Love in Red Dust - Chapter 73

Chapter 73

She looked dazed and bewildered. Hongce’s brow furrowed, and he gripped her hand tightly. "Don't worry," he whispered. "No one’s obstruction will be of any use. If they provoke me enough, I will simply return, host a banquet, and hold the wedding ceremony myself. I don't need imperial investiture; I am the master of my own life."

Seeing him so angry actually made Dingyi feel strangely secure. She didn't add fuel to the fire, merely suggesting, "Don't get so hot-headed. Use your words wisely and take things one step at a time. After all, she is your mother; it would be for the best if you didn't become enemies." She glanced outward, finally daring to look at her prospective mother-in-law directly. The Noble Consort Dowager was not old at all. In her forties, she had maintained her appearance well, looking barely over thirty. She wore a ginger-yellow satin banner gown embroidered with orchids and longevity patterns. Even in the depth of winter, her lined robes didn't make her look bloated, and her loose-fitting silhouette carried a certain grace. Her face was beautiful, too—not the rugged features one might imagine for a Mongol woman, but exceptionally balanced and dignified. Only such a woman, she realized, could give birth to a son as handsome and upright as the Twelfth Prince.

"Your mother is truly beautiful," Dingyi murmured. "The inner palace is indeed a world of beauties; all the Consort Dowagers are quite lovely."

That she had the leisure to marvel at such things at a time like this only proved to him that she was deliberately feigning indifference to avoid causing him trouble. The more she acted this way, the more his heart ached, and the more he felt compelled to fight for her. She had suffered too much in the past, and even now, being with him meant she still couldn't walk openly in the sunlight. He felt deeply ashamed for failing her.

He caught his breath, gradually calming down. He led her to the threshold and down the steps to greet the approaching party, whispering, "The Empress knows a little of our situation; I expect she will mediate. Regardless of whether it succeeds or fails, you don't need to be subservient. If I must compromise my principles to keep the title of Prince, I would rather walk away and abandon it altogether."

He was speaking out of anger, and though she wanted to comfort him, the group had arrived, so she retreated to the side and stood with her head bowed in respect.

A hem of red fabric embroidered with golden floral patterns slipped into her view. The Empress stopped before her. After a brief pause, she asked Hongce with a note of pleasantry, "Is this the young lady you spoke of? What was her name again?"

Dingyi hurriedly knelt to kowtow. "This slave, Dingyi, respectfully pays my greetings to Her Majesty the Empress."

The Empress was very cordial and reached out to help her up. "We are all one family here; there is no need for such restraint. I heard the Twelfth Prince mention you before and felt great admiration for you. Now that I see you today, we must have a proper talk." She turned and gestured toward the noblewomen who had arrived with her, smiling, "Those women in the python-patterned robes are the Princess Consorts; I will introduce them to you one by one in a moment. You will be interacting frequently in the future, so it is better to become familiar early on."

The Noble Consort Dowager was at a loss for words. The Empress always had a way of using four ounces to deflect a thousand catties, effortlessly placing this girl among their ranks without saying a word. Did this mean the palace had already made a decision, and they were just waiting for the edict? She was still alive as his mother, yet they were acting as if her opinion didn't matter. She didn't think for a moment that the Empress was helping the Twelfth Prince; on the contrary, she suspected the Empress was intentionally toying with Hongce. Other princes' wives came from families with vast power and wealth; why should her son settle for less? If she didn't speak up and let them have their way, wouldn't it be Hongce who suffered in the end?

The Noble Consort Dowager smiled and took over the conversation. "Her Majesty is too kind to her. I have just given word that this girl can be taken into Hongce's chambers as a secondary consort. It is fine for her to wait on him, but to stand on equal footing with others would be inappropriate; it would cause a loss of face for everyone else." As she spoke, she dismissed the attendants nearby. "Nanny Li, go and see if the West Residence is prepared. The Music Bureau has arranged for light music today; later, move them to the Yisi Hall. That place is elegant and a good spot to listen to music."

Despite the Noble Consort Dowager’s efforts to change the subject, the hostility in the first half of her sentence was palpable. Several of the Princess Consorts and noblewomen caught the scent of the discord and cast curious glances at the girl. An ordinary person would have been weeping by now, but Dingyi remained calm. Only the corners of her mouth twitched slightly; her face, which had been flushed, gradually drained of all color, leaving her deathly pale.

Hongce was powerless to intervene. He tried to shield Dingyi at every turn, but his hearing was poor, and because his mother was speaking with her back to him, he couldn't hear a word. He imagined it was nothing kind, and judging by Dingyi’s expression, he knew something was wrong. His temper flared. His mother could be cruel, but to treat her own son this way—did she have a mother's heart? It seemed bringing Dingyi to the garden was a mistake; it had only subjected her to humiliation. Since that was the case, why remain? He gripped Dingyi’s elbow and said aloud, "Since all my sisters-in-law are here, it is improper for a man like me to be lingering among you. The birthday celebration is underway, and I have urgent government business to attend to. It would not do to delay my duties. I hope you will look after things, sisters-in-law, for I must take my leave."

In this world, there is no logic to a son kowtowing on his mother's birthday and immediately walking out; it was a clear omen of a falling-out. The Empress did not want to see such a scene. Evading the issue would not solve anything; they should sit down, talk, and come to a happy resolution.

She intervened to keep him. "What sort of official business is so pressing that it cannot wait a single moment? Stay a while longer; I still have some private words to say to Dingyi." With a faint smile, she took Dingyi by the hand and kept her at her side. Hongce had no choice but to stay for now.

There were many noblewomen, and though they started together, they eventually scattered, strolling through the garden in small groups. The Consort Dowagers walked in front, while the Empress and Dingyi followed behind. Dingyi was diligent and meticulous, supporting the Empress in silence. The Empress looked her over and said softly, "Enduring a little grievance for the one you love in your heart is actually nothing, isn't it?" Dingyi looked up with her shimmering, limpid eyes. The Empress smiled. "A great man knows when to bend and when to stretch, and the same goes for a woman. I was worried you would shed tears earlier; I am glad you didn't. Otherwise, the Imperial Noble Consort Dowager would have had more fuel for her fire. If you were to cry at her birthday celebration, she would call it bad luck, and your lives would become even more difficult."

This was the Mother of the Nation, and to have someone so high above be so candid was truly overwhelming. Dingyi replied, "I will take Her Majesty's teachings to heart. I will not hide from you that I knew this might be a hurdle before I came today. Having faced it, I am at least mentally prepared. That the Twelfth Prince spoke of me to you makes me tremble with fear and gratitude. My life before was not easy, and meeting the Twelfth Prince was my greatest fortune. I know my own worth and do not obsess over rank, so the Consort Dowager’s disdain is to be expected. I feel no resentment."

The Empress gave a soft hum and turned to look at a few withered leaves clinging to the top of a branch. She sighed wistfully, "Who among those who marry into the Yuwen family does not feel inferior? When I married, I was nothing but a lady-in-waiting at the Palace Ceremonial Department, and my family background was not robust. My father was a fourth-rank official—in the capital, that means nothing. I, too, relied on my husband's favor to reach where I am today. It was not a smooth journey; there were many twists and turns. I felt discouraged too, but I pushed through. You must believe that this imperial family is the most humane of all the dynasties. There are always those few princes who hold onto sincerity; they are not promiscuous, and once they meet someone, they recognize them for a lifetime. You are actually luckier than we were—the Twelfth Prince has no one else by his side, so you do not have to fight other women. What is yours is yours. See what a great blessing that is! Therefore, even if you are slighted, you must endure it. If you endure, the clouds will part and you will see the sun. I will find an opportunity to speak on your behalf. If the Noble Consort Dowager cannot accept you for a while, that is fine. We have time; she will change her mind slowly."

Under the Empress's gentle words, Dingyi felt a profound gratitude. She curtsied and said, "Her Majesty has opened her heart to this servant; how could I disobey? I shall obey all your commands."

The Empress smiled, examining her. "Such a vibrant, delicate girl—the Twelfth Prince told me you used to hold the blade for executioners; I truly cannot imagine what that looked like."

Dingyi also smiled and lowered her head. "That was my means of survival—a job that required physical labor. Small chores were fine, but I couldn't handle it for long. It was like being a mason; laying bricks was fine, but hauling them was hard work. I could never carry as many as the men."

The Empress clicked her tongue in pity. "Poor thing. I have never done such rough work. Men and women are truly different; one can never compete with a man in strength."

Chatting away, they entered the West Residence. Though Langrun Garden was not large, there were 135 rooms, and with only three Consort Dowagers living there, the space was quite generous. Having nothing to do, the Consorts often came to Yisi Hall to pass the time. What was once a study had long since been converted into a private theater. The actors on stage had already set the scene, and as soon as the guests arrived, they began the trilling, melodic singing of the Kunqu opera, Offering Auspices at the Lotus Pond and Longevity for Ten Thousand Years.

The noblewomen found seats to listen to the opera, and the Empress invited the Noble Consort Dowager into an inner room for a private talk. Once seated, they exchanged pleasantries. "Today is your birthday, Consort Dowager. The Emperor is occupied with affairs and could not leave, so he ordered me to come and offer his birthday wishes." She stood and curtsied, "May the Consort Dowager's spring remain ever-youthful in the Jade Pool, and may your寿域 (realm of longevity) be filled with daily blessings."

The Noble Consort Dowager hurried to support her, laughing, "The intention is enough. How could I bear to have the Empress perform rites for me?"

The Empress insisted she sit. "It is only right. You are the elder, and we are the juniors. In our own family, we do not care for formalities; there is only closeness." A palace maid brought tea, which Dingyi took, curtsying as she served it. She did not sit, but stood by to serve. The Empress glanced at the Twelfth Prince, stirred the tea leaves, and said to the Noble Consort Dowager, "It is not just the Emperor who is thinking of your birthday; the other day at Changchun Garden, the Old Master mentioned it as well. He recalled your love for Roujiao Efu (candied goose breast) and ordered Head Eunuch Hua to prepare it. He might even come to congratulate you himself in a while! The Old Master has never forgotten you. As he ages, his heart softens, and he always remembers old affections. Once, while the Imperial Kitchen was reporting the menu, he recalled it and asked for ink and paper to write down the names of the Consorts he was once close to. You were the first on the list."

As she said this, the Noble Consort Dowager’s face appeared lost in thought, as if many memories had been stirred. After a long while, she shook herself awake, feeling a bit embarrassed, and covered her emotions by saying, "I am so old now, why bring up such things? The Retired Emperor must be sixty this year, no? It has been four or five years since I last saw him. It was at the Longevity Festival; I saw him from a distance. He really has aged."

The Empress pursed her lips in a smile. "He has reached that age, but the Old Master is still robust. For a man of sixty, he still looks like he is in his forties."

For a woman, as long as she has loved, the mention of that person will always cause a hidden ache in her heart. The Noble Consort Dowager had originally been a princess of the Khalkha Sain Noyan tribe. At fourteen, her tribe entered into a marriage alliance with the court, and she was sent to the Central Plains, where she was named Noble Consort upon entering the palace. During those three years of profound imperial favor, she had felt nothing but love and admiration for the founding emperor. Three years later, he faded out of her life as if he had never been there at all. She did not hate him; she even made excuses to rationalize his heartlessness. But she hated the woman who had stolen him away. In her eyes, if not for Murong Jinshu, he would not have become that way. Even after they had broken apart, he had eventually named that woman Empress. That woman was a seductress who destroyed the entire Great Qing inner palace, building her happiness upon the suffering of others. The man had become muddled, all because of the woman behind him. That was why she particularly hated those demons who coaxed men into giving them exclusive favor. It was like an illness; she could not stand to watch scenes of deep, sentimental affection. In her eyes, Murong Jinshu and even the woman before her, the Empress, were the same. They were satisfied, but did they care about the lives of others?

However, the Empress had brought good news, and suddenly she didn't hate her quite as much. The Retired Emperor still thought of her—this was the best news she could imagine. He remembered her birthday; perhaps he would come to see her. She felt as if she were in a dream... she had hoped for over twenty years, only to be within reach yet worlds apart. If one day she could hear him call her name, this life would be complete.

When good news arrives, it is as if a person suddenly comes back to life. That vibrancy shone through from the bottom of her heart, spreading to her face. The Empress took the opportunity to say, "If the Retired Emperor visits the garden, and we mention the Twelfth Prince’s matter, I believe he would likely agree."

The Noble Consort Dowager glanced at Dingyi, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Since she hadn't shouted a refusal, it meant there was room for discussion. The Empress continued, "We are part of the imperial family. With endless delicacies to eat and endless silks and satins to wear, what more could we crave? It is merely that one person who knows warmth and cold. You have your worries, and the Twelfth Prince has his own plans. Having trained outside for all those years, he is no longer ignorant of the world. Since he came to see you today, he must have thought it through carefully. Why not let go and let him make his own decision? Facilitating a good marriage is also a blessing of yours, is it not?"

Perhaps happy people are more tolerant. The Noble Consort Dowager, previously impenetrable, had actually loosened up, though she didn't fully yield. She crossed her hands and said, "Since the Empress has spoken, I cannot be completely inflexible. Let's do this: we won't talk about a secondary consort anymore. We will promote her one level—a Side Princess Consort. As for the Primary Princess Consort, that is still out of the question." She sighed. "Her background is too low; what would outsiders think? If she were ranked among the other princes' family members, even the Side Princess Consort category would put her far behind the others, not to mention the Primary title. I am indifferent, but I fear he will be mocked in the future! Right now, he is blindly diving into love, but when he lacks help in the future, he will realize that my words today make sense."

Dingyi was indifferent; she had prepared for the worst, and any concession was beyond her expectations. The Twelfth Prince, however, was unhappy, sitting in his armchair with furrowed brows, remaining silent.

The Empress remarked that these young people lacked foresight; by pushing bit by bit, the final outcome would not be so bad. If she was already a Side Princess Consort, could the Primary Princess Consort title be far off? She signaled Dingyi with her eyes. "Why don't you thank the Consort Dowager for her grace!"

Dingyi nodded, knelt on the footstool, and kowtowed. Only then did the Consort Dowager’s voice drift leisurely from above, "This child is quite to my liking; she is quiet, and even after suffering a grievance, she didn't cry or complain to her man. She is a person with a backbone. So be it. This year is a leap year, and the start of spring falls within the twelfth lunar month. I see that the day of Lichun (Start of Spring) is a good day. Empress, I must trouble you to request an edict from the Emperor on my behalf. Since it must be done sooner or later, let us arrange the marriage before the year ends, and everyone can put this matter to rest.”