No sooner had Zhao Hede thrown herself into the lake and died than they were editing videos on their computers.
They posted them on various websites and forums, letting like-minded individuals who enjoyed this kind of content engage with it.
With Zhao Hede's death, Wang Zhengjun and Fu Yao entered their final showdown. Wang Zhengjun emerged slightly victorious, securing her position as the Grand Empress Dowager, but at the cost of losing everything.
Her husband didn't love her, her son was rebellious and died young, and her devoted admirer, Xiao Yu, also died for her. In the end, she gained nothing but a magnificent, cold phoenix coronet, symbolizing her position as the empress.
Jiang Ling watched the entire drama without skipping a single episode, feeling a complex mix of emotions.
To be honest, "Queen of Condor Heroes" was a good drama, with excellent production and a well-chosen cast.
It's just that the protagonist, Wang Zhengjun, had such a terrible character, being both overly saintly and utterly incompetent, which made viewers feel suffocated.
The only aspect that captivated the audience was the sisters Zhao Feiyan and Zhao Hede.
In her previous life, Jiang Ling would also fast-forward directly to the part where the Zhao sisters entered the palace when watching this drama.
When filming Zhao Hede's scenes, Wang Jianzhong once told her that the most exciting part of the late Western Han Dynasty history occurred after Zhao Hede's death.
With Emperor Ai's ascension, history saw an unprecedented "Four Palace Dowagers."
Throughout over two thousand years of imperial history, while it was common for empresses dowager to hold co-existing titles, there were usually only two: the emperor's adoptive mother and biological mother. Three empresses dowager holding titles together was exceedingly rare.
However, during Emperor Ai's reign, there were simultaneously four empresses dowager.
These four empresses dowager were: Wang Zhengjun, the great paternal grandmother, who held the title of Grand Empress Dowager; Zhao Feiyan, the great paternal aunt and the former Empress consort of the late Emperor, who upon the new Emperor's enthronement, immediately became Empress Dowager.
The other two were: Fu Yao, Emperor Ai's paternal grandmother, who was honored by her grandson as the Imperial Empress Dowager (a variation of Grand Empress Dowager); and finally, Ding Ji, his biological mother, who was also enfeoffed by her son as Imperial Empress Dowager (a variation of Empress Dowager).
These four empresses dowager, all widowed, couldn't stand each other and were constantly embroiled in palace infighting.
If it were an empress and consorts engaging in palace struggles, the emperor could still use his authority to exert control, killing or deposing those who deserved it.
However, these four empresses dowager were all elders to him. Forget about bestowing death or deposing them; even a slight disrespect, coupled with the label of "filial piety," could cause immense trouble for the emperor.
There was no other option but to placate these four formidable figures.
Emperor Ai, caught between the four empresses dowager, suffered immensely and was overwhelmed.
Perhaps the constant bickering of the four empresses dowager made the inner palace so chaotic that it caused Emperor Ai psychological trauma.
Over time, Emperor Ai lost interest in women and became infatuated with the fair-skinned, handsome youth Dong Xian. Not only did this lead to the idiom "broken sleeve," but he even considered following the examples of Yao and Shun and passing the throne to Dong Xian.
The infighting of the Four Palace Dowagers, the emperor's disinterest in the empire and women, his love for a handsome youth, and Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han dynasty.
What excellent material for creation! If it were filmed, it would surely be a massive hit.
Wang Jianzhong also wanted to film this part, but the General Administration of Press and Publication's censorship was too strict.
Zhao Hede's affection for her sister Zhao Feiyan could be explained as deep sisterly love, allowing for some suggestive content.
But the homosexual relationship between Emperor Ai and Dong Xian was a fact written into history textbooks. How could such a sensitive subject possibly pass censorship?
The sisterly bond between Zhao Feiyan and Zhao Hede became a topic endlessly discussed by countless netizens.
Seeing this, Jiang Ling and Yaya tacitly interacted with each other on Weibo.