Chapter 20: Granted the Title Noble Lady Tang!

Tang: the character in *haitang*, the Chinese word for crabapple.

First Attendant Qian suddenly remembered the flowering crabapple trees in the Imperial Garden, the woman in lilac standing amid a rain of petals, and the softness in the emperor’s eyes as he watched her. So things had already begun to change back then. Her face was bloodless as she gave a bitter smile.

The Empress Dowager was overcome with excitement. She had waited so very long for this news. Since the emperor’s accession, the empress, the Noble Consort, and the others had shown no sign of pregnancy. Who knew how many women had been brought into the palace? Not one had succeeded. The Imperial Medical Academy had tended the consorts daily, and even the emperor had taken plenty of medicinal brews, all to no effect.

Outside, the imperial clan watched; Prince An’s branch stood poised to take advantage. Her anxiety over an heir had kept her awake night after night. Now, at last, the emperor would have a child!

Her eyes reddened. She looked at Zhiyi as though she were a priceless treasure. “Good, good. Noble Lady Tang—that is a fine title. This girl is like a crabapple blossom: beautiful, gracious, and blessed. Open the stores! Send the finest tonics to Noble Lady Tang’s palace!”

Zhiyi lowered her eyes and curtsied. “I thank Your Majesty for your great favor, and Your Majesty the Empress Dowager for your kindness.”

Li Xuandu was still beside her. His hand moved from her shoulder to hers, gripping it firmly. Looks flew across the hall like knives. The Noble Consort’s face was white as paper; she crushed her handkerchief in her fist, her eyes full of jealous hatred. The empress still wore a smile, but it did not reach her eyes. Consort Shu, usually so serene, stared fixedly at Zhiyi. Honored Consort Jia and Concubine Hui exchanged incredulous looks. Honored Consort Rou lifted her cup and sipped, lowered lashes hiding every emotion. Even the usually composed Noble Lady Ye looked over in surprise.

Liu and Qian remained kneeling, their knees numb, but no one told them to rise. Their faces alternated between white and red, as if they had been slapped repeatedly in public. The Empress Dowager finally remembered them and gave them a cold glance.

“You two nearly harmed my grandchild! Attendant Liu and First Attendant Qian, return to your quarters and reflect on your conduct. Since you did not intend it, you will be confined for three months, forfeit six months’ allowance, and copy the palace rules a hundred times. If there is a next time, I will not be lenient!”

Liu opened her mouth, but Qian tugged her. Both hurried to thank the Empress Dowager, bowed with lowered heads, and scrambled out in disgrace.

The rice-dumpling feast continued at Chonghua Palace, but no one could taste the food anymore. On that Dragon Boat Festival, the name Noble Lady Tang swept through every corner of the imperial city like the wind.

At Shoukang Palace, everyone whose presence was not needed withdrew. When the doors closed, the noise outside was shut away, leaving only a lingering trace of aloeswood incense. The Empress Dowager reclined on her couch, most of her public majesty set aside, tears faintly visible at the corners of her eyes. She held Zhiyi’s hand and would not let her kneel or bow, gripping it as if she had recovered a lost treasure.

“Good child,” she said hoarsely, her voice trembling with feelings suppressed too long. “Your blessings are still to come.”

Zhiyi sat on an embroidered stool beside her, her hand enclosed in the older woman’s warm palm. A complicated feeling rose in her. They had met only a few times and could hardly be said to have an affection for one another, but the tears in the Empress Dowager’s eyes and the warmth of her hand were real. Ten years of hope, ten years of anxiety, had found an outlet in this pregnancy of more than three months.

The Empress Dowager sniffed and soon composed herself. Patting Zhiyi’s hand, she gave instruction after instruction. “Now that you’re expecting, you must be more careful in everything. Walk slowly, mind what you eat, don’t bump into anything, and don’t indulge in the cold. Imperial Physician Zhang, head of the Imperial Medical Academy, will visit Changchun Palace daily from tomorrow to take your pulse. He’s the finest physician there. I trust him.”

She glanced at a senior attendant standing behind her, a woman in her fifties with a comfortable figure and kind face. In a dark blue-green jacket, she stood properly, her features conveying brisk competence.

“This is Nanny Duan. She has served me for twenty years and is especially good at preparing nourishing meals. I’m assigning her to Changchun Palace to look after your food and daily needs. Tell her what you like; she can make anything.”

Duan stepped forward and bowed. “Greetings, Noble Lady Tang.”

Zhiyi hurriedly made a gesture to help her up. “Please rise, Nanny Duan. I’ll be relying on you.”

The Empress Dowager continued, “Female physicians, midwives, wet nurses—we must begin preparing now, not wait until the birth and rush about in a panic. I’ll have the Imperial Household Department choose the most capable people. You may meet them first; if you’re dissatisfied, we’ll change them.”

She paused and looked at Li Xuandu, who stood nearby. Her tone became unmistakably directive. “As for the maids and eunuchs assigned from the department, Emperor, you must attend to it. The west wing of Changchun Palace surely doesn’t have enough people. Add or replace whoever is needed, and keep any careless fools away from Noble Lady Tang.”

Li Xuandu nodded. “Rest assured, Mother. I understand.”

Zhiyi listened to each instruction and stored it away. The words were caring, but their implication was clear: this pregnancy was the imperial family’s foremost concern, and no mishap could be allowed.

After a long string of instructions, the Empress Dowager finally seemed satisfied. She exhaled and turned from Zhiyi to the empress, who had stood quietly nearby. Since entering the hall, the empress had scarcely spoken. With a proper smile, she stood slightly behind the Empress Dowager, neither interrupting nor competing for attention, like a finely crafted porcelain figure.

“Very well. Emperor, you and Noble Lady Tang may return first. I have a few words for the empress.” Her voice had regained its usual composure.

Li Xuandu glanced at the empress, then at Zhiyi, and bowed. “Yes, Mother. I take my leave.” Zhiyi rose and bowed to both women. Li Xuandu lightly supported her arm, and they left Shoukang Palace together.

The doors slowly closed behind them. The Empress Dowager watched their figures disappear, then turned to the empress. Her kindly smile remained, but her experienced eyes held something only the two of them understood.

“Empress,” she said in an ordinary conversational tone, “the harem has produced no child for ten years. Noble Lady Tang’s pregnancy is a great joy for the palace.”

The empress lowered her eyes. “You’re right, Mother. I too am happy for His Majesty.” Her voice was impeccably obedient.

The Empress Dowager lifted her tea, sipped slowly, and set it down. “I will allow nothing to go wrong with this pregnancy.”

Not a word was heavily stressed, yet their weight seemed to make the air in the hall grow heavy. The empress’s lashes trembled, but her smile did not shift. She curtsied, her voice steady. “I understand, Mother. I will take good care of Noble Lady Tang and allow no harm to come to her.”

The Empress Dowager watched her for several breaths, then smiled with satisfaction. She took the empress’s hand and patted it, speaking earnestly. “Lingyi, the late emperor personally chose you to be crown princess. As long as you make no mistake, you will always be empress.”

The empress’s fingers curled slightly, then relaxed. Her dignified smile remained. She clasped the older woman’s hand in return. “I will remember your instruction, Mother.” Her voice was gentle and firm.

Incense burned quietly in Shoukang Palace. A thin thread of smoke rose straight upward and dispersed in the unseen heights.