The Ugly Empress

When Rui Xue entered King Feng’s bedchamber, the curtains in the room and the veils around the bed were tightly closed.

She walked over to the bed and gently opened the curtain, but found Feng Ming wasn’t asleep. 

He was lying on his side staring at the pattern on the brocade quilt.

Rui Xue said, “Your Majesty, do you want to get up? Master ordered this servant to bring you some ointment.”

When Feng Ming heard Rui Xue mentioning Zhao Lu, his eyes suddenly lit up, but then they dimmed just as quickly. Knowing Zhao Lu’s personality, of course it was impossible for him to send him ointments. Most probably, Rui Xue herself had gone to get it and was lying to appease him.

King Feng didn’t make a move to get up, still lying down he said, “Teng Country’s Princess will be arriving at Xue Country’s territory in the next few days, isn’t she?” 

“Yes, this slave servant also heard that this time, Xue Houyang, Marquis Wannian, came to personally welcome her. Master has been busy lately because of this… Your Majesty, don’t be angry because Master cannot visit you, Master has been missing you very much.”

Feng Ming smiled and said, “I know.”

Just as he was talking, the chamberlain at the door announced that Minister Zuo was requesting an audience.

Rui Xue frowned, “Your Majesty, you are not feeling well. Shall this slave servant send away the minister?”

“No need.”

Feng Ming got up and let Rui Xue help him freshen up and change his clothes. Then he held the meeting with Minister Zuo in the warm pavilion of his study.

Minister Zuo didn’t take a seat, and as soon as he saw King Feng enter the room, he immediately dropped down to the floor to kowtow, “Please, Your Majesty, grant this old subject permission to resign and return to my hometown.”

Feng Ming sighed as he helped Minister Zuo off the ground, he said, “Minister, why are you saying that? Do you have dissatisfaction towards this Seat? Let the minister feel free to raise it.” 

“This old subject doesn’t dare! But the king asked the old minister to speak clearly, so even at the risk of death, this humble servant would not dare to deceive Your Majesty. Many officials have openly expressed their discontent with Marquis Zhulu. Today, in the morning court, Marquis Zhulu dismissed a number of officials from their post…”

With tears almost ready to burst out of Minister Zuo’s eyes, he kowtowed again and continued, “This old subject understands that His Majesty favours Marquis Zhulu, but I beg the King to allow us a way out by giving us permission to resign and return to our hometown.”

Rui Xue rushed forward to catch Feng Ming, when she touched him she found he was burning up and was unconscious. His eyes were squeezed shut and there was a crease between his eyebrows; Feng Ming looked to be in a lot of pain.

Zhao Lu was having guests at his residence. Unexpectedly Rui Xue returned back suddenly and in a flaming voice, said, “Master, Please could you go to the palace and take a look. The King has fainted.”

Zhao Lu’s heart tightened as if someone was squeezing it. In reflex, he stood from his seat, but then stopped himself.

The ministers all tactfully excused themselves and said they’d come back later. 

When all the guests left, Rui Xue said again, “Master, please hurry. Just now, Minister Zuo entered the palace to complain about you. His Majesty didn’t say anything, but he might be dissatisfied with you… Maybe you should coax the King. Aren’t you worried in case it becomes a big issue?”

Zhao Lu hesitated for a moment, then said, “Prepare my horse, I’m going to enter the palace.”

——-

Because a new consort was entering the palace, half of the Imperial Harem’s population was displeased. But the other half only regarded the matter as a no big deal; after all Teng was a defeated country, even if the new consort was very beautiful and talented, her status wasn’t that important at all. 

Since Xue Junliang had ordered medicine from the Imperial Hospital, Teng Yun definitely felt the pain on his face had gotten better. Xiu Yao was the happiest of all. The Empress’s appearance was getting prettier, added with her graceful and lithe figure, there was no  need to worry even if Emperor Xue was to take many new wives.

Xiu Yao was also very smart and quick on uptake; she had begun supervising the Empress’s meal carefully. And with the regular ointment and the medication, the improvement was very obvious. .

When it was announced that the new concubine was about to enter the palace, this made the Harem secretly agitated. And now, there was another piece of news that the Ugly Empress’ face was beautiful like a goddess. Many anxious consorts had been visiting the Empress at the Yunfeng Palace in the name of ‘coming to visit the sick’. To see whether the news was true.

Her Ladyship Defei was able to stay calm and collected. When she went to make a visit to the Yunfeng Palace, Teng Yun was not there. The Little Crown Prince, Xue Pei, had dragged Teng Yun to the martial arts field. 

Since that day Teng Yun had shown his skill in archery, though the  Crown Prince did not say it verbally. He was convinced in his heart. Xue Pei no longer thought the Empress was a mere woman pretending to be knowledgeable in theories of war.

Teng Yun didn’t want to get close to the Crown Prince. After all, he was the Crown Prince of Xue, the next in line to Emperor Xue’s throne. Teng and Xue had been enemies for more than a decade, their mutual resentment and hatred had grown deep. Apart from the debt of life and blood, Teng Yun didn’t know what else their two countries could give to each other.

The Crown Prince, of course, didn’t know about Teng Yun’s reluctance. He was determined to stay close to the Empress, asking him to teach him both theories and martial arts.

This reminded Teng Yun of a lot of things from his past. When he was still very young, he and his brothers had all studied and practiced martial arts together. Later when they’d grown up, they began to form cliques. 

Perhaps it was a good thing that among Xue Junliang’s large harem, there was only this one son.

When Defei arrived at the martial arts field, she saw the Crown Prince pestering the Ugly Empress to show him equestrian archery.

Teng Yun, with a light bow in one hand, rode on a horse’s back, his posture straight. In a series of  fluid motion, he took a long arrow from a quiver on his back, aimed the arrow and shot it. The arrow hit straight at the bull’s eye.

Defei clapped her hands, walked over and with a smile, she said, “Your Majesty the Empress is really skilled in martial arts. Everyone says that Feng Country people are all experts on horse’s back. Today, this sister has  seen it for herself.” 

Just as Defei finished talking, Teng Yun urged his horse to turn around. Sure enough, the bruises on his face had almost disappeared, and his skin gradually revealed its true color. Seemed like the Imperial physician had taken great efforts, because Teng Yun’s skin looked as healthy as a newborn baby’s skin.

Because of horse riding, his skin was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, and his slightly exposed neckline had a touch of pink.

Defei was shocked to the core. Usually, Xue Junliang preferred delicate and beautiful women. Well, which King didn’t like delicate and beautiful women? Women who were good listeners and could understand a King’s heart after a tiring day at the court?

But the King’s mind was constantly changing. It was not impossible that one day a King got tired of seeing beautiful things all the time. 

When she realized no one gave her a response, Defei laughed again, acting very friendly, “Elder sister’s face has really become so much better. You are a beautiful woman.  It’s no wonder His Majesty dotes on the elder sister.”

Noting the peculiar way Defei said things, Xue Pei immediately understood. Defei was usually the most favored consort, she felt she was secure thinking that Emperor Xue would always back her up. After all, though the Empress’s face was much better, it still wasn’t as beautiful as Defei’s.

Also earlier she said that ‘Feng Country people are all experts on horse’s back’ as if she was complimenting the Empress’ skills. But if her words were listened carefully, it was clear she was implying that the Empress had a foreign country’s surname and was skilled in martial arts; having a person like the Empress in the Harem was akin to feeding a tiger – in short it would bring trouble some day.

Xue Pei was about to reproach Defei but before he could speak, Teng Yun let out a sarcastic laugh. Teng Yun gently urged his horse to walk and stop next to Defei before saying coldly, “It is one thing whether Emperor Xue favours me or not. But it is completely a different thing, when you, a mere consort, do not kneel and pay respect to the Empress.” 

Xue Junliang was reviewing court reports in the warm pavilion of the study room when he heard someone wailing loudly outside. He sent Jiang Yu out to take a look, and when he came back inside Jiang Yu reported, “It’s Her Ladyship Defei’s personal maidservant, saying the Empress has been harboring a resentment towards Defei for a long time, and is now torturing Defei at the martial arts fields.”

Xue Junliang didn’t react for a few seconds, then he laughed out loud. This Ugly Empress somehow always managed to surprise him.

He called the maidservant in, and as soon as she entered the room she kowtowed on the floor and wailed, “Your Majesty, please save my mistress…”

The maid sobbed, crying miserably. She wiped her tears before adding, “My mistress was only complimenting the Empress, saying the Empress was very skilled and that Feng Country people were all experts on horse’s back. But the Empress accused my mistress for speaking out of turn… Your Majesty, please hurry to save Defei!” 

Xue Junliang knew without doubt that the maid was exaggerating the small bits while avoiding saying the important parts. He was also aware that Defei was spoiled and arrogant. He’d never said anything about it as she didn’t really cause any serious trouble in the Harem, so he hadn’t bothered to correct her attitude..

Xue Junliang wished he could go see the excitement for himself, but if he went, Defei would for sure, be wailing to the sky and cause his ear to bleed. Therefore, he instructed Jiang Yu to act as his messenger.

Jiang Yu leaned closer as Emperor Xue whispered his message. The maidservant thought Emperor Xue was ordering Head Servant Jiang Yu to save Defei. She kowtowed again to thank Emperor Xue, her face alight with joy.

Thinking she’d come bearing reinforcement, the maidservant rushed to the martial arts field and to Defei’s side in order to stop the torture. 

Defei’s bruised arrogance came back as soon as she saw Jiang Yu. She also thought Emperor Xue had sent Jiang Yu to help her, so she acted innocent and pitiful.

Teng Yun had ordered servants to bring some chairs over, and he sat leisurely on one of the chairs with the Crown Prince at the seat next to him. Behind him, Xiu Yao stood silently, watching the excitement. She, of course, understood the Empress’s temper very well.  On the surface, her mistress could talk nicely, and might seem laid-back and easy-going. But if the Empress was provoked… Just thinking about that time she received a slap on her cheek, Xiu Yao’s heart began to palpitate wildly again.

Jiang Yu greeted the Empress and Xue Pei, then said with a smile, “This old servant is only here to pass His Majesty’s message, and will immediately return after that.”

Turning to address Defei, Jiang Yu said, “His Majesty said, since the Phoenix Seal is still in the Empress’ hands, then everything inside the Imperial Harem is for the Empress to handle as she pleases. In the future, anyone who comes to the warm pavilion of the study room without permission will be punished severely.” 

After he finished speaking, Jiang Yu knelt towards Teng Yun and Xue Pei, then excused himself.

Defei’s eyes widened in shock, she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.

Teng Yun also couldn’t believe he’d stooped so low as to have a petty fight with Defei. But honestly, he’d been extremely vexed by Xue Junliang’s concubines lately. Every day, this consort or that concubine would come with the pretense of paying respect and visiting the sick, but some of them actually wanted to probe him, some wanted to provoke him, and some even wanted to rope him in.

Defei also had to come at this time, when early morning the next day, the new consort was entering the Palace which meant that Teng Shang was going to enter the Capital City. Teng Yun was high-strung right now, and Defei had served as an outlet for venting. 

In the wake of Jiang Yu’s message, many things suddenly changed inside the Imperial Harem.  Defei had lost Emperor Xue’s favor, because apparently having a pretty face was not enough. His Majesty preferred someone who had both integrity and talent; additionally, also skilled in martial arts.

That evening, Jiang Yu asked Emperor Xue which concubines’ bedchambers he wanted to visit that night. Putting down his red writing brush on the table, Xue Junliang massaged his forehead. Suddenly he thought of something; with an unfathomable smile on his face, he turned the Empress’ nameplate.