Empress Orchid - Anchee Min [160]
I prayed for Prince Kung’s safety. After I sent Nuharoo and Tung Chih to my guest room to sleep, I went to my own bed. My eyes were afraid to close.
A few days later Tung Yen-ts’un’s document arrived. Su Shun was enraged. Nuharoo and I read it after Su Shun reluctantly passed it on to us. We were secretly pleased.
The next day Su Shun’s men launched a counterattack. Historical examples were used to convince the court that Nuharoo and I should retire from the Regency. At the audience Su Shun’s men spoke one after another, trying to create fear in us. They badmouthed Prince Kung. They accused Tung Yen-ts’un of disloyalty and called him a puppet. “We must cut off the hand that pulls the strings!”
Prince Kung expected me to remain silent, but Su Shun’s negative portrayal of him was having an effect among the court members. It would be fatal to allow Su Shun to dwell on the fact that Emperor Hsien Feng had excluded Prince Kung from his will. People had been curious about the reason, and Su Shun was feeding them his own interpretation.
With Nuharoo’s permission I reminded the court that Su Shun would have stopped Emperor Hsien Feng from naming Tung Chih as the successor if I hadn’t approached the deathbed myself. Su Shun was responsible for the strained relations that had existed between Hsien Feng and Prince Kung. We had strong reason to believe that Su Shun had manipulated the Emperor in his last days.
At my words Su Shun sprang from his seat. He punched the nearest column and broke the fan he was holding. “I wish Emperor Hsien Feng had buried you with him!” he yelled at me. “You have deceived the court and you have exploited Empress Nuharoo’s kindness and vulnerability. I have promised His Late Majesty to do justice. I would like to ask Her Majesty Empress Nuharoo for support.” He turned to her. “Do you, Empress Nuharoo, really know the female sitting next to you? Do you believe that she would be satisfied just sharing the role of regent with you? Would she be happier if you didn’t exist? You are in great danger, my lady! Protect yourself from this wicked woman before she puts poison in your soup!”
Tung Chih was scared. He begged Nuharoo and me to leave. When I said no, he wet himself.
Seeing the urine dripping from the throne, Nuharoo rushed to Tung Chih’s side.
The eunuchs quickly arrived with towels.
An elder clansman stood up and began to speak about family unity and harmony.
Tung Chih cried and screamed when eunuchs tried to change his robe.
Nuharoo wept and begged to leave with Tung Chih.
The elder clansman suggested that we call off the audience.
Su Shun objected. Without further discussion, he announced that the Board of Regents would go into recess unless Nuharoo and I threw out Tung Yen-ts’un’s proposal.
I decided to retreat. Without Prince Kung, I was no equal to Su Shun. I needed time to secure my relationship with Nuharoo, but I dreaded more delays. Hsien Feng’s body had been lying in state for over a month already. Although well sealed, the coffin gave off a stink of decay.
Su Shun and his gang were pleased. He dismissed Tung’s proposal and made us agree to place our seals on an edict he had drafted regarding the prosecution of Tung Yen-ts’un.
On October 9, 1861, an audience for all ministers and nobles in Jehol was held in the Hall of Fantastic Haze. Nuharoo and I sat on either side of Tung Chih. The night before, the two of us had talked. I suggested that Nuharoo take charge this time. She was willing, but had trouble deciding what to say. We rehearsed until she was ready.
“Speaking