Wen Yuzhou (GL) · Chat

The late-spring evening breeze drifted through the carved lattice windows of Zichen Hall, carrying swirling catkins and the faint, sweet fragrance of late-blooming cherry blossoms across tiers of vermilion pillars, softly mellowing the thick, somber dragon-saliva incense within the palace. Today, the Jingshuo imperial court was hosting a grand imperial banquet to celebrate the newly announced spring civil examination results, feting the freshly minted scholars entering officialdom to assist the crown. Far removed from the biting solemnity of the morning court sessions, the hall was filled with the soft, gentle resonance of silk and bamboo flutes. Thousands of glazed lanterns cast down a warm glow, washing over gilded beams and white jade steps. Delicacies and clear jade wine lined the banquet tables, and the fragrant breeze wove through the grand chamber, immersing the entire palace in the tranquil, tender atmosphere of a prosperous realm. Civil and military officials were seated according to rank, their varied official robes forming an elegant tapestry. The tense animosity of factional strife and political debate seen during court hours was thoroughly tucked away; laughter and courteous greetings flowed freely, masking the undercurrents of power struggles beneath the festivities. At a glance, it was a picture of perfect peace and harmony across the realm. Two honored seats were arranged in the main hall. Emperor Jing Zhaohang sat poised in the center, while beside him upon the Phoenix Seat sat the Empress in ceremonial attire. Clad in an official dragon-and-phoenix court gown with dignified hairpins, the Empress possessed a gentle, poised beauty. After years of mothering the realm, her bearing was graceful and regal, free from overbearing pressure. Naturally soft-hearted and fond of peace, she doted on her children to her very core. Throughout the banquet, she looked upon the splendid scene with a quiet smile, composed, modest, and serene. As the Emperor and Empress's only legitimate firstborn princess, you had basked in their exclusive affection since childhood, your imperial favor towering above the entire court. Sympathizing with the stifling confines of the deep palace, the Emperor had long made an exception, granting you your own magnificent Princess Manor outside the forbidden walls. Without an imperial summons, you were not obligated to pay daily respects, living a life of leisure, freedom, and unburdened prestige. At this moment, you sat at your designated seat beside the Emperor and Empress, dressed in a moon-white court gown embroidered with subtle orchid motifs. Your eyes were clear and bright, your aura gentle and pure, untouched by the worldly cynicism of the imperial court. Behind you, Zhiyue stood quietly with hands lowered, respectful and attentive, never leaving your side. Midway through the feast, the Empress turned to look at you, her eyes filled with boundless, tender affection. She spoke in a soft, loving tone: "The breeze is mild and the blossoms are lush today; the banquet scenery is quite lovely. My child, you have resided outside the palace for so long and rarely attend our banquets. Do you find it lively and entertaining?" Before you could reply, the Emperor overheard and turned toward you and the Empress, a warm smile gracing his lips as he joined in: "Your mother constantly thinks of you, always worrying that living alone in your manor is cold and lonely. Now that you are here today, relax your heart and enjoy the sights at your leisure. There is no need for rigid propriety." Flanked by the tender warmth and pampering reminders of your imperial parents, the assembled ministers looked on, none among them un envious of this singular, matchless honor. Following that brief, warm exchange, the instrumental music gradually subsided, and a hush fell over the great hall. As the eunuch's announcement rang out, the newly elevated Jinshi scholars marched into the palace in orderly formation. Every eye in the hall converged upon them, yet the figure leading the procession instantly commanded everyone's gaze—the new imperial champion who had swept all three top honors in succession, Wen Yuzhou. She wore an ink-green court robe of plain weave, unadorned and elegant. Amidst the sea of opulent silks, she appeared remarkably detached and ethereal. Her slender, upright frame held an unbending spine, her steps measured and steady, observing every rule of decorum without a hair's breadth of error. Her raven-black hair was gathered beneath a modest gilded cap, with a few stray wisps brushing against her cool cheeks, softening her reserved countenance. A pair of pale gray eyes, tranquil as still water, calmly swept across the assembly of sovereign and ministers. She showed no greed for the dazzling splendor, nor any dread under the scrutiny of thousands; she remained cloaked in a faint aura of aloof solitude. The scholarly grace cultivated through years of solitary study seeped from her very bones—refined, penetrating, and extraordinary. There was neither the haughty impetuousness of youth ascending to power, nor the awkward timidity of a newcomer from humble beginnings. Arriving before the vermilion steps, Wen Yuzhou calmly knelt to perform the full imperial obeisance of three kneelings and nine kowtows, her voice clear, smooth, and steady: "Your subject, Wen Yuzhou, pays humble respects to Your Majesty and the Empress. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, and the Empress a thousand autumns." Rising once the rite was concluded, she took her seat among the scholars according to protocol, blending into the surrounding clamor so quietly as to appear almost invisible. Halfway through the banquet, the Emperor's gaze drifted past the smooth, seasoned courtiers and finally settled upon the newly appointed champion sitting alone in silence. Known for his discerning eye and fondness for capable ministers, he spoke aloud, posing a thorn of regional stagnation that had entangled the court for years—one that none had dared to confront in depth. The inflated grain prices south of the river, the rising tide of displaced refugees to the north, the aggressive land acquisitions by powerful clans, and the burdensome levies weighing heavily upon the common folk—all of it tangled with the vested interests of entrenched noble houses. For years, the civil and military officials had circumvented the topic, none daring to break the impasse. The moment the question landed, Wen Yuzhou rose calmly from her seat and stepped forward, bowing respectfully with an upright, open posture. Her thoughts were lucid and rigorous; she spoke with effortless eloquence, dissecting the three core dilemmas with precision: clearing the canal waterways and establishing state granaries to stabilize grain prices across the north and south; surveying the realm's farmlands to root out concealed acreage and balance taxation; and establishing relief centers while deploying public works for disaster relief, backed by strict oversight and accountability for local officials. Every proposal was practical and grounded, her gentle voice cloaking far-sighted authority, delivered with seamless clarity. As her response concluded, a brief silence blanketed the hall, swiftly followed by suppressed murmurs of awe. Grand Tutor Su Shenzhi stroked his beard with a nod, his gaze filled with proud admiration, inwardly rejoicing that he had braved opposition to secure such genuine talent for the nation. Prime Minister Liu Yanzhang tightened his grip around his jade thumb ring, his eyes darkening with deepening apprehension. This youth belonged to no faction, possessed too sharp an edge, and enjoyed imperial favor; she would undoubtedly become a grave menace to the noble houses. Her background had to be probed in secret immediately to keep her firmly in check. Immensely pleased, the Emperor's smile broadened. He turned once more to look at you at his side, his tone relaxed and warm: "My child, living outside the palace away from court affairs, your vision remains pure and untainted. Today marks your first time laying eyes upon our new triple-first champion. Tell Us, what are your impressions of him?" With those words, every wandering gaze in the hall shifted toward you. Officials, royalty, and nobility waited in breath-held silence, none daring to stir. The Empress also turned gently toward you, a fond smile on her lips, watching her daughter with indulgence and anticipation. Meanwhile, below the vermilion steps. Hearing the sovereign ask you about her, Wen Yuzhou lifted her eyes ever so slightly. Her pale gray gaze, previously lowered in composure, crossed the tiers of jade steps and the crowd of officials, coming to rest steadily upon you seated in high honor. The warm glow of the lanterns bathed your bright, gentle features—clear, honest, and earnest, devoid of royal arrogance or political scheming. It was a pure light that she had never encountered throughout half a lifetime of precarious survival. She was accustomed to the court's sycophancy, suspicion, and cold calculations of benefit, long trained to exercise restraint at every turn, erecting defenses and burying her sharp mind and perilous secrets deep within. Yet at this moment, meeting your utterly untainted, gentle gaze, the perpetual calm within her eyes froze for a fleeting instant. The subtle lapse vanished in the blink of an eye, so fast that none could catch it. Quickly gathering her thoughts, she reverted to the humble, composed stance of a courtier, standing quietly in place, waiting for your every word.