XV. Preparations

The road is cleared for Yong Qi's ascension.

In the twenty-ninth year of Emperor Qian Long's reign, Yong Qi came to see the emperor and agreed to marry Tongjia Zhu Ying as his primary consort.

It was a decision that two days earlier, Yong Qi did not think he would have made.

He had been so ready to make good on his vow to Xiao Yan Zi, made years ago, that if things ever became desperate enough, he could give up his title and position as prince to ensure her happiness.

It had been Xiao Yan Zi, however, who put a stop to that plan. She had pointed out, with painful simplicity, that even if he could bring himself to leave the wealth and the prestige, to leave his father and his family, his duties and not an insignificant part of his honour, she could not allow him to leave his son.

Whatever selfish desires she might have, of course she could not bring herself to be the reason that Mian Yi lived without a father as she had done for most of her life. If she had the heart to do such thing, she wouldn't have been the Xiao Yan Zi that Yong Qi fell in love with. It didn't matter that Mian Yi would still have Zhi Hua, because Yong Qi, of all people, knew only too well what it was like to live with a mother burdened with the regrets of a spurned wife.

When the emotions had time to settle, Yong Qi found himself feeling the shame of having considered at all putting his own child through such a fate.

His father was shocked when Yong Qi came to tell him he accepted the marriage to Tongjia Zhu Ying. It was clear that the emperor had not expected Yong Qi to voluntarily accept the potential marriage, and had anticipated doing a lot more persuasive work.

But Yong Qi had met the lady herself, and it was a meeting most unlike anything he could have expected. Certainly he could not have predicted that they would end up agreeing that the very fact that both their hearts were occupied elsewhere might mean they could turn this arrangement into something that might work. If he hadn't just gone through all the processes of accepting this arrangement himself, he probably would have been just as shocked as his father at his own decision now.

He tried not to pay attention to the way his father briefly narrowed his eyes suspiciously, as if he thought Yong Qi was bluffing.

He wasn't, and he supposed eventually his father would realise that.

"Very well, I must say I am happy you have come to this decision," the emperor said. "However this came about, I must say, Yong Qi, a connection to the Tongjia family would be good in more than one way for you in the long run."

There was a pause where Yong Qi only nodded in acknowledgement of his words. He was far from ignorant of the advantages of being connected to such a power family, especially considering his mother's family afforded little advantage to him at all. Not that his father said that. Not that he ever spoke of Yong Qi's mother.

"Very well, I will have Ling Gui Fei and Jing Shi Fang make the necessary arrangements," the emperor said. "It will be well, Yong Qi."

Yong Qi managed a brief reassuring smile to his father. "Yes, thank you, Huang Ah Ma."

Thank you, Yong Qi had said. Qian Long was almost sure the words were spoken as an instinctive reaction more than anything else. He wasn't beyond understanding that there really was little that Yong Qi truly felt thankful about with this marriage. However, if he was accepting it, then Qian Long would not question how that resolution came about. He and Xiao Yan Zi would have to learn, eventually, how to live a life that only nominal belonged to them, to carve out the little slivers of time and space for personal pleasure when the rest of their lives must be devoted to much large considerations of duties.

Still, this whole idea of a match with the Tongjia family had required Qian Long to make even longer-term, wider-reaching considerations about Yong Qi's future. Until he thought upon the issue, he sometimes had almost forgotten that she existed. He knew, of course, that Yong Qi did not. Of course he did not; he could not. But for Qian Long, she had been quite literally out of sight, out of mind, which he supposed had been her purpose in taking herself away all along.

Time has washed away whatever anger he might have once held, and now he could only think of Yong Qi. Qian Long knew too well that Yong Qi had always felt keenly her absence, but he had grown into an exceptional prince and good son in spite of it. Whatever punishment she might have deserved, whatever the reason for this separation, it must be inconsequential now when Qian Long had his son and his empire's future to plan for.

It was he who had to bring her back, even if it meant exerting efforts to obfuscate the resulting loss of face. Still, the decision of it had to come from him. He could not leave Yong Qi to have to make it.

That day, Yong Qi was in his study when Xiao Shun Zi came in.

"Wang Ye, an imperial edict has arrived."

"An imperial edict?" Yong Qi asked, puzzled.

"Yes, Wang Ye. Li Yu Gong Gong awaits to deliver it himself to the whole household. I have already sent words to Yan Fujin and Chen Fujin."

What could this imperial edict be about? The one that officially decreed his marriage to Tongjia Zhu Ying had already been delivered the day before. That there was to be a new one so soon after seemed to make little sense. Nevertheless, Yong Qi stood up and made his way to the main receiving hall of his manor.

When he arrived, Yong Qi gave a tiny shrug in answer to Xiao Yan Zi's questioning gaze. The only thing he really knew was that the emperor's head eunuch Li Yu was extracted from his duties to deliver this edict, which meant it was a matter of utmost importance.

He knelt with Xiao Yan Zi and Zhi Hua on either side of him, and listened as Li Yu read.

"In accordance with the Mandate from Heaven, the Emperor proclaims:

"In the thirteenth year of our reign, we gave approval for Yu Fei, née Keliyete, to leave the palace and retire to Bai Yun Si in order to pray for the departed soul of our beloved Empress Xiao Xian, and the prosperity of the empire…"

Whatever Yong Qi expected the imperial edict to be about, he truly did not expect that it would concern his mother. His head almost jerked up to stare at Li Yu, before years of self-control forced him to keep it bowed. Still, he could not help but clench his hands together into fists at his sides and he swallowed a painful lump in his throat. Xiao Yan Zi turned her bowed head to furtively look at him with concern and he only managed to grimace in response.

Li Yu must know the turbulence in Yong Qi's heart. He read on.

"These many years, Yu Fei has remained virtuous and irreproachable, and her piety in service of the peace of the empire is to be commended. Now, as Rong Qin Wang is to receive the Lady Tongjia as a primary consort, Yu Fei should return to the palace to receive the filial duties of her son and his wife. Thus, it is decreed that on the auspicious day of the fifteen day of the eleventh month of the twenty-ninth year of our reign, Yu Fei shall return to the palace and reassume her seat as head of Yong He Gong. Receive this grace."

The silence after the proclamation seemed to ring in the air and Yong Qi found himself floundering to find his voice. In the end, though he sounded hoarse and unlike himself, he managed to thank the emperor for the imperial edict and held his hands up to receive the scroll from Li Yu. He was grateful, however, for Xiao Yan Zi's hand at his elbow as his stood up, as he wasn't sure he could feel his knees at all.

"Congratulations, Wang Ye," Zhi Hua said after Li Yu had departed and Yong Qi was left still holding the imperial edict in his hands. "Niang Niang's and your years of difficulties are finally over."

Yong Qi gave her a forced smile, but in truth he was still in a daze, hardly believing what had just happened.

He was forced to become more alert, however, when Xiao Yan Zi, now assured he wasn't about to collapse from the shock, stalked off, her face thunderous.

Yong Qi eventually found her in their bedroom, pacing angrily around the room.

"Why are you angry?" he asked, too drained from the effect of the imperial edict to bring himself to try and guess her mood.

"Why am I angry?" she demanded. "Why aren't you angry?"

He just stared at her quietly. It did not make her any less annoyed. But he supposed, it was a good thing that she was clearly not angry at him; he would be equally hard pressed to figure out why if that had been the case.

"How long as it been? Nearly sixteen years!" Xiao Yan Zi cried. "All these years, has Huang Ah Ma once cared how E'niang is living, how she is faring? Has he ever asked? Never! But of course, he's the emperor, so with a flick of his hand, suddenly she's virtuous and pious and irreproachable. Does Huang Ah Ma think these sixteen years had been a stroll in the garden? Does Huang Ah Ma somehow think these hollow words make up for everything that E'niang had to endure, that you had to endure all these years? And now he just expects her to return to the inner palace as if nothing was ever wrong, as if she actually should rejoice in the prospect! What rubbish!"

"Xiao Yan Zi," Yong Qi said, unable to sound anything other than tired, "I am sure this imperial edict is meant in kindness."

"I am sure it is not!" she retorted. "I think Huang Ah Ma knows he and Lao Fo Ye has been pushing you with Tongjia Zhu Ying. Though you've told him you agree to marry her, I bet Huang Ah Ma doesn't think you're being sincere and wants to give you a reason to stay put. It's not as if you can run off with me while E'niang is in the palace, is it?"

He had…not thought about in that way. Or, really, he had had no time to think of it in that way. But now that she had mentioned it, the part of Yong Qi that could push aside loyalty to Huang Ah Ma and indulge in cynicism for the ways of the palace, had to agree with Xiao Yan Zi.

No, she was right, reinstating his mother to her position would ensure that Yong Qi could never dream of disowning his position and title. It wasn't just that his mother would never be able to leave the palace now and he would need to stay if he wished to do his filial duties. It was that, having been absent from the politics of the inner palace for over fifteen years, her reintroduction would create a huge wave among the imperial consorts. A new young consort entering the palace often threatened those who were already there because she could take away the emperor's affection and favour. Yu Fei probably would not do that, but she represented a threat still, re-entering the palace with a grown son. The other consorts would see this as even bigger of an insult, and the only source of protection she had in the face of all of this was him. Only with him around that his father's other concubines would feel they could not unleash the full dangers of their jealousies. Of course he had to stay now; he'd be throwing his mother to the wolves otherwise.

Leaving was no longer an option.

Yong Qi knew the fact that they were now anchored wasn't exactly what was making Xiao Yan Zi so angry. After all, it had been she who decided that they should stay, for Mian Yi's sake. No, Xiao Yan Zi was genuinely indignant because of the way Huang Ah Ma was using E'niang as a chess piece. He really didn't expect any less from her.

Yong Qi couldn't afford to dwell on thoughts like this. Not now, not when it would be hard enough for E'niang to adjust to the palace without having to pick up on his resentments.

So he said to Xiao Yan Zi, "I'm not saying you're wrong, but what does it matter?"

"What does it matter?" Xiao Yan Zi cried. "It matters a lot!"

"No, it doesn't, Xiao Yan Zi," Yong Qi countered. "I don't want to think like that. I can't think like that anymore. I just want to take this imperial edict in the spirit that it was intended to be. No matter Huang Ah Ma's reasons, this is happening, so can we not pick it apart and let's just make the best of it. All right?"

Xiao Yan Zi saw his weary patience, stared at him for a moment, before deflating. She let out a huff of a breath. "All right," she agreed, still sounding very annoyed, but he was thankful when she let the subject drop. Between them, at least.

"It's is not only that Huang Shang wishes to give Yong Qi a reason to stay," Qing Er said to Xiao Yan Zi the next day as they stepped into Yong He Gong.

Though officially Ling Gui Fei was in charge of preparing the palace for Yu Fei's arrival, she had asked Xiao Yan Zi to have a look when she visited that day. On the way from Yan Xi Gong to Yong He Gong, Xiao Yan Zi had come across Qing Er and couldn't help airing some of her displeasure with the way this return was coming about.

"I mean, it is a reason," Qing Er said, "but that is only in the short term. I think Huang Shang is making this move for a more long-term goal."

"What long term goal?" Xiao Yan Zi snapped.

Qing Er looked around and even though the courtyard was deserted, and there was no one but the two of them with their most trusted maids about, she pulled Xiao Yan Zi closer. Her words were spoken in a whisper. "One cannot make a demoted consort who lives as a commoner into the empress dowager."

"What?" Xiao Yan Zi exclaimed, more loudly than she ought. Qing Er gave her a pointed look. Xiao Yan Zi's eyes widened. She forced herself to lower her voice. "You think that Huang Ah Ma wishes to make Yong Qi the crown prince?"

"If I dare, I would say it is a sure thing, especially after what happened with Si Ah Ge," Qing Er said. She took Xiao Yan Zi's arm and led her into the main hall. They would need to make note of all the things that needed repairing and what was missing from the palace to ensure it was a liveable place and report back to Ling Gui Fei.

"Si Ah Ge? What does Si Ah Ge have anything to do with this?"

"You know that he caused a scene at the state banquet last year, right? And that he was adopted as Lu Qin Wang's grandson just before the old prince died and has now inherited the title?"

"Yes," Xiao Yan Zi said slowly. Not for the first time, she was overtaken by the feeling that she was grasping at air, ignorant of some matter of politics that apparently everyone in the palace knew. "Still, what does that have anything to do with anything?"

"You wouldn't know, because you spend so much time with Wu Ah Ge, but for many years, Huang Shang's most favoured son was actually Si Ah Ge. He was the first prince born after Huang Shang's ascension to the throne, so his position was always quite prestigious. Wu Ah Ge gave him quite a run for his money as he got older, of course, and in terms of talents, they are quite closely matched. But Si Ah Ge always also had the advantage of his mother having been consistently one of Huang Shang's most favoured consort, partly because she was so blessed with sons. If Si Ah Ge didn't get arrogant and caused Huang Shang such great embarrassment in a state banquet, I doubt Huang Shang would have made him inherit out of the emperor's line.

"Si Ah Ge is not eligible for the throne now, of course. But because he has lost face and favour, it has implicated the standing of his brothers of the same mother, Ba Ah Ge and Shi Yi Ah Ge, as well. Liu Ah Ge was shifted off to become Prince Shen's adopted grandson to inherit his title also because his full brother San Ah Ge fell from grace. With so many of the princes now officially or unofficially unavailable, Huang Shang doesn't have many choices left and Yong Qi is the only one fully grown. So this decision with Yu Fei Niang Niang is actually quite pointed."

"Doesn't Huang Ah Ma still have Shi Er Ah Ge?" Xiao Yan Zi grumbled. "Doesn't he take precedence?"

"As the son of the empress, usually he would. But really, Xiao Yan Zi, after what happened to Lady Ulanara, do you think Shi Er Ah Ge even has a chance?"

Xiao Yan Zi pursed her lips.

"Of course, even if the other princes were in consideration," Qing Er said, "Wu Ah Ge is still Huang Shang's best choice, and I think at this stage, many would agree. So while I do understand your anger at what seems like cold calculation on Huang Shang's part in reinstating Yu Fei, he is also trying to clear the way for Yong Qi."

"And that isn't a calculated move?"

"It is, but it is also done out of fatherly concern. Huang Shang does not wish to leave Yong Qi to make the decision, because that would burden him with the dilemma that if he did his duties to his mother, it could also be seen as defying his father."

Xiao Yan Zi was not necessarily convinced, but perhaps Yong Qi had been right. It didn't matter. It was happening. While she was convinced that she was right to be angry – and neither Yong Qi nor Qing Er had precisely disagreed – it was clear that the only thing her anger had achieved was to make Yong Qi feel even more conflicted about the whole thing. It wasn't as if she wished Huang Ah Ma would take back the imperial edict, really. She wasn't even sure the whole of her anger was directed at Huang Ah Ma. Perhaps it was more directed at the perverse ways this life, this palace, always seemed to twist even the most simple of familial relationships into something murky and political.

Still, she was happy that Yong Qi would now be able to more openly care for his mother. The fact that the only way for him to do that was for her to return to the firepit that was the inner palace just rubbed her all the wrong ways.

Yu Fei retuned to the palace, as expected, to the hostile, subtle and not-so-subtle, stares of many the inner palace. She was, technically, the second-highest-ranking consort, by virtue of being the longest-serving, positioned just below Ling Gui Fei. She even had a distinction over Ling Gui Fei in that she had served the emperor since he was a prince, an honour now only shared with unfavoured Wan Pin and the disgraced Empress Ulanara. That she had no wish to pull rank did not matter to those who were unhappy, feeling that their positions were being usurped.

However, no one could say anything overtly or openly disrespectful, because Ling Gui Fei, who was now in charge of the affairs of the inner palace, made clear from the first gathering after Yu Fei returned of her sincere respect and support.

"I should kneel and thank you for all that you have done for Yong Qi these many years," Yu Fei said, when she was able to speak to Ling Gui Fei alone.

"What are you saying? I only did what I should, and Yong Qi is a good child. He has been kind to my own children over the years," Ling Gui Fei said. "I am only sorry you and he missed so much time together."

"Well, I am here now. I confess, when the imperial edict came, I wasn't sure whether it was a blessing or a curse. But having thought about it, I can only tell myself to be glad that Yong Qi will be free to visit me from now on. Whatever else comes, at least I can be there to support him."

"Yes, and I think he will need that, for what is to come."

The inner palace, with all its swordless wars and competitions, was a place where rivalries and alliances formed or fell apart with regularity. Yong Qi did not think, after all her time away from the palace at an abbey following the teachings of the Buddha, that his mother was interested in joining any faction. Of course, that didn't mean that the factions didn't form themselves around her, as he found out by unsettling surprise one day.

He was making his way through the imperial garden, heading towards Yong He Gong, to greet his mother, when he encountered Qing Fei.

"I am surprised to see Rong Qin Wang in the inner palace so often lately," Qing Fei said after he had greeted her. "Of course, I understand the draw, but you must not worry that we old ladies are bullying Yu Fei Jiejie that you must check up on her."

"Of course I dare not think so, Qing Fei Niang Niang," Yong Qi said. "I hope you do not think that when I pay respect to my mother that I am checking if she has suffered mistreatments. I merely seek to ask after her health, as my filial duties dictate."

"Your filial duties, indeed. I never saw you so attentive to your filial duties to Ling Gui Fei Niang Niang before and yet she helped raised you. Yet you so often left paying respects to her to your ladies, I believe, and rarely deigned to go yourself."

Yong Qi could, of course, explain that, before, he left Xiao Yan Zi, and now more recently, Zhu Ying as well, to pay respect to Ling Gui Fei because they enjoyed each other's company. One can be too attentive to a high-ranking consort such as Ling Gui Fei, and if he had doubled up efforts to pay daily respect to Ling Gui Fei as well as his wives, Qing Fei would be accusing them all of currying favour with the noble consort now.

He didn't think that Qing Fei was looking for an explanation, though, so he did not give it. Instead, he was trying to find a segue to change the topic, or alternatively, reason to escape Qing Fei, when someone rounded the corner.

"Really, Qing Fei, I'm not sure you should be lecturing anyone else's child," Ying Fei said. "Not when the totality of your mothering experience is taking care of Shi Wu Ah Ge and Shi Qi Ah Ge for two months when Ling Gui Fei Niang Niang was sick."

She nodded cordially to Yong Qi's greeting, before turning back to Qing Fei.

"I'm sure you would not wish Huang Shang to hear that you think it is somehow wrong for Rong Qin Wang to pay daily respect to his own birth mother? Filial piety is a quintessential Han value, how is it that a Han woman like yourself understand it even less than I?"

Qing Fei huffed, but clearly was uninterested in an argument with Ying Fei, because she left, looking peeved.

Yong Qi gave Ying Fei a bow and said, "Yong Qi thanks Ying Fei Niang Niang for your assistance. But I believe I could have managed Qing Fei Niang Niang's queries myself."

"I am sure Rong Qin Wang is very capable," Ying Fei said. "But I am rather offended that you would think I should not help you."

"I beg Ying Fei Niang Niang's pardon, I did not mean any offense."

Silently, he genuinely did wonder why Ying Fei went out of her way to speak for him, when they had barely interacted before. She couldn't have just wanted to exchange barbs with Qing Fei, not when the conversation was so short. She could have merrily gone on her way. He wasn't a child in need of rescuing. Whatever censures or pointed comments Qing Fei could make, it wasn't as if she could genuinely hurt or harm him.

"Well, I am sure I forgive you," Ying Fei said. "But you must remember, though the Mongolian consorts in the palace have always enjoyed much favour from Huang Shang, alas, your mother is the only one who had the fortune to have a child grown. Now that Huang Shang has been pleased enough to restore the honours of her position to her, of course we must all stand together to support you both. How could I, a daughter of the mighty Barin line, allow someone without a shred of prestige in her family line such as Qing Fei try to lord her insignificant position over you?"

So, there it was. Given the way Ying Fei had developed her own circle of exclusively Mongolian consorts and concubines in the palace over the years, he really shouldn't have been surprised that she wished now to include his mother in it. Of course, because his mother had him, she would be an asset to them, even if she might not have an interest in joining them. Likely, as far as the rest of the inner palace was concerned, she was probably automatically part of that circle merely by virtue of her surname alone.

Then again, aside from protection from Ling Gui Fei, having the additional support from the brash and outspoken Ying Fei and her circle was not necessarily a bad thing, either. They didn't have any motive to stab her in the back. Besides, Yong Qi was far from ignorant that Ying Fei was offering more than just support for his mother in the inner palace. No, she had entire Mongolian tribes behind her and thus their armies at her disposal.

As Yong Qi bowed before her to thank her again, and bid her to visit with his mother if she had time, he couldn't help but wonder that, if Ying Fei had been fortunate enough to have a son, what different, dangerous and hostile direction this day's encounter would have gone.

And wasn't that the way of the palace.