Chapter 1: Concubine

As soon as the Crown Prince spoke these words, the private murmurs that had been bubbling like water about to boil instantly disappeared. Everyone held their breath and waited quietly for the Emperor’s response.

“Oh, yes.” The Emperor seemed to awaken from a dream, quickly understanding the Crown Prince’s intention and following his lead. “I promised you yesterday that I would transfer Wu Zhenzhen to the Eastern Palace. Later, Counselor Shen requested an audience, and once he came, he stayed for quite a while. I forgot to notify the Empress and the Ceremonial and Royal Kitchen departments. But it’s not too late. Today there are many people here, so it’s appropriate to announce this matter…”

He adjusted his posture, preparing to make the official announcement, when Zhao Ai suddenly stood up and bowed to him: “Father, regarding the matter of transferring Food Preparation Wu to the Eastern Palace, did you first consult her opinion?”

The Emperor cast a questioning look at him, then after a moment said: “No.”

Zhao Ai spoke earnestly: “Female officials are people, not objects. Food Preparation Wu has served you diligently for so long. Now that you want to change her master, could you consider her feelings and first ask her intentions?”

The Emperor was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Zhenzhen: “Food Preparation Wu, are you willing to go to the Eastern Palace to serve the Crown Prince?”

From the conversation between the Emperor and his son, Zhenzhen could easily discern the goodwill they were showing her. She understood that the Crown Prince’s action was to demonstrate to everyone that she was already someone valued by the Eastern Palace, and that the Emperor had no intention of bestowing her upon Lin Hong. Therefore, she was not Lin Hong’s prospective abandoned wife, but had a brighter future ahead.

So she bowed to the Emperor, suppressing the various emotions surging within her, and answered in as steady a voice as possible: “This servant was born of humble origins. To be favored by His Highness the Crown Prince and have the opportunity to serve in the Eastern Palace—what greater fortune could there be? How could I be unwilling?”

The Crown Prince had, in this way, gathered up her self-respect that had been shattered by Lin Hong and scattered on the ground, rescuing her from a fate of being drowned in gossip and rumors. She decided to repay this kindness like a spring returning the favor.

The Emperor also seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He sat up straight and solemnly declared: “Let it be proclaimed by Our decree: Promote Food Preparation Wu to Food Management, and from this day forward, she shall proceed to the Eastern Palace to oversee the Crown Prince’s meals and drink.”

Zhenzhen raised her hands to her eyebrows and performed the grand ceremony of gratitude to the Emperor. After a moment, she lifted her head and forced a smile, but still a tear she could not contain slid down her upturned lips, silently marking a moist circle on the ground.

Seeing that Lin Hong remained kneeling silently in the hall, the Empress Dowager said to him: “Lord Xuanyi, this old woman grants your request. Later, you may go to the garden to select ancient plum trees. Whatever you fancy, tell the Palace Garden Director, and he will have it delivered to your residence.”

Lin Hong kowtowed in gratitude for the Empress Dowager’s grace. The Empress Dowager had him rise and withdraw, then glanced at Zhang Zhibei, who understood her meaning and immediately ordered the musicians to play. Soon the hall was filled with music and song, with dancing sleeves fluttering, restoring the initial scene of peace and prosperity.

Lin Hong took advantage of the heated drinking games around him to leave his seat and quietly walk outside the hall. Just as he descended the jade steps, he heard someone behind him call “Lin Hong.” He turned at the sound, and before he could see who it was, the person struck like lightning, punching him below the left cheek.

Lin Hong steadied himself and looked up to meet the angry glare of Zhao Ai.

Zhao Ai raised his fist to strike again, but was restrained by several eunuchs who rushed over, holding his waist and pressing down his hands.

Lin Hong used his sleeve to wipe away the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, then bowed deeply to Zhao Ai with clasped hands, silently stepped back several paces, and turned to leave.

He was well aware of the reason for Zhao Ai’s anger and did not wish to explain anything or retaliate against his violent outburst. He knew that compared to what he and Zhenzhen had endured today, this pain and humiliation were hardly worth mentioning.

As Liu Luowei had said, ever since learning that Zhenzhen was the daughter of Zhang Yunqiao, every encounter with her had become a torment. He could hardly suppress his desire to be near her, yet reason constantly warned him, forcing him to stay away from her. Her smiles, her embraces, her tender glances and soft words whispered in his ear had all become honey-dipped keys. No sooner did he taste the sweetness than the unlocked memories of childhood would fly out page by page, cutting his heart to bloody ribbons.

He had thought about explaining everything to her properly and breaking off their relationship for good, but he feared such a gentle parting would leave hope for both of them. Zhenzhen’s feelings were passionate, and he was never firm enough in her presence. If she came to find him again someday, crying before him, or suddenly embracing or kissing him, he feared he would disregard filial duty and fall back into the path of suffering with her.

Thus he had hesitated day by day, until the Empress Dowager brought up the marriage bestowment again, and there was no avoiding it. After hearing the Empress Dowager’s question, he was still considering how to gently decline the marriage proposal when Liu Luowei offered the jade bracelet to Zhenzhen. Zhenzhen’s silence at that moment was fully visible to him, and he understood that the bracelet had hurt her. So be it then—he might as well continue using his commitment to plum blossoms and cranes to thoroughly pain her once more. She might hate him, but then she would also give up on him, look forward, and seek a better future than he could offer.

He walked indifferently toward the plum grove, thinking this was probably the best possible outcome for now.

“Second Prince, calm your anger! Today the imperial clan and relatives are gathered together in joy—don’t let them see us make fools of ourselves!” the eunuch holding Zhao Ai’s waist pleaded repeatedly.

Zhao Ai was still breathing heavily, but his raised hand gradually lowered.

Summer storms come without warning. Just moments ago the sun had been blazing, but suddenly a wild wind swept through like galloping horses, scattering the sunlight in a few strokes, and large raindrops carrying the scent of earth and vegetation began hammering the ground.

Zhao Ai endured the impact of the raindrops and suddenly thought of Zhenzhen: Where was she? Still in the hall?

He strode back into the hall and looked around, but didn’t see Zhenzhen. He immediately turned and went back out, plunging headlong into the increasingly dense columns of rain, asking every eunuch he encountered about Zhenzhen’s whereabouts, then running through the garden to search for her.

Zhenzhen had quietly left before Lin Hong went out, wandering through the vast Jujing Garden, not knowing where to go. After wandering aimlessly for a while, she felt the rain beginning to fall, but feeling dizzy, she didn’t think to find shelter.

Three or five young eunuchs came running toward her, using lotus leaves to shield their heads from the rain. One of them, seeing Zhenzhen standing there dazed, shared a lotus leaf with her, saying gently: “Sister, this rain is going to get heavy. You should quickly find some eaves to shelter under.”

Zhenzhen accepted it, and the young eunuch continued running toward distant pavilions. Zhenzhen looked at the lotus leaf in her hand, and tears immediately began flowing like rain. She buried her face in the lotus leaf and cried aloud like a child, releasing the grief and grievances she had suppressed for so long amid the flashing lightning and rolling thunder.

After crying this way for quite a while, someone suddenly approached and snatched the lotus leaf from her hands.

Zhenzhen looked up to see Zhao Ai, soaked through just as she was.

“Why did you agree to such nonsense!” he stared at her intently through the wind and rain, shouting his rebuke: “Don’t you know that agreeing to enter the Eastern Palace is the same as agreeing to become the Crown Prince’s concubine!”

“So what?” Zhenzhen lifted her chin coldly. “Now I would give him my life, let alone become a concubine.”

“The person you should marry is me!” Zhao Ai roared, unable to contain himself any longer.

Zhenzhen was startled and met his gaze, momentarily at a loss for words.

“Come to me,” he extended his hand toward her: “I will make all the wind and rain in the sky go around you.”

Instead, she stepped back two paces: “Your Highness, please return. Don’t let anyone see and misunderstand.”

He had a heart full of feelings to express, but she gave herself no opportunity to hear him speak. Angry and anxious, at a loss, he suddenly embraced her and lowered his head to kiss her lips.

Zhenzhen quickly turned her head aside, and his kiss landed below her ear.

She pushed him away forcefully and slapped him hard across the face, then walked quickly several steps away, putting distance between them.

Zhao Ai tried to follow her, but saw several people with umbrellas approaching. The leading eunuch stopped before Zhenzhen and bowed slightly: “Food Management Wu, the Crown Princess has sent me to find you. The carriage to the Eastern Palace is ready. Please come with me.”

Zhenzhen recognized the man as Yang Zicheng, the current Eastern Palace Director, and nodded, exchanging courtesies with him.

Yang Zicheng signaled for the eunuchs behind him to hold an umbrella for Zhenzhen and led her away. Then he bowed deeply to Zhao Ai, respectfully stepping back several paces before following Zhenzhen’s group.

Zhao Ai stood alone in the boundless rain, watching Zhenzhen gradually fade from his sight, his eyes misty with moisture—whether rain or tears, he couldn’t tell.

Zhenzhen followed the Crown Princess to the Eastern Palace, where the Crown Princess selected an extremely elegant courtyard for her residence and assigned two serving maids to attend her. After she had bathed and changed clothes, the Crown Princess personally came to the small courtyard to see her.

Crown Princess Qian had a round face with curved eyebrows and eyes, smiling red lips, and an amiable appearance. Upon seeing Zhenzhen bow, she immediately raised both hands to gesture for her to rise, then had Zhenzhen sit across from her on the tea bed, speaking to her with gentle countenance: “I won’t hide this from you, sister—previously His Majesty intended for the Crown Prince to take you as a concubine. After the Empress learned of this, she spoke to me first and praised your character and temperament highly. Though I live in the Eastern Palace, I had heard somewhat of your achievements and had always admired your abilities. When I learned you would enter the Eastern Palace, I was very pleased. Who would have thought that later I heard from the Crown Prince that you had other affections and were unwilling to accept His Majesty’s decree? I felt quite regretful for a while. I never expected today’s opportunity would allow us to live together in the Eastern Palace after all.”

Seeing her being so friendly, Zhenzhen couldn’t help but secretly wonder how much of it was sincere, thinking that no woman would be free from jealousy upon seeing her husband take a concubine. The Crown Princess’s words were likely mostly to conceal her jealousy and deliberately probe, so she said: “This servant has long heard that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess are deeply in love, and therefore the Crown Prince has been unwilling to take concubines. This servant has no improper thoughts either. Entering the Eastern Palace is merely to obey His Majesty’s command to serve the Crown Prince’s meals and drink. I will naturally revere the Crown Princess as my mistress and serve her wholeheartedly without the slightest negligence.”

“Sister, you need not be so formal.” The Crown Princess sighed and said sadly: “I know you won’t believe this, but I truly want the Crown Prince to take concubines… Do you remember the matter of Meng Yunxiu? Last October, I bore the Crown Prince a son. The child came out feet first, causing me tremendous suffering—I was in pain for three days and nights. After finally giving birth, my body was severely damaged, and I had continuous bleeding. The imperial physicians instructed me to patiently recuperate, and I cannot share a bed with the Crown Prince for at least a year. The Crown Prince had not taken concubines while I was pregnant, and now this situation continues. I feel very ashamed, so I wanted to ask him to take Yunxiu as a concubine, but I never expected that affair to occur. Fortunately, sister, you were clever and devised that punishment for Yu Rui’er, settling the matter. Looking back now, this was probably heaven’s will, allowing you to form this connection with the Eastern Palace.”

Only then did Zhenzhen understand that the Meng Yunxiu affair had such background. The Crown Princess must have been eager to provide the Crown Prince with a concubine, and seeing that the palace women often acted insubordinately or presumptuously toward the gentle Crown Princess, she didn’t want to promote from within, which was why she had strongly recommended Meng Yunxiu to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Princess subsequently confirmed this point: “I can guess that His Majesty wants you to come to the Eastern Palace because he feels I’m too weak to control the people below. I admit this—when I was a daughter, my parents protected me too well. I hadn’t seen the troublesome things that happen in the Eastern Palace and didn’t know how to deal with them. I had originally wanted Yunxiu to assist me, but inadvertently harmed her… This also made me realize that I truly need a strong person to help manage the Eastern Palace’s internal affairs. Since you were chosen by His Majesty and Mother, I trust your character, so I very much hope you can set aside your reservations and join me in caring for the Crown Prince, handling the Eastern Palace’s affairs well, and sharing his burdens.”

Speaking to this point, the Crown Princess took Zhenzhen’s hand and said from the heart: “Everything I’ve said today comes from my deepest feelings, not pretense. I earnestly hope you will grant my request and serve the Crown Prince in my place. Hereafter we will address each other as sisters, and I will certainly not treat you poorly—I’ll give you the highest rank I can bestow. Whatever you need, just tell me, and I’ll have it all arranged for you.”

Zhenzhen looked up and met her gaze: “So the Crown Princess, like His Majesty and the Empress, believes that my becoming the Crown Prince’s concubine would be the best possible thing, and you all welcome it?”

“That’s natural.” The Crown Princess smiled. “You need have no concerns. Though you may not like the Crown Prince now, after spending some time together you’ll understand that he’s the finest person possible, and you’ll be willing to remain at his side.”

Seeing Zhenzhen remain silent, the Crown Princess consoled her further: “You needn’t worry. For now, just serve as Food Management—you needn’t share his bed. After some time, when you and the Crown Prince are mutually affectionate, I’ll choose an auspicious day for the Crown Prince to formally take you as a concubine and report to His Majesty, requesting that he grant you the title of Commandery Lady.”

“Why choose another day when today is just as good?” Zhenzhen immediately responded, looking directly at the Crown Princess and calmly stating her decision: “Since everyone believes this is a wonderful thing, I’m willing to serve the Crown Prince’s bed tonight.”