The Fourth Master was actually not sad, just reflective.
In his life, there were many women.
But very few truly mattered to him. Zaozao was, of course, the most important one. He liked her, cared for her, and was willing for her to bear his children. He wished for her well-being.
Even if she always made him do things unbefitting of an Emperor, he happily obliged, as long as she was happy, everything was fine.
Even with her little temper, he only found it endearing, never annoying.
When she was unhappy, when she was not well, he too felt unhappy, not well.
So, upon entering the palace, he elevated Zaozao to Noble Lady, then step by step to her current status as Noble Consort.
But aside from Zaozao, there were also the Empress, Lady Li, and Lady Song.
Lady Song was the first woman to serve him, and had once birthed his children, though one died and another was never born.
