Wen didn't witness the more violent aspect of the aftermath. All she did witness was that excess charcoal, firewood, and unusually expensive tea was being sent to the Sweet Carrot Palace.
The tea was meant to be for Wen, but she gave a few bricks to Pollen Lady Kumi, who then distributed them to some of the other concubines in the palace. Re-gifting an "Imperial Gift," which was anything given by the Emperor, was generally against the rules, but food and beverages were an exception. Also, money. Money was meant to be spent. If the Emperor gave money, he expected you to spend it. Or at least save it for an emergency.
Wen did hear the gossip concerning what had happened at the Fuel Department. It seemed that the eunuch manager of that department wanted his tongue on every shoe of the highest ranking concubines and the Empress Consort. Living as a sycophant wasn't a sin, or at least Wen didn't think so. What had angered her so much was that in the process that eunuch had neglected and harmed a group of innocent people.
Every year, that eunuch manager would take fuel from the Sweet Carrot Palace's portion. Then he'd divide what he stole among the palaces of the higher consorts. This way, those consorts wouldn't each be given enough extra fuel to think, "Oh no, has someone been neglected?" But they would receive enough to think, "Oh, this eunuch is so thoughtful and kind. He always finds room to give me extra fuel."
Since the Emperor hadn't visited the Sweet Carrot Palace for so long, as least not until Wen arrived, the eunuch assumed the Emperor wouldn't care about the women there. And since Wen had purposely sent her maids to update the Emperor on her book, he didn't visit during the winter. This would only let the eunuch assume that whatever renewed interest he had in the Sweet Carrot Palace had evaporated.
For a servant to flatter and fawn over a high ranking Imperial Consort, that wasn't particularly wrong. It was even understandable. A consort with high favor from the Emperor, especially those with higher ranks, which brought higher monetary allowances each month, was a powerful woman. Technically, she wasn't allowed to influence the government, but she could do many other things. She could become a patron for an artist, student, or anyone else she liked. She could perform favors for her favorite people. She might even be able to influence the Emperor or even the Empress Dowager to do something for someone.
But that eunuch hadn't gone about it in an upright manner. Not only had he neglected a large number of the Emperor's women, lower ranking but still his women, the eunuch had also caused damage to Wen's hands, which was against the Emperor's decree. That eunuch was put to death, beheaded. Then another eunuch was given his position.
Emperor Shungjahe Shunlin had an outrageous conniption, or that's what was alleged. He'd knocked braziers over, thrown vases and plants about, and hollered so much that he was hoarse by the end of it all. He almost set the Fuel Department on fire, which would've been funny in a dark way.
Pollen Lady Kumi visited Wen's apartment after dinner that day, and she sat at Wen's dining table. "I can't help but feel grateful to you," she said as she took Wen's hands, which had recently been soaked in medicated cream. "Perhaps now the departments will be monitored with more careful eyes, and nobody will be neglected anymore."
"That can't be guaranteed," Wen said with a tired smile, "but at least, one day, the Emperor might give his grace to someone in this palace."
***
Another concubine, a fairly high ranking one. The Emperor was in her bed. She was adorable and submissive, pretty and warm. He'd sat down in a chair against a thick wall, and he'd told her to sit on his lap. But sitting might not have been a correct thing to say.
Her smooth feet dug into some low alcoves in the wall, where small vases or candles would normally stand. The Emperor had personally put those things aside to keep danger away. The concubine's thighs worked hard, but his grip helped her move. Her arms locked around his shoulders and her high-pitched squeals tickled his ears. Her jewelry bounced and clanged. She really liked her jewelry.
The vulgar words, the Emperor knew what they were. He thought he was too dignified to say them, but they echoed in his head.
This woman's cunt was like a vise. He loved it. Slick and nearly burning. Her smooth thighs lovingly ground against his.
A throbbing was in his balls. He was almost there, almost at the point where ...
A kiss ... couldn't he have one? Please?
His fingers dug into the heart-shaped coiffure, bringing her face closer. His lips parted, then lightly pressed over her bottom lip, where a drop of orange-red had been painted. He'd just gained a small taste of the clay, flower, rice, and other ingredients in the cosmetics when the woman jerked back and out of his grasp. She squeaked with fear and pulled off of his cock.
The mood was gone.
The Emperor sighed and let his fingertips graze the side of her throat.
***
The Empress Consort's birthday was at the end of winter, and a celebration similar to the Empress Dowager's dinner had been scheduled in the Peach Cream Hall. All the concubines had to give her presents. Wen made hers. She drew certain images in clear wax on a thick paper canvas. Then, with the dried wax serving as a protective layer and a stencil, she painted a background of a purple and dark blue night sky with bright stars. Later, she peeled the wax away and painted a pale full moon with a shadowed tree branch.
At the dinner, Wen's gift was as well accepted as the others of her rank, but she did notice that the Empress Consort gave the smallest of smiles as her green eyes glossed over the image.
The Emperor's birthday was in the beginning of spring. Wen made a gift for him too. It was a simple scroll of a calligraphy painting. On the upper left corner, she painted a waiting spider with thin legs and a large abdomen waiting in its web, which was covered with dew drops. As for the calligraphy, she'd surrounded the meticulously written characters with leaves that also had their share of dew. Instead of copying something, Wen had invented her own aphorism.
"The diligent ones should eat well."
The Emperor accepted this gift without any smile, but he did say that it was well made and the written statement was very true.
During all this time, the Sweet Carrot Palace hadn't had any visits from the Emperor. At most, he'd sent a eunuch to check up on Wen. She'd been commissioned again for another book, this time a love story.
As for her last book, the Emperor had said it was fine and rewarded her with a beautiful new inkstone made of a large river stone. This stone was crystalline and resembled jade. The corners of this inkstone had been carved into shapes of clouds, a full moon, a flying dragon, and a few butterflies.
When her birthday arrived in the middle of spring, Wen knew not to expect much. The Emperor's concubines didn't normally have birthday parties. However, a gift was sent to her from her father. It was a simple comb, meant for grooming the hair, made of wood coated in shiny black lacquer. It was on this day when Min Ji went to the Sweet Carrot Palace and said to Wen that the Emperor has permitted her to go to one of the gates of the Tree Cage's main outer wall and have a short visit with her father.
Wen didn't really want to do that, but she thought if she didn't go then people would think ill of her, especially since this was a considered to be a generous offer from the Emperor.
With Nuan as her escort, Wen took the long walk to the gate at the arranged time, close to when her Father would be leaving for home. Higher ranking consorts would be carried in sedan chairs, but Wen was one of the women who would have to walk. Thankfully, Nuan had packed some canteens of water to keep them hydrated.
At the gate, the women sat on collapsible chairs and waited. Eventually, Wen saw her father for the first time in a good while. He hurried over to her, his eyes looking slightly less droopy than normal. Then he actually half-knelt to her, which made sense. Wen was now significantly higher than him on the social scale, and while she still needed to be respectful, she didn't have to be particularly humble.
"Greetings to Seafoam Attendant Wen," he said quite formally.
"Good afternoon, Father." Wen stood up. "Have you been well?"
With a grin and a nod, Father replied, "Yes. A good family has given me their daughter as a concubine. Her name's Bao."
"I hope she's adjusting well," Wen coolly said.
"She is," Father said. "Your mother's been very kind to her."
