The only matter that needed to be settled was who would be promoted to the rank of Empress Consort.
Wen was caressing one of her son's bare feet when she first thought about it. The Emperor could technically choose any consort from his harem to be the next Empress. However, that didn't mean it would be wise of him to just pick whichever one he fancied the most. The Emperor needed his support, and if those who supported him didn't like who he chose, there might be a problem.
There was also the issue of being fair to the consorts themselves. The ones that had loyally served the Emperor the longest should be the first ones considered for the position. Wen knew that even if the Emperor had suddenly decided he was madly in love with her, he'd never hand her the mighty seal, a printing stamp that was a symbol of the lofty position.
It had been only a handful of days since the former Empress Consort had been deposed. A doctor had tended to Wen as if she was the most precious woman in the Imperial Harem. She thought she was feeling well.
The Ginger Steam Palace still lacked any visits from the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. But Wen couldn't say this place was quiet. Her children were here. Miseo and Hayun both visited regularly, and despite the lack of favor from the Emperor some other concubines asked to see her on occasion. Wen believed Miseo had something to do with that.
If Miseo treated one well, then the other consorts would do well to respect that. She was currently the highest ranking consort in the harem. She had the most authority, and it was pretty obvious that she would be chosen to be the new Empress Consort.
Wen thought she would be satisfied with Miseo as the new wife of the Emperor, but she wondered if the position would suit her well.
As if the thought of her brought her close, Seed Consort Miseo was soon seen in her sedan chair, being carried up to the Ginger Steam Palace. Wen met her with a kneeling position on the floor. Miseo's expression was cloudy and distracted, but she let Wen up and sat with her in a dining room. There, they had a pleasing lunch. A bowl of noodles made of spinach. Spiced, grilled meats. Braised abalones. And a soup made of a fungus that was supposed to be good for the skin.
The women laughed at harmless jokes. They spoke of the cooling autumn weather and dancing techniques. Then Wen complimented Miseo on how well both the little princesses danced now.
"Such a careful and doting mother you are," Wen said after taking a long sip of her tea. "His Majesty will certainly choose you as his new Empress Consort."
Her violet eyes low, letting her spoon drag across a bowl's rim, Miseo quietly said, "His Majesty's already confirmed this to me. I'll be given the seal soon." She sounded deflated.
"Oh, then I must congratulate you," Wen said with a smile.
"Would you like to know what else the Emperor said to me?" Miseo put her hands in her lap.
Wen shrugged. "If the Seed Consort wants to share, then she will share."
"He said, 'The one who desires power doesn't deserve it.'"
Using chopsticks to pick up some grilled meat, Wen said, "His Majesty is wise. We're all blessed to have been tied to him."
Miseo sighed. She'd eaten quite a bit of food, but she didn't seem to relish any of the flavors. She turned her head to look at Yuwei, who was refilling her cup of tea. "I believe the Emperor has been ordering all sorts of things from merchants," Miseo said.
"Things?" Wen took a bite of her meat.
"I'm not sure what His Majesty has been ordering, but I'm certain they're luxurious." Miseo's eyes were still on Yuwei as the maid carefully put the teapot down.
"Presents for his new Empress Consort," Wen said with a breezy tone.
Slowly nodding, Miseo admitted, "That might be true."
***
The sedan chair had ornamental, hanging layers of silk umbrellas. The cushions had the finest down stuffing. The Emperor had purchased a new one just for her.
Empress Consort Shungjahe Miseo. The new wife of Emperor Shungjahe Shunlin.
Her gown was black with images of dragons and clouds in silver, gold, and red. The red threads were actually coated in lacquer. The long sleeved blouse was bright yellow with black and silver images of leaves and bellflowers. The openings of the blouse's hanging sleeves had black fabric borders lined with pinkish orange sapphires. Her wide shawl was dark purple with white printed designs of stars.
The Empress' dark hair had been set in place with wax and wires. There was one long bundle across the top of her head. Then two large and long, oval-like hoops had been arranged. Golden flowers, coiled dragons of pale green jade, combs and hairsticks of matching jade, and falling chains of silk autumn leaves had been set in the hairstyle.
The Empress' face was as wonderfully white as the moon except for the points of color. Her upper lip was almost fully painted in a blood red. The lower lip had a thick vertical line. A geometric medallion of yellow was on her forehead. Small spirals of purple were on each side. The dimple dots on her cheeks were black. Higher on those rouged cheeks, there were also yellow diamond shapes. Several formal pieces of jewelry were on her body. Gold and jade. Sapphires and moonstones. Some bits of silver and some garnets.
This Empress was as elaborate as the occasion required.
Miseo was carried off to the Emperor's throne room, where all the consorts knelt, women on each side of the rug in the center. A eunuch called out praises. The new mother of the nation, the elegant and kind woman, the example for all women to follow, Empress Consort Shungjahe Miseo. She was here now to receive the seal.
Her soft, glittering shoes moved under her dress and across the carpet. Her posture was stark. Her beautifully painted face was so emotionless that it might seem grave and frightening to an outsider. She went down to where the throne was and knelt.
The equally somber Emperor rose from his seat and walked down to a space a bit in front of his new wife.
Min Ji held a golden tray before the Emperor. On the tray, there was a sturdy little box, similar to a jewelry box. The Emperor took the box and held it down to Miseo, who plucked the box up. She opened it. Inside, there was a seal made of imperial jade, literally jade that was called imperial regardless of what empire it was a part of. Then, after all the other consorts prostrated themselves, Miseo put the seal back in its place and closed the box.
Paper streamers were thrown in the air. Flutes and small drums were played.
Empress Consort Miseo turned around to walk back. The other consorts got to their feet and followed. When Miseo was outside and getting into her sedan chair, the other consorts all stood nearby and said in unison, "Long life and fine health to the Empress Consort!"
Then Miseo was being carried off to the Moonlight Pearl Palace, where she would now live with her daughter and foster daughter. At the palace's entrance, her favored servants were all kneeling to her. Some extra servants were there, they'd served the previous Empress Consort. The rest of the servants from that woman were distributed to other palaces or honorably dismissed from their positions.
Miseo told them all to rise. She wanted to go see the girls inside.
But she was temporarily distracted. In the reception room, there were packages on top of packages of gifts from the Emperor. Clothing and accessories, vases and seeds, cosmetics and jewelry, sculptures and prayer beads, mirrors and musical instruments. If he hadn't given her all these lovely things, he would've been highly criticized. His new wife had the right to gifts.
But he didn't present them to her personally. He wasn't anywhere in the Moonlight Pearl Palace.
Miseo thought that was very telling, but she wasn't angry about it. She was only worried about how troublesome her new position was. She was in charge of the Imperial Harem. She had to judge disputes, care for pregnant concubines, treat all the others' children as her own (assuming any more gave birth), and even manage special occasions such as dinner parties or religious ceremonies. The previous Empress was notoriously lax in certain areas. Miseo knew she was expected to be a much, much better Empress.
She hoped she'd do well.
***
The afternoon after the coronation ceremony, Wood Consort Wen was holding one of her sons on her lap and watching rain fall. She was on a roofed patio. The other son was playfully rolling around on a large, cushioned mat on the patio's floor.
Thankfully, the wet-nurses were supervising and the patio's fence was sturdy without any holes of a size that child could get stuck in. Nothing bad would happen.
"Fuguo," Wen said as she stroked her child's head, "the rain's made the day much cooler, but I think it's good for you and your brother to inhale fresh air, even the coldest of it." The babies were adequately dressed. They even had little hats that covered their cute little ears.
Tiny Fuguo grabbed Wen's index fingers and thoughtfully stuck the tip in his mouth, sucking and gnawing on it. Lien approached with a tray carrying a cup of hot tea. "Madam," she said, "you should have something warm in your throat and belly."
"I appreciate your kind thoughts," Wen said as she handed a small cloth toy to Fuguo, "but you should've asked me if I wanted any tea before boiling the water."
"With respect, Madam," Lien said as she stepped a little bit closer, "your health is highly important to us."
"Then I suppose I must humor you." Wen stood up and carefully put Fuguo down next to his brother. She said to the wet-nurses, "Put them inside and dress them appropriately. They've had enough cold air. If they seem cold, give them small cups of warm water." The babies had reached an age where small amounts of clean water were safe on occasion.
But the moment everyone was inside, all the adults had to kneel. Lien had to be careful with the tea.
With only Min Ji at his side, Emperor Shungjahe Shunlin stood. Both of them were wet from the rain, which implied that the Emperor had refused any functional umbrellas and only rushed in. Combined with the fact that he'd gone into the palace without Wen being warned beforehand only enforced that idea. As Wen's heart weakly stuttered, as she tried not to look at his face, yearning to see some clue as to what in the world was going on, she remembered his slightly rough fingers and smooth voice.
