Character Index
Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and Minister of the Office of Censure. Formerly the Emperor's teacher.
Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince, a primary contender for the throne. Married to Cao Shuyi, who comes from a clan of healers and teachers.
Ashina: Princess of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, Kayla's wife.
Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince, currently implicated in accusations against his uncle Shu Yunsong.
Li Que: A Senior Investigator of the Imperial Investigation Bureau, has been on Kayla's side for a while now.
Chen Jian: Li Que's protege and Chen Caichun's older brother. Unlike his younger sister, he lacks political acumen but has very sharp instincts.
Tabuyir: A Senior Investigator of the Imperial Investigation Bureau, dual-appointed as a Vice-Censor. Kayla's supporter, he sent his nephew into her household as a sign of his sincerity.
Duan Wuxie: A Senior Investigator of the Imperial Investigation Bureau.
Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince, a contender for the throne.
First and Second Prince: Children of the deposed Empress Gongsun, they were exiled and stripped of their princely statuses. Despite popular belief, it was in fact due to political reasons and not personal ones that the Emperor took such drastic action.
Housekeeper Li: One of Kayla's servants.
Yilie: Tabuyir's nephew, a Khitan teenager.
Qazar: Nephew of the Sixth Princess, a teenage boy who serves as a hostage from the Uyghur tribe.
Kulun: A tarkhan of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, held in close confidence by the Khagan.
----------------------------------------
“Ridiculous!”
The Emperor tossed the scroll aside in vexation. “What an embarrassment! The subjects of my court have turned to forgery like common criminals!”
“We await your wise judgment, Your Majesty,” Wei Guang replied, bowing his head. Kayla followed suit.
The Emperor let out a sharp sigh. “How discouraging! If we see the larger picture from the small, then almost every grievance report we’ve received thus far is falsified! It hardly bodes well for the reporting system.”
“It’s only a temporary phenomenon, Uncle. The people aren’t used to such an idea yet and are wary of whether or not they can trust in it, while those who have something to lose are determined to overwhelm and sabotage the policy,” Kayla assured him. “But once we show that your judgment is swift and just, the public’s support and trust will surely rise accordingly.”
“These disloyal subjects who dare to detract from Your Majesty’s magnanimity must be harshly punished,” Wei Guang jumped in.
“Indeed, I’ll kill the rooster as a warning to the apes,” the Emperor said in a low voice. “To act so brazenly against my wishes, they must think me a fool!”
Kayla bowed her head slightly. “Uncle, these scum act with such impunity because they believe themselves untouchable. That either we would fail to prove their guilt, or that their guilt would only be punished with a slap on the wrist. The true extent of the sabotage is far beyond what we have presented here, hence all the more reason to leverage our current culprits for all they’re worth.”
“What do you have in mind?” The Emperor asked.
“Seize the full assets of the implicated clans and exile all the officials who currently hold a post, save for those who have a spotless record,” Kayla replied. “More importantly, those implicated should have their descendants barred from serving in the government or military, save for as foot soldiers, for at least three generations. I believe that this would be sufficient to send a clear message to the others.”
Wei Guang jumped in right on cue, following the script they’d agreed on beforehand.
“That is clear and well, Wenyuan, but perhaps too harsh.”
“Too harsh? But godfather, with all due respect, it’s already rather lenient for the crime of deliberately sabotaging an Imperial policy!” Kayla protested.
Wei Guang shook his head. “It will cow them, yes, but it’s not sufficient to sow seeds of discord and doubt in the hearts of the clans. We must have them turn their vitriol inwards, not outwards.”
“Then what do you propose?” The Emperor asked.
“Have them report on each other. Demand the name of the ringleader, and afford that clan the punishment Wenyuan has proposed. For those who reported them, there will be clemency–only the clan members who directly participated will be fined and imprisoned for less than a year. For the other implicated clans who failed to report, afford a similarly harsh punishment as to the ringleader,” Wei Guang replied. "In fact, that's the tactic that you've used before yourself, Wenyuan. It'll suit our purposes well."
“And if there isn’t a ringleader?” Kayla prodded.
“Then they must create one,” Wei Guang replied. “The point is not to uncover the true culprit, but to ensure that the trust between the clans grows tenuous and weak, so that they cannot unite against the policies as one. Your Majesty, I await your wise decision.”
“Your idea bears merit,” the Emperor agreed. “Wenyuan, what do you think?”
“Godfather’s plan is more sophisticated–I am in agreement,” Kayla replied. “Though I’ll admit that I was hoping to finance at least part of the reform through these punishments, I suppose that a divided nobility will be easier to deal with in the long run.”
“Indeed, we must expect the magic to come from somewhere,” The Emperor considered it a moment longer. “Then I’ll follow Teacher’s advice. Wenyuan, I’ll leave it to you.”
“I’ll do my best.”
The Emperor nodded approvingly and turned his attention back to the scroll.
“You’ve had a lot of help from these county magistrates,” he commented, gesturing at a row of names.
“Credit where credit’s due,” Kayla replied. “Even if I sent out every Imperial Investigator in the country, it would be impossible to verify the truthfulness of every single location. But even if it were within a few select localities, it would not have been possible to gain such detailed knowledge of the place within such a short time unless we received help from the county magistrates. Unfortunately, of the men we reached out to, some were too slow and inefficient to be of help, others entirely ignorant of their own county’s status save for a few vague approximations. Still others entirely ignored us, either because they themselves were overwhelmed with complaints, or because they simply were refusing to cooperate.”
“These men ought to be rewarded,” the Emperor replied. He frowned slightly before extending the scroll towards Kayla. “Wenyuan, as Director of the Bureau, you ought to know this better than I do. Aren’t most of these men clients of Kuang’s father-in-law?”
“They are,” Kayla said without hesitation. “As I mentioned before, credit where credit’s due. I won’t deny that the Third Prince’s relations were helpful just to preserve the image of my neutrality.”
The report had been carefully worded and reworded with Wei Guang’s expertise–it had been designed to send out all the right signals without ever casting suspicion upon their neutrality.
“Of course,” the Emperor replied, looking rather pleased with her response. He fell deep into thought, staring at the scroll pensively.
“And has my son asked anything of you in return?” The Emperor asked, not raising his head from the scroll. “Speak freely, it will not be held against you.”
“No, Uncle. The answer honestly surprises me as much as it might surprise you,” Kayla replied. “But my cousin has done his due diligence without demanding repayment where it is not due.”
The Emperor gave her an amused glance. “You don’t consider it a favor?” He asked teasingly.
Kayla shook her head. “My cousin is generous and dutiful, but that is simply what he ought to be as a prince. If I praise him, it would only lower the standard to which his character already upholds.”
“No praise then?”
“And no repayment,” Kayla replied, bowing her head slightly. “If Uncle approves.”
“I approve!” The Emperor laughed gaily, reaching out to pat Kayla’s shoulder before turning back to the scroll. Wei Guang gave Kayla a subtle look of approval so quickly that she barely caught it at all.
“Excellent.” The Emperor set down the report. “Excellently done, all of you. I’m very pleased with how well you’ve dealt with this.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Wei Guang and Kayla said in unison.
“Bring my compliments to each of your subordinates–Wenyuan, be sure to tell the Ministry of Justice as well–and think of an appropriate reward for the county magistrates. It ought to be ostentatious, but not overdone.”
“As you wish, Uncle.”
“One more thing, Wenyuan. I hate to pile work on you when you’ve a new bride to think of, but it can’t be helped,” the Emperor said. “I’ll be sure to make it up to you two later on.”
“Not at all, Uncle. It’s an honor for me and my household to receive your assignment,” Kayla replied.
“Clear up the mess with Yunqi as quickly as possible, will you? It doesn’t look good for a prince to have open charges dangling over his head, even if they’re flimsy ones,” the Emperor said meaningfully.
He wants the charges thrown out! Kayla’s heart skipped with excitement, but she carefully hid her reaction behind a dutiful mask and bowed her head.
“As you wish, Uncle. I’ll see it done as swiftly as possible.”
“Good, good. Then as for the idea of the theater troupes…what on earth brought that to mind?” The Emperor asked. The discussion drifted onto the new topic, having already accomplished everything that Kayla and Wei Guang had wanted.
----------------------------------------
Within the next few days, the public prosecutions of thirteen clans in the Henan Circuit for the falsification of grievance reports had the capital abuzz. The news quickly spread into the surrounding regions as well.
“Shame on the Mu clan, the grandfather was such a good man too!” A middle-aged washerwoman lamented to her daughter-in-law. “Now they’ll make this whole county look bad!”
The daughter-in-law snorted as she pounded the clothes against a large stone before dipping them into the river and swooshing them about.
“What was so good about the grandfather? Raising his sons to be such scum is sinful enough!”
The washerwoman let out a huff but couldn’t find any reason to disagree.
A few miles upstream, a cloaked man desperately tried to act discreet, failing spectacularly as he struggled with a heavy box. His companions were equally unsuccessful at discretion, making the group stand out all the more. The group had evidently been chosen based on trust rather than by ability.
“Halt! In the name of the Imperial Investigation Bureau, you are to submit to a search of your person and belongings!” A young man emerged from seemingly nowhere, a terror-inspiring mask on his face. The young Investigator had in fact been blending in with the crowd until now, dressed as a civilian, but to the people around him, it felt as though he had simply come into existence abruptly.
The group squealed and squeaked as they scattered, the cloaked man dropping the box to the ground. It hit a rock and tipped over, the lid spilling open to show the valuables inside.
The young Investigator pinned the flailing man to the ground, lifting a communication device to his mouth.
“I have the young master of the Ying clan here attempting to make off with his valuables,” he reported. He listened intently to the orders and nodded. “Understood.”
Turning back to the man on the ground, the young Investigator gave an unseen smile.
“Ying Qian, you’re hereby under arrest!” He raised his voice slightly to ensure the onlookers who remained a safe distance away could hear him. “You are charged with forging false grievance reports in an attempt to sabotage the implementation of an Imperial edict, and thereby stand accused of bribery, tax evasion, forgery, and contempt of the throne. If you wish to save yourself, you’ll cooperate properly and give up your collaborators!”
Satisfied that he’d given the public enough of a show, the Investigator dragged Ying Qian away, two of his coworkers once more materializing from seemingly nowhere to confiscate the valuables on the ground. All three disappeared as abruptly as they had left, leaving an ocean of shocked murmurs and whispers behind them.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“I’m packing Ying Qian off to the capital then,” the young Investigator reported. “He’s taking the main road as per your request.”
On the other end of the communication device, Li Que nodded with grim satisfaction at his subordinate’s report.
“Are you using the prisoner cart?” Li Que demanded.
“Yes, of course.”
“Good. Put a sign on the cart so that people can know what this is about,” Li Que ordered. “Write the characters bigger. The Director wants to give a good show.”
“Understood!”
Li Que closed the communication device and turned to Chen Jian.
“Go on, you were saying?”
“The guys we arrested are all accusing one another of being the ringleader, but none of them are repeating the same names,” Chen Jian complained. “Can’t I just leave an opening for them to conspire so they can choose one?”
“Absolutely not, the point is to keep them separate from each other,” Li Que said in exasperation. “The Director specifically warned us against allowing them to pass information between themselves. Have some patience and stop trying to cut corners. There’s still a few more arrests to make anyway, I’m sure they’ll give you something useful.”
“Alright,” Chen Jian said, disgruntled.
“And take good notes. Remember, we’re submitting the transcripts for this one,” Li Que warned. “None of them should be able to deny any of the accusations they made against the others.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got it,” Chen Jian replied over his shoulder as he headed back to the interrogation rooms. He nodded at a few of his coworkers as he headed down the hall, stopping abruptly to dip his head in greeting at Tabuyir.
“Keep up the good work,” Tabuyir said. The younger Investigators nodded fervently. Tabuyir gave a few friendly pats on the back as he headed towards the inner rooms of the Bureau. The number of Investigators dwindled, most lacking the clearance to enter the high-security areas.
“Senior Investigator Duan,” Tabuyir greeted his old friend.
“Vice-Censor,” Duan Wuxie returned the greeting in a teasing voice.
“Don’t be like that, I’m no outsider,” Tabuyir protested half-heartedly before settling into business. “Update me on the princes’ movements, will you?”
Duan Wuxie gave a small shake of his head. “I reckon you’ll have to move much quicker if you want to stay a step ahead,” he warned. “The princes haven’t been waiting around idly for the investigation to wrap up.”
Tabuyir sighed sharply. “We can’t help it. No matter how fast we act, it’s a matter of the civil court. Even at the fastest speed, it’ll take a while to process the charges and carry out the sentences. But at least the false reports have stopped coming in. In fact, barely any reports are coming in now.”
“Can’t be helped, the people are obviously afraid,” Duan Wuxie said mildly. “But with all these high-profile arrests, I doubt it’ll last long. The Director had all these nobles brought over in prisoner carts, half the country will know of this within ten days.”
“But if he doesn’t crush their families, they’ll never stop hounding us,” Tabuyir replied.
The two fell into an uneasy silence for a moment.
“What news on the princes’ households?” Tabuyir asked, breaking the taut moment.
“The Fifth Prince is still in ill health, and the Third Prince has raised issue with the Imperial Healers as a result,” Duan Wuxie reported. “The Empress Dowager was not pleased.”
The two exchanged a grimace.
“But the Fifth Prince’s health has indeed improved overnight after switching healers,” Duan Wuxie said. “Notably, it’s a healer from the Cao clan.”
“The Third Prince’s in-laws,” Tabuyir muttered. The two shared a knowing look. It was hard to say whether it was a good thing or not that the Fifth Prince was recovering–but it certainly made the Empress Dowager lose face for him to do so now.
“What response from the palace then?”
“None.” Duan Wuxie breathed in sharply before continuing. “But the Third Prince has not been doing anything out of the ordinary recently–we’ve noted constant correspondence between him and officials in the provinces, but they’re all no higher-ranking than a county magistrate and it’s nothing new for him, so I’d say there’s little to report there.”
“No correspondence with the nobles?”
“No more than usual.”
“Good. Nothing to report is always a good thing. What about the Seventh Prince?”
“Not so good,” Duan Wuxie said drily. “He’s been aggressively pushing for the complete destruction of all those implicated in the forgeries, along with their clans. Here, take a look for yourself. He’s been circulating his thoughts quite broadly among the impoverished literati and ruined nobles since last night. I sent the Director a brief update, but it might be better to just take the scroll to him.”
Tabuyir took the offered scroll, letting out a curse as he read through it. “Their sons must be sent into exile, their daughters into servitude of the state?” He glanced up sharply at Duan Wuxie. “He’s fanning the flames.”
“A radical position’s well-taken at a time like this,” Duan Wuxie replied. “It matches the more vicious trends in public opinion. A good platform for gaining support and riling up sentiments, if nothing else.”
“He’s making an enemy of the nobles,” Tabuyir muttered.
Duan Wuxie shrugged. “ I suppose it doesn’t matter to him. After all, their power bases are all in the provinces, and if the people are incensed enough, they’ll be in great danger. They’d have to ally themselves with the Seventh Prince to avoid getting burned by the flames, or at least that seems to be the reasoning here.”
“Surely he can’t be that inflammatory? I certainly hope not,” Tabuyir asked. “The last thing we need is a prince being accused of inciting revolt–we’d be damned no matter what we do in the investigations.”
“Who knows? He’s a controversial man,” Duan Wuxie said. “The real question we should be asking is whether the Director can keep him in line.”
The first thing that came to mind when a provincial farmer was asked about Kuang was a wise, just prince. A trustworthy, reliable image. But the first thing that came to mind for Xianchun varied greatly. The Seventh Prince’s reputation for being harsh and uncompromising against corruption, greatly exaggerated by the rumors, made him popular with many fed-up young men. But for many others, Xianchun was a greater source of unease than of hope.
“If the Seventh Prince’s message is successful, then the situation at court will grow even more unstable,” Duan Wuxie said. “You’d do well to advise the Director to take him seriously.”
“If we are fated to live through chaotic times, nothing can prevent it,” Tabuyir replied. He caught Duan Wuxie’s uneasy look and smiled. “I’ll pass on the message, my friend. Now what about the…” He glanced over at the shelf that contained the reports on the First and Second Princes. “About Sir Zhou and his brother?”
“Nothing noteworthy,” Duan Wuxie said. “No visitors, no messages, no communications with anyone other than the peasants who live near them.”
“The situation’s too volatile right now, they can’t be allowed to enter the fray,” Tabuyir said. “The Director wants us to intercept anything and anyone who approaches them–don’t even take statements or names, just make the interlopers disappear. If Sir Zhou and his brother are implicated in anything right now, their lives are forfeit.”
“I’ll convey the orders to the men.”
Tabuyir nodded. “Thank you.”
----------------------------------------
Ashina glanced about the garden from the couch she reclined on, trying to act as though she were imperiously surveying it with a nonchalant eye. It wouldn’t do for her to act like a bumbling newcomer if she wanted to establish her authority in the household. Princess she was, but Ashina had heard enough horror stories from her female relatives to know that status alone didn’t account for everything in the intricate household politics of a powerful family.
“My princess, are there any adjustments you would like to make to the garden?” Housekeeper Li asked quietly.
“Not at the moment,” Ashina replied.
“The trees over there are a bit overgrown, but we chose not to trim them for the shade they provide in summer. However, if you would like for them to look tidier…” Housekeeper Li offered, directing Ashina’s attention to a few trees in a far corner of the garden.
“Never mind that. The gardeners need a place to rest in the shade when summer comes,” Ashina said.
“Your Highness is truly benevolent and gracious,” Housekeeper Li replied.
Ashina examined the trees curiously, her eyes catching on what appeared to be a human figure.
“What’s that?” Ashina asked sharply.
“Pardon?”
“Who’s that? You! Show yourself!” Ashina snapped. A frightened squeak came from afar, and the face of Wenyuan’s Uyghur hostage emerged from behind a branch.
“I-I beg your pardon!”
There was a soft rustling as another figure retreated.
“Yilie, get back here!” Ashina called, blindly casting her guess. To her relief, she’d guessed correctly. A sheepish Yilie slunk back into sight.
Ashina scowled at the two teenagers. “Help get your friend down. If you’re in this together, at least have the decency to stick together,” she said flatly.
The two boys looked suitably chagrined, and Yilie dutifully helped Qazar down from the tree.
“Apologies, Your Highness. We didn’t know you’d be here today,” Qazar said shyly, avoiding Ashina’s eyes.
“I…I apologize for my lack of oversight,” Housekeeper Li said, shooting the two boys a sharp look.
“Never mind that. Are the two of them even trained in martial arts?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Ashina shot Qazar a disbelieving look. “You’re a grandson of the Uyghur chieftain and you’re not trained?”
Qazar glanced down sheepishly. “I was sickly as a child.”
“Then don’t go around climbing trees if you can’t land safely,” Ashina ordered. "Have one of the guards teach you if you must."
She waved a hand in dismissal and the two bowed before scampering off. Ashina glanced over to Housekeeper Li subtly, relaxing slightly at the approving look on the woman’s face.
“That was very thoughtful of you, Your Highness.”
Ashina and Housekeeper Li both turned to look over. Kulun had silently made his way into the garden. Ashina gave Housekeeper Li a small nod and the woman left.
“Kulun-tarkhan, have you made the preparations for your return trip?” Ashina asked, her stomach sinking. She had no lost love for the man, but she felt strangely vulnerable now that he was leaving.
“Almost, my princess. There’ll be a few days yet,” Kulun replied. “But I’m afraid that there won’t be many chances for us to meet alone.”
“I suppose,” Ashina said.
“I’m glad that you seem to be adjusting well, Your Highness,” Kulun said.
Ashina nodded a little uncertainly. Wenyuan was always courteous, and the servants always respectful. But the distance between her and her husband remained stubbornly the same. It failed to shrink through the awkwardness of getting to know each other in the first few days of cohabitation like it did for most arranged marriages–-Wenyuan always accommodated her without hesitation. Ashina had a premonition that the distance between them may very well never decrease or increase, always kept exactly the same by Wenyuan’s effort if not by hers.
Kulun seemed to sense Ashina’s unease and softened with sympathy.
“It will surely take some time to get used to living in the Wu Dynasty, but your family will always be thinking of you,” Kulun said. “It’s not so far as that–we all live beneath the same sky.”
“I know,” Ashina said, a little petulantly. “Bring my love and well-wishes to my father, since he evidently does not wish me to use the communication device often.”
“I will most certainly do so,” Kulun assured her. “Your father only worries for your safety and political position here in the Wu, it is certainly not for lack of love that he asks this of you.”
“I don't need you to tell me that,” Ashina said, her patience eroding in an instant. “Do you think this is the first day I’ve known him?”
“Of course. Your father expressed his wishes to enter negotiations with your husband,” Kulun said, quickly changing the topic.
“What? Even with how rude he was?” Ashina demanded.
“The Khagan is not displeased to have a son-in-law with a strong spirit,” Kulun replied. “But before we talk terms with Duke Zhao, we need more information on him. My princess, can you try to find out where he procures his nullification talismans?”
“Why do you need to know his supplier?” Ashina wondered. “Well, I’ll have Derin check the books.”
“I doubt it’ll be written in a contract,” Kulun said apologetically. “Duke Zhao nullified magic within a mile’s radius in Daizhou, that’s beyond the scope that should be possible with a talisman.”
A mile? Ashina had little knowledge of talismans, but she knew enough to know that it was beyond the scope of most military-level talismans.
So he has access to the armory too? That’s beyond the clearance that a civil official would have, even one so close to the Emperor!
“And you’re only telling me this now?!” Ashina hissed.
“I’m sure you understand the significance of this, my princess. We need to be prepared for any contingencies, including the case that you may need to flee the Wu–we cannot be suitably prepared unless we know what we may face,” Kulun said.
“The Emperor dotes on him, perhaps it was a gift,” Ashina replied in a small voice.
“Perhaps, but we need to know for sure,” Kulun said, his voice gentle but firm.
“I’ll try,” Ashina promised.
“Thank you, my princess. I ought to take my leave now, I’ll be by to see you again once time allows,” Kulun said.
Ashina’s heart fell, knowing that it would likely be when the delegation returned to the Khaganate. She would be present, of course, but hand in hand with Wenyuan.
This might really be the last time I speak face-to-face with him, Ashina realized. It wasn’t as though she liked him, but he was one of her father’s men. It might be the last time I can meet someone who’s even close to my father, much less father himself.
A surge of homesickness overwhelmed her, and Ashina belatedly realized why the women had wept when she’d bid her father goodbye the morning of her departure. She had cried too, but it hadn’t really sunk in at the time. The weight of it crashed down on her now, and Ashina clenched her hands into her robes.
Kulun seemed to understand. He did not move to leave, but patiently remained before her, a solid and reassuring presence.
Ashina forcibly collected herself, breathing in deeply.
“Thank you, Kulun-tarkhan. It was good to speak with you,” Ashina said. Kulun stepped closer and knelt, bowing his head to the hem of her robes.
“My princess, I wish you happiness, prosperity, and longevity,” he said earnestly. “Know that if you are ever in need of help, the agents in the capital will stop at nothing to assist you.”
“Thank you. My father is blessed to have such a loyal subject,” Ashina replied, the words coming out serene and regal. It seemed to her that someone else was speaking through her mouth, but the feeling came and went.
Kulun straightened, bowed again, and took his leave. Ashina was left alone in the beautiful garden, feeling more lonely than she ever had before.
----------------------------------------
Cultural Notes
杀鸡儆猴/Kill the chicken to show the apes: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to make an example out of someone.
重罪轻罚/Serious crime light punishment: A Chinese phrase.
三代不得入朝/Three generations may not enter public service: An Ancient Chinese punishment that effectively barred a family from social mobility. Though one might still make their fortunes through being a merchant, merchants were looked down upon in the highly agricultural Ancient China as not producing anything useful and merely making their money off other people's work.
离间计/Stratagem of sowing discord between your enemies: An Ancient Chinese phrase, the equivalent of divide and conquer.
圣上嘉奖/Praise from His Majesty: Held great symbolic importance in Ancient China, where reputation could get you a long way.
河南道/Henan Circuit: An administrative region in Ancient China, close to Luoyang.
捣衣砧/Pounding stone for laundry: In Ancient China, laundry was often done by beating clothing against a hard surface in running water.
囚车/Prisoner cart: In Ancient China, prisoner carts were often large cages in which a manacled prisoner would be displayed to bystanders en route to his execution or sentence. Was not always used, as prisoners were often expected to walk.
入掖庭/Enter Imperial Palace as indentured servants as a punishment: An Ancient Chinese punishment often reserved for the women and children of a family that has committed a serious crime, where they would be forced into indentured servitude inside the Inner Palace, often for manual labor. Though it was not impossible for a woman to gain the Emperor's attention and thus become a consort, this was often a degrading and difficult life to endure for the vast majority of people.