In the first year of Qitai, it was said that the second day of the second lunar month, when the “Dragon Raises its Head,” was an auspicious day. On this mid-spring day, people worshiped the dragon to pray for the elimination of disasters, blessings, favorable weather, and a bountiful harvest. In previous years, commoners would buy honeyed fruits to celebrate or visit the Temple of the Earth God, making it exceptionally lively. However, early this morning, the streets began to be cleared.
Rows of soldiers stood guard, allowing nobles on horseback or in palanquins to pass.
Just now, the procession from the Prince An Estate passed by. Inside her palanquin, Princess Consort An was instructing her daughter, “When you see Princess Consort Su, you must show even greater respect. You cannot throw tantrums. Even if some sightless fool stirs up trouble, do not lose your temper, lest you make a fool of yourself and displease Princess Consort Su.”
Her daughter had always been pampered. Moreover, her mother was the biological niece of the Empress Dowager. Thus, she said dismissively, “How could it be as serious as Mother says? On usual days, Princess Consort Su seems like someone with a decent temper.”
Princess Consort An replied, “Child, you don’t understand. Although the Emperor is legally the son of the Empress Dowager according to the patriarchal system, he is far more filial to that one! If you don’t take her seriously, the Emperor will certainly find trouble with you.”
“How could it come to that?” She still didn’t believe it.
Princess Consort An laughed and said, “This Princess Consort Su was only seventeen when she married Prince Su, in the prime of her youth. Yet, Prince Su was thirty-six or thirty-seven at the time and even had a penchant for the Passion of the Cut Sleeve. He had countless concubines and children. Although he was an Iron-Cap Prince, who didn’t harbor the intention of watching her become a joke? But look at her: after entering the estate, she suppressed the side consorts with thunderous authority. For ten years, she had no children, and her natal family fell. Her elder sister, who had married exceptionally well and looked down on her, also met with misfortune. Yet, her luck turned; she gave birth to sons and daughters in succession. Out of so many candidates, the late Emperor specifically chose her son. It’s clear she is truly extraordinary. Logically speaking, although Prince Su is an Iron-Cap Prince, he is but a distant branch of the imperial clan.”
Lady Su, the successor wife of Prince Su who had just been mentioned, had just finished doing her hair. Today was her birthday, and the Emperor was expected to arrive. Since early this morning, the number of people sending invitation cards into the estate was as numerous as the hairs on an ox.
Today, she was dressed in full formal attire. She was exactly forty years old this year, but with her cloud-like black hair and slender figure, she looked like someone in her early twenties. Her maids sighed in admiration repeatedly. Another maid presented her with fingernail guards of openwork gold with rhomboid flowers inlaid with jadeite grains, which Lady Su placed on her ring and little fingers.
One of her confidante maids, seeking to please her, said, “These fingernail guards were specially made for you in the Imperial Household Department by the Emperor’s order. The Emperor is truly filial.”
Lady Su said flatly, “Do not say such things again.” She had always been cautious. Ever since she was framed during the palace selection when she was still in her maiden chambers, she had never let a single word escape her lips that could be used as a handle against her.
The maid who had just spoken out of turn felt awkward and quickly admitted her mistake.
“Forget it, I shall spare you this once today.”
Leaning on the hand of her nanny, she walked out and sat in the hall to listen to the flattery of those below, yet she did not feel much joy. Today was her birthday, but it was also her mother’s birthday. The mother and daughter had once agreed to celebrate together when the mother turned sixty and she turned forty. However, her eldest brother had sided with the wrong faction and was banished to the Northwest. Her father, worrying for his eldest son and being slandered by others, was stripped of his title and died of a stroke. Her mother and father had shared a deep affection; once her father passed, her mother followed not long after.
Thinking of it this way, what was the point of it all?
Only when her second brother and his wife arrived did a few hints of a genuine smile appear on her face.
In previous years, life at home had been difficult, and Lady Guan, her second sister-in-law, had aged considerably. Now that their circumstances had improved, Lady Guan had become much fairer and plumper.
The two sisters-in-law shared a private conversation, and Lady Guan was overjoyed for her. “The Princess Consort has finally seen it through to the end.” She remembered how, when her sister-in-law was the successor wife, the Prince had heartlessly aborted her fully-formed male fetuses for fear they would affect the status of the legitimate sons born to his first wife. It was only later, seeing how honest and dutiful she was, that he allowed her to give birth to a son and a daughter. Fortunately, her nephew turned out to be successful.
Lady Su did not share as many laments. She only said to her sister-in-law, “The Emperor is coming today. You should see him as well, so there can be mutual support in the future.”
Lady Guan said happily, “The Princess Consort’s second brother is always thinking of the Emperor, constantly worrying he might suffer. He will be at peace if he can see him once.”
As the saying goes, a nephew takes after his maternal uncle; the current Emperor resembled his uncle most of all.
When the Emperor arrived at noon, he only stayed for a single cup of wine before he had to leave. He was the Emperor and could not remain outside for too long. Lady Su showed no reluctance on her face, only advising the Emperor to take good care of his health in the palace and so forth.
Clearly, Emperor Qitai’s arrival brought the birthday banquet to its peak. On the stage, the opera A Bed Full of Ivory Tablets was being sung. In the play, Guo Ziyi’s seven sons and eight sons-in-law all came to offer their birthday wishes. Princess Consort An looked at her with great envy and said, “Sister-in-law’s birthday is even grander than Guo Ziyi’s.”
At this moment, Prince An’s headstrong young daughter also followed suit with flattery. “Princess Consort Su has the Emperor personally offering birthday wishes; naturally, it is better than Guo Ziyi’s.” How could a mere official compare to an Emperor?
Everyone thought to themselves that for someone like Princess Consort Su, there was likely no wish left unfulfilled.
In the evening, Lady Su drank a few extra cups of wine and felt somewhat tipsy. As the maids removed her jewelry, she looked at herself in the bronze mirror and touched her slightly flushed face. She thought to herself: How could everything possibly be as I wish? Her greatest misfortune was being born into a second branch. Her grandmother had been a successor wife who, following ancient rites, had been married out from the first wife’s family home and showed extreme respect to the first wife’s children. This caused her own branch to be inferior in every way. As for herself, she had become the successor wife of Prince Su. She wouldn’t even mention the grievances she suffered, and for many years, her son was also considered inferior, with no hope of inheriting the title. If she hadn’t taught him with such meticulous care, he would never have been chosen by the palace as an adopted heir, let alone become the Emperor today.
If there were a next life, she thought, she would certainly never be a successor wife again.