All the way, Wan Hong kept apologizing to Qian Jiaoniang. Qian Jiaoniang had never taken the matter to heart, but hearing her apologize so earnestly made her feel sorry for her. So what if she was the Crown Prince’s concubine? She was still, in essence, a servant, always living in a state of constant vigilance. Qian Jiaoniang comforted her:
“Sister Wan Hong, don’t blame yourself. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, and this wasn’t even a serious matter. Don’t dwell on it. Thanks to you, I’ve even received a new dress from the Crown Princess Consort—what a tremendous blessing! I should be thanking you instead.”
Wan Hong stared blankly at her. She had been of lowborn slave status since childhood; even after becoming a concubine, she was still, at her core, just a servant with a different title. At most, when the Crown Prince ascended the throne, she might be granted the rank of consort. No proper wife or young lady from a respectable family had ever called her “sister.” They might appear pleasant on the surface, but Wan Hong knew they looked down on her in their bones. None of them would speak to her so gently and sincerely.
She had heard that Dingxi Marchioness was also of commoner birth, but now she was a legitimate, formally wedded wife—someone who could sit in the place of honor at the Crown Princess Consort’s banquet. Among the young ladies of the nobility, there was hardly anyone more exalted than her. Why, then, would she treat Wan Hong so kindly?
Wan Hong bit her lip and lowered her head, hiding a flicker of emotion in her eyes.
She led Qian Jiaoniang to a small courtyard nearest the rear garden—her own quarters, a gift from the Crown Prince on a day he was in high spirits. But she rarely stayed here; if she was not serving the Crown Prince in bed, she was attending to the Crown Princess in an adjoining room. As a result, the courtyard still looked new and untouched, as though no one lived there.
Wan Hong had someone prepare a tub of hot water for Qian Jiaoniang to bathe. Qian Jiaoniang thought it a bit of a fuss, but not wanting to reject the good intentions and make her uneasy, she thanked her and agreed. Qingya knew her lady never needed attendants when bathing, so she and Dongsheng waited outside. The Crown Princess sent over more than a dozen jackets; Wan Hong had them taken to the side room and invited Qingya to choose one suitable for her mistress—if none fit, they could fetch others.
Qingya left Dongsheng to stand guard at the door while she went off with one of Wan Hong’s maids.
Dongsheng stood straight by the doorway, like a female door guardian. Wan Hong stood with her. After a while, a little maid hurried in, whispered a few words in Wan Hong’s ear, and Wan Hong nodded, sending her away. Looking up, Wan Hong smiled at Dongsheng.
“Your name is Dongsheng, isn’t it? Why don’t you go to the side room and see if your maid has finished choosing? If nothing suits, I can have someone report to the Crown Princess immediately.”
But Dongsheng said, “I’ll wait here for my lady’s orders.”
Wan Hong replied, “I’m here. I won’t let your lady be wronged.”
Dongsheng remained unmoved.
“Without my lady’s order, I’m not going anywhere.”
…Was this loyalty or just a wooden head? Wan Hong glanced toward the doorway and caught sight of a flash of purple robes. Her heart tightened. Suddenly, she bent over, clutching her stomach.
“Oh! My stomach hurts so much!”
Dongsheng was startled and quickly supported her.
“What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”
“My stomach—ah—it’s like something’s biting me inside! Quick, take me to the privy, I can’t hold it!”
“Ah?” Dongsheng looked hesitantly toward the inner room, then back at Wan Hong, who was almost writhing in pain on the floor. Gritting her teeth, she hoisted Wan Hong onto her back. “Where is it?”
Wan Hong pointed the way, and Dongsheng, carrying her, ran off at once.
A figure in purple slipped quickly inside and pushed open the door.
Behind the screen, Qian Jiaoniang had just unfastened her outer jacket and was about to remove her inner garment. The jacket’s knot had been tied tight, and she had only just worked it loose. Suddenly, she heard the door open and called out:
“Qingya? Just put the clothes on the rack—”
Before she could finish, a figure rushed in and grabbed her from behind, breathing heavily against her neck with a strong smell of alcohol.
“Wan Hong, serve me!”
Qian Jiaoniang was shocked and opened her mouth to speak, but a large hand clamped over it. A damp, warm sensation touched her neck—he was licking her! Goosebumps broke out all over her body. She struggled fiercely, but the man held her tight, groping her. A flash of fury lit her eyes—she stomped hard on the foot of the scoundrel. He faltered for an instant, and she seized the chance to bite down savagely on his hand.
“Ah—!” The man cried out, shoving her away. She turned in anger—of course, it was the master of this residence, Crown Prince Wu Hong.
Qian Jiaoniang quickly snatched up her jacket and pulled it on.
“You are… Dingxi Marchioness?” Wu Hong clutched his injured hand, feigning surprise. “Why are you in my concubine Wan Hong’s room?” What a wild woman—her bite nearly took his hand off.
“I’m intruding. I’ll leave right now.” Her face expressionless, Qian Jiaoniang tied the sash of her clothing and stepped to go.
“Wait!” Wu Hong reached for her.
She flung him off.
“Your Highness, please behave yourself!” Why was the Crown Prince, who should be in the front hall, suddenly back here in the rear courtyard—and in his concubine’s room in broad daylight seeking pleasure? Did he not realize his wife and concubines were entertaining guests? The more she thought about it, the more wrong it felt. The disgusting sensation at the back of her neck still lingered, and she wanted to get away from this place immediately.
But Wu Hong blocked her path, putting on a virtuous expression as he said apologetically:
“Madam Xing, I was rash. The drink went to my head, and I mistook you for my concubine Wan Hong, which led to this terrible misunderstanding. I beg your pardon.”
He clasped his hands and gave her a deep bow, but the motion made his wound throb, and he grimaced with his head lowered.
“I understand. I shouldn’t be here. Your Highness, let’s just pretend this never happened. I’ll leave now.”
She moved to go, but Wu Hong again stepped in front of her.
“Madam Xing, you can’t leave yet.”
“Why not?” She frowned.
“Don’t misunderstand, Madam Xing—it’s for your own good.”
She edged toward the door.
“For my good?”
“Yes, of course, for your good.” He held his injured hand and forced a harmless smile. “Madam Xing, I’ve already committed a grave offense just now. But what’s done is done—no matter how I repent, it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve seen you in your inner garments, that I’ve… hugged and kissed you. Ah, it’s all the fault of the alcohol!” He lightly slapped himself on the cheek. “If this were to get out, Dingxi Marquis would surely cast you aside!”
Qian Jiaoniang looked at Wu Hong, whose words were earnest, and suddenly smiled.
Wan Hong, whose stomachache had abruptly disappeared, blocked Qingya at the door. “You can’t go in right now. If you go in at this moment, your lady’s reputation will be ruined! Tell me, what other man can freely enter my room?”
Dongsheng tried to force her way in, but Qingya reached out to stop her. Qingya glanced meaningfully at the guilty-looking Wan Hong, secretly clenched her back teeth, and said softly, “What Aunt Wan Hong says is right—if this matter comes to light, we servants will probably be put to death! But we are the lady’s maids. If we see it and do nothing, we’ll get a good beating when we return. Why don’t we go to the side room and pretend the clothes haven’t been brought out yet?”
“Miss Qingya!”
This girl was much too clever—yet what she said was reasonable. They were just servants; why should they meddle in their masters’ affairs! “Fine, fine, you just go wait in the side room. I’ll call you out when I see fit.”
Qingya pulled the unwilling Dongsheng away. Wan Hong turned her head toward the inner chamber and let out an almost inaudible sigh. Don’t blame me for this, Dingxi Marchioness.
As soon as Qingya entered the side room, she whispered to Dongsheng, “Quickly, climb out the window, go to the front hall, find the marquis, and tell him what’s happening—quickly, quickly!”
Only then did Dongsheng understand. She rushed to the lattice window, nimbly climbed out, and was gone.
Inside the chamber, Qian Jiaoniang smiled faintly at Wu Hong, who was staring at her in a daze. “In that case, what does His Highness the Crown Prince say I should do?”
These past days, Wu Hong had thought of Qian Jiaoniang constantly. Her smile now dazzled him so much he lost all sense of direction. It took him quite a while to find his tongue. “Well… since the wood is already carved, why not let Madam Xing cook the raw rice into a mature meal, and make a good thing of it… Madam Xing, you don’t know—since I first saw you at the polo grounds, your graceful figure has lingered in my mind without cease. I have been deeply captivated by you; day and night, my thoughts are full of your image. To tell you the truth, just now I went to look for Wan Hong because I caught sight of your exquisite beauty today, and my heart was stirred beyond control, so I returned to the inner court… Unexpectedly, by a twist of fate I met you here. Surely Heaven has taken pity on me and let my beautiful dream come true.”
Wu Hong stepped forward excitedly, trying to take Qian Jiaoniang’s hand, but she quickly evaded him. Wu Hong drew in a deep breath and went on, “Madam, I truly value you and wish to grow old with you. Now that our innocence can no longer be washed clean, why not yield to me? When I become emperor, I will confer upon you the title of Noble Consort!”
Qian Jiaoniang was struck speechless by the shameless words of this Crown Prince. A dignified heir to the throne, yet he lusted after a minister’s wife! If the great realm of Great Xie were given to him, surely the country would be doomed!
Seeing her silent, Wu Hong thought she was moved. He gazed at her tenderly and softened his tone. “I know you have feelings for me. Otherwise, at the polo grounds you wouldn’t have smiled so charmingly to catch my attention, nor at Wuling Temple laughed and spoken with me so warmly. In your heart… I am there, am I not?”
