Chapter 37: CH 36

Every fifth day of the month, the Emperor would have to spend the night at the Empress’s quarters at the Qiuxin Palace. It is said that the number five represents the coupling of Heaven and Earth. On this day, the Emperor and Empress of the human realm must lead by example, otherwise it would throw the Yin and Yang energies of the universe into chaos. If not, the Heavens would visit punishments ranging from fires to celestial chaos.

Han Ruzi truly wished to ask one question: how much calamity would be caused by the Emperor being a puppet? But he could only eat quietly, complying with the rules of etiquette since time immemorial, sitting on his knees while dining.

The Empress sat on her knees at the side. In the past, every dish would be carried to the Emperor’s table by a servant-girl. Now, there was one more procedure: the Empress would receive it from the servant-girl and place it before the Emperor, to show her respect. The Emperor would then nod his head to show his thanks. The process was a waste of time, He felt full without eating much, but the dishes continued to be placed before him, and it was not up to him to say no.

With the ceremony finally over, Han Ruzi watched the mostly uneaten dishes carried away. Strangely, he suddenly felt hungry again, but he could only bear with it and hope that the night would pass quickly.

This simple wish was not to be.

When most of the eunuchs and servant-girls left, only three stayed behind. One was Zuo Ji, one was the servant-girl Dong Qing E, and one was a female attendant in her forties.

The Emperor and Empress were invited to enter the bedroom. They sat side-by-side on the bed. Zuo Ji and Dong Qing E stood by the side, while the female attendant stood opposite them, bowing and then smiling at the two newly-weds.

Han Ruzi had a bad feeling about things. It seemed like the Grand Consort had not fully persuaded the Empress Dowager, and he would soon be forced again to practice husband-wife relations.

As expected, once the female attendant spoke, she spoke about the coupling of Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, and various such philosophies. In the end, she concluded by referring to the proper rites between husband and wife. “Your Majesty shares a room with the Empress without sharing a bed, or shares a bed without sharing a pillow. This violates the proper rites between husband and wife. It is a disgrace to the ancestors, and causes bewilderment of the people. Even more, it is disobedience to the Empress Dowager’s good intentions…”

Han Ruzi grew increasingly shocked as he listened on. He could not help but interrupt the female attendant. “You know… that we did not share a bed?”

He felt angry, thinking that someone was watching him secretly. He looked at Dong Qing E who was standing beside the Empress.

The female attendant smiled lightly. “In the days after the wedding, Your Majesty and the Empress have left the bed sheets clean. Of course you did not share a bed.”

Han Ruzi did not understand, but at least he knew that Dong Qing E was not a spy. Hence, he spoke sternly. “We understand. The Empress and Us are still young. We shall wait and see after a few years.”

The female attendant was evidently well-prepared, and refused to back down easily. “If there is no Empress, Your Majesty may of course wait a few years. But since there is an Empress, then the proper rites must be complied with. The Empress should not be kept wilting; the Empress Dowager should not be kept worrying. It is an auspicious day today, so may Your Majesty consummate the marriage with the Empress. If there is something you do not understand, I or servant-girl Dong Qing E may answer your queries.”

Han Ruzi grew increasingly angry. As a puppet, he was already very obedient, and seldom caused any trouble. He even helped the Empress Dowager with some troubles. Yet this was nowhere near enough, and he was being forced to do something that he did not like. His face darkened as he said, “We do not feel well, and hence have no intention to consummate. You are dismissed.”

The female attendant kept the smile on her face. “Even if Your Majesty does not think of the Chu Empire, you should think of the Empress’s feelings. If Your Majesty remains recalcitrant…”

“That’s right, I am recalcitrant.” Han Ruzi was backed against the wall, and he had no choice but to act shamelessly. He had nothing to be afraid of anyway. “I don’t care about the coupling of Heaven and Earth, nor about disorder in Yin and Yang energies. I also don’t care that the Empress Dowager is worried. How can you stand here and talk about such… private matters. Do you not feel embarrassed?”

The female attendant was momentarily stunned. But she was not embarrassed, but in fact, angry. “How could Your Majesty say such things. How would you be able to face the Empress Dowager? Your Majesty leaves me with no choice but to… use force. Dong Qing E, it is your turn to act.”

Han Ruzi thought that “using force” meant that there would be a fight. Hearing the female attendant call on Dong Qing E, he was stunned: even though this servant-girl was a few years older than him, she was still a woman. This female attendant thought too lightly of him! With anger in his heart, he shot to his feet. He was about to speak when he was shocked to see that the Empress, who had been sitting next to him, had stood up first.

The Empress’s face was livid. She was too agitated so her words trembled as she spoke. “You keep mentioning the Empress Dowager, yet I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager every day. Why have I never heard the Empress Dowager say such things? You say that this is what the Empress Dowager wants? Fine. We shall go see the Empress Dowager now, and ask her to her face. If the Empress Dowager says so, I shall lie with the Emperor immediately for all of you to see. If the Empress Dowager says no, what shall be your crime?”

The female attendant’s expression changed rapidly. She mumbled, “How can the Empress Dowager be asked such things?”

The Empress was even more furious. “So you do know that such immodest matters should not be asked, and should not be spoken of? Then how dare you speak like this in front of His Majesty? I may be young and unread in the books of the sages, but I at least know that the Imperial Palace has the strictest rules in the world. Since when is it the business of a few servants to instruct the Emperor in matters of the bedroom? Where is Imperial Recorder? Why is he not here? Let him record your words so that future generations may see how impudent the servants of the Chu Imperial Palace were!”

The female attendant’s expression were now truly panicked. She fell onto her knees. Once she knelt, Dong Qing E knelt as well. Both of them were at a loss for words, and looked at Zuo Ji.

Zuo Ji’s expressions had changed as well. He forced a smile and said, “Your Highness speaks too seriously. With the Empress Dowager and His Majesty in the palace, who would dare be impudent? This woman just doesn’t have a way with words…”

“If she doesn’t have a way with words, then you speak. Lord Zuo is the Empress Dowager’s attendant, so you should know her intentions the best. So speak.” Even though the Empress was a little girl, she appeared to be rather domineering in this moment.

Zuo Ji was tongue-tied. He turned to the female attendant and said angrily, “You impudent thing! You were asked to persuade His Majesty, but who told you to say such indecorous things? Why have you not begged His Majesty and the Empress for mercy?”

The female attendant had nothing left to say, and could only continuously knock her head on the ground.

Han Ruzi was stunned and only reacted after a while. He waved his hand and said, “We do not hold it against you. You all may withdraw.”

The female attendant was relieved. She waddled backwards on her knees before getting up and running away.

Zuo Ji felt awkward as he left. “May Your Majesty rest well.”

When he moved to the door, Zuo Ji still felt a little reluctant to give up. He said to the Empress, “The Cui clan has trained a good Empress.”

“Has the Empress Dowager not trained a good lackey as well?” The Empress said coldly.  

Zuo Ji hurrumphed before withdrawing. The Cui clan was still very powerful, even the Empress Dowager had to tolerate them, let alone him. He had not considered matters properly, only focusing on how to control the Emperor but failing to take notice of the young Empress.

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Only Dong Qing E was left in the room. She was supposed to attend to the Emperor and Empress, but now she was too frightened and remained kneeling on the ground.

“You are dismissed as well. We do not need you to attend to us tonight.” Han Ruzi did not blame Dong Qing E. As a mere servant-girl, she had little choice in the matter.

Dong Qing E obeyed, waddled out on her knees as well, and then she ran out in a panic, closing the door behind her.

Han Ruzi turned his head towards the Empress. He realized that this girl was completely different than his first impressions of her. She was smart and bold, and she knew more than him. He could only get angry, but she could think of confronting the Empress Dowager face to face.

The Empress’s expression returned to normal — juvenile, even a little shy. She smiled helplessly. “They are too much. I did not think that the people in the palace would be like that.”

“How did you guess that Zuo Ji was acting without the Empress Dowager’s orders?” That was what Han Ruzi was most impressed by.

“I did not.” The Empress smiled again. “I just felt that, even if the Empress Dowager did arrange for this, she would never admit it. She would not speak of it in front of us, let alone have it be on the record.”

Han Ruzi quickly understood. He was smart, but some things could not be solved with just smarts. One had to understand the situation in its details to see those hidden loopholes. “Some things can be done but cannot be spoken of. Zuo Ji and the others are servants, so they can be shameless.  The Empress Dowager is a master, so she must maintain decorum.”

Soon, Han Ruzi realized another matter. “It had to be you who threatened to see the Empress Dowager. You are of the Cui clan, and have support outside of the palace. You can blow this matter up and raise a ruckus. If it were me, the Empress Dowager would have me beaten and nobody outside the palace would ever know.”

Han Ruzi sat down. The more he thought of it, the more he felt that he could not wait. The Empress was safe, but he was still in danger. It was obvious that Zuo Ji wished to attain certain accomplishments to curry favour with the Empress Dowager. Sooner or later he would return to try to force the Emperor to practice husband-wife relations.

He raised his head and realized that the Empress was still standing there. Her expression seemed even more depressed than his.

“What’s wrong with you?” asked Han Ruzi in surprise.

“Nothing much.” She said that, but the Empress suddenly got on her knees. She placed on arm on the bed and raised her head to look at the Emperor. She asked, “Is it because I am a daughter of the Cui clan that… that Your Majesty… sleeps separately?”

“You are over thinking it. It is actually because…” Han Ruzi did not want to bring up Prince Donghai at the moment. He sighed and said, “It is actually to protect myself. I’ve heard that the Empress Dowager is desperate for a Crown Prince. Once a Crown Prince is born, I would be of no use. Not only do I have to avoid you, I also have to avoid the servant-girls. Sigh…”

Han Ruzi let out a heavy sigh.

The worry on the Empress’s face turned into a smile. Even though she was one year younger than the Emperor, she knew a little more than him. Before she had left home, the elder women in her clan had told her of certain things that she needed to know. “Other Emperors are called imbeciles for having too many women in their harem, yet Your Majesty does not even want a single one. That could be said to be the makings of a wise sovereign.”

Han Ruzi smiled helplessly. He did not even think that he was a true Emperor, let alone a “wise sovereign”. “Go rest, you must be tired as well.”

Han Ruzi was about to get up and go to the couch, when the Empress said softly, “Your Majesty should just sleep on the bed.”

“I have said, that would be dangerous!”

“The bed is large enough. I can sleep on one side, Your Majesty may sleep on the other. As long as we don’t come into contact, nothing will happen.”

“Nothing would happen if we don’t come into contact? I thought you would bear a child if we sleep on the same bed and share a pillow?” Han Ruzi was unsure.

The Empress lowered her head and laughed a little, before saying with a straight face. “We are sharing a bed, but it does not count as sharing a pillow. Your Majesty may rest easy.”

Han Ruzi could tell that the Empress was teasing him with her words and blushed lightly. He could discern danger in an unfamiliar environment, but he did not have even the most basic understanding of matters between men and women. He only remembered that in the stories, husband and wife would have a child once they shared a bed and shared a pillow.

“It would really be okay?”

The Empress nodded her head with certainty.

“Alright.” Han Ruzi did not like sleeping on the couch either.

The two of them turned their backs on each other at almost the same time. It was a rare occasion that they would remove their outer garments by themselves, unassisted. The Empress got into bed first, and after a while, said, “I’m in bed.”

Han Ruzi went to blow out the candles, before finding his way to the bed. He squeezed to the side and lay silently. He thought about how the Empress knew more than him, and asked softly, “Why do they know that we have not slept on the same bed just because the bed sheets are clean?”

“I… don’t know either.”

There was a hint of hesitation in the Empress’s voice. Han Ruzi believed that she knew, but did not wish to say. Perhaps it was something that was inappropriate to speak of directly. He did not ask further, and started to ponder on how to deal with Zuo Ji.

This meant that he had no time to wait for a reply from his mother. It also meant that he could only choose to trust the Grand Consort.

TZT note: Late update as some work came up over the weekend. But this was an easy update because it is one of my favourite moments in the story.

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