In March, the capital was lush with spring grass, and peach blossoms had begun to bloom. In the side hall corridor of Fengyi Palace there was a swallow’s nest, which Caiwei cherished greatly. Every time the swallows returned, she would chase after them to watch. Back in Gaochang, Meng Guqing’s courtyard had a swallow’s nest too, so seeing this one made it feel like home. Sometimes Meng Guqing would watch the little birds chirping pitifully and adorably. She had instructed her staff to leave the nest untouched.
This year, the old swallows returned. Upon discovering them, Caiwei ran into the hall to invite Her Majesty out for some fresh air. Meng Guqing was leaning on the kang, studying medical texts. With flowers blooming everywhere and pollen filling the air, Fusang’s nose was very sensitive. She sneezed constantly, and in severe cases, red rashes would appear on her face. Meng Guqing guessed she had rhinitis and, lacking instruments, was consulting books for remedies.
When Caiwei first spotted the nest outside, she had already heard the chirping. Rubbing her slightly sore eyes, Meng Guqing got up and followed Caiwei out. Fusang was returning with flowers, leading the staff. The two groups met head-on. Fusang held a handkerchief over her nose, as if avoiding the pollen, but she still watched the staff carry the flowers, a little overcautious. Caiwei laughed. “You can’t rest a single moment. Didn’t Her Majesty tell you to stay inside? You can’t tolerate pollen, yet you have to fuss over the flowers?”
Fusang shot Caiwei a glare. This year seemed unusually bad for her allergies, just a tiny whiff provoked a strong reaction. Seeing Her Majesty stroll into the courtyard to admire the begonia flowers, she pulled Caiwei aside. “I’d like to rest, but you’re so reckless. The palace has been tense these past few days; everyone’s alert. You should restrain yourself, don’t create trouble for Her Majesty.”
“I’m just saying, Jing Wang is rebelling, right? None of his people escaped. The court has sent troops; it’s only a matter of time before he’s subdued.” Caiwei’s temperament was straightforward; the Donghu people were generally like that. When confronted with challenges, they would respond decisively. As long as food and sleep were secured, everything else was secondary.
“If it were that simple…” Fusang said. After all, a prince’s rebellion was no small matter. The Empress Dowager appeared calm, but the emperor was visibly haggard. Yesterday, a few palace concubines strolled in the imperial gardens, joking and laughing, when the emperor caught sight of them. He flew into a rage. The concubines were forced to kneel for two hours until Noble Consort Xu intervened, pleading with the emperor, and only then were they allowed to leave.
When those in power were upset, you, thinking only of fun and food, would be unlucky. Fengyi Palace’s biggest risk always lay with Caiwei. Miraculously, the past two or three years had passed safely. Following the principle of “caution prevents major mistakes,” Fusang thought it wise to take this as a lesson so as not to give Noble Consort Xu another chance. Noble Consort Xu’s plea yesterday had gained goodwill; the other concubines were grateful. Rumor had it that the emperor visited her last night, staying for hours, a privilege never granted since the Empress gained favor. Fusang felt anxious.
Actually, Fusang was overworried. Zhao Donglin stayed in Noble Consort Xu’s palace because her father and brothers had contributed in the previous reign. Noble Consort Xu’s father was highly talented, composing poetry at six and renowned locally. With Jing Wang’s rebellion, Xu Tai and several grand scholars wrote a manifesto, concise and clear, emotionally compelling, aimed ostensibly at Jing Wang but really at the people. The proclamation condemned his reckless violence, emphasizing the suffering of innocent civilians.
Jing Wang’s sudden rebellion, illegitimate and unprovoked, had been preemptively countered by the court. Overnight, public opinion turned sharply against him. Neutral parties began to hesitate, and those who had agreed to contribute troops or money began to waver. Even Han Quan and Zhao Zhang, targeted for assassination, were not killed and were encouraged to regroup and block Jing Wang’s army.
The prospects were excellent. The Xu family fully supported the emperor, as did Noble Consort Xu herself. Her father and brothers had long served the previous reign. She had been busy caring for the Empress Dowager and the emperor, delivering soups and medicines daily, and tending to the crown prince diligently. She was clever and capable, garnering much attention.
Fortunately, although the emperor was close with Noble Consort Xu, he never forgot the Empress, visiting daily. That evening, at lights-out, lanterns in the corridor glowed like eyes in the darkness, radiating soft red light. Meng Guqing stood by a pillar, watching the crescent moon, then pointed at a lantern. “The silk on this lantern is old. Silk that’s weathered like this is highly flammable. Dangerous. Have them replace it with new silk tomorrow.”
Fusang glanced at the lanterns. Seeing Her Majesty enjoying the moonlight, she did not dampen her mood, though she still felt concern for her mistress. In fact, Fengyi Palace itself was an old structure from the previous reign, needing constant repairs. Yesterday she had already negotiated with the chief steward. The sycophants in Jianjia Palace had rushed over to curry favor, even trying to push back matters concerning the Empress. Fusang kept her composure but was ready to act if necessary.
Meng Guqing smiled, knowing Fusang understood. “You think I’m too complacent, always waiting for the emperor to accommodate me?”
Fusang shook her head. “No. As the favored daughter of heaven, you need not compete. People willingly bring things to please you.” That had been true when she was a commandery princess. Now, in the Great Wu Dynasty’s harem, everyone had to earn favor to survive. Otherwise, Her Majesty would be forced to compete for one person’s attention, a constant reminder that the palace was no place for ordinary people.
Meng Guqing had expected Fusang to complain, but instead she spoke like this. Embarrassed, she blushed. “I’m not asking for praise; I want to hear about hardships. As the saying goes, it’s easy to see the king of h*ll, but tricky to deal with spirits. You and Caiwei deal most with the servants; I know their nature.”
Fusang had no resentment. With Her Majesty understanding them, she had no negative feelings. “I truly have no grievance. When we first entered the palace, no one paid attention to us. You gave Caiwei and me money to network and make connections, to prevent us from being treated poorly. I only felt sorry for you.”
“Then tell me, what hardships have I suffered?” Meng Guqing, not native to this land, had very different thinking. The two maids’ thought patterns were deeply rooted. She rarely discussed her thoughts with them. Yet she sensed that regardless of Jing Wang’s success or failure, her tenure as Empress would be at an end. It was better to prepare the maids mentally.
“The emperor…” Fusang pursed her lips, choosing her words carefully. “He went there again. But isn’t it because your father and brothers are showing off at court? Our Gaochang Wang is no less. Each year he sends tens of thousands of warhorses, minerals, and piles of silver to the capital. This time he even recruited soldiers. That counts as merit, right?”
Meng Guqing shook her head and explained carefully. The supplies weren’t just from one family, but from all Gaochang. He merely compiled them. And it wasn’t only to gain favor for the Empress; it was chiefly for the Empress Dowager. With Jing Wang’s rebellion, most of his followers were Donghu. This put neutral and pro-royal Donghu in a difficult position. The southern people adhered to the idea that outsiders are inherently untrustworthy, a sentiment recently echoed in the court. Gaochang Wang’s diligence was to distance himself from blame, show loyalty, and signal to the Empress Dowager and Empress, not merely to the emperor.
Similarly, the Donghu Empress’s position became delicate. Palace servants, favoring and disparaging others, also showed their stance by keeping away from Fengyi Palace. The conflict between the Empress and Noble Consort Xu was never about the women themselves, but about the forces behind them.
Fusang, shocked, stammered after a long pause. “B-but the Empress and Jing Wang… what does he have to do with Jing Wang?”
Meng Guqing smiled faintly and didn’t speak further. Fusang had already figured it out: the Empress wasn’t just uninvolved with Jing Wang. Jing Wang’s own elder brother, the regent, “shoved” her onto the emperor to consolidate the Donghu power in Gaochang. The emperor had once vented his anger on the Empress because of this. Worst of all, the Empress was still the godmother of Jing Wang’s little clan’s children. If a schemer caught on to this, there would be plenty of room to manipulate. At the smaller scale, it could be said the Empress had close ties to Jing Wang’s household; no one could guarantee her innocence. At a larger scale, if someone acted maliciously, they could fabricate a letter with Jing Wang and trap the Empress.
Fusang, realizing this, suddenly understood how precarious Fengyi Palace’s position was. She said seriously, “Your Majesty, from today onward, we should close the palace gates. No outsiders should be allowed in or out.”
Since the news of Jing Wang’s uprising spread, the nine gates of the capital had strengthened their defenses, rigorously checking anyone entering or leaving. Families close to Jing Wang were under secret surveillance to prevent communication with him. Fusang was inspired by this, but Meng Guqing shook her head: “There’s no need to panic or draw suspicion. The safest course is to do nothing. Usually Caiwei is good at mingling with others, and now it’s precisely the time to rely on her relationships.”
“It’s hardly a time for jokes, Your Majesty,” Fusang said, genuinely fearful. She now suspected everyone around them. She trusted only the Empress and Caiwei. Meng Guqing wanted Fusang alert but didn’t want to frighten her into sleeplessness, so she patted her hand. “Don’t worry. The emperor sees clearly. What’s true is true, what’s false is false. A righteous person fears no shadow.”
Thinking of the emperor’s devotion to the Empress, Fusang relaxed slightly. She no longer fretted over trivial matters like where he went; what mattered was his trust in the Empress. She had originally planned to subtly inform Feng Gonggong when the emperor visited Fengyi Palace, about the servants’ misbehavior. Now, she didn’t bother. After all, they still had the old silk for the lanterns; at most, a few minor expenses to have the young eunuchs replace it. They shouldn’t worry Feng Gonggong, and needed to curry favor with him instead.
Caiwei, hearing Fusang intended to curry favor with Feng Tianbao, blinked in surprise. Fusang considered it a secret between her and the Empress. She hadn’t even told Caiwei that Xiao Shuo knew the Empress, let alone smaller matters. She didn’t know Feng Tianbao’s preferences and needed to consult Caiwei, the palace’s “encyclopedia,” for information. When the emperor arrived and was invited inside by the Empress, the two respectfully saw Feng Tianbao out.
Meng Guqing turned and saw the two girls exchanging signals and knew what they were up to, so she ignored them. When Zhao Donglin arrived, his attention and energy were fully on the Empress. He didn’t need Feng Tianbao attending him; he preferred being alone with the Empress. Once inside the inner chamber, they held hands, unsure what to say, and didn’t want to speak.
Now, evening was the only time he could see the Empress. During the day, military reports arrived one after another. He spent his time discussing matters with ministers, even the Empress Dowager couldn’t help, and he had to avoid involving the Empress in such matters. As for palace affairs, he didn’t want the Empress to know how he had rewarded the Xu family or visited the consort multiple times. Not long ago, he had promised her “you will know in time,” yet here he was, about to break his word.
Exhausted and with a headache, Zhao Donglin leaned against Meng Guqing, eyes closed, almost afraid to look at her. After a day apart, longing crept into his heart, urging him to touch her, to savor her presence.
“I want to go somewhere, just the two of us, and stay together forever.” He murmured, almost sleep-talking.
Meng Guqing heard him but could not respond, unsure how to comfort him. Even if escaping reality, it could be a brief respite. But Zhao Donglin was persistent. When she avoided a topic, he brought it up: “I visited the eldest prince today. He’s learning to speak. Everyone says he’s smart, but he seems clumsy to me. Yet I quite like him like that: clumsy, carefree, a leisurely little prince. I wish I had been like that too, just staying with you, caring for nothing else.”
If he truly became a leisurely prince, it would mean no intersection with her. Meng Guqing didn’t remind him. Zhao Donglin realized it himself: “No, then I wouldn’t meet you.”
Meng Guqing said, “The world cannot grant all wishes.” She, too, had been reborn as Gaochang’s princess, destined to an arranged marriage. Even knowing the imperial palace was not her lifelong home, she had to enter it without hesitation.
He thought of the next line: “Do not fail the Buddha, do not fail you.” Then he remembered what his mother had instructed today and suddenly found it hard to meet her eyes. Long-suppressed frustration returned, wrapping around him, pulling him into darkness. Yet the Empress was not someone who could save him. Zhao Donglin lifted his eyes, almost self-punishingly meeting hers. Slowly, he said, “Royal Mother told me today that the selection of consorts will be moved up to next month. No large-scale selection; only the daughters of General Wang, Commander Chen, the defenders of Hushu Pass, and Li Wei are to be granted titles.”
These were daughters of a few generals holding significant forces, the ones who had been hesitant in the court. Even Li Wei, loyal to Jing Wang, was cunning, often advising him from the shadows. If his daughter received a title, if she bore a prince who later ascended the throne, he could hope to become a royal father-in-law. He might even switch allegiance.
Zhao Donglin, almost guilty, dared not look at the Empress but longed to see her reaction. Meng Guqing only felt pity for him: ten years of struggling to remain free, yet forced by reality to act against his desires. Even though he had spoken of wanting one devoted partner, reality compelled him otherwise. The price of following his heart was too great for either of them.
Meng Guqing spoke in a low voice, “The emperor should heed the Empress Dowager; she does it for your good.” The Empress Dowager rarely acted selfishly. Her whole life had been spent preserving the late emperor’s realm, her family’s influence, and now her son’s throne.
“I know. The Empress is looking out for me too.” Everyone around him, in protecting the throne and the realm, acted against their desires. How could he act selfishly? He had never been one to bow willingly. Having endured under the regent and negotiated with Jing Wang, all was to secure his position.
“And what about us?” He wondered about their love. Shameful as it was, he fantasized: might the Empress compromise? Even with many women in the palace, as long as he loved only her, would she still love him as before?
Since the selection involved daughters of key generals, it also involved the emperor’s throne. With stakes so high, bringing in these girls was necessary. Each would hold a significant rank. Even the emperor could not prevent it. Meng Guqing, self-aware, wanted nothing to contradict her heart, so she remained silent.
Zhao Donglin understood her silence. He neither blamed her nor wanted her saddened. Comforting himself, he said, “We will still be fine. I love the Empress, and the Empress loves me. We will always be together.”
In this tense period, with the emperor fending off enemies and the Empress Dowager busy selecting consorts, their actions were noteworthy. Yet seeing which girls were chosen, all understood the Empress Dowager’s intentions. The selection was grand; the Empress Dowager presided personally. Each girl was pleasing, none treated unfairly, all were granted consort titles generously.
The previously empty harem suddenly had five new imperial consorts. Outside the palace, this was light gossip amid war; inside, it significantly altered life and the palace’s structure. First, the favored consort, then the Empress, who would come next? The new consorts had seen the emperor; only the nobility and handsome men could match their ideals. They entered the palace together, hoping for a chance on the first night, yet prepared for disappointment.
Indeed, the first night brought disappointment. Fortunately, the next day they learned the emperor had not visited anyone. Jing Wang’s pressure, combined with the emperor’s busy war discussions, left him sleepless. The new consorts, wishing to care for the emperor but hesitant, were guided by Noble Consort Xu to learn what foods he liked, finally able to show some attention.
Feng Tianbao enjoyed these days the most. Normally, only the Empress and the consort could see the emperor. They rarely came, leaving him little chance to bask in the privileges and flattery his rank deserved. Now, with several high-ranking consorts visiting in turn, the emperor grew displeased. After days of fine food, he was nearly overfed. Watching the new consorts leave, Feng Tianbao smacked his lips, thinking it was not free indulgence; the consorts only saw his eunuch face. Amid war, his efforts could no longer be faked.
Yet the emperor showed no understanding. Seeing him carry another food box, the gleam in his eyes made Feng Tianbao uneasy, but he explained, “Consort Liang sent this. Even with war, one must care for health…”
At this, the emperor’s eyes darkened. He wanted someone to come, but that mistress was unique, never settling. He was uncomfortable being coddled yet kept returning to Fengyi Palace. He hadn’t gone for two days. Observing coldly, Feng Tianbao thought the couple had quarreled, yet it didn’t seem so. Every time the emperor came, the Empress greeted him warmly at the door, holding hands inside, yet refused to go to the emperor proactively.
The emperor seemed to bicker with the Empress, yet always compromised. Clearly, they cared for each other. Feng Tianbao, exhausted on their behalf, dared to advise, “Since His Majesty misses the Empress and she is gentle, if the emperor calls her, she will surely come.”
“She won’t come. She’ll never treat me the way she used to.” Even though he had promised her that, even if others were in the palace, he would still love only her, he also understood that the Empress’s feelings were the same as his in that she demanded everything, heart and body. It had taken him over a year to win her over, and their sweet days had been brief. Now, so many unrelated people were around them.
He knew he wouldn’t touch them, but as long as they existed, the Empress would withhold her feelings. She had never liked him that much to begin with, and now that there were others, she would retreat even faster.
Feng Tianbao didn’t fully grasp this, but out of habit said, “Your Majesty, you are the emperor. If you decree that the Empress comes, she won’t refuse.”
Zhao Donglin glanced at him, wanting to say: “She may come, but her heart won’t. What good is that?” The kind of exclusive, equal love he shared with the Empress was something no one else could understand. At the same time, Feng Tianbao’s words reminded him: as emperor, he could force someone to stay beside him. Even if the Empress one day stopped loving him, he could still keep her near.
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