I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 221 A Battle of Beauty
...

When Liang Damei came in, she saw Xiao Puxian holding a copy of "Rules for Women" and reading it with great interest, completely unaware of what had just happened.

Clearly, Xiao Puxian had calculated that these Western Xia women, trapped in the deep palace, couldn't cause much trouble.

It makes sense when you think about it. If Xiao Puxian hadn't gotten her hands on these Western Xia women, how would she have dared to bring only two maids to have their Empress Yelü Nanxian serve her in bed and provoke them so intimately?
Liang Damei was very annoyed by this.

She could snap Xiao Puxian's snow-white neck with one hand.

As a female general of Western Xia who fought against the Zhao Song Dynasty for more than ten years, she also had reason to take revenge on Zhao Yu, the culprit who destroyed Western Xia, such as killing Zhao Yu's favorite concubine, Xiao Puxian.

On the other hand, she was a Han Chinese, and there was no reason why she couldn't accept that a Han Chinese emperor defeated a Tangut emperor and united the two countries into one.

More importantly, the war was over. She had become a prisoner of war, a concubine offered to Zhao Yu, trapped in this deep palace, her fate beyond her control. She knew that she was no longer the fearless female general on the battlefield, striking terror into the hearts of her enemies. Now, everything from the past had vanished like smoke, and the land she had sworn to protect had been mercilessly separated from her by the torrent of destiny. Though the sword in her heart was sharp, it could not sever the intricate entanglement of fate.

Liang Damei's eyes flickered, a light that was a mixture of resentment, helplessness, and deep thought. Her gaze swept over Xiao Puxian's seemingly calm yet sharp face, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Her fists clenched unconsciously, but Liang Damei forced herself to calm down and rationally consider the situation. She understood that Xiao Puxian dared to be so fearless entirely because of Zhao Yu, who was behind her. He could make them live or die at her will, and even make them wish they were dead. And what could she, a prisoner of a defeated nation, a beauty offered to Zhao Yu, possibly do?
'Besides prolonging my life in this deep palace, in a way I've never tried before as a woman, it seems I have no other choice?'

Looking at Xiao Puxian, the former betrothed wife of Yelü Chun and now Zhao Yu's favorite concubine, Liang Damei realized that her change in status and circumstances was just another version of herself. However, Xiao Puxian chose to accept the arrangement of fate and, with an extraordinary calmness, read those classics that taught women how to be gentle and virtuous, finding a new place for herself and a new way of life.

'She is the one I should emulate.'

Liang Damei clasped her hands in a fist salute to Xiao Puxian and asked, "May I ask, Madam, will my sister and I truly serve you tonight?"

Seeing that Liang Damei was so outspoken, Xiao Puxian didn't waste any words and directly advised her: "Prepare well and don't let my efforts go to waste."

Xiao Puxian has already explained it so clearly, what else could Liang Damei not understand?

Liang Damei didn't ask a second question, just replied "Yes" and left.

As soon as Liang Damei came out, all the Xixia women who were waiting outside immediately surrounded her, and some of them asked impatiently, "General, how is it?"

Liang Damei nodded.

The group of Western Xia women cheered with joy. Clearly, they hoped that Liang Da Mei and Liang Xiao Mei, whom they were following, would serve the emperor and receive new status so that they could be taken care of.

Liang Xiaomei's heart was pounding wildly, and her face was burning.

Wang Shu immediately made arrangements: "Quickly tidy up the courtyard, and bring a few people skilled in makeup to help the two generals bathe, change clothes, and do their makeup."

In an instant, the Western Xia women were busy. They had a clear division of labor: some swept the courtyard, some heated the bathwater, and others prepared "battle robes" for Liang Da Mei and Liang Xiao Mei...

Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei never imagined that one day they, who only knew how to lead troops into battle, would have to use their beauty to impress others. What's worse, they also had to learn how to exude charm and allure in their every move, and how to subtly convey coquettishness and tenderness in their words and laughter. For them, who were known for their fortitude and decisiveness, this was undoubtedly an unprecedented challenge.

The group of Western Xia women didn't give Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei any time to adjust. They hurriedly pushed them into the bathroom and then used brushes to carefully scrub every inch of their skin several times, afraid that their rougher skin than that of ordinary women would displease Zhao Yu. Their usually loose hair was also carefully styled into a bun...

The rising steam blurred the reflection in the bronze mirror, and it also seemed to blur the boundaries in the hearts of Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei, making them realize that they were no longer female generals fighting against men, but two women about to "get married".

The women of Western Xia had a disagreement about what clothes to wear.

Some argue that Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei should wear Song Dynasty clothing, preferably green Song Dynasty wedding dresses, to demonstrate their absolute submission.

However, some people thought this was unrealistic. Zhao Yu arrived that very night, and in such a rush, they wouldn't have had time to make such clothes for Liang Da Mei and Liang Xiao Mei. Besides, Liang Da Mei and Liang Xiao Mei couldn't wear other people's clothes at all. It would be better for them to wear their original clothes, at least that way they would fit.

However, this would make it seem that they were not serious or devout about the upcoming night with Zhao Yu, which might anger Zhao Yu and bring trouble to everyone.

For a time, opinions were divided, and the atmosphere was tense and heated.

Soon, the people who were doing Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei's makeup and hair also ran into a problem.

The exquisite jewelry worn by Song Dynasty people appeared exceptionally small on the unusually tall Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei, as if adults were wearing children's ornaments. It was not only inappropriate but also lacked the proper charm, and even revealed a bit of anachronistic humor.

Liang Da Mei and Liang Xiao Mei's hair was like a waterfall flowing in the night, black, shiny and thick, but it was difficult to be tamed by those exquisite hairpins and jewels. It always stubbornly peeked out from the complicated buns, telling of its unwillingness to submit.

At this moment, a woman from the Western Xia brought two sets of palace dresses, which were said to be the largest size, and asked Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei to change into them.

As a result, the largest size palace dress was not only too small for Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei, but also... Song Dynasty clothing style was mainly simple and elegant, with women's clothing featuring narrow sleeves and cinched waists, emphasizing the slenderness and grace of the body. Petite figures could easily showcase the beauty and charm of such clothing, but on the two sisters, it was like adults wearing little girls' clothes, utterly lacking in beauty, and instead highlighting their extraordinary stature and unusually tall physiques. The hem and cuffs of the dress looked cramped between their powerful arms and exceptionally long legs, as if they might tear at any moment with their unintentional movements.

This utter incongruity left all the Western Xia women present exchanging bewildered glances. They all thought in unison: Is Zhao Yu really going to sleep with Liang Da Mei and Liang Xiao Mei? Are you sure you're not joking?

Liang Da Mei and Liang Xiao Mei stood before the bronze mirror, their brows slightly furrowed. In the mirror, their heroic spirit remained, their brows still bearing the sharp edge of battle. However, their faces, hardened by war, appeared somewhat incongruous with this sudden change to feminine attire. Then they looked at their own inappropriate clothes.

Liang Damei couldn't help but smile bitterly. This outfit seemed more like a prop from an absurd play than the armor she was about to wear to face her fate. She looked at Liang Xiaomei and saw the same helplessness and confusion flickering in Liang Xiaomei's eyes. The two figures reflected in the bronze mirror looked so out of place.

"Are we really going to serve each other in bed like this?"

Already lacking confidence, Liang Xiaomei's voice trembled slightly, a mixture of uncertainty about the future and nostalgia for the past.

Before Liang Damei could deny it, Wang Shu said, "No, if we go to serve His Majesty in this way, we may not only fail to please His Majesty, but also displease him. At that time, not only will the future of the two generals be uncertain, but we may also be unable to escape punishment."

Wang Shu's expression was solemn, and her words revealed an undeniable determination: "The only option now is to take a desperate gamble..."

……

At the same time, Yelü Nanxian was also discussing countermeasures with Yeli Lan, the eldest daughter of the Yeli clan who had come to her aid.

Yelü Nanxian asked Yeli Lan, "Now that things have come to this, how should I deal with it?"

Ye Lilan said, "Although Your Majesty has made a mistake, there is no need to panic. Your Majesty is the Empress of our Xia Kingdom. Due to your status, His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty will treat you differently. How can you be compared to those two crude and vulgar warriors, Liang family's two pillars?"

Yelü Nanxian thought the same way, and she didn't take Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei, who were both useless as women, to heart.

Ye Lilan asserted, "It's just that Your Highness made a mistake in your previous choice, which displeased His Majesty the Emperor and Empress of the Great Song Dynasty. As a result, Consort Xiao came here and supported the Liang family's two pillars in an attempt to seize Your Highness's position as chief steward. Your Highness only needs to change your strategy and emulate Consort Xiao to win the favor of His Majesty the Emperor and Empress of the Great Song Dynasty. You will surely win the position of chief steward of Xia Nu. At that time, the Liang family's two pillars will be nothing but clowns, not worth mentioning."

Yeli Lan's words make sense, but this is not the path Yelü Nanxian wants to take.

What Yelü Nanxian wanted was a force loyal only to her, at her beck and call, so that she could not only gain a place in the Zhao Song Dynasty court, but also have a certain voice in the Zhao Song Dynasty court, so that she could help her homeland, the Liao Dynasty.

Now, however, the vast majority of Western Xia women have given up on the Western Xia that has become history and are actively trying to please Zhao Yu, their enemy who killed their father, husband, and son, in order to embrace a new life. Even those royal daughters, imperial daughters, and noble daughters who were once high and mighty in Western Xia have now mostly bowed their heads and are willing to become decorations in Zhao Yu's harem. Their loyalty and dreams seem to have vanished with the demise of their homeland.

This is understandable. When the Western Xia had nearly a million troops, they were wiped out by the Song Dynasty. Now, only a few hundred women trapped in the deep palace remain. If they still don't understand and choose to fight a losing battle, aren't they just courting death?

The key point is that the vast majority of these women were virgins. They had no husbands or sons, and even their fathers were still alive. How much hatred could they possibly have for Zhao Yu?

Yelü Nanxian looked at Yeli Lan, a complex expression flashing in her eyes. She knew that Yeli Lan was in the same situation, but she had a higher opinion of herself, who held the title of Empress of Western Xia.

'She's trying to teach me to lead the way in surrendering!'

Although Yelü Nanxian was very reluctant to take this path, it was clear that if she did not, she would become all alone.

By then, let alone influencing Zhao Yu or the Zhao Song Dynasty, she probably wouldn't even be able to have Zhao Yu's son, let alone achieve her plan of having her followers have more of Zhao Yu's children, and then raising these children to form her own political power.

It now seems that in order to achieve her original goal, she can only become a surrenderer like Xiao Puxian, or even more surrendering than Xiao Puxian. Only then can she gain Zhao Yu's favor and thus have followers like Yeli Lan, in order to realize her political ambitions.

Although this choice was difficult, Yelü Nanxian had no choice but to face reality.

Having made up her mind, Yelü Nanxian asked Yeli Lan, "What should I do next?"

"Actively serve the emperor, and be careful not to let the Liang family's two pillars and the other Xia women gain the upper hand. If Your Majesty can win the favor of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song, even if many beauties vie for your attention, they will not be a threat, and the same applies to Empress Song. However, before Your Majesty's position is secure, you still need to deal with Empress Song, feigning flattery and playing along, in order to avoid the disaster of her suspicion and suppression..."

Yelü Nanxian agreed with Yeli Lan's strategy and asked, "Then what should I wear tonight when I serve the emperor? Should I change into Song Dynasty clothes? I've heard that Song people prefer red for men and green for women, and that Song brides often wear green to signify their submission. Should I wear a magnificent emerald green dress to show my submission and submissiveness, and win the favor of His Majesty the Emperor of Song?"

"Your Majesty's plan is ingenious, but it may lead people to misunderstand you as a frivolous person, or feel that Your Majesty is eager for quick success and instant benefits. Why don't you wear the attire of the Empress of Xia Kingdom?" Ye Lilan said.

Yelü Nanxian asked in bewilderment, “Don’t you know that His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty dislikes me wearing summer clothes?”

Ye Lilan revealed a mysterious smile, and said with certainty, "His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty only dislikes Your Highness's longing for your homeland, not your wearing of summer clothes. If Your Highness trusts me, please wear the attire of the Empress of my Xia Kingdom tonight to serve me in bed, and His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty will surely fall for you..."

……

At the same time, other Western Xia women, eager to embrace a new life, rewrite their destiny, and gain wealth and honor, were also making their own preparations in hopes of winning Zhao Yu's favor.

Some meticulously dressed themselves, choosing clothes that best complemented their beauty and temperament, hoping to attract Zhao Yu's attention with their outstanding appearance; others carefully drew their eyebrows and eyes, attempting to showcase their charm and gentleness with the most exquisite makeup, hoping to stand out among the many beauties; still others silently prayed, hoping that the gods would grant them good fortune and favor at this turning point in their lives. Some even went so far as to study Song Dynasty etiquette and speech at the last minute, trying to perfect every detail and defeat the other Western Xia women.

An atmosphere of tension and excitement permeated the entire Jade Palace, as if a silent war was about to begin...

……

(End of this chapter)