novelhk Chapter 965 The women in the harem!
Chapter 965 The women in the harem!
Gao Yao's move was partly to save money and reduce the burden on the treasury; partly to reduce the administrative difficulties and disputes caused by the overcrowding of the harem, striving to create a relatively quiet and simple palace environment. These one hundred handmaidens, rigorously selected and trained, each performing their duties, were sufficient to maintain the normal operation of the palace with considerable efficiency.
As dusk deepened, the lights within the palace gradually lit up, like stars scattered among the jade-like buildings, illuminating this center of power with a solemn and mysterious aura. Under the respectful and efficient instructions of his personal maid, Yuexin, Gao Yao's harem, led by his wife, Lü Zhi, passed through the palace walls and converged on the study where Gao Yao conducted government affairs.
This procession itself was a miniature depiction of Gao Yao's current power and political landscape. Leading the charge was naturally Queen Lü Zhi, clad in a dark gown inlaid with a golden phoenix pattern and crowned with a pearl and jade hairpin. Her demeanor was dignified, her steps steady, and her expression imbued with the grace of a mother of the nation, yet also concealed a subtle shrewdness and sharpness. She was not only Gao Yao's legal wife but also the administrator of his inner court, her status and influence unmatched.
Following closely behind were several ladies who had followed Gao Yao the earliest and with whom he had the deepest emotional foundation.
Lü Su, Lü Zhi's younger sister, possessed a gentle and gentle disposition, a stark contrast to Lü Zhi's unyielding character. Her gaze toward the study was filled with pure dependence and tenderness, devoid of any political scheming.
Yu Shu, formerly Princess Tuan, possessed a stunning beauty, an exotic charm, and an ethereal aura. Her presence served as a testament to Gao Yao's early connections with surrounding factions. Xiao Yue, who, by chance, joined Gao Yao, became a key figure in the plot. Concubine Qi, a stunningly beautiful woman, skilled in singing and dancing, earned Gao Yao's favor with her gentle charm, becoming the epitome of beauty in the harem.
Further back, there are several concubines whose marriages clearly have strong political colors. Their existence directly reflects the expansion of Gao Yao's sphere of influence and diplomatic strategy.
Natasha, daughter of a duke from the distant Maurya Kingdom, possessed deep eyes, a prominent nose, and slightly curly brown hair, unlike that of women from the Central Plains. She was tall and voluptuous. Marrying her was Gao Yao's crucial signal of goodwill to the Western Regions and even more distant states, aiming to open trade routes, stabilize the western frontier, and absorb potential foreign culture and technology.
Tuerna, the granddaughter of the ancient chieftain of the Baiyue indigenous people, had a healthy tan. She adorned herself with tribal silver jewelry and feathers, and her eyes, wild and bright, carried the air of the mountains and forests. Taking her as a concubine was a key step in Gaoyao's policy of appeasement and integration of the Baiyue people, symbolizing respect for and acceptance of the local traditional power.
Nazha, the youngest daughter of the leader of the largest tribe in the southwestern Zhentuo region, was a delicate figure with the characteristic blush of a highland woman. She seemed somewhat shy, yet possessed a tenacious character. This marriage ensured stability in the southwestern region of the southern border and, through a tribal alliance, brought the power of Zhentuo under her wing.
These three women of different ethnicities, each with their own distinct beauty and figures, were undoubtedly of exceptional quality. However, Gao Yao's primary motivation for marrying them was far more than simply a lust for their beauty. More importantly, it served as a statement of the rise of a powerful regime in the south, one that was open, inclusive, and willing to peacefully coexist and develop with all forces. This gesture greatly facilitated Gao Yao's policies of ethnic integration, border trade, and cultural exchange, serving as political pawns in his grand ambitions. Their very presence was a silent political statement.
In addition, there are several ladies with special identities and backgrounds.
Dong Ju and Dong Xiang, sisters personally nurtured and brought to prominence by Gao Yao, were born daughters of the Qi nobility. Following the fall of their state, their family fell into poverty and they were unfortunately confined to the "Jiaosifang." This "Jiaosifang," though known under different names throughout dynasties, served the same purpose: to house the families of convicted officials or the wives of fallen nobles. These women often became playthings or slaves of the powerful, their lives at their mercy, their fates bleak and miserable.
The sisters wandered to the southern border, where they were discovered by chance by Gao Yao. Not only were they beautiful, but they had also received an aristocratic education, were well-educated, and had considerable accomplishments in music and dance. Furthermore, Gao Yao often visited them, and their relationship grew stronger. Eventually, they were able to escape from their lowly status and officially enter the harem. This was a rare opportunity, a testament to Gao Yao's partiality and reward for his personal trainees.
Among them, there is a woman with a rather special identity, Shen Ling.
Her father was Shen Yang, King of Henan, one of the former feudal lords. Shen Yang's rise to power epitomized the turbulent times of the late Qin Dynasty. Initially a prominent scholar and a favored official of Zhang Er, Prime Minister of Zhao, he leveraged this connection to rise to the brink of power. During the turbulent anti-Qin campaign, when Xiang Yu and Zhang Han met at Yinxu and the main Qin army surrendered, Shen Yang seized the opportunity, leading his troops to capture Henan and meet Xiang Yu's army southward on the banks of the Yellow River. His achievements earned him a position in the powerful Chu army.
When Xiang Yu divided the country and divided the country among the princes, he remembered Shen Yang's contribution in conquering Henan and welcoming the enemy, so he separated part of the territory that originally belonged to Han and established the Henan State. He named Shen Yang the King of Henan and made Luoyang the capital. Thus, Shen Yang jumped from a powerful minister to a prince who ruled a region.
However, good fortune did not last. After the fall of Qin II and Fusu's death in Xianyang, the empire descended into even greater chaos, with warring princes fighting among themselves. Shen Yang had also participated in the attack on Xianyang, joining forces with Xiang Yu, Wei Bao, and other princes, and returned to his fiefdom after the spoils were divided. However, his abilities were mediocre, and his military strategy and political skills were merely average, if not entirely lacking. His ascension to the throne was largely a matter of chance, a product of the times.
In the ensuing war of annexation, Wei Bao, whose power rapidly expanded, set his sights on his relatively weaker neighbor. Using a strategy of "driving away the wolf to devour the tiger," Wei Bao united with other vassal states with ambitions for Henan and easily overturned Shen Yang's already precarious rule. As the city fell, Shen Yang, by some chance, managed to escape his homeland in Henan, where he had held sway for years, accompanied by his family and close associates. Journeying southward, they journeyed through adversity, eventually arriving at Nanjun, a territory controlled by the newly victorious Southern Border Army, which commanded immense power across the south.
Although Shen Yang's abilities were mediocre, he still had a keen sense for politics. He was well aware that Gao Yao's Southern Border Army had been able to defeat a larger force with fewer troops, defeating over 300,000 elite Qin troops. Their strength should not be underestimated, and no one among the surrounding vassal states could rival them in the short term.
Taking refuge in Gaoyao was the best option for seeking refuge in troubled times, hoping for a comeback. His "letter of surrender" was also quite significant—not just his family and a small number of followers, but more importantly, he had in his mind detailed intelligence on the defenses of cities across Henan, troop deployments, the personalities and abilities of the defending generals, as well as the population, financial reserves, and other aspects of the region.