Twelve: Nine Steeds Cross the River, Sealing the Fate

Xu Guiyi gazed hungrily at the sumptuous food and fragrant wine spread before her, feeling a real pang of hunger. After all, she had barely eaten anything that morning at home due to nerves, and later had stood for a long time in the Palace of Eternal Autumn. She was just wondering when she could finally pick up her chopsticks when the Empress’s voice rang out once more: “I hear the third young lady of the Duke of Grace’s household is here today as well?” Caught off guard, Xu Guiyi realized the Empress had suddenly singled her out.

In an instant, Xu Guiyi forgot all about her hunger. She immediately rose with Lady Xue, walked to the center of the hall, and, following the etiquette her nanny had drilled into her at home, knelt with calm dignity.

“Your subject’s daughter, Xu Guiyi, pays her respects to Your Majesty the Empress, wishing you health and peace for a thousand years.” To say she wasn’t nervous would be a lie; Xu Guiyi could hear her own heart pounding wildly in her chest.

She had barely finished her salute and was ready to await the Empress’s instruction when the Empress asked directly, “So you are Xu Guiyi, eldest daughter of Xu Yan, Prefect of Luan Prefecture, the famed beauty of Jiangdong?” The Empress’s voice was measured, perfectly pitched so everyone present could hear every word clearly.

A ripple of hushed whispers quickly spread among the crowd, but Xu Guiyi dared not let her mind wander to listen.

“In answer to Your Majesty, Prefect Xu Yan of Luan Prefecture is indeed my father.” Xu Guiyi replied with even greater caution.

“Raise your head and let us all take a good look at the famed beauty of Jiangdong,” the Empress continued, her tone unreadable.

“It is but a jest, Your Majesty, unworthy of attention.” Xu Guiyi lifted her head slowly, her gaze steady and her expression unchanged, deliberately ignoring the appraising stares of the Empress and the others. She used the corner of her eye to steal a glance at the Empress.

In Dayi, red was the color of honor, and the royal family favored black for its dignified solemnity. Thus, the imperial couple’s court attire was often made of red fabric edged with black. As mother of the realm and mistress of the inner palace, the Empress today wore a red satin robe, a shimmering black cloak draped over her shoulders, and upon her head a dazzling golden phoenix crown, a large ruby set at the center of her brow—majestic and resplendent.

Xu Guiyi dared not look too closely at their first meeting.

Yet, wasn’t the Empress’s scrutiny lasting a bit too long?

In fact, it was not only the Empress; the noble consort and virtuous consort seated on either side of the phoenix throne also gazed at her for quite a while, as if seeing the return of an old acquaintance.

“Rise, child,” the Empress finally came to herself, her smile warm and welcoming. In truth, her beauty in person surpassed even her portrait—how could she not be pleased?

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Xu Guiyi replied, rising gracefully, though her heart was still uneasy.

Only then did the Empress turn her attention to Lady Xue, her smile deepening: “Madam of the Duke of Grace, what good fortune you have! Your daughter is lovely, and your niece is even lovelier—both born beauties.”

No matter how reluctant the Xu family might have been in private about Xu Guiyi entering the palace, in the Palace of Eternal Autumn, who would dare show any disrespect to the Empress?

Lady Xue, bent at the waist in utmost caution, replied, “It is all thanks to Your Majesty’s great blessings that the children are presentable at all.”

The Empress and Lady Xue exchanged several rounds of praise regarding Xu Guiyi, and soon Lady Song, wife of the Marquis of Yongjia, joined in with a few words of her own. It was clear that both women were growing more and more pleased with Xu Guiyi’s appearance and deportment.

Lady Xue was secretly anxious, but dared not let it show.

“Your Majesty, as this child is visiting the palace for the first time, she has prepared some humble gifts for Your Majesties. Please accept them as a token of respect.” At last, it was time for the offering of gifts.

“You are thoughtful indeed. Bring them forward,” the Empress replied with delight.

Four palace maids brought forth the gifts, one for each of the three consorts. One maid carried a long painting box, which Xu Guiyi had prepared especially for the Empress. Not even Lady Xue had seen its contents.

Xu Guiyi personally presented the painting box to the Empress’s chief attendant, her manners composed and graceful.

Inside the box was a painting of fine steeds, which Xu Guiyi had spent over a month copying, modeled after Lady Cao’s famed “Nine Horses by the River.”

“Splendid! The likeness is vivid and lifelike, the execution excellent. Even were Lady Cao herself still alive, she would surely praise it,” the Empress exclaimed, her appreciation evident.

At this, Lady Song of Yongjia rose and, drawing closer to the Empress, beamed with pleasure. “From the founding of the dynasty, the painting of saddle horses has been the particular genius of the Prince of Jiangdu. Lady Cao’s ‘Nine Horses by the River’ is Your Majesty’s favorite, is it not? The third Miss Xu truly has remarkable talent!”

With Lady Song reciting poetry, what restraint could remain among the assembled ladies? All present vied to praise Miss Xu—her beauty, her talent, her gentle temperament… Every compliment for a woman’s virtues was heaped upon her, until Xu Guiyi had heard her fill for a lifetime.

Though the assembled ladies exaggerated, likening Xu Guiyi to the Moon Goddess or the Celestial Maiden, she kept her head modestly bowed, her expression composed, dignified and unassuming, never letting the flood of praise swell her pride. She dared not.

But she knew, with certainty, that the outcome was now assured.

Three days later, the Emperor’s decree of betrothal was personally delivered to the Duke of Grace’s mansion by Lord Shen Mo, Marquis of Yongjia. Xu Da received the imperial command, along with Lord Shen’s congratulations, his face filled with disbelief.

Yet throughout the Xu household, there was no joy at producing the first ever Crown Princess in the family’s history.

“This shouldn’t be, not at all. Third Sister, what happened?” As soon as Lord Shen departed, Lady Shen pulled Xu Guiyi aside into her own courtyard to question her in a low voice.

“That day in the palace, from the moment I entered the Hall of Eternal Autumn to the time I left, I told you everything that happened and everyone I met. Who could know what the Empress was thinking?” Perhaps feeling she had hidden something from Lady Shen, Xu Guiyi was a little embarrassed.

“But it shouldn’t have gone this way. Sister, did you wear the sachet I gave you that day?” Lady Shen pressed.

“I did.” Xu Guiyi truly had worn it, only she had placed the white peony sachet inside an embroidered pouch.

“Sister-in-law, does the Empress really dislike white peonies? How did you discover this?”

At Xu Guiyi’s question, Lady Shen’s gaze flickered. “Truthfully, it was only something I sensed—no outsider knows.”

Xu Guiyi tilted her head, puzzled.

Lady Shen continued, “You see, when I was at my parents’ home, my mother was eager for me to marry well, so she often had me accompany my aunt—the wife of the Marquis of Yongjia—into the palace to pay respects to the Empress.” This was a common tactic among noblewomen, and Xu Guiyi understood.

“The more often I entered the palace, the more I would encounter the Noble Consort. She seemed quite fond of peonies, her robes always embroidered with them. I’ve never entered Orchid Pool Palace myself, but I’ve heard from the palace staff that its gardens are filled with white peonies. So I surmised that the Empress must dislike them.”

So that was it! Ever since the Empress and the Noble Consort had married the Emperor together, they had been rivals—everyone at court knew this. From such subtle clues, Lady Shen had deduced the Empress’s distaste for peonies—a testament to her keen mind. Xu Guiyi could not help but feel a new respect for her cousin-in-law.

After hearing Lady Shen’s explanation, Xu Guiyi recounted how, that day in the Hall of Eternal Autumn, Lady Bai of Jingnan had worn a flowing robe covered in white peonies.

“I knew it! The Empress must have been so distracted by that dress covered in peonies that she overlooked your little sachet. If only I had prepared a full peony gown for you too,” Lady Shen exclaimed, so endearingly that Xu Guiyi could not help but laugh out loud.

“You wicked girl! We’ve been worrying ourselves sick over you, and here you are laughing?” Lady Shen chided her, feigning annoyance.

Xu Guiyi pursed her lips, smiling. “I know I was wrong, sister-in-law. Please don’t be angry.”

Seeing her so calm and untroubled, Lady Shen assumed she was too young to understand the perils of the royal court, and sighed deeply. “You don’t know, Third Sister, the Bai family of Jingnan was also a great clan, though they’ve fallen on hard times these past twenty years, which is why they sent their daughter to compete for the Crown Prince’s hand. Both you and Lady Bai were the Empress’s favorites, and Lady Bai is two years younger than you. Father-in-law and my husband were secretly supporting Lady Bai, boosting her reputation and even bribing the Astronomer Royal to declare that her birth chart was more auspicious for the Crown Prince. Everything we did was to have Lady Bai take your place as Crown Princess. But she didn’t know of the Empress’s dislike for peonies and so lost her chance. In the end, it was all fate...”

Xu Guiyi’s lighthearted expression darkened at Lady Shen’s words. She had thought she had persuaded her father back in Luan Prefecture, not realizing that behind her back, he had enlisted her uncle and cousin to orchestrate so much more.

Lady Bai needed a daughter to restore her family’s fortunes, while the Xu family was simply reluctant to send Xu Guiyi into the palace. Their secret cooperation should have been a win-win, yet in the end, Xu Guiyi herself had upset the balance.

For a moment, Xu Guiyi could not help but feel she had been ungrateful; her family had protected her so well, and yet she insisted on stepping into the fire.

That afternoon, Xiyue, her maid, came to tell her, “Miss, the Duke requests your presence in his study.”

Xu Guiyi put down her book and rose, embarrassed, asking no questions as she made her way straight to her uncle Xu Da’s study.

She had long foreseen that Xu Da would summon her.

“Guiyi, pay your respects to your uncle,” she said.

“The rites of a Crown Princess are too much for me to bear,” Xu Da replied coldly, his tone bleak and distant.

Xu Guiyi’s heart clenched painfully; she nearly burst into tears. “Uncle, please don’t be angry with me.”

Xu Da looked at this always gentle and obedient niece, his feelings a tangle of bitterness and regret. “Guiyi, having lived in Luan Prefecture so long, did your father never tell me that your skill at copying paintings is so astonishing?” He spoke of the “Nine Horses by the River” Xu Guiyi had copied.

Xu Guiyi was momentarily at a loss for words. From the moment she chose her own path, she had known she would have to give up the love of her family.

“Our Xu family, though a household of scholars, has never been particularly outstanding among the noble clans of Dayi. Do you know why?” Xu Da’s face grew grave as he asked solemnly.