Furthermore, the emperor’s moods were erratic, and nearly every two weeks, he replaced the palace attendants. Without exception, all the previous attendants met their end.
As a result, no palace servant wanted to serve him, and even the concubines and maids who typically vied for his attention stayed away.
At that time, Emperor Chen personally brought a noble consort into the palace—this was the now-legendary Yan Empress of later generations.
According to historical records and later analyses, Emperor Chen reportedly fell in love with the prime minister’s daughter at a palace banquet and brought her into the palace as his noble consort.
The consort was frail and fell ill many times, nearly losing her life on several occasions. However, she had a fiery temper and supposedly insisted that if she was unwell, Emperor Chen should also be unwell. She would beat him until he fell ill, claiming that everyone should suffer together.
People joked that this might have been the first case of domestic violence.
Yan Qing: No, I didn’t!
But the noble consort was highly knowledgeable, with extensive expertise. Later, she actively participated in politics, saving oppressed farmers from dire situations and even solving long-standing flood issues. This earned her such respect that the criticism of a woman in politics faded entirely.
This paved the way for her smooth ascent to the empress, and even after her coronation, she openly attended court, leading to a co-rule with Emperor Chen. Yet, despite her power, the people never labeled her as a treacherous or disruptive figure.
Her life was legendary. In an era where men were superior, she shared a deeply impactful love with Emperor Chen and became the first woman to openly govern.
As the man behind Empress Yan, Emperor Chen also gained fame, with many admirers drawn by his devotion. For her, he dismissed his entire harem, bore all pressures to allow her to govern, and transformed from a leader uninterested in politics to one who diligently implemented her policies.
Such a man was truly remarkable!
Yan Qing: …History buries many things (lights cigarette).
In Empress Yan’s fan forum, many admirers and researchers gathered, but today was especially lively.
Historians had discovered a relic of Empress Yan—a dagger.
It was said that this dagger originally belonged to Emperor Chen, but after Empress Yan’s death, it was placed in their shared tomb. The dagger bore Empress Yan’s name: Yan Qing.
Interestingly, her name was engraved horizontally, with “Yan” on the left and “Qing” on the right, contrary to traditional writing customs and resembling modern practices.
This discovery sparked endless debate, trending on various platforms, with many converging on a single theory—she was a time traveler.
…
[In my opinion, Empress Yan must be a time traveler. How else could she know so much?]
[Agreed. After her arrival, Daqian’s development sped up, and many of her policies are uncannily similar to modern ones. She has to be from another era!]
[Whether she time-traveled is unprovable, but one thing is certain—she left an indelible mark on this world!]
[+1 to the above!]
[+ID number!]
The dagger wasn’t the only basis for this theory; Empress Yan’s policies exceeded the limits of her time.
Of course, not every policy succeeded. Some even had negative impacts, but she learned and adapted, even living undercover as a farmer for six months to understand how to implement her ideas better.
In Emperor Chen’s third year of rule, Empress Yan officially began governing, sparking the dynasty’s transformation and ushering in an era of prosperity. Her few failed decisions were forgiven, both in her time and by later historians.
However, Empress Yan did leave behind a single stain—her tendency toward domestic violence, making Emperor Chen one of the most emotionally mistreated emperors in history.
During the first two years of his reign, Emperor Chen faced many threats. His rule was unstable, the nation’s strength was waning, and the looming threat from the northern Mo territory added to the pressure.
Yet, he disregarded all that to enjoy his life.
Only when he met his beloved did he begin to change, becoming an example to later generations: marry someone you truly love.
His love for someone extraordinary inspired him to become extraordinary himself, sparing countless young people from arranged marriages.
After her rise to power, Empress Yan heavily promoted women’s involvement in politics. When no woman dared to be the first, she appointed her maid, Zhu Yin, who later became the famous General Yan Zhuyin.
With Zhuyin’s emergence, more women took their place in court. The civil service exams became open to both genders, encouraging talent regardless of gender. Men, feeling the pressure, also worked harder, leading to a surge of outstanding male officials.
Those with true ability didn’t suppress women to secure their positions but instead pushed themselves to excel.
That era was one of heroes. Talented men and women appeared on the battlefield, in court, and among the common folk.
It was a true golden age.
However, Empress Yan had only one child—a princess. She raised this daughter well, and after her, the princess instilled the same excellence in her children, allowing Daqian’s prosperity to continue for a thousand years and making it an unscalable peak in history.
It was said that Empress Yan suffered a significant injury early in life, passing away at just forty-five. On the day she died, the healthy Emperor Chen collapsed as well. People said he loved her so much that he couldn’t bear to live without her.
Research into the time reveals that by the age of thirty, Empress Yan had reached her peak of influence. Had she taken the throne, no one would have objected. But her deep bond with Emperor Chen kept her from doing so.
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152