Sui Dynasty Court Secrets - Chinese Dynastic Court Romances

Author: Zhang Xunzi / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-05-01
Features: It is said that the Emperor of Sui returned and left the palace. In the room, Empress Douguo initially saw the Emperor entering with the concubine, and she had intended to display her usual lion-like, scolding the Emperor a few words. Now, seeing the Emperor change color and leave, she couldn’t help but panic and quickly rushed outside to call him back. However, the Emperor misunderstood Empress Douguo’s intentions, thinking she refused to let him go, and hurriedly left. Fearing he might be pulled back, the Emperor quickened his pace and left Meihua Pavilion without looking back. Empress Douguo followed behind, shouting, “Your Majesty, please come back. Don’t let a concubine harm the bond of years between us!” But no matter how she called, the Emperor paid no heed and hurriedly left Renshou Palace. Outside the palace gates, there was a horse. In a fit of anger, the Emperor, blinded by rage and forgetting his own importance, mounted the horse without hesitation, whipped it, and the horse galloped out of Donghua Gate, fleeing into the distance. The guards, seeing the Emperor ride off alone without any attendants, were greatly alarmed and rushed into the palace to report. Soon, the news reached Empress Douguo, and she nearly fainted with anxiety. She never expected the situation to escalate so quickly. Empress Douguo was indeed a heroic woman of great talent and strength. Knowing this, she realized that only the Duke of Yue, Yang Su, and the Vice-Chancellor, Gao Ying, could persuade the Emperor back. She urgently ordered an eunuch to summon Yang Su and Gao Ying to the Renshou Palace at once. Soon after, both Yang Su and Gao Ying arrived. Entering Meihua Pavilion, they met Empress Douguo and, upon hearing the news, were equally shocked. Yang Su comforted Empress Douguo, saying, “Your Majesty and Your Majesty’s Empress share a deep bond, and it is unlikely he would leave over such a trivial matter. Please rest assured, and allow me and Vice-Chancellor Gao to go and bring him back.” Empress Douguo replied, “There’s no time to lose. I hope you two will act swiftly.” Yang Su and Gao Ying then left Renshou Palace, ordered two fine horses to be prepared, and galloped out of Donghua Gate, chasing after the Emperor as he fled. Amidst the swirling dust, the two horses galloped one in front of the other, their hooves flying like arrows. After riding for about twenty or thirty miles, Yang Su on the lead horse spotted the Emperor riding slowly through the fields. He urged his horse forward and quickly overtook the Emperor’s horse, then reined in and dismounted. The two men approached the Emperor from both sides, his horse reins, and together shouted, “Your Majesty, where are you going?” Then they knelt down. Seeing Yang Su and Gao Ying, the Emperor sighed deeply and said, “Please rise, but I no longer wish to return.” Yang Su asked, “Why does Your Majesty feel so deeply that you have forgotten your duty to the state and left in such a hasty manner on horseback?” Gao Ying added, “One must think carefully. Don’t let a moment’s anger make you treat your imperial position as nothing.” The Emperor lowered his head for a while, then said, “I am the Son of Heaven, yet I was fortunate to have a concubine, but Empress Douguo could not tolerate it and even had Yuwei Zheng executed. Since ancient times, which emperor has not had three palaces and nine consorts, enjoying companionship morning and evening? Yet I am cursed with this jealous woman, who constantly hinders me and denies me any freedom. I would rather be a farmer in the countryside and live freely.” Gao Ying sternly replied, “Your Majesty, you are mistaken. You should reflect on the hardships of gaining and maintaining your throne. How can you value a woman over the entire empire? I beg you to reconsider and return to the palace at once to avoid unsettling the people.” The Emperor listened in silence, deep in thought. By then, the sky had darkened, and birds were returning to their nests. The officials in the city had prepared their carriages and were waiting to greet him. Yang Su and Gao Ying repeatedly pleaded with the Emperor, who finally reluctantly climbed into his carriage and returned to the capital.
As for Empress Douguo, after Yang Su and Gao Ying left, she couldn’t sit still and was in a state of restlessness and anxiety. Fearing the Emperor might take the matter seriously, she continuously ordered palace attendants to report on the news. As the evening grew darker, the Emperor and Yang Su still had not returned. Empress Douguo waited at the gate, stretching her neck to listen for good news. Finally, at the sixth hour of the evening, an attendant rushed in and reported, “Your Majesty has already entered the capital and is nearly back in the palace.” Empress Douguo breathed a sigh of relief, half at ease, and asked the attendant, “Why did Your Majesty agree to return?” The attendant then explained Yang Su and Gao Ying’s words in detail. Upon hearing Gao Ying’s remark about “valuing a woman over the state,” Empress Douguo was greatly displeased and resented Gao Ying for belittling her, vowing to hold him accountable.
P150-151