Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Qiao Lifu was only twenty-five, exceptionally handsome, and the most favored male consort at Empress Mother’s side.
He was considerate and gentle, a practical man who offended no one and took no one’s side.
Empress Mother liked that he knew his place.
He understood as well that he made his living with his looks, so he never meddled in affairs of court. All he wanted was for Empress Mother to grant him some idle marquisate so he could spend his money and drift through life.
But my three imperial brothers detested him. They said he was as pretty as a woman, that his conduct was wanton, and that he defiled the palace.
Yet on the surface, they all maintained friendly relations with him, telling him he must serve Empress Mother well.
How hypocritical.
I identified the direction he was in and said bluntly, “Marquis Song, I need to see Mother. Please help me.”
Qiao Lifu said, “Forgive me, Your Highness. This humble subject is incapable of helping.”
He turned to leave.
Calmly, I said, “Do you know what happened to Dong Xian in the Han dynasty?”
Dong Xian was Emperor Ai of Han’s male favorite.
For his sake, Emperor Ai of Han left behind the famous tale of the “passion of the cut sleeve.”
But after Emperor Ai died, Dong Xian’s household was seized and his clan exterminated.
The glory and wealth the Dong family had gained because of him vanished in the blink of an eye.
Even after he killed himself, Wang Mang had his coffin dug up to see whether he was truly dead.
Looking across history, few male favorites ever came to a good end.
Lao Ai of Qin was stabbed to death. Dong Xian of Han committed suicide. He Shikai of Northern Qi was murdered. Tan Xian was beheaded. Li Yi of Northern Wei was executed.
Male favorites were tolerated by neither men nor women.
His situation was not so different from mine.
Qiao Lifu stopped. In a controlled voice, he said, “This humble subject does not interfere in politics, does not covet wealth, and does not indulge in extravagance.”
I said lightly, “So what? The people villains kill are good people. When a villain kills, does he care what his victim has or hasn’t done? If he loathes someone, he kills them. What difference is there between good and bad? Besides, do you truly think you haven’t offended them?”
Qiao Lifu fell silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice had grown somewhat grave.
“But why should this humble subject trust Your Highness?”
“Because I protected Song Lianwei for ten years. If I say I will protect someone, then I will protect them. Since you were willing to stop for me, I will repay you for the kindness of that pause.”
He was silent for a while, then said bleakly, “This humble subject will do his best to try. Your Highness had better not place too much hope in it.”
Then he hurried back inside.
Before long, the chief eunuch at Empress Mother’s side came to announce that I was to enter.
Hongshuang hastily helped me up. She had been kneeling with me the entire time; she herself was staggering, yet her arms remained steady and strong.
I thought that, in the end, I still had one loyal maid.
My legs were numb. Only after resting for a moment did I walk inside.
The vast palace hall was utterly silent.
I could not tell where Empress Mother was, nor did I know how many people were in the hall.
But I knew I could not panic.
I bowed steadily in greeting and heard Mother’s emotionless voice.
“Why are you so determined to see me?”
“This child has a question and begs Empress Mother to resolve it. If this child asks wrongly, I accept whatever punishment Empress Mother gives. If this child asks rightly, then I beg Empress Mother to grant this child one favor.”
“Speak.”
“This child would like to ask Empress Mother this: in the past, my three imperial brothers competed to show Song Lianwei favor. None of them would yield, and none of them would allow her to fall into another’s hands. Why is it that now, when they have clearly had intimate relations with her, not one of them is willing to marry her?”
Empress Mother slowly descended the steps and stopped before me.
“Yunle, you are my only daughter. I cherish you and indulge you, but not without limit. Do not play such tricks before me. Everything you are trying, I tried long ago. No matter how poorly your imperial brothers behave, they are my sons. One of them will be the future heir, and they are where the officials of court place their hopes. As for you, if you behave yourself, I will find you a good household to marry into, so you can live free from want and pass your life in peace.”