Love Amidst Intrigue: The Romance of Yehe-Nara Meiying

Chapter III

Ten years, dead and living dim and draw apart.

I don't try to remember,

But forgetting is hard.

Lonely grave a thousand miles off,

Cold thoughts, where can I talk them out?

Even if we met, you wouldn't know me,

Dust on my face,

Hair like frost.

In a dream last night suddenly I was home.

By the window of the little room,

You were combing your hair and making up.

You turned and looked, not speaking,

Only lines of tears coursing down.

Year after year will it break my heart?

The moonlit grave,

The stubby pines.

江城子, 苏轼 ("Song of River City", by Su Shi)

Half a month passed as Qingying was confined to the Old Prince's Manor in the city. Thanks to the Imperial Physician Qi, Meiying was finally healthy and in the second trimester of her pregnancy. To say there was an uproar in the harem at the announcement of her pregnancy would be an understatement. Xiyue was furious, seeing her opportunity slipping away as she continued to not get pregnant from the nights she spent with the Emperor. Yuyan was angry, not just at Meiying but at herself for not having a child before now. She knew she shouldn't have taken contraceptive medicine, but she was too cautious of having a child too close in age as the Empress' own son. Qiying was jealous at the fact that the princess of the harem was to have another child. Lüyun, Hailan, and Wanyin were ecstatic for their friend to have another child, if it was anyone who was going to have the first child after His Majesty's enthronement, they were happy it was her.

After finally being released from bed rest, Meiying went to Empress Dowager to offer her apologies for not greeting her with the other women of the harem during the enthronement ceremony. Dressed in a green chenyi with white and pink cherry blossoms decorating the outfit. Paired with an off-white bianpao underneath, she styled her hair in the liangbatou style with gold and off-white flower accessories. She was excused from formalities in consideration for her pregnancy and decided to keep the visit short as she knew the older woman didn't like her. She wished she was able to visit Older Sister, but she knew the eyes of the harem were on her and she couldn't risk anything happening to the fetus.