Chapter 14: Wind and Waves (Part 3)

Translator: Tygris
English proofreader: 247Reader

For several days in a row, the Forbidden City had been occupied with preparations for the grand festivities at the end of the year. On wuyin day, ^[1]戊寅 is the 15th of the 60 days in the traditional Chinese sexagenary cycle, a system used to mark years, months, days, and hours. The sexagenary cycle is made up of 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches that pair up in a fixed sequence to form 60 unique combinations. the Emperor honored the Empress Dowager with the honorary title ^[2]徽号 (huī hào) refers to the honorary titles given to imperial women in the Chinese palace system—mainly empresses, empress dowagers, and consorts. It is different from her rank, posthumous title, or name, but rather is an additional honorific. of “Dowager Empress Chongqing” as a sign of his respect. Then, later, due to the Dzungars ^[3]Dzungar Khanate – Wikipedia having sent envoys to negotiate peace, he ordered the Jasagh ^[4]Jasagh – Wikipedia of the Khalkhas, ^[5]Khalkha Mongols – Wikipedia among others, to discuss in detail the matter of defining borders, and remained busy for several days in a row.

On this night, the snow pellets clattered against the window, falling like scattered blossoms and powdered flakes. Ruyi sat in the warm room while Suoxin tended to the brazier, stirring the coals and adding in several tiger-striped pine ^[6]Pinus bungeana – Wikipedia cones gathered in early winter along with several sprigs of cypress. Before long, the refreshing resinous scent of pine and cypress drifted out. A’Ruo, seeing that Suoxin was busy organizing the bed in the inner room and that Ruyi was reclined upon the couch in the warm room  reading, picked up a lambskin blanket trimmed with aqua beads and draped it over her, then knelt to rekindle the foot warmer furnace.

A’Ruo, seeing that Ruyi was holding the book somewhat dazedly, asked, “Little Mistress has been most fond of this Sou Shen Zhuan ^[7]TL Note: I couldn’t find a Soushen Zhuan in historical China, but I did find a Soushen Ji: In Search of the Supernatural – Wikipedia. It does seem like there was a TV series called Soushen Zhuan, though. these past couple days; why is it that you seem uninterested today?”

Ruyi smiled, “It is just a bunch of stories of strange occurrences and spirits. After reading too much of it, I feel even more stifled staying here.”

A’Ruo smiled and said, “How could it be otherwise? Back at the old residence, Little Mistress loved nothing more than to sneak out to ride horses. Now that it has snowed and everyone needs to stay inside, it is no wonder that Little Mistress would feel stuffy and find it dull.”

Ruyi continued brooding for a while longer before asking, “The Emperor has not had anyone attend to him at night for several days, has he?”

A’Ruo replenished the tea, saying, “Exactly right! One hears that the Emperor has been busied nonstop due to the Dzungar matter—with endless ministers to meet and endless memorials to review. The green-headed cards ^[8]绿头牌 (lǜ tóu pái) is a green-topped card/badge containing a person’s banner status, surname, and first name, and possibly other information. When the Emperor summoned his concubines every night, he decided by flipping over the green-headed cards. That is, when the Emperor was having dinner, the concubines’ green-headed cards were presented. The Emperor would decide who to summon that night by flipping over that person’s card. Here is an image from Baidu. that the Palace Supervisory Department ^[9]This is the core of the Imperial Household Department. Following only Imperial orders, they were responsible for handling palace affairs and etiquette, collecting and checking money and grain from the external treasury, selecting and recruiting eunuchs, and inspecting the opening and closing of each gate and the lighting of candles. sent over were all returned untouched. They say that the Emperor did not even bother to take a single glance.”

Ruyi thought for a moment. “That is just as well. With these three or four days, and use of that medicine, Second Class Attendant Mei’s face should be fully recovered.”

A’Ruo gave a light humph. “Well, that is certainly to Noble Consort Hui’s benefit!” She hesitated a bit, then continued, “But Little Mistress, this servant still does not understand—what exactly does the Emperor see in Second Class Attendant Mei? Her beauty is not the most outstanding, and her temperament is not especially gentle. Her background, even more so, does not need to be mentioned. She cannot even compare to Second Class Attendant Wan. At the very least, Second Class Attendant Wan once served the Emperor as a tongfang maidservant ^[10]通房 (tōng fáng), literally meaning of the same room, refers to a personal maid who served a male master very very closely—so closely, in fact, that she served him in bed. This role was below that of a formal, recognized concubine, but above ordinary maids. back at qiandi.” 

Ruyi flicked her gaze towards her and sighed. “A’Ruo, usually you are the sharpest and most clever. But you have one flaw—you are much too fond of gossiping behind people’s backs. If words like those were to spread out, when others heard them, they would feel that everyone in my Yan’xi Palace does nothing all day except sit around and chew their tongues.” ^[11]嚼舌根 (jiáo shé gēn) means to talk nonsense.

A’Ruo, seeing that Suoxin was also present, could not help but blush. “This servant only does so in front of Little Mistress. If it were anyone else, even if I had to chew my own tongue off, I would not utter a single word of gossip.” She twisted the red-corded bell at the end of her hair. “This servant just does not understand, that is all.”

Ruyi pointed at the vase holding a sprig of wintersweet, looking like strands of golden beads, and asked, “Of all the flowers in season, why were only wintersweet branches chosen for display?”

A’Ruo froze for a moment. “Little Mistress must be joking. Is it not just because in winter, no other flowers are in bloom, and cutting a few branches of wintersweet is the only option?”

Ruyi pressed her lips together. “That is exactly the crux of the matter. What others do not have, she alone has. Naturally, she would be treasured. Look at the women of the Palace—the Empress is serene and dignified; the Noble Consort is gentle and lovely; Concubine Chun is honest and quiet; Noble Lady Jia is the most charming; Noble Lady Yi and First Class Attendant Hai are both reluctant to speak an extra word; Second Class Attendant Wan, even more so, is a gourd without a mouth. ^[12]没嘴的葫芦 (méi zuǐ de hú lu) is used to describe someone who is extremely quiet, aka so quiet that they might as well not have a mouth at all. But no matter what else can be said, all of us can be said to have some sort of notable birth or background, and generally all cater to the Emperor’s preferences. The Emperor has long grown accustomed to us. If, on occasion, he comes across someone of low birth but with some temperament, with looks that are fresh and refined, how could he not dote on her? Besides, favoring someone with such a background allows him to feel a certain sense of accomplishment as well.”

A’Ruo was silent for a moment, then came to herself and said, “This servant understands Little Mistress’s meaning. When a man favors a woman of humble birth—giving her status, pampering her, watching her light up with happiness—it gives him a far greater sense of accomplishment than doting on women who already have seen everything and know everything.”

Ruyi held her book, her interest fading. “Because they have had so little before, they become all the more elated when they finally receive something. And that, in turn, makes one’s efforts seem far more meaningful.”

A’Ruo seemed to be thinking it over. “But would the Emperor keep favoring her forever just because of that?”

The charcoal fire crackled softly, sending a rich fragrance through the room. Ruyi said, “That…will have to depend on her own abilities.”

For a moment, both of them fell silent. A’Ruo, in a low voice, said, “It turns out that there are so many factors that come into a man liking a woman.”

Ruyi smiled soundlessly, weary and faint, like a flower withering in the evening breeze. Suoxin lowered the bed curtains and softly said, “Was it not the case that Emperor Kangxi’s favored Consort Liang from Xinzheku ^[13]辛者库 (xīn zhě kù) historically refers to one of the categories of baoyi (See: Booi Aha – Wikipedia – “half-company servants”), but commonly in novels and other fictional works, Xinzheku is described as consisting of criminal slaves. Like other baoyi, Xinzheku was also split into the upper three banners and the lower five banners, serving the Emperor versus the various Princes. Xinzheku servants did menial and manual labor across almost all areas. While there were criminal slaves in Xinzheku, they were but a small portion. For further reading, you can try translating this Baidu page into English: 辛者库_百度百科 yet still rose all the way to the position of Consort? In truth, there are not that many reasons to like or dislike someone. Prosperity or hardship, honor or disgrace all come down to a single passing thought.”

Just as they were speaking, Sanbao rushed in from outside, performed a qian’er ^[14]Greeting etiquette usually performed by men, consisting of bending the left knee forward, bending the right leg backward, leaning the upper body slightly forward, and dropping the right fist to the floor. This greeting is considered a midpoint between bowing and kneeling. bow, and rushed to say, “Niangniang, something has happened at Xian’fu Palace, please quickly go and take a look!”

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