Fortune does not come twice. Misfortune does not come alone.*

As Jiayi mixed the medical paste for Xiang gui ren's wound, the phrase wouldn't leave her head. His Majesty doted on Xiang gui ren. How could Jiayi have known that her mistress' reward of silks and furs for the upcoming seasons was that first fortune?

Instead, misfortune had sunk its claws into Xiang gui ren's household and refused to let go. First, The Empress Dowager gave Jiang gui ren a promotion. Her mistress kept up a happy face anyways, claiming it was too soon for her to think of something like that. Then, Fifth Princess attacked.

Fifth Princess had left a massive gash on Xiang gui ren's face, starting over her left eye and running down her cheek. Hwang taiyi did his best to sew up the wound and cautioned them about infection. If luck wasn't on their side, Xiang gui ren could go blind.

If that were the end of it, Jiayi would've been grateful. Instead, out came the news about First Princess' "affairs." The Emperor and Empress Dowager were furious, sending an all-out search in every eunuch's quarters in the Forbidden City. His Majesty's guards left no stone unturned, and when they found First Princess' things in Su gonggong's quarters, they arrested him immediately. There was no chance he was coming out alive.

Being free of Su gonggong for good was Jiayi's goal. That was the whole point of stealing such scandalous things from First Princess' rooms and planting them in the eunuch's rooms. Jiayi didn't think so much trouble would come from it. Now there were rumors about First Princess being a whore all over the capital. Despite being The Emperor's beloved firstborn, these rumors jeopardized her chances of finding a suitable husband. The Emperor banned her from The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet because the rumors would spoil the party. The Empress Dowager promised to have a special dinner with First Princess to make up for it, but the message was clear.

First Princess, for the time being, was damaged goods.

It made Jiayi stomach turn. First Princess was such a beautiful girl, inside and out and had never said an unkind word to her. Now, Jiayi was responsible for ruining her.

"Jiejie?"

Jiayi jumped at the sound of Molan's voice.

"I think the paste is finished now," said Molan.

"Oh," Jiayi looked down at the bowl in her hands, "You're right. Bring the hot water so we can redress mistress' wound," said Jiayi.

Pie'er and Ping'er, who couldn't stand to be from Xiang gui ren's bedside, brought a small table and laid out all the tools.

Xiang gui ren was covered in a thin sheet, dozing in bed.

"Mistress," said Ping'er, "Jiejie's here to dress your wound,"

Jiayi washed and dried her hands before peeling back the rusty colored gauze that covered Xiang gui ren's face. The sight of the thick black stitches crisscrossing along her mistress' purpled and pummeled skin made Jiayi's skin prickle. She swallowed back the tears that welled up in her eyes.

Jiayi wiped the area around the stitches as softly as possible with a shaking hand before picking up the paste. The first brush against Xiang gui ren's skin made her flinch with pain. Jiayi sat up and burst into tears.

Before she knew it, Molan had joined in. Ping'er and Pie'er weren't far behind.

Xiang gui ren smiled softly, "You four have been crying day and night, night and day. If it takes as long as Hwang taiyi said it would for me to recover, you'll end up like a bunch of dried dates,"

Jiayi hiccuped through her tears and spread the medicine before wrapping the stitches with a fresh bandage.

"Aiyo," said Xiang gui ren, "Am I so ugly?"

When the sounds of the crying went up in pitch, Xiang gui ren laughed, "It was just a joke! Stop crying. You're making my head hurt,"

Xiang gui ren let the four of them cry until there was nothing left but sniffles.

"How's Fifth Princess?" Xiang gui ren asked then, "Is she alright?"

"Mistress, how can you ask after that cruel girl after what she did to you?" Asked Molan.

Xiang gui ren's good eye snapped open, "Watch your mouth. Fifth Princess is still Fifth Princess,"

Molan wiped the tears off her face and nodded.

"What are they saying about Fifth Princess? What's happened?" Xiang gui ren asked.

"Xu niang was flogged 40 times and expelled from the palace along with all Fifth Princess' servants," replied Jiayi.

"I heard Fifth Princess has been crying and screaming all day locked up in her rooms," said Ping'er.

"Jiang pin is still Jiang pin, even though she raised such a child," said Molan, "His Majesty favors you more than her, but still, she wasn't punished,"

"His Majesty's love will never come before his duties to The Empress Dowager. There's no point in being upset," replied Xiang gui ren, "And Fifth Princess is just a child. It was a mistake,"

She then pressed a hand to her head and gasped in pain.

Molan leaped up, "I'll brew your pain medicine right now, mistress,"

Xiang gui ren settled herself in bed again, "I bet the promotion ceremony was beautiful,"

Jiayi dabbed the sweat off Xiang gui ren's forehead, "Your time will come soon, mistress,"

"How about First Princess? Is she okay?"

The question made guilt bubble up in Jiayi's chest all over again.

"She won't leave her rooms," said Ping'er, "Shen huang gui fei has to threaten to break the doors down to see her,"

"Poor things," murmured Xiang gui ren.

"Shen huang gui fei asked that His Majesty use severe torture on that Su gonggong before getting rid of him," said Ping'er.

"It's only right," said Molan, returning with pain-relieving broth, "He did such an atrocious thing,"

They all looked up at the commotion in the front hall. Bolin's frantic voice carried into the bedroom.

"Your Highness, our mistress is resting; you can't enter. Your Highness–"

The newly promoted Jiang pin strutted into Xiang gui ren's bedroom, her Imperial Concubine chaofu silks glittering in the afternoon sun.

✺

When Jiang pin was eight months pregnant with Huaguang, she became ill. The illness lasted until her labor began. In between her screams, Jiang pin begged and begged the Gods to save her only chance for glory and for the child to be born safe.

Now, Jiang pin wished that the Gods ignored her cries. That child was an utter waste of time, a bad omen even! Jiang pin could blame the momos for their shoddy work until she was blue in the face, but Huaguang was her daughter. Huaguang's foolish act could never just be her own.

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"And Her Highness The Empress said I'll be moving to Chuxiugong† before they set off for the Mulan autumn hunt," said An pin, "She says that I can count on an honorary name if I give birth. Prince or princess,"

An pin. What a joke.

It was one thing for someone like Lian fei to rise through the ranks on the backs of her family but someone like An pin becoming an Imperial Concubine? She was more than lowly, and had no favor. All she had was the good luck to be the first person who alerted His Majesty of the rumors about First Princess.

An pin didn't even wear her chaofu well. The strap under her chaoguan dug into the fat of her chin, and her embroidered jacket looked heavy and ill-fitting. She was obviously a last-minute addition to the promotions.

"How nice for you," groused Jiang pin, "You get to be the mistress of your palace, but I'm still stuck with that thing in mine,"

"I wish I could help you more, jiejie. I know your life will be even harder now that Xiang gui ren can whine about what an unruly child Fifth Princess is," replied An pin.

"An unruly child is better than no child at all," said Jiang pin, snatching her arm away from An pin, "Huaguang only needs to behave herself, and His Majesty will love her again,"

An pin nodded, "But jiejie, will you let her run all over you in the meantime? You're an Imperial Concubine now, a mistress. If you don't teach her properly, people will continue to think of her as Xianfugong's true the mistress.

For once, An pin said something sensible. Jiang pin was the mistress of Xianfugong, and it was her right to educate all those who lived in her palace. She sent An pin on her way and stepped through the gates of Xianfugong, determined to teach Xiang gui ren a lesson.

Xiang gui ren's fat eunuch tried to stop her, saying some nonsense about the bitch needing rest. Hah! A tap on the head from a child, and Xiang gui ren was back in her natural habitat, on her back in a bed. It incensed Jiang pin more when Xiang gui ren didn't attempt to greet her properly but continued to play cripple in her sick bed.

"Kneel," said Jiang pin.

"Your Highness, our mistress is still injured. Please forgive her," a stupid-looking maid said when Xiang gui ren didn't move.

"Her head's cracked, not her legs," said Susu, "Jiang pin is an Imperial Concubine and the master of this palace. How dare a Noble Lady be so disrespectful? Kneel, now! "

Jiang pin didn't bother hiding her glee as Xiang gui ren struggled to her feet. The fantastic beauty that seduced The Emperor was gone. Xiang gui ren would recover, but there would still be a disgusting scar. If Jiang pin was lucky, the weeping gash on Xiang gui ren's face would never heal, and an infection would eat her alive. Jiang pin wouldn't mind helping her with that. She rolled her eyes as Xiang gui ren's maids helped her to her feet.

"She a grown woman. She can stand and kneel alone," said Jiang pin.

When Xiang gui ren was on the floor where she belonged, Jiang pin took a seat.

"You can all withdraw," she said.

"Are you all deaf?" Said Jiang pin when Xiang gui ren's maids continued to stand around, "I told you to get out! Drag them out!"

Xiang gui ren's maids kicked and screamed as they were hauled away.

"Congratulations, Your Highness," said Xiang gui ren after the doors slammed shut.

"Keep your congratulations. It's no better than the dirt beneath my feet," said Jiang pin, "I won't ask you to sit. I know how much you like being on your knees,"

Xiang gui ren nodded.

Jiang pin rolled her eyes, "Don't bother being cute with me. I already know what a bitch like you is capable of. Her Highness and His Majesty may be fooled, but I know your true face,"

Xiang gui ren nodded again.

"Now that I'm the mistress of Xianfugong, it's only right that I teach you how to be decent. You're my property now," said Jiang pin.

Xiang gui ren nodded for a third time. Jiang pin couldn't stand the sight of the woman's stupid face. Jiang pin smiled, grabbed hold of the vixen's ear and twisted as hard as possible.

On the uninjured side, of course–Jiang pin wasn't a monster.

"First lesson! When I give an order, you should reply 'Yes, Your Highness' or 'No, Your Highness.' Do you understand?"

Xiang gui ren nodded, tears slipping down her face. Again, she said nothing. This woman really was a hardheaded bitch! Jiang pin pinched hard enough to bend Xiang gui ren's neck.

"Do you understand?!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Jiang pin let Xiang gui ren drop to the floor.

"Sit up properly and stop those crocodile tears," said Jiang pin.

Xiang gui ren rose to her knees, her face pointed to the ground. Jiang pin pressed a hand to Xiang gui ren's bandaged cheek and raised her head.

"Meimei, I hope you realize that your life is in my hands now,"

A razor-sharp smile crept onto Xiang gui ren's face as she seized Jiang pin's hand. Jiang pin jerked her hand back, but Xiang gui ren held fast. The grip transferred to her fingers, where Jiang pin's brand new nail guards pressed into the meat of Xiang gui ren's face.

"This lowly one does understand," Xiang gui ren whispered, "But jiejie, won't it be hard to hold me with these claws?"

Jiang pin's mouth filled with ash, "What are you–"

✺

Be quick, Bolin, be quick!

Jiayi sent the eunuch running when Jiang pin's servants tossed them outside. The Empress was too busy preparing for The Empress Dowager's birthday to be of any help. State affairs kept The Emperor so busy that Bolin wouldn't get one step through the gates of Yanxindian before being turned away. De gui fei was their only hope. With all the bad luck, she spent her days at Dafuge or Kunninggong††, praying fiercely. Jiayi hoped she chose Kunninggong today.

"Yao gonggong," Jiayi said, "Please let us back in. My mistress isn't well,"

"It's not as bad as you're thinking," said Yao gonggong, "Jiang pin's promotion is fresh. She won't do anything harsh to Xiang gui ren,"

"But–"

Yao gonggong sighed, "If you really want to make things easier for Xiang gui ren, keep quiet,"

Jiayi pled with all the elderly eunuchs and momos, but they rejected her repeatedly. Jiang pin was the mistress of this palace. They wouldn't dare disobey.

Molan tugged to where Ping'er and Pie'er stood, "Kunninggong is so close. Why isn't Bolin back yet?"

"Don't panic," said Jiayi. She didn't know if she was comforting Molan or herself, "Yao gonggong is right. Jiang pin wouldn't be stupid enough to start trouble the day of her promotion,"

A guttural scream echoed through the courtyard.

"What was that?" Said Molan.

"It's Xiang gui ren," whispered Jiayi before breaking into a run.

Jiang pin's servants blocked the door, Susu front and center.

"Let us in!" Said Jiayi.

"Her Highness didn't call for anyone," said Susu as she shoved Jiayi, "Stay out here,"

There was more screaming and the sound of a struggle.

Jiayi shoved Susu back, sending her to the ground, and rushed to the doors.

"You dare!" cried Susu, "Xiao Fu, Xiao Ye, hold that bitch down so I can slap her,"

Jiayi was strong but not strong enough to fight off two fully grown men, even if they were eunuchs. They forced Jiayi to her knees.

"His Majesty arrives! De gui fei arrives!"

Susu's raised hand stilled at the sound of the arrivals.

Jiayi broke out of the eunuch's hold and burst through the doors. Jiang pin was frantically rubbing her hands with a blood-stained cloth.

"What did you do?" Jiayi asked.

"How–how dare you speak to me like that," Jiang pin said, crumpling the cloth in her hand.

Jiayi darted into the bedroom and fell to her feet. Xiang gui ren was sprawled on the floor, her face and clothes drenched in blood.

"Mistress," Jiayi whispered, voice caught in her throat.

She crawled over and lifted Xiang gui ren's head into her lap. Two fresh gashes were on the side of her face, and the stitches the Imperial physicians had so carefully put in were torn out. There was so much blood.

"Mistress, say something," Jiayi begged as Xiang gui ren's head lay limp.

Xiang gui ren lifted a trembling hand and tried to touch her face.

"Don't, you'll hurt yourself," said Jiayi, grasping her mistress' hand.

Xiang gui ren was badly hurt, but Jiayi couldn't leave her alone. Where was Molan and Ping'er? Where was Bolin? She couldn't take care of this alone!

Jiang pin's awful voice wrenched Jiayi out of her head.

"This concubine wishes His Majesty peace. This concubine wishes Her Highness De gui fei peace,"

"You Highness," Jiayi cried when De gui fei came over, "We need to do something,"

"Call for Hwang taiyi," ordered De gui fei.

"I can't," said Jiayi, "What if–"

A body ran past, and Jaiyi realized the room was packed with servants. How had she not noticed them all?

"Just put her on the bed," said De gui fei.

When De gui fei's servants lifted Xiang gui ren out of Jiayi's arms, she almost snatched her mistress back. She crawled over to Xiang gui ren's bedside.

"She's still bleeding," Jiayi whispered, "Where's Hwang taiyi?"

De gui fei pulled Jaiyi to her feet, "He's coming. Don't worry,"

"Your Majesty, you're hurting me!"

Jiayi wiped her eyes and watched The Emperor yank Jiang pin to her feet. He held her bloodied hand in front of his face.

"You devious woman," The Emperor spat.

"Your Majesty, please dissipate your anger. My mistress had nothing to do with this," said Susu, "It's a misunderstanding,"

"You call this dirty hand a misunderstanding?" He asked.

The Emperor flung Jiang pin's hand away.

Jiang pin dropped to her knees, "Your Majesty, I–I didn't mean to–"

"Zhang Wei, take my decree. Jiang pin is under house arrest until I say so otherwise. If she takes one step outside, demote her to a first-class attendant,"

"Yes, Your Majesty," said Zhang Wei.

Jiang pin kowtowed to The Emperor before crawling and grabbing at the hem of his robes , "Have mercy, Your Majesty, have mercy! I'll apologize to Xiang gui ren; I'll pray for her. You can't keep me locked up. Who–who will care for Huaguang?"

The Emperor closed his eyes and pursed his lips, "Get her out of my sight,"

–––––

*Chinese proverb: Fú wú zhòng zhì, huòbùdānxíng. Closest English equivalent would be: Bad luck always comes in threes

† Palace of Gathered Elegance

†† Palace of Earthly Tranquility