Chapter 15: Prince Jing’s Manor
Prince Jing’s residence in Yongxing Ward, Chang’an, lay near the Gate of Auspicious Wind. A short walk along the imperial city wall to the north, past the Gate of Prolonged Happiness Gate and Gate of Double Radiance, led directly to the Inner Palace, a route the Dowager Consort Jing often took to visit the Imperial harem.
Married into the Imperial clan, Dowager Consort Jing was the Emperor’s maternal aunt by marriage and also the younger sister of the current Empress Dowager, who resided in the Taiji Palace. The Dowager Consort frequently visited her elder sister to keep her company and relieve her boredom. As such, Prince Jing’s residence was strategically close to the palace gates.
Recently, Dowager Consort Jing had celebrated her sixtieth birthday with great fanfare. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor themselves had arrived in their Imperial carriages, throwing the residence into a whirlwind of activity. Barely catching the breath from the celebrations, Prince Jing’s household now faced the demands of the New Year festivities.
On New Year’s Eve, shortly after noon, Prince Jing had not yet returned from the palace. The entire residence was abuzz with preparations. The Princess Consort and several concubines accompanied the Dowager Consort, overseeing the arrangements. Though the inner courtyard was brightly lit and adorned with lanterns and festive decorations, it was eerily devoid of people.
Concubine Xue who resided in Lychee Grace Pavilion, began to double over in pain. Known for her unstable pregnancy, she had been confined to the garden to rest and avoid any disturbances. There was no one in the garden at this time. Thankfully, a few steady and experienced wet nurses assigned by Prince Jing were present, and the birthing room had already been prepared in advance. When one of the midwives reached under her skirt to check, she found that Concubine Xue’s water had already broken, meaning that the baby was moving and it signaled the onset of labor. Fearing that delivery was imminent, they quickly began making preparations–calling for help, closing doors, lighting lamps, adding coal to the fire and boiling water.
Grabbing Concubine Xue’s maid, Qiukui, the midwife instructed, “Go, go, inform Master and Madam that the mistress is about to give birth.”
Prince Jing had not yet returned. Qiukui, gasping for breath, ran frantically through the residence, searching for someone in charge, until she was stopped by Liuli, a maid of the Princess Consort. “Why are you running recklessly like this?”
Qiukiu clutched at Liuli like a lifeline and stammered, “The mistress, mistress is in labor!”
“She is not even full term yet, is she?” Liuli frowned and asked “Are the midwives with her?”
Qiukui nodded, her palms sweaty. “The momo instructed this servant to report.”
“If the momo are there, why are you so flustered?” Liuli replied. “The Princess Consort is with the Dowager Consort in the inner room. I will go and report this.”
In the warm chamber, the Princess Consort, Ji-shi, was entertaining her mother-in-law with cheerful conversation while waiting for Prince Jing’s return. When Liuli delivered the message, she swallowed the joke she was about to tell, her smile faltered.
The elderly Dowager Consort noticed her daughter-in-law’s sudden hesitation and asked, “What’s the matter?”
Liuli quickly explained, “A message came from Lychee Grace Pavilion–Concubine Xue seems to be in labor.”
“Oh dear, why is it happening now?” The Dowager Consort rose hastily. “Wangye has not returned yet. Let’s go, let’s go and have a look.”
Concubine Xue’s labor proved difficult. By dusk, the child had yet to be delivered. Someone close to the Prince sent word to the Imperial palace and Prince Jing rushed home in a hurry, only to find the household in disarray. A cluster of concerned women surrounded Lychee Grace Pavilion.
Concubine Xue, usually gentle and soft-spoken, was now screaming hoarsely, each cry more hoarse and anguished than the last. Prince Jing’s heart clenched as he realized the severity of the situation.
The Dowager Consort had been waiting for half a day. Twice already, nourishing ginseng soup had been administered to Concubine Xue, but the child still had yet to be born, filling her heart with unease and anxiety. Firecrackers and fireworks crackled noisily in the distance, marking the New Year’s celebrations inside and outside the palace walls. However, the Dowager Consort could not help but repeatedly chant muttered “Amitabha” under her breath.
The Prince Jing household was not blessed with many heirs. Now in his forties, Prince Jing only had two little junzhu, or princesses. Regardless of who the mother was, anyone who could add to the lineage of the household, the elderly Dowager Consort prayed fervently for divine blessings.
The heat in the room was unbearable, and stifling to stay seated for long, and the sounds of Concubine Xue’s hoarse screams from the inner chamber only heightened the tension. Prince Jing paced anxiously back and forth in circles. Concubine Xue had a history of miscarriages and had been plagued with melancholy throughout this pregnancy. They had always feared complications during labor. If the child couldn’t be delivered, what would they do? The thought made him stomp his foot. Moreover, this wasn’t her first pregnancy–how could it result in such a difficult labor?
“Zhijia,” the Dowager Consort feeling a headache coming on as she watched her son, scolded. “If you can’t sit still, go outside and stand for a while. Stop adding to the commotion here.”
“Mother!”
“Every childbirth is a step through the gates of death. You’ve been a father before; what are you panicking for now?”
Prince Jing sighed, stood up, and walked out. His heart felt like a blazing brazier, but all he could do was stand in the cold wind outside the room.
The Princess Consort, Ji-shi, seeing the prince leave without his fur coat, picked it up and hurried after him. She saw Prince Jing standing tall and composed in the chill wind, his thin garments no protection against the cold, his hands clasped together as he prayed to the heavens. “Heavens above, I beseech you, please grant safety to both mother and child, safety to both mother and child, safety to both mother and child…”
Ji-shi hugged the fur coat and quietly stepped back inside.
Inside the birthing room, Concubine Xue’s voice had grown faint from exhaustion. Her strength was waning, and her gaze had begun to lose focus. The momos panicked, fed her half a bowl of bird’s nest soup and urged her repeatedly, “Madam, father your strength one more time. If the child doesn’t come out soon, it will be dangerous!”
Concubine Xue clutched the towel in her hands, let out a long, anguished cry, and felt a rush of warmth flood beneath her. Her body went limp, and she fainted.
From the bloodied waters, the momo pulled out a weakly breathing infant. She slapped the baby’s back, and the cry of a newborn could be heard. After carefully inspecting the infant, the momo finally exhaled in relief.
“Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness! It’s a little young master!” The momo voice was filled with excitement and joy. It had been years since the Prince’s household welcomed a son, and now that there was finally an heir, even the momos who delivered him felt they had brought honor.
Concubine Xue, meanwhile, was given several bowls of medicinal soup and gradually regained consciousness. The momo then spoke again, “Mother and child are both safe.”
Outside, the sounds of jubilation erupted. Prince Jing was overjoyed, laughing repeatedly as he declared, “Rewards for all!”
The Dowager Consort, eager to see her grandson, waited for the momo to swaddle the infant. The newborn’s eyes were still closed, and his wrinkled little face was far from fully formed, yet it was clear he was handsome, with well-defined features. It was clear the baby was very healthy.
“He’s too thin from the womb–select more wet nurses to properly nourish him,” the Dowager Consort instructed with a smile as she handed the baby to Prince Jing. “Zhijia, come hold your son.”
Prince Jing, seeing that Concubine Xue was no longer in danger, joyfully approached to hold his child. The tiny infant, no bigger than a handful, was swaddled securely, with a pair of round, black eyes staring at him in innocent wonder.
An indescribable mix of sourness and joy surged in Prince Jing’s heart. This was his firstborn son, a milestone of extraordinary significance. At that moment, as fireworks lit up the city and celebrations filled the land, marking the end of the year and the beginning of a new one, he held the child’s small hand, he suddenly felt a rush of emotion, feeling tears welling up in his eyes.
The following day, on the first day of the New Year, the Emperor led the court in a ceremony to worship the heavens while the Dowager Consort entered the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. News of Prince Jing’s newborn son had spread across the court, from ministers to the palace servants. The Imperial household sent gifts for the baby’s first bath ceremony along with celebratory funds. In high spirits, the Emperor personally bestowed a name upon Prince Jing’s firstborn, calling him He (Congratulations), and gave him the courtesy name Suiguan (Guardian of the Year).
When the news reached the Xue family, where Xue Guangxiao served as a Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, he felt a huge weight lift off his chest upon hearing that his younger sister had safely delivered Prince Jing’s firstborn son the night before. His face lit up with joy. In the rear courtyard, he shared the good news with his wife, Cao-shi, who recited Buddha’s name repeatedly in gratitude but also exclaimed with relief, “Laoye, this means half of my sins can now be forgiven.”
Xue Guangxiao glared and huffed, his beard quivering. “Prepare some proper gifts fit for the occasion. We’ll choose a day to visit the Prince’s residence and see the furen.”
After giving birth, Concubine Xue remained weak, and the Dowager Consort temporarily took it upon herself to care for Suiguan, keeping him close by. Princess Consort, Ji-shi, having worked tirelessly in the days following the birth, fell ill with a persistent cough. When she visited the Dowager Consort to pay her respects, she saw the wet nurse gently rocking Suiguan to sleep. The child had grown noticeably, carrying the sweet scent of milk, and his round, jet-black eyes stared silently at those around him, making him irresistibly endearing and utterly adorable.
Ji-shi, the daughter of the esteemed Grand Tutor Ji1, was exceptional in beauty, character, temperament and family background. Yet, despite marrying into the prince’s household many years ago, she remained childless. Looking at Suiguan now, her heart ached with an indescribable sourness.
The Dowager Consort instructed the wet nurse to take Suiguan to be fed. Reluctantly turning away, she said: “You’ve worn yourself out these past days, with all the commotion in the household.”
“This is all part of daughter-in-law’s duty.” Ji-shi replied firmly. She had always been strong-willed, managing the Prince’s household inside and out with utmost diligence. Yet recently, she had found herself feeling uncharacteristically weary.
After years of living together, the Dowager Consort genuinely felt for her daughter-in-law. The two engaged in idle conversation for a while before the Dowager Consort patted Ji-shi’s hand and comforted her, saying, “You’ve always been a sensible and kind-hearted child. I know the bitterness you’ve kept in your heart and endured all these years. But remember this–you are the Princess Consort, personally bestowed by the Emperor and personally welcomed into this house by Zhijia himself. The child born from your womb will be the legitimate heir of this household, the rightful heir to the prince. No one can take that from you.”
Ji-shi’s eyes grew moist as she nodded in acknowledgment. The Dowager Consort continued, “You’re still young. On regular days, rest when you need to, no need to push yourself so hard. If your health requires care, listen to the doctor. If the wangye dares to upset you, I’ll personally see to it that he’s taught a lesson.”
Whenever Prince Jing had free time, he would visit Concubine Xue in Lychee Grace Pavilion. She remained bedridden, resting quietly, though she often wept in private. Occasionally, seeing Suiguan clutching his tiny fists while feeding in the wet nurse’s arms brought a rare smile to her face. Observing her sorrowful demeanor, Prince Jing felt slightly upset in his heart. “Your brother sent a New Year’s greeting, saying he wanted to visit the residence, but I declined.”
Concubine Xue wept, “Why would Laoye do that? This is not my brother or sister-in-law’s fault–it’s all my own doing.”
Prince Jing continued, “Look at Suiguan today–he’s grown a bit, hasn’t he? He looks more and more like you.”
Concubine Xue, however, was overcome with grief. “It’s such a pity that he has a mother like me, someone so disgraceful. When Suiguan grows up, he’ll surely resent me. Wangye, it would be better to let me die.”
Unable to respond, Prince Jing sighed deeply. “We have children now, and you’re still talking nonsense. Both Suiguan and Niuniu are your flesh and blood. You can’t favor one over the other.”
Concubine Xue wept, her tears falling like raindrops on pear blossoms. “Suiguan is my child, and Niuniu is my child too. Suiguan is here beside me, but where is his older sister? Has wangye heard any news of her?”
Prince Jing pulled her into his embrace, gently wiping away the shimmering tears on her cheeks. He coaxed her softly, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. I’m searching for her–whether in heaven or on earth, I will find her for you, even if I must dig three feet into the ground.”
After a lengthy effort to calm her, Prince Jing left her room, adjusting his wrinkled robes, and went to see the Dowager Consort. He found Ji-shi in his mother’s quarters, copying scriptures. Thinking it unnecessary to repeat himself in two places, he shared his thoughts with both his wife and mother at once.
Concubine Xue had lived in Lychee Grace Pavilion for three years without an official title, holding only the rank of concubine. Now that she had given birth to Suiguan, Prince Jing felt guilty and that it was time to rectify this. He proposed elevating her to the status of secondary consort.
Ji-shi bit her lip, remaining silent, while the Dowager Consort’s face turned blue with anger. She replied, “Not appropriate.”
Knowing the matter would be contentious, Prince Jing asked, “Why does Mother think it inappropriate? Miaomiao’s family background is beyond reproach–her brother serves as a Secretary in the Ministry of Justice. Besides, Mother also knows Miaomiao’s temperament: gentle, virtuous, and unassuming. She’s well-regarded by everyone in the household. Now that she has given birth to my son, it is hard to explain and it would not look proper for the mother of the eldest son to remain a mere concubine.”
The Dowager Consort had long anticipated his reasoning. “Every word of what wangye says is true. If it were anyone else, I would not wait for you to suggest it–I’d insist on promoting her myself. But this Concubine Xue… Everyone in this household has been playing deaf and blind for the Prince’s sake. Do you truly think we’re all unaware of her origins?”
Prince Jing’s brow furrowed slightly, almost imperceptibly.
Indeed, Concubine Xue’s background was a deeply awkward matter.
Back then, Prince Jing had been ordered to confiscate and inspect the properties of the Wei family. While overseeing the tally of their possessions in the main hall, he heard commotion coming from the inner courtyard. Word came that a woman from the family had refused to be sent to the palace as a servant and had thrown herself into the lake in a bid to end her life. Intrigued, he decided to take a look based on a whim.
The woman had already been rescued, barely alive. Her head and face were covered with white cloth, but her lower body was clad in a coral-colored gauze skirt adorned with pearls. The wet fabric clung to her skin, revealing her slender, straight legs. From beneath the hem peeked a delicate, unshod foot, the fine jade-like bones exquisite and graceful, like it could be held in one hand, her curled toes resembling pink seashell pearls.
Upon discreet inquiry, Prince Jing learned that the woman was the younger sister of a certain Xue family official in the capital. Widowed at a young age, she had been living under her brother’s care with her natal family.. Somehow, she had caught the eye of Wei Shaozong, who forcibly took her into his household as a concubine. She had been kept in his inner courtyard for two years and was said to have been greatly favored.
It was curious, indeed–Wei Shaozong, notorious for his debauchery and numerous conquests, had taken a particular liking to this widow, who was no longer in the bloom of youth. Prince Jing’s thoughts veered, and his actions became less restrained. Only after experiencing an intimate night with her, akin to King Xiang’s dream of the goddess at Yangtai, did he come to understand her allure.
She was, without a doubt, an outstanding beauty–stunningly elegant, with an innate sensuality, as if blessed by the heavens.
What began as a fleeting indulgence in beauty turned into something far deeper for Prince Jing. Initially, he sought only to sate his appetite, keeping her outside the household for some time. Unexpectedly, he found himself unable to let go, entranced by the experience after tasting such sweetness. Eventually, he brought her into the Prince’s residence and assigned her to his study as an attendant, serving as a brush-holder.
When Concubine Xue first entered Prince Jing’s household, it caused quite a stir between him and Princess Consort Ji-shi.
For the Princess Consort, the elevation of a widowed woman to a position of favor was a humiliating blow. Among the ladies of prominent families, Ji-shi endured endless ridicule and scorn, grinding her teeth in silence behind closed doors.
One way or another, she resolved to see this woman dismissed from the household.
Coming from an esteemed family, Ji-shi disdained underhanded schemes, instead waiting for Xue-shi to make a misstep that would justify expelling her. Yet, to her dismay, aside from lacking the virtues expected of a proper wife, Concubine Xue made no mistakes. Like a gourd with a jagged edge or an unyielding stone that did not bloom, she maintained a demeanor of humility and simplicity, neither boastful nor haughty. Her conduct was always measured and appropriate, leaving no grounds for reproach.Coupled with Prince Jing’s unwavering favor, Xue-shi managed to live all the way to the present day until she eventually gave birth to the Prince’s firstborn son.
Footnotes:
- The Three Ducal Ministers was a collective name for the three highest officials in Ancient China and Imperial China. Each minister was responsible for different areas of government, but they would have been the Emperor’s closest advisors. They are the Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor and Grand Protector. ↩︎
TN: Hope everyone is doing well! More of Chun Tian’s background is getting described here.
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Twin Dragons Translations 