Consort Jing Chapter 3

Life in the harem was always dull and uneventful. The young emperor had only just begun to rule in his own right; it was the time for him to make great accomplishments. There were no children in the harem yet, so everyone was quite idle. Noble Consort Xu held the highest favor. Half the month, the emperor stayed in Jianjia Palace, and the rest of the time he rested in his own Huangji Hall. As for the others, let alone receiving an imperial visit, they couldn’t even catch a glimpse of the emperor’s face. Still, they weren’t the most pitiful ones. The most miserable of all was the one in Fengyi Palace, rumor had it that even on her wedding night she hadn’t been able to keep the emperor there.

People are always like this, never satisfied looking upward, but always feeling better when looking downward. In times like these, they liked to find a sense of superiority from those worse off than themselves; thus, for a time, the empress in Fengyi Palace became oddly popular. Of course, what they thought in their hearts was one matter, but what they showed on their faces was another. Before the empress, they naturally didn’t dare reveal any stray thoughts. Yet, seeing that even a peerlessly beautiful empress was neglected, they couldn’t deny that the frustration in their hearts eased somewhat. They even felt a faint sense of shared suffering.

“Your Majesty’s Fengyi Palace is certainly peaceful, not like ours, where we live right under everyone’s nose. Every night it’s either the sound of zithers, songs, or flutes disturbing our sleep. Only Your Majesty is kind enough to tolerate her acting spoiled because of favor. Missing morning greetings once or twice who doesn’t know she spent the night serving His Majesty?”

Meng Guqing propped her chin on one hand, taking in their expressions with a faint smile. She listened till they finished, then said lightly, “If you didn’t sleep well, you should all return early to rest. Besides, the emperor is busy during the day, weighed down by official business, it’s only natural he needs some relaxation after court. If you have nothing to do, you might as well learn some arts. It pleases others and yourself, no need to envy anyone.”

In her previous life, Meng Guqing’s health had been poor; she couldn’t run or jump, and life was dull. She’d only managed to make it bearable by finding things she enjoyed to occupy herself. In the deep palace, all the women’s eyes were fixed on one man; with many wolves and little meat, it was inevitable that constant strife would arise. Since she had decided to play the role of a lucky mascot, she might as well make herself useful.

The current concubines of the harem all came from humble backgrounds, some were barely literate, let alone skilled in any elegant pastime. The palace did have a small school for palace maids, and for only a bit more expense, it would be easy to select a woman of both virtue and talent to teach an extra class.

Hearing that the empress was willing to let them learn something, the concubines were delighted. Whether it was to pass the time or gain an edge in competition for favor, it was a good thing. After sending them off, Caiwei returned pouting, clearly displeased. In this palace, who could be called a fool? Everyone could see that those women hadn’t come out of goodwill, they had come to sow discord, hoping the empress would clash with Noble Consort Xu so they could reap the benefits. Yet Her Majesty had gone so far as to spend money and effort instead.

Listening to her young maid’s grumbling, Meng Guqing smiled, knowing they were speaking out of concern and injustice on her behalf. “If a little money can buy peace and quiet in the palace, it’s a good deal for me as empress. Besides, who do you think organized that women’s school? Whether it’s reading or music, it’s all study. Following the Empress Dowager’s wishes can’t be wrong.”

And the frequent visits from other concubines brought her useful news as well. Mutual exchange, that’s how one maintains lasting ties.

The tensions between the young emperor and the regent, understanding them could only be to her advantage.

It was said that after the Grand Empress Dowager’s death, the regent had claimed that an emperor should not be raised under a woman’s hand, and moved the boy out of the inner palace. He was only twelve at the time; young, yet still the emperor but was made to live in the Eastern Palace, unable to see the Empress Dowager for years. When he turned fifteen, officials began submitting petitions urging the regent to return power. The regent appeared calm, but once, during a hunting trip in the rain, he took the young emperor with him and they got lost in the woods. One of the emperor’s close study companions stepped into a trap while trying to lead him out, crippling one leg. That boy was Xu Wan’s elder brother, Xu Dan.

The most dangerous and suspicious incident came when the young emperor left the palace to celebrate an old royal uncle’s seventieth birthday. On the way back, he was suddenly attacked and wounded by a butcher with a knife. Fortunately, he had kept up martial training and was saved by a bodyguard who fought to the death. The odd thing was that day, only one person had accompanied him, and the butcher was known locally to be insane, though he had never harmed anyone before. The authorities interrogated him for a long time but found nothing.

The affair caused a great uproar, and whispers pointed toward the regent because a gatekeeper’s son-in-law from the regent’s household happened to be that butcher’s neighbor. But without evidence, nothing could be done, and the matter was dropped. There were other such incidents as well. The more Meng Guqing learned, the heavier her heart grew. Any ordinary person, after being tormented so between the ages of eight and eighteen, would likely have become paranoid, resentful, and cynical if not outright vengeful once in power.

But Emperor Zhao Donglin had not. Not only had he not sought revenge, he continued to follow the policies the regent had set, governing Great Wu according to that framework, a sign of rare resilience and the makings of a wise ruler. Compared to that, his indifference toward her seemed utterly trivial. Meng Guqing felt no resentment; she sincerely hoped this state of affairs would continue. She would fulfill her duties as empress, cause him no trouble, and pray he would let her live out three peaceful years in the harem.

Luckily, the young emperor’s heart held only Noble Consort Xu, and the others had no chance. Everyone knew they couldn’t compete with her. Now that even the empress, the only one with enough status to stand against her, had chosen to yield, they had even less to say. Apart from dropping the occasional poisonous hint about Noble Consort Xu in front of the empress, all they could do was focus on themselves.

True to her word, the empress petitioned the Empress Dowager and invited Gu Taifei to instruct them in music. Gu Taifei was renowned for her masterful guqin playing, she had been brought into the palace from among the common folk by the late emperor himself for that very talent.

She had been highly favored ever since, bearing the Tenth Prince after the Empress Dowager. Were it not for the prince’s frail health, he might have been a strong contender for the throne. But despite a life of luxury, he did not live past fifteen. After losing her only son, Gu Taifei withdrew from the world, spending her days chanting scriptures. In accordance with the late emperor’s will, the Empress Dowager and the current emperor provided her with lifelong care in the palace, hoping she might recover from her grief. When she expressed willingness to take students, the Empress Dowager readily agreed.

After granting the empress’s request on behalf of the harem, the Empress Dowager reclined on her soft couch in silence. Fanchun knew what she was thinking. Not to praise their own Donghu people, but the empress truly was beyond reproach. Since taking over palace affairs, she had managed everything with perfect order; the harem, at least on the surface, was at peace. Once, the Empress Dowager had been surrounded by women weeping and complaining every day; now, at last, she had quiet, and she knew well who had taken that burden from her.

People said Noble Consort Xu was gentle and virtuous. Gentle, perhaps, but virtuous? The Empress Dowager saw none of it. As she’d once said privately: if she were truly virtuous, she wouldn’t monopolize the emperor’s affection alone. Did she not understand that too much favor breeds envy and resentment? Before, the Empress Dowager had restrained the harem from causing trouble. Now, with the empress standing before her as a shield, Noble Consort Xu ought at least to advise the emperor to visit the Fengyi Palace more often yet she remained comfortably complacent.

The Empress Dowager had long held grievances against Noble Consort Xu, and the more she saw, the more displeased she became. The more favored Noble Consort Xu was, the less she liked her. Out of all the harem, the Empress Dowager alone refused to summon her for greetings which left Xu Wan increasingly uneasy.

She had already reached the gates of Shoucheng Hall, only to be stopped. If she turned back now, those who once flattered her would surely mock her instead.

Her retinue of ten or so maids and eunuchs stood foolishly outside the hall, exchanging helpless looks as passersby stared.

Meng Guqing didn’t hear of the matter until nearly half an hour later. She was in the Fengyi Palace garden, hoeing the soil. The palace was large, with many pavilions and plenty of land, and she’d wanted to revive her old love of gardening; come spring, the garden would bloom in brilliant colors.

To plant properly, she’d even had her dowry servants bring in a full set of gardening tools and over ten packets of flower seeds. Today was meant for that alone, so she wore a plain, half-new gown and had no plans to go out.

Caiwei burst in excitedly and whispered in her ear. As Meng Guqing listened, her emotions rose and fell with the tale, and at the end, she could only sigh. The young emperor was still too inexperienced in the art of imperial balance. He neglected the harem too much, and now the Empress Dowager had stepped in to restore it herself.

Her action, to some extent, was to uphold fairness for the women of the harem. As the one being “appeased,” Meng Guqing now faced two choices: one, to intercede for Noble Consort Xu and earn a reputation for generosity before the emperor and others; or two, to go along with the Empress Dowager’s will, letting Noble Consort Xu suffer public humiliation as a warning to the rest, regaining some dignity for herself.

After thinking it through, Meng Guqing straightened up, moved to another patch of soil, and said casually, “Something this big has happened, why are you still standing there? Go and summon the emperor.” It was nearly dinner; the emperor should soon return to the harem.

Caiwei was stunned. “Your Majesty isn’t going?”

Meng Guqing didn’t even look back. “Why should I? The Empress Dowager has her reasons. We’ve never had any close ties with Noble Consort Xu, going would only make things awkward. Go fetch the emperor; he’ll know what to do.”

Perhaps this was the Empress Dowager’s way of giving her a chance to build prestige or earn favor, but Meng Guqing felt unworthy of it. And even if someone had to stand between the Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Xu, it shouldn’t be her. One misstep could easily draw blame. Her position was precarious enough as it was.

Unable to move her mistress, Caiwei hesitated for a while before leaving, only to rush back soon after with shocking news: Noble Consort Xu had been made to stand outside the Empress Dowager’s hall until she bled.