Chapter 29: The Lady of Kang County

The Eastern Warm Pavilion of Qianyuan Hall had never been a place for the emperor’s favored concubines. Qianyuan Hall was simply the main hall of Qianyuan Palace. If His Majesty wished to favor the beauties of the Inner Court, he would have the eunuchs of the Imperial Household roll up brocade quilts and bring them to the side halls. It was in these side halls that the emperor would spend the night with his consorts.

But the empress seemed to be an exception.

Where emperors and empresses performed their conjugal duties was never clearly recorded. Tongshi and Jincui scoured through the daily records of past emperors and found no established precedent. Thus, the empress sleeping in the Eastern Warm Pavilion was neither right nor wrong—it was simply unconventional.

As summer approached, dawn came earlier. Ji Ye would rise at daybreak, washing, dressing, and donning his crown with the assistance of lady officials, while Daidai remained buried in the quilt, snoring softly.

He shook his head in amusement and ordered a young eunuch to quietly gather the memorials scattered about the room. Before leaving, he pinched Daidai’s soft cheek, a gesture of affection. His mood was light; any lingering annoyance from the day before had dissipated after a night’s rest.

He was not the sort of man to blame a woman for plans gone awry.

Moreover, he was honest with himself. Regarding You Daidai, he was truly fond of her now. With her, all the pressures within his heart seemed to dissolve.

When Ji Ye emerged from the Eastern Warm Pavilion, Jincui hurried over to inquire, “Your Majesty, shall this be recorded?” Her hands were slick with nervous sweat, secretly hoping for a “no.”

Ji Ye paused, recalling the night before—he seemed to have pressed that acupoint—so he replied, “No need.”

With that, he left. Jincui remained where she was, bowing her head in quiet delight, and quickly sent a trusted maid to report the news to Yaohua Palace.

As the days grew hotter, copying scriptures indoors became stifling. The Consort of Virtue ordered the brush, ink, paper, inkstone, and incense burner to be moved to the pavilion.

The wind was gentle, the sun lingered, willows scattered their down like drifting smoke, and the lotuses in the Hibiscus Pond were beginning to bloom. It was the perfect season for a boat ride to enjoy the scenery. What a pity…

“Madam, Xiao He from Tongshi’s service is here,” Pink Butterfly announced, noticing the girl led in by a palace maid. She set down the ink stick, though the ink in the Songhua stone inkstone was already thick and fragrant.

“Let her come in,” the Consort of Virtue said, putting aside her brush and flexing her sore wrist.

“Greetings to the Consort of Virtue.”

“No need for formalities. Did something unusual happen in Qianyuan Hall?” Though posed as a question, her tone was certain.

Xiao He, a slightly plump girl in her teens, glanced around. Noting that everyone present in the pavilion was trusted, she quietly recounted how His Majesty had visited the empress in the Eastern Warm Pavilion once again.

The Consort of Virtue’s amber eyes darkened at once. She looked at the three-foot-long scripture on the table, feeling a chill run through her.

“Is A-Ye shifting his affections?” she murmured with a mocking smile.

“But I do not permit it. Whether I want your love is one thing; whether you give it, and to whom, is another.”

“I know of this matter now. You may go. Pink Butterfly.”

“Yes, Madam.” Pink Butterfly deftly slipped a silver tael from her sleeve and pressed it into Xiao He’s hand, taking her arm as if they were sisters. “Come, I’ll walk you to the palace gate.”

“No need to trouble you.” Xiao He, young and inexperienced, beamed with delight at the small tip.

In Yongle Palace, the Noble Consort was in a foul mood. A beautiful and voluptuous lady sat nearby, lost in thought, paying no heed to the Noble Consort’s stomping and muttering.

“Mother, say something! How can I get back my Phoenix Seal?” After just two days of peace—no lectures from the lady officials, no chance to wield her authority—she felt listless and ill at ease.

“Xiangjun, you are always so impatient,” Lady Kang said, casting her a sidelong glance. “As the saying goes, ‘when the mother is strong, the child is weak.’ It fits us perfectly. I always planned too much for you, which is why you act so rashly, never considering the consequences.”

“Mother, my temperament cannot be changed now, no matter how you teach me. You should continue to help me.” The Noble Consort, frowning in annoyance, clutched Lady Kang’s hand, pleading, “Mother, help me think of a way. How can I get the Phoenix Seal back quickly? I refuse to live under that little wretch’s control.”

Lady Kang’s face turned cold. Her blood-red nails dug sharply into her daughter’s hand, making Lü Xiangjun break out in a cold sweat and cry out in pain, “Mother!”

“Does it hurt?” Lady Kang pressed her.

“Yes, it hurts,” Lü Xiangjun whimpered, aggrieved.

“Now will you remember this pain?” Lady Kang demanded.

Lü Xiangjun nodded miserably.

“Good. I want you to remember this failure. Xiangjun, you fool, have you still not realized? Three years have passed, and You Daidai has finally learned to humble herself, to charm the emperor, to protect herself, and to seize power. And you? You still rely on the Empress Dowager and me to clean up your messes. You’re seven years her senior. If you don’t improve, even if I had the strength of three heads and six arms, I couldn’t help you.”

Lü Xiangjun was unimpressed. She pouted, “Mother, you overestimate her. It’s not that I underestimate You Daidai; she’s just too stupid—not even a tenth as clever as the Consort of Virtue. The Consort of Virtue is my real enemy. Don’t confuse the main issue, Mother.”

Lady Kang sneered, casting her daughter a look of disdain. “How many great generals in history have lost because they underestimated the enemy? A defeated general may claim that defeat is common in war and seek to rally his forces, to rise again. But you cannot, Xiangjun. In the harem, at the pinnacle, if you lose, there are countless beauties waiting to climb over your corpse for their chance. In the harem, every step must be taken with caution. Tell me, can you afford to lose?”

Lü Xiangjun shivered under her mother’s words, drenched in cold sweat, but still tried to argue, “My aunt is the Empress Dowager, my father is the Prime Minister, and you, Mother, are a titled lady—”

Lady Kang scoffed, rising to her feet and patting her daughter’s cheek with scorn. “I see I truly have planned too much for you. From now on, don’t go out and embarrass yourself. Stay in Yongle Palace and reflect on your mistakes. When you finally understand what’s at stake, I’ll come see you.”

With that, she swept out, not sparing her daughter any dignity.

Lü Xiangjun was used to it. Biting her lip, she stubbornly refused to call her mother back, letting her temper flare. Only when Lady Kang was about to step over the threshold did she finally give in a little, shouting, “Reflect then! What’s the big deal?”

Lady Kang’s heart finally settled. She snorted, “At least you know what’s good for you.”

She then whispered a few words into Pink Butterfly’s ear, who was supporting her arm, before heading off to Shouning Palace, satisfied.