Chapter Ten: Sometimes Letting a Mistake Stand Is Not a Bad Choice

The emperor had only just recovered from his illness, yet in broad daylight she dared to invite his favor, even going so far as to serve him together with her own maid in order to keep him by her side. The more the Empress Dowager dwelled on this, the more she wished to simply sentence Shen Fuyu to death and be done with it!

“Is this truly the case?”

“I couldn’t believe it myself at first, so I made sure to ask again. Changfu confirmed it with his own mouth; there can be no mistake.”

Illegitimate birth breeds nothing but more lowborn conduct—how could one expect anything else? Yet, on second thought, the palace was not lacking in consorts. Before the emperor was poisoned and gravely ill, there had been new consort selections and presentations—nearly twenty noble daughters brought into the palace. Yet the emperor had not touched a single one. At most, he would visit the high-ranked consorts, Lady Shu and Lady Sun, but he never bestowed his favor upon anyone.

The Great Xun was not what it once was. The Yunjing Kingdom looked on like a hungry tiger, and Jing Lanxi, with Yunjing at her back, held uncontested sway in the harem. A foreign-born empress with sole power was not a good thing for Great Xun. The Empress Dowager’s heart was tainted with self-interest; she did not wish the empress to bear the emperor’s firstborn son. Ideally, the crown prince should be born of a woman native to Xun.

In the Empress Dowager’s eyes, Shen Fuyu would always be a mere concubine’s daughter. The Shen family had deliberately withheld their legitimate daughter from this marriage, sending only the lesser to act as a talisman. Shen Fuyu was doomed by her birth to be unfit for the highest stage. No matter how she looked at it, Lady Shu was the better choice—also from a noble family, outstanding in every way—yet the emperor showed no interest.

“Ruo Wei, go yourself and deliver the medicine to Xianyue Palace. The emperor’s first son must not come from the empress, still less from a shameless, lawless woman like Shen Fuyu.”

...

“My lady, the word outside is… His Majesty favored Lady Xianfei last night.”

“Is that so?”

Slender fingers brushed lightly over the parrot’s bright plumage. The profile of Jing Lanxi, focused on amusing her bird, betrayed not the slightest concern for the matter the maid had mentioned. Her expression was calm, as if whatever Qin Zhiyi did had nothing to do with her. She looked detached, neither joyful nor sorrowful, her feelings always veiled beyond comprehension.

“I heard the Empress Dowager sent medicine to Lady Xianfei,” the maid said cautiously. “My lady, there is word from outside… they hope you will bear the emperor’s firstborn son soon, to solidify your position.”

“Lady Xianfei…” Jing Lanxi scratched the parrot’s head with the tip of her finger, her gaze suddenly growing distant. “She is a capable woman. She dares to do what others wouldn’t. She has calculated the enmity between Qin Zhiyi and me, and uses methods no one else would dare, drawing herself close to him… But after that bowl of medicine, she’ll be just like me.”

“My lady…” The maid bit her lip in worry and pleaded, “You are not like her.”

“Do not call me that!” Jing Lanxi suddenly swept everything from her hand, seizing the scalding teacup and hurling it at the maid. As the cries of pain rang out, she gasped for breath, as if desperately trying to quell the fury within her. She muttered, “I am… Princess Mingyang of Yunjing. How could I bear another man’s child?”

“My lady!” The maid knelt to the floor, enduring the pain. “You mustn’t say any more!”

Startled, the parrot fluttered away. Jing Lanxi, in a frenzy, swept everything from the table, her eyes bloodshot, her emotions finally bursting free. “Why shouldn’t I say it? What is there that I cannot say?”

“It was he, back then, who asked me to come here, to become the empress of Great Xun. I did as he wished.” She leaned back in her chair, laughing bitterly. “He told me, one day he would bring me home to Yunjing. I need do nothing here in Xun but keep my seat as empress secure.”

“For his sake, I forced Qin Zhiyi to wear the name of wife-killer. And now? Now he wants me to bear the heir of Great Xun?”

“My lady…” The maid’s face was streaked with tears as she begged, “Please, say no more.”

“Lady Xianfei’s bowl of medicine is a good thing—drink it, and you’ll never have children again.” Jing Lanxi murmured, “But my medicine, I must drink always, never stopping.”

“Dongling, go brew the medicine,” Jing Lanxi ordered.

Dongling, still kneeling, wanted to speak but dared not. Since following Jing Lanxi to Great Xun, the once innocent and carefree Princess Mingyang had become like this. Bearing her own pain, she rose and went to the small kitchen to order the contraceptive decoction to be prepared.

If only Her Majesty would come to her senses soon…

...

“Your Majesty, fleeing to my quarters is hardly a wise choice.”

In the Star-Observing Tower, Rong Xuan presented a freshly brewed cup of tea, taking one for himself as well. He smiled, “Your Majesty, why not simply play along? To appear to indulge in licentious pleasures may not be a bad thing. The previous dynasty’s intrigues are tightly woven, and the empress monopolizes the harem. Now that an opportunity has arisen, why not make use of it?”

“I understand your meaning, Grand Diviner.” Qin Zhiyi set down his cup, his tone grave. “But Shen Fuyu is a peculiar woman, and one cannot be sure Shen Minister has no ulterior motives. She is not to be trusted yet.”

“From the auguries, it appears Lady Xianfei is no longer much connected to the Shen family,” Rong Xuan tapped the table gently. “After all, every reading comes up with death as the result, and it frightens even me. Even if it is not death, it’s clear the bond between Lady Xianfei and Minister Shen is thin. I understand Your Majesty’s concerns, but given the current situation, only Lady Xianfei is suitable among the harem.”

Qin Zhiyi’s expression darkened. As for Shen Fuyu… well, it was manageable—she was only a concubine’s daughter after all. To feign favor, elevate her to the rank of favorite consort, that was not difficult. Moreover, he had never heard of her before; likely she held little presence even in her own family. Once he investigated, he could confirm her trustworthiness. Only…

That woman’s tongue was truly insufferable!

He feared she would drive him mad before his plans were fulfilled.

Rong Xuan only smiled, saying nothing. He well understood why the emperor was reluctant; it took considerable courage simply to deal with that Lady Xianfei.

“Your Majesty might as well keep up appearances for a while. In truth, I am rather curious to meet this Lady Xianfei myself.” Well, it was he who had cast the coin that settled the emperor’s fate—he had to see it through. “The auguries show she is undoubtedly a bearer of good fortune. Perhaps, with a bit of guidance, all these troubles may be resolved.”

“I trust your auguries, Grand Diviner. It’s just that Shen Fuyu… is extremely difficult to deal with.” Qin Zhiyi pondered, but those were the only words he could muster. “I’ll have to trouble you further.”

“No trouble at all. Some things must be determined in person, not just by divination.” Rong Xuan replied with a smile. Having lived half a lifetime, he thought, how hard could it be to handle a mere young concubine?