With A-Jiao’s pregnancy, the Emperor was overjoyed. He first ordered Yunguang Palace to be refurbished and redecorated according to A-Jiao’s wishes, then had her move in, granting her rewards equivalent to the protocol for a pregnant Empress.
Yunguang Palace contained several chambers, including Jiexing Hall, Wenshuang Hall, Moon-Reflecting Pavilion, and Cloud-Azure Pavilion. Jiexing Hall served as the main hall, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, Liu Che accompanied A-Jiao as she moved in.
A-Jiao comfortably occupied one of the "Three Halls of the Inner Court" all by herself. In her leisure time, she would look after Yan Zheng or send her some gifts, living a very pleasant life. On the contrary, it was Liu Che’s daily presence that made her, who was used to living alone, feel a bit unaccustomed—with the joyous news of the pregnancy, the little beauty Li Yan was momentarily forgotten by the Emperor.
To make things more convenient for A-Jiao, and considering himself a thoughtful man, Liu Che issued an imperial decree promoting her three maids—Yuli, Mianfu, and Nanke—to the rank of Female Scribes. Yuli was granted a salary of six hundred *dan*, while Mianfu and Nanke were each granted three hundred *dan*.
A-Jiao, hugging a pillow and eating a freshly delivered sweet melon, felt that this was a job well done.
On the twenty-seventh day of the ninth month, the Central Palace distributed New Year gifts to the various concubines. Holding a thick gift list, A-Jiao categorized the items she had recently received and divided them into four portions.
During the New Year season, the consorts of the harem could petition the Emperor for permission to send seasonal gifts to their maternal families. On such major holidays, Liu Che was generally too lazy to look through them himself, leaving the task of reviewing them one by one to Wei Zifu. Afterward, she would merely bring them to Xuanshi Hall for a symbolic glance from His Majesty. A-Jiao thought long and hard; knowing her current identity, she certainly had to send a portion to the Wei family and the Chen family of Guanshang Lane, but she also could not stop worrying about her former home.
Her second brother’s lineage had the Grand Princess of Longlü, Princess Yi’an, and the title of Lord Zhaoping, so their lives were at least manageable. However, her eldest brother’s lineage now had nothing. Her eldest sister-in-law had remarried after the mourning period, and she heard that only her eldest brother’s children were still living in the old Manor of the Marquis of Tangyi.
She summoned Yuli and the other two, handing the four gift lists she had prepared to them. "Yuli, you shall deliver the gifts for the Manor of the Marquis of Changping. Take this and simply offer my regards; that will suffice. Mianfu, this is for the Chen family. When you return, report properly to the Old Madam. Tell her I am doing well and the child in my womb is also well, so they need not worry. Also, tell them that the gifts in this list are already divided for each branch of the family. Any surplus is for the Old Madam to keep for herself or distribute as rewards; she doesn't need to ask me again... Also, go and ask my second cousin about the matter between him and Sister-in-law Yuan. Say that I am the one asking, and make sure to get a clear answer before returning to report. Alright, you two go to the storehouse to tally the items first!"
Yuli held a high official rank, so her going to the Manor of the Marquis of Changping would not be seen as a slight to the Chen family's etiquette.
Yuli stole a glance at the remaining two gift lists before bowing and withdrawing.
A-Jiao took Nanke’s hand. Only after the other two had left did she speak: "Of these two gift lists, the one marked with the character 'Blessing' is to be sent to the old Manor of the Marquis of Tangyi at the Northern Gate Estates. The one marked with 'Auspicious' is for the Manor of the Princess of Longlü. Have you remembered? The items inside are to be sent along with the gifts for our own home. Remember to give them to the Old Madam quietly, and then have them delivered under the guise of New Year gifts from colleagues of the various houses. Do not let anyone become suspicious."
Nanke carefully took them and replied, "This servant has remembered!"
"Also, after visiting those two houses, deliver this for me to the Yan family in Huangji Lane—that is, the maternal home of Lady Yan." A-Jiao took a pink silk pouch from her sleeve. "Remember, do not let anyone see you when you go. You must personally hand it to Lady Yan’s mother, Madam Shen. If you encounter the people Lady Yan sent to deliver New Year gifts, you must avoid them."
Perhaps because two women had become pregnant in the span of half a month, Liu Che was in high spirits. He had settled Yan Zheng in Lanlin Hall. Lanlin Hall was elegant, filled with fragrant herbs and trees that still showed vibrant vitality even in late autumn and winter.
Although Yan Zheng had been kind to her lately, A-Jiao gradually noticed that every time she sent something to Lanlin Hall, Song Zhen would be summoned shortly after. Thus, she had figured it out.
Yan Zheng did not trust her yet. After all, in Yan Zheng’s eyes, they were merely people who had known each other for a few days and even shared a certain competitive relationship; it was only natural to lack trust. She thought again—since she intended to support Lord Yunhe’s rise to power anyway, why not give Yan Zheng a hand as well?
Thus, she happily decided to try revealing her identity to Shen Xu’er first! Inside the pouch was a letter she had written personally, along with a jade pendant she had buried in Changmen Palace years ago, which she had sent Lord Zhongyu to secretly dig up in the middle of the night.
With this jade pendant, Shen Xu’er should believe her to some extent. Even if she didn't believe it, she would find an opportunity to send a message to inquire.
Having finished her instructions, A-Jiao wrapped herself in a thin fur coat newly delivered by the Palace Interior Office and waited for the tokens to be sent from Jiaofang Hall.
***
As the New Year approached, the officials of the court were granted a five-day holiday. However, Liu Che still had to review the accounting records submitted by the various commanderies and kingdoms, making him even busier than usual.
"Your Majesty, the Empress requests an audience!" a small eunuch entered to announce.
"Enter." Liu Che put down the knife-pen and bamboo slips in his hand and slightly stretched his shoulders.
Wei Zifu entered and bowed to the Emperor. Behind her followed two attendants, each holding a red-lacquered tray upon which rested bamboo slips encased in brocade bags.
"Your Majesty, these are the gift lists for the New Year offerings to be sent out of the palace, submitted by the harem. I have already reviewed them; please examine them, Your Majesty."
Liu Che looked up. He originally intended to just nod, but suddenly said, "What about the one from Yunguang Palace? Bring it here for me to see."
Wei Zifu hurriedly picked up the top two scrolls and handed them to Liu Che. Liu Che took them out and examined them one by one—Hah, she truly is Chen A-Jiao. She had directly listed more than half of the things he had rewarded her with and the gifts sent by the other palaces over the past few days. Looking closely, he felt that this gift list for the Chen family of Guanshang Lane was perhaps a bit too much!
"Empress, bring the list of gifts you granted to the Wei family here." Liu Che frowned.
Wei Zifu took the top scroll from the other pile of bamboo slips and handed it to the Emperor, smiling. "Sister Chen is kind-hearted and naturally thinks much of her family. I feel that this is also a reflection of her sincerity."
Liu Che opened Wei Zifu’s list, only to find that the one Chen A-Jiao had drafted was a full twofold larger. Moreover, the items overlapped—horn-jade cups, coral bead necklaces, gold locks, and jade pendants were all tripled in number, not looking like rewards for a single household. Thus, he pointed and said, "These duplicates, tell her to reduce them..." With such a reduction, it would likely be similar to what Wei Zifu had drafted.
"As you command," Wei Zifu replied softly, but then she thought for a moment and asked, "Your Majesty, if Sister Chen finds it difficult to make reductions..." She thought that perhaps "Chen Wan" did not know the gift protocols for different ranks in the harem and was simply piling things in for fear of being looked down upon.
Liu Che looked up and said impatiently, "Then just let her have her way." He then knit his brows, his voice deepening slightly. "She has just arrived in the capital and is pregnant; the pregnancy is still in its early stages. You are not permitted to have any disputes with her or provoke her anger."
The smile at the corner of Wei Zifu’s mouth stiffened slightly before she bowed her head in response. "I understand!" For some reason, "Chen Wan" seemed to harbor a deep hostility toward her. These past few days, even when she, the Empress, personally went to Yunguang Palace to see her, "Chen Wan" remained indifferent and aloof.
Now that His Majesty spoke this way, could it be that "Chen Wan" had secretly said something bad about her to the Emperor? Heaven and earth be her witness, she had never gone against the girl's wishes; rather, it was that young girl who loved to speak with a sharp tongue whenever she opened her mouth.
A-Jiao saw that it was already a quarter past the hour of the Snake (9:15 AM), yet the waist tokens from Wei Zifu’s side had not been delivered. She couldn't help but grow a bit impatient.
At half-past the hour of the Snake (9:30 AM), a small eunuch finally reported: "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived."
*? What is going on?* A-Jiao was stunned. She tightened her robe and tucked her feet deeper into the quilt.
When Wei Zifu entered the hall, she saw A-Jiao sitting on a carved rosewood and camphor couch, draped in a fox-fur coat as red as sunset clouds, with half her body buried under a quilt, showing no intention of rising.
"Is Sister doing well today? I was just showing the New Year gift lists of the sisters to His Majesty, and then I came straight here to see you." Wei Zifu sat down with a smile.
A-Jiao listened speechlessly as Wei Zifu called her "Sister" over and over. She had clearly refused many times, yet the woman would still use the term the next time she spoke. It was truly... nauseating.
"What business brings Her Majesty the Empress to Yunguang Palace?" A-Jiao asked, nibbling on a small piece of sweet melon. Others said that craving sour meant a boy and spicy meant a girl, yet she remained as fond of sweets as ever.
Wei Zifu’s smile remained unchanged. "There is indeed a matter. His Majesty looked over Sister’s gift list and felt it was inappropriate!" Seeing that "Chen Wan" only looked at her without speaking, she had to continue, "The gift list Sister drafted is too much. His Majesty said it is not suitable to exceed... the gift list of Jiaofang Hall." The Emperor had not said it directly, but he had made reductions while looking at her own list, and she had calculated carefully—after the cuts, it was indeed almost the same as hers.
A-Jiao knit her brows, thinking: *I was afraid it was too little, but it turns out it was too much.* Back when she was Empress, the New Year gifts she sent back to the Chen family were far more than this. Wei Zifu had been Empress for so many years, with both a salary and a fief; how could she be so stingy?
A-Jiao gave a dainty huff and intentionally pinched her voice to sound soft and fragile. "But Wan’er just wanted to send these things home. Does Her Majesty not allow it?" As she spoke, her eyes turned red. "If Your Majesty is unhappy, I will go tell the Emperor and delete them right now."
Wei Zifu smiled awkwardly. "...Sister, what are you saying? It makes it sound as if I am making things difficult for you. If Sister does not wish to delete them, then there is no need." *Good heavens, I'm so annoyed! She starts crying the moment she speaks—what kind of ailment is this! It's as if I'm bullying her.*
A-Jiao blinked, dabbed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and feigned confusion. "Since these are things that can be deleted or not, Your Majesty made a special trip here for it. Those who don't know might think I've done something wrong!"
Hostility! Obvious hostility! A-Jiao laughed inwardly. This affected, artificial manner was something she had learned from the old Wei Zifu; she hadn't expected that the woman herself wouldn't like it either!
Wei Zifu exchanged a few more casual words, then had someone hand over the tokens before returning to Jiaofang Hall.
A-Jiao handed the tokens to Yuli and Mianfu, gave them a few more instructions, and sent them out of the palace.
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
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年礼 | Nianli / New Year Offerings | Traditional gifts exchanged or sent during the Lunar New Year.
云光殿 | Yunguang Palace | "Cloud Light Palace," A-Jiao's new residence.
捷星殿 | Jiexing Hall | "Star-Reaching Hall," the main hall of Yunguang Palace.
文双殿 | Wenshuang Hall | One of the halls within Yunguang Palace.
映月阁 | Moon-Reflecting Pavilion | A pavilion within Yunguang Palace.
云碧馆 | Cloud-Azure Pavilion | A pavilion within Yunguang Palace.
女史 | Nvshi / Female Scribe | A rank for female palace officials/attendants.
秩 | Zhi / Rank | Refers to the official salary/rank measured in grain.
石 | Dan | A unit of dry measure (approx. 60kg) used to denote official salaries in the Han Dynasty.
冠尚里 | Guanshang Lane | The neighborhood where the current Chen family resides.
北阙甲第 | Northern Gate Estates | An elite residential area near the palace; "Jiadi" refers to first-class mansions.
黄棘里 | Huangji Lane | The neighborhood where Yan Zheng's family resides.
腰牌 | Yaopai / Palace Token | An identification plaque/token used to enter or exit the palace.
内府 | Palace Interior Office | The department managing the internal affairs and supplies of the imperial palace.
计簿 | Jibu / Accounting Records | Statistical and financial reports submitted by local governments to the central authority.
刀笔 | Daobi / Knife-pen | A tool used for carving characters onto bamboo or wooden slips.
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