The New Year in the palace wasn’t all that different from outside, except it was much grander and more splendid.
From the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Twelve Bureaus of Eunuchs and the Six Shang Bureau in the palace became busy, distributing New Year’s hairpins, rouge, and various foods, preparing festival utensils, and pasting peachwood charms, as well as paintings of the God of Fortune, Guipan, and Zhong Kui.
Even at the bedside, there were golden and silver treasures, Western Sutra Wheel, and Dragon Pendants woven from yellow coins hanging.
Everywhere in the palace, one could hear the sound of grand music, with flutes and pipes playing without end.
All of this was rehearsal for the New Year’s festivities.
Standing on the steps of Langhua Hall, A wu could see the extravagant Mingjiao lanterns, as grand as enormous colored glass, burning with giant wax candles inside.
Candles had always been precious things.
Emperor Jingxi would even reward his ministers with candles.
Ordinary scholarly families couldn’t bear to use candles, settling for oil lamps instead.
But here, candles burned extravagantly from dusk till dawn.
A wu did feel a bit of heartache seeing this.
In the evening, she mentioned it to Emperor Jingxi.
Emperor Jingxi looked at her with a smile, “A wu is actually worrying about my money. You’re quite the diligent little housekeeper.”
A wu blushed at his words, giving a small humph, “That’s not it!”
Even if they saved money, it wasn’t hers.
She just couldn’t bear to see such good things wasted in such extravagance.
How many candles must be burned in the palace just to celebrate the New Year!
But Emperor Jingxi drew her into his arms and explained, “I understand your thoughts, A wu. Of course it’s a bit wasteful, but it’s only for the festival. At that time, not only will all the civil and military Baiguan and Inner and Outer Noblewomen be present, there will also be envoys from all the Vassal States and Foreign Tribes, all coming to pay homage. So, this is also for the face of Great Hui.”
A wu suddenly understood.
Emperor Jingxi said, “It’s the same with the ladies of the harem now. Although I no longer visit them, their presence fills out the numbers and maintains proper form.”
A wu understood, “It’s like when the magistrate holds court, there have to be two rows of yamen runners standing on either side, just to look proper. Otherwise, it wouldn’t seem like a real court session.”
Emperor Jingxi said, “Exactly.”
He smiled, “But you’re right, A wu. In the future, we can be a bit more frugal during festivals. If the palace saves a little, the outside will save tenfold.”
A wu tilted her head as she listened, “It’s like the Peony flower of Nanqiongzi. What those above favor, those below will pursue even more.”
Emperor Jingxi praised her, “A wu, you truly haven’t been reading in vain these days. You’re becoming more and more sensible.”
A wu’s eyes sparkled, “Really? Your Majesty thinks I’m getting more learned?”
Emperor Jingxi nodded in affirmation.
A wu immediately pressed her luck, “Then can I stop reading from now on?”
Emperor Jingxi pursed his lips in a smile, looking especially gentle.
A wu instantly sensed trouble in her heart.
Sure enough, Emperor Jingxi said, “No.”
A wu gave a little humph, immediately unwilling to pay him any attention.
Against this man, rebellion was useless, uprisings would be crushed, and she couldn’t resist at all.
Sigh!
But Emperor Jingxi said, “There’s some news. Do you want to hear it?”
A wu glanced at him warily, “Is it good or bad?”
Emperor Jingxi pondered for a moment, “It should be good news, I think?”
A wu urged him, “Then hurry and tell me.”
Emperor Jingxi said, “According to tradition, the consorts in the harem are all promoted at New Year. You’re currently an Imperial Noble Lady, sixth rank. If the review goes smoothly, you should be promoted to sixth rank, but I’ll find an excuse and directly promote you to Imperial Consort. Though that’s still fifth rank, it’s the highest of the fifth rank.”
A wu was naturally pleased to hear this.
She knew she would be promoted, and that Emperor Jingxi would open a little back door for her, but hearing him personally promise it still made her happy.
Emperor Jingxi continued, “The Crown Princess is with child and should give birth around mid-year. I’ll have a grandchild. Then, using that as an occasion, the whole harem will celebrate, and I’ll promote you two more ranks. That way, you’ll be a proper third rank and can take the position of Shuxian for now.”
‘Ah?’
A wu looked at Emperor Jingxi, puzzled.
The Crown Princess giving birth—how did that mean she would be promoted?
Emperor Jingxi nodded, “If I gain a first grandson or granddaughter, my heart will be overjoyed. Promoting my ladies—what’s wrong with that?”
A wu: “….”
It could be done like this?
If the Crown Princess found out, wouldn’t she be so angry she’d cough up blood?
She broke into a dazzling smile, hooked her arms around Emperor Jingxi’s neck, and kissed his sharp jaw hard, “Of course there’s no problem! Long live Your Majesty, long, long live! His Majesty is always right!”
She knew in her heart he only wanted to promote her, and would find any excuse to do so!
She quickly did the math.
Shuxian might be the lowest of the third rank, but no matter what, she’d be in the third rank, same as the Illustrious Consort and Virtuous Consort.
With the emperor on her side, the next time a promotion came, she’d surely jump straight to second rank.
Wouldn’t that make her a true consort?
She’d truly be the favored consort in name and reality!
***
As the year-end festival drew near, Emperor Jingxi got busier and busier.
So busy, in fact, that he couldn’t even visit Langhua Hall.
The various festival rituals, ancestral temple sacrifices, and the comings and goings of envoys from all the nations kept him fully occupied.
A wu was busy too, decorating Langhua Hall and consulting with Concubine Hui and Lady Meng about how to celebrate.
Concubine Hui’s family had people in the capital, and for the festival, her brothers had the palace staff bring her some things from home—homemade dried meat, which she shared with A wu, who ate with great relish.
But Lady Meng seemed a bit downcast.
Concubine Hui whispered to A wu that Lady Meng’s childhood sweetheart had come to the capital for business, and through various roundabout connections, had sent her a message, asking if she needed anything in the palace.
Lady Meng’s eyes turned red at the news.
Her heart ached, and she wasn’t very inclined to go out.
A wu was surprised, “She likes that childhood sweetheart?”
Concubine Hui quickly covered her mouth in alarm, “You mustn’t say such things carelessly.”
After all, why did they get to live in luxury in the palace?
Because of their status.
They were all the emperor’s women, and naturally didn’t dare say such things, or they wouldn’t even know how they died.
A wu lowered her voice, “…I’m just curious.”
Concubine Hui checked the door, then finally told her the truth.
Lady Meng and her childhood sweetheart had been close since they were young, secretly in love.
But her father was a scholar, from a family of letters, and looked down on the other family for being merchants, unwilling to arrange the match.
After that, Lady Meng was neither high nor low, with no suitable matches, so her family sent her into the palace.
Who would have thought she’d have good fortune and rise to the rank of Illustrious Consort?
A wu sighed, “What a pity…”
The old emperor, breaking up couples for no reason.
He wouldn’t even favor her, so why keep her there at all?
Concubine Hui said, “We’re women who entered the palace, living a leisurely and wealthy life. I’m quite content. If I were at home, how could I have so much silver, fine clothes, and food, or support my family and parents? If I married elsewhere, I’d have to bear children, serve my in-laws. Though the palace is restrictive and we can’t go out, His Majesty treats us kindly, and as long as we learn the rules, we won’t suffer much.”
A wu listened and felt she had a point, but thinking of Lady Meng, she still felt sorry for her.
Soon it was the proper New Year.
Firecrackers crackled, the Banquet of Ten Thousand People, and all the Inner and Outer Noblewomen entered the palace.
A wu now served at the Empress Dowager’s side, and got to show her face.
Thankfully, no one mentioned unpleasant things.
Everyone was cordial.
A wu even met the young lady of the Yingguo Duke’s Mansion, the Crown Princess’s mother, who greeted her with a smile.
But A wu guessed the woman probably hated her inside.
On the first day of the new year, the Zhengdan Festival, A wu got up at the fifth watch, burned incense, set off paper firecrackers, and ate dumplings.
The palace maids and eunuchs all came in to pay their respects, kneeling to offer auspicious words.
A wu gave them extra silver and handed out Red Envelopes.
Actually, during festivals, these maids and eunuchs all got various rewards, but those who got A wu’s were especially grateful, kneeling to kowtow.
A wu told them to relax, not be so formal.
So everyone started playing “Banquet of a Thousand Blessings,” tossing the door bolt in the courtyard.
A wu joined in, and everyone had a blast.
A wu, though an Imperial Noble Lady, never put on airs and treated the Langhua Hall’s maids and eunuchs kindly.
They often received imperial rewards thanks to her, and all felt grateful, believing they’d followed a fortunate mistress.
While they were playing, Futai arrived, hands in his sleeves, watching A wu and the palace staff jumping and playing, smiling along.
Futai was thirty-five this year, having worked his way up bit by bit.
Seeing the young eunuchs, he remembered his own youth.
And seeing A wu playing with them, his heart felt warm, but also tinged with unspeakable sadness.
He was destined to have no children in this life.
Sometimes he wondered what it would be like to have a son or daughter—especially if they were like A wu.
Of course, he knew these thoughts were just fantasies, utterly treasonous and deserving of death.
At this moment, A wu spotted Futai and ran over with a smile, stuffing a Red Envelope into his hand, “Eunuch Fu, happy New Year!”
Futai quickly accepted it, bowing, “Oh, thank you, Imperial Noble Lady. You’re truly blessed. For me to receive your Red Envelope, I must be blessed too.”
He explained his purpose that His Majesty had been too busy lately, with all the ceremonies and rituals he was unable to get away, and would only be able to visit in a few days.
But the emperor was thinking of her, so he sent Futai with some New Year’s gifts.