22. Consort Shu Is Demoted in Rank

Evening at the Yongan Pavilion within the Imperial Palace.

Consort Shu had dressed with meticulous care that evening, for Duke Rong had arrived in the afternoon to convey that Emperor Xuanyuan Ren would be visiting the Yongan Pavilion. Consort Shu could never have imagined that the Emperor was coming to pick a quarrel; when a man seeks trouble, he will always find a reason. With Duke Rong’s loud announcement, "His Majesty has arrived!", Xuanyuan Ren strode in, head held high, followed closely by the Duke.

Consort Shu beamed, placed her hands to her right side, and performed a deep curtsy, saying softly, "Long live Your Majesty!" A consort’s salute differed from that of an Empress; the Empress need only offer a respectful greeting, while consorts were required to perform a half-kneel. It was no wonder so many concubines aspired to be Empress.

Xuanyuan Ren, wearing a faint smile, helped Consort Shu up and said, "Rise. It has been some time since I last visited; you look more beautiful every day." A sweet treat before a stinging blow—the pain would be all the sharper. Consort Shu felt a surge of joy, believing the Emperor’s attitude toward her had changed. As she stood and joined him at the round table, Xuanyuan Ren glanced around and remarked, "I have been coming to the Yongan Pavilion for years, yet beyond your bedchamber and this main hall, I have seen nothing else. Why don’t you give me a tour of your palace today?"

He reasoned that if Li Jinzhou had stolen the Ruyi lock, he would surely have brought it for Consort Shu to see. Given her personality, she would never have allowed Li Jinzhou to take it back to the Li estate for safekeeping. Once the lock was found, he would have grounds to punish and warn her. He was certain she would never implicate her father—doing so would only deepen her crimes—and would instead confess to stealing it herself. In that case, Li Jinzhou would have no room to protest. Xuanyuan Ren signaled for Duke Rong to slip away and interrogate the palace servants. The Duke bowed his head and exited the hall.

Consort Shu could not refuse the Emperor’s suggestion. Rare was the chance to receive his affection, and she was determined to seize it. The two sat opposite one another, each harboring secret thoughts while masking them with smiles. Life in the Imperial Palace was exhausting. Consort Shu rose respectfully and said, "I shall lead the way, Your Majesty!" She mused that the Empress Dowager must have persuaded the Emperor; it seemed the Empress’s days of favor were numbered. She assumed the Empress Dowager had taken her words from the morning to heart and influenced Xuanyuan Ren, leading him to reevaluate Du Haiju and treat her with such newfound kindness. Such arrogance—she failed to realize that if the Emperor were so easily swayed, Du Haiju would not have enjoyed so many years of favor. Perhaps the Emperor did not always heed the Empress Dowager’s words after all.

Having walked half a circle through the pavilion, Duke Rong returned silently and stood by Xuanyuan Ren, signaling that the object was hidden in the Treasure Pavilion ahead. Xuanyuan Ren stopped before the room and said with a look of feigned concern, "Is this where you keep your treasures, my dear? If so, let us go in and look—we wouldn't want you to be as careless as the Empress." He needed an excuse to enter; only then could he carry out his plan for the evening.

Seeing his intent, Consort Shu tried to block him. "Your Majesty, what treasures could I possibly have that others would steal? It is merely a few toys that you and the Empress Dowager bestowed upon Anjing. Why don't we go look at the flowers I’ve planted instead? They are blooming beautifully!" If I let you in, my life will be forfeit! She tried to pull him away, but Xuanyuan Ren was not so easily handled.

He stood his ground with a smile. "I have been a negligent father; I cannot even remember what I have given my son. Let me go in and take a look—let me reminisce!" His words were so earnest that Consort Shu could not refuse. She had no choice but to have a maid fetch the key and unlock the door. Once inside, Xuanyuan Ren began poking around, appearing as if he were truly admiring the collection. Suddenly, an item in the deepest corner caught his eye. He walked over, picked it up, turned, and glared at Consort Shu. "What is this, Consort Shu?" The maids and eunuchs in the room were so terrified they collapsed to their knees.

Though she had been prepared for this moment since he entered the room, the reality left her deathly pale. She could not claim her father had given it to her, knowing that would ruin her entire family. Nor could she claim she had been framed; who would hide stolen goods in her own palace? Even if she said it, the Emperor would not believe her. If only she had listened to her father! She had thought the Emperor would never enter this room and that her trusted servants would keep watch. She never expected...

She could only kneel and stammer, "I am guilty, Your Majesty. Anjing saw Yu Mu and Yu Ling wearing this Ruyi lock and liked it so much that he pestered me for it. One day, when I went to the Fengju Palace and saw the door to where the lock was kept was unlocked, I was overcome by greed. Please, for the sake of my love for my son, forgive me! I will never dare do it again!" She had dragged her son into the mess, hoping his presence would mitigate her punishment.

Xuanyuan Ren had no intention of killing her. He simply went with the flow, feigning extreme disappointment. "Consort Shu, oh, Consort Shu, you are truly..." He sighed with heavy "helplessness" and turned to Duke Rong. "From this day forth, Consort Shu is demoted to the rank of Attendant. She is to move out of the Yongan Pavilion to the Zhaolu Pavilion, and the title of Prince of Sinan is stripped from her son, Anjing."

This was the inner palace; all wealth and honor could vanish in an instant. After kowtowing in gratitude, Consort Shu left the Yongan Pavilion. She knew this had all been planned by Xuanyuan Ren, but what could she do? She could change nothing. She realized that by doing this, the Emperor was already showing mercy to her father; the crime of theft was usually punishable by imprisonment in the celestial dungeon. Yet, she could not understand who had betrayed her. Li Jinzhou had promised her that no one could find the Crane Immortal.

Defeated, and not even knowing why—Consort Shu’s life was truly a tragedy.