Chapter 15: Maidens of Tender Affection
Guided by a eunuch, the four maidens at the forefront entered one by one.
“Liang Meiyun, daughter of Duke Liang Jing, age eighteen!”
The first young woman, dressed in a pink palace robe, smiled radiantly and bowed with grace. Duke Liang Jing was one of the founding heroes of the nation, holding the lofty title of a third-rank duke. For a daughter of such lineage to enter the palace, her place as a consort was assured.
“Yun Yue, daughter of the Tusi of Nanyue County, Yunzhou, age eighteen!”
The second maiden was clearly younger, unable to meet anyone’s gaze; she bowed shyly, her cheeks flushed. Her skin was tinged with bronze, her eyes deep-set—clearly a girl of foreign descent. Nanyue County in Yunzhou was home to the warlike Nanyue tribe. To secure stability in the South, the local Tusi had long since sent this girl to the capital. Emperor Wuyuan’s acceptance of her into the harem was a move to pacify Yunzhou and Nanyue County.
“Li Mingye of the Li Clan, Weijun, age eighteen!”
The third maiden hailed from the illustrious Li family. She was not beautiful—plain, even—but her demeanor was gentle and refined, reminiscent of Empress Lü Su herself. The Lis were a prominent clan as well, and her entry into the palace was clearly aimed at drawing the family closer to the throne.
“Lin Qing’er, daughter of Minister of War Lin Wu, age eighteen!”
The final maiden was the daughter of a general. Her bearing was upright, her gaze firm; she paid her respects to the Emperor and the Retired Emperor with poise and confidence.
From the dais, the Empress spoke: “Your Majesty, these are all daughters of high officials—cultured, graceful, and betrothed long ago to their fates.”
Zheng Yuansen nodded, though his expression was weary. “I know.”
These five, the first to enter, were all women whose positions as consorts had been decided long in advance by Zheng Yuansen and his ministers. Their backgrounds—merit, local power, noble lineage, and the military—were carefully balanced, each representing their family’s interests and power. These four were women Zheng Yuansen could not refuse. The rest mattered little.
Off to the side, Zheng Yi also observed the four with a discerning eye. None were unrivaled beauties, but each had her own appeal; in the modern world, they would be the most admired of their class. He understood well: the harem was not for the most seductive or stunning women, but rather for those whose appearance was dignified and whose temperament mature. Most dangerous were the temptresses who might sow discord.
At last Zheng Yuansen spoke: “Let all four remain, and confer upon them the title of consort.”
The four women knelt at once, offering thanks. “Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Retired Emperor…”
Their expressions showed little change; they had known their selection was certain, and so gave their thanks with calm composure before withdrawing.
Suddenly, Zheng Yuansen turned and said, “Father, I have made my choices. Please, select from the rest as you see fit.”
Zheng Yi was surprised. “Oh? That’s all?”
“Yes, Father,” Zheng Yuansen replied. “The state is newly founded; foreign threats remain, and rebels lurk within. Now is not the time for indulgence but for diligence, to ensure peace for all under heaven.”
Zheng Yi nodded, satisfied. “Well said, well said. Truly, you are my son.”
*
“Since that is so, I leave the rest of the selection to you, Father. I must attend to matters of state,” Zheng Yuansen continued. “The Empress and Lady Duan will remain to assist you.”
Zheng Yi’s gaze grew strange as he glanced at Empress Lü Su and Lady Duan, Shen Tu Yu. Both women were startled but bowed respectfully. “We will obey Your Majesty’s command.”
“Father, Empress, Lady Duan, I shall take my leave now.”
Zheng Yi nodded. “Very well.”
“I take my leave.”
With that, Zheng Yuansen rose to depart. Ye Ge quickly announced, “His Majesty prepares to depart!”
“All bow to send off His Majesty!”
A host of officials and courtiers knelt to see the emperor off. The gathered maidens, too, knelt in confusion, whispering among themselves:
“Why is His Majesty leaving?”
“Is the selection over?”
“I don’t know. Is it finished?”
“The Retired Emperor and the Empress are still here. It can’t be done yet.”
“Perhaps they will choose on His Majesty’s behalf…”
“Silence!”
A senior eunuch behind the Empress stepped forward to resume the ceremony.
“The selection continues. Present the maidens!”
Lin He turned a page of his documents and called out, “An Rong’er, daughter of Magistrate An Shanyang, Weiyang County, age eighteen!”
The first maiden had a proud air, but her attire was plain. Though she was the daughter of an official, her appearance paled in comparison to the others. Most notably, the ornament in her hair was silver, adorned only with fresh flowers, unlike the others whose hairpins glittered with gold, pearls, and gemstones.
“Zhao Jie, daughter of Imperial Guard Captain Zhao Zhu, age eighteen!”
“Zhou Hongxiu, a native of the capital, age eighteen!”
“Chen Yahui, daughter of Magistrate Chen Hui, Chencang County, age eighteen!”
These four were of humble origin, their mothers’ highest status no more than that of a county magistrate’s wife. Zheng Yi glanced over them—all ordinary, though comely enough. After all, as candidates for the selection, they had already passed many rounds of screening; at the very least, their appearance was more than adequate.
“Your servant An Rong’er greets the Retired Emperor, the Empress, and Lady Duan. May Your Majesty enjoy robust health and longevity!”
Oh?
With one short phrase, An Rong’er drew everyone’s attention. The reason was simple: while all the other maidens were nervous, excited, fearful, or curious, and dared not utter a word, she alone bowed and offered her greetings as soon as her name was called. There was no precedent for this, but no rule against it, either.
Zheng Yi found himself rather impressed by this young woman, who dared to seize her own future and act upon it. In such a grand hall, only those with exceptional qualities would dare stand out.
Suddenly, Lady Duan interjected, “How bold, to speak without imperial leave at such a solemn ceremony. Though your words are auspicious, such cunning suggests a fox’s wiles.”
An Rong’er’s face paled; she lowered her head, her body trembling.
The Empress said nothing, but her gaze was frosty. The number of women in the harem was not large, and all lived in harmony; the entrance of a scheming girl could only spell trouble.
Just as the Empress and Lady Duan were about to dismiss her, Zheng Yi spoke up.
“Enough.”
“An Rong’er, is it? You have both courage and discernment. What talents do you possess?”
“No need for the usual skills of zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting,” he added. “The palace is too quiet—I long for a bit of lively company.”
Joy flashed in An Rong’er’s eyes. She answered quickly, “Your Majesty, my mother taught me Huangmei Opera. I know a few songs.”
“Oh? Huangmei Opera? Sing for me, let me hear.”
Empress Lü Su and Lady Duan fell silent, their expressions odd. If the Retired Emperor wished to listen, there was nothing more to say.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” An Rong’er replied softly. Rising, she drew a breath and sang: “Alas, the palace years are too bleak; day after day, I count the clouds. My elder sister always says the mortal world is good, where men plow and women weave their days away…”
Her voice was clear and sweet; now, as she sang the melody of Huangmei, it was lilting and mournful, like the wind through pines or water over stones, at once plaintive and melodic. Nearly everyone in the hall listened intently—even Lady Duan could not help but purse her lips in reluctant admiration.
“A foxy one, but she sings well…”
When the song finished, a hush fell. All eyes turned to Zheng Yi, who was still tapping the table, lost in the lingering beauty of the moment.
“Excellent!” Zheng Yi nodded. “Splendid—a lovely voice, and a gentle beauty to match.”
“‘Alas, the palace years are too bleak.’ Since you have entered the palace with such resolve, let me grant your wish.”
“An Rong’er, would you enter my Xingqing Palace and become my beloved?”