In the warming room of Qianqinggong, The Emperor and The Empress were impatiently awaiting Prince Han's arrival. The Empress sighed and sipped her tea.
"Zhang Wei,"
"Your servant is here," the eunuch replied.
"I rushed over here because you said Prince Han entered the palace. It's almost been an hour since,"
"The report came directly from the gates Your Highness," said Zhang Wei, "I would not dare deceive you,"
Just then another of The Emperor's eunuchs stepped into the room, a harried look on his face.
"What is it?" The Emperor asked.
"Your Majesty," He twisted his lips, "Prince Han, he's–"
Prince Han limped into the receiving room, sallow and pale, his personal eunuch, Sang'er, holding tightly to his arm.
Prince Han of the 4th rank slowly and painfully dropped to his knees.
"This lowly one wishes The Emperor and Empress peace," he said, voice reedy.
"Rise, quickly, quickly!" The Empress said, fighting the urge to physically haul him upright.
Prince Han sat down with a wince. It was apparent that he couldn't bend his right leg completely or use his right side without pain.
The Emperor looked at Sang'er, "What is the meaning of this? Why did you not send word on this injury at once? "
Sang'er dropped to his knees, "This servant was ignorant, I deserve to die!" he said as he prostrated himself.
Prince Han sighed and took the tea the Empress was aggressively shoving into his hands, "This isn't Sang'er's fault. His Majesty was eager for the first-hand reports of the subdued rebellion in the North. I don't dare disappoint him,"
"Reports aren't worth your health, Zhishi," said The Empress.
"Bring Hwang taiyi* here," ordered The Emperor, "You hid this from Marquis Fu, as well. Foolish. You should have sent a trusted page or general to report to me instead of endangering your health for this,"
Prince Han bowed as best as he could, "I know my wrongs,"
"The suppression was successful then?" The Empress asked.
The Emperor nodded, "The rebels weren't many but they were well-fed and well-armed. It's obvious someone was funding them,"
"Who would dare?" Asked the Empress.
"The leader escaped but we brought a few rebels back for interrogation. We'll be heading back to Fenzhou next month at His Majesty's order," said Prince Han.
"So soon?" Asked The Empress, her mouth trembling with worry.
The Emperor settled into his chair, "Don't fret, Empress. Marquis Fu will be heading to Fenzhou in a month, not Zhishi,"
"Your Majesty–"
Holding up a hand to stop Prince Han's protests, The Emperor said "I won't hear it. I don't need Hwang taiyi here to tell me you've injured yourself badly. How will I face Royal Father in heaven if you become crippled or worse, die? No, you'll be staying here to recover,"
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, I'm young and fit, my injuries will only take one or two weeks to heal. It's unfair to force Marquis Fu to investigate the rebels alone,"
"Enough," said The Empress, "Sang'er, put Prince Han in one of the side rooms to rest until Hwang taiyi arrives,"
"Yes, Your Highness," he said. Sang'er held out his arm to help his master stand up.
Prince Han stubbornly stayed in his chair.
"Go, Zhishi," said The Emperor.
Finally, Prince Han let Sang'er haul him up and away.
Everything The Empress wanted to say would to The Emperor be unwelcome at the moment.
Why can't you speak to him nicely?
Why can't Zhishi go a year without injury like this?
Isn't it time for Zhishi to marry and support you in court?
She asked all of these questions once, and only once.
Hwang taiyi entered the hall, with two assistants behind him. They kneeled in greeting.
"This lowly one wishes The Emperor peace. This lowly one wishes The Empress peace,"
"Rise," said The Emperor, "Prince Han is injured. Attend to him,"
Hwang taiyi stood and followed Zhang Wei to the side room.
The Emperor wiped at his face with a cloth.
"Ah," said The Empress, "Your Majesty, the astrology office predicted that this would be the hottest summer in years. I asked the kitchens to make you some plum shaved ice,"
A maid presented him with the cold treat.
The Emperor nodded and ate a spoonful, "Very fine tasting. Send some to Xianfugong for Xiang gui ren,"
"Yes,"
The Empress gripped her fan tightly. She didn't want to sit here listening to The Emperor create more trouble in the harem with his favor towards Xiang gui ren. She wanted to be in the side room, watching over Zhishi. Instead, she had to sit here and wait for news because His Majesty was very clear that the moment Zhishi turned 13 that he was no longer her child.
"You're sending Zhishi to Duke Shoushan to finish his education? The Duke's manor is in Jingzhou,"
"I know. The Duke is worthy of his title. Sending him there for a few years is for the best. He'll return a good servant for me to have in court,"
"Your Majesty, Jingzhou is too far away. Why not send for the Duke or grant him a manor in the capital? So–"
"Zhishi is no longer a child Empress. Your coddling has stunted him. You haven't even given a thought to his marriage, as old as he is. He needs to go,"
Zhishi had poked his head out of the carriage window then, as he began his journey to Jingzhou. The night before his departure was the last time he ever called her Royal Mother.
A few months after she and The Emperor had married, they received news that Zhishi's mother had been keeping company with an Imperial Guard. After Zhishi's birth she was demoted to a commoner and expelled from the palace. The guard was executed. A blood test had proven that Zhishi was indeed a child of the Aisin-Gioro clan but it was too late. The Late Emperor wanted nothing to do with the child of a sinner and The Empress Dowager felt no pity for the child.
Raising Zhishi was the first and last time The Empress openly defied her husband. The Emperor had told her to understand that the situation had nothing to do with her. The next day The Empress prostrated herself in front of The Empress Dowager and asked to raise Zhishi in their manor to restore harmony in the palace.
She didn't care about how cross The Emperor was with her. She didn't even care about the gifts he granted her after the ministers rallied around him to be titled crown prince after 'his' immense act of kindness. She had a child to love. It was all that mattered.
The Emperor's personal physician returned to them again.
"Hwang taiyi, what's wrong?" she asked.
"Replying to Your Highness, Prince Han was slashed by a sword and most likely had no time to clean the wound properly before departing. There is an infection,"
"Infection? Will he be very sick?"
"If Prince Han stays off his feet and follows my directions, the wound will close. He will be healed completely in a few months,"
The Emperor clenched his fist, "He's injured so badly?"
"His body is weary from travel and old injury, Your Majesty,"
"You may go," said the Empress.
She could tell by the look on The Emperor's face that he was furious at the turn of events. Zhishi was loyal, intelligent and put nothing above The Emperor, not even himself. To have such a vital servant out of commission for so long was a blow he wasn't happy to take.
However terrible it might have been, The Empress was elated. It had been so long since Zhishi had spent such a long interrupted stretch of time in the Forbidden City. She would care for him like wanted as long he was here.
✺
Later that evening in the bathing room of Zhongcuigong, Shen huang gui fei soaked in a five-twig† bath. Her dowry maid, Jingse kneeled behind her, combing sweet-smelling oils through her hair. Her other maid, A'Fang, ladled the fragrant water across her shoulders and arms.
"Your Highness, did you hear that Lian pin and Jiang gui ren went at it again today?" Asked A'Fang.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Shen huang gui fei raised an eyebrow, "They didn't have enough fun during the morning greetings?"
"Apparently, after Jiang gui ren's maid damaged His Majesty's body, Lian pin went and begged him for the Sichuan brocade he refused to give Jiang gui ren. Lian pin wore the outfit to visit Jiang gui ren and gifted her the leftover scraps,"
"Lian pin is always so vulgar," said Jingse said with a roll of her eyes.
"Then Jiang gui ren made fun of her for being unfavored and Lian pin said she lived in a whorehouse. Everyone said they were close to coming to blows!"
"Those two are so ill-mannered. The Empress will be too busy to lecture them when His Majesty hears of this so Her Highness will have to do it," groused Jingse.
A'Fang rolled her eyes and began to wipe at Shen huang gui ren's skin with a soft cloth, "The Empress always praises De gui fei for her conduct but never makes her do any grunt work. It's like she wants to work Her Highness to death!"
"A'Fang! Watch how you talk about The Empress," said Jingse.
The other maid pressed her lips shut, "Yes, jiejie,"
Shen huang gui fei closed her eyes and leaned back against the edge of the tub. A'Fang was right. The Empress' fat little eunuch, Huiqing, would scurry over bright and early tomorrow morning and suggest she have a conversation with the pair of loudmouths. The Empress wouldn't dare waste her precious time with such lowly tasks. Sighing, she pushed the thought from her mind. It was too special of a night to have The Empress' nonsense taint it.
It was her and The Emperor's 19th wedding anniversary. At 36 years old, the idea that she had been married for almost 20 years made her head spin. But it was the truth. 19 years ago, the wedding palanquin arrived at the Old Manor. Xue Lijuan had stepped through the side door, becoming a concubine of the crown prince.
Shen huang gui fei remembered crying buckets upon buckets of bitter tears on the way to the Old Manor. Yes, it was her dream to marry the man she walked step by step with her entire life. But it was her dream to be his wife. It was The Emperor's dream as well. How could it not, when he had sent the most auspicious red fabric to her family home? Everyone in the capital knew of them and their love story. The late Emperor had watched her grow up and loved her like his own. So when it was her turn to stand before him and The Empress Dowager during the wife selection, she couldn't believe her ears when she was given a consolation gift and sent away. The humiliation still stung so many years later. As a eunuch lead her and the other rejects out of the room, a new stream of girls passed by. Heading up the pack was Mongolian gêgê with her head held high. Shen huang gui fei couldn't have known that the girl would soon become her enemy.
"Your Highness, we should dress you now. His Majesty will be here soon," said Jingse, breaking her out of her reverie.
Shen huang gui fei let her maids dress her in the chenyi that she had crafted in the Sichuan brocade that The Emperor had given her. Her palace was decked out with red ribbons and lanterns. There was a wedding feast for two, set at the table. It looked exactly like her pavilion in the Old Manor the day she was married.
"Gêgê," Jingse whispered as she lead Lijuan's veiled figure to her new home, "His Lordship decorated your pavilion so beautifully. So much red!"
Lijuan nodded mournfully, knowing that even the most beautiful wedding decorations wouldn't dry her tears. Her rooms were decorated in red, while her wedding clothes were a pale pink††.
"Gêgê, don't cry. What will His Lordship say when he lifts your veil and your face is all puffy?"
Taking a deep breath, Lijuan let Jingse sit her down on her wedding bed.
"He won't be coming tonight, Jingse" replied Lijuan, "His Lordship and Fujin took 15th prince to pay respects to His Majesty and Her Highness. They'll probably spend the night,"
"Hmph, Fujin is so black-hearted. She took His Lordship away even knowing it was your wedding night," said A'Fang.
"Be quiet, A'Fang," Lijuan said, "No more talk about this. Help me undress so I can lie down,"
Lijuan didn't care that she was removing her veil on her own. Why would His Lordship do so? Lijuan wasn't even the first concubine accepted into his household. He hadn't even spoken to her since his wedding to Fujin two years ago.
There was a knock at the door. Lijuan glared at the door and jerked her head at it, "A'Fang go send them away. I don't want any food or drink. Tell them to leave alone,"
"Am I unwelcome, too?" A voice asked, stepping inside the room.
Jingse and A'Fang bowed to His Lordship as he stood in the center of the room, the silk of his red jacket glistening by the candlelight.
"Zhengshi," Lijuan whispered, struck almost speechless at the sight of him.
Marriage had been good to Zhengshi. He had filled out, finally grown into his too-big ears. Lijuan suddenly felt small and immature.
"My lord," Lijuan greeted, finally coming to her senses.
She could help but flinch when Zhengshi grasped her hand and helped her stand. He helped her sit at the dining table and sent the servants away. They sat in a stifled silence.
Zhengshi cleared his throat.
"Is the food not to your liking?"
"No, my lord,"
Silence again.
"You look well," he said.
Lijuan nodded. The words that she wanted to say to Zhengshi just moments ago had turned to ash in her mouth. Zhengshi looked around.
"Fujin spent some time decorating your rooms today. Do you like them?"
"Yes, my lord,"
"Lijuan, aren't you happy?"
"I'm not your fujin," She found herself whispering, "I'm not even your ce fujin. Zhengshi, how could I be happy?"
"Lijuan...my marriage was never about me, you know that,"
"I do know that. My family may not be the most prominent in court, but my mother and father served you and His Majesty sincerely for their entire lives. My father wanted to marry me off quickly to save face but no one would dare,"
"Lijuan–"
"You didn't acknowledge my family for two years. This feels...this feels like a punishment,"
Zhengshi sighed and reached across the table to grasp Lijuan's hand. She tried to pull away but he held firm.
"You deserved to marry a man who could love you earnestly. After marrying Fujin, do you think I would've had time to see or speak to you at all? I–I admit that I was too ashamed to face you after Royal Father sent you away, so I vowed that I would marry you when I could bring you to a home I was proud of. It was my incompetence that it took two years,"
Zhengshi sighed and bowed his head, "I'm sorry,"
Lijuan pursed her lips and stared down at their hands.
Zhengshi stood up and found the wedding veil that Lijuan had thrown on the floor. Holding the embroidered cloth aloft, he dropped to his knees in front of her.
"What are you doing? Get up!" Lijuan cried.
He refused, twisting away from her hands.
"Lijuan, let me do this properly. Please,"
"I–"
"Give me one last chance to love you properly,"
Shen huang gui fei decided to believe him and all these years later, she was his Imperial Noble Consort.
The red candles began to burn lower and lower as she sat at the dinner table, awaiting The Emperor's arrival.
"What hour is it now? Where's His Majesty?" She asked.
"His Majesty most likely was held up with state affairs, Your Highness,"
His Majesty had never been late to their anniversary dinners. Even when he suspected he would be late for any meeting between them, he would send Zhang Wei to inform her.
"Your Highness!" A familiar voice cried out in her courtyard, "Your Highness!"
Shen huang gui fei sighed. She wasn't in the mood to listen to Lian pin's bellyaching.
"Send her away," she ordered.
"Lian pin, huang gui fei can't be disturbed at this time. Please return to your palace," the eunuch outside the door spoke clearly.
"I'm not disturbing her, I'm informing her! Huang gui fei has been kind to me all these years, it's only right that I tell her this,"
"Your Highness Lian pin–"
"Xiang gui ren seduced His Majesty into her bed on this night of all nights! Don't you want justice for your mistress?!"
Loud gasps bounced around the room.
"How could His Majesty do this to you?" Said A'Fang, "Your late mother's flesh and blood runs through his veins and he abandons you on this night to entertain some chit he found on the side of the road?"
"Shut your mouth," hissed Jingse, "Your Highness," she said to her mistress, "Are you okay?"
Shen huang gui fei smiled through the sharp lance of pain that struck her heart, "Lian meimei," she called, "Come in and speak properly,"
Lian pin rushed in and clutched Shen huang gui fei's hands.
"Your Highness, I'm sorry for disturbing you but I had to let you know. Xiang gui ren put on such an innocent face this morning but she showed her true colors tonight,"
"His Majesty is over enjoyed that his love was delivered to the palace. How could I complain," Shen huang gui fei, "I've been with His Majesty since I was a child. One day makes little difference. We'll all have to get used to this new way of life with Xiang gui ren here,"
"Hmph, Your Highness is too kind. It's even worse that The Empress is condoning this. She sent eunuchs to Xiang gui ren's apartments with a fresh bowl of fertility medication. It would've taken all day to brew to have it ready right then. How can The Empress encourage such classless behavior?"
"Lian pin, Her Highness is tired," said Jingse.
"Ah, of course," Lian pin said, covering her mouth, "I've taken too much of your time this late at night. I'll take my leave,"
Shen huang gui fei surveyed her joyous room.
"Clean up in here," she said, "Jingse, I'm going to bed,"
Jingse walked her into the bedroom and closed the door behind them. She helped Shen huang gui fei out her layer of clothing before standing behind her to remove the accessories from her hair.
"Your Highness–"
"In the morning," she said.
Shen huang gui fei dreamt of the past that night.
It stunk. Trapped in the bed by her weak body, the smell of stale blood and medicinal smoke made Shen gui fei's eyes water. With what little strength she had, she dragged a limp hand over her stomach. Distended and stretched, but empty.
Tears rolled down her face. Would she be cursed to only bear a daughter in this lifetime? She felt foolish mourning the loss of the Second prince after he died of fever at only two years old. It was clear she wouldn't be lucky enough to have a child live that long again. Each pregnancy was less successful than the last. When the physician confirmed that she was pregnant all those months ago, Shen gui fei had done everything right. And yet here she was, in more pain than she had ever been before.
"You're awake then,"
She turned her head to see The Empress Dowager taking a seat by her bedside. Neither Jingse nor A'Fang were nearby so Shen gui fei tried to pay respects on her own.
The Empress Dowager held up a hand, "No need,"
She took a deep sigh, "Your family has served the clan for many years, Shen gui fei. Your mother bore five children. Both your younger and elder sisters have three children each. Isn't it strange that you could barely have two?"
Shen gui fei closed her and laid back on the bed, "It is this concubine's incompetence,"
"Yes it is," said The Empress Dowager, "Shen gui fei, what is this?"
In Jerjer's hands was a box full of folded medicine powders. Shen gui fei knew it was kept in the little kitchen, ready to be served to her with all her meals.
"Fetus stability medication,"
"Really? Who told you that?"
Shen gui fei stared at The Empress Dowager, her mouth slack. The two of them had never been close, even after she gave birth to His Majesty's first daughter.
"The Imperial Hospital,"
A small smile jumped onto The Empress Dowager's face before she covered it with her handkerchief, "When His Majesty conferred you as gui fei I had no objections because I thought you were a smart one. Seeing this, perhaps it's good you only have a daughter,"
Jerjer bowed her head, "Shen gui fei, this medicine does indeed contain fertility herbs, but also contains a large amount of crushed guang fang ji§. No pregnancy would survive this medication,"
Shen gui fei dragged herself upright and took the box from Jerjer. How many packets had she watched Jingse put in her food? How many times had she poisoned herself and her children, over and over and over again?
"Impossible," she said with a shake of her head, "No one would dare,"
"Impossible?" The Empress Dowager echoed back at her, "Look around you. Look at your empty belly. Tell me again that it's so impossible,"
With strength she knew she didn't have, Shen gui fei pelted the box across the room.
"Think closely. Who has the most to lose if you give birth to a prince?"
She woke up in a cold sweat but didn't bother to call for a maid. Her hand pressed against her belly. Six years ago, The Empress Dowager revealed The Empress' true face. Six years ago, she was conferred as His Majesty's Imperial Noble Consort. Her rise to power had started The Empress so badly that the other woman didn't hesitate to find someone to steal The Emperor's favor from her.
Shu pin.
Mu pin.
And now, Xiang gui ren.
His Majesty was kind. When The Empress' generals crashed and burned, he gave her face and treated her no differently but after so many years Shen huang gui fei could tell that little by little The Emperor was beginning to get sick of these little games.
Defeating those two were child play.
Xiang gui ren would be no different.
––––––––
*Imperial physician
†Cassia twig, pagoda twig, peach twig, willow twig and ephedra. Herbs that good for the body
††A pure red wedding outfit was reserved for the legal wife only
§Aristolochia Root, commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. Very dangerous to give to pregnant/breastfeeding women