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Translation: marchmallow
Feng Sheng knew a little about the rules of the palace.
Prior to the grand wedding, the two old momo had taught her how to curtsy should she encounter someone. However, she was a princess consort. Only very few people in the world could make her curtsy.
After entering the palace, Prince Wei forged ahead to the Qianqing Palace to see the Jianping Emperor, while Feng Sheng was ushered to the Kunning Palace. Prince Wei had assured her not to worry, and that Empress Chen would not treat her badly, but anxiety still brewed in Feng Sheng’s heart.
It wasn’t that she was afraid, but rather, she somewhat loathed the situation at present. The circumstances once again weighed on her mind. Since she was already there, she might as well accept it. To exhaust her thoughts over it would be pointless.
When she arrived at the Kunning Palace, she was quickly called in.
The palace maids led her to the main hall. All the way from the entrance, one could behold the imperial family’s imposing and majestic prestige.
Poised on the phoenix seat was Empress Chen attired in a bright yellow informal robe, and on her head was a crown of six dragons and three phoenixes.1 She appeared to be around forty years of age. She wouldn’t count as beautiful, but her superior bearing was graceful and imposing.
“This daughter2 joins Empress Mother. Wishing Empress Mother good fortune, long life, health and peace.”
With a smile on her face, Empress Chen nodded and said, “Rise. Give her a seat.”
The palace maids on the side promptly delivered and positioned a stool behind Feng Sheng. She slowly sat down, thanking Empress Chen halfway through.
Empress Chen peered at her.
From the moment Feng Sheng stepped into the palace hall, Empress Chen had been observing her.
Beautiful though her visage was, her calm bearing was far more noteworthy. Empress Chen had never once used the word ‘bearing’ to refer to a woman’s disposition, but she felt as though it was the word most apt to describe her.
Moreover, the ceremonial attire of a titled woman would typically subdue its wearer. People would usually be more drawn to the attire rather than the person enrobed in it. Nevertheless, Empress Chen for the first time witnessed someone donning this ceremonial attire in such a way that the clothes and the wearer complemented each other.
“Now that Yue’er has married well, this palace is free of worries. His fate had also been quite miserable. He had married two princess consorts prior, yet their lives were unlucky. As soon as this palace saw you, this palace knew right away that you’re blessed with good fortune. Now, Yue’er ought to be blessed.”
Feng Sheng raised her head to look at the other, astounded that Empress Chen had lost her composure.
Although she had never met Empress Chen before, she learned from Prince Wei that a large part of why the Crown Prince had been able to sit steadily on his position was because of Empress Chen.
Was the status of a first wife truly that venerable? Since ancient times, how many first wives had weaved wedding dresses to benefit others? It wasn’t merely because she was the first wife. To be capable of standing by a monarch’s side for so many years, this only signified her deep grasp of the Emperor’s temperament. Such a person shouldn’t be so short-sighted to go so far as to deliberately employ callous words to accost a new daughter-in-law.
Quite surprisingly, Empress Chen actually understood the astonishment in those beautiful eyes.
Her smile was slightly rigid, and the corners of her mouth were pursed.
“Right! Fu Chun, where’s the gift this palace has prepared for Princess Consort Wei?”
Fu Chun received a brocade box from the palace maid beside her and respectfully presented it up. “Your Majesty.”
Empress Chen motioned for her to open it and waved at Feng Sheng to beckon her over. Only when Feng Sheng drew closer did she pick up the pure gold, red phoenix feather hairpin dotted with bluish jade and inserted it into her styled hair.3
“So pretty. The hairpin is also a match for the person.”
“Many thanks, Empress Mother, for the reward.”
Empress Chen maintained her smile, as though all that had transpired was a mere illusion. “Well, Prince Wei might be here soon, so I won’t keep you. You still have to visit Consort Li. Go and make Consort Li happy. Ah, you don’t know just how anxiously Consort Li longs for Prince Wei to give her a grandson.”
Feng Sheng expressed a bit of appropriate shyness and curtsied to Empress Chen again before taking her leave.
Upon her exit, Empress Chen’s face darkened, her mind still replaying the bewilderment in her clear and beautiful eyes, as though she had been slapped on the face.
So what if this palace lost all self-control? You still have to bow and bend your knee when you’re in front of this palace. If not for that big brother of yours, my imperial son wouldn’t have been reduced to a deposed crown prince and confined in the East Palace.
Whenever such thoughts tormented Empress Chen, her heart would pound erratically.
Noticing her complexion amiss, Fu Chun quickly stepped forward to support her and help her ease her breathing.
“Your Majesty, quell your anger. The imperial physician has instructed you to be more at ease, ah.”
Empress Chen took one deep breath after another before exhaling the melancholy in her chest. As she did so, her face suddenly aged tens of years. In the end, having grown this old, relying on some external things to temporarily maintain her glow was now futile, especially since Empress Chen had been utterly fatigued both physically and mentally in the past half year.
She was even grounded because the Crown Prince had infuriated the Jianping Emperor. Princess Consort Wei was the only outsider Empress Chen had seen in the last few days. If it wasn’t for the fact that a first-rank princess consort customarily paid respects to the empress a day after the grand wedding, perhaps she still couldn’t meet anyone to this day.
“That slut. This palace cannot spare her!” After cursing, Empress Chen asked, “How is the Crown Prince doing these days?”
“His Highness is quite well. Your Majesty, for every year you are here, His Highness won’t make any trouble. Now, it is imperative that you take care of your health. As long as you take care of your health, you have nothing to fear.”
Yes, she had to swiftly recover. In the end, His Majesty cared about the decades-long mutual affection between husband and wife. She was indeed grounded, but it was all under the guise of her poor health. Once she was well, the restriction would naturally be lifted. His Majesty’s dragon body was still healthy. For the time being, he wouldn’t establish a crown prince. As long as he didn’t establish a crown prince, they still couldn’t be considered the losing side.
*
Feng Sheng barely just stepped out of the Kunning Gate when she caught sight of Prince Wei heading towards her direction.
On his head was a winged shan cap, and he had on an indigo-colored round-neck robe with four circular dragon patterns, exuding an honorable grandeur, a majestic presence out of the ordinary. He was walking quite briskly. While Feng Sheng was still in a daze, he halted in front of her, grabbed her hand, and examined her face.
Though he said no words, Feng Sheng could decipher his tacit meaning.
She shook her head, indicating that she was fine.
Prince Wei nodded his head and said, “Let’s go see Consort Mother.”
Xianfu Palace’s location was some distance from Kunning Palace. It took Feng Sheng and Prince Wei two quarters of an hour of walking to reach it.
Before they even crossed the palace gate’s threshold, a palace maid greeted and informed them that Her Ladyship was already waiting.
This time, as Feng Sheng laid her eyes on Consort Li for the first time, she thought to herself that she was unlike the mother-in-law she had envisioned. Consort Li was unimaginably younger and better maintained than Empress Chen. Prince Wei’s temper was on the gloomy side, and he wasn’t young. As far as Feng Sheng knew, he was twenty-six, so how old was Consort Li? If Prince Wei was born when she was fifteen, perhaps she was over forty, but to Feng Sheng, she looked quite like a maiden.
Yes, Consort Li gave Feng Sheng such an impression. Neither like one of the four consorts, nor like Prince Wei’s Consort Mother, but rather like a pure and unmarried maiden in her boudoir.
Anyone in the room could tell that Consort Li very much liked Feng Sheng, holding her hand and enquiring solicitously about her well-being. She also took out plenty of jewelry to bestow Feng Sheng, saying that they were all prepared for her daughter-in-law.
“Consort Mother, how can this daughter-in-law take so many of your good things?”
“What’s wrong with that? It’s all Consort Mother has saved up over the years. Some of the styles aren’t quite befitting of Consort Mother’s age, but you’re just the right age to wear these.” Saying that, Consort Li’s gaze fell on the pure gold, red phoenix feather hairpin dotted with bluish jade on Feng Sheng’s head. She inquired somewhat hesitantly, “This is?”
“This is what Her Majesty the Empress has just gifted this daughter-in-law.”
Consort Li abruptly poised herself up, rushed to Feng Sheng, and slipped out the hairpin on her head.
Her suddenness bewildered Feng Sheng. Fortunately, owing to many years of constantly getting caught unawares, her character had been imbued with an alert steadiness. However, Prince Wei beside her subconsciously supported her with his hand.
Anyone could tell that Consort Li regretted her alacrity, yet she still clutched the hairpin in her grip and smiled. “Consort Mother will help you try on some head ornaments. Qian Ru, quickly bring the things over.”
Qian Ru speedily carried in a tray of jewelry over.
It also seemed like Consort Li’s intention was to truly help her try on hairpins. She even put on a few in Feng Sheng’s head, exclaiming how pretty they all looked. Ultimately, she fished out a red jeweled filigree dangling hair ornament with a pair of luan4 birds connected through a longevity fruit in their mouths. She put it on for Feng Sheng, smiling as she said, “Alright. You can go back and try them all on at your own pace. Consort Mother is afraid to pick one you do not like.”
“This daughter-in-law likes everything Consort Mother chooses.”
“If you end up liking them all, then that’s also fine. Qian Ru, stow the box away and later hand it to Princess Consort Wei to take back home.”
After that, they lounged and chatted for a while. Then, Prince Wei took his leave with Feng Sheng.
Of course, with them was the box of jewelry and head ornaments.
However, Consort Li never returned the hairpin Empress Chen had given her. Feng Sheng couldn’t ask about it in front of her face, so she held it in until they reached the Xianfu Palace’s gate. Prince Wei squeezed her hand and signaled to her that they would further discuss it once they returned home.
Only when Prince Wei and Feng Sheng’s figures disappeared outside the palace hall’s door did Qian Ru pry, anxious and doubtful, “Your Ladyship, what about that hairpin?”
Without speaking, Consort Li took the hairpin and plodded to the table to take a seat.
She slid a hairpin out of her hair and utilized its tip to tinker with the other hairpin.
After a few attempts, a contraption on the hairpin suddenly opened, and red powder spilled out of it. The powder’s red hue was an extremely strange and eerie sight.
Qian Ru’s face immediately turned pale.
Consort Li, however, restrained her anguish and cursed, “That slut! She already harmed the first two. With great difficulty, my son was finally able to marry the person in his heart, yet she still didn’t forget to scheme against her. I’ve long been tolerating, making every kind of concession. For so many years, I’ve worked like an ox or a horse for her sake, yet she’s still closing in on me and wouldn’t ever let go.”
“Your Ladyship, what about this hairpin?”
Consort Li took a deep breath and uttered, “I have my own ideas.”
After which, she restored the hairpin to its original form. She used her handkerchief to wipe away the little powder that had spread out, then instructed Qian Ru to take the handkerchief and burn it.
At this time, a young eunuch ran in from outside the door and reported, “Your Ladyship, His Majesty has arrived at the palace gate.”
But when Consort Li heard this, instead of rushing up to meet him, she paced to the inner palace hall.
……
“What? Are you upset because Prince Wei brought in a new daughter-in-law to meet you?” The Jianping Emperor, who was wearing a winged shan cap of black muslin and a wine-colored informal robe with eight circular dragon patterns,5 stepped in from the door.
Consort Li, perched across the dressing table, did not seem to expect the Jianping Emperor’s unexpected visit. She hastily shot up in panic and accidentally knocked off the hairpin in her hand.
She subconsciously wanted to pick it up, yet she flinched, seemingly afraid of something. She then stood upright, beamed at the Jianping Emperor, and did a curtsy.
“This concubine is not upset. Princess Consort Wei is a good child. This concubine likes her very much. This concubine just feels emotional that Prince Wei has finally married. This concubine hopes that Feng’er, that child, will be blessed, live a long life, and give birth to an heir for Prince Wei as soon as possible. Even if this concubine closes her eyes for eternal rest, she will be at peace.”
The Jianping Emperor came over to help her up. “What’s this nonsense about closed eyes?” But his gaze fell on the hairpin that had fallen to the ground. He somewhat casually probed, “Zhen doesn’t seem to have ever seen you wear this hairpin.”
“This hairpin is not this concubine’s.” After voicing this out, Consort Li seemed to want to modify her previous remark, but spilt water could no longer be retrieved, so she could only muster a reluctant smile. “This is Her Majesty the Empress’s present to that child Feng’er. Just now, this concubine spoke with her for a while, and this concubine felt as though that child and this concubine are kindred spirits. This concubine foraged for several kinds of old jewelry to give to her. However, upon helping her try on some head ornaments, this concubine accidentally pulled down the hairpin Her Majesty the Empress had bestowed.”
After that, she raised her voice, “Qian Ru, take the hairpin and put it away. Order someone to send it back to Princess Consort Wei tomorrow. In the end, it’s a reward from Her Majesty the Empress. This one fears it’s not good to have it in my hands.”
She instructed as she went to sit on the kang6 in the outer room with the Jianping Emperor.
A palace maid approached to serve tea, and the two conversed, so that topic was concluded.
After dallying for a while, the Jianping Emperor left, saying he had official affairs to attend to and would come back in the evening. Consort Li sent him out of the palace hall, and when she turned around to return, Qian Ru leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “Eunuch Fu is taking the hairpin away.”
……
The Jianping Emperor returned to the Qianqing Palace in his sedan chair and was wordless the whole way.
He didn’t speak, so Fu Lu naturally didn’t dare say anything. However, he felt that the hairpin in his sleeve was incredibly hot.
When he returned, the Jianping Emperor continued to pore over account booklets, while Fu Lu wiped his cold sweat and hurriedly withdrew.
After a short while, Fu Lu came back, standing on the side and not daring to utter a word.
Fu Lu had served the Jianping Emperor for many years, and the Jianping Emperor naturally understood his character. He glanced at him and ordered, “Speak honestly.”
“There’s something inside the hairpin. This slave let Imperial Physician Liu examine it. We don’t know what it is yet, but Imperial Physician Liu informed that it’s a hindrance to a woman’s fertility. After a long time, one fears it will damage her longevity.”
As he orated his report, Fu Lu also extricated the hairpin from his sleeve and demonstrated to the Jianping Emperor how to open the contraption on the hairpin’s head. Naturally, the contents inside had already been disposed of.
With a brandish of his big hand, the Jianping Emperor swept the teacup on the dragon desk to the ground with a brittle sound.
*
With how intelligent Feng Sheng was, she had already deduced that something about it was amiss.
When she and Prince Wei boarded the carriage, she asked, “Is something wrong with the hairpin?”
Prince Wei’s face was glum. His fingers caressed the hollow of her palm. “There’s something unclean in there.”
“How did Consort Mother know?”
As she spewed out the question, Feng Sheng realized that she was overstepping her bounds.
Seeming to perceive the chagrin in her eyes at her mistake, Prince Wei aimed his gaze at her and reached out his hand to rub the space between her brows. “You shouldn’t have such thoughts. You are the princess consort this prince has personally chosen. If there’s anything you want to know, you can directly ask me.”
“I……”
Frankly speaking, although the two were now married, in the end, they truly hadn’t been on intimate terms with each other. Despite having performed such intimate acts together, ultimately, their union had been handled much too hastily.
Noticing her reticence, Prince Wei’s eyes flickered, aware that he shouldn’t push her too hard.
“Consort Mother is a person of the Chen family. To be precise, in the first place, Consort Mother was able to enter the palace because the Chen family wanted her to help Empress Chen solidify her favor.”
After that, Prince Wei explained the rough origin of their circumstances, including the fact that they, mother and son, had been attached to the central palace for many years. This plight had not alleviated until he came of age and established his own manor.
“Then, the two you previously married, did they all die just like that?” Feng Sheng felt a shuddering sense of dread. However crafty and cunning she was, she had never before heard of such sordid and selfish tactics like those in the imperial harem.
“One was inherently weak, and the other died from falling into the water after a misstep.”
Feng Sheng always sensed that this was queer, but Prince Wei was clearly unwilling to say more, so she didn’t ask further.
“In other words, Empress Chen didn’t do it before, but why did she do it to me——”
Well, who told her to be Fang Feng Fu’s little sister?
Feng Sheng smiled bitterly and went on, “I fear that keeping the hairpin won’t be advantageous to Consort Mother. What if Her Majesty the Empress asks?”
“You don’t need to worry. Mother will definitely send the hairpin back tomorrow.”
As Prince Wei speculated Consort Li’s recent actions, he surmised that his consort mother would be disinclined to take things lying down. Concerning the short lives of the first two Princess Consorts Wei, Consort Li had always counted them on Empress Chen’s head. This time, she happened to witness everything with her own eyes. One feared that all the new and old grudges would pile up together.
As Prince Wei had anticipated, someone from the Xianfu Palace arrived the next day to return the hairpin.
The person who sent it also informed that the hairpin had passed through the Jianping Emperor’s hands and that Feng Sheng should feign ignorance and continue to wear it. But that was a story for another day.
Author’s Note:
Regardless of Consort Li’s appearance, she truly isn’t weak. Were she weak, the Jianping Emperor would not have favored her that much for so many years. The Jianping Emperor still liked her, but he put emphasis on di and shu (legitimate and concubine-born offspring), as well as the seniority of his concubines. Most of the time, he kept one eye opened and one eye closed.
1 The Empress’s ceremonial attire (left) and her informal robes (right). The informal robes are sort of like…… maybe a fancier loungewear?
2 Feng Sheng is still using 儿臣 here, similar to how Prince Wei refers to himself when talking to the emperor and the empress. Literally, this subject and child.
3 Not exactly this one, but close.
4 鸾 (luán): The luan is a mythological bird in East Asian mythology. I think the pair of luan birds are connected to each other through a cord which the longevity fruit is tied to.
5 Prince Wei’s attire vs. The Jianping Emperor’s. the emperor’s shan cap is more fancy, and his robe should have more circular dragon patterns, adding maybe four more at the bottom of the robe. The Jianping Emperor’s had about eight circular dragon patterns, while Prince Wei’s only had four. Prince Wei’s should be indigo, while the Emperor’s should be the color of wine.
6 炕 (kàng): a heatable brick bed-stove. In the photo below, it’s the raised bed by the window with a removable table at the middle.
