Compared with the undercurrents swirling through the other courtyards, the east wing of the newly appointed Lady Song’s rooms was much more peaceful.
As soon as Hai Shun left, Kan’er called Hanshu, Tiaozhu, and the others inside and asked them about themselves one by one.
She asked where they were from, when they had entered the palace, what they had learned, what they were good at, where they had served before, and the like.
In her previous life, as Kan’er rose in rank, the people around her had been added to and replaced many times.
She knew how to handle this sort of thing with ease.
Except for Auntie Ying.
The four maids and four young eunuchs had all assumed their mistress had been promoted only because she was lucky.
But now Lady Song sat upright in the seat of honor facing north. Her lovely features still held a young girl’s freshness and innocence.
Yet no one could ignore the faint pressure that showed in those seemingly clear, harmless eyes.
They all served in the palace; few of them were fools.
They immediately understood that the mistress they were to serve was not as simple as she looked.
So they were even more careful not to slack off.
Whatever Kan’er asked, they answered truthfully.
Once she had questioned them all, Kan’er assigned each person their future duties according to their strengths. After giving them a few final instructions, she dismissed them and asked Auntie Ying to come alone to her bedroom.
“Auntie!”
As soon as they were inside, Kan’er threw herself into Auntie Ying’s arms.
Auntie Ying wore a brown-red satin jacket woven with gold in a square-key pattern, paired with a peacock-blue mamian skirt[1]A traditional Chinese wrap-style skirt with flat front and back panels and pleated sides, also called a horse-face skirt. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3735915_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3735915_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); embroidered with trailing flowers in all four seasons. Her hair was arranged in three coils, with two regulation silver hairpins in her bun.
She looked neat and capable.
“All right, all right.”
Holding Kan’er, Auntie Ying’s eyes reddened too.
“You’re a mistress now. You can’t go on bursting into tears like before. People will laugh if word gets out.”
Kan’er sniffed and looked up with tears in her eyes and a smile. “Let them laugh. I only care that you don’t mind.”
In her previous life, Auntie Ying had also been the head attendant in Kan’er’s courtyard when Kan’er received her title. But Kan’er had known Auntie Ying before she was transferred to the Eastern Palace.
Kan’er had been eight when she first entered the palace.
Because she was pretty, gentle and quiet by nature, and quick with her hands, she was sent to the Guangchu Bureau after completing her training in palace etiquette.
There she made clothes for the ladies in the Clothing Workshop.
Auntie Ying had been responsible for the young palace maids’ daily needs. Kan’er was the youngest at the time, and Auntie Ying had looked after her especially well.
It was no exaggeration to say that without Auntie Ying,
Kan’er would have died long ago.
Then, a little over a year ago, a disaster in the harem had killed a great many eunuchs and palace maids. When it came time for the Crown Prince’s wedding, the Eastern Palace was short of staff.
The Imperial Household Department scrambled to find people for the Eastern Palace.
Kan’er was not yet fourteen, just the right age.
The matron selecting the candidates must have been in a hurry.
She had hardly considered whether it was appropriate to put a girl as pretty as Kan’er to work in the Crown Princess’s courtyard.
In any case, Kan’er was transferred to Jiarong Hall.
And that was how she and Auntie Ying were separated.
In her previous life, when Kan’er became a Fengyi and found Auntie Ying in charge of her courtyard, she had thought it was a coincidence.
Only later, quite by chance, did she learn the truth.
It had not been a coincidence at all.
When Auntie Ying heard that Kan’er was the newly appointed Fengyi, she had spent money and called in favors to get herself transferred there.
Unfortunately, Auntie Ying had not enjoyed Kan’er’s good fortune for long. She died after a sudden, severe bout of cold.
Seeing her again now, Kan’er could not help feeling both joy and sorrow.
“Listen to you.”
Auntie Ying took out a handkerchief and wiped Kan’er’s tears.
“How could I ever mind? But whatever our relationship was before, from today on you’re my mistress. What mistress clings to a servant and cries?”
Kan’er led her over to sit nearby.
Auntie Ying said, “The Guangchu Bureau heard last night that a new Zhaoxun was coming to the Eastern Palace, so they hurried to prepare clothes and shoes. The moment I heard the name, I knew it was you.
“I thought that since my work at the Guangchu Bureau was already managing people’s daily needs, you would probably need someone in charge here too. So I planned to call in a favor and see if I could get transferred.
“But who would have thought Eunuch Hai would send someone to find me first and tell me to come serve in your courtyard? It’s like cutting a gourd with a curved knife—just right!”
Kan’er stared at her in surprise. “You mean Eunuch Hai sent someone to fetch you and bring you here?”
“That’s right.”
Kan’er was taken aback.
But then she thought that the Crown Prince must have had her investigated beforehand, and that the beginning of their relationship in this life was different from what it had been in her previous one.
Perhaps Hai Shun had read the Crown Prince’s intentions and deliberately done her a favor by bringing Auntie Ying over.
In her previous life, Zheng had promoted her to Fengyi, and Hai Shun had not interfered. So Auntie Ying had had to go to considerable trouble to come to Kan’er herself.
“Is something wrong?” Auntie Ying asked quietly.
Kan’er shook her head.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m very happy to see you again.”
In this life, she would never let Auntie Ying die so young!
Auntie Ying had no idea what Kan’er was thinking. Looking at the girl’s fair, lovely face, she sighed inwardly.
“I heard your rank was granted by His Highness. Can you tell me what happened?”
Kan’er nodded.
Leaving aside the hardships she had endured in the rear courtyard of Jiarong Hall, she gave Auntie Ying a brief account of her circumstances.
Auntie Ying could not help feeling sorry for her.
How many women who bore a master’s child ever came to a good end?
The way the girl had grown steadier and more composed was enough to show that her time in the Eastern Palace over the past year or so had not been easy.
Still, today was a happy day.
A reunion was cause for celebration too, so Auntie Ying said nothing to dampen the mood.
Kan’er now held the rank of Zhaoxun. Her monthly stipend was eight taels[2]A traditional weight-based unit used to reckon silver and gold; its exact weight and purchasing power varied by era. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3735915_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3735915_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, making ninety-six taels for the year.
When people from the Imperial Household Department brought Kan’er the small furnishings for her rooms and all the things she would need day to day, they brought the ninety-six taels of silver as well.
They also brought the silk and cloth, cotton and fur for clothes and shoes; the gold and silver materials for making jewelry; and various daily necessities and medicines.
All told, there was considerably more than Kan’er had received when she was a Fengyi in her previous life.
By the time every room had been put in order and all the things unpacked, it was already late.
Fortunately, the Eastern Palace kitchen staff were still there. Seeing that everything was ready, one of them asked, “Lady Song, is there anything you’d like for lunch?”
Kan’er thought it over.
She was now allotted five jin of pork and one jin of mutton each day, and one chicken and one duck every three days.
Since today was a happy occasion, Kan’er ordered half a chicken, half a duck, half a jin of mutton, and one jin of pork. She left the vegetables to the kitchen.
Once she had given her instructions, the kitchen staff left.
Kan’er had Xiaoguizi and Xiaomanzi, the two young eunuchs, bring hot water to the bathing room. With Auntie Ying’s help, she washed herself from head to toe.
Then she changed into a ready-made outfit sent by the Guangchu Bureau.
At noon, Xiyu brought back the meal.
Hanshu tested it for poison, then set it out with Wangqing.
The kitchen had clearly gone to some effort over the meal.
The chicken had been braised with mushrooms; the duck was cooked with konjac; the mutton was stewed with walnuts; and the pork had been made into pumpkin steamed pork and shredded pork with spring bamboo shoots.
The vegetable dishes were braised eggplant, stir-fried water bamboo with wood ear mushrooms, chilled cucumber, and greens-and-tofu soup. The portions were small, but everything was carefully prepared.
Besides those dishes, Hanshu brought out a plate of fried grass carp with pickled mustard greens and a plate of blanched shrimp from the food box.
Those two dishes were beyond Kan’er’s allotted share.
It was obvious the kitchen had added them on its own.
After all, this newly appointed Lady Song was both a member of Jiarong Hall and someone whose rank had been granted by the Crown Prince himself.
Kan’er glanced at the dishes but said nothing.
She simply asked Hanshu to bring a few more bowls and plates, set aside enough for herself, and had the others take the untouched food away to share among themselves.
It was a way to celebrate the happy occasion together.
Wangqing stood to one side with her eyes lowered.
She watched the hem of that moonlight-colored skirt, embroidered with delicate patterns, and felt a sourness in her heart, like biting into an unripe plum.
They were all servants. Why was Kan’er the one who had such good luck?
Back then…
After the meal, Kan’er and Auntie Ying walked all around Yongxu Court. Then they returned to her room, where Kan’er picked out two lengths of fabric to send to the Guangchu Bureau to be made into clothes.
Once she no longer felt full, Kan’er went to her bedroom to take an afternoon nap.
By evening, the faces of Hanshu and the others—including Auntie Ying—had all begun to show unmistakable signs of nervousness and anticipation.
Xiaofuzi and Xiaoxizi were especially restless, waiting for their mistress to let them go out and take a look around.
Kan’er knew what they were hoping for.
Too bad. They were bound to be disappointed tonight.
“Someone, put out the lanterns.”
After walking a lap around the courtyard, Kan’er looked up at the two brilliant flower lanterns under the eaves before going inside.
Everyone froze.
Auntie Ying hesitated, then urged, “Perhaps someone at Yuanchun Palace was delayed by something. Why don’t we wait a little longer?”
Kan’er looked toward the doorway.
Her voice was soft.
“There’s no need. His Highness won’t come tonight.”
“Tonight, Cao Liangyuan is due to receive him.”
.
Jiarong Hall.
The Crown Prince was a man of few words.
The palace attendants at Jiarong Hall knew his temperament well. No one dared make the slightest unnecessary sound while attending him.
Zheng Mingzhi believed she understood the Crown Prince’s nature. She told him about some of the matters in the inner quarters that she was expected to report to him.
The Crown Prince occasionally murmured, “Mm,” in response.
When necessary, he let her make the decisions.
Beyond that, they had little to say to each other.
After a cup of tea, Zheng Mingzhi studied the Crown Prince’s expression and said with a smile, “A new woman entered the rear courtyard today. It’s certainly a happy occasion. I imagine Lady Song is looking forward to seeing you, Your Highness.”
Luo Xun set down his teacup.
He took the handkerchief Hai Shun offered and dabbed at the corner of his mouth.
Zheng Mingzhi paused, then continued.
“Strictly speaking, Lady Song only entered the palace today, and her rank was granted by Your Highness. If you’re inclined, there would be nothing wrong with visiting her, but…”
Hai Shun’s eye twitched.
Sure enough, the next thing she said was:
“This afternoon I looked through the roster and only then remembered that tonight is Cao Liangyuan’s turn to receive you. What do you think, Your Highness?”
The Crown Prince did not often visit the rear courtyard, and Zheng Mingzhi had been sensible enough not to schedule every day of the month.
Instead, she arranged visits on the days when each of the women was likely to conceive, based on her menstrual cycle.
But a schedule was only a schedule.
Whether he went was still up to the Crown Prince.
For instance, on the days Jin Chenghui and Zhaoxun Qin were due to receive him recently, he had not gone to their quarters.
Luo Xun glanced at Zheng Mingzhi, his tone cool. “Where do you think I should go tonight—Yongxu Court or Qinfang Residence?”
Zheng Mingzhi paused.
Then delight rose in her heart. Though the Crown Prince had clashed with her, he still respected her as his principal wife!
Her smile grew even more sincere.
“Today is a happy occasion for Lady Song, but the timing really is awkward. Cao Liangyuan has been in the Eastern Palace for years.
“And Your Highness often visits her. If you went to Lady Song’s quarters on a night assigned to Cao Liangyuan, it might hurt her feelings.
“So I think that if Your Highness wishes to visit the rear courtyard tonight, Qinfang Residence would be the more appropriate choice.”
It was true that Song Kan’er was her own person.
But that wretched maid looked like trouble.
She had even dared to talk back to Zheng that morning.
If so, Zheng would not bother to spare her any face!
Hai Shun could hardly bear to listen.
If this were an ordinary man from a wealthy household, hearing those words, he might think his wife was magnanimous and generous.
Even though the new concubine came from her own courtyard, she was not helping her compete for favor—how selfless of her.
But the problem was that the Crown Prince had grown up in the palace. He had seen the imperial consorts fight each other countless times and knew that women could be every bit as ruthless as men when they fought.
So he never took matters of the harem lightly.
If the Crown Princess had any sense, she would either directly argue for Lady Song’s benefit—after all, Lady Song was the one she had put forward to bear her a child. Speaking up for Lady Song would be perfectly reasonable.
Or the Crown Princess could simply avoid giving a specific answer and say that the decision was His Highness’s.
But she did neither.
She insisted on speaking up for Cao Liangyuan!
And the Crown Prince knew she had struck Lady Song. Wasn’t the Crown Princess’s behavior practically telling him outright that she resented Lady Song?
Was that appropriate?
Lady Song was supposed to bear her a child!
Given Cao Liangyuan’s proud, suspicious nature, she would surely think the Crown Princess’s action had some hidden purpose, and would only be more wary of her from now on.
And what would Lady Song think?
Hai Shun wondered silently.
Perhaps the Crown Prince wanted exactly that outcome?
“What do you think, Your Highness?” Zheng Mingzhi was still asking.
Luo Xun rose and walked outside with his hands behind his back.
“Then, as the Crown Princess suggests, I’ll go to Qinfang Residence.”
References[+]