Cui Xi wished that the Empress Dowager couldn’t see her face.

 

She had been wearing her mask less and less and as a result she had forgotten to wear one for this audience in the palace. She was beginning to think that this was a huge mistake as the Empress Dowager’s old eyes missed nothing.

 

Ming Yen giggled into her hands.

 

“Ah! So that’s how it is!” the Empress Dowager nearly cackled with glee.

 

Somehow, the Empress Dowager had found out about the little trick that Cui Xi had played on Chen Xiang and Cang Ru Shan and had insisted on hearing the entire story.

 

“But how did you know they would make a good match?” asked Ming Yen, curiously.

 

“I didn’t, but if you are going to create circumstances whereby a couple fall in love, is it not the best if the man plays the hero?” Cui Xi asked mischievously.

 

“Hah!” Ming Yen smiled. Brother-in-law…you need to hurry up and marry this brat!

 

“Empress Dowager, is she not all that I promised?” Ming Yen asked brightly, turning to her husband’s grandmother.

 

“Xiao Xi, though you are not of high birth, you are pleasant and speak well. The gifts that you bring are well made and thoughtful. Aijia*, is pleased with you. Will you enter the palace as my companion?”

 

KYAAH!

 

Cui Xi stood, immediately knelt, and put her forehead on the floor. If she didn’t deal with this double-edged sword properly, it could spell a disaster for her. She addressed the Empress Dowager formally:

 

“The Empress Dowager’s praise and kindness is more than Xiao Xi deserves. Xiao Xi is overwhelmed by your favour. However, I am currently indentured...As a lowborn orphan without family, this little girl is not worthy to enter the palace as your companion. The gifts that I bring are poor, but my intentions are pure. If it pleases the Empress Dowager, then Xiao Xi will visit and accompany the Empress Dowager as often as my business and contractual obligations allow.”

 

“What’s this, Xiao Xi?” The Empress Dowager laughed. “So earnest! Ming Yen, isn’t she cute? Don’t be afraid to speak your mind…if you don’t wish to enter the palace, I will not blame you. You must have your reasons…stand up, stand up,” the Empress Dowager waved her beringed hand genially.

 

“Come sit with me!”

 

Cui Xi obeyed and carefully retook her seat. Phew! Had she avoided catastrophe?

 

Ming Yen coughed and her eyes lit craftily.

 

“Empress Dowager…are you doting on someone other than me?” she asked, sighing dramatically.

 

“Oh, quit your complaining, Yen’er. So noisy!” the Empress Dowager chuckled. “Young people!”

 

“Actually, XiXi has a good reason for not entering the palace…” Ming Yen began.

 

Cui Xi was up like a shot.

 

“Your Highness!” she gasped.

 

“Oho!” the Empress Dowager laughed. “Could it be that our Xiao Xi has a lover?”

 

“Empress Dowager! I didn’t say anything about XiXi having a lover. Why would you think that?” Ming Yen asked innocently, smiling wickedly at her friend.

 

Cui Xi got a hold of herself and sat back down. What was she doing losing her head like this? What kind of place was this?

 

“Empress Dowager, I do not have a lover.”

 

Shaking herself mentally Cui Xi tried to refocus. She was sitting with one of the most powerful women in Tiansheng. If she offended the Empress Dowager, she would be dead, and her entire enterprise would be burnt to the ground. Her people, her business…she could not afford to let these things be harmed.

 

“Come! There must be someone you like? Is he handsome?” asked the Empress Dowager, persisting.

 

Is there someone I like? Cui Xi wondered, but instead of her handsome Master, the face that came to mind had elegantly carved features and smouldering dark eyes that slanted up beautifully with a thin scar just under the left eye.

 

She did not answer.

 

Ming Yen giggled.

 

“Look at her face!” she said.

 

The Empress Dowager nodded, but her next words sliced across Cui Xi like a lightning bolt.

 

“Xiao Xi, once your contract is complete, you should marry someone who is appropriate to your situation. You are a smart businesswoman…I’m sure you understand Aijia’s meaning.”

 

She knows, Cui Xi thought. You old bat! So you do not approve!

 

She clenched her fist in the folds of her dress under the table, but allowed her face to form a smile.

 

“Empress Dowager, Xiao Xi understands your meaning…but like Cang Ru Shan and Chen Xiang…sometimes the heart does mysterious things, does it not?” Cui Xi said, lifting her chin slightly.

 

Her expression took on an edge of defiance: Don’t think you can interfere with me you old bat!

 

“Xiao Xi, it’s true that not all circumstances can be controlled, but you yourself should know that better than anyone else,” was the response. You dare go against me? I can smash you flat! said the older women’s eyes.

 

The Empress Dowager smiled, but her eyes became even colder as she regarded Cui Xi’s determined look. “Now, you two, Aijia is tired. You may both take your leave.”

 

Taking their cue, the two girls curtsied deeply and exited the main hall while the Empress Dowager remained. The Empress Dowager’s personal maid moved to stand at her Mistress’s shoulder.

 

“Did you see it?”

 

The maid nodded.

 

“Insolent upstart! She’s an eyesore! Unwilling to serve me out of fear, but the second I mention that person she became stubborn. It will be interesting to see how long she can hold his interest. It’s not easy to see through him. But an orphan from the red-light district! Hmph! Even as a concubine, she cannot be allowed to enter his manor.”

 

“But Your Highness, whether or not the Seventh Prince takes her as a concubine, should not interfere with your plan for the Fifth Prince, right?”

 

“While Aijia is partial to the Fifth Prince, should the Seventh Prince ever make a move, the mountains would topple down and the seas would overturn*. He is not the most obedient son, but certainly he is the most talented other than that abandoned First Prince. Where the future is still uncertain, I wish to clear all obstacles. That girl can never become Empress. Her influence on the First Prince cannot be underestimated and if he were to place his resources behind the Seventh Prince instead of the Fifth, then she’ll turn the kingdom upside down. For the world to be overturned for a fox demon! Aijia cannot allow it.”

 

“What will you do, Your Highness?”

 

The Empress Dowager smiled.

 

“Borrow a knife*...”

 

The maid looked startled only for a moment.

 

The Empress Dowager could only mean one thing and one person…after all this was the imperial harem of Tiansheng.

 

However, that person doesn’t share the same goal…is this really alright?

 

***

 

Cui Xi silently fumed as she followed Ming Yen out of the Empress Dowager’s palace.

 

“Don’t be angry, XiXi,” Ming Yen chirped.

 

Cui Xi sighed.

 

“Even as a child, I hated being told what to do. Whether I marry or not, or who it is…these things shouldn’t be decided by someone else,” she said quietly, looking around to ensure that there were no prying ears.

 

In my previous life, I didn’t fight for what I wanted. I gave up control over my choices and what did that do to me? Where my happiness is concerned, I cannot let anyone else interfere…but to make such a fuss when I don’t really even like him?

 

Shivering, she drew her new fur-collared cloak a little more tightly around her. Her Master had presented it to her only last week, and it was a perfect gift as the weather was rapidly changing. With autumn right around the corner each swish of wind now had a chilling bite to it. Dammit! That’s not the only thing causing me chills…

 

“Be careful,” said Ming Yen, concern flitting over her face. “The Empress Dowager is not to be defied. It is lucky that you were with me today. In truth, I didn’t expect her to say that, but I think everyone has noticed the Seventh Prince’s interest…but don’t fool yourself. Marriage is always decided by parents, especially the Imperial family. In the end, only the Emperor can set a Prince’s marriage.”

 

“Ming Yen, how do you know the Seventh Prince so well?” Cui Xi suddenly asked, the curiosity finally getting the better of her.

 

Ah! So, it had been jealousy on her face that day! Ming Yen tried not to smirk. Why are you so stupid about your own feelings? Even I cannot help you if you won’t admit it yourself!

 

“We’ve known each other since we were children,” Ming Yen explained, aloud. “As you know, my grandfather was the previous Imperial tutor before his death, and my uncle currently holds the position. Thus, my brothers and the younger Princes were specially tutored together. I don’t know if you know, but the Five Young Talentswere chosen by my grandfather and they are considered the top talents in the capital. Anyone who makes the selection is exempt from the Imperial examinations by special dispensation of the Emperor and they can enter Court as an official at any time.

 

“A’Xian is actually one of the original members of the Five, but he gave his place up as he is a Prince. Anyway, instead of learning in the palace, the Emperor believed it would be beneficial for the Princes to come to our manor for some of their studies. Besides martial strategy texts and political treatises, they all learned about daily life for noble households and even commoners. After all, the Imperial family has an obligation to protect the people and therefore a need to understand them. My grandfather would sometimes dress them up as commoners and take them out to the river to walk along the docks and see the fisherman, the foreign traders. They learned many things from him.”

 

Somehow Ming Yen’s grandfather’s curriculum seemed a little modern. Although, not outside the idea of the Emperor as the father of his people, the idea of trying to relate to the populace was unusual and very forward thinking for a place like this. Was the Emperor truly a magnanimous ruler or just very shrewd?

 

Cui Xi smiled a bit imagining what a small Zhao Ling Xian would have looked like running along the river with his tutor and brothers.

 

“Hah…you’re thinking of him again, aren’t you?” Ming Yen laughed.

 

“Perhaps,” she deflected nonchalantly.

 

At that moment, a maid stepped up to them and curtsied.

 

“Fifth Princess Consort, Miss Wu,” she greeted.

 

They returned the greeting.

 

“Miss Wu, Imperial Consort Zhang requests your presence in her palace.”

 

Someone finally couldn’t sit still*! thought Ming Yen, almost grinning.

 

Cui Xi’s visits to the harem were already a regular occurrence and Ming Yen had wondered when A’Xian’s mother was going to invite the potential daughter-in-law for a visit. Normally Imperial Consort Zhang should have arranged a few concubines for her son when he came of age, but she had done no such thing and Ming Yen knew that she did this out of respect for A’Xian’s own wishes. He could have taken a woman into his manor at any time without introducing them to his mother, but that really wasn’t his style.

 

As such, A’Xian should have already brought Cui Xi into the palace to introduce them if he was serious, but Ming Yen could tell that A’Xian was also still stuck in the quagmire of his own feelings even though he was clearly pursuing her. At least in that they match, she thought, almost rolling her eyes. Some people are just slower than others…

 

“You go ahead XiXi, I cannot accompany you as I still have matters at the manor I have to look after…”

 

Cui Xi had a fleeting moment of panic, but Su Qing who had been hovering in the background, moved closer and walked only a step behind her Mistress. Cui Xi slowly relaxed, feeling her reassuring presence.

 

The two women said their farewells and the maid quickly led her through the maze of the imperial harem to the palace of Imperial Consort Zhang.

 

Cui Xi took a deep breath and tried not to grit her teeth as she was lead through the Consort’s palace and into one of its side halls.

 

In Tiansheng, the imperial harem only had three main divisions: this consisted of one Empress, five consorts divided into Imperial and Noble consorts, followed by an unlimited number of concubines of varying ranks. With every visit Cui Xi had been keeping very detailed notes and sometimes filled pages and pages in the client registries she was keeping on the women of the harem. She was carefully building her understanding of their preferences for her products.

 

Imperial Consort Zhang was one of the three living upper ranked Consorts just below the rank of Empress…and she was Zhao Ling Xian’s mother.

 

As they entered into the hall, Cui Xi saw a woman dressed rather plainly admiring a scroll painting depicting chrysanthemums. She appeared to be in her early forties, looking very serene. It was obvious from her looks that she retained her charm and could only be described as graceful. In fact, the simplicity of her dress only elevated her beauty. Cui Xi could also clearly see the family resemblance. At her entrance, the Consort set the scroll aside and turned toward her in a friendly manner. Trying to hide her nervousness, she walked up at the maid’s gesture and made her curtsy.

 

“Imperial Consort Zhang, the commoner girl Wu Cui Xi gives greeting.”

 

“Do not be anxious. Please come sit with me Miss Wu,” the Consort said with a warm smile.

 

“Yes, Your Highness,” Cui Xi hurried to obey, but before she sat, she reached into the little pouch tied at her waist, withdrew a small compact, and presented it with both hands. “If I knew I would be summoned to see your Highness, I would have been more prepared. Please accept this small item from my shop…”

 

“Ah! Your Xinyue rouge! Very nice,” the Consort said, graciously receiving it with her own hand. She made a noise of appreciation as she popped the lid open to reveal a gorgeous plum red. “Miss Wu will be wondering why Bengong* has asked you here...”

 

“Yes, your Highness,” Cui Xi nodded.

 

The Consort immediately asked about the shop.

 

They chatted for a time about the shop, the products, and skincare. Cui Xi took out her little notepad and pen and very diligently made notes about the Consort’s preferences, ensuring to ask very specific questions. The conversation became animated as they meandered through a variety of other topics.  

 

Cui Xi could see that the Consort was going out of her way to put her at ease and was grateful. It was Cui Xi’s impression was that this kindness was not faked. She was also relieved that the conversation centred on something she knew about and she gradually let her guard down until the Consort said something that caused a finger of unease to shoot up her spine.

 

“I understand that my son has taken in an interest in you,” the Consort said quite bluntly.

 

Cui Xi averted her gaze.

 

“Your Highness, it’s true that we have a business relationship,” Cui Xi responded carefully.

 

“Oh? What do you think about my son?” asked the Consort.

 

Cui Xi looked up a bit shocked, but she covered it, smoothing out her expression. She thought about saying something flattering, but then decided that it would only sound shallow and slimy. Is there even anything good I can say about him? AAGH…

 

“He drives a very hard bargain,” Cui Xi, drily, remembering their first encounter. He’s also a terribly annoying, arrogant, inconsiderate ass…

 

“I see,” Consort Zhang said mildly, sounding a bit muffled as she had brought her sleeve up to cough and turned her face away. “Anything else?”

 

“Mmmn, the Seventh Prince is very…unwavering in his decisions…” she faltered a bit, trying to find another word for ‘pigheaded’.

 

“Well…that certainly describes him, but you still haven’t said how you feel about him, Miss Wu…?” prompted the Consort, her eyes twinkling.

 

Cui Xi opened her mouth and then shut it again.

 

What do I do??

 

The Consort looked at her expectantly, a smile hovering about her lips. She raised her sleeve to her mouth again and coughed. Kyaah! So cute! I almost can’t hold it in!

 

Why does this always happen to me?? thought Cui Xi miserably.

 

For the second time today, she got up from her seat, knelt, and thumped her head on the floor.

 

“Your Highness, please forgive me for speaking plainly, but I don’t wish for the Prince’s interest like other girls might. If my behaviour has led both Highnesses to a misunderstanding, then I am very sorry.”

 

That silly boy…what has he been doing to make her so unhappy? Is that boy’s feelings truly not reciprocated? 

 

A frown flitted across the Consort’s face.

 

“My dear child, has he not treated you well? Please get up to speak,” the Consort said kindly, reaching a hand down to her.

 

Cui Xi blinked. How do I explain that he almost assaulted me the first time we met? That he has struck me, and threatened me with a knife? And yet there are times when he is comforting and gentle…he acts in such a confusing way I don’t know how to feel!

 

She hastily took the offered hand and stood. The Consort didn’t let go and patted it reassuringly. Cui Xi stood rooted to the spot. Crap…what do I say?

 

“Well my dear child. If you don’t like him, then reject him. However, if you do like him, and feel aggrieved by his behaviour, then you must come and complain to me about it. We cannot have A’Xian treat you poorly.”

 

Huh? W-What…?

 

“Ah…well. His Highness hasn’t actually said…uhm…Yes, Your Highness…” Cui Xi said numbly, stumbling over what she wanted to say while her mind raced. She wasn’t clear on what had just happened. Had the Consort really just offered her love advice? Eeek!

 

Ack! There’s the problem! Has he really not told her that he likes her?! What an idiot son…thought the Consort in irritation.

 

“Alright then, you can come again. For now, you may go.”

 

Effectively dismissed, Cui Xi took leave and fled with Su Qing on her heels.

 

What the hell??!

 

When the Consort was certain that the girl was out of earshot, she groaned ruefully, causing her two maids to giggle.

 

“What an honest person! She made no attempts to flatter me or my son. She didn’t even mention his looks and that is something that everyone notices about him…And that innocence…she hardly seems aware of it herself! She has none of the slyness of a woman of the red-light district. In short, she is a bit of a mystery. I can see why A’Xian finds her interesting.”

 

“Then your Highness is pleased by the Prince’s choice?” asked one of the maids.

 

“Hmmmn. Has he made a choice? It sounds like they don’t even know their own feelings. When she talks about her shop, one can see that she is diligent, and her business sense is very sharp. She seems smart, but where her feelings are concerned…don’t you think she is like an unbridled horse? You can’t control someone like that…that wildness. If he doesn’t try harder to understand her, he wouldn’t be able to capture her heart.”

 

“Your Highness…is the Prince set on her?”

 

“For once A’Xian doesn’t know his own mind, which means that this is not a small problem. What a headache! Well, we shall have to push them together then,” the Consort decided, looking thoughtful. “Or perhaps it would be better to push them apart? Either way there must be a result.”

 

“Your Highness, it is very unlike you to meddle…” observed the other maid.

 

“Well, it’s about time that son of mine gave me some pretty grandchildren! It’s boring in the palace…”

 

“Your Highness, I beg you to act less frivolous…you must consider your position!”

 

“Oh…but I am…” she smiled serenely, sitting back to admire the chrysanthemum scroll once more.

 

Having escaped from Imperial Consort Zhang, Cui Xi had almost made it out of the palace…only to crash head-first into the very last person she wanted to see.

 

The Seventh Prince caught her in his arms before she fell, spinning her around so that her hair whipped around them.

 

“Running away or running into my arms?” the Seventh Prince asked, amused.

 

It was the final straw.

 

Having to hold it in for hours while being threatened by his grandmother and then interrogated by his mother, she finally burst into tears with a howl and punched him in the gut, stomping into her carriage, leaving Xiao Hei and Su Qing to drive.

 

The guards clattered as they ran forward, gaping in surprise. The Prince only waved his hand to prevent them from taking any action. Striking a member of the Royal family was punishable by death…

 

“Let them be,” he commanded, trying to catch his breath. She had quite inexpertly punched him in the stomach, so while it was irritating there was nothing vital about the hit. Instead he wondered what had upset her to the point that she had burst into tears upon seeing him.

 

“Tcha!” Xiao Hei urged the horses, clattering away. Gods! Only Mistress is rash enough to punch an Imperial Prince at the palace gate…if we aren’t all dead by the morning it will be our good fortune…

 

Murong Bo waited patiently as the Prince remained doubled over.

 

“Master…why didn’t you dodge?” he sighed irritably.

 

“When does she touch me on her own initiative…?” the Prince chuckled, breathlessly. He straightened up with a grimace.

 

“Master,” Murong Bo sighed. “I think you can do without that kind of ‘touching’. Please consider your body.”

 

“Well…since it belongs to her already, she can do anything she likes…”

 

“Master…you really are a ridiculous pervert…”

 

“Ennn,” he agreed cheerfully, and then strode into the palace. He would have to interrogate the hidden guards to find out what happened later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

* 哀家 – literally ‘this sad house’. The Empress Dowager customarily refers to herself using this term in deference to her deceased husband (the former Emperor)

* 排山倒海 – translation is literal, meaning that it would be earthshattering

* 借刀杀人 – the whole idiom is “to borrow a knife to kill someone,” meaning to use someone else to do your dirty work.

* 有人忍不住 – this should be translated as “someone couldn’t take it anymore,” but I was a little bit liberal here.

* 本宫 – literally “this palace”. The self-address is used by a high ranking consort of the harem.