She looked bewildered. Hong Ce’s expression turned cold as he gripped her hand tightly and said, “It doesn’t matter. Anyone trying to stop us is wasting their effort. If I get angered, I’ll go back and arrange a celebratory banquet for our marriage without waiting for the imperial court’s approval. I’ll make my own decisions.”
Seeing his anger, Ding Yi felt reassured. She didn’t add fuel to the fire but simply said, “Don’t get so flushed with anger. Speak more diplomatically and take things one step at a time. After all, she’s your mother. Creating conflict between mother and son is never good.” She glanced outside, finally daring to look directly at her mother-in-law. The Noble Imperial Consort wasn’t old at all. In her forties and well-maintained, she appeared only in her early thirties.
She wore a ginger-yellow satin banner robe embroidered with orchid and longevity patterns. Despite it being the depth of winter, her padded robe didn’t make her look bulky. Her waist was loosely defined, showing considerable grace. Her face was beautiful too, not with the features one might imagine of a Mongolian person. She had extremely balanced features, dignified and imposing. Only such a person could give birth to a son as handsome as the Twelfth Prince.
“Your mother is truly beautiful. The imperial harem is indeed a paradise for beautiful women. All the imperial consorts are very attractive.”
Even at this moment, she had the leisure to marvel at this, and he knew she was deliberately pretending not to care, not wanting to cause him trouble. The more she acted this way, the more his heart ached for her and the more determined he became to fight for her. She had suffered too much before. Now that she was with him, she still couldn’t walk openly in the sunshine. He felt deeply indebted to her.
He took a breath, gradually calming down, and led her out past the threshold to the steps below to welcome the visitors. He whispered, “The Empress knows something about our situation and will likely mediate. Regardless of whether things work out or not, you needn’t humble yourself. If this Prince title requires compromising my principles to secure it, I’d rather give it up entirely.”
He was speaking from anger. She wanted to comfort him, but the visitors were arriving in a grand procession, so she stepped aside and stood with her head lowered respectfully.
A red robe with golden floral embroidery entered her field of vision. The Empress stopped in front of her, paused briefly, and asked Hong Ce in a voice tinged with pleasure, “Is this the young lady you mentioned? What was her name again?”
Ding Yi quickly knelt and kowtowed, “This servant Ding Yi pays respects to the Empress and wishes Your Majesty good health and prosperity.”
The Empress was very cordial, reaching out her hand to help her up. “We’re all family here, don’t be so formal. I heard the Twelfth Prince mention you last time and I admire you greatly. Now that I’ve met you, we must have a good talk.” She turned and pointed to the noblewoman who had come with her, saying with a smile, “These ladies wearing the round dragon robes are all the Fujin. I’ll introduce them to you one by one later. You’ll be associating with them regularly in the future, so it’s better to get acquainted early to make conversation easier.”
The Noble Imperial Consort was at a loss for words. This Empress had always been skilled at turning situations to her advantage with minimal effort. Without fanfare, she had already included the girl among their sisters-in-law. It seemed the palace had already made arrangements, just waiting for the decree. She, as the mother, was still alive, yet they showed so little regard for her. She didn’t believe the Empress was helping the Twelfth Prince; rather, she thought she was deliberately provoking Hong Ce. Other families’ Fujin all came from grand households with great wealth. Why should her son settle for less? If she remained silent and let them have their way, in the end, Hong Ce would be the one to suffer!
The Noble Imperial Consort smiled and took over the conversation: “The Empress honors her too much. I just spoke about this—this girl should be taken in by Hong Ce as a concubine, perhaps given the title of Secondary Fujin at most. She might be suitable for service, but not as an equal. That would only diminish everyone’s dignity.” As she spoke, she dispatched her attendant, “Li Mama, go see if the western chambers have been prepared. The Imperial Entertainment Bureau has arranged for fine music today. Later, have it moved to Yisi Hall. That place is elegant, perfect for listening to music.”
Despite the Noble Imperial Consort’s attempts to change the subject, the first part of her speech carried too much hostility. The Fujin and noblewomen detected the undercurrent and quietly observed the young woman’s expression. An ordinary person would probably have burst into tears upon hearing such words, but she maintained her composure, her face remaining calm. Only her lips twitched slightly, and her face, initially flushed red, gradually drained of all color until it was pale as paper.
Hong Ce was ultimately powerless. Though he tried to protect Ding Yi at every turn, his hearing impairment and the fact that his mother spoke with her back to him meant he heard nothing. It couldn’t have been pleasant, judging by Ding Yi’s complexion, which didn’t look right. Anger rose in his heart. His mother could be harsh sometimes—that was fine when directed at outsiders, but using it against her son, was that proper maternal behavior? It seemed bringing Ding Yi to the garden had been a mistake, only subjecting her to humiliation. If that was the case, why stay? He gripped her elbow and said, “All my sisters-in-law are present, and it’s inappropriate for me as a man to mingle among them. Now that we’ve paid our respects for Mother’s birthday, I have important matters to attend to. I shouldn’t delay my duties. I’ll trouble all of you imperial sisters-in-law to look after things, and brother will take his leave first.”
How could there be a reason for a son to merely pay respects on his mother’s birthday and then leave? This was a sign of impending rupture. The Empress didn’t want to witness this situation either. Everyone avoiding the issue wouldn’t solve anything. Better to sit down and talk it through—reaching an understanding would make everyone happy.
She spoke to detain him, “What official business is so urgent that you can’t set it aside for a moment? Stay a while longer. I still have personal matters to discuss with Ding Yi.” With that, she smiled and took Ding Yi’s hand, keeping her at her side. Hong Ce had no choice but to remain for the time being.
With so many noblewomen present, they initially stayed together but later dispersed, wandering the garden in small groups. Several imperial consorts walked ahead, while the Empress and Ding Yi fell behind. She was respectful and meticulous, merely supporting the Empress without speaking. The Empress glanced at her and said softly, “For the sake of the one you love, enduring some hardship isn’t so bad, is it?” She raised her luminous eyes to look at the Empress, who smiled and continued, “A great man knows when to bend and when to stand firm, and a woman is the same. I was just worried you might cry—thankfully you didn’t, otherwise, the Noble Imperial Consort would have had another reason to speak ill of you. It’s her birthday celebration, and if you were to cry in her presence, she would consider it inauspicious, making things even more difficult for you both.”
That this was the mother of the nation, such an exalted figure willing to speak heart-to-heart with her, truly made her feel honored beyond measure. Ding Yi acknowledged, “I will keep Your Majesty’s teachings in my heart. To be honest, before coming today, I anticipated facing such obstacles. When it happened, I was somewhat prepared. The Twelfth Prince has mentioned me to Your Majesty, which makes me deeply anxious. My earlier life was not smooth, and meeting the Twelfth Prince was my good fortune. I know my worth and don’t seek any particular status, so the Imperial Consort’s displeasure is understandable. I have no grievances about it.”
The Empress made a sound of acknowledgment, turned her head to look at a few withered leaves barely clinging to the branches, and said wistfully, “Who wouldn’t feel inadequate marrying into the Yu Wen family? Back then, I was merely a female official from the Shangyi Bureau, and my family background wasn’t strong either. My father was only a fourth-rank official in the capital—fourth rank, which counts for little in Beijing. It was only because of my husband’s love that I advanced step by step to where I am today. There were ups and downs; it wasn’t all smooth sailing. At times I felt discouraged, but in the end, I persevered. You must believe that this imperial family has more humanity than any dynasty in history. There are always a few princes with genuine hearts. They don’t love frivolously—when they find someone, they commit for life. And you, your luck is even better than ours. The Twelfth Prince has no one by his side, so you don’t need to compete with other women. What’s yours is yours—see what a great blessing that is! So even if you face more difficulties, you must endure. Endure and endure until the skies clear. I’ll find an opportunity to mediate for you both. If the Noble Imperial Consort can’t accept you right away, it doesn’t matter. We have time, and gradually she’ll change her view.”
The Empress spoke with gentle, comforting words. Ding Yi felt immensely grateful and curtseyed, saying, “Your Majesty has spoken so openly with this servant, how could I defy anything? I will follow Your Majesty’s instructions in everything.”
The Empress smiled as she studied her. “Such a fresh and lovely young lady. The Twelfth Prince told me you once held the sword for an executioner. I really can’t imagine what that looked like.”
Ding Yi also smiled, lowering her head as she said, “That was just my means of making a living, manual labor. I managed small tasks well enough, but couldn’t handle them for long periods. Like working as a mason—building walls wasn’t so bad, but carrying bricks was exhausting. I could never carry as many as others.”
The Empress clicked her tongue sympathetically, “Poor child. I’ve never done such rough work. Women and men are indeed different; we can never match their strength.”
Chatting like this, they all entered the western chambers. Though Langrun Garden wasn’t large, it contained 135 rooms, with only three imperial consorts residing there, making it quite spacious. The consorts often came to Yisi Hall for recreation when they had nothing to do. The study there was no longer used as such but had been converted into a theater. The performers on stage were all ready, and as soon as people arrived, they began singing in their high-pitched voices, performing Kunqu operas like “Lotus Pond Auspicious Omens” and “Celebrating Longevity for Ten Thousand Years.”
The noblewomen found seats to watch the performance while the Empress invited the Noble Imperial Consort to the inner chamber for a private conversation. After they were seated and exchanged pleasantries, she said, “Today is the Imperial Consort’s birthday. The Emperor is busy and couldn’t get away, so he commanded me to come to wish you a happy birthday.” As she spoke, she rose and curtseyed deeply, “May the Imperial Consort’s spring in the Jade Pool never grow old, and may the realm of longevity open with auspiciousness each day.”
The Noble Imperial Consort hurried to help her up, smiling, “Your good wishes are enough. How can I bear to have the Empress bow to me!”
The Empress still helped her to her seat, responding, “It’s proper. You are my elder, and I am your junior. In our own family, we don’t stand on ceremony about status, only about the closeness of the relationship.” A palace maid brought in tea, which Ding Yi accepted and presented with a curtsey, then stood to the side to attend them rather than sitting. The Empress glanced at the Twelfth Prince, then skimmed the tea foam and said to the Noble Imperial Consort, “Not only does our Emperor remember your birthday, but the other day at Changchun Garden, I heard the old master mention it too. He recalled how you love to eat rouge-colored goose breast and instructed Steward Hua to prepare it. Perhaps he might personally come to wish you happy birthday later! The old master has never forgotten you. As he’s aged, his heart has softened, and he often recalls past affections. Once when the imperial kitchen was reporting the menu, he remembered and asked for brush and ink, writing down the names of all the consorts he had been close to in the past. Yours was the very first.”
As she spoke, the Noble Imperial Consort’s face grew distant, obviously stirring many memories. After a moment, she came back to herself, slightly embarrassed and trying to cover it up by saying, “At our age, why bring up such things? The Retired Emperor must be sixty this year, right? I haven’t seen him for four or five years. The last time was during the Longevity Festival when I caught a glimpse of him from afar. He has truly aged.”
The Empress smiled, “He is getting on in years, but His Majesty is still robust. At sixty, he still looks like he’s only in his forties.”
For a woman, as long as she has loved, whenever that person is mentioned, it always causes a subtle ache in the heart. The Noble Imperial Consort was originally a princess from the Khalkha Sayin Noyan tribe. At fourteen, her tribe formed a marriage alliance with the imperial court, and she was sent to the Central Plains, entering the palace and immediately being granted the title of Noble Consort. For three years, she enjoyed the emperor’s favor and cherished deep love and admiration for the founding monarch. Three years later, he faded from her life as if he had never appeared. She didn’t hate him and even made excuses to understand his coldness, but she did hate the woman who stole him away. In her view, if not for Murong Jin Shu, he wouldn’t have changed. Even though they had already separated, he ultimately made that woman his empress. That woman was a vixen who destroyed the entire imperial harem of Great Ying, building her happiness on others’ suffering. Men were foolish because of the women behind them, which was why she particularly hated those enchantresses who incited men to favor them exclusively. It was almost like an illness—she couldn’t stand to see displays of deep affection. In her eyes, Murong Jin Shu and even the current Su Empress were the same kind of person. They were content, but did they care about others’ lives?
However, the Empress had brought good news, and suddenly she didn’t dislike her as much. The Retired Emperor still remembered her, which was tremendous news. He remembered her birthday and might come to see her. For a moment, she felt as if she were in a dream… After more than twenty years of longing, he was so close yet as distant as the horizon. If someday she could hear him call her name again, this lifetime would be fulfilled.
When people receive good news, they seem to come alive, with joy radiating from their core to their faces. The Empress seized the moment and said, “If the Retired Emperor visits the garden, and the Twelfth Prince’s matter is mentioned to him, I expect he would approve.”
The Noble Imperial Consort glanced at Ding Yi without expressing agreement or disagreement. Since she didn’t immediately refuse, it suggested there was still room for negotiation. The Empress continued, “Living in the imperial family, we have endless delicacies to eat and silks to wear. What more could we want? It’s nothing more than having someone who understands our joys and sorrows. You have your concerns, and the Twelfth Prince has his plans. He has spent those years training outside and is no longer inexperienced. Since he has come to see you today, he must have given it deep thought. Why not let him make his own decision, Imperial Consort? Facilitating a good marriage would also be your blessing, wouldn’t it?”
Perhaps happy people are more inclined to be tolerant. The previously unyielding Noble Imperial Consort showed signs of softening, though she didn’t relax her conditions completely. Keeping some leverage, she said, “Since the Empress has spoken, I cannot be completely inflexible. Let’s do this: instead of Secondary Fujin, we’ll raise her status one level to Consort Fujin. But as for the position of Primary Fujin, that’s still out of the question.” She sighed, “Her background is too low. What would others think? Among the consorts of other princes, even the Consort Fujin rank would place her far below others, let alone Primary Fujin. It’s not about me, but I fear he’ll face ridicule in the future! Right now, he’s just diving headfirst into love and affection, but in the future, when support is lacking, he’ll understand the wisdom in my words today.”
Ding Yi was indifferent—she had prepared for the worst, so any special dispensation was beyond her expectations. The Twelfth Prince, however, was displeased, sitting in his armchair with furrowed brows and saying nothing.
The Empress thought these young people lacked consideration. This little-by-little negotiation would ultimately not lead to a terrible outcome. Now that she would be Consort Fujin, could Primary Fujin be far behind? She gave Ding Yi a meaningful look, “Quickly thank the Imperial Consort for her grace!”
Ding Yi responded affirmatively, kneeling at the footstool and kowtowing. From above, she heard the Imperial Consort’s languid words: “This child is actually to my liking—quiet and composed. She endured the slight without crying or rushing to complain to her man. She has a backbone. So, we have a leap month this year, with spring beginning in the twelfth month. I think the day of the Beginning of Spring is auspicious. I’ll ask the Empress to kindly request a decree from the Emperor on my behalf. It will have to be done sooner or later. With the engagement announced before the year’s end, everyone can put this matter to rest.”