Chapter 16
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Chapter 16: Enraptured
The Emperor Jingxi’s expression was tinged with indifference.
He and the Empress had known each other since childhood, and were well acquainted with each other's natures. When he was fourteen, the late emperor passed away, bequeathing the throne to him and, at the same time, settling the marriage between him and the Empress. At fifteen, he assumed personal rule and took her as his wife and Empress. They had been husband and wife for eighteen years.
Over the years, there had been no lack of consorts in the harem, all chosen from the annual selection of maidens. Yet he never indulged in the harem; he treated all equally, followed the established customs, and extended to the Empress all the respect due her. Thus, the inner palace remained tranquil, and between emperor and empress, their interactions were courteous and measured.
This time, during the mountain pilgrimage, the Empress led the noble ladies to rest at the Yanxiang Temple. Unless there was pressing business, she would not lightly dispatch her attendants with messages.
For the Empress to send someone now, it must be for a matter that could not be delayed.
Jingxi could think of only one possibility.
The Crown Prince.
And the woman he favored—Lady Ning.
Lady Ning had been sent to Yanxiang Temple to take vows as a Taoist nun, yet the Crown Prince’s affections had not waned; this visit had likely rekindled old longings.
His gaze remained cool, his face impassive. “Summon her.”
Fu Rui, receiving the command, hurried out. Before long, the palace maid Xiangyin entered, head bowed, and knelt to pay her respects.
Jingxi reclined in his meditation chair, idly savoring his tea.
Xiangyin felt the imperial authority press down upon her; kneeling, she dared not utter a word.
“Speak,” the Emperor commanded.
Xiangyin wetted her lips, her voice trembling. “Her Majesty instructed this servant to relay that since arriving at the mountain, the Crown Prince has been eager to see Lady Ning, who is now a novice nun. Last night, he even attempted to force his way into Yanxiang Temple, but was stopped by the guards.”
The emperor neither assented nor objected.
Xiangyin, emboldened, went on, “I heard that early this morning he was again waiting outside the temple. Her Majesty, helpless, ordered me to report to Your Majesty and await your decision.”
Jingxi’s face remained calm. “Since Lady Ning entered Yanxiang Temple, has she behaved herself?”
Xiangyin replied, “After taking holy orders, Lady Ning received the Taoist name Miaozhen. Her Majesty summoned her for questioning two days ago and found her well-behaved. In these recent days, with many people in the temple and fearing the Crown Prince’s attention, the temple has kept her confined to her quarters to avoid further complications.”
There was a trace of unease in her tone as she spoke.
Jingxi noticed but gave no sign of approval or displeasure.
He understood Xiangyin had come with intent, but when it came to the affairs of the harem, he had always turned a blind eye.
He was Heaven’s chosen, ruler of the world, receiving tribute from all nations. The harem could never stir up any real storms; there was no need to waste thought on such trivialities.
—At this moment, he could never have imagined that had he only spared a little more consideration, or casually sent a guard to investigate, he would have discovered at once the true identity of the extraordinary beauty who had lain in his arms last night, whose allure had so thoroughly consumed him.
He would then have realized that he was already treading at the very edge of the abyss of propriety.
Yet the mystery and cruelty of life lie in this: by the time you sense the tide’s arrival, you are already mired in its depths.
Though he was an emperor, he was no exception.
And indeed, Xiangyin’s visit was not without its own designs.
Miaozhen had gone missing—fled and vanished. This was a grave matter. If the Crown Prince were to learn of it, who knows what trouble might arise.
As fate would have it, the Empress was present at Yanxiang Temple when Miaozhen disappeared, making the situation all the more sensitive.
Thus, the Empress feigned ignorance, instructing the temple to keep the matter quiet and to search for Miaozhen and return her as soon as possible.
But the Empress was nothing if not prudent. Fearing that Miaozhen might not be found and disaster might follow, leaving her unable to explain herself to the emperor or the Crown Prince, she sent Xiangyin to raise the issue of the Crown Prince’s indiscretions at the temple—if things became unmanageable, at least she could absolve herself.
Now, having dutifully reported all, Xiangyin found the emperor’s lofty indifference disconcerting and could not help but feel anxious.
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After Miaozhen’s disappearance, the temple dared not make a scene, searching under various pretexts while the Empress played along, pretending ignorance. Whether the deception would hold, she could not say.
It ought to—after all, His Majesty was burdened with the affairs of state and would hardly trouble himself with such matters.
The harem’s business, the emperor had always left in the Empress’s hands.
As she pondered this, Jingxi signaled for Xiangyin to withdraw.
Xiangyin, uneasy but unable to protest, took her leave.
Once she had gone, the room fell silent; everyone held their breath, not daring to speak.
Setting aside his tea, Jingxi asked, “Fu Tai, how is Lady Fifth?”
Fu Tai replied promptly, “Your Majesty, Lady Fifth is still asleep. She has not woken yet, but last night the imperial physician brought a female doctor to examine her. The physician is already waiting for your summons.”
Because the emperor showed such special attention to this woman, Fu Tai dared not be anything less than thorough.
“She is still sleeping?” Jingxi pressed.
Fu Tai, aware of the emperor’s meaning, answered, “Your Majesty, the physician says there is no serious harm—just exhaustion. A meal has been prepared and awaits her waking.”
At this, Fang Yue stepped forward to report, “Your servant ordered an overnight investigation, but the rain was heavy last night and it was dark; there is as yet no news. All we know—”
The emperor raised his hand, cutting him off. “There’s no need to investigate further.”
She was only a lowly maiden, unlikely to escape his grasp. To thoroughly uncover every detail would only diminish the intrigue.
Besides, he harbored some selfishness. The girl was a humble entertainer from another household, endowed with stunning beauty. She had already served her former master, and he had realized last night she was not untouched.
This was only to be expected. Who could resist such a delicate, enchanting creature?
Jingxi himself was indifferent to a woman’s chastity, yet upon reflection, could not suppress a faint displeasure.
Not knowing the specifics, shrouded in a mist of ambiguity, left room for poetic fancy.
Should he learn the truth—that she had belonged to some court official or nobleman, and that the man who now knelt to him in court had once shared her bed—it would be a bitter taste indeed.
With his status, how could he stoop to picking up what others had discarded?
Thus, to dig too deeply and learn the truth would only ruin the pleasure of this little mystery.
Fang Yue was surprised but could only reply, “As you command.”
After the emperor’s breakfast and a brief wash, he rose to visit Awu.
Fu Rui, unaware of last night’s events, was astonished to see this.
The emperor himself would go to visit a woman still lost in slumber?
This…
Fu Rui exchanged a look of shock with Fu Tai.
Fu Tai understood well enough; he too had not expected this.
But recalling the woman's breathtaking beauty, perhaps it was not so surprising after all.
A single glance could topple a city; another, a kingdom. Was this not what the ancients meant?
***
Fu Tai accompanied the emperor, while Fu Rui hastened back. As he rounded the covered walkway, he saw Xiangyin standing beside a cluster of jade-green bamboo.
Xiangyin had kept her head lowered before and had not drawn attention, but now, in detail, she wore her hair in a silver-threaded chignon, her dress of pale lotus silk with a blue brocade skirt—elegant, dignified, and yet with a trace of charm.
Fu Rui glanced around to ensure no one was near before whispering, “Why did you take on this errand today?”
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Xiangyin had entered the palace with the Empress and was only in her early thirties, her beauty striking and memorable. Years ago, she and Fu Rui had grown fond of each other and often met privately.
The emperor had always turned a blind eye to such things, but Fu Rui was cautious and kept their liaison discreet to avoid trouble.
Now, seeing Fu Rui, Xiangyin stepped forward and whispered, “What’s come over His Majesty today? He seemed ill at ease. I merely came to report, but the thoughts of a ruler are unfathomable. With things unresolved, how am I to answer Her Majesty?”
Fu Rui sighed. “You ought not to have brought this up.”
“Why not?” Xiangyin asked.
“The woman the Crown Prince kept in his residence, Lady Ning, only stayed a short while and had no official position. Now that she’s taken vows, whether he sees her or not is hardly important. The temple should simply follow its rules. If they can’t keep her out, they can make a formal report and request assistance. But to come running to the emperor with this—what sense does that make? If His Majesty were to concern himself with this, it would be as if the sun rose in the west!”
Xiangyin fell silent, full of resignation. “You’re right, but you know the Crown Prince’s temper. He’s defied His Majesty before for Lady Ning’s sake, and even the Empress finds him hard to manage.”
The emperor could restrain the Crown Prince, but it was difficult for the Empress.
After all, he was not her own son, and as the heir to the throne, the Empress—even from her lofty position—had to be cautious.
“Nothing to be done,” Fu Rui said. “His Majesty was furious enough to personally command the girl to become a nun. That was unprecedented. What more can the Crown Prince do? Let him make a fuss—eventually, his passion will cool.”
Xiangyin thought, If only you knew my troubles. She sighed, “Never mind, I’ll go report back to Her Majesty.”
Fu Rui thought of the emperor’s new favorite, Lady Fifth, and was about to mention her.
Noticing his hesitation, Xiangyin asked, “What is it?”
Fu Rui swallowed his words and only smiled. “Nothing. I just missed you—it’s been days since we met, and you appeared so suddenly.”
Xiangyin, meeting his gaze, blushed deeply.
But, hiding from Fu Rui the fact that Lady Ning had gone missing, she felt guilty and said, “I have much to do. I should go.”
Fu Rui, wavering over whether to tell her about Lady Fifth, relented. “Go on, then. Don’t let yourself be delayed.”
***
When Emperor Jingxi entered the secluded residence, he found it utterly silent. Several eunuchs and maids waited quietly outside.
He raised an eyebrow.
Fu Tai stepped forward, speaking in a low voice, “Lady Fifth is still asleep. Doctor Wang awaits in the side room.”
Jingxi glanced with faint exasperation at the five-panel landscape screen. This girl could truly sleep.
Not wishing to disturb her, he ordered the imperial physician be summoned. Doctor Wang soon hurried over to bow before the emperor and respectfully presented her medical report.
Jingxi leafed through it absentmindedly.
Within, all was quiet. Doctor Wang, cautious, ventured, “The lady is in no serious danger—she is merely exhausted. But as she is delicate, it would be best to wake her soon for breakfast.”
Examining the report, Jingxi found this examination unusually detailed, listing every condition: scratches on her fingers from flower thorns, blisters on her feet from mountain paths. It was also noted, naturally, that she was not maidenly—she had known a man before.
This did not surprise Jingxi; he had sensed as much himself, and she had hinted at it.
But the report went further, stating that her body bore signs consistent with women who had given birth.
Perhaps this discovery had so startled the female physicians that they dared not make a firm conclusion, instead carefully recording their observations and ending with a vague, ambiguous statement.
Jingxi, having read countless memorials full of officials’ convoluted phrasing, was well-versed in discerning the meaning behind the words.
He eyed that line, frowning slightly, contemplating that exquisite, flawless, snow-pale body—like that of a celestial being.
Could such a woman truly have borne another man’s child?