EMPEROR AND I

GRAND CONSORT SHU

THE PALACE

"Consort Wang, why is my maid hurt? I thought we agreed that you would release her unharmed in exchange―"

"Your Highness," Consort Wang begged with her hands clasped together, stopping the Grand Consort from spilling the beans. She wouldn't like the other women to know that she was a discarded consort. Consort Wang, the unwanted consort.

"She asked me for one night with the emperor in exchange of I getting my maid back." Grand Consort Shu laughed.

At those words everyone gasped in shock and a rampant of mocking, laughter, shaming and ridiculing followed. Some whispered excitedly while others chortled. They were all scorning her.

"I knew it."

"Throw her out of the palace."

"Punish her."

Realising her defeat, Consort Wang fell to the ground. "No... no.... It is not like that." That was all she could say to defend herself.

"Shameless, look at her."

"Consort? My foot! She is a skunk from the streets."

"Never will I bow before her. "

"No," Consort Wang cried as she pounded her head on the ground. "No."

"Does that mean the emperor's heart is unoccupied?"

"He will be mine now."

"No. He is mine."

"What is this ruckus?" The quick and sharp words admonished. Only one person liked to use those words, only one who had authority for such speech. Silence instantly pierced the air as everyone fell on their knees.

"Greetings, to his majesty the emperor."

Just the sound of his voice had excitement flood Grand Consort Shu as she laid herself like the rest. The atmosphere was tense. Everyone was already petitioning the heavens for their lives, afraid to die. But her, she felt like she could breathe for the first time on that day.

She was safe now.

Grand Consort Shu was facing the ground when she saw a hand drop by her. She looked up to see her handsome son looking down at her.

'Good looking like your mother,' she thought proudly.

He had his black practising uniform on.

That was something that made her worry. He worked too hard which was not good for him. Soon, his body could start to falter due to exhaustion then his heart would give up.

What if that happened?

"Muqin(mother)." He pulled her up gently, giving her a smile of awe.

She was home. This was her home, her safe haven.

"Yu'er," she rested in his arm. Everyone called him 'His Majesty' but to her, he would always be her Yu'er, her baby, her boy. She could sense the criticisms run through the minds of the cultural rebels who thought it was most disrespectful to call him without title, using an unofficial name for that matter.

"What is the matter, muqin?" He said softly, rubbing her shoulder in affection. It was like he was saying, 'I'm here and I will make it all go away.'


"Your Majesty, our wonderful Grand Consort Shu was just correcting Consort Wang because she dealt with a situation wrongly." Dowager Empress Wang had her head lowered as she spoke. Grand Consort Shu hoped that the woman knew her place, now that she had seen how the emperor treats her.

She, Grand Consort Shu was way above her.

It was amazing how the tables had turned. Before, she had it all: husband, children and a powerful clan. However, now she only had a clan withering away, her daughters married off, Yang Liu hating her and Yu'er not liking her as always.

"Yu'er, Consort Wang was insolent in asking me―"

"She asked for the unacceptable but after disciplining her, Grand Consort Shu was the kindest to forgive her." Dowager Empress Wang intruded again.

'Dowager Empress Wang, you witch!' Grand Consort Shu expostulated from inside.

The woman was stopping her from exposing Consort Wang. Grand Consort Shu couldn't disagree, otherwise she would pose to be vile, bitter and unforgiving. She looked up at her son helplessly but in the dimness of the night, she doubted he could tell the emotions in her eyes.

"That is right. I have forgiven you Consort Wang," Grand Consort Shu excused Consort Wang reluctantly. Her dish of vengeance could not be served because of the conniving Dowager Empress.

On top of that, it didn't seem like Yu'er was listening, either. How frustrating.

"Who is on Court Lady Park's back?" he asked. Her son was distracted by something else, but this was another given for her to expose her enemies.

"My palace maid who was punished wrongfully."

"My Liege, the palace maid broke the decorum of the harem and [1]chenqie saw it fit that she be punished but Grand Consort Shu did not take it too well, therefore she is not happy with me," Consort Wang regretted. "Chenqie has displeased muqin, therefore chenqie should be punished. Your Majesty, chenqie deserves to be punished." Talk about reverse psychology. The snake continued to spit her words milked with sorrow.

Li Lian coughed and groaned. Her poor maid. She could not even defend herself and neither could her mistress as they were cornering her.

"Does muqin care for her maid?" Yu'er lifted her chin so she would look at him.

Grand Consort Shu sadly nodded her head and looked down. She felt cheated and agitated to speak anymore.

"Very well, why doesn't muqin bring her maid along to YiYuan Sanctuary in the following week?"

"Yu'er!" she squealed, glad about the invitation. YiYuan was a grand place that people called 'Body Heaven'. Most people who went there sick came back in good health as the best of best physicians resided there. It was also a place that progressed in testings and research findings. This was where the emperor took his Generals regularly so that they would be examined by physicians, leisure around, relax and work on their health.

What was great is that she would spend more uninterrupted time with her son. Over and above that, in YiYuan, they had a solution for everything. They would treat her face, her feet, her back. She was going to come back looking like a goddess and be seen as the most beautiful woman in the palace.

"With all due respect Your Majesty," Dowager Empress Wang asked for permission to share something.

"Speak."

"Grand Consort Shu is responsible for the Dragon Palace and since you will be leaving she is needed there more than ever. Who other than her can His Royal Highness trust to look after the palace in his absence?"

Consort Shu felt like raging and throwing a tantrum. She couldn't keep it in anymore. When will that woman let her enjoy her life for once? She was about to snap when she felt Yu'er hold her hand and squeeze it in reassurance.

Eunuch Nam took a few steps towards the emperor and bowed. "Your Majesty, Her Highness has a point. Who can we trust than our Grand Consort Shu?"

Grand Consort Shu liked Eunuch Nam but he was ruining her at this moment. It infuriated her more how ignorant he was to realise this. He thought he was flattering her, which was far from the truth.

"You are right." Her son agreed with them and she tears brimmed her eyes.

"Hăo. We will organise for the Bureau of Art to accompany the palace maid instead." Grand Consort Shu could tell that Dowager Empress Wang was smirking as she spoke that. The wench was aware that Li Lian belonged to the Bureau of Art. Looks like she was managing well not minding her own business.

Yu'er unexpectedly took her into his warm arms. She closed her eyes, appreciating the comfort.

He whispered tenderly, "Yu'er will visit muqin after he is back."

"Very well, my son." She patted his back with endearment.

He then turned, looking over at Li Lian. It felt off how he was well aware of Li Lian, but maybe it was a way of her son's showing that her problems were also his.

"Court Lady Park must be tired," he sympathised.

"Your Majesty..." Court Lady Park shied away, speechless.

"Luo Meng, help her by taking the maid back to Hougong." He started to stroll away as his shadowing bodyguard attended to Li Lian. His huge entourage got in line to follow him awhile the eunuchs holding the lamps that were meant to light the way, led the way for him.

Grand Consort Shu was already feeling empty due to his departure. She saw him stop as if he had forgotten something. He at this time stood right in the middle of the crowd, yet still audible to her when he decreed, "Consort Wang will not enter the Dragon Palace for the next twelve moons, to reflect on her actions of demanding a night with me and punishing Grand Consort Shu's palace maid without permission."

With that he left and Grand Consort Shu had never been happier.

"Presporous!" Dowager Empress Wang yelled as she got up and stumped off to her quarters. At her egress, the concubines scurried for Grand Consort Shu's attention,while others gathered around to mock Consort Wang.

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Consort Wang simulated defeat as she dropped from her knees to a seating position. She had just lost everything: a chance to having a heir, her reputation and her mother-in-law's favor.

"Muqin, would you like us to escort you back?" they all offered.

"Muqin," they called her. Now that they knew that she was the emperor's favorite, they wanted to be her favorite too.

Concubine Pi, the woman who had been disrespectful the other day was among them, vying for her attention the most. What a chameleon.

They were desperate, because they wanted one night with the emperor too.

Such fakeness.

TRANSLATION

[1]Chenqie = I, used by the emperor's wife to refer to herself. When someone calls themselves 'Chen' he or she wants to express the meaning of 'I would like to devote myself heart and soul to the emperor unconditionally.' While 'qie' is the wife of someone. It also expresses the person's respect for the emperor.

S.V