One silly activity that one might find an Imperial Consort taking part in is paper sculpture. Essentially, with a combination of folding and cutting, one could make charming little shapes out of paper, and often in many colors. On this mild morning, Pollen Lady Kumi and Bamboo Lady Wen were happily sitting in the Sweet Carrot Palace's garden, in a gazebo. They were engaging in paper sculpture, using their spring style scissors to make precise cuts. Kumi was trying to make a daisy while Wen was trying to make a bundle of leaves.
Kumi's eyes strained and her lips pursed with frustration when she accidentally made a cut in a spot that was meant to be left alone. Then, with a garbled cry, she accidentally sliced a bit of her finger with her scissors. Wen reached for her, putting a handkerchief over the little wound. "Dear Pollen," she said with a worried voice, "you must be more careful with your beautiful skin."
Her brow forming deep lines, her brown eyes truly pained, Kumi whimpered, "I've been feeling so unwell lately. I haven't been able to make the best decisions." One of Kumi's maids told another to find some clean water, ointment, and bandages.
As Wen kept applying pressure, she quietly told Kumi, "You should have a doctor see you."
Shaking her head, hanging beads of pearls and jade jingling and clacking from her hairstyle, Kumi said, "I've already spoken to one. This pregnancy is still so young but I'm already turning irrational. I hope you'll forgive me for any mistake I make."
"What a peculiar, glum state my dear colleague is in." Wen saw a maid return with the required items. Then she said, "Let me tend to you." She personally rinsed Kumi's finger, then applied the ointment. She even tied the bandage in place. "We're both mothers to the Emperor's children, and we were close even before we reached these illustrious positions. We have no need for a pact, for we're already bonded." Wen held Kumi's hand, but gently so, and she made a soft little smile. "I'll try to keep you safe, since you've already cared so well for me."
Wen meant these words. She believed that as long as someone was kind to you, or at least harmless, there was no reason to be cruel. It was better to be caring.
And Kumi had been kind to her, perhaps even more than kind.
***
Seed Consort Miseo's little daughter, Eunhe, was already a natural dancer. Or perhaps it seemed that way because she had such a graceful mother to observe and learn from. She was a tiny copy of that elegant mother, and the Emperor liked to remind her of that. "Oh, it's little Miseo," he once teased as he playfully tugged on her sleeve.
"Royal Father," the girl said in her mumbling, young voice, often mispronouncing words, "my name's Eunhe. Have you forgotten?" Then she gazed up at her father with wet, shimmering eyes and sniffed very loudly.
His lips pouting in false sadness, the Emperor crouched down to take the girl's waist and lift her up. As he stood in the morning light, holding the child close, he said, "Never fear, Little One. I'll never forget your name." He nuzzled her bare cheek with his nose. Little girls didn't often wear makeup everyday as their mothers did. "Now," he said, "why don't you dance for me?"
Eunhe was beaming when she was put back down.
Some moments later, Seed Consort Miseo sat with the Emperor in a garden to watch the little princess dance. A maid was playing music with a flute. Another was using a spike fiddle.
This lush and fragrant garden was a part of the Morning Dew Palace. This palace had gentle colors, pale blue, creamy browns, and light greens. The dancing princess was like a petal on pavement, carefully fluttering in a low and gentle breeze.
It warmed the Emperor's heart, not that it was particularly cold.
Just then, a eunuch announced that the Empress Consort was visiting. Aside from the Emperor, everyone went down to their knees to greet her. Even tiny Eunhe had to stop her dancing. She might not have understood exactly why she needed to kneel, but she was old enough to understand that she had to do it or else she'd be punished. Her lips scrunched up, but she knelt all the same.
Holding a nanny's hand, another little princess was there, around the same age as Eunhe. Princess Masami's nose was wriggling as if she had an itch and was desperately trying not to put a finger in a nostril.
The Empress Consort and Princess Masami both knelt down to greet the Emperor, and the Emperor told everyone to just get up for the sake of practicality. Then he politely asked his wife what brought her here.
Fiddling with a pendant on one of her necklaces, Empress Atsuka said with a tone as light as the weather, "Since you're visiting this palace, I assumed Princess Eunhe would dance for you. I thought perhaps the kind Seed Consort wouldn't mind letting us watch such youthful and innocent beauty." Her free hand rose to her bosom to make a somewhat humble gesture. "My little Masami would do well to watch a more talented girl and learn from her."
"How very sensible," the Emperor said as he crouched down and looked at Princess Masami's face, his palm reaching out. "Come here, Masami. Come and watch the dance with me."
Masami grinned and pranced on over to her father's arms, and then she was settled in his lap. The Empress Consort took a seat rather close to the Seed Consort and gave her a certain look, a look that sparkled. Seed Consort Miseo only held a blank expression and didn't look at the Empress' face for more than two seconds.
Princess Eunhe continued with her dancing. She was such a darling little thing! When she was finished, the Emperor said to Miseo, "She's studied very well. It's a joy to know my children have such accomplished mothers. See to it that Eunhe has an extra spoonful of honey in her porridge tomorrow morning."
He decided right there that he'd stay the night at the Morning Dew Palace. He had to leave in a moment to take care of important matters, but he'd return as soon as he could. He took Miseo's hand and promised he'd do just that. He thought he heard Atsuka give a sigh that sounded both doleful and irked, but he thought it wasn't anything worth dwelling on.
Empress Atsuka had never before shown any signs of jealousy towards anyone in the Imperial Harem. Why would she start now?
***
It was a stormy morning. Water pelted the roofs. Thunder rolled around. Wind howled in quite a mournful fashion. Near a window downstairs, Pollen Lady Kumi and Bamboo Lady Wen listened to the upsetting weather. A handful of lower ranking concubines sat nearby, lightly chatting amongst themselves.
Even though the air was darker, Kumi and Wen were enjoying their paper crafts. Their blades and careful folds made delicate little structures. Animals and leaves, flowers and combs, seashells and insects. During one moment, when Wen was working on a scalloped shell and Kumi was working on a horse, jokes were suddenly told. It was enough to have everyone's chests heaving. Soon, the whole area erupted with pure laughter. More jokes came, and nobody could remember who started it all.
Such a pleasant time!
Kumi put an arm around Wen's shoulders as she added another joke. It had Wen slapping the table before them.
And Kumi made a move with her arm, as if she too wanted to slap a table.
But something ... flashed ... even in the weather's stormy light.
Within that fast bit of time, Wen was able to direct her body a bit off, moving most of her belly out of the way.
Burning, piercing, horrifying pain.
Wen screamed.
And Kumi ...
Laughed ...
Even as shock and fear silenced and paralyzed the other concubines.
Maniacally, Kumi laughed, putting her palms on her cheeks, her fingernails guards framing her face. Even though she laughed, her eyes were sad.
Falling to the floor, her chair falling too, Wen gasped as she felt and then saw the curved spring of Kumi's scissors, the blades forced inside her body.
And Kumi was still laughing.
Wen had difficulty grinding this information in her mind. Was it even happening at all? Was she having a nightmare?
***
Two doctors arrived rather quickly.
Not too long after that, the Emperor himself was pacing back and forth in the Sweet Carrot Palace's reception room. He'd sent all the other concubines away, anywhere else but near him. Eventually, one of the doctors went to him and knelt down. He was the one who had tended to Wen.
"Your Majesty," that doctor said rather coldly, "Bamboo Lady Wen must be gently monitored. The child in her womb is safe, but she's still gravely injured. I'll prescribe the best medicines and salves for encouraging healing and rest."
Although the Emperor's face relaxed a little, his fingers were still tense and shaking. "The child is safe? You're certain the pregnancy will continue as normal?"
Nodding, the doctor said, "If the Bamboo Lady hadn't moved when she did, she might've lost her child, but the gods have smiled upon Your Majesty. The child is unharmed."
The Emperor dismissed him, but he paced even more, his tongue wriggling and digging in his teeth. Then, after a while, the second doctor went to him and knelt down. "Your Majesty, I firmly believe that Pollen Lady Kumi is mentally unstable, or she was when the incident happened. I was able to bring her back to a reasonable state of mind, and then she finally understood what she'd done." He winced as he gave his next bit of information. "Contrition was so strong in her heart that she ... she cut off her hair. She looks ... like a eunuch."
The Emperor put a hand over his mouth as he turned his body away. His eyes closed. His head pointed down. Then, he moved his hand away and asked, "Is this because of her pregnancy?"
"I believe so, Your Majesty. I'll try to use different calming medicines on her, and some blood balancing tea, but I can't promise that she'll be cured, at least not until she delivers the child."
After that physician was dismissed, the Emperor still paced around the room, at least until Min Ji nervously approached, lowered his head, and asked, "Would His Majesty care for a meal, or perhaps a hot cup of milk tea? The cooking eunuchs here are dutiful and well prepared to serve you."
