Consort Jing Chapter 8

The imperial city of Great Wu was built on the old site of Former Yan, vast and magnificent. The harem was all in the northwest corner, with Fengyi Palace lying even farther out. Beyond it were several deserted Cold Palaces. Strictly speaking, Fengyi Palace could be considered one too, but since it housed the empress, her rank forbade any reduction in ceremony. There were always dozens of attendants around, lending the place some liveliness.

The palace was large, filled with flourishing plants and trees. The empress loved gardening; on sunny days she would even tend the plants herself. She had set aside an entire room as a greenhouse, fussing every day over how much to water and how to keep the flowers warm. Two days ago, when the temperature suddenly dropped and sleet began to fall at dusk, Her Majesty, already in bed, got up to check on the plants again. Her care was meticulous, and the flowers did not disappoint her: several pots of daffodils had bloomed in tender pinks, fragrant and graceful.

Behind Fengyi Palace was a small garden, where wintersweet now bloomed in fiery profusion after the snow. Meng Guqing chose a few pots of daffodils and cut a branch of plum nearly two feet tall to send to the Empress Dowager. Soon, the attendants returned to report that the Empress Dowager loved the plum blossom so much she had it placed in her warm chamber for easy viewing. They also said that Her Majesty had caught a chill from the cold snap and that, coincidentally, Noble Consort Xu had gone to pay respects and was personally tending to her medicine.

Even though she was pregnant, the Noble Consort had gone to nurse the Empress Dowager, it would seem unfilial if the empress herself didn’t go. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager’s illness was mild, just a chill. She was already frail having given birth to a single son in her thirties and never fully recovering but now, after years of overwork, her health was failing. It was precisely for that reason she’d hurried to bring her niece into the palace to help manage affairs. Recently, with fewer duties, she’d been resting and was in good spirits. When she saw the empress, she smiled and said, “Among all the red plums in the palace, the ones in your courtyard bloom best. Don’t be stingy, cut a few branches for the other consorts too.”

Since Noble Consort Xu had conceived, the Empress Dowager had softened considerably toward her for the sake of the imperial heir. Seeing her now, round-bellied and attentive, serving tea and medicine so thoughtfully, the Empress Dowager’s long-held resentment had eased. Her smiles came more easily. Meng Guqing, hearing her instructions, readily agreed, ordering her maid Mingxia to send more branches of plum to the other palaces before turning back to chat with the Empress Dowager.

The Dowager was tiring easily these days. Fortunately, the empress was there to take over another matter, the supervision of the construction of the Imperial Ancestral Temple’s Shouhuang Hall. The project had begun when the young emperor ascended the throne but had dragged on for years, as the wars with Former Yan and Zhao Shicheng’s forces consumed endless funds. Now that the Empress Dowager’s health was failing, she couldn’t oversee it personally, though she still cared deeply.

Meng Guqing respectfully accepted the charge. Perfect, she thought. This will give me an excuse to send away the Dowager’s attendant aunt and someone steady can take over this crucial task.

Meanwhile, the young emperor had just left court, returned to Huangji Hall, drank a cup of tea, and began reviewing memorials. It was the same old talk at court: his uncles, each commanding armies and drunk on their founding achievements, wanted more territory and power, looking down on him, a boy emperor who had inherited rather than earned his throne. Yet he could do nothing about them.

The Wu dynasty’s foundation was still unstable. Former Yan and other rebellious factions were not yet subdued. The Empress Dowager’s caution was justified, he still needed those uncles to lead the armies. Besides, he lacked capable generals of his own; the Donghu warriors were far braver, the southern people felt no loyalty to Wu, and talented men still hesitated to serve this new dynasty. Without loyal subordinates, he couldn’t suppress his uncles, and without suppressing them, no one would serve him. It was a vicious circle.

Zhao Donglin snapped shut another memorial, another request to reward a Donghu general, and thought bitterly of the depleted treasury after years of war. His head throbbed. The empress wasn’t wrong, he admitted. I can see everyone’s motives from above but I can’t fulfill them. And if I can’t fulfill them, they won’t serve me. He gripped his brush, frowning at the papers before him in deep thought.

Feng Tianbao seized the moment of silence to murmur, “Your Majesty, someone from the Empress’s palace is here.”

“The Empress?” Zhao Donglin looked up and rose from his seat, his tone unconsciously light. “Then why haven’t you let her in yet? I was just about to discuss something with her.”

Feng Tianbao froze awkwardly, lowering his gaze. “It’s not Her Majesty herself, Your Majesty. It’s Lady Fusang from her palace. She says the wintersweet in the empress’s courtyard has bloomed beautifully, and Her Majesty has had a few branches cut to be sent to each palace. One was sent here to Your Majesty’s Hall. Where would you like it placed?”

A servant had already brought in a pale celadon vase filled with water.

There was a moment of silence before the emperor replied in a calm voice, “Oh. Just set it on the warm table by the couch. I’ve read enough memorials, I could use a rest for my eyes.”

The maids had chosen the finest branch for the Emperor’s hall, its twisted trunk coiled like a dragon, its smaller limbs forked and scattered like cracked ice, its buds clustered thickly, and its blossoms blood-bright. Zhao Donglin stared at it for a long while. The flicker of delight he’d felt earlier at the mention of the empress hadn’t quite faded, and the disappointment of realizing she hadn’t come herself still clung to him. He felt a little ridiculous. I don’t even like her. So why should I be disappointed that she didn’t come…

The Empress Dowager was ill, and the emperor, though busy with state affairs, went to see her every day or sent the imperial physicians to report. Everyone in the palace knew he had been visiting frequently, naturally, many tried to follow his example and curry favor. But the Empress Dowager disliked noise; apart from her niece the Empress, no one in the harem was permitted to disturb her. Only Noble Consort Xu, thanks to her pregnancy, was occasionally allowed in.

It was said that the Empress Dowager had completely let go of her former resentment toward Noble Consort Xu, even bestowing rare gifts on her several times. The imperial heir truly worked wonders, envy spread through the harem.

Meng Guqing herself didn’t think it wise for a pregnant woman to go out in snowy weather, but the Noble Consort had always felt uneasy about her standing in the Empress Dowager’s eyes. Now that she’d finally been shown some kindness, she wanted to seize the chance to cement it. It was understandable; no one could interfere much, so the empress only instructed her attendants to ensure the Noble Consort was well protected and traveled carefully.

Even so, that day something went wrong.

After the snow stopped, Meng Guqing was occupied with the temple project the Empress Dowager had assigned her. After breakfast, she sent Han Gugu to inspect the site. The old woman had to travel far. Fengyi Palace was in the northwest corner of the city, while the ancestral temple lay southeast, past the Meridian Gate; a half-day’s trip at least. Meng Guqing made sure she was dressed warmly before sending her off.

Just then, a maid came rushing in: Noble Consort Xu had fallen in the imperial garden.

Meng Guqing’s heart leapt. She hurried to Jianjia Palace, where four or five imperial physicians were already in attendance. Two concubines, Concubine Zhen and Beauty Cao, were kneeling in terror outside, faces pale. She remembered both had paid her respects before. Whether the fall had been accidental or not, their fright now was certainly real.

Meng Guqing went straight into the inner chamber. Noble Consort Xu lay on the bed, pale and bloodless. Fortunately, the old physician taking her pulse looked calm. After a long moment, he said there was no serious harm, only fright. Rest and quiet would suffice.

Still, seeing the Consort’s thin, drawn face, sharper now since her pregnancy, the empress wasn’t reassured. When she pressed for details, the old physician explained: “This pregnancy is rather delicate. The Noble Consort suffers from severe morning sickness and internal heat. Likely she hasn’t been sleeping well. Add to that her excessive worry and anxiety, it’s not good for the body.”

It made sense. Ever since her pregnancy, rumors had swirled through the palace. Meng Guqing, who had seen the power of public gossip even in modern times, could only imagine how much worse it must be here, where reputation was everything. The Noble Consort’s fetus was not yet stable; her family had even sent a rival beauty into the palace; though she hadn’t succeeded in drawing the emperor’s favor, she still lived under Noble Consort Xu’s roof. And Noble Consort Xu, ever sensitive to the Empress Dowager’s opinion, had been forcing herself to attend her daily, no wonder she was exhausted.

Inner turmoil like that couldn’t be cured by persuasion. The empress only told her gently to rest well, nothing was more important than the child. Noble Consort Xu looked at her in slight surprise, then nodded firmly.

As for the two girls kneeling outside, both barely in their teens, Meng Guqing hesitated. They’d been playing in the snow; it wasn’t much of an offense, except that their game had involved the pregnant consort. Since Noble Consort Xu was unharmed, perhaps leniency was best.

Just as she stepped outside, still thinking it over, Noble Consort Xu’s nurse, Xu Mama, came out smiling and bowed. “We’re grateful Your Majesty took time from your duties to attend to this small matter. The Noble Consort feels much indebted and asks that Your Majesty spare the two young ladies. She is well, and wishes to let the matter pass, to accumulate some blessing for the child.”

Concubine Zhen and Beauty Cao were quick to read the situation. As soon as Xu Mama finished speaking, they hurriedly kowtowed to the Empress, then toward the inner chamber, thanking both mistresses for their mercy. It seemed that Noble Consort Xu no longer wished to make enemies or provoke needless resentment. Since the victim herself did not press charges, Meng Guqing saw no need to act the villain. After giving a few words of admonishment, she was about to leave when the young emperor suddenly arrived in haste.

Meng Guqing turned her head just in time to see him stride through the doors, his long legs carrying him swiftly in, eyes filled with anger. “So it was you two causing a scene in the Imperial Garden and bumping into the Noble Consort? You knew she was pregnant, could you not find another place to play?”

Concubine Zhen and Beauty Cao, who had just stood up, immediately knelt again, feeling wronged. Just because Noble Consort Xu was pregnant, were they no longer people? Their stipends were already meager; anything good in the palace always went first to Jianjia Palace before they saw any share. Now, even taking a stroll had to be done in fear of running into Noble Consort Xu? But looking at the emperor’s expression, they dared not talk back, only tremblingly said, “Your Majesty, we know our mistake. We won’t ever offend the Noble Consort again, the Empress has already punished us and said there would be no further penalties this time…”

“No punishment?” Zhao Donglin’s cold, clear gaze turned toward the Empress.

Meng Guqing froze for a moment. Seeing that chill in his eyes, she felt a flicker of anger herself, did he think she was shielding others to wrong Noble Consort Xu?

The air grew tense for a few moments before Meng Guqing, weary at heart, decided not to explain. She bowed slightly and said, “The Empress Dowager is not yet aware of Noble Consort Xu’s condition. If anyone else tells her, Her Majesty might still worry. I’ll go see to it myself.”

Saying so, she ignored the others and left.

Zhao Donglin watched her graceful figure retreat into the distance, his own mood sinking. It was Xu Mama who, seeing how poorly things stood, quickly stepped forward to explain how Noble Consort Xu had pleaded on behalf of the two ladies. Zhao Donglin listened, then turned again toward the doorway but the Empress’s retinue was long gone. The entrance stood empty. He suddenly felt an emptiness inside, a little lost. Remembering her cool, averted gaze as she left, he knew she must be angry.

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