I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 357 Draft Controversy
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In the imperial city of Bianliang (Kaifeng), the capital of the Song Dynasty, a long pavilion stretched for miles, and thirty to forty thousand beautiful young women from various prefectures and counties gathered there. Like peach blossoms blooming all over the mountains in spring, they suddenly appeared on the square in front of Xuande Tower, creating a chaotic and dark mass.

With Zhao Yu's approval, and under the personal supervision of Cai Jing, the Ministry of Revenue first clarified the scope of candidates for this year's imperial concubine selection.

Specifically, the list of eligible women from Han Chinese noble families and gentry, aged ten to twenty, without disabilities or marriage records, and who were virgins, was compiled by local officials and reported to the Ministry of Revenue level by level.

This step first excludes women who do not meet the required identity and age criteria to ensure that they are of good character and background.

Later, to avoid complaints from other ethnic minorities, Emperor Zhao Yu and his ministers discussed the matter and granted a total of one thousand more places to nobles from other ethnic minorities.

The imperial court stipulated that all women from outside Beijing participating in the selection would have their transportation, food, and lodging arranged by the Ministry of Revenue, and would arrive in Beijing before the selection, where they would gather with the women from the capital in front of Xuande Gate.

The escort officers from each prefecture held yellow registers and checked off their posts in turn according to the route. Amid the rustling sound of the registers being turned, the soft Wu dialect of women from Jiangnan, the clear voices of girls from Sichuan, the cheerful responses of girls from the Central Plains, and the languages ​​of various ethnic minorities intertwined.

Most of them were somewhat timid, wearing colorful silk robes, while only a small number wore whitewashed fine cloth skirts.

Upon closer inspection, it's easy to see that their eyes held a mixture of bewilderment and anticipation towards the palace.

As dawn broke, the girls lined up in dozens of long rows according to their height.

At noon, officials from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau arrived at the front of the formation with compasses and selected the "southeast Xun position" as the starting point.

With the sound of a gong, the first group of fifty girls stepped forward with small, delicate steps.

Each of them held a "green plaque" (a wooden plaque with their name, age, ethnicity, and family background written on it) and waited to enter the palace.

The girls entered the palace in batches and were examined one by one by Zhao Yu, Meng Xiang, Liu Qingjing, Zheng Xiansu, Wang Yisu, Guo Ting, Zhang Chun, Li Lin, and others. During the examination, only their appearance, figure, and behavior were considered. If a girl was deemed suitable, she would be given a green plaque ("keep the plaque"). If she was not chosen, she would be sent home and allowed to marry as she pleased.

The girls whose names are "retained" must re-enter the palace for a more detailed examination, including tests of their talents (such as needlework and etiquette), family background, and, for those from ethnic minorities, a test in Mandarin. This stage further filters out those who do not meet the requirements.

The three sisters, Zhu Lian, Zhu Xuan, and Zhu Fengying, easily advanced to the semi-finals thanks to their outstanding looks and talents.

Those who passed the second round of selection were divided into two categories according to Zhao Yu's wishes: one category was directly brought into the harem and became Zhao Yu's women; the other category was betrothed to princes or members of the imperial family. Those who were not selected and retained would still be "dismissed" and allowed to leave the palace to marry.

The core of the entire process was "selecting the best to serve the royal family," which ensured the superior bloodlines of the harem and the imperial family, and also consolidated the Zhao family's rule through family background selection. Although the selection of concubines may seem like a small matter, it was one of the important means of maintaining the rule.

After rounds of selection, out of 30,000 to 40,000 women, only 4,000 Han girls and 1,000 girls from ethnic minorities remained.

It goes without saying that a thousand ethnic minority girls directly entered Zhao Yu's harem.

It is said that Zhao Yu personally selected 3,000 of the more than 4,000 Han girls to fill his harem, and used the remaining 1,000 to marry off to his sons, including the sons of Zhao Bi, Zhao Ji, Zhao Si, and Zhao Si.

It was precisely because of this that Zhao Yu's mischievous sons and Zhao Si's second son, Zhao Youzhong, climbed the bell tower of the Imperial Academy, took out a telescope, and secretly watched the selection process.

Honestly, this is quite normal for teenagers.

During puberty, adolescents experience dramatic hormonal changes, which naturally spark curiosity about the opposite sex. This curiosity is not a mature emotion, but rather a desire to explore the appearance, behavior, and even lifestyle of different genders.

Talent shows bring together a large number of girls of similar age or slightly older or younger, and the special setting (related to royalty and the court) makes them a perfect vehicle for this desire for exploration. By observing through binoculars, they are essentially trying to satisfy their naive questions about "what the opposite sex is really like" and "how these girls are different from the people around them," much like the instinctive exploration that comes with physiological development, just like curiously flipping through the unknown content of extracurricular books.

Furthermore, adolescents are in a stage of breaking free from adult constraints and establishing self-awareness, and they naturally develop a desire to challenge things they cannot do.

“The royal selection is a major event, and watching it in private is not allowed”—this “taboo” will actually pique their interest.

Climbing the clock tower and observing the talent show with a telescope is more like a small adventure: it can give you a sense of accomplishment by successfully avoiding constraints, and it can also prove to your peers (such as brothers and cousins) that you are brave and not timid. In essence, it is a childish but normal way of building self-identity during adolescence by breaking small rules, testing your own boundaries and seeking peer approval.

The talent show is also associated with special scenarios far removed from daily life, such as emperors and royal marriages. For teenagers whose social circles are relatively fixed, this scenario is inherently attractive. They are not only observing the girls, but also yearning for and identifying with "things in the palace" and "royal life"—imagining whether they will experience similar scenarios in the future, or simply being interested in novel things that are not of the ordinary.

This mentality is similar to how teenagers gather to discuss martial arts stories and historical legends; it stems from curiosity about a world beyond everyday experience. Talent shows provide a unique, observable, and concrete setting, giving their aspirations a foothold.

In short, this type of behavior in adolescents is the result of a complex interplay of three factors: curiosity about the opposite sex arising from physical development, a desire for challenge during self-construction, and a yearning for specific scenarios. They do not have complex utilitarian motives; rather, it stems from pure psychological needs unique to adolescence. Therefore, it is entirely consistent with the behavioral logic of this age group and is considered normal.

However, although these young women were actually about the same age as the princes, most of them would become Zhao Yu's concubines, that is, their "mothers".

If viewed from this perspective, the matter has completely crossed the line of ethics—the teenagers' innocent desire to explore collided with the "hierarchical order" defined by imperial power, instantly transforming from normal adolescent curiosity into an unconscious offense against royal ethics.

Once girls of their age were brought into the harem, their status as "princes" and "concubines" was firmly fixed by the imperial power. Even if the age difference was small, the gap in seniority could not be ignored.

The princes may not understand this heavy relationship and only observe the opposite sex based on instinct. However, from the perspective of ethics, the object of their "peeping" has already been given an insurmountable status attribute by the imperial power, which makes the originally pure adolescent behavior shrouded in the embarrassment and error of ethical misalignment under the imperial system.

Therefore, upon learning of this matter, the officials of the Imperial Academy felt that the situation was somewhat thorny and did not know how to handle it, or even whether they should handle it at all.

Those who advocated punishment spoke sternly: "This is no trivial matter! The princes are the heirs of the imperial family and should strictly adhere to the established order. The bell tower of the Imperial Academy is not a place for frivolous pursuits, and the grand selection ceremony should not be spied upon. Now, someone has used a telescope to secretly observe the candidates. Even if he is young, the one he is spying on may be the future stepmother or the wife of the imperial clan. This is the beginning of disorder! If he is not punished, he may become even more presumptuous in the future. How can we uphold the dignity of the imperial family and demonstrate the proper etiquette to the world? We should petition His Majesty to punish him by confining him to his quarters for three months to reflect on his mistakes and study the Book of Rites one hundred times to clarify the order of rank!"

Some advocated for leniency, saying, "The princes are still very young, at a time when their hearts are just beginning to stir with emotions and their childlike hearts are still intact. They are unaware of the ethical complexities behind the selection of concubines; they are only interested in the fun of observing people and the danger of breaking the rules. It is purely youthful mischief, not a sign of rebellion. When Emperor Zhao of Han was the crown prince, he also played with palace women, and Emperor Wu never severely reprimanded him. If we make a big fuss about this now, it will only harm the princes' nature, and I'm afraid His Majesty, considering the bond between father and son, may not approve the request. It would be better to send the Grand Tutor to privately admonish them, letting them know that this matter is inappropriate. Why make a big fuss?"

There was also someone trying to smooth things over, who slowly said, "To punish too severely might discourage the princes from studying; to pardon too leniently might undermine the rules of propriety. In my opinion, we can proceed in two steps: First, summon the princes' tutors to their residences, subtly implying that the Imperial Academy is aware of the matter, and explain the principles of 'distinction between seniority and respect for grand ceremonies,' prompting them to reflect on their actions; second, the Imperial Academy should not submit a memorial to the throne for the time being, but wait to observe the princes' subsequent behavior—if they behave well afterward, then let bygones be bygones; if they still act frivolously, then we can jointly petition His Majesty for a decision. This way, we can preserve the dignity of the royal family without violating the rules of propriety, which is the proper approach."

No matter is trivial in the royal family, especially when it involves princes and etiquette, leading to endless arguments among the officials of the Imperial Academy.

Those who advocated severe punishment slammed their fists on the table, bringing up the old precedent from the previous dynasty that "princes who misbehaved must be corrected," saying that if they tolerated peeping today, they would dare to disregard rank and status tomorrow.
Those who advocated leniency waved their hands anxiously, repeatedly saying, "His Majesty is the most lenient of men. How could he be truly angry over a child's matter? If he were to punish him, it might anger the Imperial Academy."

The centrists tried to smooth things over by suggesting that someone be sent to sound out Zhao Yu's opinion, but this was immediately refuted by both factions. The faction advocating for severe punishment accused this of "favoritism and fear of superiors," which they said was a breach of the integrity of officials who uphold the law. The faction advocating for leniency, on the other hand, feared that the news would leak out and give the princes a reputation for being "monitored."

A group of people couldn't convince each other.

Finally, Qin Hui, the head of the Imperial Academy, suggested, "Why don't we invite some of the most respected princes and members of the imperial family from the Imperial Academy to handle this matter?"

Upon hearing this, all the officials of the Imperial Academy had their eyes light up.

Qin Hui's move was indeed brilliant, directly resolving the predicament of the Imperial Academy officials.

The princes studied at the Imperial Academy, and in principle, the Academy should have been in charge of them. However, due to their status as imperial relatives, the Academy was in a dilemma: punishing them too severely might offend the imperial authority, while punishing them too lightly would result in accusations of dereliction of duty.

However, delegating these matters to the highly respected princes and relatives within the Imperial Academy is tantamount to transferring the "hot potato" to a different owner. These respected princes and relatives, being of the same royal family as the offending princes and relatives, are familiar with royal rules and are not as constrained as the officials of the Imperial Academy. They can handle the situation while maintaining the dignity of the royal family and adhering to proper etiquette. More importantly, this move completely absolves the Imperial Academy of any blame. Whether the highly respected princes and relatives ultimately punish the offending prince severely, grant leniency, or handle the matter in a compromise manner, the decision rests with the royal family. Outsiders cannot find fault with the Imperial Academy for "favoritism" or "strictness." The Imperial Academy only needs to cooperate, avoiding the awkward situation of being "caught between a rock and a hard place."

For those highly respected princes and members of the imperial family, this was also a real test. If they could handle this matter well, it would mean that they could balance "family ties" and "propriety," and they could also use this incident to establish a reputation for "fairness and prudence" within the imperial family, paving the way for their future participation in more important state affairs.

Soon, a group of officials from the Imperial Academy adopted Qin Hui's idea.

Some people added that the number of these highly respected princes and relatives should not be too large, otherwise the matter might not be able to be contained.

After discussion, everyone agreed that the three of them were the best choice. If their opinions differed, they could still vote on the matter.

After discussion, the officials of the Imperial Academy selected two of the most respected princes and one of the most respected members of the imperial clan who were currently in the academy.

These two princes were Zhao Kai, the fifth son of Zhao Yu, and Zhao Gou, the eldest son of Zhao Yu, born to Consort Wei.

That relative was Zhao Huan, the only son of Prince Duan, Zhao Ji.

Zhao Kai needs no further explanation.

He is now the eldest of all the princes in Bianliang, the capital of the Eastern Capital.

Moreover, his mother was Wang Yisu, one of Zhao Yu's most favored concubines and Empress Zheng's best friend.

Crucially, many years ago, Zhao Kai, along with Crown Prince Zhao Shou and Fourteenth Prince Zhao Cheng, participated in the imperial examination and passed with flying colors.

In addition, Zhao Kai has been studying hard all these years. Unlike many of Zhao Yu's sons who were good at both literature and martial arts, he focused on literature, which made him a man of great talent and literary brilliance.

To put it simply, if one were to choose the prince most favored by scholars among Zhao Yu's sons, it would undoubtedly be Zhao Kai.

Furthermore, Zhao Kai was already a student of the Upper Academy three years ago. Now, Zhao Kai is not studying at the Imperial Academy, but serving as an instructor. He is definitely the prince with the highest status in the Imperial Academy.

Let's talk about Zhao Gou.

Under the tutelage of his mother, Consort Wei, Zhao Gou became skilled in both literature and martial arts, possessing both courage and wisdom.

Zhao Gou was intelligent and quick-witted, learned and had a strong memory. He could recite more than a thousand words a day and studied music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, especially excelling in calligraphy. He also practiced martial arts and possessed superhuman strength, able to draw a bow with a strength of 1.5 shi (a unit of weight), reaching the level of sacrificing one's life (1.3 shi) in martial arts.

After Zhao Gou left the palace, he did not go to the Imperial Academy to study, but instead went to the Military Academy to further his studies.

Later, when war broke out in the north, Zhao Gou was one of the first princes to go north to fight the enemy and defend the country.

Crucially, in a recent battle, Zhao Gou led his army to reinforce the city and encountered a main force of the Jin army.

Zhao Gou led from the front, achieving a victory against overwhelming odds, defeating the Jin army, and greatly enhancing the prestige of the Song Dynasty, especially the imperial family.

Unfortunately, after the war, Zhao Gou was seriously injured and was summoned back to the capital by Zhao Yu to recuperate.

Zhao Gou dared not disobey the imperial decree and obediently returned to Bianliang, the capital of the Song Dynasty.

However, Zhao Gou did not waste time in his own residence. Instead, he took advantage of his time recuperating to study at the Imperial Academy.

From any perspective, Zhao Gou was an exceptionally outstanding son of Zhao Yu.

Finally, let's talk about Zhao Huan, who was Emperor Qinzong of Song in history.

Although Zhao Huan was not Zhao Yu's son, but Zhao Ji's son, no one expected that Zhao Huan's reputation was in no way inferior to Zhao Yu's sons, even Zhao Yu's most outstanding sons.

Zhao Huan's core reputation was based on "benevolence, filial piety, frugality, and acceptance of advice." He was seen as a model gentleman, and even a model heir apparent, by the scholar-official class.

In stark contrast to his father Zhao Ji's extravagance, Zhao Huan was extremely frugal.

Moreover, Zhao Huan's frugality was not a deliberate show, but a constant in his daily life. His attendants once suggested that he purchase exquisite items, but he refused them all, stating clearly: "The national treasury is already tight, how can I bear to be extravagant?"

Zhao Huan also repeatedly reduced the number of his personal entourage and handed over the surplus treasures and silks in his palace to the national treasury to subsidize military supplies or provide disaster relief.

Zhao Huan also strictly prohibited his eunuchs and attendants from soliciting money in his name, and severely punished those who violated the rules to eliminate corruption.

Zhao Huan was also particularly good at listening to different opinions, and he especially valued criticism of the abuses of the court.

This led the scholar-official class to place high hopes on Zhao Huan.

Zhao Huan even took the initiative to seek "unpleasant advice" and met with Zhao Yu.

Even on "minor matters," Zhao Huan would listen to advice: Once, because of the hot weather, he had his servants plant several precious flowers and trees in his home. An official advised him, "The people are suffering from famine, and it is not appropriate for a prince to indulge in pleasure." He immediately ordered the flowers and trees to be removed and publicly apologized, saying, "I am ashamed before the remonstrating official, and I will be more careful in the future."

Zhao Huan was not protective of his own; he would never tolerate any mistake made by any of his subordinates, no matter who it was.

Zhao Huan was not only filial, but also compassionate towards the common people and scholars.

This caused great regret among the scholar-official class. They privately said that if Zhao Huan had been Zhao Yu's son, he would have been the best crown prince. Some even believed that Zhao Huan had the qualities of a wise ruler and felt regretful that he could not compete for the throne from Zhao Yu.

To put it simply, Zhao Huan's reputation among the scholar-official class was almost no less than that of Zhao Kai.

The officials at the Imperial Academy were skilled at selecting people.

With the three princes and relatives of the imperial family, Zhao Kai, Zhao Gou, and Zhao Huan, taking action, they will surely be able to deter those princes and relatives who have made mistakes.

Zhao Kai and his two companions did not disappoint the officials of the Imperial Academy. Upon learning that someone had dared to commit such a treasonous mistake, they immediately agreed to deal with the princes and relatives who had erred...

……

(End of this chapter)