The Prince Consort's Secret (GL) - Chapter 4
“Take me to the study,” I announced. “I’m going to enjoy a night of reading, surrounded by beautiful women.”
The maids, carrying lanterns and braziers, proceeded in a procession to the study. I went to the history section and began to browse. The vertical, right-to-left format was awkward, but I’d get used to it.
After a while, I realized my previous knowledge of history was useless. The history of this world diverged from mine during the Warring States period. Zhao, not Qin, unified China. The subsequent history was a chaotic mess.
I searched for a book combining the histories of the Qi and previous dynasties, but found none. The current dynasty hadn’t commissioned a history of the previous one yet. I selected a book solely on Qi’s history and another spanning from the Yellow Emperor to the Liang Dynasty.
I started with the Qi history. The current Qi dynasty seemed to be analogous to the Northern Song, but only the Khitan and Xixia were mentioned; the others were absent. Emperor Gaozu of Qi ended the Seven Kingdoms War, then came Emperor Ren… and that was it.
Only two emperors? Was the current emperor Emperor Ren? Unlikely. Emperor Ren only had two sons, no daughters. Why was there no history of the current dynasty? Then I remembered the rule forbidding access to contemporary history, even for the emperor. The current dynasty’s history was likely locked away with the court historians. I should have just asked the maids!
I returned to the maids empty-handed. “Since waking, I seem to have forgotten many things…” The four maids gasped, showering me with questions.
“I just can’t remember certain things,” I whispered. “Don’t tell Father; it’ll cause a fuss. And if any of you leak this, you’ll no longer serve me.”
They fell silent, then knelt. I helped them up. They seemed upset. Had they never been threatened by a princess before? I felt guilty, but it was necessary.
“What dynasty is it? What year?”
After a pause, Ying’er replied, “It’s the Great Qi Dynasty, the third emperor’s reign. It’s the fifteenth year of Wen Di’s reign, the Jian Yuan era.”
“Hmm,” I replied, continuing, “What is Father’s name?” They gasped again. “It’s just us five. It’s safe to tell me.”
Their expressions were priceless. Ying’er bowed, requesting permission to guard outside, then left. I smiled. She knew I was about to ask unsettling questions.
A wave of sadness washed over me. Why did it bother me that I didn’t know their names? I wasn’t the real princess. I shouldn’t know.
From the maids, I learned Father’s name was Lin Zhen, the Crown Prince’s name was Lin Huan (my older brother), my title was Princess Changning, the Crown Prince and I were the Empress’s children, I was seventeen, and there was another prince, Lin Xu (seven years old), the son of the Yuanfei. Only two princes. The succession struggle shouldn’t be too intense.
“Ying’er, come back in. Don’t catch a cold,” I called out, picking up the thick history book.
I skimmed it, memorizing the dynasties and famous rulers. I ate a grape. Next, I needed a book on etiquette.
I found a book on court etiquette. Princesses and their husbands lived separately. Excellent! The husband was summoned by the princess. “Summoned to bed”—that phrase used for a man… I almost laughed.
The book detailed the wedding customs: After selecting a husband, the emperor bestowed a jade belt, boots, a dust whisk, a saddle, one hundred bolts of red silk, one hundred pairs of silver tableware, one hundred sets of clothing, and ten thousand taels of silver. The emperor, er, Father, was generous! Marrying a princess was the ultimate path to wealth!
The wedding date was set after the selection. A month before, the prime minister would enter the palace to inspect the princess’s dowry and announce the wedding date.
On the wedding day, the husband would first wear his official robes to pay respects to the emperor, then change into wedding attire, bringing geese, silk, and other gifts, to the princess’s residence for the ceremony. A banquet, then the wedding ceremony, then the wedding night…
I only needed to worry about the makeup, the veil, and preventing my husband from getting into bed. I began studying Qi etiquette with the maids. They were used to my questions and calmly taught me the proper bowing posture.
When the maids started yawning, I said, “Go to sleep.”
Outside, the night air was cool, the moonlight serene. The palace was brightly lit. It was probably 8 PM. I usually slept at 11 PM. But there was nothing to do. I went to my room and smelled the fragrant steam from a hot bath. I was about to undress when I noticed the maids weren’t leaving. Ying’er approached to help me undress.
I stepped back. “What are you doing?” Trying to force me?
Ying’er looked puzzled. “Attending to your bath, Princess.”
“…”