Xiang gui ren couldn't feel anything close to merriment as The New Year grew closer. It was hard to understand how anyone could. With the days growing more impossibly cold, she had more time alone with her thoughts, even with De gui fei and Yiqiang nearby. In the dark nights, she wondered how a place of such glamor and fortune was so littered with death.
"Mistress, look how handsome Sixth Prince's New Year clothes are," Jiayi said.
They were particularly darling, but Xiang gui ren could sniff out what Jiayi and everyone else were trying to do. But she just wasn't in the mood to cheer up. It didn't help that The Emperor had been too busy at court to flip anyone's tag since Huaguang's death.
"They're very nice," Xiang gui ren replied, "What about everyone else's clothes? Will they be ready in time for the New Year banquet?"
"Of course!" Said Molan, "It'll even be ready for your promotion ceremony!"
The mention of the ceremony once again sent the girls into a tizzy. It was like they were all being promoted!
"I can't stop looking at your chaofu, mistress," said Ping'er, "It's so pretty!"
"It's so soft, too!" Said Pie'er.
They squealed as Bolin pushed the door open and let the winter air burst through the room. Molan slammed the door shut.
"Brr!" Bolin said, shaking off the snow, "It's coming down out there!"
Jiayi took the buckets of charcoal from the eunuch, and Pie'er poured him a hot cup of tea.
"Don't forget to take some for your rooms," said Xiang gui ren as Jiayi put the charcoal away.
"Mistress, I heard some bad news while I was out," said Bolin.
"From the A Ge Sou?" Asked Pie'er.
Xiang gui ren hoped not. Her heart couldn't take another tragedy so soon.
Bolin shook his head, "No, no sicknesses so far. It's Fan gui ren. They say she's not getting any better,"
Molan wrung her hands together, "Isn't she going to give birth soon? If she doesn't get better, what about The Imperial heir?"
Bolin clutched the cup closer to him and shook his head, "We'll just have to wait and see,"
The Empress had forbidden them from gossiping about it, but even De gui fei couldn't resist. It was just too unusual. Fan gui ren was such a healthy young woman, but she grew weaker and weaker as the months went on. It was like the child was sapping the life from her. Besides The Emperor and The Empress, she was too weak to see anyone.
"She's wasting away," De gui fei whispered one night, "The Imperial Hospital was told that if it came down to her or the Imperial heir, to save the heir first,"
De gui fei didn't need to specify who gave the order. Xiang gui ren knew the logic behind it, but it was still jarring. The Forbidden City lacked for nothing, yet the people here were still bested by fate each time. Thunder rumbled and barked at her feet, begging for attention.
"Yes, yes," Xiang gui ren said, petting the chubby little thing, "Your little master will be home soon,"
Thunder ended up just as attached to Yiqiang as she was. It was ridiculous, really. Yiqiang wasn't her son; she'd only known him for a few months but couldn't help it. She loved him already. It was nice to have something honest to do in this godforsaken city. Something without whispers or sly hands. Just love. However, after Huaguang's death, she cursed herself for it. What would she do if something happened to Yiqiang? How could she possibly fill the hole in her heart? Having these thoughts swirl in her head made Xiang gui ren feel ungrateful. Jiayi's little plan worked, and she was free from The Empress Dowager for good! The victory wasn't as filling as it could've been. One of the reasons Jiayi managed to enrage The Empress Dowager so much was because of Huaguang's death. It was incredibly embarrassing for her to have all her servants arrested and imprisoned. It shouldn't have been possible at her status, and yet, The Empress did it without pause! The old woman was so furious that besides Jerjer gugu, she had all of them executed.
Xiang gui ren was pulled from her thoughts when Yiqiang bulldozed into the room, Prince Han and Sang'er trailing in after
"Guess what!" He said, breathless with excitement.
"Aiyo! You're covered in snow!" Xiang gui ren said, brushing the flakes off his hair and cape, "What happened to your cap? And your hands! They're freezing!"
Yiqiang pulled them away, "Niang! You're not listening!"
"I'll listen later. Here, warm yourself up,"
Yiqiang huffed but took the hot cup of tea from Jiayi.
Prince Han laughed, "What he's trying to say is that His Majesty came to the Imperial Study during the lessons and invited you and Yiqiang to watch the ice dancers in the Imperial Garden,"
Yiqiang glared, "I wanted to tell her!"
"Ice dancers?" Gasped Molan, "I've never seen them before!"
Prince Han smiled, "They only perform a few times a year. Xiang gui ren is lucky to have a private showing with Yiqang,"
"What's the fun in that? Bolin, go to the other palaces and tell them they're welcome to join in the fun today,"
✺
"I'm grown hideous, haven't I, jiejie?" Fan gui ren asked, "That's why no one's come to see me,"
Fan gui ren wasn't ugly. She was hideous.
Shen huang gui fei stroked Fan gui ren's frail hand, "Of course not, meimei. Your maid left some broth for you. Try to drink,"
Turning her face away, Shen huang gui fei swallowed a grimace at the sight of Fan gui ren's white, bloodless tongue. The younger woman's lips were cracked, white, and sunken into her face. Her skin was yellowish and pressed tight against her skull, with stark blue veins spiderwebbing throughout. What was left of her hair was in patches, and her eyes were rubbled purple and weighed with bags. It was like Fan gui ren aged 30 years in the last months. Still, the Imperial heir in her belly was as strong and fighting fit as ever. Shen huang gui fei's connections at the Imperial Hospital said the Imperial physicians couldn't figure out the problem. There was no sign of poison or tampering in her prescriptions or day-to-day food. It just happened to be an unfortunate case of horrible luck. Fan gui ren ate very little since she became sick, but what little she could keep down was always sour and pungent. Everyone knew spicy was for a girl and sour for a boy.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Fan gui ren was going to give birth to a prince.
The wheels in Shen huang gui fei's head turned as if 3,000 horses pulled it along. Despite her status as the Imperial Noble Consort, she only had one child, who had been banished to Mongolia. The odds of her getting pregnant at her age were slim, but if she were to become the foster mother of a prince, it would be the first step in bringing The Empress to heel. When the Imperial Hospital confirmed the gender of Fan gui ren's child, Shen huang gui fei quietly ordered that anyone other than The Emperor, The Empress, and herself not be allowed to visit to preserve Fan gui ren's health .
Fan gui ren pushed the bowl away. She rubbed her heavy belly.
"Yihui*," she whispered.
"What?" Asked Shen huang gui fei.
"My prince. I will name him Yihui because he's been the only brightness in my life these last months. Without him, I know I would've been dead already,"
Shen huang gui fei grabbed Fan gui ren's hand, "Meimei, don't talk like that. You'll get stronger in time for his birth and recover quickly,"
A tear rolled down Fan gui ren's face as she shook her head, "I won't. I can feel myself getting weaker and weaker each day. I don't...I don't know if I'll be able to give birth to him,"
"Don't bother," she said with a sad smile when Shen huang gui fei opened her mouth, "I know I don't have very long left,"
"Mistress..." Fan gui ren's maids all began quietly crying.
Shen huang gui fei dabbed at Fan gui ren's tears, fighting back a shiver at the feel of her loose, crepey skin.
"Jiejie. Can you promise me one thing?"
"Anything,"
"When it's all over, and my Yihui is here, will you take care of him? I can't leave him at the mercy of strangers. My spirit won't rest,"
"Do you really want that?" Shen huang gui fei glanced around, ensuring the servants were paying attention, "Me raising your prince?"
"It's can't be anyone but you, jiejie,"
Shen huang gui fei smiled, "I won't let you down,"
✺
One thing that constantly surprised newcomers when they arrived in The Forbidden City was how the streets echoed in the winter. The cold wind had a terrible habit of blowing your words towards the most unsuspecting ears.
That afternoon, after a visit to Fan gui ren, the wind carried a conversation straight to The Empress.
"Shiyi gugu turned me away again," A voice griped.
The Empress paused as she stepped out into the street.
Shiyi furrowed her brows, craning her head to and fro for the offenders, but only found empty corridors.
"You're surprised?" A different voice piped in, "Her Highness barely spends time with Shen huang gui fei and De gui fei, and they married in around the same time! Why would she lower herself to spend time with us?"
"We're both from the plains! I thought she would at least welcome me. But I'm not allowed to be in the same room as her until my promotion,"
"Consider it a blessing. You know what happened to the last women who got close to her,"
A gasp, "What? What happened?"
"I'll tell you later, hurry up!"
The Empress stopped Shiyi before she could order the guards to run after the offenders.
"Your Highness," Shiyi pled, "You can't let them get away with such disrespect,"
"Enough," The Empress replied, "Our business is finished here,"
Inside Yikungong, Shiyi fluttered about, doing her best to drive the incident away.
"Your Highness has been working so hard," she said, leading The Empress to the table, "I've prepared some treats to cheer you up,"
The Empress gasped at the spread before her. Raw marinated crabs, stinky tofu, sweet and sour pork, pork fried rice, pickled cucumbers–she could hardly believe it. She hadn't eaten some of these things in years.
Her stomach grumbled as she took a seat. The crab called her name.
Shiyi laughed and spooned a large portion onto The Empress' plate.
The Empress picked up her chopsticks, "Where did you even get this? I thought His Majesty–"
"His Majesty has arrived!"
The chopsticks clattered on the table as The Empress greeted The Emperor.
"Rise," The Emperor said before sniffing. He looked at the table and frowned.
"Is Yikungong experiencing financial troubles?" He asked.
"No, Your Majesty," replied Shiyi.
"You're serving Her Highness rotten food for fun, then?"
Zhang Wei clicked his tongue, "Get rid of it," he ordered the servants.
The Empress smiled serenely as The Emperor once again destroyed something she wanted. After all these years, it was as familiar as the face she saw in the mirror each day. It didn't hurt anymore.
"Your Majesty," said The Empress, ignoring Shiyi's pursed lips, "You didn't send word,"
The Emperor took a seat on the upholstered chairs at the front of the room.
"Do I need to send word to see you?" He asked.
"Of course not," The Empress presented him with a cup of tea, "But I would've prepared for Your Majesty's arrival,"
He took a sip and frowned, "It's bitter," he said before handing the cup back to her.
"Did you enjoy the ice dancers?" The Empress asked, signaling Shiyi to remove the tea.
Had The Empress known he was coming, she would've brewed something other than her favorite.
The Emperor nodded, "It was more crowded than I liked, but Huifen and the children enjoyed it. Speaking of, I stopped by the Imperial study today. Yifu is falling behind. He's nowhere near what she should be,"
"I apologize," The Empress replied, bowing her head, "I'll ask Yian to help with his studies,"
"I'll ask him to help Yiqiang as well. It's his duty as Crown Prince,"
The mention of Yiqiang, a son he disliked the sight of for many years, softened the terse lines across The Emperor's forehead. The Empress didn't like to think too hard about why Yiqiang was favored again. It was better to be grateful for it.
The Empress stepped closer and began to massage The Emperor's shoulders, "Have you eaten? I'll call for dinner,"
And so, The Empress swallowed down the over-salted, meat-forward dinner The Emperor preferred and washed it down with his favorite, floral, too-sweet tea. They went to bed later than usual, for His Majesty loathed to sleep alone, and Shiyi burned a heavily spiced incense that made The Empress' eyes itch but helped The Emperor sleep more peacefully.
She, of course, loved this as well. She was The Empress. The Empress loved what The Emperor loved, as was her duty. It didn't matter what Altanchimeg wanted. It hadn't mattered in nearly 20 years.
The moment she stepped into the capital, The Empress Dowager made it clear that her true purpose was to serve The Emperor. The reputation of the Borigjit clan rested squarely on her shoulders. There was no room for childish things like her opinions or feelings. The Emperor was more than her husband. He was her master, and The Empress was to behave accordingly.
Foolishly, The Empress disobeyed. Master and servant? They were to be husband and wife! Her mother and father lived nothing like that. Her father was free-spirited and wild but never coerced his soft-spoken wife to do anything. Her father was an anomaly and hated salted milk tea but poured a fresh cup at any moment for his wife. Who wouldn't want that?
Her husband.
Raised in the pampered arms of The Forbidden City, The Emperor was nothing like her father. Even as the Eighth Prince, The Emperor believed his way was the only way. The Empress' opinions and wants caused more confusion than anger. It became more work that it was worth disagreeing. As the years went on, The Empress learned she would be happier if she didn't. True happiness only existed in solitude. When His Majesty was busy with state affairs or a captivating new concubine, it was like a weight being lifted from her shoulders.
She could wear the orange and pink clothes she was so fond of (His Majesty preferred blues and purples; it made her look more regal), take in the sun on horseback (His Majesty thought it unsightly for her to be near such beasts) and play her morin khur† (His Majesty detested the sound. She learned the pipa for him). The Empress' mask was carefully tucked away so Altanchimeg could exist until it was time to return to her duties again or until His Majesty arrived. That was the way it had always been. Shiyi quietly combed through The Empress' hair the next morning after The Emperor left.
"May Your Highness forgive me. I was unprepared last night," she said.
"You can't read His Majesty's mind any more than I can," The Empress replied.
"I heard that one of the girls His Majesty brought back from Mongolia finally caught his eye. Hopefully, he'll come around less,"
The Empress stared in the mirror and pasted on the perfect smile. She wouldn't hold her breath.
–––––––
* Hui: brightness, splendor
† Mongolian horse-head fiddle. One of the oldest traditional Mongolian musical instruments