From this month onward, officials at court began submitting memorials one after another, urging the establishment of an Empress. The matter of appointing one was already imminent. Within the new Emperor Song Yu’s harem, Consort Fan, his original wife and former Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace, Fan Lanqu, hailed from the foremost aristocratic clan of Jiangdong, the Fan family. In terms of background and seniority, no one could contend with her for the position of Empress.
Once the Empress was established, the ranks of the entire harem would also be conferred accordingly. The position of Noble Consort, second only to the Empress, was very much up for contention.
Consort Pan, formerly a secondary consort of the Crown Prince and also from one of the great aristocratic families, the Pan clan, did not lose to Consort Fan in background. However, she was not especially favored, nor did she have any princes or princesses to support her position, so her chances of securing the title of Noble Consort were somewhat uncertain.
Consort Zhang, likewise formerly a secondary consort of the Eastern Palace, came from a distinguished background and had given birth to a prince, Song Can. With the saying that a mother rises through her son, she seemed slightly more advantaged than Consort Pan. Yet she was not favored, and her son Song Can was somewhat slow-witted, barely able to speak at five years old. Moreover, it was said that he was not particularly liked by his grandmother, Empress Dowager Shen, the Emperor’s birth mother, and there was some discord between them. Because of this, the position of Noble Consort did not seem so easily within her grasp either.
Although their own daughter, Consort Chen, came from a modest background, the Cheng family had originally been nothing more than a minor fifth-rank household, and Cheng Ping’s title as Marquis of Ding’an had only been newly granted thanks to his daughter’s favor with the Emperor. Yet she was so deeply favored that the Emperor’s heart rested entirely with her, far surpassing Consort Pan and Consort Zhang. Cheng Ping was full of hope that this time his daughter might leap straight to the rank of Noble Consort.
After all, whether there were dates or not, one still had to strike the pole and try.
Who would have thought that at such a critical moment, Cheng Yunxiang would fall ill. In her sickness, there were bound to be lapses, and he worried that others might seize the opportunity to steal her favor, causing her to miss the chance at becoming Noble Consort.
Old Madam Cheng said, “Hurry and send word to Eunuch Wei at the Palace Affairs Bureau. Your wife and I, along with a few maids, will go into the palace to see Zhuru.”
The court maintained a Palace Affairs Bureau, which managed all matters concerning the harem, including the interactions between consorts and their natal families. It was overseen by Eunuch Wei.
Before Emperor Song Yu ascended the throne, he often brought Consort Chen back to her family home and had personally promised that the women of the Cheng family could enter the palace at any time to visit her. That was why the Cheng family dared to make such a request.
“Yes, Mother, I will take care of it right away.” Cheng Ping frowned, then added, “Tomorrow happens to be the first day of the month. Please go with my wife to Guangzhao Temple to perform a ritual and pray for Zhuru to have a child.”
Cheng Zhixiang had been with the Emperor for many years without becoming pregnant. The imperial physicians in the palace said she had a cold constitution and would have difficulty conceiving. The Cheng family was deeply worried. Relying on beauty to maintain favor was never as secure as gaining status through a child. Since medicine had failed, they would turn to the gods.
There were several temples of varying sizes in Lin’an, but Guangzhao Temple in the south was said to be the most efficacious for prayers for children.
If Cheng Zhixiang were to conceive, then securing the title of Noble Consort would be almost guaranteed.
Old Madam Cheng agreed. “Very well, your wife and I will go early tomorrow morning.” She then looked at the two concubines, Aunt Zhou and Aunt Li. “You two may come along as well.”
The two concubines were overjoyed and responded repeatedly, “Yes, Old Madam.”
After settling the matter, Old Madam Cheng turned to her three granddaughters and said kindly, “Take good care of yourselves these days. Do not fall ill.” Otherwise, they would not be able to go.
The three girls answered in unison, “Yes, Grandmother, we understand.”
“There is one more matter,” Old Madam Cheng suddenly recalled something troubling. “The Consort of Prince Xu wishes to choose one of our three girls as her adopted daughter. A few days ago, she sent someone to formally inquire about their birthdates and zodiac signs. I did not give a definite answer, fearing to offend her. When you go out, try to avoid her as much as possible to prevent embarrassment.”
Prince Xu, Song Jiming, was the Emperor’s uncle. The matter of Prince Xu’s Consort wanting to adopt a daughter from the Cheng family stemmed from last month’s Skirt Banquet. This traditional spring gathering of noble ladies took place by West Lake in Lin’an, where all the city’s ladies assembled. The Cheng family women had also attended. At the banquet, they met Prince Xu’s Consort, Lady Tang, who examined the sisters carefully and praised them greatly. In the end, she sighed and said, “Why were you not born from my womb? Are you afraid of being wronged by becoming my daughters?”
The three Cheng girls replied, “Your Ladyship jests. It is we who lack such fortune.”
Lady Tang, with her narrow eyes, gazed deeply at Cheng Yunxiang and smiled. “Look at her, how well she speaks. It makes me want to adopt you all immediately…”
Her maid, Yao Di, gently waved her round fan and reminded her, “Your Ladyship, I have heard that such matters require matching the eight characters to see who shares a mother-daughter affinity with you.”
Lady Tang’s smile faltered slightly. “Ah, yes, that is indeed the custom.” She looked at Cheng Yunxiang again. “Another day, I shall have His Highness find someone to calculate it for us.”
At the time, it had been taken as mere polite conversation, yet a few days ago, Prince Xu’s residence suddenly sent someone to bring it up again. Old Madam Cheng was uncertain. Though the Prince Xu’s household held high status, the late Emperor Song Ting had never favored Song Jiming and had not granted him any official position. He held no real power and was merely an idle prince. Though becoming connected to them might seem prestigious, it would bring little real benefit to the Cheng family. After weighing the matter, there seemed no need to form such a tie.
Aunt Zhou and Aunt Li were the first to respond, “Yes.”
At the Skirt Banquet, although the Prince Xu’s Consort had said she would choose among the three Cheng granddaughters, her gaze had lingered on Cheng Yunxiang the entire time. They had understood that she favored Yunxiang. Such fortune never fell to them, so there was no need to concern themselves.
Chen Baomiao nodded, and the three girls all took note.
With no other matters, Old Madam Cheng was about to dismiss them when Aunt Zhou exchanged a furtive glance with Aunt Li and Cheng Ping before speaking, “Old Madam, Hanxiang and Lixiang are not young anymore. If one of them could… enter the palace to accompany their elder sister, perhaps she could soon bear a child, and the child could be raised by Zhuru. In the future, she will have someone to rely on, and our Cheng family…”
The implication was clear. They wished to send another daughter into the palace, relying on Consort Chen’s influence to quickly conceive an imperial child, preferably a prince. In that case, the Cheng family, as maternal relatives of the imperial line, would rise even higher, their wealth and glory beyond measure.
Aunt Li quickly echoed, “Indeed, Old Madam. Consort Chen enjoys boundless imperial favor. If she could raise another prince or princess at her side, would that not be adding flowers to brocade…”
The two concubines sang in harmony, each sentence sounding as though it were for Consort Chen’s benefit, yet in truth, they were calculating for themselves and their own sons. Upon reflection, their eagerness to recommend their daughters was also driven by fear. If one day Consort Chen lost her beauty and the Emperor’s favor, the Cheng family would lose its support. They were desperate to plant another tree, whether it be a new favored consort or an imperial child of Cheng blood, to secure their immense wealth.
Hearing this sudden and absurd proposal, Old Madam Cheng frowned deeply. After a moment, she spat in Cheng Ping’s direction. “Short-sighted…”
The new Emperor had only recently ascended the throne, and the ranks of the harem were not yet settled. Both the consorts and their natal families were secretly competing, watching every movement within the palace. If the Cheng family were so foolish as to openly send another daughter into the palace to compete for favor, what kind of turmoil and ridicule would it provoke?
Moreover, even if they intended to send another daughter to assist Cheng Zhixiang in bearing an heir, they should first inform her and ask her opinion. They could not simply take advantage of a visit under the pretext of illness to push a half-sister into the palace to divide her favor. That would deeply wound their familial bond.
Foolish. Utterly foolish.
Cheng Yunxiang glanced at Cheng Ping. He was not surprised, but there was guilt on his face. It seemed the two concubines had discussed this with him beforehand.
He must have had the same intention.
Mother and daughter understood each other without words. Chen Baomiao also looked over, glaring at him in displeasure.
Cheng Ping lowered his head, too ashamed to speak.
The two concubines hastily knelt. “Old Madam, please calm your anger. We did not think it through.”
Old Madam Cheng snorted, then said to Chen Baomiao, “Zhuru is ill and needs rest. There is no need for so many people to go. Just you and I, and Yunxiang will suffice. What do you say?”
This meant that the two illegitimate granddaughters, Cheng Hanxiang and Cheng Lixiang, would not be allowed to accompany them.
Caught off guard, the two girls flushed red and pale in turn, both ashamed and angry, their eyes stinging.
Chen Baomiao said calmly, “Yes, Mother, I obey.”
“Yes, Mother, I obey,” Cheng Ping echoed with an awkward smile. He did not speak up for the concubines or their daughters, instead making an excuse and slipping away.
After their father left, Cheng Yunxiang bowed and departed with her maid.
Behind her, Cheng Hanxiang and Cheng Lixiang followed at a distance. With her thoughts occupied by her elder sister’s illness, Cheng Yunxiang had no mind for conversation and walked straight back to her own courtyard.
That night, rain pattered softly.
Cheng Yunxiang lay awake, turning restlessly, her mind replaying the palace intrigue dramas she had watched in her previous life, wondering whether there were any strategies her sister could learn from, whether she should pass on a few ideas.
Then she found the thought absurd and laughed at herself.
With such wandering thoughts, she only managed to doze lightly at dawn.
After getting up, she heard that the Palace Affairs Bureau had responded. The Cheng family women would be allowed to enter the palace the next day to visit Consort Chen.
Old Madam Cheng sent someone to instruct her on many matters, and Cheng Yunxiang memorized them one by one.
“Suli,” she called to her maid afterward, “come with me for a walk in the city.”
When Cheng Zhixiang had still been at home, she had loved a shop in the northern part of the city that sold straw-woven trinkets. The shopkeeper was skilled, weaving cats and dogs so lifelike they seemed real. Every time she went out, she would buy a few before returning home.
Cheng Yunxiang thought that since her sister had not left the palace for so long, she would buy some to bring with her this time. The sisters had been very close, sharing the same courtyard. In the cold autumn and winter nights, Yunxiang would often carry her quilt to sleep with her sister, only separating after Cheng Zhixiang entered the palace.
Suli agreed and followed her out with a purse.
The streets were bustling with traffic, lined on both sides with shops stretching endlessly into the distance.
Outside a wine shop, peach blossoms freshly picked on the third day of the third month were displayed. Deep red and pale red petals, just fallen from their branches, piled together and glowed in the morning light like the flushed cheeks of a bride. Inside, steam rose as freshly steamed glutinous rice was taken out. Once cooled, it would be mixed with yeast, sprinkled with peach petals, and sealed in jars to ferment. After a month, there would be peach blossom wine.
As they passed, Cheng Yunxiang caught a faint, sweet fragrance and smiled, dimples appearing. “Shopkeeper Qin, set aside ten jars of this year’s peach blossom wine for me. I will come to collect them next month.” She was particularly fond of Lin’an’s spring peach blossom wine.
Suli handed over two taels of silver as a deposit. “Shopkeeper Qin, this is the advance.”
The shopkeeper accepted it cheerfully. “I will reserve the best for you, Miss.”
Cheng Yunxiang then went to the straw-weaving shop, her gaze sweeping over the lifelike trinkets on display, grasshoppers, goldfish, little rabbits, carefully selecting them.
On the street, a young military officer rode past on horseback, silver saddle gleaming, holding a purple whip. He appeared not yet twenty, dressed in green, exuding a graceful and spirited air.
As he passed, young women stopped to stare, exclaiming, “What a handsome young lord…”
Suli looked up and exclaimed, “Miss, look, whose young master is that?”
So handsome.
Cheng Yunxiang glanced over. “I do not know.”
The shopkeeper, who had been attending to them, peered outside and muttered, “Could he be from the Fu family, the General of the State? At that age and appearance, he must be the old general’s youngest grandson, the young General Fu.”
“The Fu family? The young General Fu?” Suli craned her neck to watch his receding figure. “The Fu family guards Xiangyang in the north. They have not returned for many years, have they?”
The northern frontier had two lines of defense. One was in the northeast, led by General Wei Hu with one hundred and fifty thousand troops. The other was in the northwest at Xiangyang, commanded by General Fu Yuan with two hundred thousand soldiers.
Why had Fu Xian suddenly returned?
“Recently there have been rumors that His Majesty issued a verbal decree to the Fu family,” the shopkeeper said in a lowered voice, his expression shifting. “Perhaps he fears the old general might grow disloyal after so many years away…”
In other words, bringing a hostage to keep under watch.
The street buzzed with noise.
The Fu family… it sounded somewhat familiar.
Thinking this, Cheng Yunxiang selected a pair of straw-woven civet cats inlaid with red glass beads and added them to her basket. “Shopkeeper, please settle the bill.”
She carefully carried her purchases as she walked back. Along the way, a fortune-teller by the roadside called out to her, “Miss, I see your red phoenix star stirring. You are destined for a fine marriage…”
Cheng Yunxiang asked Suli a moment later, “Who was that old man speaking to?” There seemed to be no other young lady seeking a reading.
Suli widened her eyes. “…Who else could it be?” But she did not know how to answer.
However, Cheng Yunxiang had other matters on her mind and did not dwell on it, quickening her pace as she passed by.