the fact that he was rare and valuable, and that he was the emperor, and kept forcing them to compete with each other, forcing them to fight among themselves, and even wanted to control them on the spiritual level.

She wanted to try out what was so good about the relationship between men and women that attracted so many people.

But this does not mean that she will be as desperate as Zhang Chun and even drive herself crazy.

"This day will come sooner or later anyway, so why should I rush it?"

"Besides, I managed to get through it even when there was no hope. Now that there is hope, can't I hold on a little longer?"

In short, Ye Shiyun felt that she must not let Zhao Ya lead her by the nose.

Of course, it doesn't mean that she doesn't think about it anymore, but rather that she has figured it out. This is something that everyone wants, so why should I only make it difficult for myself?

"No matter how good you are to others, it is not as good as being useful to them."

"Also, power in bed must be won through wits, not by whoever has the guns!"

Now, using the tactic of retreating to advance, Ye Shiyun finally waited for Zhao Ya to come.

Ye Shiyun wiped her mouth leisurely, trying to show her composure.

However, Ye Shiyun's trembling hands betrayed her true thoughts deep in her heart.

As soon as she came out, Ye Shiyun saw Wangcai wagging his tail at Zhao Ya, and there was no trace of the look as he had just done when he was yelling at Zhao Ya.

Ye Shiyun thought, 'After all, you are the emperor, even dogs have to fawn over you.'

Ye Shiyun gave Zhao Ya a charming smile: "I don't know what auspicious sign it is that has attracted the emperor's dragon carriage to come here. I am very fortunate."

Zhao Ya walked over, put his arm around Ye Shiyun's slender waist, and said condescendingly: "My beloved concubine has such a trick that I have no choice but to fall into your trap..."

……

(End of this chapter)