Ever since the day she discovered her husband had been transferred away from the capital, Li Yuniang had anticipated that Emperor Jiande would seek her out again.
Thus, when the day finally arrived, Li Yuniang remained unruffled.
At worst, Emperor Jiande might succeed in his advances; if luck was on her side, she might escape unscathed. No matter what, Li Yuniang had never considered death—once dead, there would truly be nothing left.
On this day, Emperor Jiande chose a time when the Seventh Prince was absent and waited for her in the side chamber, as before.
In the early summer, Li Yuniang’s light clothing accentuated her full, curvaceous figure.
Emperor Jiande made no attempt to conceal his intentions. He beckoned Li Yuniang to massage his legs, and as she drew near, he impatiently seized her hand, pulling her forcefully upward until she tumbled into his embrace.
Li Yuniang did not resist, which pleased Emperor Jiande. He was in no hurry to take the final step. Holding her close, he gazed down at her and asked, "Why are you so obedient this time?"
Li Yuniang smiled and boldly pressed her lips to his.
Emperor Jiande had never encountered such a daring woman. Cupping the back of her head, he took control of the kiss. When the long, passionate embrace ended, he carried her to the daybed in the side chamber. Li Yuniang’s robes were in disarray, and seeing her so compliant, Emperor Jiande decided to take a pill while she was distracted.
Just then, Li Yuniang slipped out from under him like a nimble fish.
Emperor Jiande looked at her in confusion. At this point, surely she wasn’t going to claim reluctance?
Li Yuniang stepped off the daybed, standing barefoot on the floor. As she adjusted her clothing, she lifted her eyes to Emperor Jiande and asked softly, "Your Majesty, how does my kiss compare to those of the ladies in the palace?"
Emperor Jiande frowned. "What do you mean?"
Li Yuniang smiled. "Your Majesty hasn’t answered my question."
Amused by her charming demeanor, Emperor Jiande thought for a moment and replied, "There’s no difference."
Women were all much the same when kissed or held—though Li Yuniang’s unique status added a thrill of novelty.
Li Yuniang pressed further, "Then when Your Majesty holds me, do you find any part of me superior to the palace ladies?"
Emperor Jiande did not answer.
No matter how alluring Li Yuniang’s figure, the palace was not lacking in women more enchanting and voluptuous. His interest in her was not purely physical or aesthetic. Yet, he knew women enjoyed sweet words, and though he disdained lying to flatter her—she was no naive girl—he chose silence.
"What are you trying to say?" Emperor Jiande demanded, his gaze fixed on her.
Li Yuniang had already straightened her robes and rearranged her hair. Slipping on her shoes, she knelt on the floor and said, "Your Majesty, you regard me as a connoisseur of rare blooms who, upon spotting a wildflower, is tempted to pluck it for a closer look. But consider this: the wildflower’s appeal lies in its rarity, in how seldom you encounter it. Once you hold it in your hand and examine it thoroughly, you’ll find it holds no real marvel—its novelty lasts but a day or two before fading. Then, as you wander the garden anew, you may suddenly realize that right beside you...""These are all common cultivated flowers. Even the one wildflower has lost its freshness, making the garden dull again. Don’t you think it would have been better if you had never touched that wildflower, merely admired it from afar, preserving a sense of novelty and curiosity in your heart forever?"@Infinite Good Literature, all in Jinjiang Literature City
Emperor Jiande understood Li Yuniang’s meaning—she still had no intention of yielding to him and was using this reasoning to persuade him."
It had to be admitted, Li Yuniang’s words held some truth, but Emperor Jiande had his own methods.
He chuckled lightly and said, "There is more than one wildflower in the palace. Once I’ve plucked you and grown tired of you, I can always pluck another."
Li Yuniang laughed in response. "This humble woman dares not compare in beauty with the other noble consorts, but among the wildflowers in the palace, I dare say no one surpasses me. If Your Majesty insists on taking me today, I have no choice but to comply. However, I fear I can only offer Your Majesty a year or so of novelty. Once that time passes, it may be difficult for Your Majesty to find another wildflower to stir your interest."
Emperor Jiande fell silent.
Li Yuniang spoke softly, as if chatting casually. "Your Majesty, my family was poor when I was young. I only got to eat meat during the New Year, and back then, I thought meat was the finest thing in the world. I vowed that once I had money, I would eat meat with every meal. Later, my circumstances improved, and I could indeed eat meat every day. But when I could indulge freely, I found it was nothing special. Instead, the rare and expensive delicacies I’d heard about became the new 'finest things' in my heart."
"What we cannot have always seems the best. This applies not only to food but also to people. I once heard of a young man named Chen who was betrothed to a Miss Wu in his youth. Later, Chen’s family fell into decline, and Miss Wu’s parents broke off the engagement, refusing to let her marry him. Chen could not forget Miss Wu, believing she was the only woman in the world worthy of his devotion, and he found his new wife lacking in every way compared to her. As fate would have it, Miss Wu’s husband’s family encountered misfortune, and her own family refused to take her in. She ended up wandering the streets, and Chen took her in as a concubine. At first, Chen treated Miss Wu like a rediscovered pearl, paying no attention to anyone else. But as time passed, he realized she was no different from his wife. Within two years, Chen had found a new favorite concubine."
"Your Majesty, if you leave me untouched, I will forever remain the freshest wildflower in your heart. Whenever you think of me, your heart will stir. But if you take me, I will become just another ordinary woman in your harem. By then, if you wish to find someone who excites you anew, you may have to go to great lengths and invite gossip."
Emperor Jiande listened patiently. When Li Yuniang finished, he laughed and said, "Then what use are you to me if I keep you untouched, no matter how beautiful you are?"
Li Yuniang replied calmly, "That depends on Your Majesty’s goal. Do you seek momentary novelty or lasting freshness?"
Emperor Jiande looked at her and suddenly scoffed. "So, in the end, you simply don’t want to serve me and don’t want to betray Zhou Zhi."
Li Yuniang said, "This body is my own. Even if I give it to Your Majesty, how does that betray anyone else? If he cannot accept it, he need only write a letter of divorce."Emperor Jiande was taken aback, then chuckled wryly: "So you refused me not because you feared Zhou Zhi's anger, but simply because you don't wish to serve me?"
Li Yuniang remained silent in confirmation.
Suddenly curious, Emperor Jiande asked: "As the Son of Heaven, where do I fall short in your eyes?"
Li Yuniang replied: "Your Majesty is too promiscuous. This humble woman prefers a man devoted solely to her."
Emperor Jiande neither agreed nor disagreed - no emperor could avoid being promiscuous.
Half-jokingly, he said: "There are merits to being promiscuous. Perhaps one day you'll develop feelings for me."
Li Yuniang smiled: "If that day ever comes, I would divorce Zhou Zhi without waiting for Your Majesty's command, then come seduce you."
Emperor Jiande suddenly realized Li Yuniang was truly an extraordinary woman. Merely conversing with her brought him as much pleasure as intimate encounters.
When he left Yunhai Residence, the emperor was still smiling.
Li Yuniang, however, couldn't smile. The emperor's heart was unpredictable - while she had managed to change his decision with her reasoning today, she might not succeed next time.
Yet aside from improvising responses each time, Li Yuniang had no other recourse.
The Seventh Prince learned of Emperor Jiande's visit immediately upon his return.
"..."
When he saw Li Yuniang, the prince found himself at a loss for words.
Li Yuniang smiled reassuringly: "Your Highness need not worry, I can handle the situation for now. Should the day come when I bring disgrace to Your Highness's reputation, I will voluntarily take my leave."
If Emperor Jiande truly intended to sleep with her, Li Yuniang would request to leave Yunhai Residence rather than engage with the emperor while serving as the Seventh Prince's caretaker.
The prince felt his heart grow heavy.
He and his mother had implicated his wet nurse, yet not only did she not blame them, she even sought to protect his reputation.
The Seventh Prince didn't know what to say.
But he trusted Li Yuniang.
From then on, no matter how many times Emperor Jiande visited or how long he stayed at Yunhai Residence, as long as Li Yuniang continued serving him normally and didn't request to leave, the Seventh Prince never asked another question, not wishing to embarrass his wet nurse. Meanwhile, the prince devoted himself even more diligently to studies and martial arts, openly displaying his ambition for the crown prince position.
When the Seventh Prince was thirteen, Li Yuniang's husband Zhou Zhi died of illness in a distant land.
The prince received the news before Li Yuniang.
He dreaded facing his wet nurse - while she had been caring for him with utmost devotion, her husband had died because of his parents.
Yet he couldn't avoid it, not wanting his wet nurse to learn the tragic news from others.
As dusk fell, the prince summoned Li Yuniang and broke the news.
Li Yuniang hadn't seen her husband for two years. Since Emperor Jiande hadn't summoned her to his bedchamber during this time, she had hoped her husband might return after the three-year transfer period ended. Never had she imagined he would die ill in a foreign land, never to return.
Li Yuniang stood frozen. She knew she should respond to the prince, but words failed her. Memories flooded her mind - their first meeting, their wedding, their struggles together in the capital. If not for the warm tears tracing paths down her cheeks, she wouldn't have realized she was crying.
"I'm sorry. If not for me, you wouldn't have suffered all this," the Seventh Prince said, unable to bear watching her grief. He knelt before Li Yuniang, consumed by guilt.
His parents had given him life, but the woman who had raised him was the wet nurse standing before him.The Seventh Prince's kneeling jolted Li Yuniang out of her reverie. She hastily knelt herself and reached to help him up, weeping as she spoke: "Your Highness must not say such things. It was A'Fu's father who was fated to live a short life—how could it be Your Highness' fault? Please rise, or would you have me punished by the heavens for this?"
She possessed considerable strength and firmly helped the young prince to his feet.
The Seventh Prince's eyes reddened as he watched his wet nurse frantically wiping her tears. He wished to offer comfort but found himself powerless.
No words could mend what was broken, nothing could restore the wet nurse's family to wholeness.
When Consort Zhuang learned of Zhou Zhi's death, she bestowed gifts upon Li Yuniang, granted her six months' leave, and permitted her to bring her youngest daughter upon returning to the palace.
Li Yuniang left the palace and oversaw her late husband's burial with their children.
Her tears ran dry through the nights, while by daylight Li Yu managed household affairs with meticulous order and continued raising her children.
The eldest son was fourteen, the eldest daughter nine—both sensible beyond their years. With loyal old stewards and nurses attending them, they could care for each other in her absence. Only little A'Fu, just three years old with her wet nurse having returned home, weighed heavily on Li Yuniang's heart.
Thus, when the time came to return to the palace, Li Yuniang brought A'Fu with her.
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