My Cold-Hearted Wife Chapter 73

Cheng Danruo had received her acceptance letter from the imperial palace.

She packed her belongings, preparing to enter the palace on the twentieth of February. From that day onward, whether she would live or die was anyone’s guess.

Zi Su had nearly cried herself blind. “Why would you put yourself through this, Miss?! What’s so bad about marrying into the Minister’s family? Why insist on entering the palace to serve others? How are we supposed to explain this to Master and Old Madam when they find out?”

Cheng Danruo decided to speak with her in private and motioned for Xi Que to leave first.

“Zi Su, the palace has already accepted me. There’s no changing that now,” she said. “Don’t worry. I’ve already spoken with my adoptive mother. You can stay here for now and return to the Chen family whenever they come to the capital.”

Zi Su continued to weep uncontrollably.

“This letter is for Old Madam.” Cheng Danruo had arranged everything down to the last detail. “Bow your head to Old Madam and Madam on my behalf. I owe them a great deal for looking after me all these years. I’ll repay their kindness someday.”

Sobbing, Zi Su said, “Miss, but the palace…”

“You don’t need to worry about me. You’re the one we need to think about. If you want to return to the Chen family, you can. If you’d rather stay with the Yan family, that’s fine too. You can marry someone of your own choosing. I doubt Madam will be so heartless as to hold you back by refusing to release your indenture contract.”

Lady Huang was an intelligent woman. She would not risk offending the Yan family over a single maid. This was the only thing Cheng Danruo could do for Zi Su. Since Zi Su was not her personal maid, she had no way to restore her free status.

However, after hesitating for a moment, Zi Su still said, “I think it would be best for me to return.”

Even Miss would not be staying here much longer, let alone a maid like her. Besides, her parents were with the Chen family. It was the place where she had grown up, where everyone knew her background. She would have a better chance of finding a stable marriage there.

“That’s fine too.” Cheng Danruo did not press her. Instead, she took out ten taels of silver and a silver hairpin. “You know I don’t have many valuable things. Keep these for your dowry.”

Zi Su burst into tears again.

“So what if you’re a palace lady-in-waiting? No matter how nicely they dress it up, you’re still there to serve others.” She wiped her tears. “Miss, please, ask Old Master Yan to bring you out after a couple of years!”

Cheng Danruo let out an amused laugh and retorted, “Wasn’t I serving others in the Chen family, too? I worked like an ox and a horse for Old Madam. How is that any different?”

“It’s certainly not the same!”

“It is the same. Since I have to serve someone either way, I might as well serve the most exalted people in the empire.” Cheng Danruo replied. “At least the emperor will pay me a salary.”

Serving Old Madam would earn her a reputation for filial piety. Serving the emperor and his consorts, on the other hand, could earn her a promotion.

Zi Su had no answer to that and could only grieve in silence.

“We’ve been mistress and maid for a long time,” Cheng Danruo said. “Thank you for looking after me all these years.”

The day before her departure, Lady Hong summoned Cheng Danruo.

She got straight to the point. “My sister is in the palace. She holds a position of some importance as a Palace Matron. With her name behind you, as long as you don’t make any serious mistakes, she should be able to keep you safe.”

Cheng Danruo was a little surprised.

“However, she’s a cold and distant woman. She may be able to save your life, but I doubt she’ll go out of her way to look after you. She might even be stricter with you because of your family ties.” Lady Hong took her hand and gave her earnest advice. “Life in the palace is nothing like life at home. Whatever happens, learn to be patient.”

Cheng Danruo nodded. “I understand, Mother.”

After her adoptive mother finished, her adoptive father summoned her as well.

Yan Hongzhi wasted no time on pleasantries and went straight to telling her about Princess Consort Lu.

More than a month had passed since the incident, yet this was the first Cheng Danruo had heard of it. She was utterly taken aback.

“It’s enough that you know about this. Don’t ask any more questions,” Yan Hongzhi cautioned her. “The vassal princes have nothing to do with the inner palace. Just remember one thing: whatever you do, don’t get entangled with any of the princes.”

Cheng Danruo nodded. “I understand.”

“Keep a low profile in the palace,” Yan Hongzhi continued. “If something truly unexpected happens, you can seek out your aunt.”

“Yes, Father.”

“And if things become urgent and your aunt is unable to reach you in time…” He pondered for a moment before continuing, “Don’t hesitate. Go to San-lang and ask him for help.”

She hesitated briefly before giving him a verbal assurance. “Yes, Father.”

Yan Hongzhi could see what was on her mind, but he could hardly call her out on it. He sighed. “Very well. In that case, let me teach you one more trick.”

Cheng Danruo adopted an attentive expression, ready to listen.

“Women have fewer opportunities in this world than men,” he said slowly. “But the weak have advantages of their own. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, don’t stubbornly insist on holding your ground when retreat is an option. Sometimes, advancing by retreating can be a way out.”

She nodded.

“There’s only so much I can do for you. But your household registration is now under my name, and you are my daughter in the eyes of the law. There is one matter for which I can vouch for you.” Yan Hongzhi spoke mysteriously. “Listen carefully. I’ve already found you a suitable marriage prospect. Once you come of age, you can return home and marry him.”

Cheng Danruo was astonished. He can even arrange that?

After thinking it over, she immediately asked, “When the time comes for him to die, can he die right away?”

Yan Hongzhi had been leisurely sipping his tea, ready to enjoy her flustered reaction. He had never expected to hear such a question. The tea nearly went down his windpipe.

“Cough, cough, cough! What did you just say? Die?”

“If he doesn’t die, how am I supposed to remain a chaste widow?” Cheng Danruo asked, puzzled.

Yan Hongzhi was momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he finally managed, “Well, er… we’ll discuss that later.”

February 20. Entry into the palace.

The process for newly appointed female officials was much the same as that for palace maids and candidates selected to enter the imperial harem. Since they had yet to be assigned official posts, they first had to undergo a period of training lasting anywhere from half a month to a month.

The training was overseen by a Palace Disciplinarian from the Directorate of Palace Discipline, a woman with an iron heart and an unforgiving hand. Her first order was to make them stand at attention in the cold wind as punishment.

They were not allowed to move, let their eyes wander, or whisper to one another.

It was much like military training, only even harsher. The Palace Disciplinarian was particularly fond of repeating one thing, “The person who resides in this palace is His Majesty, the most exalted man in all of Great Xia. Whatever your status before, once you enter the palace, you must abide by its rules.”

In simple terms, the purpose was to establish the emperor’s absolute authority and crush any sense of personal dignity.

Cheng Danruo let the words go in one ear and out the other. She consoled herself with the thought that, at least, female officials in the Xia dynasty were genuine officials, appointed by imperial decree. They were not like the women of the Qing dynasty, who were all treated as servants. Yet no matter how she tried to comfort herself, she could not deny that the difference was merely a matter of degree.

All she could do was avoid dwelling on it and slowly endure the seemingly endless regimen of discipline.

Wang Yongxu, however, was struggling. As a pampered young lady, she had never endured such hardship, and her physical stamina was failing her. Unable to bear it any longer, she asked, “Could we take a short break?”

The Palace Disciplinarian had been waiting for someone to speak out. The moment she heard this, she snapped, “If you can’t even endure this little hardship, what are you doing here trying to become a female official? You might as well have stayed home and continued playing the young mistress!”

She gave a cold laugh. “Unfortunately, it’s too late for that now. Once you enter the palace, every single thing you do must comply with palace regulations. You will stand for another half an hour as punishment.”

Wang Yongxu’s face immediately turned livid. “You… you…”

She was not stupid. She knew that the imperial palace was nothing like her own home, and she had conducted herself impeccably on previous visits. Her question today had not been entirely without the intention of testing the waters. She had simply never expected the other woman to slap her down so mercilessly.

The Palace Disciplinarian was no fool either. She immediately seized on another girl who had been shifting about and said coldly, “You will stand for another hour. Everyone else may rest for fifteen minutes.”

Cheng Danruo thought to herself that the woman was certainly shrewd. Punishing Wang Yongxu, whose family background was the most distinguished among them, was a way to make an example of her, force her to rein in her temper, and demonstrate the severity of palace discipline. Then, by doubling the punishment for another girl, the Palace Disciplinarian created a contrast in treatment, making Wang Yongxu realize that she had actually been shown some consideration. After all, the Palace Disciplinarian did not want to offend Minister Wang.

What a gathering of cunning minds.

Cheng Danruo silently went inside to rest and took the opportunity to adjust the bandages around her calves. Punitive standing was the most dignified and least physically harmful form of punishment. Just as she had anticipated, she had wrapped her legs in compression bandages that morning.

The ability to stand for long periods was a fundamental skill, one that every doctor needed. She might as well treat this as preparation for surgery.

Noticing that the other girls were rubbing their legs too, she offered, “Elevating your legs a little should help relieve the discomfort.”

The other young women smiled at her. Some tried following her advice, others remained silent, and a few pretended not to have heard her.

Cheng Danruo did not press the matter.

In the morning, they were made to stand at attention as punishment. In the afternoon, they began memorizing the palace regulations. Each woman received a small booklet. It contained relatively little information, mainly outlining the duties of the Six Bureaus and One Directorate, the restrictions governing access to various palace gates, the rules for paying respects and responding to questions in daily life, and other official regulations and protocols.

They would be tested the following day.

They spent the entire night memorizing the booklet.

The next day, Wang Yongxu recited the entire text from beginning to end. The Palace Disciplinarian allowed her to leave class early, making her attempt to curry favor quite obvious.

On the third day, they attended a lesson on The Finest Treasures of Ancient Prose.

Cheng Danruo had never even heard of it. She spent some time leafing through the book before realizing that it was an anthology of classical Chinese poetry and prose. This was precisely what the Inner Study Hall, where eunuchs received their education, taught. That was why eunuchs were generally literate and well versed in the Confucian classics.

Wang Yongxu excelled at her studies. The next best was a young girl surnamed Liu. She appeared to be the daughter of a minor official. Although she had not read many books, she learned quickly and possessed an astonishing memory.

The others were much the same. Anyone who had qualified to become a female official had received at least some education, and none of them had a poor academic foundation.

Cheng Danruo claimed that she had only begun learning to read six months ago, immediately relegating herself to the bottom of the class.

From the fifth day onward, the academic arms race began.

Some stayed up late studying by lamplight; others competed to compose poetry and match parallel couplets. Before long, bickering and arguments broke out as well. Yet, for some reason, the Palace Disciplinarian suddenly disappeared for the next two days. With no one around to punish them, the initial show of authority was gradually forgotten.

Cliques began to form, and factionalism flourished.

Cheng Danruo: “…”

If anyone were watching, I’d chop my own head off.

She was only here to become a female official, for heaven’s sake.

On the fourth of March, the women in the palace changed into their spring robes. The female officials’ uniforms were distributed as well: blue-green, round-collared robes. Since female scribes held no official rank, they had to be promoted to one of the Twenty-Four Supervisors before they could attain even the eighth rank.

Only attendants serving the emperor personally or working closely with the imperial consorts were permitted to wear red. Ordinary female officials, apart from their formal ceremonial attire, could wear only green, blue, or blue-green in their everyday uniforms. Their robes bore no rank badges, either. Only those who rose to positions such as Seal Supervisor, Brush Supervisor, or one of the Six Directors could wear robes embroidered with rank badges.

Now that their uniforms had arrived, their appointments could not be far behind.

Wang Yongxu was requested by the Bureau of Ceremonies, which oversaw court etiquette and daily rituals. She was assigned to the Bureau of Records, one of its four subordinate departments, responsible for managing the classics, books, writing materials, and desks. She became a Records Supervisor of the eighth rank.

Next, Lady Liu was requested by the Bureau of Palace Administration, which managed the empress’s affairs and the receipt and dispatch of official documents. She was assigned to the Bureau of Accounts, one of its four subordinate departments, responsible for maintaining registers and recording the receipt and distribution of documents. She became a female scribe, a position without official rank.

Meanwhile, those skilled at needlework were sent to the Bureau of Works, which oversaw and supervised the women’s textile work. Those who could cook were assigned to the Bureau of Food, responsible for managing the preparation and provision of meals. The others, particularly those with sharp tongues who loved to argue and compete for attention, were sent to less desirable offices under the Bureau of Bedchambers, which oversaw the emperor’s sleeping quarters: the Office of Gardens, responsible for cultivating flowers and fruit, and the Bureau of Lamps, which managed lamps and candles.

No one was rejected. Women with literary talent were rare, and each one was considered precious.

Cheng Danruo was assigned to the Dispensary Office under the Bureau of Food, in the position of female scribe. According to the official staffing structure, the office had two Dispensary Officers, two Palace Apothecaries, and two Medicine Managers, making three colleagues of the same rank as her.

Her first task after receiving her appointment was to move house.

Where did female officials live?

“According to the established regulations of our ancestors, five residences were built to the east of the Qianqing Palace and another five to the west. Each had its own name and was occupied by senior palace maids who had been formally appointed.”

These were where the female officials lived.

Each residence consisted of three successive courtyards. The infamous Ke Shi of the Ming dynasty had once lived in the Two Residences of Ganxi.

Of course, as a female scribe without official rank, Cheng Danruo could only live in one of the small rooms at the very back, in a position equivalent to the rear quarters of an ordinary traditional courtyard house.

Still, having a room of her own was already quite good. Most palace maids had to live in what was known as the langxia jia, a row of small houses behind the Eastern and Western Five Residences, near Xuanwu Gate.

Their living conditions were truly miserable.

Unfortunately, her workplace was hardly any better.

The head of the department was a woman surnamed Tao, known as Director Tao of the Directorate of Food. The moment she saw Cheng Danruo, she gave her an assignment without further ado.

“Just in time. Hall of Peace and Joy is short-staffed. From now on, you’ll be responsible for matters over there.”

Cheng Danruo: “…Yes, ma’am.”

The half-month training course for female officials had been more than enough to teach her what Hall of Peace and Joy was.

In fact, there were two Hall of Peace and Joy, an outer one and an inner one. The Outer Hall of Peace and Joy stood beside North Peace Gate and housed sick eunuchs. If their condition deteriorated and they were unlikely to recover, the place would simply be burned down.

The Inner Hall of Peace and Joy housed palace servants. It was located in Yangfang Alley, and likewise accommodated critically ill palace maids who had been sent there to await death.

“Whenever palace servants fell ill, grew old, or committed offences, they were first sent here. After a long period, they would then be transferred outside to the Laundry Bureau.”

During the Ming dynasty, when Imperial Consort Wan held great power, Zhu Youcheng, the future Hongzhi Emperor, had once been hidden here.

In short, it was a place where people went to die.

In the spring of the eighteenth year, Danruo entered the service of the inner palace on account of her medical talents.

– History of the Xia, Biography 91