I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 223 Three years!

...

Cool! ! !
Although Zhao Yu had been living a very comfortable life every day since he traveled to the Northern Song Dynasty.

To put it another way, do you think the emperor is as happy as you imagine? You're wrong; you can't even imagine the emperor's happiness.

Liang Da Mei and Liang Xiao Mei were simply the best of the best. Zhao Yu stood up and kicked around for half the night, but he still wasn't satisfied.

What's even more remarkable is that these two sisters have incredible stamina.

Not to brag, but most women, even those thoroughly "developed" by Zhao Yu, couldn't withstand the torment he had been actively inflicting on their bodies over the years.

Now, if Zhao Yu wants to have his fill, he needs at least four or five women in one night.

If Zhao Yu were in the mood, even four or five women wouldn't be enough for him.

It is no exaggeration to say that Zhao Yu, who diligently practiced Taoist health-preserving exercises such as "Convict Conditioning," "Yoga," "Marrow Cleansing Exercise," and "Iron Crotch Exercise," possessed unfathomable physical strength and endurance. In addition, he had a variety of techniques, and most women would definitely not be able to withstand his exertions.

Even strong women like Guo Ting and Wei Shi couldn't withstand Zhao Yu's torment. They had the looks, but at most they practiced yoga to serve Zhao Yu. Their physical strength and endurance were far inferior to Zhao Yu's.

Liang Da Mei and Liang Xiao Mei, however, were different. Gifted with exceptional talent and having diligently honed their bodies, even though it was their first time experiencing intimacy, the sisters, united in spirit, withstood wave after wave of Zhao Yu's attacks. Clearly, with proper training, they could become Zhao Yu's perfect playthings.

It wasn't until he was almost asleep, when he saw Yelü Nanxian sitting on the bed, that Zhao Yu realized he had been focusing on the casket and forgetting about the real thing.

As a result, Yelü Nanxian played a trump card for Zhao Yu—she was actually a virgin empress!
This was something Zhao Yu never expected.

Yes.

Yelü Nanxian's marriage to Li Qianshun was relatively short, lasting only a little over six months.

But for this kind of thing between a man and a woman, a few tens of minutes is enough.

Even if you're not physically fit, a score of 10 or 8 is enough.

Of course, Zhao Yu must have been much taller.

But even if it's longer, two or three hours is enough.

Zhao Yu truly didn't believe that Li Qianshun couldn't even spare this little bit of time.

After questioning, Zhao Yu learned that Yelü Nanxian had just married into the Western Xia Dynasty when she had just raised the white flag of truce. On the third day after her marriage, because the situation was too critical, Li Qianshun personally led an expedition. When Li Qianshun returned, because his ally, the Liao Dynasty, refused to come to his aid, Li Qianshun hated her because of her "incompetence" and did not want to see her, let alone consummate their marriage.

Yelü Nanxian also took this opportunity to cry to Zhao Yu, saying that she was originally a loyal person and had already decided to die for the Western Xia and remain chaste for Li Qianshun. However, Li Qianshun did not treat her as his wife or the empress of Western Xia at all, and imprisoned her for more than half a year. If it weren't for Zhao Yu's rescue, she might have been imprisoned by Li Qianshun until death. That's why she did not die for the Western Xia or remain chaste for Li Qianshun.

Zhao Yu was truly impressed by Li Ganshun!

If he were Li Qianshun, even if it were just the fall of a country, or even the end of the world, he would get Yelü Nanxian first. In any case, he would never do something that would lead to trouble instead of getting what he wanted.

However, this kind of thing doesn't seem to be an isolated case.

Didn't Emperor Zhao Huan of history also leave behind a large number of virgin concubines after the Jingkang Incident?

Perhaps, faced with the immense psychological pressure of impending national collapse and becoming the ruler of a fallen kingdom, the supreme leader of a doomed nation truly couldn't muster any interest in women?
Zhao Yu didn't care whether Yelü Nanxian was telling the truth or not. He immediately pulled Yelü Nanxian into his arms, comforted her, and told her that it was all in the past. He had already imprisoned Li Qianshun and would keep him imprisoned until he died to avenge her. The key was that she was with him now, so she shouldn't think about that good-for-nothing Li Qianshun anymore.

Then, Zhao Yu treated Yelü Nanxian well again.

In Zhao Yu's view, whether Yelü Nanxian's words were true or false was irrelevant. Even Yelü Nanxian herself became irrelevant after Zhao Yu succeeded in his scheme.

It's no exaggeration to say that Zhao Yu can now mold Yelü Nanxian however he wants; Yelü Nanxian can't make a fuss at all.

Historically, Yelü Nanxian was able to influence Li Qianshun.

It was less a matter of Yelü Nanxian's ability and more a matter of the Liao Dynasty's accumulated power and Li Qianshun's misjudgment.

Zhao Yu speculated that Li Qianshun's plan at the time was probably to take advantage of the Liao Dynasty's weakness to gain some benefits from it, and at the same time, to show off his strength to the newly rising Jin Dynasty, so as to prevent the Jin Dynasty from targeting the Western Xia.

Therefore, Li Qianshun in history first sent 5,000 troops to aid Liaoxijing, but Xijing was quickly lost.

Then, upon learning that Yelü Yanxi had fled into Jiashan, Li Qianshun dispatched General Li Liangfu with an army of 30,000 to rescue him.

Li Liangfu fought against the Jin general Wanyan Loushi on the banks of the Yichuan River.

As a result, the Xia army suffered a major defeat.

Although the Western Xia were defeated, the Jurchens saw the Xia people's fighting prowess and realized that the Western Xia were not to be trifled with.

Immediately afterwards, Li Qianshun sent his minister Cao Jia to Jiashan to inquire about Yelü Yanxi's well-being and to present him with provisions.

Subsequently, Li Qianshun once again sent troops to rescue Liao, but was blocked by the Jin army and could not advance.

After laying the groundwork, Li Qianshun then lured—no, invited—Yelü Yanxi to seek political refuge in Western Xia.

Having nowhere else to turn, Yelü Yanxi was naturally tempted. He pretended to surrender to the Jin Dynasty, secretly left Jiashan, and fled west to Yunnei Prefecture.

Upon hearing the news, Li Qianshun immediately sent people to the Western Xia border to welcome Yelü Yanxi and bring him to Western Xia, thus firmly grasping Yelü Yanxi as a diplomatic bargaining chip.

Shortly afterward, the Jin Dynasty sent envoys to Western Xia, proposing to Li Qianshun that if Yelü Yanxi fled into Western Xia territory, he should be captured and handed over to the Jin Dynasty. If Western Xia treated the Jin Dynasty with the same courtesy as it had treated the Liao Dynasty, then the Jin Dynasty would cede the land in the northwest region of the former Liao Dynasty (namely, the areas south of Yinshan, including Tiande Army, Yunnei Prefecture, Jinsu Prefecture, Heqing Army, and Wu Prefecture) to Western Xia.

Having obtained the benefits he desired, and seeing that the fall of the Liao Dynasty was inevitable, how could Li Qianshun refuse the conditions proposed by the Jin Dynasty?

If Yelü Nanxian hadn't overheard this news and, fearing that Li Qianshun would send Yelü Yanxi to the Jin Dynasty, hadn't secretly informed Yelü Yanxi, and if Yelü Yanxi hadn't been so adept at escaping and hadn't decisively fled Western Xia at the first opportunity, Li Qianshun might have handed Yelü Yanxi over to the Jin Dynasty in exchange for greater benefits.

It is not difficult to see that even in front of a small country like Li Qianshun, where women's power and status were greatly amplified in Western Xia, Yelü Nanxian was still the rightful empress of Western Xia. When her interests and beliefs were inconsistent with Li Qianshun's, the only thing Yelü Nanxian could do was starve herself to death.

Incidentally, there is a theory that Yelü Nanxian did not commit suicide by starvation, but was forced to commit suicide.

Upon closer examination, this possibility certainly exists.

After all, given the international circumstances at the time, it was clear that Yelü Nanxian, a princess of the Liao Dynasty, was no longer suitable to be the empress of Western Xia.

What's more, Yelü Nanxian's biggest political asset at the time, Li Ren'ai, was killed by her.

Now that Yelü Nanxian has come to Zhao Yu's side, she has lost the aura of an empress. Even if she can give birth to a son for Zhao Yu, the son she gives birth to will never become the crown prince. Her desire to interfere in politics can only be wishful thinking. Even without Zheng Xiansu's intervention, a virtuous woman named Xiao Pu can make her obediently become Zhao Yu's plaything.

In this situation, Zhao Yu could simply enjoy himself and be happy. Why should he personally play the villain, making Yelü Nanxian resent him and affecting their relationship?
It's rare to be confused.

Furthermore, regardless of the circumstances, Zhao Yu did obtain Yelü Nanxian's first time (there was no such thing as hymen repair surgery in this era), therefore, Zhao Yu was definitely Yelü Nanxian's first man and also her only man, which is definitely a plus for Yelü Nanxian.

Therefore, Zhao Yu not only doted on Yelü Nanxian, but also gave her the position of chief steward of Qunyu Palace, which Yelü Nanxian desired most.

However, at the same time, Zhao Yu promoted Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei to be the leaders of his personal guards.

A few days later, Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei, who had become acquainted with Zhao Yu, recommended Li Qianshun's deposed concubine, Lady Liang (Liang Yibu's only daughter), and their strategist, Wang Shu, to serve him in bed.

When Zhao Yu learned that this deposed Consort Liang was the next head of the Liang family, groomed by the younger Empress Dowager Liang, he suddenly understood! During the reign of the elder Empress Dowager Liang, the Liang family held immense power. The elder Empress Dowager Liang married her younger brother Liang Yimai's daughter, the younger Empress Dowager Liang, to Li Ganshun's father, Emperor Huizong of Western Xia, Li Bingchang, and made the younger Empress Dowager Liang empress. Moreover, the elder Empress Dowager Liang had begun educating and grooming the younger Empress Dowager Liang during her reign, later ensuring that the younger Empress Dowager Liang inherited her political legacy and continued the Liang family's rule over Western Xia.

This would allow the Liang family's power to continue after the death of Empress Dowager Liang, enabling them to maintain control over the Western Xia court. It would also ensure a smooth transition of power for the Western Xia regime after her passing, avoiding political turmoil and power struggles caused by a power vacuum, thereby maintaining the stability of the Western Xia court.

Empress Dowager Xiao Liang clearly intends to replicate Empress Dowager Da Liang's method of passing on the throne, passing her position to her niece, who is now known as "Little Empress Dowager Liang".

However, due to the repeated defeats of the Western Xia in its wars against the Zhao Song Dynasty, Empress Dowager Xiao Liang and her brother Liang Yibu blamed each other and eventually broke off their relationship. Liang Yibu was executed by Empress Dowager Xiao Liang, which is why this "Little Empress Dowager Liang" was unable to become Li Qianshun's empress.

Then, with the support of the Liao Dynasty, Empress Dowager Xiao Liang was poisoned to death, and the position of Empress of Western Xia became the Liao Dynasty's possession.

Thus, this "Little Empress Dowager Liang" became Li Qianshun's deposed concubine and did not even leave her name in history.

Well, in this situation, the fact that this "Little Empress Dowager Liang" was able to survive is thanks to Zhao Yu and his people for changing history.

Otherwise, even if Li Qianshun didn't kill this "Little Empress Dowager Liang," once Yelü Nanxian secured her position as Empress of Western Xia, he certainly wouldn't have spared her, given her perceived threat.

After this "Little Empress Dowager Liang" finished serving the emperor, Zhao Yu bestowed upon her the name Liang Xiaoxiao and appointed her as the deputy chief steward of the Qunyu Palace.

Wang Shu, who seemed quite intelligent, eloquent, and knowledgeable about the affairs of Western Xia and the Western Regions, was put into the cabinet by Zhao Yu.

(The Cabinet was a department composed of women such as Zhang Chun, Li Lin, Ye Shiyun, Ma Xiaojiao, Yuan Qingcheng, Wang Yisu, Liu Mingda, Zhang Nan, Xiao Sese, and Xiao Puxian, which assisted Zhao Yu in handling official business. The name was given by Zhang Chun.)

Yelü Nanxian realized that something was wrong, so she quickly recommended Yeli Lan to serve Zhao Yu in bed and pleaded with him to also put Yeli Lan into the cabinet.

In this way, the political balance within the Qunyu Palace was established.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Yelü Nanxian will be trapped in this political balance for the rest of her life.

I almost forgot to mention that.

That night, Zhao Yu was so engrossed in driving the carriage and in the surprise that Yelü Nanxian was still a virgin that he completely forgot about Princess Meicang of Jin, who had been serving them in bed with him.

Before dawn, news of his nightly service to the emperor spread.

When the Western Xia women learned that Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei had won a great victory, Yelü Nanxian had performed steadily, and Princess Jin, Mozang, had stood by as a spectator all night, those Western Xia women who supported Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei cheered with joy; those Western Xia women who favored Yelü Nanxian also celebrated with smiles; only the Western Xia women who supported Princess Jin, Mozang, looked ashen-faced and felt that the situation was very bad.

When Princess Consort of Jin, Lady Meicang, returned, she was shocked to find that even the servants had begun to treat her coldly, and even Lady Meicang's women were casting disappointed glances at her. They whispered among themselves, their words like sharp blades in the cold wind, silent yet piercing, cutting away the last shred of dignity in her heart.

In contrast, Yelü Nanxian, Liang Damei, and Liang Xiaomei, who had shared the bedchamber with Princess Jin, were treated like triumphant generals, surrounded by a retinue wherever they went, and their promotions and rewards were quickly bestowed upon them. Clearly, they had regained their wealth and status.

Theoretically speaking, she is currently just a lowly palace maid, and she might be assigned to menial labor at any time.

Princess Jin, of the Mozang clan, sat alone in her room, unsure how much longer she would live. The flickering candlelight illuminated her pale, complex face. She had once thought that, with her birth and beauty, she should have a place even in Zhao Yu's harem, especially after becoming one of the first Western Xia women to be favored by the emperor.

Unexpectedly, in the end, she became a joke.

The previous neglect was like cold rain that extinguished all her fantasies and hopes.

Outside the window, the moonlight was as clear as water, but it couldn't penetrate her cold heart.

As for her original declaration, "I'd rather be a broken piece of jade than a whole piece of tile. If I'm forced to serve my enemy, I'll only preserve my purity with my life"?
First of all, she was not a chaste and virtuous woman; otherwise, she would not have been able to live to enter Zhao Yu's harem.

In fact, she had the blood of the philandering Meizang clan flowing through her veins, but she just didn't want to admit it.

What others didn't know was that when she saw Yelü Nanxian, Liang Damei, and Liang Xiaomei serving Zhao Yu in bed, she kept fantasizing about the scene when she would serve him in bed later, and how to cooperate with Zhao Yu.

Unfortunately, Zhao Yu did not give her that chance.

As a result, Princess Jin's situation worsened, and the Western Xia women around her gradually all left her, including her own women. They all went their separate ways to make a living.

At the same time, the number of women rising in Western Xia was increasing.

A new class system quickly formed within the Qunyu Palace.

The women of Western Xia, unwilling to be lowly palace maids, were all striving for their future.

Those stubborn Western Xia women were found and taken to the laundry quarters. It is said that if they remained stubborn, they would be assigned to the latrines, then to the cold palace, and finally to secret execution.

Princess Consort of Jin was afraid. She realized that the competition between women in the deep palace was far more cruel and ruthless than the sword fights on the battlefield.

As a result, Princess Jin, Lady Mozang, changed her ways. She actively contacted Yelü Nanxian, Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei, and even their confidants, hoping they could help her secure a chance to serve the emperor.

Before becoming a concubine of the Prince of Jin, Lady Cang followed the path of "preferring death to submission," "preserving purity to the death," and fighting against the Zhao Song Dynasty to the end. Neither Yelü Nanxian, nor Liang Damei and Liang Xiaomei dared to help her.

The key issue is that there are too many wolves and not enough meat. The qualification to serve the emperor is so precious that Yelü Nanxian, Liang Damei, and Liang Xiaomei are too busy fighting for it for their own confidants, so how could they possibly fight for it for her?

Helpless, Princess Jin, of the Nozang clan, could only dress herself up beautifully every day and stand among the Western Xia women who were waiting to be served by Zhao Yu, hoping to be chosen by him.

Fortunately, hard work pays off.

Just over ten days later, when Zhao Yu saw Princess Jin, Lady Meicang, again, he was immediately attracted by the pair of large breasts on her chest and chose her as his concubine.

Princess Consort Mozang of Jin did not make the same foolish mistake again. When she served Zhao Yu again, she used all her skills to please him.

It was only then that Princess Meizang of Jin was able to establish herself in Zhao Yu's harem and regain her status as a noblewoman.

The experiences of Consort Mozang of Jin and other Western Xia women who regained their wealth and status serve as a reminder to all Western Xia women that in Zhao Yu's harem, Zhao Yu was the master of their fate, the sole measure of their rise and fall. As long as they could win Zhao Yu's favor, they could manipulate events, reverse the tides, and rewrite their own destinies in this magnificent yet treacherous harem.

Therefore, the women of Western Xia went to great lengths to understand Zhao Yu's preferences, striving to please him in everything from clothing and mannerisms. They learned Han etiquette, played string and wind instruments, and even studied poetry and songs, all in the hope of touching Zhao Yu's heart in a chance encounter.

It wasn't just the women of Western Xia; the vast majority of the women in Zhao Yu's harem were like this.

It is no exaggeration to say that Zhao Yu was their everything.

For Zhao Yu, the women in his harem were only a part of his life, and a small part at that—a rather unimportant small part.

Zhao Yu knew very well that only if he was a good emperor would the women in his harem belong to him and would do their best to please him. If he lost his country like Zhao Ji, Zhao Huan, Yelü Yanxi, and Li Qianshun in the present, he would not know who these women in his harem would belong to.

Therefore, Zhao Yu only regarded his harem as a place to rest and did not waste too much energy on it.

Zhao Yu focused his energy primarily on governing the country.

He wanted to strive to build the Zhao Song Dynasty into a truly powerful empire, an unprecedented golden age, so that no one could shake its position.

It was based on this ideal that Zhao Yu devoted himself to the governance of the Song Dynasty, rising at dawn every day and resting late at night, working diligently without ceasing.

Three years passed in this way...

……

(End of this chapter)