Chapter 14
Chapter 14
As the year drew to a close, good news came from Noble Lady Ning’s quarters. At long last, the year had not gone to waste-next year, another child would be added to the palace.
I took Noble Lady Ning’s pregnancy quite seriously. I assigned the best Imperial Physician to care for her, and repeatedly reminded her to be careful with anything she ate or drank and not to consume things recklessly.
She was very obedient. After the New Year rush was over, I asked the Imperial Physician about her condition and learned that she was doing fairly well. Her reactions during pregnancy were not severe either. It seemed the child in her belly was a sensible one.
Only, with her rank, she would likely be unable to raise the child herself once it was born. But His Majesty was currently holding back on conferring principal positions in the harem. Above the rank of pin, there were only a sparse few women, which made matters difficult. There were, however, plenty of low-ranking consorts beneath them.
At first, I thought it was because he feared Lady Xue would be jealous. But considering His Majesty’s recent string of measures, I guessed it was because he wanted to cut down on harem expenses. The monthly allowances of high-ranking consorts were far greater than those of lower-ranking ones.
Watching His Majesty’s series of moves in the outer court, it was clear he wanted to send troops against the Yue Kingdom. War meant the common people would suffer, but there was no helping it. Though I did not understand court affairs all that well, I did know that our dynasty and the Yue Kingdom had long been at odds and frequently clashed.
His Majesty had been on the throne for several years now. Presumably, he still wanted to make a name for himself by completely eliminating this source of trouble.
It was inconvenient to ask others about such matters, so I asked Tun’er. As the Crown Prince, His Majesty now valued him to some extent and often summoned him to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to listen while the ministers discussed affairs. Though he rarely had the chance to voice his own opinions, listening and observing more was always useful.
Wanyi Wen was also an old retainer from His Majesty’s princely residence, but my relationship with her was merely superficial. She was one of the rare women who had shown no interest in His Majesty from the moment she entered the household, and she cared nothing for his favor either.
If I were her, I would probably be the same. Her father died saving His Majesty, leaving behind a son and daughter in His Majesty’s care. And so, His Majesty took Wanyi Wen as a concubine.
For a life-saving debt, he made the man’s daughter his concubine. I imagine His Majesty even felt that this was a boundless imperial grace, but Wanyi Wen certainly did not think so.
Though she did not come from some great aristocratic family, she had still been a young lady who had never lacked food or clothing. Now look at her-her father was gone, and she herself had somehow become a concubine, forced to live by the moods of others. Her life had plummeted overnight. It would be strange if she actually liked His Majesty.
And now, perhaps to show that he remembered old servants, His Majesty had actually begun favoring Wanyi Wen again. Only, she had not liked His Majesty back then, and she did not like him now. Either she used the Third Princess as an excuse, or she pushed His Majesty toward Beauty Bai, who lived in the same residence as her.
Now, she was probably truly fed up. Every day, she came to me and said all sorts of ambiguous things, trying to get me to send His Majesty away.
“This is a blessing others couldn’t obtain even if they begged for it,” I said.
In the palace, there were those who did not care for His Majesty’s favor, and there were those who longed for it. The older ones, those who had seen through the laws of survival in the palace, no longer placed all their affection on His Majesty. But those young girls always felt that they were wonderful in every way, and that they could make His Majesty fall for them.
“One man’s honey is another man’s poison. These days, this concubine feels that saying could not be more true.”
“You should also think more for the Third Princess’s sake.”
“With Your Highness here, what does this concubine have to fear? Your Highness is the fairest person in the palace. The Third Princess calls Your Highness Empress Mother-could Your Highness possibly not care about the Third Princess?”
Her words pleased me greatly. Wasn’t what I sought now nothing more than a good reputation? Imperial favor was hard to come by, so I would seek instead the reputation of a virtuous empress, a motherly model to the realm. In any case, with these children, all I had to do was remember to give a few reminders now and then, and when I received something good, distribute it among them. I did not have to raise them by hand. It was such a simple matter-why would I not do it?
“How could I possibly be as attentive to Third Princess as you are?” I declined.
Wanyi Wen said, “In the little matters of Third Princess’s daily life, she has me and Beauty Bai to look after her. But when she marries in the future, it will still be Your Highness who makes the decisions. If Your Highness takes pity on the princess, she need never worry about a lifetime of glory and comfort. What more could I ask for?”
“You still have a younger brother. He is grown now, and His Majesty will likely put him to good use.”
Wanyi Wen’s eyes dimmed. “I would rather my brother live a safe and peaceful life. Wealth and rank are won through danger, and I cannot bear to see him risk it.”
I patted her hand. “Is that what he wants as well?”
Wanyi Wen shook her head. “A man’s ambitions lie far and wide. It is only that when I think of what happened to my father back then, I grow afraid.”
“Then pray for a safety talisman, if only to ease your heart. Winning merit and building a career is what men pursue. We cannot stop them. All we can do is keep from holding them back.”
“If it were Your Highness, could Your Highness really bear it?” she asked, a little impulsively.
“You cannot break his wings and lock him in a cage for the rest of his life. Wanyi Wen, there are some truths you understand even without my saying them. Since His Majesty wishes to make this gesture, you should help him fulfill it. It will be good for everyone.”
She was silent for a while, then said thoughtfully, “No wonder everyone in the palace says Your Highness is good. Truly, one conversation with you is worth ten years of study. I understand now.”
From then on, Wanyi Wen became more like a proper consort. She had more give-and-take with His Majesty as well. In private, His Majesty also mentioned Wanyi Wen to me, saying that all these years she had seemed rather dull, but he had not expected her to be such an interesting person once he spent time with her. It was a pity, after all these years.
“Now that Your Majesty knows, it is no longer a pity.”
His Majesty curled his lip. “Wanyi Wen’s cooking is truly excellent. Of all the food sent to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, hers is the best.” The regretful look on his face made me think that perhaps when he said Wanyi Wen was excellent, it was because her cooking had won his favor.
“Are the others’ dishes no good?” I teased.
He did not avoid the subject with me. “The others? Do you think I do not know who actually makes the food you all send over?”
I laughed along with him. The various pastries sent by the consorts of the inner palace were all said to be handmade by them, but at most, they had personally opened their mouths to give an order. If they were a little more diligent, perhaps they had arranged the plate themselves. From start to finish, Wanyi Wen was likely the only one who truly made the food herself. This could not be blamed on the others. After all, too few consorts were willing to wash their hands and cook soup. Even if they knew the process well enough to explain it perfectly, what they made might not necessarily be edible. In a way, it was also for His Majesty’s health.
“Is the Noble Consort the same?”
“My cousin? Her health is poor, and she cannot stand the smell of oil and smoke. However, her tea-brewing skills are quite good,” His Majesty said, savoring the memory. Then he suddenly said to me, “Come to think of it, the Empress does not seem to pay much attention to me. The Empress sends rather little to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.”
I hurriedly defended myself. “What would I be competing with them for? In any case, Your Majesty said it yourself. It is all merely food made by the little kitchens of each palace. If Your Majesty wishes to eat, you can simply come over. Surely you do not expect me to send things out with eager eyes?”
“You are always just humoring me.” But then he changed the subject. “Still, you are indeed a good Empress. I have heard many people praise you.”
“And Your Majesty?”
“Naturally, I also think the Empress is good. The inner palace is managed in perfect order, and I need not trouble myself over it.”