“Achu, you little wretch.” The woman, who was only thirty and whose once-beautiful bearing could still be faintly discerned, gritted her teeth. “How could you get involved with a eunuch? That… that’s a man without a root[1]A derogatory Chinese euphemism referring to a eunuch’s castration. The expression uses “root” as an indirect reference to male reproductive organs and reflects the social stigma … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3729179_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3729179_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.” She lowered her voice for the last sentence.
The people one must never offend in the palace were the eunuchs. Having lost their power from a young age, they were more insecure and crazed than anyone else.
Take what happened to Wang Qin a few days ago. As the former chief palace eunuch, he had held immense power in the palace, yet he still wanted everything that an ordinary man possessed. He had asked to marry Lianxin, a palace woman serving the Empress Fuca, and the two had entered into a eunuch marriage[2]In imperial Chinese palace culture, some eunuchs and palace maids formed intimate or companionate partnerships, sometimes called duishi, meaning “paired eating.” These arrangements could resemble … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3729179_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3729179_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });. Their ages were far apart, but it would have been fine if they could simply have lived out their days peacefully.
Yet Wang Qin was a eunuch who took Aji Su Pill—an aphrodisiac—every night and forcibly demanded that Lianxin consummate the marriage with him. In an attempt to make up for what his body lacked, he used various objects to violate her, until Lianxin could no longer endure the humiliation.
After Wang Qin committed his grave offense, Lianxin reported that he had spread the rumors and framed Ulanara Ruyi. An investigation later confirmed it. His Majesty ordered Wang Qin’s hand and foot tendons severed before he was put to death by Paper-Seal Execution[3]Refers to tie jiaguan, a punishment depicted in Chinese historical dramas in which damp sheets of paper are layered over a person’s face to cause suffocation. The expression literally refers to … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3729179_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3729179_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });. He also ordered every palace eunuch to go to the Office of Palace Punishments and watch the process, frightening quite a few eunuchs into fainting on the spot.
Since then, eunuchs and palace maids have been strictly forbidden from entering into eunuch marriages. Anyone discovered doing so would be punished severely without exception.
“Aunt, Jinzhong treats Achu very well.” Achu bent and counted off on her fingers all the good things Jinzhong did for her. “He buys me food and drinks, buys me gemstone necklaces, and even brings me a whole chest of new storybooks from outside the palace for me to read. He makes me laugh. When I’m tired, he carries me; when I’m thirsty, he gives me water; and he gives me all his monthly allowance. Most importantly…”
Achu shyly cupped her face in her hands. “He’s handsome.”
“You shallow little thing!” Achu’s words made Aunt Fang shudder with anger. “Everything you said before was pointless. You just like him for his looks, don’t you? But what good is it for a eunuch to be handsome? He can’t let you bear children or give you a house full of children and grandchildren to enjoy the happiness of family. You’ll regret it when you grow older.”
“What’s so good about having children? Giving birth is like taking a trip through the gates of hell. Besides, Aunt, you don’t have any biological children, but you have me. I regard you as my real mother.” Achu changed tack and began acting coy and adorable. “I use your surname, eat your food, drink your water, and live under your roof. Even if you refuse to acknowledge me, it’s too late now~ Aunt~ Mother~ Just agree to let me be with Jinzhong. I swear, apart from you, I haven’t told anyone about this. You’re my real aunt and also my real mother. Achu doesn’t want to keep it from you.”
“You little imp.” Aunt Fang awkwardly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. “You only know how to sweet-talk your aunt.”
“I’m not sweet-talking you. After Father and Mother passed away, you were the one who raised me from childhood.” Achu held Aunt Fang’s hand. “You taught me to read and write. You taught me propriety, morality, and shame. You gave me everything you could. You’re a wonderful aunt, and the best mother in Achu’s heart. I know you’re doing this for my sake, but I don’t want to leave the palace and marry, then spend my life supporting a husband and raising children. Jinzhong understands me, respects me, cherishes me, and loves me, and I love him too. You don’t need to worry about us having no children of our own. In the future, we can adopt orphans abandoned outside and take care of you together when you’re old. All right? Please? All right~ Aunt~ Mother~”
“All right, all right, I’ll do as you say.” No one could resist Achu’s sweet words. Before long, Aunt Fang surrendered. Laughing as she scolded her, she said, “You’re already grown, so why are you still as spoiled as you were when you were little?”
“Because Aunt is here, Achu will always be a child. I’d never act like this with anyone else.” Achu buried herself in Aunt Fang’s embrace and spoke in a soft, sweet voice.
“Oh? Not even with Jinzhong?” Aunt Fang asked, amused.
Achu replied with absolute conviction, “I’m only a child here with Aunt.” Then she secretly added, “This is our secret. Don’t tell him.”
“Hahahahaha. All right, Aunt promises.”
“You heard all that, didn’t you?” Aunt Fang said earnestly to Jinzhong, who stepped out from the corner. “Achu may be young, but she has already made up her mind. I can’t change her decision, but I hope you’ll treat her well.”
The corners of Jinzhong’s eyes were red, clearly showing that he had just cried. He knelt stiffly before Aunt Fang and said sincerely, “I swear that for the rest of my life, I, Jinzhong, will treasure Achu like a pearl, never let her suffer the slightest grievance, and properly honor and care for you in the future as well. If I break this oath, may five thunderbolts strike me down, and may I die a miserable death.”
After saying this, he kowtowed several times with resounding thuds. “Thank you, Aunt Fang, for giving us your blessing.”
Aunt Fang did not refuse. She accepted his formal obeisance.
“But I’ll say this plainly in advance. Achu is innocent and sweet, but her beauty is far too bewitching. With her looks and talents, she could even become an Imperial Consort. So if one day she regrets her choice, I only hope you’ll let her go and not stand in the way of her future.”
It was not that she looked down on eunuchs. They had all spent many years living in the palace and knew how difficult life was for one another, so there was no question of looking down on anyone. But Achu was different. She had been pampered since childhood and possessed an innocent, carefree nature. Aunt Fang feared that she might regret this in the future. To avoid trouble later, it was better for her to make certain things clear now.
Jinzhong’s body stiffened, and his voice turned bitter. “I understand. As long as that is what she wants, I will help her rise to high station and clear away every obstacle in her path. If that isn’t what she wants, I will do everything in my power to protect her in the inner palace. All I want is for her to live in peace and happiness.”
Aunt Fang’s expression softened. Comparing the two of them, she could see perfectly clearly who possessed the deeper feelings and greater devotion. As long as the one who ended up hurt was not her Achu, Aunt Fang could rest easy.
“Good child, get up.”
References[+]