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Translation: marchmallow
The rather spiritless peal of firecrackers blared out.
According to custom, the new bride should have crossed the threshold before the sound of firecrackers ceased, but extravagant though the imperial household was, they had not prepared in advance for such a circumstance. The firecrackers they had arranged had all petered out without any extras to keep going.
Since many had gotten wind of the First Prince’s wedding, a throng of passers-by had long surrounded the gate from outside, anticipating to scrounge for wedding coins.1 They naturally did not miss the incident. Witnessing that the groom had not showed up on his wedding day and that the bride obstinately remained inside the marriage sedan with no intention of stepping out, especially the former being an imperial prince, more and more people flocked over to spectate.
The stalemate persisted, eliciting subdued whispers from inside and outside the manor, either awaiting the First Prince’s appearance, or conjecturing what their next move could be.
“Still no word about Eldest Brother?” inquired Prince Wei with knitted brows.
At this point, Man Gui’s head had long imploded. He stammered, wishing to speak but swallowing back the words.
“What is it that you can’t say in front of us brothers? You were the one who looked for us, yet you won’t tell us clearly what’s going on. We will not concern ourselves with this matter any longer. You are on your own,” uttered Prince Wu in a totally unconcerned fashion, his expression aloof as he shook the folding fan in his hand.
Several other masters more or less thought the same. Realizing that he could no longer hide it, Man Gui fell on his knees with a loud thud.
“Your Highnesses, this slave also cannot do anything about it. Eldest Highness is in the manor, and someone has also found him. But he’s intoxicated. He, he won’t wake up, ah.”
……
On the other end, at Fanglan Courtyard.
The young eunuch Man Gui had sent to find the First Prince was barred from entering the door. Regardless of how vehemently he pleaded, no person would unlatch the inner door for him. Unlike the hubbub at the front court, this place was so eerily still that it would scare a person witless.
The young eunuchs executing the order were not the only ones shuddering with terror, but other servants serving this courtyard as well. They could not detect a single soul within the courtyard upon their entrance, but in actuality, all were skulking behind obscure corners, whispering amongst themselves about how audacious this Concubine Li was to have the gall to cover the sky.
But it was no use saying anything. At present, the First Prince was lying in someone else’s bed. Concubine Li also lent a hand in stirring him awake, but this attempt was futile, so the matter was left unresolved.
“You all leave. I’ve already told you that His Highness is drunk. Why are you still here pestering us?”
“But those at front are still waiting……” The young eunuch implored as though mourning his dead mother.
“Then let them wait.”
The woman’s coquettish voice floated out, light as a feather. No response followed afterwards.
Hearing this, those present stood gazing at each other in speechless despair.
“Better go back and report. There’s nothing we can do about this!” exclaimed one of the young eunuchs.
“Go. Anyway, if a big mess happens, it has nothing to do with us.”
Just as these few people thought of leaving, a woman garbed in red rushed in from outside the courtyard, her attire eather peculiar. Her movements were startlingly nimble and agile, and it felt like it only took her a blink of an eye to get there.
“Is the First Prince inside?”
The young eunuch, Shen Zi, subconsciously nodded his head. All of a sudden, he heard a loud bang. That person actually kicked the door open.
Yes, kicked it open. Because those inside refused to let him in, countless times had Sheng Zi harbored the desire to simply kick the door open, yet a woman did exactly just that.
What ensued was utter disorder. Soon afterwards, Princess Consort Wu and the others hastened over and stood helplessly outside listening to the yelling and the unceasing cries of pain from within.
Hardly had they managed a reaction when they saw that something was tossed out of the room.
Only when they observed closely did they realize that it was a charming and beautiful woman.
Right this moment, however, there was not a single trace of her alluring appearance. She was screeching like a pig prepared for slaughter. Probably because she had been thrown out too fiercely, she was unable to get up for quite a while.
“Make haste. Why are you still dallying? Quick, go and stop it,” commanded Princess Consort Wu.
“Who are you? Where did this shrew come from? Quick, someone come!” The First Prince’s enraged vociferations barged out from within the room.
Man Gui dashed inside with others in tow, but it seemed to have no effect. The shouts of anguish, yelling, and wailing persisted for a long time, until finally, the world recovered its serenity.
A while later, Sun-shi emerged from inside. She was enrobed in red, splendid and noble in form but also valiant and heroic in bearing.
“Seize her. Hang her up for me. Just hang her right there,” she ordered in a very natural manner while pointing to a pomegranate tree in the courtyard. Upon seeing that no one was moving, she raised her long and heroic brows, “What, is my order not enough to get you moving?”
One person moved, and others followed suit.
Quickly and efficiently, the ‘screeching pig’ was tied up like livestock ready for slaughter and was hanged on the thickest branch.
“This matter has nothing to do with me. It really has nothing to do with me. Ma liangdi, no, Side Consort Ma2 ordered me to do so……”
*
Sun-shi paid no heed to the person and uncompromisingly headed to the front courtyard.
This instant, all the guests in the front courtyard were caught up in chaos. A spectacle that the capital had not witnessed for many years was presented before everyone today.
The situation of a bridegroom not showing up during the wedding ceremony had happened before, but a bride refusing to step out of the marriage sedan was unprecedented. In the end, the bride actually lifted her own veil, got off the sedan chair, and burst into the First Prince’s Manor. With that overbearing appearance, it seemed that this matter would not end well. What a pity that those onlookers were hampered by the servants, prohibited from following her inside, while Princess Consort Wu and the rest of the sisters-in-law went to watch the great show.
So when Sun-shi appeared before them once more, everyone was numb to it, and whatever the following event might be would no longer evoke their surprise.
“Today, you have all witnessed this joke of a disturbance in the First Prince’s Manor. I’ve made you all laugh. His Majesty has bestowed this marriage between me and the First Prince. The wedding ceremony was merely a formality. Now that the ceremony has been completed, everyone can drink wine at the banquet. Everyone, apologies for my poor display of etiquette,” she announced. Sun-shi pointed to Man Gui who had followed her. “You, quickly go and invite the guests to the banquet.”
Man Gui was struck dumb for a moment before reacting to the fact that she was referring to himself and hastened forward to greet them.
Although no one knew what happened, it was evident that the First Prince was at fault. Though some might deem her arrogant and uncouth, as the bride, the First Princess Consort had the right to do so. Out of consideration for the situation, it would be unbecoming of them to further speak about it. Luckily, more people were appreciative of her.
Feng Sheng was among the latter.
She took the initiative to tell Princess Consort Wu and the others, “Let’s go to the rear court. Those female guests still need to be welcomed. Since Empress Mother has divided this matter among us, we should try to assist as best as we possibly can. As for Eldest Sister-in-law, you should quickly return to the bridal chamber. Today is your auspicious day with Eldest Brother, so how can you be allowed to personally tend to the guests?”
Sun-shi glanced at her, nodded, and permitted someone lead her to the rear court.
The female guests were welcomed into the banquet. The inerrant servants had been beaten, and only after everything was on the right path did Feng Sheng and Princess Consort Wu enter the banquet.
“Eldest Brother is truly preposterous. Had it been me, I would have been too ashamed to face people.”
“What do you think would happen if you’re too ashamed to face people? At a critical moment, one mustn’t shrink back as the time for battle nears. The way I see it, this new sister-in-law has quite a shrewish temper.”
“Perhaps today’s matter isn’t as simple as it seems. On a day of jubilation, Eldest Brother had gotten drunk in some little concubine’s room. What’s more, this little concubine actually prevented people from entering the door. Do you think it was Side Consort Ma’s doing?”
Princess Consort Wu and the others speculated. Women gossiped all the time, only that they couldn’t be too obvious in front of others. After witnessing such a universally astounding incident today, it was no wonder that they couldn’t restrain themselves from saying a few words.
“We probably don’t have to wait for anyone in attendance to spread the matter. Every person in the capital already knows about it,” remarked Princess Consort Qin with a sardonic grin, looking as though she was delighting in another’s misfortune.
“Let me just say that these little sluts truly are harbingers of misfortune. Merely for the sake of struggles in the inner court, they’d abandon their own manor’s reputation,” spat out Princess Consort Xiang.
Noticing her gnash her teeth as she uttered the words ‘little sluts’, it was evident that she had experienced no less suffering from such people. Feng Sheng once heard Princess Consort Liang say that the Xiang Prince Manor also wasn’t at peace.
Princess Consort Zhao said, “This method is truly so vile. Most people don’t have Eldest Sister-in-law’s guts. Should they encounter this kind of thing, there wouldn’t be much they could do except to silently endure all manner of insults and abuse.3 Those who have been running this manor for a long time have their own influence. The mistress was disgraced even before entering the household. How can she establish her prestige in front of everyone in the future? Once she loses power, she won’t be able to get up for the rest of her life. However, after today’s incident, it’s hard to tell what the outcome will be.”
“Alright, alright. Anyway, it’s not like it has anything to do with us.”
While Princess Consort Wu and the others were debating over there, Princess Consort Liang whispered to Feng Sheng, “I’ve always felt that every family has problems that are difficult to say out loud. Those in my manor are troublesome enough, but I absolutely never expected Eldest Brother’s manor to be like this.”
Feng Sheng smiled, not knowing what to answer.
In reality, among these princes, with neither concubines nor bed servants, perhaps only the Wei Prince Manor was the most tranquil. None of the other manors were truly serene. Even Prince Liang had several little concubines in the manor, and as far as Feng Sheng knew, it also wasn’t harmonious. Otherwise, Princess Consort Liang wouldn’t be so anxious to get pregnant. Shortly after she gave birth to a daughter, she was once again with child. She was even more apprehensive this time, probably because of the exigency of giving birth to a legitimate eldest son.
“She is a clever one. After the incident earlier, no one will chastise her even if she is at fault.”
“It was nothing but a move done for the lack of a better option. It really is just as you said. What a pity,” sighed Feng Sheng.
*
In the end, she was their eldest sister-in-law. Maybe Empress Chen attached great importance to her, or maybe she wanted to entrench the First Prince’s dignity as the eldest son in front of everyone. Empress Chan ordered someone to deliver a message to every manor in advance, and when Feng Sheng and the other princess consorts went to Kunning Palace the next day, they met Sun-shi there again.
Sun-shi’s expression was calm and unperturbed, her complexion was excellent, and not a trace of exhaustion could be detected on her face, appearing as if she had not taken yesterday’s incident to heart. In any case, she seemed to have outstanding upbringing, and there was not a single thing to nitpick about her etiquette. It suddenly made people believe that the shrew they had witnessed yesterday was merely an illusion.
Empress Chen was also aware of yesterday’s joke, but it appeared as though she had no intention to rebuke the First Princess Consort. On the contrary, she loathed Side Consort Ma to the extreme and ordered Fu Chun to head to the First Prince’s Manor even with everyone present.
“Empress Mother, I fear that it won’t be any good. After all, Ma-shi has children to raise,” urged Princess Consort Wu after a moment of hesitation.
“Children to raise? Many have produced sons and heirs for the imperial family, yet not a single one has been as insolent and as unscrupulous as her. His Majesty bestowed this marriage. What did she, Ma-shi, want to achieve by interfering with it like she did? On the surface, it may seem like she’s hitting Sun-shi’s face, but in reality, she’s actually hitting my and your Imperial Father’s faces!”
Vicious currents of rage spread across Empress Chen’s face. Princess Consort Wu immediately dared not utter another word.
Feng Sheng was slightly unable to grasp the meaning behind her paroxysm, but Empress Chen’s succeeding words caused her to quiver.
“In the future, you will raise Ma-shi’s three children. Empress Mother will deal with this vile person and only expects you to manage the manor’s affairs well in the future. If there are still those who keep being preposterous, do not hesitate to report them to me.”
These words were for Sun-shi. Sun-shi lowered her head and answered, “Yes.”
“Alright, you all disperse. Sun-shi stays.”
The group of people filed out, while Feng Sheng and Princess Consort Liang slackened their pace.
One was trudging with low spirits, while the other was lost in thought.
“What are you thinking about?” pried Princess Consort Liang with her voice lowered as they stepped out of the main gate of Kunning Palace.
“What did Fu Chun do——”
For a moment, Princess Consort Liang was stumped for words. She then said with a smile, “Third Sister-in-law, do you not know what Fu Chun did? I forgot that Third Sister-in-law isn’t from a family such as ours, so it’s not strange that you don’t understand.” She pulled Feng Sheng to her side and softly continued, “Fu Chun was ordered to do something. That Ma-shi only has three options: poisoned wine, white silk, or a dagger.”
“You mean to say——bestow death?”
Princess Consort Liang nodded. “This thing happens in every manor. Ma-shi will unlikely have a good end this time, only that it’s such a sudden death. I also never expected Empress Mother to be so cruel to actually impel Ma-shi to commit suicide. That Ma-shi still has two sons and a daughter to raise.”
This one, Feng Sheng could actually comprehend a little. It seemed that Empress Chen also knew that the First Prince’s rear court had reached a point where there was no other choice but to rectify it. His Majesty bestowed this marriage, yet they had the impertinence to interlope in it. On the surface, they asserted that Side Consort Ma had done it, but in fact, Feng Sheng surmised that it might have been another person.
After all, how could a person who survived in the East Palace and gave birth to three children be the type of fool who would blatantly instigate people to hamper the new mistress? But regarding yesterday’s affairs, they did not allow Side Consort Ma to refute, as no one would listen to her. Today, Empress Chen ordered her to commit suicide. It seemed that Empress Chen knew in her heart that something about it was peculiar, but she also refused to get involved with it.
This was a display of killing the chicken to warn the monkey. Firstly, it was to admonish the women in the First Prince’s rear court, and secondly, it was to establish Sun-shi’s prestige.
In fact, Feng Sheng was thinking that, if Empress Chen had made such a decision long ago, perhaps the First Prince’s rear court would not be in such a mess. Unfortunately, there were no ifs in most cases. If they were not compelled to such a desperate situation, how could Empress Chen have abandoned her long-running image?
“But the children are pitiful.”
“Third Sister-in-law has a compassionate heart. Since Ma-shi dared to do such a thing, she should’ve been aware of the possibility that she would fall through and stand exposed.”
Hearing Princess Consort Liang speaking so calmly and flatly in contrast to her occasionally sheepish appearance, Feng Sheng inwardly sighed. In the end, they were of different backgrounds, and the other was accustomed to these ‘regular’ methods. Such a realization made her feel as though a fishbone was stuck in her throat.
Feng Sheng noticed that Princess Consort Liang’s expression changed subtly. Following her line of sight, she saw Sun-shi sauntering to where they were.
Sun-shi did not evade them and instead walked directly in front of them.
“Many thanks for yesterday.”
Feng Sheng chuckled and replied, “What thanks? It was nothing but a deed done out of duty. The First Prince’s Manor didn’t have a mistress to run its affairs, so Empress Mother ordered us to lend a bit of a hand.”
Sun-shi said nothing more. She nodded her head and strode past them, leaving Princess Consort Liang and Feng Sheng there to watch her departing figure.
“This person is extremely capable, just that……”
Just that fate was cruel to her. What a pity.
1 These are money that the family gives to celebrate the wedding. It’s probably similar to the candy that modern weddings give, instead it’s money.
2 Not that it matters, but a liangdi is a title reserved only for a crown prince’s side consort (a concubine second only to the crown princess/main wife). Since the First Prince is no longer the crown prince, the concubine quickly changed her address to Side Consort Ma.
3 打落牙齿和血吞: Literally: knock out (the) teeth (and) mix (with) blood (, then) swallow (both teeth and blood mixed together); to silently endure all manner of insults and abuse