For the first time in weeks, Jiayi felt relaxed. The Emperor was off in the countryside, Su gonggong was dead and gone, and Jiang pin was dealt with. Jiayi's nights still weren't quiet, and if someone moved too fast, she still flinched, but if things kept going the way they were, she could see herself spending the rest of her days like this happily.
Even Xiang gui ren was chipper. Freshly risen from bed, she stared at herself in the mirror, "My bruises look better already. And my face isn't the size of the moon! That Hwang taiyi sure isn't a slacker,"
"Mistress, even with those bruises, you're still the most beautiful woman here," said Molan.
Xiang gui ren snorted, "Goodness, let's go for a walk after breakfast. Pretty's been locked here with me so long that she's gone crazy!"
They dissolved into laughter only to erupt in a cacophony of screams when a raspy voice said,
"I want shark fin soup for breakfast,"
Jiayi's heart leaped to her throat as she twisted around to see Sixth Prince standing behind her.
"Yiqiang?" Asked Xiang gui ren, "What are you doing here?"
This time, they, including Sixth Prince, screamed when Bolin, Pi'er, and Ping'er rushed into the room, hoisting weapons above their heads. Ping'er had chosen a modestly-sized vase, Pie'r, a rug beater, and Bolin had an entire chair.
Sixth Prince scrambled behind Jiayi.
"Aren't you all late?" Asked Xiang gui ren, "If there were a real assassin, I'd be dead two times over!"
The three looked sufficiently cowed.
"Speaking of, how did Yiqiang sneak passed you all?"
Bolin pouted, "Mistress, I've been outside all morning. No one's come in or out,"
"Is Yiqiang a ghost now?" Asked Xiang gui ren.
Jiayi took a long look at Yiqiang. What she thought was a pink tinge of sickness on his face was the flush of sleep. He was in his bedclothes, and his braid was a mess. She crouched down.
"Sixth Prince, did you spend the night here?"
"Yeah. Did the other maid tell you about what to paint on my top? Have you started them?"
Oh no.
"I apologize, I haven't, but I'll start later today," said Jiayi, "Why did Prince send you here so late at night? It's so dangerous for you to walk that far on your own,"
Sixth Prince huffed, "Uncle didn't send me here. I came by myself. Everyone was asleep, so I slept in one of De niangniang's rooms. It wasn't scary at all,"
Jiayi's eyes widened.
"Sixth Prince," Molan said, her voice thin, "Are you saying you snuck out in the middle of the night without telling anyone?"
So somewhere across the Forbidden City, the A Ge Suo was in complete panic. Prince Han was probably losing it, and everyone in the room realized it.
"Well!" said Xiang gui ren, "Bolin will get your breakfast. In the meantime, Jiayi, why don't you get a change of clothes from Yiqiang's room?"
And please tell Prince Han that Yiqiang wasn't stolen away in the middle of the night.
Jiaiyi rushed across the Forbidden City, hoping things hadn't gone too far already. However, instead of the chaos she expected, everything was still. No rushing servants, no shouting. The guards at the gates didn't look stressed either.
The guards directed her to Sixth Prince's room when she asked after Prince Han.
Jiayi began to relax again. Perhaps they'd all just overreacted, and Prince Han hadn't noticed that Sixth Prince was missing yet. That was good. All Jiayi had to do was let Prince Han know where Sixth Prince ran off to, and it would be fine. When she tried the doors to Sixth Prince's bedroom, they didn't open. She jiggled the door.
"Anyone?" she called, "I have a message for Prince Han. Hello?"
Jiayi knocked again and pressed her ear to the wood. She heard shuffling and the hushed sound of voices, but still, no one replied or came to the door. Just as she went to knock again, the door opened, and out stepped Sang'er.
"Ah! Wei guniang, it's you," Sang'er smiled at her and closed the doors behind him.
"Good morning. Is Prince Han awake? Xiang gui ren has a message for him,"
"Don't trouble yourself, Wei guniang. Tell me, and I'll pass it along,"
"I think Xiang gui ren would rather I tell Prince Han in person,"
"Wei guniang," Sang'er said as his shoulders slumped, "Right now isn't a good time. Please come back lat–"
"It's about Sixth Prince," she said.
Sang'er froze before he flashed her a weary smile, "Sixth Prince? Have you finished the new toys already?"
Based on Sang'er caginess, Prince Han probably ordered that the news of Sixth Prince's disappearance not leave the room.
Whispering, Jiayi said, "Sixth Prince spent the night in Chengqiangong,"
Sang'er's eyes widened, "What?"
"Sixth Prince–"
Sang'er shushed her before clearing his throat, "Right this way,"
He opened the door just enough so they could slip through.
Inside, the floor was packed tightly with kneeling servants. Prince Han sat above them, face livid.
"My lord," said Jiayi, "Xiang gui ren asked that I bring some day clothes for Sixth Prince to change into after breakfast,"
Prince Han's sprung to his feet.
"My lord," said a servant, "Sixth Prince is alive and well! Please spare us, we–"
"Shut up!" Prince Han said, "Get out of my sight. Don't speak of your incompetence to anyone or I'll have your heads,"
Prince Han sagged back into his chair when the final servant trickled out. Sang'er darted over to his side.
Massaging his temple, he asked, "How is Yiqiang?"
"Unhurt, my lord. He said he walked over and spent the night,"
Prince Han shook his head and said, "I've burdened Xiang gui ren by not keeping an eye on him. Come Sang'er, let's retrieve this crazy child,"
Sang'er frowned, "My lord, at least use the sedan. You've been up all morning and haven't eaten a thing. Chengqiangong is a far walk,"
Prince Han nodded and let Sang'er lead him outside. Jiayi went to Sixth Prince's wardrobe and picked out his clothes for the day. She tried to, at least. Everything looked old and a tad too small. The most decent yifu* she could find was something only a servant would wear.
When she stepped back outside, the rain clouds smothered the beautiful sunshine she had admired early this morning. Thick sheets of rain covered the courtyard. Jiayi could wait for the storm to end, but who knew when that would be? The A Ge Suo storage room had a few umbrellas. It would have to do. Jiayi folded up the clothes as tightly as possible and stepped outside. The blast of chilled rain startled her. It was only the start of the ninth month!† Why was the rain so cold?
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Tucking her neck in, Jiayi made her way through the courtyard. Over the rush of the rain, Jiayi heard someone call her name. It was Sang'er again, who eagerly ducked under her umbrella.
"You're soaked!" Said Jiayi, "Here, take this umbrella. I'll get another, "
Sang'er shook his head, "You're very kind! But I've come to fetch you,"
Fetch who? Oh, fetch Sixth Prince's things. Jiayi handed the clothes to him. As she went to give him the umbrella, Sang'er grabbed her hand and began to drag her away.
"Hurry up! The faster we move, the faster we get out of this rain!"
Not if they broke their necks first!
"Slow down!" said Jiayi, her feet sliding, "You don't need to rush me! Just give those to Prince Han. I can walk back on my own,"
"What?!"
"What?!"
The pounding rain drowned out their voices.
Sang'er let her go when they came upon Prince Han's sedan. The eunuch stuck his head in the window and passed over Sixth Prince's clothes. She thought Sang'er would thank her, but instead, he leaned close and yelled.
"Get in!"
"Get in where?!"
"In the sedan!" said Sang'er.
"Are you insane? Why are you letting a maid ride next to your master?"
"My master asked!"
"Your master is overtired and not thinking straight!"
Prince Han poked his head out the window, "The master can hear you!"
Jiayi ducked her head.
Prince Han rolled his eyes, "Just get in,"
Sang'er shrugged and lifted the door to the sedan so she could duck inside. Jiayi had seen many sedans carried through the Forbidden City, and they always looked so big. What an illusion! As far as she squeezed herself into the other side of the sedan, there was only a hand's width of space between her and Prince Han.
Maybe the rain made the bars slippery, or the eunuchs were unused to the weight of two people. Either way, when Sang'er gave the order to raise the sedan, it tilted so far to the left that Prince Han tumbled right on top of her. Startled, Jiayi shoved Prince Han to the other side of the sedan. The sudden weight caused the eunuchs below to buckle again, and Jiayi slid right into Prince Han's lap.
"Lower the sedan! Lower it!" Sang'er cried.
The sedan door rustled, and Jiayi scrambled away.
"My lord, are you alright?" Sang'er asked.
"Fine! I'm fine!" Prince Han, "What are they doing out there? Why are they tossing us around?"
"It's the rain, My lord, but it's not so heavy anymore," said Sang'er, "Things will go smoothly now,"
Jiayi didn't want things to go smoothly; she wanted them to go quickly. If she stayed in the sedan for too long, she would burst into flames from embarrassment. Well, if she did, the rain was there to douse her.
One uncomfortably silent ride later, Sang'er alerted them of their arrival at Chengqiangong.
"I'll tell Xiang gui ren you're here," said Jiayi.
She barely waited for the sedan to stop before jumping out. Unfairly, the skies had transformed into a beautiful clear blue. When Jiayi dragged her sodden self inside, Sixth Prince was finishing his breakfast.
"Jiayi," Xiang gui ren said at the sodden sight of her, "Did you run back here in the rain?"
"Yes! Um, Yes, I was already out when the rain started. Mistress Prince Han is here. I'll go change,"
Huffing, Jiayi dug through her chest for a dry change of clothes. Wasn't it a little unfair that she only had a few hours of relaxing before the day went to hell?
As Jiayi dried her hair, Molan poked her head inside, "Jiejie, you aren't finished yet? Mistress is calling for you,"
Jiayi could hear the muffled sound of raised voices from the open gap in the door, "What's going on out there?"
Molan picked up a comb and ran it through Jiayi's hair, "Sixth Prince and Prince Han are having a shouting match. Sixth Prince wants to stay here and play for the rest of the day, but Prince Han says he has to leave,"
"Really? I didn't think he liked us all that much," said Jiayi.
"Me neither! But Prince Han is furious," Molan sighed, "I don't know how, but he's even handsome when he's mad,"
Jiayi raised an eyebrow, "Don't mention that to Lingxiu on your walk back from the Imperial Kitchen tonight,"
The sharp tug at her scalp was worth the look on Molan's cherry-red face. Molan clutched the comb and sputtered.
"It's not a walk! He just likes to bother me. I don't have anything to do with that monkey,"
"Alright. I'll tell Bolin to get tonight's dinner," Jiayi replied.
Molan's face reddened again, and her mouth dropped into a fantastic frown. Laughter bubbled up in Jiayi's stomach, "I'm joking!" She took Molan's hand, "It's good that you'll already have a husband when you leave. I'm sure you'll be very happy as Little-fish furen,"
"I can't believe you're bullying me like this! You were never this mean to me before!" Cried Molan.
Jiayi's laughter was interrupted by Sixth Prince bursting into the room. He slammed the door shut and locked it.
"You can't make leave!" He shouted before collapsing into a fit of coughs.
Jiayi ran over to pat his back through the worst of it.
"Sixth Prince," said Molan, "You shouldn't be running around like that. You're still sick,"
"Sixth Prince," Sang'er voice floated through the door, "Please come out. Prince Han wants to speak with you,"
"No! Go away!"
"You don't have to go away forever," said Molan, "You can come visit Xiang gui ren whenever you want,"
Rolling his eyes, Sixth Prince threw himself face down in Molan's bed.
Molan tugged at Jiayi's sleeve, "What do we do now?" She whispered.
Xiang gui ren chose for them.
"Open the door," she ordered.
"Don't!" Barked Sixth Prince but Molan had already obeyed.
Xiang gui ren, Prince Han, and Sang'er filed inside the shabby rooms. Jiayi cringed when Prince Han's stare lingered on her for a moment too long. She knew she probably looked a mess with her damp hair loose and all over the place. She quickly braided it out of the way.
Kneeling by the bed, Xiang gui ren stroked Sixth Prince's shoulder, "Yiqiang, why don't you want to return to the A Ge Suo? Isn't it nice to have all the space to yourself?"
"I hate it there. I'm the only one there, and those stupid servants still don't pay attention to me. There are toys here, and these maids know how to listen,"
Xiang gui ren said with a shrug, "Jiejie wouldn't mind if we cleaned up the room in the east wing for you,"
"Wait a moment," said Prince Han, "Xiang gui ren, if you let Yiqiang stay here, you're rewarding him for acting so childish,"
"Yiqiang is a child,"
"Yiqiang is a prince," replied Prince Han, "It's my responsibility to teach him to act like one,"
"How about this? I have a study I'm not using. You can teach Yiqiang his responsibilities there,"
Xiang gui ren tugged Sixth Prince to his feet, "Now, would you like pearl powder or sandalwood in your bath?" She asked as they walked out the door.
Prince Han looked stunned before walking off after them, "Xiang gui ren, what I meant was..."
Jiayi sighed. Poor Prince Han. He would learn that Xiang gui ren wasn't a woman you won an argument with.
✺
The Emperor felt decades younger. There was no stifling pomp and pretentiousness like back in the capital. His kingdom's vast, open plains were miles above the dark halls and gray streets of the Forbidden City. The food was fresher, the air was fresher, even the women were fresher.
On his return from a successful deer hunt, his tent was occupied by a troupe of young dancing girls and musicians. After a day of hunting, it was just what he needed to relax. He reclined and let Zhang Wei pour him a cup of wine. Yes, even the wine was fresher.
The dancing girls enticed him with their bare skin and half-covered faces. Instead of the dainty, sweeping moves popular in the capital, the girls in the plains weren't afraid to roll their hips and use their bodies. It was primal. It was natural. The tallest dancing girl in the front dared stare into his eyes, but her moves were clumsy. He wondered how Huifen would've looked in the costume, how she would've danced for him had she been here. The thought of his love tossed him into a melancholy he'd often felt since passing through the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Again he cursed Wang Rong, the little snake. If there was one thing The Emperor looked forward to after the Mulan hunt finished, it was putting that bitch in her rightful place and being done for her once and for all.
"Your Majesty," said Zhang Wei as he refilled The Emperor's cup, "Is the dancing disturbing you?"
The Emperor nodded. The more he thought of Huifen, the less he cared for these girls.
Zhang Wei clapped his hands, and the performance came to a stop.
"Leave,"
The Emperor pointed at the tallest dancing girl, "Except you, you stay,"
Zhang Wei, ever observant, withdrew and took the rest of the servants with him. In an hour or two, his eunuch would return with a bowl of contraception medication. The various chiefs gifted him several women. He could add this one to the group.
"Remove your scarf," he ordered.
Whatever anticipation he had to view the beauty's face finally was doused when a familiar one stared up at him.
Shen huang gui fei.
How many people had seen her display herself like this? A lowly girl making money with her body was one thing, but his Imperial Noble Consort? It was disgusting!
"What do you think you're doing? Have you lost your mind?"
Tears dripped down Shen huang gui fei's face, "Your Majesty, please listen to me. I had no other options. When you behave like this, I feel like you've turned your back on me and Huabao,"
"What turn? Aren't you still the Imperial Noble Consort? Isn't Huabao still a princess? Aren't you both here instead of back in the capital? How could you be this foolish?"
Shen huang gui fei began to cry in earnest. The Emperor bit back a sigh.
"If you were desperate, why didn't you go to The Empress?"
"You and Her Highness are of one body and mind. If you despise me, how could she not?"
The Empress really did know right from wrong. She certainly wouldn't have kicked up a fuss crying like this. If he was avoiding her, he was right too. He killed the eunuch who slandered Huabao and squashed any more rumors roaming the capital. What more did Shen huang gui fei want?
Would his life have been simpler if The Empress didn't convince him to take Shen huang gui fei as a concubine all those years ago?
"Your Majesty, let me continue to serve you," she said, grasping his hand, "We've been together for so long, and I'll continue to devote myself to you,"
That much was true. Outside of The Empress, there wasn't a better servant in the Forbidden City, and she birthed his first daughter. Not to mention, come the new year, Shen huang gui fei would be why his older brother had a son again. After all, it didn't cost much to make Shen huang gui fei happy.
"Enough," he said, "Get off the floor,"
"I won't. Not until you promise me that I can stay by your side forever,"
"Lijuan, I promise,"
When Shen huang gui fei has the sense to obey him once more, he tells Zhang Wei to prepare a bath for the two. Through the night, one thought stayed lodged in The Emperor's head.
If only this were Huifen.
–––––
*Informal dayclothes
†Between September 23- October 23