Ten years, dead and living dim and draw apart.
I don't try to remember,
But forgetting is hard.
Lonely grave a thousand miles off,
Cold thoughts, where can I talk them out?
Even if we met, you wouldn't know me,
Dust on my face,
Hair like frost.
In a dream last night suddenly I was home.
By the window of the little room,
You were combing your hair and making up.
You turned and looked, not speaking,
Only lines of tears coursing down.
Year after year will it break my heart?
The moonlit grave,
The stubby pines.
江城子, 苏轼 ("Song of River City", by Su Shi)
Half a month passed as Qingying was confined to the Old Prince's Manor in the city. Thanks to the Imperial Physician Qi, Meiying was finally healthy and in the second trimester of her pregnancy. To say there was an uproar in the harem at the announcement of her pregnancy would be an understatement. Xiyue was furious, seeing her opportunity slipping away as she continued to not get pregnant from the nights she spent with the Emperor. Yuyan was angry, not just at Meiying but at herself for not having a child before now. She knew she shouldn't have taken contraceptive medicine, but she was too cautious of having a child too close in age as the Empress' own son. Qiying was jealous at the fact that the princess of the harem was to have another child. Lüyun, Hailan, and Wanyin were ecstatic for their friend to have another child, if it was anyone who was going to have the first child after His Majesty's enthronement, they were happy it was her.
After finally being released from bed rest, Meiying went to Empress Dowager to offer her apologies for not greeting her with the other women of the harem during the enthronement ceremony. Dressed in a green chenyi with white and pink cherry blossoms decorating the outfit. Paired with an off-white bianpao underneath, she styled her hair in the liangbatou style with gold and off-white flower accessories. She was excused from formalities in consideration for her pregnancy and decided to keep the visit short as she knew the older woman didn't like her. She wished she was able to visit Older Sister, but she knew the eyes of the harem were on her and she couldn't risk anything happening to the fetus.
Leaving Shoukang Palace, she noticed it had started to rain and called for the carriage to take her to Yangxin Hall to meet the Emperor for lunch with Suyuan following her mistress faithfully. Walking inside, she waited to be announced by Wang Qin but was surprised to hear Hailan's voice in the Emperor's study.
"I seek to look after Your Majesty's well-being," Hailan announced before kneeling in deference to her sovereign.
Not looking up from the memorials in his hand, the Emperor said, "You've been with me for so long. Why do you still seem to act so distant?"
Still kneeling, she hesitated for a moment before answering, "I am indecorous."
"You rarely make your way near me. But today, why are you here to meet me suddenly?" Hongli asked as he was confused. He glanced up at her before motioning with his hand, "Rise first."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Hailan murmured before standing up.
"Hailan. I remember you and Qingying are very close."
The young concubine kneeled back down and said, "I came today only to beg Your Majesty not to forget Sister."
The Emperor looked at her carefully before dismissing her, watching as Wang Qin hurried inside to announce Meiying's presence. The two friends met at the door to the study and exchanged smiles as Hailan left to enact her plan. Hongli stood up quickly, seeing the large, pointed stomach of his second favorite concubine as he walked over to her.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," the concubine started to kneel with the help of Suyuan to keep her steady when her husband gently grabbed her arms.
"There's no need to kneel. You just got off of bed rest and should be taking it easy. Please sit," Hongli gently guided her to a seat at the dining table as Suyuan placed a food container on top. "How are you feeling? Did Royal Mother give you a hard time?"
"I am well, Your Majesty. Empress Dowager was kind to me, though I didn't stay long. I wanted to discuss possible names for the baby, so I brought some snacks. After hearing Hailan though, I have a feeling Older Sister will arrive sometime soon." At his hitched brow, she rolled her eyes in amusement, "I know Hailan well, she will have a plan to smuggle Qingying out to see you."
He chuckled as he tweaked her nose fondly, making her smile as she took a bite of one of the snacks she made, a dish called sachima, a sweet snack made of fluffy strands of fried batter bound together with a stiff sugar syrup. She hid her mouth behind her hand as she took another bite as she watched her husband go over reports in his hands. They quietly talked about names, as he was as excited as her for the child to come. They had narrowed it down to a couple names for each, that he'll go over later as he had reports to complete. After finishing her share of the food, she stood up with help from Suyuan and curtseyed to the emperor, bringing his attention back to her from his desk.
"I'll take my leave now, Your Majesty. Please give Older Sister my regards and tell her I can't wait to see her again," Meiying spoke earnestly, missing the older girl in her life.
"I will, go back and rest. I'll have names picked out the next time I see you," he smiled at his second favorite concubine, watching as she left the hall holding onto Suyuan for balance.
A young eunuch named Li Yu came up to them with an umbrella, "Your Highness, would you like for us to call a carriage for you?"
"If you would, Eunuch Li, I would appreciate it," Meiying said with a fond rub of her belly as she approached her fifth month.
He bowed his head as he ordered another eunuch to fetch another carriage for Mistress Mei, "Please, if you would wait in the warm hall, I will let you know when the carriage arrives."
"Thank you for my mistress, Eunuch Li," Suyuan said gratefully as she led her tired master to a seat in the side hall of Yangxin Hall.
The young mother rubbed her temples as pain laced through her head, she probably overdid it today with walking so much. Her feet and back ached more than it had with her other children and combined with her sudden weakness at the beginning of the pregnancy, this child was certainly taking a lot out of her. They'll be worth it though in the end.
It didn't take long for the carriage to arrive, and Eunuch Li came to inform them like he said he would. Helping the weakening young woman to her feet, Suyuan and Li Yu carefully guided her to the carriage as another eunuch held an umbrella over their heads. Helping her gently into the carriage, Eunuch Li watched as the group walked away, gradually getting smaller as it left for Yongshou Palace.
Over the next few days, the renovations at Cining Palace were completed and the Emperor led the Empress Dowager on a tour through her new residence. Empress Dowager knew Qingying was the reason for the sudden change in her son and ordered her maid to bring her to her. From there, Sister Qing was released from filial devotion time and allowed to move into the inner palace with the rest of her son's consorts, and she was granted a new name Ruyi.
Before heading back to the manor, Ruyi decided to visit her sister at Yongshou Palace to see how she was doing in her pregnancy. At this time, Hailan also came to visit and was overjoyed at the sight of her older sister walking inside, rushing forward to hug her. Both women walked inside to see Suyuan come to them with a worried look on her face. They grew concerned at the maid's look.
"Is Meiying alright?" Ruyi asked.
"Mistress is okay, just resting. The Imperial Physician was here and said she just overworked herself after being on bedrest. She'll be happy to see you both tomorrow," Suyuan told them before she escorted them outside and sent Huizhong to take them back to their accommodations.
Watching them leave, Suyuan turned back to go inside to see Yonghuang and Jingyi have snuck into her mistress' bed to sleep with their mother as they laid their heads on her belly with their arms around her waist. She smiled at the sight and put two blankets over the children before shutting the curtains of the room. She stayed nearby in case her mistress needed her and sat down at the table to read some poetry from the Tang Dynasty.
The rest of the night passed in a blur with nothing happening. When Meiying woke up the next morning to see her children clinging to her, she couldn't help but smile as she gently sat up. Moving her children to the side so they can sleep a little longer before their studies, the young mother got up from the bed gingerly while softly calling for Suyuan to come.
"Yes, Mistress?" Suyuan says softly as well, not wanting to wake the children.
"Call the momos to come collect the children, then help me dress. I'm planning on going to Anhua Hall to pray for blessings and protection for the baby," Mingyue told her as she walked over to the vanity for her maid to help her dress for the day. Deciding on a pale blue chenyi dress with pictures decorating the fabric and a dark blue bianpao underneath, she paired it with a pearl and sapphire necklace and various blue decorations in her liangbatou-styled hair. Grabbing her prayer beads, she along with Suyuan walked outside to see Older Sister and Hailan waiting for her.
"Meiying," Ruyi called out as she stepped forward. Taking each other's hands, the two girls basked in each other's presence once more, enjoying being around each other after not seeing the other for over a month.
"Sisters," the princess spoke softly, still tired from the baby. "How have you been?"
"We are fine," Older Sister told her. "How about you? Is the baby giving you any trouble?"
"Nothing more than usual. I'm just tired, that's all," Meiying told them. "I'm heading to Anhua Hall to pray for blessings for the baby, do you wish to join me?"
"We would love to," Hailan told her with a smile.
Walking next to each other, the three young women parted for a time to get onto their individual palanquins since the hall was quite a distance from Yongshou Palace. Enjoying the silence as they traveled, the young concubine ran a hand over her belly as she smiled at the thought of holding her baby in her arms in a few months. She always wanted a big family, and to already have her third child in five years filled her with joy.
The next few hours were spent praying before Buddha's statue in Anhua Hall, with Meiying carefully going through the motions to protect her belly. Ruyi and Hailan were on either side of her, keeping an eye on the pregnant woman as they prayed alongside her. Afterwards, the three women returned back to Yongshou Palace where Suyuan prepared snacks and tea for the three concubines. The three women laughed the day away, especially when Yonghuang and Jingyi joined them in the afternoon. It was a relaxing day, one of the few they'll experience as life in the palace began.
Meanwhile, the new Emperor and Empress were discussing the ranks of the concubines so the title ceremonies could commence. For the most part, the young Emperor agreed with the placements, but soon came to the higher-ranked concubines. There was a disagreement about the ranks of Xiyue, Ruyi and Meiying.
"By ceremony, Xiyue and Ruyi are both equally secondary wives," Empress Fuca cautiously said. "Because Xiyue's qualification is more shallow, so her ranking should be one rank lower. But Xiyue is already a Guifei. So, this leaves only Huang Guifei title for Ruyi."
"We've never had someone granted the title of Imperial Royal Consort on first entitling," Emperor Qianlong spoke as he was reading a report. "So why don't we have both be noble consorts instead?"
Langhua internally panicked at the thought of her rival having that much power, so instead decided to offer a solution, "Your Majesty, in my thinking, Sister Ruyi only just came out. There's nothing wrong in starting her lower to cultivate her patience. Furthermore, Gao Bin has assisted Your Majesty greatly in supervising the river works. In comparison, the Ula-Nara clan really has no one who can contribute to the court." She leaned forward a bit as she continued, "I wonder if we could just compromise on Sister Ruyi a bit and give her a title of Consort or Imperial Concubine first. And wait until holidays, or when she gives birth, and it wouldn't be too late to promote her then."
Qianlong paused in his reading as he thought over her suggestion and thought that a lower rank would possibly protect her as well. Coming to a decision, he said, "Consort title will do. Also, Gao Bin has contributed greatly, so I must reward him. Promote Consort Gao, and the clan of Gao rewarded by the glory of elevating their banner to enter the Manchu banner."
Smiling widely at her ally's success, the Empress spoke, "Shengzhu's birth mother, Empress Xiaokangzhang, her Tong clan was the first clan that elevated their banner since the founding of Great Qing. I imagine Gao Bin will lay down his life, to devote his loyalty to Your Majesty."
"Rewarding the high ministers externally while promoting the consorts internally is complimentary. Ruyi's title is compromising her. But for her palace, let's have her take Yikun Palace," the Emperor suggested.
"Though Yikun Palace is nice, it's just that Late Emperor's Royal Noble Consort Dunsu of Clan Nian once lived there. As you already know, Royal Mother and Royal Noble Consort Dunsu did not get along. If we put Ruyi there, I fear Royal Mother might feel –" Langhua cut herself off to seem hesitant, but knew in her heart she didn't want Ruyi in an assisting palace.
"You are so detailed in thought," Qianlong praised his wife, finding her logic sound.
"So, she can't live in Yongshou Palace or Jingren Palace, and other palaces are all getting renovated and no one can move in for now, what's only left is Yanxi Palace," she suggested the furthest place away from her husband to try and distance the two.
"Yanxi Palace is remote and it's not been renovated yet," the Emperor was concerned.
"It's best that Sister Ruyi doesn't draw too much attention for now," his wife warned him, "so even though Yanxi Palace is far, I will order the interior ministry to decorate it well, so it won't be compromising to her."
"Alright then," he agreed. "You must make sure it's decorated well. Don't let Ruyi live in discomfort."
"Yes," she agreed. "And what about Meiying? I'm having difficulty deciding what rank to set her, since she has given you two children with another one on the way. I thought the Imperial Concubine title for her then promote her after she gives birth, but –"
"Set her as a Consort as well, and we'll promote her after she gives birth," Qianlong decided as her advancement was more logical than Ruyi's. "She helped propagate the royal line, as well as coming from a prestigious family and was a favorite of the Late Emperor. She's in Yongshou Palace, correct?"
"Yes," she answered. "With her condition, regardless of rank, I thought she should already be in a palace for her comfort."
Before the Emperor could answer, Qin Li entered the room with a eunuch following him. Bowing, he said, "Qin Li bids health to Your Majesty and Your Highness."
"Get on up," the Empress gently ordered.
"Your Majesty, the inner palace has drawn up the titles of the consorts and concubines. It's ready for your review," the lead eunuch announced.
"Bring it up," Qianlong ordered.
Bringing up the list on the red paper, the little eunuch kneeled so the emperor could read. On the paper were six titles from the lowest-ranked to highest-ranked: Yi, Jia, Chun, Xian, Zhen, and Hui. They were for Qiying, now known as Noble Lady Yi; Yuyan as Noble Lady Jia; Lüyun as Imperial Concubine Chun; Ruyi as Consort Xian; Meiying as Consort Zhen; and Xiyue as Noble Consort Hui.
The Emperor approved of the list and sent the final draft to the Empress Dowager for her to look over. His mother approved of the list, as well as his actions with both court and harem. Now that the titles and rankings are set, the real battles in the harem will begin.
The next day, the empress, consorts, concubines, noble ladies, and attendants moved into their palaces. Empress Fuca was placed in Changchun Palace; Noble Consort Hui moved into Xianfu Palace with First Attendant Hai; Consort Zhen lived in Yongshou Palace; Consort Xian was placed in Yanxi Palace; Imperial Concubine Chun lived in Zhongcui Palace with Second Attendant Wan; Noble Lady Jia was placed in Qixiang Palace; and Noble Lady Yi moved into Jingyang Palace.
While most were satisfied with their palaces, the same couldn't be said for Hailan. As a First Attendant, she had to be beholden to a mistress of a palace. And Noble Consort Hui was that mistress. Knowing that she was an enemy of the more powerful woman, she kneeled outside her room, waiting to be given her own lodgings in Xianfu Palace.
Alongside her maids and eunuchs, they waited for a while, causing Yexin to voice her thoughts, "Mistress, you have waited for two hours already. If you're tired, let's go and rest at the house first."
Ignoring her, Hailan spoke, "Keliyete Hailan is asking health for Your Highness, the Noble Consort." The blinds are pulled away to reveal Noble Consort Hui, Noble Lady Yi, and Noble Lady Jia coming outside. "I await Noble Consort's arrangement."
The Noble Consort ignored the First Attendant, walking slowly to her peacocks in the yard, "Little thing, you must be hungry."
"Your peacock, Your Highness," Noble Lady Yi said with a smile, "is such a rarity in the palace."
"It was granted by His Majesty personally," Noble Lady Jia said with a smirk. "His Majesty sure favors Her Highness the most."
Preening under the praises and fawning of the two noble ladies, the Noble Consort spoke up as Moxin handed her bread, "Little thing, hurry and eat." Tossing the bread, next to her Noble Lady Yi clicked her tongue to get the peacocks attention. Not looking at Hailan, she spoke, "Since Empress told you to come and reside with me in my Xianfu Palace, and I am a mistress by status, so I shall keep you. But you need to know the rules too."
"Yes," Hailan agreed as she kept her head down.
"Since you're here, I'll tell you," the Noble Consort's tone turned threatening. "Just how you lured His Majesty with liquor then, and how you colluded with Consort Xian and Consort Zhen to service His Majesty in bed, you are very aware of that. But since you're here now, if you dare to have a motive again, I shall not forgive you."
"I don't dare," the First Attendant uttered.
Finally glancing at the meek girl, Xiyue spoke as she continued to feed the peacocks, "Fine. I'll grant you the manor on the west side. Go now."
"Thank you, Noble Consort."