The Emperor carried Jiang Lingye back to Shenlong Hall. Afterward, it was said that Consort Xian went to see Empress Dowager Xue, crying and making a scene, asking the Empress Dowager to uphold justice for her. After hearing the whole story, Empress Dowager Xue laughed: “It’s just a plaything—is it worth such a fuss?”
Consort Xian sobbed: “But His Majesty made her an Imperial Concubine…”
“What’s an Imperial Concubine? He didn’t make her Empress.”
“But she’s so base—what right does she have to be an Imperial Concubine?”
Empress Dowager Xue smiled: “Who says those of base origins can’t be Imperial Concubines? Among the late Emperor’s consorts, many were of humble birth.”
“But… but she’s bewitching! She dared to seduce His Majesty at my bedside! And with His Majesty in the Hibiscus Forest… in the Hibiscus Forest…”
Consort Xian covered her face and cried: “She’s so debased I can’t even bring myself to say it!”
Empress Dowager Xue said, “For a palace maid wanting to change her fate, isn’t seduction her only option? How can one be noble while seducing? This isn’t a serious matter.”
“But Aunt, she’s so calculating! She’ll throw the imperial harem into chaos!”
Empress Dowager Xue didn’t want to continue the conversation. She yawned: “Enough. A mere palace maid doesn’t have such abilities. I’m tired—you may leave.”
Empress Dowager Xue dismissively sent Consort Xian away and expressed no opposition to the Emperor’s appointment of Jiang Lingye. After all, the Emperor was her son, while Consort Xian was only her niece. She knew clearly who was closer to her.
Even though this son wasn’t her flesh and blood, what did it matter? She was now the Emperor’s mother, and with this identity, she could wield great power and do as she pleased. So, regarding the small matter of the Emperor appointing a servant, she couldn’t be bothered to interfere. She didn’t want to pressure the Emperor too much.
Jiang Lingye was thus smoothly appointed as Imperial Concubine and given residence in Fengyang Pavilion. Standing in Fengyang Pavilion, looking around at the luxurious furnishings, she felt as if she were in another world.
Just days ago, she had been a servant who could be beaten and punished at will. Her master could decide whether she lived or died, her life as insignificant as a blade of grass. But now, she had become a master herself. In the inner chamber, knelt a group of servants waiting to attend to her. And she could now decide whether they lived or died.
Was this the taste of power?
Jiang Lingye stared at those submissive servants, then suddenly came to her senses. She quickly stepped forward and helped them up one by one. The servants had never seen such a master and were all stunned.
Jiang Lingye said kindly, “Everyone, I too was once a servant. I know the hardships of being a servant. I dare not promise anything else, but I can promise that I will treat you as human beings.”
The servants looked at each other in confusion. No one had ever told them they would be treated as human beings. They didn’t know how to respond. But in the days that followed, Jiang Lingye kept her word through her actions.
Unlike other consorts who treated servants harshly, she was generous. She would share the gifts the Emperor gave her with her servants instead of keeping everything for herself. Sometimes, when a servant’s family member fell ill, she would grant them a substantial sum of money. In time, the servants of Fengyang Pavilion became deeply grateful to her and unwaveringly loyal.
After Jiang Lingye was appointed Imperial Concubine, the Emperor showed her great favor. Even when reviewing and responding to memorials in Shenlong Hall, he would have her accompany him.
Jiang Lingye had become very skilled at grinding ink. While grinding, she occasionally looked up at the Emperor’s memorials. The Emperor smiled: “Can you read?”
Jiang Lingye shook her head, rare disappointment flashing in her eyes: “No.”
Her family had been too poor; being able to eat their fill was already fortunate—how could they afford the luxury of learning to read?
“Then why do you keep looking at our memorials?”
“This concubine isn’t looking at the memorials, but at the brush Your Majesty is holding.”
“Oh?” The Emperor glanced at the wolf-hair brush in his hand. “What’s so interesting about the brush?”
“This concubine feels that this brush is very heavy.”
“Heavy?” The Emperor curiously weighed his brush. “How is it heavy?”
Jiang Lingye pressed her lips together, then boldly said: “Your Majesty, my grandfather ran a spice business in Chang’an. He was diligent and honest, working hard for many years to accumulate some wealth. At that time, the Western regions were eager for Chinese musk, and the price had risen sharply. Selling musk to the Western regions could bring considerable profit.”
“So my grandfather invested all his wealth in purchasing musk, preparing to transport it to the Western regions for sale. Unexpectedly, the court suddenly issued an edict prohibiting the private sale of musk to the Western regions, just like silk and metals. But my grandfather had already bought ox carts and hired workers. With the edict issued, he could no longer go to the Western regions.”
The Emperor seemed thoughtful: “What happened later?”
“Later… a year later, the edict was rescinded. Musk could be sold to the Western regions as before. But my grandfather, overcome with anxiety, had already died of illness, leaving my father and mother with a multitude of creditors. From then on, our family had no surplus rice.”
A hastily changed edict could cause a family to lose everything.
Jiang Lingye’s voice choked slightly. She sniffed and lowered her gaze, continuing to grind the ink: “Therefore, this concubine feels that Your Majesty’s brush is very heavy—heavy enough to determine the survival of countless common people.”
The Emperor stared at the brush in his hand for a long time before saying: “That edict was issued by Our grandfather.”
The Emperor’s grandfather was a notoriously dissolute ruler who did whatever his favored consort wanted. That edict was issued because his favored consort complained that musk prices had risen so high that her family sisters could barely afford them. So the Emperor’s grandfather casually issued the edict that ruined Jiang Lingye’s family.
The Emperor silently gripped his brush, writing on the memorial stroke by stroke. After a while, he suddenly said, “We will not follow our grandfather’s example.”
Jiang Lingye looked up. The Emperor said, “Rest assured, from now on, every stroke we write will be carefully considered.”
Jiang Lingye’s eyes grew hot. She put down the ink stone, bowed her head, and sincerely knelt in salutation: “This concubine, on behalf of all common people, thanks Your Majesty.”
The Emperor stopped writing and looked at her. After a moment, he calmly averted his eyes. He dipped his wolf-hair brush in the ink: “The ink is running low. Why aren’t you grinding more?”
Jiang Lingye hurriedly replied: “This concubine will grind it immediately.”
Jiang Lingye ground ink, and the Emperor reviewed memorials. Before they knew it, it was almost noon. Outside Shenlong Hall, the weather was fine and sunny. Inside, the atmosphere was warm and sweet.
When the Emperor came to a particular memorial, he looked at her and laughed. Jiang Lingye bit her lip, curiously stealing a glance at the Emperor. The Emperor said, “Are you wondering why we’re laughing?”
Jiang Lingye nodded. The Emperor picked up the memorial and read it to her. It turned out to be a memorial urging the Emperor not to favor Jiang Lingye.
The memorial was submitted by the Governor of Qu Prefecture, who was elderly. Having heard that the Emperor recently favored a merchant’s daughter, he was deeply concerned. In the memorial, he compared Jiang Lingye to Da Ji and Bao Si, and advised the Emperor to stay away from her and spend more time with noble consorts like Consort Xian. At the end of the memorial, the Governor of Qu Prefecture even mentioned that commoners were saying Jiang Lingye was transformed from a fox. Perhaps, he suggested, Imperial Concubine Jiang was a demon, and His Majesty should invite Taoist priests to examine her.
Hearing this, Jiang Lingye couldn’t help but laugh. The Emperor said, “He slanders you like this, yet you can still laugh?”
Jiang Lingye blinked and asked: “So is Your Majesty going to invite Taoist priests to see if this concubine is a demon?”
Her eyes now held a mischievous look not usually present. The Emperor’s heart stirred. He pulled her into his embrace, his chin resting on her fair neck: “To die beneath a peony flower—even as a ghost, one remains elegant. Even if you are a demon, we accept it.”
He said: “As for the person who submitted this memorial—whether to beat him or punish him, you decide.”
Jiang Lingye smiled. She picked up the memorial and threw it into the sandalwood incense burner on the desk. The memorial burst into orange flames, instantly turning to ashes. Jiang Lingye said, “This concubine has dealt with it.”