My Cold-Hearted Wife Chapter 81

Passing the examination to become a female xiucai already set one apart from ordinary palace servants. Passing the examination to become a female scribe meant one could already be called a female official, but only those who truly held an official rank and had received an imperial writ of appointment could be considered a true female official.

However, Cheng Danruo knew clearly in her heart that this promotion was merely a coincidence.

She did not know the emperor’s true intention in promoting her, but with Li Youyi and Xie Xuanying around, it was most likely that one of them had given her a helping hand.

This kind of thing could happen once but not again. A promotion not earned through genuine merit was like duckweed without roots – fine to look at, nothing more.

Therefore, Cheng Danruo did not make a fuss. She merely spent money to order snacks for a midnight meal: rose-filled tangyuan, jujube paste rolls, and milk cakes, which she distributed to everyone during the evening lesson.

Seeing her keep a low profile, the others naturally did not make much of it either. They ate the snacks together and, substituting tea for wine, considered it a congratulation.

When the news reached Palace Matron Hong, another conversation ensued.

The one who brought the news was Director Tao.

She had a full-moon face with a pair of dimples on her cheeks. She was skilled at making snacks, and by relying on this unique skill she had climbed to the position of Director of Food. She also had a fine tongue and could taste different seasonings. Every time before the emperor ate, she was the first to taste the food – serving as a human poison detector.

“Sister Hong.” There were not many female officials; the five directors and the Director of Palace Discipline had all been promoted by Palace Matron Hong herself, and in private they addressed one another as sisters. “This niece of yours is really something – Li Bao’er actually didn’t obstruct it.”

Female officials and eunuchs kept each other in check, each waxing and waning in turn. Since Cheng Danruo was Palace Matron Hong’s niece, the eunuchs ought to have intervened to obstruct the emperor’s summons – that it had gone so smoothly truly puzzled Director Tao.

“Why would he need to intervene?” Palace Matron Hong was quite calm. “The Directorate of Ceremonial will always be the Directorate of Ceremonial.”

Of the twelve eunuch directorates, all except the Directorate of Ceremonial were departments handling miscellaneous affairs. They could do those tasks, and female officials could do them too – it was merely a question of who reaped the benefits.

Only the Directorate of Ceremonial held the power of the vermilion endorsement, directly touching on government affairs, and its chief eunuch was known as the “inner chancellor.” The eunuchs there had eyes only for the outer court – how could they spare a glance for female officials?

Director Tao understood this reasoning as well and could not help falling silent.

“There’s no help for it – men without roots are still men,” Palace Matron Hong knew where the limits lay. “Look on the bright side: as long as the Directorate of Ceremonial exists, His Majesty will use us.”

The Directorate of Ceremonial was the eunuchs’ greatest bargaining chip. With it in place, the emperor would not dare delegate power in other areas, which conversely made it easier for the women to contend for influence elsewhere.

“Then what comes next…” Director Tao sought her counsel.

Palace Matron Hong instructed, “The Bureau of Food must be careful lately – serve the Empress Dowager well and do not get dragged into other matters. Especially with the food and drink of the consorts and concubines, you must be extraordinarily vigilant.”

Director Tao was uneasy. “Xiefang Palace only has two extra girls – surely it won’t come to that.”

“Do not underestimate them,” Palace Matron Hong said. “It’s hard to say with the Prince An’s household, but Commandery Princess Jianing has been making no small moves these days.”

Director Tao said, “Indeed – she is always going to the Empress Dowager and the Empress Consorts. No small ambition.”

Palace Matron Hong merely smiled with a hint of scorn. “Putting the cart before the horse – not worth mentioning.”

They turned to other matters, and Cheng Danruo’s promotion was passed over just like that, in a light and casual manner.

Only, they were not the only ones speaking of her today.

Riverside Duty Quarters.

Shi Jing, the Seal Supervisor of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the most powerful of all the eunuchs, was in his room eating watermelon cheese. The crystal-clear watermelon juice had congealed into transparent little cubes, bright and translucent, refreshing and delicious for the summer heat.

Holding a silver spoon, he tasted the snack leisurely. Beside his legs knelt a young eunuch who, while massaging his legs, reported the afternoon’s matter concerning Eunuch Li.

“Godfather,” the young eunuch said flatteringly, “Brush Supervisor Li really doesn’t put you in his eyes at all – so eager to push his adopted son forward.”

Eunuch Shi sneered. “What, are you jealous?”

“I am not jealous. However impressive Brush Supervisor Li may be, how could he match your prestige?” The young eunuch’s flattery came out the moment he opened his mouth. “I am willing to serve you my whole life.”

Eunuch Shi let it go in one ear and out the other, not taking it seriously at all.

Li Bao’er promoting his adopted son naturally had his own calculations, but these little schemes could not touch a single hair on him. He, Shi Jing, had served the emperor ever since the Prince Qi’s residence – this bond of affection was unmatched and unsurpassed by anyone, and his position as the number one eunuch had stood firm and secure for so many years.

If he were to fly into a rage over such trivial matters, wouldn’t he be busy to death every day? Listening to the young eunuch’s chatter was for the purpose of keeping timely control over the movements of those below him.

The young eunuch did not know his thoughts and only kept cursing his enemy to curry favor. “I think Brush Supervisor Li handled this without any sense of loyalty. Li Youyi aside – he’s one of our own no matter what – but to give a female official prestige, what does that count for? It just benefits Palace Matron Hong for nothing.”

Eunuch Shi smiled again and said slowly, “Good son, don’t say I didn’t warn you – when there’s nothing going on, don’t offend that girl surnamed Cheng.”

As the emperor’s closest confidant, he could guess the intent behind the emperor’s promotion.

When the palace recruited female officials, Minister Wang sent his own daughter, and the Yan family, having no biological daughter, sent an adopted one – both were acts of loyalty to the sovereign. By the convention of this dynasty, consorts and concubines all came from humble households. These two girls entering the palace were truly there to work and risk their lives for the imperial family, unable to seek any prospects for themselves.

With their youth promised in vain, the imperial family naturally had to bestow grace.

This was precisely why the Imperial Consort repeatedly bestowed rewards on the Wang family’s girl.

Besides, when Young Master Xie spoke up for his teacher’s daughter, who would dare not do him the favor? The eunuchs great and small in the palace all owed this gentleman no small number of favors.

He had given Li Bao’er a helping hand; if Li Bao’er showed no acknowledgment, he himself would have no face to show anyone.

A female official – that was all.

The thought flashed through Eunuch Shi’s mind, and he did not even remember Cheng Danruo’s name.

But that did not matter. He would have many more opportunities in the future.

The next day, Xie Xuanying was on leave and went to visit the Yan household.

Yan Hongzhi asked, “Aren’t you terribly busy? Why have you come today?”

Xie Xuanying pressed a fist to his lips and coughed lightly twice. “Yesterday, His Majesty summoned Dan-niang and promoted her one rank.”

Dan-niang? Yan Hongzhi glanced at his student, feeling he was being far too brazen. “What business is that of yours?”

Xie Xuanying said, “I’ve come to share the good news with you.”

“You think this is good news?” Yan Hongzhi asked. “The palace is in such chaos right now – a tall tree catches the wind.”

Xie Xuanying said solemnly, “It is good news. With today’s summons, even if there is some trouble, they won’t dare use Dan-niang as a scapegoat.”

The principle that a tall tree catches the wind was not wrong, but he understood the inner palace better. Sometimes, when a task went wrong, those above still had a chance to explain themselves, while those below were certain to be dragged in.

The position of female scribe was neither high nor low – she had to bear responsibility for the mistakes of palace maids and could also be implicated by female officials above her. But being summoned today was equivalent to having her name registered before His Majesty – she was no longer a nameless little female official.

When they next picked a scapegoat, the odds were she would not be chosen.

More importantly… the eunuchs’ eyes had been planted.

Li Bao’er was a clever man. In the future, when Dang-niang had some matter, he would come to sell this favor.

Xie Xuanying thought this but did not speak frankly to Yan Hongzhi: civil officials all disliked eunuchs, but he was different. When he entered the palace alone as a child, the emperor had sent eunuchs to look after him, and they had been quite attentive in clothing, food, lodging, and travel.

For this reason, he never minded bestowing favors on eunuchs. Sometimes he pleaded on their behalf, sometimes he was lenient about their mistakes, and over time he had built up some goodwill.

Now was the time to call in those favors.

He had already made his calculations, but aloud he brought up another matter. “Is Brother Guang still preparing to go to Henan to manage the waters?”

Yan Hongzhi said, “He was originally to go in spring, but my wife simply couldn’t do anything with him. After discussing it with the Han family, they’ll go to formalize the betrothal in a few days.”

Xie Xuanying could not help showing a faint smile. Though his relationship with Yan Guang was ordinary, the outcome of lovers finally becoming spouses was always cause for joy. “When is the wedding?”

“What business is that of yours?” Yan Hongzhi’s tone carried a note of reproof. “You won’t be missing the wedding wine.”

Xie Xuanying thought to himself: I won’t be missing my wedding wine, and neither will Dan-niang. If she can get leave to come out, perhaps we can meet again.

“Not going is fine too.” Amid personal matters, he had not forgotten official business. He passed on the news: “Last year’s autumn floods – the waterlogging on both banks of the Yellow River was quite severe, and famine victims have already come north. This year Shandong has spring drought again; I’m afraid there will be no small number of refugees.”

Yan Hongzhi sighed. “With these natural and man-made disasters, I only hope no one stirs up trouble again.”

Entering June, the weather grew hotter with each passing day.

To guard against assassins, the Forbidden City had few trees; only the imperial garden had a bit of greenery. Taiye Lake was still outside the palace, and within the palaces at most a few water vats were set out to grow flowers – cooling could only rely on ice.

The ice in the imperial palace was all taken in winter and stored in cellars, then brought out for use in summer. It was mainly supplied to the palace and government offices, and also bestowed upon ministers.

Outside the palace, needless to say, one could buy ice with money, but using ice within the palace was difficult – there were strict quotas.

Cheng Danruo could almost never get her turn. She could only rely on taking saltpeter from the medicine storehouse to make ice herself for cooling. Ice bowls, ice basins, iced watermelon and the like – don’t even think about them; they were not for her.

The consorts and concubines could use it quite comfortably, but the Imperial Consort said that Zhili already had many refugees, and all expenditures in the palace should be kept simple, saving finances to relieve the disaster victims.

Although the palace’s expenditures came from the inner treasury and did not go through the Ministry of Revenue’s accounts, thrift on the part of the empress and consorts was a virtue of emperors, so of course everyone supported it wholeheartedly.

But as a result, the summer days became hard to endure.

In Cheng Danruo’s Inner Hall of Peace and Joy, people were carried in every few day -either suffering heatstroke from laboring under the blazing sun, or having diarrhea from eating spoiled food.

She had no choice but to keep huoxiang zhengqi powder on hand. This was a formula from the Taiping Imperial Pharmacy Formulary for Universal Benefit and Relief, with main ingredients similar to huoxiang zhengqi water – relieving the exterior and transforming dampness, regulating qi and harmonizing the middle.

For those not seriously ill, a bowl poured down was usually enough.

With people coming and going, news naturally traveled quickly.

Henan had suffered floods last autumn – the autumn harvest was only half done when good fields were all submerged, and many common people had no surplus grain after paying taxes and were forced to go north to beg. This spring Shandong had no rain, spring plowing was ruined, and refugees were displaced again – half went south of the Yangtze to Jiangnan Province and Zhejiang Province to seek a living, while the other part also went north and had already reached the Hebei area.

It was said that a large number of refugees had already gathered around Baoding Prefecture, and the authorities had no choice but to open the granaries and distribute grain.

The Empress Dowager could not bear it in her heart and wished to fast for half a month, so Commandery Princess Jianing suggested going to Huiyuan Temple to worship the Buddha.

Huiyuan Temple was a royal temple, established not long after the founding of the dynasty. If a prince or princess was born frail and sickly in the palace, a substitute would be sent forth to become a monk or nun, to cultivate and pray for blessings. It was the most famous Buddhist temple in the capital, with flourishing incense offerings.

The Empress Dowager was quite moved by the idea.

When the emperor heard of it, he issued an edict ordering the Imperial Consort and others to accompany the Empress Dowager to Huiyuan Temple to worship the Buddha.

Then he himself moved to the Western Park – that is, the cluster of palaces by Taiye Lake.

Places near the lake were, after all, cooler, and the emperor also feared the heat.

The imperial palace suddenly became empty.

With no masters about, it meant there would be no important matters, and Cheng Danruo took the opportunity to ask for a day’s leave.

Because the Chen family had arrived in the capital.

Master Chen had returned to the capital on schedule to report on his duties. No sooner had he entered the capital than he sent someone to inquire about the Yan family’s address. Once settled, he sent a servant to deliver a calling card to their door.

Lady Hong received the card and invited Lady Huang to come for a talk, explaining the whole story of how Cheng Danruo had entered the palace.

“This child is of exceptional character – my husband and I both adore her like anything. My husband and I have only two sons, and we truly wanted a daughter, so we simply insisted on making her our kin,” said Lady Hong. “Back in spring, when the palace was seeking female physicians, she had a mind to earn a posthumous name for her father and brother, so she said she wanted to give it a try. We could hardly stand in the way of the child fulfilling her filial duty.”

Lady Huang touched the tea to her lips and betrayed no emotion. “Dan-niang has always been filial – I know that well.” She added, “She spent several years in our old madam’s service, and the old madam remembers her fondly. No sooner had we settled in than she began longing for her.”

“Speaking of which, it is we who ought to apologize,” Lady Hong said politely. “Your family’s relative came to our house once, and she became our daughter.”

She asked the maid, “Are the gifts for the Chen family prepared? Add three parts more – let it count as our apology.”

“You are too serious,” Lady Huang said, unconcerned about whether Cheng Danruo stayed or left. She had come with favors to ask of the Yan family, so how would she dare accept? “That you are willing to take Dan-niang as your adopted daughter is her good fortune.”

Lady Hong said, “To gain a filial daughter for nothing – it is our family’s good luck.”

Lady Huang was slightly surprised. Lady Hong’s protectiveness showed that she truly was rather fond of Cheng Danruo.

Now the matter was both easy and difficult to handle.