Kingdom Sang recently won a huge battle against Kingdom Da De. A soldier rushed into the morning assembly exclaiming: “Military report! Military report! Your majesty, our army led by General Shan[1] and General Hou[2] won the war against Kingdom Da De.”
At once all the courtiers got on their knees and congratulated the emperor. Emperor of Kingdom Sang: “Send my decree, order General Shan and General Hou’s armies to return to the capital, I shall reward them personally.”
Emperor’s personal eunuch: “Yes your majesty.” Crown prince of Kingdom Sang step forward and bowed “I thanked your generosity on behalf of General Shan and General Hou, royal father.”
In the emperor’s private chambers, as the emperor walked towards his private studies he asked: “Have the crown prince departed from the palace?”
The emperor’s personal eunuch trailing behind: “Replying to your majesty, yes. The crown prince left as soon as the morning assembly has been dismissed.”
The emperor nodded “Own sister return, as an elder brother this is what he ought to do.”
The emperor’s personal eunuch began flattering the emperor “Your majesty is blessed, having a son and daughter to serve you with loyalty.”
Emperor: “As my legitimate children from my late empress[3], that is what they ought to do, this only covers their duty.”
The emperor’s personal eunuch continues showering the emperor with idle praise “This goes to show your wisdom and ability in effectively using people, your majesty.”
The emperor sat down on his dragon throne as he saw the memorial stack high, memorials he had been too tired to go through with an ongoing war at the back of his mind. With news of victory, he finally has the energy to go through them. As the emperor slowly took a single memorial he instructed. ”Go prepare the princess’s chamber, if anyone asks, explain the princess is diligent in her meditation and her words moved the Heaven. As seen, we have won the war, so she should return to her usual chamber. There send this scroll to her as a reward.” Pointing to a scroll with four large characters that praise a daughter’s loyalty to her county. “This way non of my consorts will be jealous and raise suspicion, send her rewards based on her war merits secretly.”
In QianRen palace, consort Liu paced worriedly across her main hall. Her personal attendant, concerned and confused, offered: “Your highness, it is getting late, how about I
your maidservant
, help you change for bed?”
“Getting late? Late? No, no it is still early, the crown prince has made his move. I must not sit still and really let the throne fall into his hands. Summon Heng’er[4] to the palace, I must see him immediately.
Bringing a cup of tea to calm her mistress “But your highness, it is so late. What about summoning Prince Ji Heng to the palace tomorrow morning before the morning assembly.”
“Late, late stop saying late.” Consort Liu hit the cup of tea as it shattered on the floor. Her personal maid instantly knelt down and beg her forgiveness. “I
your maidservant
will go now to summon Prince Ji Heng.
Footnote:
1 General Shan is the princess's military address as her identity is kept a secret by her father
2 General Hou - between the crown prince and the emperor General Hou is of similar rank to the princess in the military. However, General Hou is older in age and no longer as skilful as the princess, in the Kingdom Sang military their princess is the best general. To outsiders, General Shan is the best.
3 The late empress of Kingdom Sang has two children, the crown prince Shang Ji Rong and princess Shang Yao. The last names of the late empress’s children combined mean glory, something the emperor hoped they would bring him.
4 Heng’er is a motherly way of calling her son's name