Shi is an ancient chinese measuring unit.

1 shi = 60kg.
¼ shi = 15kg.

Chapter 34

Noble Lady Wei
Hougong

Li Lian was bitter that Yuwen Hong did not sleep over last night. So people did not have to rub it in her face. Self consciousness was not something she struggled with before but the pressure around Hougong was making her question whether that was actually the case.

"Li Lian had the least number of garments made, can you believe it?"

"This has been a habit of hers to be shameless. I wonder if she has self respect. All talk and no actions. She is a dog that cannot bite." Two concubines blatantly gossiped behind her back, literally. The Hougong women were walking back from the Fabric Department where each woman of the harem submitted the clothes they sewed.

Grand Consort Shu won with about fifty garments, therefore she had gone to the treasury with her entourage for the allocation of her reward. A quarter of shi gold had been set as a gift by the emperor for whoever sewed the most. Li Lian made half of what Grand Consort Shu made. What a shame.

"I agree. She has no self respect. What kind of woman throws herself at the dragon to the extent that he had to leave the Dragon Palace to sleep somewhere else because she wouldn't let him be?"

"This makes me love the emperor more. He could have killed her but he chose to respect her and save her household the shame."

"The only reason he tolerates her wanton behavior is because the South Wing is a clan that has made great contributions to this nation."

"Yoh." Concubine Pi joined the two women mocking. "What use is it to talk about her? Li Lian is history. She is not worthy to be a woman living in the Inner Court. A slave that had no virtue when the emperor took her, she is a female dog. That's why she didn't redden her sheets."

Ai strongly held back Li Lian's fisted hand and supported her to keep walking further, to never turn and do the regrettable. "Please hold it in just a little more, I beg of you." 

They were cunning to try her like this. She was going to repay it seven fold.

"Elder Sister is right." The two concubines elated, surrounding Concubine Pi at each side. "Let's not talk about her to upset the baby. How is he? Does our prince cause you problems?"

"He is no trouble. I think he already knows of his great fate, how could he misbehave?" Concubine Pi coyly said.

"Indeed! Indeed it will be a prince." The concubines cheered her on.

There was shuffling as Consort Wang passed through and separated the noisy three. "Don't speak too soon, the egg hasn't hatched yet. Who knows? Maybe it's a headless chick inside."

Here we go again.

"Consort Wang! Are you calling the prince a deformed child? Those words are treasonous!" Now that Concubine Pi knew she was with child, she was the only woman who dared stand up to Consort Wang's bullying. It's because she was seen as an angel in front of the Grand Dowager, the grandmother that anxiously waited for another grandchild. Concubine Pi could do no wrong, recently.

The fact that Concubine Pi stood up to Consort Wang made her the bullied concubines' heroine. Also, due to many speculations that she carried a prince, people thought she was going to be the future empress. Even though that didn't end up manifesting, still, she would live on to be a Grand Consort Pi when her unborn 'son' sat on the throne.

Li Lian widened her steps. The fights in the inner court were endless. She wanted out of it. It's either they were exchanging fake nice words when plotting against each other, or they were exchanging deadly words that could cost them if Grand Dowager Empress heard them. What use were the morning meetings to teach morales and being a woman of virtue when the people were toxic inside?

In her quarters, Li Lian sat on her front porch mixing oils to come up with another perfumed oil. As a birthday present for Grand Consort Shu, Li Lian used lotus flowers to make the oil because it symbolised purity, enlightenment and self-regeneration. However, the Grand Consort didn't like it. She found the smell too fruity and heady thus she asked for another one. This time Li Lian would use flowers that were soft for those sensitive to smell.

To keep the emperor or her possible Furian identity out of her mind, she kept herself busy. Dao was on an errand to collect heating equipment for the coming winter while Ai was getting the scroll officiating her as a palace attendant. Li Lian was proud of Ai for her hard work because on the first examination, Ai failed. Apparently it was tricky; it made her nervous that she forgot what she knew.

"What is that you are making?"

"Ahh!" Li Lian was startled; she dropped the jasmine oil bottle, wasting away the liquid on the ground.

"What a waste." Yuwen Hong coquetishly said.

She gaped at her mispent contents. "Yuwen Hong!" she screamed. "How dare you? Do you know how much time I have spent on this precious oil?"

She had been looking forward to the time she would see him again, but that disappitated the moment he arrived. As always.

She jumped up and began punching him. "I've told you before that you are an unruly horse."

Yuwen Hong boisterously laughed. He took her small hands in one big hand of his and held them up above her. "Calm down. What can be more precious than me with you?"

"It was your mother's oil," she cried.

"Still. You can't greet me this way." He was laid back in his casual dark blue robes. It was a noblemen style, ankle length and not many layers and gold patterns fit for an emperor.

He pulled her forth and playfully bit her finger tips. One by one.

"Let go of my hands."

"Want me to tie you like this on my bed?" He whispered the next words. "I also know other places I could bite."

"Yuwen Hong!" Her cheeks tinted.

"You will like it."

"You are rotten!"

"You like me."

"You will die under my hands!"

"You wouldn't like that."

"Why?"

"Hmm... because I brought you something?"

The people who have given her gifts in all her life could be counted in one hand. It was a rare thing, therefore she forgot the feeling one got when they got a present from someone, just because. Gifts are special. It means you were in the person's thoughts.

Did he see a flower in the palace garden and asked his entourage to dig it out? No matter how small, she looked forward to it.

"You got me a gift?" Her voice was a little loud, it was impossible to mask her excitement. "What did you bring me?"

"Gifts." He corrected with a wink, letting go of her hands. He turned to his attendants that parked by her gate.

The two rows of the attendants parted and in between them stepped forth the man she last saw on the night she got decreed to be part of the inner court. The scribe. Behind him were three pairs of eunuchs holding wooden shelves draped on with a scarlet silk cloth. It looked extravagant than what she initially imagined.

"Second Class Female Attendant Wei, to receive her decree." The scribe announced.

She went on her knees. Weirdly, she felt nervous.

Hougong women had apparently found out the emperor was in Hougong as a few blatantly peeped over Yuwen Hong's attendants. Eyes of jealousy and hate glared at Li Lian.

"Second Class Female Attendant Wei, has won the favor of the emperor. Her service to the dragon as an inner court female attendant is noteworthy. Zhen is pleased." This sounded like a promotion. "From henceforth, Li Lian is elevated to Imperial Concubine Wei of the 4th rank. Her ceremony of officiation will take place tomorrow in the Inner Court morning meeting, led by the Grand Dowager Empress Wu."

From 7th rank to 4th. This was beyond imaginable. Yet, she didn't get the excitement she thought she would get. "Many thanks to His Majesty." She did her bow and lifted her hands to receive the scroll.

With each rank, she was close to being empress. Being empress was a mission accomplished, but deceit at it's best.

"Show her the jewelry set." Yuwen Hong told the eunuch who lifted the scarlet cloth and revealed rows upon rows of gold pins, necklaces, bracelets. The accessories sparkled under the shallow sun. They were endless in number.

"Your Majesty... this is too much." She got bestowed the title, Imperial Concubine, the same position Concubine Pi currently held but all of them could only wear bronze.

Gold was for elders like Grand Consort Shu and fellow highly ranked consorts, Noble Consort Shi. She wouldn't dare wear this unless she wished for more commotion, even Grand Dowager would be upset with her breaking Inner Court tradition.

Though, if she protested to Yuwen Hong, he wouldn't understand. He would bring up the "I'm the Emperor" card. Li Lian wanted to avoid a situation where the Grand Dowager found Li Lian to be disobedient and relying on the emperor too much. The old woman would feel threatened. It was too early for that. "Thank you, Your Majesty. This lady is too honored." He didn't need to know she wouldn't wear it.

Yuwen Hong had a huge smile on his face, so prideful and happy. "Read the other one." He told the scribe.

There was more?

"Yes, Your Majesty." The scribe nodded respectfully and an eunuch came to him to hand over, yet another the scroll.

Li Lian gave Yuwen Hong a questioning look, not understanding what else there could be.

He chuckled and explained. "This isn't a decree meant for you but I wanted it to be read to you before it's presented to the royal court."

The scribe began to read. "My twenty-fourth birthday is approaching. It is a good occasion. To celebrate and give respect to the heavens, every foreign slave in the Grand Palace dungeon is to be released. All thanks to Lady Wei for this insight."

Another look at Yuwen Hong and still there was that gorgeous smile on him. However, this time the light did not shine in his eyes. It confirmed her instant suspicions.

She felt her body turn cold, although it wasn't that chilly outside. There was slight sunshine but it didn't provide any comfort.

Yuwen Hong did not have to mention her in this decree. What was he doing? Trying to send a message to the world that he was bewitched by her?

He was testing whether she was a spy, to see what reaction this would cause in court. Who would act upon this, "the emperor is starting to get advice from a woman". It was a shame for an emperor to do this when he had officials. Many in the court were not going to be pleased, and the South Wing could take a hit.

There would be accusation on her clan, that they were using a woman to fight court battles and they have gained too much power. This also gave Yu'er a reason to sideline the South Wing out of positions with reason that they had a woman with influence by his side. Which wasn't true, she had no say to what Yuwen Hong could or could not do.

He played her at her own game. Checkmate.

Rumors had it, he was after Huticah but seems like he planned to bring down the South Wing alongside with it.

"What is wrong? You don't like what I gave you?" He stared at her suspiciously.

She fidgeted nervously, caught off guard. "How dare this lady not like this? Many thanks again."

"Here. Let me help you get up."

She shifted her weight onto his hand as she rose. Yesterday, when she was half asleep, she heard him call her, Noble Lady. Thus she thought she would be given that title.

What made him change his mind?

S.V