Yu Zi Heng

CHAPTER 1:

1

I, Yu Zi Heng, lost my mother at three, my father at five, and my grandmother at six. I'm practically a phoenix among men! Oh, no, a cursed star! 

My uncle risked his life to raise me until I was thirteen. Then what happened? I was betrothed to the son of the Tang family in the south, but he died of a high fever. I was betrothed to the son of the Chen family in the west, but he fell off his horse and died... All these things made the whole of Dà Yè terrified of me.

So much so that in Dà Yè, there are two ‘Yu’ that can stop a child from crying at night:

One is General Yu to spank your bottom,

The other is Yu Zi Heng to be your wife.

Oh, General Yu is my uncle, so we can say that our Yu family is well-known for our childcare.

Of course, my uncle has so many people under him, many with whom he has a life-and-death bond, and there were those who were willing to sacrifice a son to fulfill my uncle’s wish to marry me off. But they were all uncles and aunts who had held me as a baby and bought me candy, and I couldn't bear to see them lose their sons in middle age, so I politely refused them all. 

I always thought I would never get married. When I was eighteen, I went to the Yu Hua Temple (Jade Flower Temple) to find the old Taoist priest, asking him if there was a way for me to become a nun.

Who knew I would just happen to meet the Empress Dowager.

She had tea with me, we discussed the renovation of Yu Hua Temple, and she gifted me a bracelet. 

Then,

An imperial decree came down, and I became the Yù Zhàoyí of the palace.

2

Zhàoyí, is a Concubine, the highest-ranking among the nine concubines. She is not some nameless, faceless woman in the palace. When she dies, she is buried in the Imperial Tomb with the Emperor – in other words, even in death, she will haunt his ancestral grave. 

So, is the Emperor truly the Empress Dowager's biological son?

I have my doubts.

3

“I was looking forward to it, and finally, Yu Zi Heng was getting married!” 

The concubines in my uncle's backyard were overjoyed, more harmonious than ever before, and they all came to help me with my dowry, applying makeup and powder. 

They didn't hold back on their flattery, praising my wheat-colored skin as ‘smooth as jade,’ my round figure as ‘full and prosperous,’ and my curly hair as ‘black as a waterfall.’

When those concubines used the tactics they used against my uncle on me, honestly, anyone would be overwhelmed.

Therefore, I said to my uncle, “The concubines are worried that after I leave, there will be no one to manage the backyard, and they'll be uneasy. You are in the prime of your life, and you still have at least twenty years to go in your official career.  Besides, my younger brothers will also need to be arranged for marriage in the future. There are many things that require a Mistress¹ to oversee.”

My uncle thought what I said made sense, so before my marriage, he hastily remarried, taking the eldest daughter of the Liu family of Hedong who was a widow – my cousin, in other words. 

Perhaps because of this, rumors about me spread in the palace even before I entered.

4

Yu Zi Heng held sway over General Yu's backyard, the concubines all had to watch their every move around her. She was known for her sharp tongue and ruthlessness… 

Yu Zi Heng cut back on the Yu family's expenses, the women in the backyard suffered greatly, but she herself was leisurely raising birds and tending flowers, extravagant beyond measure…

No wonder! She's about to get married and still wants to bring in her unlucky cousin-in-law, who's just like her. Such a scheming girl, even at such a young age…

...

I... what can I say? I feel like what they said makes sense, and I can't refute it.

As for how I know about the rumors in the palace –

“This old servant has been in the palace for over forty years, my ears are still sharp.”

The teaching mómó² in front of me, with a fair complexion, a smiling face, and a rather prosperous appearance, was specially sent by the Empress Dowager.

There are quite a few complaints inside and outside the palace about this cursed star entering the palace. The Empress Dowager is sending this mómó to show her silent support. 

“After you enter the palace, this old servant will follow you, Niangniang.”

“I am grateful for the Empress Dowager's kindness, Yōng mómó. You don't need to be so polite. After I enter the palace, I will rely on you to take care of me.”

Yōng mómó corrected me: “The imperial decree has been issued, Niangniang. You should address yourself as Ben Gong⁴."

Ben Gong?

“The Empress Dowager has assigned the Shūyué Residence for Niangniang's personal use. It’s not far from the Emperor's Qiányuán Palace and the Empress Dowager's Cíníng Palace. Recently renovated, it is a pleasant place to live. When Niangniang moves in, you will be the mistress of the palace.”

Does a mother-in-law like this exist in the world?

She doesn't mind that I bring misfortune to my husband, she gives me a bracelet, she gives me servants, she even remodels my house... 

Is she really not my biological mother, even though we're not related?

Even though I am very confident, and I feel like I should be a girl who is loved by everyone and admired by all flowers, this 'mother-in-law's love' from the Empress Dowager seems a little excessive, doesn't it? 

“Yōng mómó, just tell me straight, what exactly does the Empress Dowager... see in me?”

Yōng mómó laughed: “Your Highness is really good at making this old servant happy.”

5

Three months later, I entered the palace through the Qingque Gate, riding in a carriage specially sent by the Empress Dowager. With me came Níng Sānniáng, a talented woman who had become famous in the Jiangdong region at the age of fifteen.

Look at her at fifteen – she's playing the qin and practicing calligraphy in the Níng family's Pǐnxuě Pavilion, immersed in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and flowers.

Now look at me at fifteen – I'm in the Yu family's main accounting office, calculating accounts and giving instructions, dealing with rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea.

And then look at Níng Sānniáng, who is bowing to the Empress Dowager with me, she's so graceful and elegant, majestic as if she could ride the wind, aloof and independent from the world.

No comparison, no comparison, it's hurting my self-esteem.

6

“In the past two years, there haven't been any new sisters in the palace. Finally, two celestial-like younger sisters have arrived; it will be more lively from now on. But Empress Dowager, please don't just see the new ones smiling and ignore the old ones crying.”

The speaker was Shū Fēi, dressed in a long skirt of a mustard green color, embroidered with golden qilin. She wore a set of red gemstones and gold headpieces, exuding a sense of wealth and grandeur. Her makeup was heavy, making it hard to discern her true appearance, but she was indeed beautiful.

She had been with the Emperor since his hidden years, initially chosen from among family relatives as a concubine. She was fortunate enough to give birth to two daughters and a son. Two years ago, when the Empress passed away, Shū Fēi temporarily took charge of the palace.

That's why she dared to be the first to jest in Cíníng Palace. 

“As a mother, you should behave properly,” the Empress Dowager laughed, scolding her.

Shū Fēi, having gained an advantage, feigned innocence, “Look, the younger sisters just arrived, and the Empress Dowager has already found fault with me!”

“Do not be so carefree; don't scare Yù Zhàoyí and Níng Mèiren.” At the upper seat, a woman in moon-white palace attire cast a sidelong glance at me and Níng Sānniáng. Unlike Shū Fēi, she wore lighter makeup and had a somewhat cold demeanor, her danfeng eyes marked with delicate lines at the corners. 

She was from the Langya Wang family, a second-rank Xián Fēi, without children.

“I only hope you all will soon bear children for the palace.” The daughter of the magistrate of Mianzhu County in the southwest, a Third-Rank Cè Pín, had once given birth to a son who passed away young.

“I see that Níng Meiren resembles Wèi Zhāoyuán from back in the day; she truly deserves her title as the talented woman of Jiangdong.” The daughter of the Xú family in the capital, a Third-Rank Xú Pín, with no children.

“Older sister, you tease me again. Níng Meiren is young and vibrant; how can I compare?” A dancer from Shùyù Pavilion, a Fourth-Rank Wèi Zhāoyuán, with one son.

……

Thankfully, Yōng mómó gave me a crash course; otherwise, I would have been overwhelmed by all these women in the palace.

After a long and rambling conversation for an hour, the women finally got tired of the back-and-forth and went back to their palaces to rest and recuperate, ready for the next round of battles.

As for the Empress Dowager, who had taken a liking to me at first sight, she kept me for lunch.

Just based on the Empress Dowager's blatant affection, the Emperor came to my Shuyue Residence that very night.

7

How can I describe our first night together, sharing the same bed? 

All I can say is, we both tried very hard. 

The Emperor tried hard to hide his disappointment,

And I tried hard to hide my boredom.

I think the Emperor is like a boiled chicken, pale and thin, with no muscles. He's the kind of pretty boy that my uncle could crush two of with one finger. 

The Emperor probably thinks I'm dark and fat, the kind of woman who would never get a chance to sleep with him in her life without the Empress Dowager's help.

We both had it rough!

8

The next morning, I had already finished washing and dressing when the Emperor finally got up, leisurely.

“Zhàoyí, do you always get up so early?”

Early? Not really. 

Usually at this time, I would have already gotten up, arranged breakfast, and sent my uncle off to court. The managers would be lined up waiting to report to me. 

Tsk, the Emperor is different. His court is right at his doorstep, so of course he can wake up later.

If it wasn't for me buying a house closer to the imperial palace from the Chén King's family a year ago when they were being confiscated and using my connections, my uncle would have to wake up even earlier.

The housing prices in the capital have been rising year after year, especially in good locations. Even with silver, you can't buy it. It's a good thing I, Yu Zi Heng, am skilled. I managed to snatch a good house from the governor of Gānsù before him.

But thinking about how I'm now living in the best location in Daye, I instantly lost all motivation to strive.

The Emperor wasn't planning to eat breakfast with me. An eunuch helped him dress and then he left.

I happily saw the Emperor off, and then turned to see Yōng mómó coming with the servants of Shuyue Residence.

9

Shuyue Residence is smaller than a proper palace, with room for two mistresses. It should be assigned four eunuch servants, six palace maids, a chief eunuch, and a head lady.

But in reality, besides my personal maid, Fú Bǎo, and the Empress Dowager's assigned Yōng mómó, there are six eunuch servants, eight palace maids, and a chief eunuch.

If it were the Empress Dowager who sent these people, I wouldn't say anything. But she didn't, and currently, Shū Fēi is in charge of palace affairs. 

Yōng mómó only told me it wasn't proper, but she didn't say what she thought.

This is tricky.

After last night, I'm probably not going to be a favored concubine. The Empress Dowager's leg is not a good one to cling to, and as for Shū Fēi, I'm not going to cling to her either. Go wherever you want!

“Go to the Department of Internal Affairs and tell them that Shuyue Residence doesn't have enough staff, don't you fear Shū Fēi Niángniáng's punishment? Have them reassign staff today.”

The eunuch servants were frightened and knelt down. The chief eunuch thought for a moment and also knelt down, saying: “Niangniang, what are you saying? Shū Fēi Niangniang cares for you and arranged for us to come. Niangniang, please don't turn down her kindness.”

I ignored the eunuch and just called Fu Bao, “Go quickly.”

The chief eunuch, feeling humiliated by my disregard, kowtowed and left. 

Tsk, you have a temper.

Yōng mómó smiled and helped me back to my room, “Niangniang should rest well today.”

Rest? I have plenty of time to rest.

10

On the third day after I served the Emperor, he went to Níng Mèiren's place. This was no small matter; he stayed there for five days straight, showering her with gifts. After five days, Níng Mèiren was directly promoted to Bǎolín, a rank higher than mine.

Slap, slap, my face actually hurts.

I served the Emperor on my first day in the palace, offended the palace bigwigs on the second day, and was completely overshadowed by my sister who entered the palace on the same day on the third day. For the next three months, the Emperor forgot which way the door to Shuyue Residence even faced.

I should really thank the Empress Dowager for her love, making me the focal point of the palace gossip circle.

I should also thank the Emperor for not giving me any face. In the palace, if you're not pretty, you have no rights.

Yōng mómó handed me a cup of warm goat's milk, “Niangniang has been resting for three months, it's time to go out and walk around.”

I sipped the goat's milk, wrapped in the soft and luxurious Shǔcháo silk quilt, enjoying myself, “Going out is impossible. The little palace maids and eunuchs in Shuyue Residence are all so cute and talkative, Ben Gong loves it here.”

“If Niangniang doesn't go out, the Empress Dowager will be heartbroken.”

Yōng mómó's smile remained.

But I sensed a chill.

“... Fu Bao, go find that bright yellow dress, Ben Gong will wear it to greet the Empress Dowager tomorrow.”

Yōng mómó continued her subtle hint, “I heard that the Emperor is also at Cíníng Palace right now.”

“Fu Bao, stop looking. Your mistress is naturally beautiful, this outfit is fine. Let's go greet the Empress Dowager now!”

Yōng mómó was satisfied, “The Empress Dowager will see Niangniang’s filial piety.”

________________

Glossary:

¹Mistress 女主人 (nǚ zhǔ rén): The matron of a noble family is typically referred to as Mistress. This title historically indicated a woman with authority over a household, especially in aristocratic settings.

Madam can also be used as a respectful form of address, but it is more common in modern contexts or in formal situations rather than specifically denoting the head of a noble family.

In summary, Mistress is the more traditional term for the matron of a noble family.

²mómó (嬷嬷): This refers to a senior female attendant or matron in the imperial palace. The term "嬷嬷" (mómó) is often used to denote an older woman or a caregiver, typically someone with experience and authority in the palace hierarchy. In this context, 雍嬷嬷 serves as a mentor and protector to the protagonist, providing guidance and support.

³Niangniang (娘娘): This term is a respectful way to refer to a noblewoman or consort in the imperial court. It conveys honor and deference.

- Usage: Courtiers, servants, and even other concubines would use "Niangniang" when addressing her as a sign of respect for her rank.

⁴Běn gōng (本宫): Means "this palace.

- 本 (běn): Means "this" or "current."

- 宫 (gōng): Means "palace."

In historical contexts, especially within imperial settings, it is often used by female figures, like empresses or noblewomen, to refer to themselves, indicating their status and authority within the palace.

RANK WITHIN THE HAREM:

1. Empress (皇后): The highest rank.

2. Xian Fei (贤妃): Second rank, often translated as " Virtuous Consort."

3. Shu Fei (淑妃)**: Also second rank, can be seen as a "Virtuous Consort."

4. Xu Pin (婕妤): Third rank, can be translated as "Side Consort."

5. Ce Pin (侧嫔): Third rank, often translated as "Side Concubine."

6. Wei Zhaoyuan (魏昭媛): Fourth rank, a lower tier concubine.

7. Yu Zhaoyi (余昭仪): Fourth rank, similar to Wei Zhaoyuan.

8. Ning Meiran (宁美人): which translates to "beautiful lady" and was a lower-ranking concubine. 

Highest Rank Among Concubines:

- Xian Fei and Shu Fei are generally considered among the highest ranks for concubines after the Empress.

 

Summary:

- Empress > Xian Fei/Shu Fei > Ce Pin/Xu Pin > Wei Zhaoyuan/Yu Zhaoyi/Ning Meiran

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