Sui Dynasty Court Secrets: Chronicles of Chinese Court Histories

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Features: It is said that Emperor Sui returned and left the palace. In the room, Empress Solo initially saw Emperor Sui entering with a concubine and wanted to show her usual lion-like, scolding Emperor Sui a few words. Now seeing Emperor Sui change color and leave, she couldn’t help but panic and quickly rushed outside to call him back. However, Emperor Sui misunderstood Empress Solo’s intentions, thinking she refused to let him go, so he hurriedly left. Fearing she might grab him and bother him endlessly, he quickened his pace and left Mei Hua Biyuan without looking back. Empress Solo followed behind, shouting, “Your Majesty, please come back. Don’t let a concubine harm the years of love between us!” But no matter how Empress Solo called, Emperor Sui paid no attention and hurriedly left Ren Shou Palace. Outside the palace gate, there was a horse. In a fit of anger, Emperor Sui didn’t care about anything and forgot his own importance, stepping onto the sunflower stirrup and mounting the horse. Whipping it, the horse galloped out of Donghua Gate and fled into the distance. The guards saw Emperor Sui riding alone at full speed without any attendants and were greatly alarmed. They went into the palace to report, and soon, Empress Solo heard the news and nearly fainted with worry. She never expected this confrontation to turn out this way. Empress Solo was indeed a heroic woman of great talent and courage. Knowing this, apart from Prince Yue of Yue and Grand Secretary Gao Ying, no one else could persuade Emperor Sui. She urgently ordered the eunuchs to summon both men and have them come to Ren Shou Palace immediately. Soon after, Yang Su and Gao Ying arrived. Entering Mei Hua Biyuan, they met Empress Solo and heard the news, both being greatly surprised. Yang Su comforted Empress Solo, saying, “Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress share a deep bond, and he won’t leave just because of a trivial matter. Please rest assured, and let me and Grand Secretary Gao go to bring Your Majesty back.” Empress Solo said, “We must act quickly. I hope you two will hurry.” Yang Su and Gao Ying left Ren Shou Palace, ordered two fine horses to be prepared, and galloped out of Donghua Gate, chasing after Emperor Sui who had fled into the distance. Amidst the rolling dust, the two horses galloped one in front of the other, their hooves flying like arrows. After about two or three dozen miles, Yang Su on the lead horse saw Emperor Sui riding slowly through the fields. He urged his horse forward and quickly overtook Emperor Sui, then reined in and dismounted. The two men approached Emperor Sui from both sides, his stirrups, and together asked, “Your Majesty, where are you going?” Then they knelt down. Seeing Yang Su and Gao Ying, Emperor Sui sighed deeply and said, “Please rise, but I no longer wish to go back.” Yang Su asked, “Why does Your Majesty feel so deeply that you’ve forgotten your duty to the state and ridden out alone on a light horse?” Gao Ying also said, “Think carefully. Don’t let a moment of anger make you treat your imperial position as nothing.” Emperor Sui lowered his head for a while and then said, “I am the Son of Heaven, yet I was fortunate to have a concubine. Empress Solo couldn’t tolerate it and even had Yuwei Zhen executed. Since ancient times, which emperor hasn’t had three palaces and nine consorts, enjoying companionship morning and evening? But I happened to meet this jealous woman, who constantly hinders me and leaves me no freedom at all. I’d rather be a farmer in the countryside and live freely.” Gao Ying sternly said, “Your Majesty is mistaken. You should think about the difficulties of gaining and maintaining your throne. How can you hold the world in such light regard just because of a woman? Please reconsider and return to the palace soon to avoid unsettling the people.” Emperor Sui listened and fell silent. By then, the sky was darkening, and tired 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 kept urging him, and finally, Emperor Sui reluctantly climbed into his carriage and returned to the capital.
As for Empress Solo, after Yang Su and Gao Ying left, she couldn’t sit still and was restless and troubled. Fearing Emperor Sui would take things seriously, she kept sending eunuchs and maids to report on the news. As the evening deepened, Emperor Sui and the others still hadn’t returned. Empress Solo waited at the gate, stretching her neck to listen for good news. Finally, at the time of the evening, an eunuch rushed in and reported, “Your Majesty has already entered the capital and is almost back to the palace.” Empress Solo finally breathed a sigh of relief and asked the eunuch, “Why did Your Majesty agree to return?” The eunuch then explained Yang Su and Gao Ying’s words. When Empress Solo heard Gao Ying say, “just because of a woman,” she was greatly displeased and deeply resented Gao Ying for belittling her, though she didn’t mention it at the time.
P150-151