Chapter 6

Chapter 6

[Prince Consort, the Princess Has Been Beaten to Death – 5]

Emperor Gaozu went into the Duke of Zheng’s Residence to change. Once he had finished, he returned to the palace with Empress Miao. Emperor Gaozu rode at the front, while Empress Miao followed in the Empress’s phoenix palanquin. The great procession headed toward Zhuque Gate in the south of the imperial city.

Noble Consort Qin came from the distinguished Qin Clan of Southern Anhui. Because her grandfather had been enfeoffed in Fenyang, her family held the title Commandery Duke of Fenyang. After Luan Zhenghuan ended the age of chaos and reached the imperial capital, he sought to placate the former dynasty’s old ministers. He therefore allowed her father to inherit the title Commandery Duke of Fenyang and continued to treat the family with the same courtesy as before.

The wealthy and powerful families of the present dynasty all lived nearby. News naturally reached the Qin family that Emperor Gaozu had left the palace for the Duke of Zheng’s Residence to escort Empress Miao home. However wildly pleased and arrogant the Commandery Duke of Fenyang had been before, he was equally apprehensive now. He stepped outside several times to look around, his heart restless, then hurriedly sent a message to Noble Consort Qin in the palace so she could prepare herself.

Noble Consort Qin’s mother, Lady Qin, née Kang, also wore a gloomy expression. The Commandery Duke of Fenyang had followed the nearby court officials behind Emperor Gaozu toward the Duke of Zheng’s Residence. Lady Qin, née Kang, frowned. “What has happened to His Majesty? Everything was fine a few days ago, and now suddenly…”

“How would I know? Not only in this dynasty-even including the previous dynasty and every dynasty before it, I have never heard of a Son of Heaven carrying thorned rods to plead guilty before his empress!”

Lady Qin, née Kang, was agitated. She lifted the peacock-feather fan from the table and waved it twice, but the heat in her heart only intensified. Her mouth twisted coldly. “He was born a butcher, after all. He knows nothing of the classics or ritual propriety. A mighty Son of Heaven, yet he can do such a thing! Once the court historians record it, who knows how later generations will mock him?”

She added, “The husband has always been heaven and the wife earth. Obedience is the foremost virtue of a married woman. The Empress first refused to tolerate the palace consorts and succumbed to savage jealousy; now she has forced His Majesty into this great public spectacle of carrying thorned rods to plead guilty, inviting criticism throughout court and country. Send someone to the Feng Family and the Meng Family. Have them stir matters from the side and arrange for the court to impeach the Empress as unworthy and unfit to serve as mother of the realm.”

Lady Qin, née Kang’s older paternal cousin had married into the Feng Clan of Jingzhao, and her cousin’s husband, Feng Yan, served as a remonstrating official. The Meng Family had ties of teacher and student with the Qin family. These aristocratic clans had occupied the capital for generations and enjoyed immense prestige. Intermarriage and friendship bound them together, so that tugging one strand moved the whole web.

Nanny Li hesitated. In a low voice, she advised, “Should we not wait and see? His Majesty has created such a tremendous spectacle to escort the Empress back today. His mind must be settled. If the remonstrating officials make too great a disturbance, they may provoke the dragon’s wrath…”

“What is there to fear? Even if we cannot pull Lady Miao down from the position of Empress, we will lose nothing.” Lady Qin, née Kang, lifted her chin, her arrogant gaze filled with contempt. “Do you not know our emperor? He descends from butchers and is unbearably crude. That is precisely why he admires scholarly families and values remonstrating officials above all. Even if they truly anger him, at worst he will rebuke them and dismiss their memorials. He will not start calling for executions.”

She tossed the peacock-feather fan onto the table and jeered, “The more a person lacks something, the more highly he prizes it. Do you still not understand?”

For some reason, Nanny Li could not shake a faint sense of foreboding. Yet when she considered Lady Qin, née Kang’s words closely, they did seem reasonable.

Her mistress had made up her mind. Nanny Li dared not shirk or delay. She curtsied, turned, and withdrew.

…

Noble Consort Qin had ordered a bird’s-nest pigeon stewed early that morning. As noon approached, she sent someone to Taiji Hall to invite the emperor to dine. She waited and waited, but no one came. Instead, a eunuch she had previously bribed at Taiji Hall sent word that His Majesty had left the palace long ago.

“Left the palace?” Empress Miao was at the Duke of Zheng’s Residence. Noble Consort Qin’s heart gave a violent leap at the thought. Her beautiful eyes fixed on the eunuch. “Where did His Majesty go?”

The eunuch lowered his head and answered with extreme caution. “Mr. Liao entered the palace earlier to remonstrate over the Empress. He provoked His Majesty’s fury and displeasure. Mr. Liao tried several more times, but His Majesty ignored him. Mr. Liao then said he wished to resign and return to his native home. His Majesty has already consented…”

Liao Yuanyan intended to resign?

That was wonderful news!

Liao Yuanyan had been Luan Zhenghuan’s chief strategist during the struggle for the realm, his closest confidant, and half teacher, half friend. Even after becoming emperor, Luan Zhenghuan still addressed him as Mr. Liao.

Both inside and outside the palace, others followed the emperor’s example and respectfully called him Mr. Liao. In truth, however, Liao Yuanyan held the noble title Duke of E and the office Minister of Personnel. He stood first among the six ministers of the Great An Dynasty. If he truly resigned, it would first vacate the office of Minister of Personnel and, second, deprive the Empress and her children of one of their strongest supports.

Delight colored Noble Consort Qin’s peach-soft cheeks. Then she remembered the emperor’s departure from the palace, and worry rose again. “Then why did His Majesty leave the palace?”

The eunuch shook his head. “His Majesty did not say. This servant does not know.”

“Very well. Withdraw.” Noble Consort Qin dismissed him and reclined against a beauty’s couch, lost in thought. Her trusted palace attendant Jinfang knelt before her, holding a small sandalwood mallet and gently tapping her legs.

The inner hall was so quiet one could hear a pin fall. The faint gleam of treasures shone through splendid gauze, all of it rich, dazzling, and extravagant.
Jinfang stole a glance at Noble Consort Qin. Thinking her mistress had fallen asleep, she softened her movements and carefully rose.

The gold-threaded carpet was so soft and light that footsteps made no sound upon it. Jinfang was about to enter the outer room when she heard a murmur behind her. She turned and saw Noble Consort Qin jerk awake. Fine beads of cold sweat covered her snow-white brow, and even the brilliant peony painted between her brows seemed to blur.

Jinfang hurried over. “My lady, what happened? Did you have a nightmare?”

Noble Consort Qin remembered only that she seemed to have dreamed something terrible. Whatever she had seen in the dream was already completely forgotten.

“Send someone outside the palace to find out where His Majesty went.” A palace attendant drawn by the noise brought hot tea. Noble Consort Qin raised the cup and took a sip. Only when its warmth slid down her throat into her belly did she feel slightly calmer. “Lady Miao remains outside the palace, and I cannot settle my heart. She is His Majesty’s first wife, after all. They spent nearly twenty years together. Perhaps His Majesty softened and decided to bring her back.”

“What does it matter that she is his first wife? His Majesty still drove her out. Even if we take a step back and suppose His Majesty does bring the Empress home, it is no great concern.”

Jinfang understood Noble Consort Qin’s thoughts and gently reassured her. “If you could persuade His Majesty to drive her out once, you can do it a second time. No matter how deep their affection, it cannot survive being worn away again and again.”

Persuading the emperor to expel Empress Miao had been an unexpected delight. Noble Consort Qin had never imagined she could destroy the woman in a single blow.

That woman was the Empress and the emperor’s first wife. They had shared joy and hardship for many years. However angry the emperor became, he would not lightly speak of deposing her. More importantly, he valued his reputation and would hardly wish to bear the infamy of abandoning his first wife.

Noble Consort Qin understood this, so she was willing to wait-wait for time to erode the affection born of sharing hardship. Empress Miao had never been a beauty even when young, much less now that she was old. Noble Consort Qin herself remained young, radiant, and peerless.

She was confident she would not lose to an old woman approaching forty.

Once her plan was settled, the heart in Noble Consort Qin’s belly steadied. She rose and went into the inner room to rearrange her cloudlike hair and replace her pins and ornaments. Then footsteps sounded in the outer room. The eunuch sent out to gather information not long before had hurried back.

Noble Consort Qin froze, then brightened. “Has His Majesty returned?”

The eunuch’s expression twisted. He did not know how to report what had happened.

Noble Consort Qin’s heart sank slightly. “What is it? Tell me everything exactly as it happened.”

The eunuch kowtowed in panic. “My lady, His Majesty carried thorned rods and pleaded guilty outside the palace, then escorted the Empress home. They had already passed Zhuque Gate when this servant came to you. It will likely not be long before they…”

He swallowed with difficulty and dared not continue.

After those few sentences, Noble Consort Qin’s heart seemed to freeze into a lump of ice and plummet. She could not speak or see; for a moment, every sensation deserted her.

Jinfang had known that the Empress would return to the palace sooner or later. She had also known the emperor could not easily cast aside a bond of twenty years. But carrying thorned rods to plead guilty… That went far beyond anything she had predicted.

The emperor was willing to go so far to welcome the Empress home?

Had they always underestimated the bond between a husband and wife who had shared such adversity?

No one spoke. Wind blew through the half-open window, stirring the hanging curtains and gauze while casting a shadow over Noble Consort Qin’s heart.

How could this have happened?

Not long ago, she had believed everything was under control. Only half a day had passed. Why had matters changed so completely?

Jinfang looked at her timidly. “My lady, what should we do?”

Noble Consort Qin’s jade-soft features remained heart-stirringly beautiful. Even with her brows knitted beneath the weight of worry, she resembled a drop of dew trembling on a magnolia at dawn, inspiring an instinctive desire to cup and protect her from wind and sun.

Her expression shifted several times before she mastered herself. Returning to the dressing table, she removed the lavish, costly ornaments from her hair. “Find me plain robes. I shall personally welcome the imperial procession at the palace gate.”

Jinfang could not hide her shock. “My lady?”

Noble Consort Qin’s face hardened. “Go!”

…

Emperor Gaozu and Empress Miao entered the imperial city through Zhuque Gate and passed through three more palace gates before reaching the inner court. The Imperial Guards held swords and halberds in disciplined ranks. Palace attendants and eunuchs stood with lowered hands on either side of the palace road, welcoming the Emperor and Empress home with their most reverent bearing.

Emperor Gaozu had just passed Changle Gate when a eunuch hurried from ahead and dropped to his knees. “Reporting to Your Majesty: Noble Consort has removed her hairpins and is kneeling before the stone steps to await punishment.”

Emperor Gaozu recalled the world outline he had read earlier, and his brows immediately drew together.

In the past, Empress Xu had handled every matter in his harem. Emperor Gaozu never interfered. Men governed without, women within: affairs of the court belonged to him, and affairs of the harem to the Empress. He had never crossed that boundary. Empress Xu was virtuous, wise, and fully worthy of his trust.
Empress Miao was not Empress Xu, but the two women possessed remarkably similar natures. Before Luan Zhenghuan became emperor, he spent his days campaigning and entrusted every matter in the rear household to her. Empress Miao not only kept the household in perfect order, but also reassured the families of his generals and won the people’s hearts. She had been a true partner within the home.

After a moment’s thought, Emperor Gaozu said, “The Empress is mistress of the harem and governs the palace consorts. Such matters belong to her. It would be improper for Us to overstep and perform her duties.” He waved the eunuch toward the Empress.

The eunuch froze, but did not dare hesitate. After kowtowing, he rose and trotted to the side of the phoenix palanquin to report.

Empress Miao listened carefully, and she could not deny that she was moved. Noble Consort Qin and the two princesses of the former dynasty had repeatedly stirred trouble in the palace. Empress Miao issued decrees punishing them and ordered them confined to their quarters, but the emperor ignored her commands and openly took the women hunting outside the palace. If this continued, all discipline in the harem would collapse. What authority would she retain as Empress?

Now the emperor was willing to leave Noble Consort Qin for the Empress to discipline. Plainly, he intended to restore the authority of the central palace and bring the Six Palaces back into line.

“This subject-concubine lost her virtue after drinking and spoke without restraint, offending the Empress. It was deeply wrong. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!”

Noble Consort Qin had removed every swaying hairpin, ornament, pearl, and piece of jade. Her hair hung loose, and she wore plain robes as she knelt beneath the stone steps. From the corner of her eye, she saw the emperor approaching on horseback. Her eyes immediately reddened. Two tears clung to her lashes without falling, like dew trembling upon a hibiscus, enough to make anyone long to cradle and protect her.

This was Emperor Gaozu’s first sight of her, so he looked an extra moment. The emperors in the White Mist Space crowded together with interest as well.

Liu Che said, “She isn’t as beautiful as I imagined.”

Li Shimin considered. “She is passable. But no matter how beautiful she was, she could never be allowed to bully Guanyinbi in My harem.”

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned. “All that bewitching affectation. Just beat her to death!”

Ying Zheng studied her for several moments, then shook his head. “Throw a stone in Epang Palace, and of every ten women it struck, seven would look like that.”

Emperor Gaozu could not help laughing.

Beauty was scarce to ordinary people. For emperors, it was another matter.

They had seen the young and fresh, the mature and ripe, the alluring and the dignified; women selected from the Central Plains, princesses and beauties offered by lesser kingdoms, and foreign dancing girls from the Western Regions…

What emperor had not seen his share of peerless beauties?

After one glance, Emperor Gaozu looked away. He reined in his horse and waited for Empress Miao to pass judgment.

The emperor remained utterly unmoved. Noble Consort Qin’s fingers curled against the stone bricks. Anxiety and panic slipped into her tearful eyes despite herself.

This was nothing like she had imagined.

With the Empress returning to the palace, the emperor naturally had to make a show of propriety. Noble Consort Qin had fanned the flames at the Mid-Autumn banquet, so some punishment was inevitable.

She could delay it, but not escape it. Rather than wait anxiously inside the palace, she had chosen to strike first: remove her hairpins, plead guilty, and present the Emperor and Empress with a way out through the humblest possible posture.

The emperor had carried thorned rods to plead guilty. The Noble Consort had removed her hairpins to await punishment. That was surely sincere enough. If the Empress still refused to let the matter go, people would have something to say about her.

But Noble Consort Qin had never imagined the emperor would show nothing at all.

He did not dismount and help her up. He did not remove his cloak and drape it around her shoulders. He showed neither pity nor reluctance. He did not even say, “Rise, beloved consort”!

Sudden fear welled in Noble Consort Qin’s heart, along with an indescribable sense of grievance.

How could he treat her this way?

The phoenix palanquin drew near. Palace attendants lifted the hanging curtain. Empress Miao sat within in her pheasant-figured ceremonial robe, calm and quietly imposing.

Suppressing her humiliation, Noble Consort Qin bowed deeply on her knees. “This subject-concubine has come to plead guilty. I beg Her Majesty’s forgiveness.”

Empress Miao was unmoved and did not tell her to rise. Instead, she asked Emperor Gaozu, “Did Your Majesty send anyone ahead to report My return to the palace?”

Emperor Gaozu paused, then shook his head. “We did not.”

Empress Miao nodded slightly. When she turned back to Noble Consort Qin, her expression became solemn. “The palace is guarded rigorously, and the boundary between inner and outer courts is absolute. You remained inside the palace. How did you learn of events outside? Do you not know palace rules strictly forbid private communication with the outer court and spying upon the emperor’s movements?!”

Noble Consort Qin had hoped to seize the initiative and escape punishment. Instead, she had exposed another offense. Her beautiful face lost all color. After stammering for a long while, she finally turned to Emperor Gaozu with a pitiful expression. “This subject-concubine ordered bird’s-nest pigeon stewed early this morning and waited only for Your Majesty. Then I heard that Your Majesty had left the palace. I was so worried, and that is why…”

This was precisely what Empress Miao had always detested most. Whenever Qin Rao was caught committing some fault, she never admitted guilt. Instead, she dragged the emperor into the matter. He would soften, favor her blindly, and any punishment would quietly disappear.

Now Qin Rao was using the same old trick. Empress Miao wanted to test the emperor’s attitude, so she fell silent and looked toward Emperor Gaozu.
If he stopped Noble Consort Qin in time, Empress Miao would fulfill her duty, punish the palace consort, and restore discipline to the Six Palaces. If he could not abandon his old habits, then the Empress would simply become a clay idol that saw and heard nothing, never again involving herself in such sordid affairs.

Empress Miao watched Emperor Gaozu. Noble Consort Qin looked toward him as well. The two clear tears in her eyes finally fell, sliding over her pale, beautiful cheeks to hang from her small, delicate chin.

Emperor Gaozu felt no pity whatsoever. His frown deepened, and impatience sharpened his voice. “The Empress asked whether you communicated privately with the outer court and spied upon the emperor’s movements. Why are you talking about pigeons? Either you did or you did not. You do not appear feeble-minded from birth. Must We treat you like a criminal before the Governor of Jingzhao and apply torture before you answer properly?!”

Noble Consort Qin was exquisitely beautiful, delicate and soft. Since entering the palace, she had been Luan Zhenghuan’s cherished darling. When had he ever spoken to her so harshly? Her shock and astonishment only deepened her grievance until it nearly drowned her.

Her bright eyes widened, and she sobbed, “Your Majesty, how can you speak to this subject-concubine that way? Before I married, I too was a precious daughter of a noble house, a body worth a thousand pieces of gold. My parents never spoke one harsh word to me. I merely tried to explain myself, yet you-you compare me to some lowly criminal in the Governor of Jingzhao’s prison?”

Emperor Gaozu’s expression went blank.

After listening to this bewildering speech, Emperor Gaozu’s entire face drew into a knot. He hesitated for a long time before asking in genuine confusion, “Did you not enter the palace to become a concubine? How did that make you so noble? When the Ministry of Rites came to your door, did they invite you here to become Empress Dowager?”

His face then turned utterly cold. His words cut like blades, and his gaze was glacial. “Even if you were still at home playing the precious daughter of a noble house, you would have to kowtow before Us and the Empress. How dare you boast of your priceless body in front of husband and wife? Are you worthy?! The Qin family has certainly raised a fine daughter!”

After entering the palace, Noble Consort Qin had prided herself on her distinguished and pure aristocratic lineage. She looked down upon the Empress as a coarse old woman. Luan Zhenghuan doted on her and treated this beloved consort of noble blood with both favor and respect. The praise had sent Noble Consort Qin floating into the clouds. Hearing these words now felt like falling from Heaven to the eighteenth level of Hell.

What did it matter that she was Noble Consort? Had she not still entered the palace as a concubine?

As a concubine?

A concubine!

That single airy sentence struck her face like a ringing slap.

Shame, fury, and resentment tangled together. Noble Consort Qin’s face flushed scarlet, and her pearly teeth bit through her lip. “Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven. How can you say something so vulgar? You wound this subject-concubine too deeply! Last year, I entered the palace as your wife. We bound our hair as husband and wife and loved each other like a pair of mandarin ducks. Have you forgotten?”

“Insolence!” Fury surged in Emperor Gaozu’s heart, and he laughed from sheer anger. “Only husband and wife bind their hair together. You are merely a concubine. How could you have bound your hair with Us?!”

In all his long life, this was the first time Emperor Gaozu had argued with a palace consort for so long. His patience had already run dry. Too annoyed to continue, he ordered without hesitation, “Attendants! Throw this ill-mannered wretch into the cold palace at once!”