Chapter 7: Begging for Survival (Part 4)

Translator: Tygris
TLC: Nyamachi
English proofreader: 247Reader

The Emperor’s personal study ^[1]暖阁 (nuǎn gé) refers to a small room separated from the main house but connected to it, where a stove can be installed for heating. Directly translated, the characters are along the lines of ‘warm room’. was located at the end of the western wing of the Yang’xin Hall. ^[2]Hall of Mental Cultivation Though the area was not large, the layout was elegant and solemn and the windows were clear and clean. The bookshelves inside were filled with neatly stacked rolls of books, all of which the Emperor enjoyed reading regularly. The eastern wall was sparsely decorated with ten-plus wall vases ^[3]壁瓶 (bì píng) is shaped as a vertical half of a regular vase. The side facing the wall is flat with a hole to aid hanging upon the wall. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, these wall vases were popular among scholars and literati. with patterns ranging from dragons, sages, and the Eight Immortals, to pine, bamboo, plum, reeds and geese, branches of flowers and fruits, pheasants and peonies, and so on. The majority of the designs were a light and elegant shade of edamame green and were very refreshing to gaze upon.

The high-ranking eunuch serving next to the Emperor was named Wang Qin. He pushed aside the hangings for Ruyi to enter. [The Emperor] must have just changed into informal clothes. On his body was a moon-white gauze robe embroidered with eight dragons. The Emperor leisurely held a roll of book in his hand. The golden autumn sun shone through the snow-white paper window to scatter across his entire body, the light causing his body to emit a pure and warm aura. Inside the enameled copper dragon-patterned incense burner was gem-like ambergris incense, and the entire room was filled with its calming and mellow scents. The faint lingering scent against the literary backdrop seemed right out of a lightly-brushed freehand painting.

The Emperor saw that Ruyi was wearing a set of chengyi① made of moon-white satin woven with colorful flowers and flying butterflies. On the pure white satin, there were more than ten kinds of colored threads, including bright red, pink, emerald green, grass green, fragrant yellow, camel yellow, light purple, lake blue, dark gray, light black, and light white, woven into dotted flower branches and insect and butterfly patterns. Though [the color was] plain, it did not lack for magnificence.

He looked up, smiling. “How coincidental. You are wearing the same color as Zhen.”

Smilingly, Ruyi saluted. “Having not disturbed the Emperor’s reading time is what is coincidental.”

The Emperor put down his book and

gestured towards her. “Come here and sit.” Seeing that Ruyi sat at the edge of the bed, he smiled. “Zhen has just ascended the throne. The matters of the court are ceaseless and [Zhen] has not had the opportunity to go see you all. Since you have come, then all is well.” He sniffed the air and saw that [Suo]xin, standing behind Ruyi, was holding a small red bamboo food basket. “What good food did you bring? So fragrant!”

Ruyi lifted her face, signaling [Suo]xin to lay out the items. There were only four snacks: sugar steamed with milk curd ^[4]See: Example, pine nut puff pastry ^[5]Example, lotus root and osmanthus flower sugar cake ^[6]Example, and rose and hawthorn filled cinnamon-vine pastries. ^[7]TL Note: I chose to translate it using a less common name to make clear that this in no way tastes similar to sweet potatoes/yams! See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_yam for more information.

The Emperor smiled. “It just so happens that Zhen is feeling peckish. Accompany Zhen to enjoy some [food].”

Ruyi retrieved silver chopsticks and handed them to the Emperor. Smiling, she said, “This concubine originally wanted to prepare four types of snacks, but unexpectedly the palace only had three prepared. This Lotus Root Starch Osmanthus Sugar Cake was bestowed by the Empress Dowager, who said that this is something that the Emperor enjoys. Since [the Emperor] has not had time to visit Shou’kang Palace over the past few days, she bestowed the [snack] upon this concubine. This concubine is taking this opportunity to present Buddha with borrowed flowers.” ^[8]借花献佛 (jiè huā xiàn fó) is a metaphor for using other people’s things to do favors.

The Emperor took a chopstick-full and slowly chewed. “[Zhen] hears that Empress Mother changed your name?”

“Changed to Ruyi. Empress Dowager says, Yi [懿] as in perfect and peaceful. ‘Lin Lü had virtuous character [懿德] and would not associate with [anyone] improper.’ And so she chose Ruyi.”

The Emperor gave a faint sigh. “Empress Mother’s temperament… even though Zhen has been by her side for many years, [Zhen] still cannot understand her fully. Since she has changed your name, and the name contains this meaning, she will likely not trouble you further.” He held Ruyi’s wrist. “This morning, Zhen heard that the Jing’ren Palace Empress has passed. Originally [Zhen] thought you should have visited, but out of worry that the Empress Dowager would think too much, [Zhen] did not dare say anything.”

Ruyi lowered her brows for a moment. “This concubine understands. This concubine will not go. If one goes, one would be mired in those moral dilemmas. This concubine is a person of the Aisin-Gioro clan, and should not drag the Emperor into such matters.”

The Emperor nodded and personally handed a piece of cinnamon-vine pastry to her. “This cinnamon-vine pastry is sweet and sour. You love this flavor the most.”

Ruyi gave her thanks, and looking around in all four directions, said, “Emperor enjoys these wall vases. Originally, there could have been accompanying flower arrangements of the four seasons, allowing their refreshing fragrance to fill the room, so that one might feel refreshed and happy when napping. Yet, now only lighting some ambergris incense seems to be better than using flowers and grasses. It prevents the unintentional muddling of scents.”

The Emperor laughed. “Zhen also thinks thus. Therefore, [Zhen] would rather leave them empty, and when bored, can view and fiddle with them for fun — another good option.”

Ruyi stood up. Examining one of the wall vases, she said, “This pattern is very good. Though it is not like the other auspicious patterns, this one seems to tell a story.”

The Emperor made fun of her. “Old Laizi dressed up to amuse his parents. ^[9]See #7 of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twenty-four_Filial_Exemplars#The_Exemplars You forgot even this?”

Ruyi glanced at the bookshelf, then seeing that the Emperor’s desk was empty, smiled. “The Emperor usually enjoys perusing The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars. ^[10]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twenty-four_Filial_Exemplars Why is it that the book is not present today?”

The Emperor casually replied, “It likely was randomly placed somewhere. Later, [Zhen] will tell Wang Qin to go look for it.”

Ruyi seemed to have thought of something. “Emperor, this concubine seems to remember that the first section within The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars tells the story of how Min Ziqian obeyed his Mother and only wore thin clothes?” ^[11]See #4 of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twenty-four_Filial_Exemplars#The_Exemplars

The Emperor laughed out loud. “What is wrong with you today? The first section of The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars tells the story of how Yu Shun’s filial piety moved the Heavens. ^[12]See #1 of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twenty-four_Filial_Exemplars#The_Exemplars It is the second section that tells the story of how Min Ziqian obeyed his Mother and only wore thin clothes.”

Neatly arranging her words, Ruyi spoke, “Emperor has a filial heart and naturally remembers clearly. 

“The first section of The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars speaks of how Yu Shun’s filial piety moved the Heavens, which shows that filial piety is always the most important virtue in the hearts of the people. The Emperor is used as a model to promote filial piety.

“Emperor has just ascended the throne and is busy with various tasks, unable to take the time to walk in the Imperial Harem.” She paused for a bit. “Empress Dowager is still residing in Shou’kang Palace.”

The Emperor raised her eyebrows. “What? Has the Imperial Household Department ^[13]https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Household_Department not repeatedly invited Empress Mother to move into Ci’ning  Palace? Why [is she] still residing in Shou’kang Palace?”

Ruyi gave a minuscule smile. “As this concubine sees it, it is not that the Imperial Household Department  failed to carry out their errands well, but, rather, Empress Dowager desires to reserve this as an opportunity for you, the Emperor, to express filial piety.”

The Emperor was silent for a moment. His gentle smile contained a bit of indolence. “Zhen also desires Empress Dowager to move to Ci’ning  Palace, but…”

Ruyi understood, motioning the servants to retreat. The room now contained only two people: the Emperor and Ruyi.

The Emperor continued in a low voice, “But in Zhen’s heart, there remains a hurdle that cannot be crossed.” His gaze turned towards the window, seeming somewhat desolate. “Zhen’s birth mother…”

Ruyi looked at him, reaching out to squeeze his hand. She gently shook her head, speaking firmly, “Emperor’s birth mother is solely the Empress Dowager, who is living in Shou’kang Palace, awaiting the Emperor to invite her to move to Ci’ning  Palace.”

The Emperor’s eyes were as dark and still as deep water. “Empress Dowager enjoyed sole favor for many years, and [had developed] influence within both the court and the harem. If [she moves to] the central position of Ci’ning  Palace, Zhen fears that she may…”

“Whether she may or may not is not related to her moving into Ci’ning  Palace or not, but rather, it is directly associated with the Emperor’s abilities and talents. Emperor’s heart contains the world and can hold tens of thousands of strategies. There is no need to be fearful of a mere woman.” Ruyi steadily gazed at the Emperor. “Ci’ning  Palace is but a place that the Empress Dowager should reside in by right.”

She reversed her grip on the Emperor’s hand, using the icy cold of her palm to soothe the humid heat of his. “Emperor, if you allow the Empress Dowager to suffer in the aspect of living quarters, then the subjects of the world will point fingers at you. But should you send the Empress Dowager into Ci’ning  Palace, you are reminding the world that you, using the financial power of the entire country, are supporting the Empress Dowager in her latter years.”

The Emperor’s eyes grew more profound. After a moment, he revealed a slight smile. “Then Zhen will follow your words and put full effort into displaying a filial heart by inviting the Empress Dowager to live out her remaining days peacefully.”

Author’s Note(s)

①chengyi: In the Qing Dynasty, women wore long shirts with round collars, right lapels, twisted lapels, straight bodies, flat sleeves, no openings, and five buttons. The sleeves were of two types: comfortable sleeves (sleeves up to the wrist) and half-wide sleeves (short wide cuffs with two layers of sleeves), and sleeves were further decorated. They were women’s daily casual clothes. Most were embroidered with velvet, gauze, flat gold, and woven flowers. The whole body was decorated with borders, and more and more borders were added in the late Qing Dynasty. Waistcoats were often worn over shirts. Leather and cotton materials were added in autumn and winter.

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