Empress Orchid Read online

  The “yes” finally came.

  I sensed His Majesty’s elation and Her Majesty’s disappointment.

  “I … I wish Your Majesties ten thousand years of life,” I said, struggling to gain control over my trembling knees. “Your luck will be as full as the East China Sea and your health as green as the Southern—”

  “Wonderful! My longevity has just been shortened,” the Grand Empress interrupted me.

  My knees gave in and my forehead was on the ground.

  “I am afraid I just saw the shadow of a ghost.” The Grand Empress rose from her chair.

  “Which one, my lady?” Chief Eunuch Shim asked. “I’ll catch it for you.”

  “Yes, Shim. Let’s call everything off.”

  Suddenly there came the loud clang of a bamboo chip being thrown into the golden plate. “Time to sing, Shim!” ordered the Emperor.

  “Yehonala stays!” Shim sang.

  I couldn’t remember much after that, only that my life had changed.

  I was startled when Chief Eunuch Shim got down on his knees in front of me and called me his mistress and himself my slave. He helped me back onto my heels. I didn’t even notice what became of the other girls or when they had been escorted out.

  My mind was in a strange state. I recalled an amateur opera back in Wuhu. It was after the New Year’s feast and everyone was drunk, including myself, because my father let me sip the rice wine so I could see how it tasted. The musicians were tuning their instruments. The sound was oddly mournful at first. Then it turned into the sound of a horse being beaten. Then, broken and strained, the notes sounded like wind whistling through the Mongolian grasslands. The opera began. The actors entered, dressed in women’s gowns with blue and white floral prints. The musicians hit their bamboo tubes with sticks as the actors sang and beat their thighs.

  Crack! Crack! Crack! I remembered the sound. It was unpleasant and I couldn’t understand why people liked it. My mother told me that it was a traditional Manchu performance mixed with elements of Chinese opera, originally a form of entertainment for commoners. Once in a while rich people would request it performed, “to taste the local delicacy.”

  I remembered sitting in the first row. My ears grew numb from the loud drums. The sounds of the sticks beating the bamboo tubes felt like a hammer coming down on my skull. Crack! Crack! Crack! My thoughts were beaten out.

  Chief Eunuch Shim had changed his costume. The fabric featured hand-painted red clouds floating over a hill of pine trees. On both of his cheeks, two red tomato-like circles had been drawn. The eunuch must have painted them in a hurry, for the color had smeared. Half of his nose was red too. A narrow white line ran from his forehead down the bridge of his nose. He had a goat’s face, and his eyes looked like they had grown out of his ears. He smiled, revealing a set of gold teeth.

  The old lady was cheered. “Shim, what are you going to say?”

  “Congratulations on your gaining seven daughters-in-law, my lady. Remember the first line the mother-in-law said to her new daughter-in-law in the opera The Wild Rose?”

  “How can anyone forget?” The old lady laughed again as she recited the line: “‘Get your water bucket, daughter-in-law, and go to the well!’”

  Chief Eunuch Shim cheerfully called in the six other girls, among them Nuharoo. The girls entered like goddesses descending from Heaven. They lined up next to me.

  Shim lifted one side of his robe and took two steps, placing himself at the center of the hall facing Emperor Hsien Feng and the Grand Empress. He turned his face to the east and then back to the center. Crisply, he bowed and cheered, “May your grandchildren be counted in the hundreds and may you live forever!”

  We repeated the line after Shim as we got down on our knees.

  Outside the hall came the sound of drums and music.

  A group of eunuchs, each holding a silk-wrapped box, entered.

  “Rise.” The Grand Empress smiled.

  Chief Eunuch Shim announced, “His Majesty summons the ministers of the Imperial court!”

  The sound of hundreds of knees hitting the ground came from outside the hall. “At your service, Your Majesties!” the ministers sang.

  Chief Eunuch Shim announced, “In the presence of the spirit of the Imperial ancestors, and in the presence of Heaven and the universe, His Majesty Emperor Hsien Feng is ready to pronounce the names of his wives!”

  “Zah!” the crowd responded in Manchu.

  Boxes were opened one by one, revealing pieces of ruyi. Each ruyi was a scepter that had three large mushroom- or flower-shaped heads interconnected with a stem. The heads were made of gold, emeralds, rubies and sapphires, and the stem was carved jade or lacquered wood. Each ruyi represented a title and a rank. Ru meant “as” and yi meant “you wish”; ruyi meant “everything you wish.”

  Emperor Hsien Feng took one ruyi from the tray and walked toward us. This ruyi was of carved golden lacquer with three entwined peonies.

  I continued to hold my breath, but I was no longer afraid. No matter what kind of ruyi I would receive, my mother would be proud tomorrow. She would be a mother-in-law to the Son of Heaven, and my siblings Imperial relatives! I regretted only that my father hadn’t lived to see this.

  Emperor Hsien Feng’s fingers played with the ruyi. The flirtatious expression on his face had disappeared. He now looked unsure. He hesitated, frowning with his eyebrows. He shifted the ruyi from one hand to the other, and then, with flushed cheeks, he turned to his mother.

  She gave him an encouraging nod. The Emperor began to circle us like a bee dancing around flowers.

  Suddenly the youngest girl in our line broke out with a muted cry. She looked to be no more than thirteen years old.

  Emperor Hsien Feng walked up to her.

  The girl choked and then began to weep.

  Like an adult giving a crying child a piece of candy, Emperor Hsien Feng put the ruyi in her hand.

  Gripping it, the girl dropped to her knees and said, “Thank you.”

  Chief Eunuch Shim pronounced, “Soo Woozawa, daughter of Yee-mee-chi Woozawa, is selected as the Imperial consort of the fifth rank. Her title is Lady of Absolute Purity!”

  From that moment, things began to flow. The Emperor took little time to bestow the rest of the ruyi.

  When it was my turn, Emperor Hsien Feng walked up to me and placed a ruyi in my palm.

  Like a rooster Shim sang, “Yehonala, daughter of Hui Cheng Yehonala, is selected as the Imperial consort of the fourth rank. Her title is Lady of the Greatest Virtue.”

  I looked at my ruyi. It was made of white jade. Instead of looking like mushrooms, the heads were carved floating clouds interconnected with a divining rod. I remembered my father once telling me that in Imperial symbolism the floating clouds and the rod represented the constellation of the dragon.

  The next ruyi went to the girls named Yun and Li. They were pronounced Imperial consorts of the second and third rank and both titled Lady of Superiority. Their ruyi had the shape of a lingzhi mushroom, the fungus known for its healing power. The heads were decorated with bats, symbols of blessing and prosperity.

  After Yun and Li were Mei and Hui. They ranked sixth and seventh, Ladies of Grand Harmony. I had difficulty remembering who was who, because Mei and Hui looked alike and dressed like twins. The heads of their ruyi carried a stone chime, the symbol of celebration.

  Nuharoo was last. She was pronounced Empress and was given the finest ruyi. The scepter was made of gold inlaid with chunks of jewels and jade. The ornamented stem was carved with symbols of the harvest: grains and fruit-bearing branches, peaches, apples and grapes. The three heads were gold pomegranates, signifying numerous offspring and immortality. Nuharoo’s eyes glowed and she bowed deeply.

  Led by Nuharoo, the seven of us got up and then went down on our knees, over and over. We kowtowed to Emperor Hsien Feng and the Grand Empress. We sang our drill in one voice: “I wish Your Majesties ten thousand years of life. May your luck be as full as the Eas
t China Sea and your health as green as the Southern Mountains!”

  Five

  AFTER SUNSET I was brought back to my family on a palanquin escorted by a group of eunuchs. I was wrapped in a golden dress like an expensive gift. The head eunuch told my mother that until the day of the Imperial wedding ceremony I was to stay home.

  Also coming home with me were gifts from the Emperor to my father, mother, sister and brother. My father was given a set of eight feather fasteners for a mandarin’s court hat. Each hollow porcelain cylinder was used to fasten a peacock feather, with a ring on top of the tube to connect it to the hat. The gift would pass to my brother.

  My mother was given a special lacquered ruyi carved with auspicious designs. The top showed the three star gods, who granted blessings, wealth and longevity. The center showed a bat carrying a stone chime and double fish, signifying abundance. On the bottom were roses and chrysanthemums representing prosperity.

  Rong received a gorgeously carved sandalwood good-luck box, which held a set of green jade carvings. Kuei Hsiang was granted a set of enameled belt hooks with dragon heads ornamenting the tops. On the hooks he could hang his mirror, pouch, seal, a weapon or a money purse.

  According to the court astrologer, I was to enter the Forbidden City on a particular day and hour—the Imperial Guards would fetch me when the proper moment arrived. The head eunuch gave my family a set of instructions to follow regarding court ritual and etiquette. He pa-tiently went over the details with us. Kuei Hsiang would stand in my father’s place. And Rong would be given a dress for the day. My mother was granted ten thousand taels to furnish the house. Her mouth fell open when she saw the taels being carried into the room in cases. She quickly became afraid of robbery. She asked Kuei Hsiang to keep the windows and door locked at all times. The head eunuch told my mother not to worry, since the house was already heavily guarded. “Not a fly will get in, mistress.”

  I asked the head eunuch if I was allowed to visit friends. I wished to say goodbye to Big Sister Fann.

  “No,” he told me.

  I was disappointed. I asked Rong to return the dress I had borrowed from Big Sister Fann, and to take her three hundred taels as a farewell gift. Rong went immediately and came back with Big Sister Fann’s blessing.

  For many days Mother and Rong shopped while Kuei Hsiang and I cleaned and decorated the house. We hired laborers to do the heavy work. We put on a new roof, repaired the old walls, installed new windows and fixed the broken gate. My uncle took the opportunity to order a brand-new redwood door, elaborately carved with the image of the god of money. We replaced the old furniture and painted the walls. We hired the best carpenters and artists in town. Everyone took his job as a great honor. Fancy patterns were created on window frames and doorsills, mimicking the Imperial style. The craftsmen made incense holders, altar tables and staircases. Sometimes they had to work with toothpick-sized knives in order to fashion the desired details.

  The head eunuch came to inspect the house after the work was completed. He made no comment and his expression revealed little. He showed up again the next day, however, and brought with him a group of people. They tore apart the whole place and said that they had to start from scratch. The roof, the walls, the windows, even Uncle’s new door—all of it had to go.

  “The decree will not be delivered if your door faces the wrong direction!” the head eunuch said to Mother and Uncle.

  Nervous, Mother and Uncle begged for advice.

  “Which direction do you think you should kneel to thank His Majesty?” the eunuch asked, and then answered his own question. “North! Because the Emperor always sits facing the south.”

  My family followed the head eunuch as he walked around the house, pointing his finger at everything.

  “The shade of paint is wrong.” His hand drew circles in the room. “It should be a warm beige instead of a cold beige. His Majesty expects cheerfulness!”

  “But Orchid told us that His Majesty would not be present in our house,” Mother said. “Did Orchid misunderstand?”

  The eunuch shook his head. “You must learn to see that you are no longer your old self. You have become part of His Majesty, and you represent the Imperial aesthetics and principles. What you did with your house could ruin the appearance of the Son of Heaven! My head wouldn’t be where it sits if I allowed you to do whatever you like. Look at your curtains! They are made of cotton! Didn’t I tell you that cotton is for ordinary people and silk is for the Imperial family? Did my words go through your ears like the wind? It’ll bring your daughter bad luck if you try to be cheap!”

  At my repeated pleading the head eunuch agreed to let us get out of the house while his men conducted the renovation. Mother took us to Peking’s most prestigious teahouses, in an expensive shopping district called Wangfooching. For the first time Mother spent like a rich lady. She tipped the busboy, the kitchen hands, even the stove man. The owners themselves brought the finest wines to our table. I was glad to see Mother happy. My being chosen had changed the condition of her health overnight. She looked well and was in exuberant spirits. We drank and celebrated. I had no real reason to be proud, because my good looks had nothing to do with me. But I thanked myself for having had the courage. I would have missed the opportunity if I had hesitated or carried myself poorly.

  Mother wanted to know if the newly selected Imperial concubines would get along living together in the Forbidden City. I didn’t want her to worry, so I told her that I had already made friends. I described Nuharoo’s beauty, her admirable manners and knowledge. I also described Lady Yun. I didn’t know much about her character or family background, so I concentrated on her beauty. I mentioned Lady Li as well. I described the difference in their characters. While Yun was daring and cared little about the opinions of others, Li wondered if she was the reason that people coughed.

  Rong was a bit jealous when I mentioned Lady Soo, the youngest, who wept in front of the Majesties. Soo’s sensitivity needed tenderness and care. She was an orphan, adopted by her uncle at the age of five, and she was obviously both sad and scared. The Grand Empress sent doctors to examine her; they concluded that she had a disturbed mind. Soo’s weeping didn’t stop after she was officially chosen. The eunuchs called her the Weeping Willow. The Grand Empress became concerned about the quality of the “eggs” that Soo would produce. “No quality eggs, no ladyship,” she had said to all of us. If Soo continued to be who she was, Her Majesty would give her away.

  “Poor child.” My mother sighed.

  I went on to speak of Lady Mei and Lady Hui, the two who looked like twins. They had less beauty but strong bodies. They were the Grand Empress’s favorites. Their breasts were as big as melons and their buttocks were the size of washbasins. They were gifted in flattery and hovered around Nuharoo like pets. Cheerful and animated in front of the Grand Empress, they were wooden and silent by themselves. They didn’t like to read, paint or do embroidery. Their only hobby was to dress alike.

  “Did the Grand Empress Lady Jin look like the paintings we have seen, beautiful and elegant?”

  “She must have been a beauty when young,” I replied. “Today I would say that the pattern on her dress is more interesting than her looks.”

  “What was she like?” both Mother and Rong asked. “What does she expect from you?”

  “That is a hard question. On the one hand, we are expected to follow the rules. ‘As royal members,’” I mimicked Her Majesty, “‘you are the models for our nation’s morality. Your purity reflects our ancestors’ teachings. If I catch you passing around books of a salacious nature, you will be hanged like those before you.’ On the other hand, the Grand Empress expects us to mate with Emperor Hsien Feng as often as we can. She told us that her achievement will rest in the number of heirs we produce. The Emperor is expected to outperform his father and grandfather. Emperor Kang Hsi, Hsien Feng’s great-great-grandfather, sired fifty-five children, and Emperor Chien Lung, Hsien Feng’s grandfather, twenty-seven.”
r />   “That shouldn’t be a problem.” Kuei Hsiang smiled slyly as he threw a fistful of roasted nuts into his mouth. “His Majesty has more than three thousand ladies all to himself. I bet he can hardly make the rounds.”

  “But there are obstacles,” I told Mother. Hsien Feng’s performance in the Record Book of Imperial Fertility, a diary kept by Chief Eunuch Shim that traced His Majesty’s bedchamber activity, was poor. The Grand Empress had accused the Emperor of “deliberately wasting the dragon seeds.” Too often, His Majesty was said to favor a single concubine, forgetting his duty to spread his seeds by sleeping with different ladies each night. The Grand Empress spoke angrily of past concubines who had been possessive of His Majesty. She saw them as “wicked-minded” and didn’t hesitate to punish them severely.

  I told Mother that the Grand Empress had taken us to the Hall of Punishment, where I saw for the first time the famous beauty Lady Fei. She used to be the favorite concubine of Emperor Tao Kuang, but now she lived in a jar. When I saw that Lady Fei had no limbs I almost fainted. “Lady Fei was caught having the Emperor all to herself, and she fooled nobody but herself,” the Grand Empress said coldly. The only reason Lady Fei was kept alive was to serve as a warning.

  I would never forget my horror that afternoon at the sight of Lady Fei. Her head rested on the rim of the jar, her face was filthy, and green mucus dripped from her chin.

  Mother grabbed my shoulders. “Promise me, Orchid, that you will be careful and wise.”

  I nodded.

  “What about the thousands of beauties selected?” Kuei Hsiang asked. “Is His Majesty encouraged to take ladies at a moment’s interest? Can he take a maid who is a courtyard sweeper?”

  “He can do anything he wants, although his mother doesn’t encourage him to take courtyard sweepers,” I answered.

  Rong turned to Mother. “Why would His Majesty want a maid when he has beautiful wives and concubines?”

  “I can only say that the Emperor might resent the fact that he doesn’t get the chance to sleep every night with the woman he loves.”