Story of Yanxi Palace - An English Narrative

Episode 1.2

"Niang-niang, the palace audition will begin shortly. You should get ready."

"Niang-niang..." Began Erqing, starting to agree with her fellow handmaiden, Mingyu.

Empress Fuca Rongyin turned around from where she was clipping flowers and her two handmaidens smiled. She was a pretty woman, with delicate lips and almond eyes, every gesture of hers was laced with grace.

She said mildly, "Today is their day, why must I prepare? I would rather stay here and tend to flowers." still smiling, she turned and rearranged the bunch of flowers in her hand.

Mingyu pouted, "If Niang-niang doesn't go, then you'd be giving that woman in Chuxiu Palace a chance!"

"Mingyu." Erqing warned gently and turned to the Empress, "Niang-niang, today's audition is important, you should at least go and see it. Otherwise, Empress Dowager will blame you for not doing your duties." She coaxed.

"You girls, so young but more nagging than the elderly." The Empress sighed gently, her smile laced with humour, "Alright then, let's go."

Mingyu smiled, delighted, "Ok! Your servant will go and immediately help you get dressed!"

Meanwhile, seated in her Yizhang sedan chair and dressed in her formal black and gold qipao, Noble Consort Gao was on her way to view the audition of the noble girls hoping to become members of the imperial harem. Noble Consort Gao sat tall and arrogant in her chair, her face tainted by a constant sneer. 

She entered into the venue where the audition was to take place and into the room beyond the screen where a high table was set up, set out with all sorts of snacks and delicacies. The Empress was already there, seated slightly off-centre at the high table, behind her Mingyu and Erqing stood watching.

"Peace to your majesty." Noble Consort Gao drawled and sank into a lazy curtsey in the general direction of the Empress.

Mingyu's pout immediately returned at the sight of 'the woman in Chuxiu Palace' but followed Erqing's example and curtseyed in greeting. 

"Sit." The Empress responded and gestured to the seat set aside.

Noble Consort Gao eased into the carved chair in her usual sauntering manner and said, "Niang-niang, some of these girls are rather pretty this time- several remarkably so."

There was no change in the Empress' calm expression, instead she said in her usual mild tone, "Auditions for Great Qing's harem are different from before. Girls chosen should be from a noble family but only those who are well mannered and moral shall stay by the Emperor." 

Noble Consort Gao sniggered a little in mockery, she could see where this Empress was going, seated on her high horse. 

The Empress ignored it and merely continued, "It has nothing to do with appearance."

"Even so, we shouldn't choose girls that the Emporer can hardly stand to look at... it can affect the appearance of the imperial descendants."

The Empress smiled, and said, with a hint of sarcasm and weariness, "Who could ever compete with Noble Consort Gao in terms of beauty?"

It was true. Gao Ninxing was a beautiful woman, with large but sharp eyes and perfectly proportioned facial features. Compared to the Noble Consort Gao, the Empress indeed paled in comparison and she knew this very well. But what Gao Ninxing lacked completely was the constant calmness and grace that the Empress possessed- the two women were practically polar opposites.

"Niang-niang flatters chenqie." She drawled, "But even the peony, superior of all flowers is not admired by all."

If the Empress felt nettled, she didn't show it. Mingyu and Erqing shared a glance. On the surface the comment was a show of modesty, but underneath hid a barb- she had called herself her peony for heaven's sake! The peony was considered the most beautiful of flowers- the queen of all flowers even- and she had dressed up this obvious self-compliment and breach of status as self-deprecating in the most laziest way- the absolute nerve of her!