Chapter 263: Chapter 263
"Your Highness, you haven't eaten for most of the day. Please have something! Today we have your favorite fragrant fruit sweets! Your Highness..."
As the setting sun cast its glow, anxious pleas from palace attendants continuously sounded outside the room.
Staring fixedly at the noticeably smaller hands, An Ning buried her head completely in the quilt, mimicking the original body's mannerisms, before beginning to receive this body's memories.
Starting as a princess? An Ning paused momentarily in surprise—this was actually her first time encountering such a beginning. Yet when she remembered exactly which princess this was, all trace of relief vanished instantly.
Prress Fukang, eldest daughter of Emperor Renzong of Song. Yes, that very same eccentric emperor who married off his own daughter to her paternal uncle to bestow favor upon her maternal family.
It must be understood that according to Song Dynasty marriage laws, uncles and nieces were prohibited from marrying.
To make matters worse, he was also described as dull and wooden-natured.
Meaning none among the scholarly officials of the time knew of his supposed talents.
Even the "Xuanhe Painting Catalog," which passionately collected and lavishly praised Northern Song imperial family members and royal affiliates, included only two of this man's "paintings."
Considering that the average artist featured in the "Xuanhe Painting Catalog" had about twenty works included—with Prince Consort Wang Shen alone having thirty-five paintings selected, and even the relatively obscure imperial clan member's wife Lady Cao having five works chosen...
It seemed this "talented scholar" was exceptionally modest indeed! So reluctant to display his abilities!
One might wonder how such "modest" talents ever became known at all?
Truthfully, this utterly dreadful marriage arrangement would have driven even an unpopular or overlooked princess to despair—let alone the original occupant of this body!
As Renzong's only surviving child for over a decade, Fukang enjoyed exceptional favor within the palace, receiving only the finest provisions and treatment.
Yet despite this, she was still treated as a reward—even a commodity—for "bestowing favor upon her maternal family."
When the marriage was arranged just days ago, the original host was merely nine years old. This uncle was also an illegitimate son born to a vulgar birth mother.
An Ning didn't look down upon illegitimate children themselves, but such status typically represented a more complex and unpleasant environment, even among family members.
Clearly, this "prince consort" was no exception.
How they doted on their daughter—what a complete joke!
And yet, later generations actually tried to justify this by claiming Renzong married his mentally ill daughter into the Li family because he had no heirs and feared for her after his death!
An Ning couldn't help but scoff inwardly.
Yes, the original host did indeed suffer from mental illness—a hereditary condition in the Zhao family line. But according to both historical records and the host's memories, the first episode didn't occur until her teens. Besides, while mental illness may have genetic factors, it's clearly influenced by environment.
Just ask yourself: which is more likely to trigger mental illness—constant depression and anxiety, or daily happiness? The answer should be obvious to anyone.
Furthermore, Renzong was only in his thirties at this time, and had continued to have princes and princesses born over the years. Though none survived, he clearly hadn't abandoned hope for future heirs.
Worried about his daughter? So worried that he betrothed a nine-year-old girl to an ugly, dull-witted uncle? Even historical records clearly state this was about compensating and favoring her maternal family, yet some would call it a father's heartfelt concern for his daughter...
What's the earliest historical record about Princess Fukang?
The History of Song records: "The princess was alert and intelligent from childhood, pure and filial by nature. When the emperor fell ill, she attended at his side, barefoot and with loosened hair, pleading to heaven to let her suffer in his place."
That is, when her father was ill, she personally attended him, even going barefoot with unbound hair to pray to heaven, willing to bear his suffering herself.
One must understand how seriously ancient people took such vows. How could such a young girl offer to suffer in her father's place, to give her life for his?
Such an obedient, filial daughter ultimately being driven to such a state...
Everyone at the time despised her for disregarding propriety, behaving recklessly, knocking on palace gates at night, acting like a madwoman—yet no one considered who actually created that madness.
They drive someone to insanity, then hypocritically ask why she's gone mad?
And this was the treatment given to an only daughter of over ten years. Compare this to Yu Ludai's treatment as an only daughter, then look at the original host's situation...
Especially since the original host had struggled to escape, finally achieving a separation, only to be pushed back into that nightmare by her own imperial father's decree. A princess of an entire dynasty ended up neglected and forgotten, scalded by charcoal fire on a cold winter day, her bed crawling with lice when she died...
Just thinking about the original host's miserable condition before death, even An Ning couldn't help feeling boundless rage rising within.
As she pondered, accompanied by creaking sounds, a woman had somehow reached the bedside. With practiced movements, she uncovered the bedding wrapped around her daughter, calling softly:
"Nannan!" (affectionate term for little girl)
Her vision suddenly cleared.
The woman before her wore a peach-red undergarment with peony-patterned crimson silk wide sleeves over it. Every movement exuded charm and beauty—this was the birth mother, Lady Miao, from the original host's memories.
Seeing who it was, An Ning's eyes instantly welled with tears:
"Jiejiejie..." (According to Song palace rules, children addressed their birth mother as "older sister")
Seeing her only treasured daughter , Lady Miao's heart clenched instantly, and she immediately pulled her into an embrace.
"It's alright, Nannan, don't worry. I'll beg your father, and your Auntie Yu too. We definitely won't let my daughter marry such a vulgar man."
"Definitely not... Nannan..."
Lady Miao kept repeating, her usually somewhat domineering and flamboyant demeanor now tinged with gloom.
"Father's imperial decree has been issued. How can he break his word? It's useless..."
This was exactly why the original host had completely broken down!
"My precious Nannan!"
The room periodically echoed with the heartbroken sobs of mother and daughter. After a long while, An Ning finally seemed to have cried herself to exhaustion, collapsing in her mother's arms.
"Jiejiejie, I don't want to learn music anymore. I want to learn archery, and I want to practice martial arts..."
"Father... *hic*... has already abandoned me. From now on, I need to protect myself, and protect Jiejiejie..."
Gazing vacantly at the roof beams, An Ning almost whispered these words.
In this era, women were expected to be accomplished in various arts—flower arrangement, incense appreciation, pursuing elegant pursuits. Young women of respectable families simply didn't practice archery, let alone formally study martial arts. Yet seeing her dear daughter in such a state, and never having been particularly conventional herself, Lady Miao immediately nodded.
"Nannan, don't be afraid. I'll go beg the official right now..."
Perhaps out of guilt, or fearing something might happen to his daughter who refused to eat, the next day an exquisitely carved wooden bow along with numerous arrows appeared beside An Ning.
Worried she might do something drastic, palace servants almost constantly attended nearby.
Not that An Ning minded in the slightest.
Carefully polishing the bow and arrows in her hands, a dark glint unconsciously flashed in An Ning's eyes.
The system: Somehow, I have a bad feeling about this.
Whenever their host got , it always felt uneasy...